This is the star of Ver. 1.2. Before the update, shooting at 400mm (equivalent) handheld for video was a shaky mess. After the update, the OIS algorithm was refined. You can now reliably get 5-axis stabilization at 1/30th of a second for stills, and usable handheld 4K video at 200mm.
With Firmware 2.0 or 2.1, your FZ1000 II is ready for V-Log L, but it is not active. Panasonic requires a paid software key (DMW-SFU1, approx $100-140). This unlocks a flat, LOG gamma curve that preserves highlights and shadows.
Do you need it?
To activate V-Log L after purchasing the key: panasonic fz1000 ii firmware update
Even simple updates can go wrong. Here is how to fix the most frequent issues:
| Error Message / Issue | Likely Cause | Solution | | :--- | :--- | :--- | | “No valid firmware to update” | Wrong .bin file, or file is in wrong folder. | Ensure file name matches your exact model (FZ1000M2, not FZ1000). Place file on root of card. | | “Battery exhausted” | Battery below 50% charge. | Use a freshly charged original Panasonic battery. Third-party batteries sometimes misreport charge levels. | | Update freezes at 0% | Corrupt SD card or poor connection. | Reformat card in-camera. Re-download the firmware. Try a different SD card (Class 10 or U3 recommended). | | Camera won’t enter update mode | You used the mode dial instead of Playback button. | Turn camera off. Press and hold the Playback button (▶️), then flip the power switch. | | HDMI no longer works after 2.0 | Settings were reset. | Go to Menu → Video → HDMI Recording Output. Set to “ON” for 10-bit output; if using a non-10-bit monitor, set to “OFF.” |
It is important to note that as of 2025, Panasonic has not released a Ver. 1.3. Rumors of USB-C tethering improvements never materialized. Ver. 1.2 remains the final official update. This is the star of Ver
Unlike a software patch on a smartphone, a camera firmware update is low-level code that literally rewrites how the camera’s processor talks to its sensors, lens, and memory cards. For the FZ1000 II, updates have historically addressed three key areas:
Ignoring a firmware update risks running into known bugs that Panasonic has already solved.
Having installed Ver. 1.2 on the FZ1000 II, here is the real-world difference users and testers have found. To activate V-Log L after purchasing the key:
As of this writing, Version 2.1 is the latest stable release. Here is the official process.
Unlikely. The FZ1000 II was released in 2019. Panasonic’s focus has shifted to full-frame mirrorless (S series) and newer bridge cameras (FZ2000 / FZ2500). Don’t expect v1.3 or new features.