Solution: Step by Step guide to downgrade Lumix TZ7 to 1.1 firmware or ZS3

If you want to use 3rd party battery and your lumiz TZ7 or ZS3 shipped with 1.2 firmware, then you need to downgrade it to 1.1, there is no functional change between 1.1 and 1.2 except that 1.2 add in the block for 3rd party 'enhancement'.




My step is learned from the various forums posting and the actual panasonic guide, the difference (which I boldly experiented and learned) is




a) You can use SDHC card, although panasonic or other forum says only SD cards can be used


b) You don't have to format the SDHC card




Okay, lets go






Step 1 - Get the working 1.1 firmware






from www.opendrivers.com

Step 2 - Download the 1.1 firmware




The backup server works, the main link to some japan site is broken.

Step 3 - Unzip the file to your PC with the SD or SDHC card reader

Step 4 - Insert the SD or SDHC card






The official panasonic website and many forums say you need to format the card, I boldy tried and mine works, you do NOT have to format the SD or SDHC card

Step 5 - Copy the firmware to the directories into the SD or SDHC card

The panasonic guide says copy the firmware to the top directory in the card, some forums reporeted failure in installation and someone suggested copying the firmware to EVERY directory and let the camera decide, well, I copid to everywhere to save me the trouble.

Step 6 - Do the downgrading

For whatever reason, do NOT disturb the camera during the changing of firmware. Read the picture for the steps and also see the official guide at panasonic website. But it is a SIMPLE process, just don't do anyting funny or you get a dead camera

Step 7 - Insert your 3rd party Battery




Here is my 3rd party 3800mAH battery costing SGD32 while the official one is 895mAH costing SGD90. i will update this blog with the performance results

Step 8 - Delete off the firmware from the SD / SDHC card

This one obvious, if you don't delete, next time you leave the button on play mode and you turn on the power, it may just ask you to do update again as teh .bin file still there.