Firmware upgrades for.. lenses?

Moogle Pepper

I see taht Panasonic sent firmware updates for their lenses. But how? I know that might sound elementary, but I camera bodies carry their own internal memory. But lenses? Just curious how lenses get firmware updates.

ziggy53

I am not familiar with their technology but it does appear that the lens itself must have some non-volatile memory aboard and that it may also have a microprocessor. I am also unclear whether the body itself is also updated, which might make sense for certain speed and timing relationships between the body and lens.

Canon also uses microprocessors in its lenses, and some of the expensive video cameras use lenses with microprocessors that are very advanced:

http://www.usa.canon.com/industrial_bctv/casestudies_04_optics_electronics.shtml