THETA Z1 firmware v3.40.3 (2025.02.26)
WebAPI
- _whiteBalanceAutoStrength : Add sample image
USB-API
- 0x99AF Reboot : New Added
- 0xD83A White Balance Auto Strength : Add sample image
_whiteBalanceAutoStrength
Example images added to API documentation
Upper side: ON
Lower side: OFF
Overview
To set the strength of white balance auto for low color temperature scene. This option can be set for photo mode and video mode separately. Also this option will not be cleared by power-off.
Upgrade Process
Using desktop app on Mac. Looks like a rather large 684MB firmware upgrade!
During this process the OLED of the THETA Z1 will flash with “Firmware Update”. Leave it plugged in.
Desktop app will show that the update is done.
Selecting Firmware Update again will show that the firmware is now up to date.
Testing USB API
Since the camera is connected to the Mac with a USB cable, I can quickly run gphoto2 commands from a terminal.
gphoto2 --summary
Camera summary:
Manufacturer: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
Model: RICOH THETA Z1
Version: 3.40.3
New Reboot Feature
gphoto2 --set-config=/main/actions/opcode=0x99AF
It works!
Existing Power Down
gphoto2 --set-config=/main/actions/opcode=0x1013
It works!
other gphoto2 tests
set to video
gphoto2 --set-config=5013=32770
set to two video 3648x3648
gphoto2 --set-config=5003=3
verify video format
It says, “Image”, but it is actually video as the Z1 is in video mode.
gphoto2 --get-config=5003
Label: Image Size
Readonly: 0
Type: MENU
Current: 3648x3648
Choice: 0 3840x1920
Choice: 1 1920x960
Choice: 2 2688x2688
Choice: 3 3648x3648
END
start video
gphoto2 --set-config movie=1
stop video
gphoto2 --set-config=/main/actions/opcode=0x1018,0xFFFFFFFF
verify unusual 3648x3648 video
gphoto2 --list-files | grep MP4
#104 R0010409_0.MP4 rd 20044 KB 3648x3648 video/mp4 1733857807
#105 R0010409_1.MP4 rd 18877 KB 3648x3648 video/mp4 1733857807
#107 R0010411_0.MP4 rd 0 KB video/mp4 0
#108 R0010411_1.MP4 rd 0 KB video/mp4 0
#114 R0010417_0.MP4 rd 0 KB video/mp4 0
#115 R0010417_1.MP4 rd 0 KB video/mp4 0
#121 R0010423_0.MP4 rd 15156 KB 3648x3648 video/mp4 1740514635
#122 R0010423_1.MP4 rd 23892 KB 3648x3648 video/mp4 1740514635
download file from THETA Z1 to Macbook Air
gphoto2 --get-file 121
Saving file as R0010423_0.MP4
download second file
gphoto2 --get-file 122
Saving file as R0010423_1.MP4
showing 2fps video
verify existence of CaMM data
exiftool -ee -s -s -s -HandlerType -HandlerDescription R0010423_0.MP4
Video Track
Camera Metadata
URL
Metadata Tags
VideoHandle
CameraMetadataMotionHandler
DataHandler
extracting camm data for test
exiftool -v3 R0010423_0.MP4 | grep -A 20 -i "camm"
| | e431e1: 63 61 6d 6d 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 [camm............]
| | e431f1: 43 61 6d 65 72 61 4d 65 74 61 64 61 74 61 4d 6f [CameraMetadataMo]
| | [snip 45868 bytes]
| | + [Media directory]
| | | MediaHeader (SubDirectory) -->
| | | - Tag 'mdhd' (24 bytes):
| | | e431b9: 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 3b 9a ca 00 [............;...]
| | | e431c9: 00 00 07 68 55 c4 00 00 [...hU...]
| | | + [BinaryData directory, 24 bytes]
| | | | MediaHeaderVersion = 0
| | | | - Tag 0x0000 (4 bytes, int32u[1]):
| | | | e431b9: 00 00 00 00 [....]
| | | | MediaCreateDate = 0
| | | | - Tag 0x0001 (4 bytes, int32u[1]):
| | | | e431bd: 00 00 00 00 [....]
| | | | MediaModifyDate = 0
| | | | - Tag 0x0002 (4 bytes, int32u[1]):
| | | | e431c1: 00 00 00 00 [....]
| | | | MediaTimeScale = 1000000000
| | | | - Tag 0x0003 (4 bytes, int32u[1]):
| | | | e431c5: 3b 9a ca 00 [;...]
--
| | | e431d9: 00 00 00 00 6d 68 6c 72 63 61 6d 6d 00 00 00 00 [....mhlrcamm....]
| | | e431e9: 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 43 61 6d 65 72 61 4d 65 [........CameraMe]
| | | e431f9: 74 61 64 61 74 61 4d 6f 74 69 6f 6e 48 61 6e 64 [tadataMotionHand]
| | | e43209: 6c 65 72 00 [ler.]
| | | + [BinaryData directory, 52 bytes]
| | | | HandlerClass = mhlr
| | | | - Tag 0x0004 (4 bytes, undef[4]):
| | | | e431dd: 6d 68 6c 72 [mhlr]
| | | | HandlerType = camm
| | | | - Tag 0x0008 (4 bytes, undef[4]):
| | | | e431e1: 63 61 6d 6d [camm]
| | | | HandlerVendorID =
| | | | - Tag 0x000c (4 bytes, undef[4]):
| | | | e431e5: 00 00 00 00 [....]
| | | | HandlerDescription = CameraMetadataMotionHandler
| | | | - Tag 0x0018 (28 bytes, string[28]):
| | | | e431f1: 43 61 6d 65 72 61 4d 65 74 61 64 61 74 61 4d 6f [CameraMetadataMo]
| | | | e43201: 74 69 6f 6e 48 61 6e 64 6c 65 72 00 [tionHandler.]
| | | MediaInfo (SubDirectory) -->
| | | - Tag 'minf' (45848 bytes):
| | | e43215: 00 00 00 2c 68 64 6c 72 00 00 00 00 64 68 6c 72 [...,hdlr....dhlr]
| | | e43225: 75 72 6c 20 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 [url ............]
| | | e43235: 44 61 74 61 48 61 6e 64 6c 65 72 00 00 00 00 24 [DataHandler....$]
| | | e43245: 64 69 6e 66 00 00 00 1c 64 72 65 66 00 00 00 00 [dinf....dref....]
Z1 can now use WiFi while connected to USB Cable
With this firmware upgrade, the Z1 can also remain connected to WiFi while connected with a USB cable.
