Olympus SP-350 battery/firmware issues

June 1, 2007 9:51 AM

Olympus SP-350: How can I fix the battery issues or update the firmware? (for free)

I have an Olympus SP-350. The firmware which comes with the camera (I believe it's 1.31) has the issue where when rechargable batteries lose a small amount of their power after being in the camera, the SP-350 thinks they are empty. So you only get to use a small percentage of the battery's power.

Olympus apparently fixed this problem with firmware 1.4. To get this update you HAVE to use the updating function built into Olympus' proprietary software called the "Olympus Master software." I threw this disk out immediately upon recieving the camera thinking, "I don't need this thing. I use Photoshop." Olympus charges to purchase copies of their "Olympus Master software."

Is there some other way to (a) fix the battery issues or (b) update the firmware without this software or (c) get a copy of this software without paying for it again (I have the damned camera!!)?

This is on a mac.

posted by beerbajay to technology (3 answers total)

I just checked a popular site (Har-Har) and there is a version available for download, for windows. This is of course illegal. Email in profile if needed.
posted by Ferrari328 at 10:28 AM on June 1, 2007

You might be able to buy a cheap broken SP-350 on eBay that has the software.
...and then resell it back to eBay
posted by MtDewd at 1:05 PM on June 1, 2007

Don't bother. My SP-350 has the same battery problems, even after the firmware update. I ended up buying another camera.
posted by Xazeru at 7:31 PM on June 1, 2007