Dave hates products with built in charging that don't use a standard Micro USB connector.
In this case the Panasonic Lumix LF1 with its stupid proprietary connector.
Why in this day and age of attempted standardisation are companies still doing this?
Dave also shows off a good example, the Sony NEX-5T that charges from standard Micro USB.
http://amzn.to/1fNgi5l
Forum: http://www.eevblog.com/forum/blog/eevblog-578-proprietary-connector-rant/'>http://www.eevblog.com/forum/blog/eevblog-578-proprietary-connector-rant/
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Hi, You know it really pisses me off. You know it really gets under my skin. Deliberate design decisions in consumer products to use proprietary freaking connectors example casing Point Panasonic Lf1 and otherwise very good Camera Beauty. It supports internal charging of the battery, right? Fantastic! You can charge it out in the field.

Hey, it even comes with a USB cable so you can charge it directly from USB Great! I Can use my little Powerp which I carry around with me, right? Only if you got the real custom freaking cable. You know what? I think of that. That's what I think of that bloody hell. You've gone to all the effort to design the proper circuitry into here to charge the battery in camera.

Fantastic! And then some in the marketing department come comes along and says, oh no, we can't use a standard micro USB No, we're going to put in some little thing that looks like micro USB So when you go, check out the photos of it. oh, it's pretty close. Yeah, supports micro. USB even comes with a bloody cable which you know, even kind of sort of looks like micro USB But no, it's a piece of proprietary cable and I'm sick of it.

Why? Why got to all the effort to properly design this design Engineers Fantastic job! charges in Camera Beauty and then you stick a proprietary connector on it. There's no reason for it. It's ridiculous. Just use a standard Micro USB charging cable.

That's what it was Bloody designed for. So screw you. Panasonic There's the little bastard on the left. Look at that little turd.

Yeah, it's a combined AV and digital out. And but you know, yeah, manufacturers have been doing that for years, combining you know, video and and power and all that sort of stuff. But in this case, you've got a HDMI connector right there on the right. Why do you need a piss an composite bloody S video heap of crap? And you know, and to use a proprietary connector? It's just an idiotic design decision.

Why you turd, You don't even get the bloody AV cable in the box. So what's the bloody point of it? And you got into all the trouble to put the bloody uh, chargeing in camera like this and not use a standard micro USB Look at it, Look at it. What is that piece of really? So now I've got that little rant out of my system. Let me show you a good camera and who does it come from? Well, the king of proprietary stuff.

Sony This is the Sony NEX 5T camera. Great little camera. Love it and what does it have on it? Standard Micro USB Connector: You can just use your existing cable which you carry around and that's the whole idea of standardizing on micro. USB uh connectors.

You just carry that one little cable I Carry around a little powerp with me everywhere I Go in my bag so it can charge my camera, my phone, my tablet, and all my other stuff which uses that standardized connector Panasonic Catch you next time! Um.

Avatar photo

By YTB

22 thoughts on “Eevblog #578 – proprietary connector rant – panasonic lf1”
  1. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars Yuri Zaichuck says:

    Micro f… USB has a special pin which is used by the likes of Panasonic to add a silly resistor to make sure that you have to buy their f… cable….

  2. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars Dave B says:

    LUMIX. what a stupid name.

  3. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars scat says:

    Was going to buy this not now

  4. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars Ivan Boskovic says:

    ……PS Vita.

  5. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars lnpilot says:

    Amen to that! (in a non-religious way). I specifically check the connector on cameras etc. in the store and refuse to buy the product if it has a proprietary connector.
    I have an Android phone vs. an iPhone, mostly because of the proprietary connectors on Apple products…

  6. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars Michael Kire Hansen says:

    Where to get that t-shit ? 🙂

  7. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars Александр Зиер says:

    Да похрен! Как то! Или нет? Епте !? Просто маг!

  8. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars masterchicken1990 says:

    I would like to let you know, that isn't a proprietary cable, it's quite a standard USB 8pin connector. Alot of cameras (Including my Sony DSLR) have it. As you said, they have done this to save space with various connectors and make cables which can be used for Camera to PC and can be connected to A/V equipment using composite video and stereo analog audio. My Sony camera comes from the time where hdmi was not the standard and thus not having a HDMI connector. alot of other cameras (even seen Webcams) have this connector. I cannot charge my camera on the go because it has a fairly big battery pack and the 5v/500mA will not make the cut in charging it. Other manufacturers use Mini/Micro USB with a Mini-jack for audio/video in composite/anolog format, which is better when you got alot of mini/micro usb cables around. and since HDMI is an all-in-one soltion which can be made very small, it will replace the older USB and A/V format.

  9. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars Barrios Groupie says:

    Dave you're a legend, this video always has me in stitches laughing when I see it.

  10. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars Jayrod64 says:

    The PS Vita Slim finally got released in the US,and while they finally changed the stupid charging connector to Micro USB,the Memory Cards are still proprietary.The memory cards are also very expensive.Why is it $80 for a a 32 GB PS Vita Memory Card.Compared to Micro SD,that's ridiculous.I've seen 32 GB Class 10 Micro SD Cards go as low $26.

  11. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars sequri says:

    Unfortunately, lot's of people have got used to living in proprietary universes (Apple, for example), where they are resigned to buying umpteen expensive accessories to get things done. This is because most peeps act like sheep and therefore get treated as such by the big bad wolfenstein manufacturers. They are seduced by the useless whizz-bang features beloved of marketing droids and cannot/will not vote with their feet. Consumers have all the power if they [all] did but know it.

  12. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars Jonathan Dragon says:

    apple and sony are notorious for there proprietary junk. That way they can try and hoard a patient on it.

  13. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars bjtaudio says:

    It actually cost manufactures more to make these special connectors and cables, but its designed to increase profits by frustrating you into spending more money. I've seen at times a similar product with a few extra features, but with the industry standard connectors but this model is like 3 times the price. What you can do is shop around and pay attention to detail in the specification and connectors offered, and avoid where possible gadgets that don't have the industry standard interface option. Save yourself a lot of hassle, always verify the connector you're looking at is what you think it is, thye deliberately make them look the same to trick you too. You can aim your rant at ugly human nature and greed for this!

  14. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars bjtaudio says:

    David, David, they go to all the trouble of deliberately creating proprietary connectors so they can make more money. This works by forcing you to only be able to use their specific connectors and cables with their products, and charge a fortune for it. Cables often break or get lost, so you can't just use any cable but the "approved" cable at a higher cost. Or else your forced to buy a new replacement product. Also by deliberately making things incompatible they can stop you from mixing and matching connecting different products to get more functions and features, this means if you what a specific feature your forced to buy the much more expensive model in their range. Yes it's marketing, it's all about profits at you're expense, its intended to frustrate you.

  15. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars subbookkeeper says:

    Also HP uses non-standard PSU connectors in their desktops. For example HP Compaq 8000 Elite series. They use 3 proprietary plugs instead of ATX form. 2 of them resemble atx ones and 3rd is completely different. No way of replacing PSU with a standard one. Also you can't replace the cpu heatsink. The holes are in different position than normal ATX boards use. I really hate that. There should be ban on proprietary designs in such things.

  16. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars OK2BCK says:

    love you Dave

  17. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars Darren Young says:

    Blimey one angry blow fly :/

  18. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars louist103 says:

    I guess he has not used an iPhone with the new connecter.

  19. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars John says:

    I wonder if panasonic ever responded?

  20. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars VauxhallViva1975 says:

    Lots of "Why?" questions here from Dave, and many other members.  The reason is really simple – MONEY.  If they put a standard connector, you can get them anywhere.  If they put a propriety connector on it, they can then charge you $70 for a $10 cable if you want a replacement or even the cable in the first place.  Dave keeps saying "There's no reason for it".  Yeah, I'm afraid there is – obtaining more of your money.  It's all about maximizing the profit margin of the product.

  21. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars chingy1788 says:

    Someone probably has a patent and wont licence it.

  22. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars joshcryer says:

    I agree with you somewhat on this but the miniUSB/AV was an attempt at a standard but it never caught on because it came out as we were transitioning to HDMI/HDTV. I have a Panasonic 10 MP camera that uses this same cable (unfortunately the camera didn't come with the AV connector so it is useless, the AV connector costs literally more than the camera when I brought it).

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