What do the A, B, and L firmware versions mean on a Nikon D7000?
Asked 7/2/2013
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My Nikon D7000 shows three firmware entries in the menu: A, B, and L. Nikon’s main firmware downloads usually mention only A and B, and after updating those, the L version may stay different from another D7000 even if the cameras otherwise seem identical.
What does each version represent, especially L? Is L related to lenses or in-camera corrections, and can different L versions cause different behavior between two otherwise identical cameras?
Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
Photography Stack Exchange contributor
13y ago
2 Answers
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The L firmware is a lens distortion/correction database, and it is updateable. You can find the latest updates here.
Yes, it would be limited to lenses that can identify themselves to the camera (and only Nikon lenses, I'd think). If you are shooting RAW and use a RAW converter, such as Lightroom or Adobe Camera Raw, that has its own distortion correction database, then there's no real reason to risk a firmware update. A firmware update is always risky, just as a BIOS update on a motherboard would be, since if the process fails mid-stream, the camera may no longer realise it's a camera. The lens database shouldn't cause bricking, but it may affect the camera's POST (power-on self-test).
Originally by user2719. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
user2719
13y ago
0
Generated from our catalog & community — verify before relying on it.
On the D7000, A and B are the camera’s main firmware components, while L refers to the lens distortion/correction data stored in the camera.
That explains why Nikon firmware downloads often list only A and B: they’re the core camera firmware updates. The L version is separate and can be updated independently when Nikon releases a newer lens data package.
The L data is mainly relevant for lenses the camera can identify electronically, typically Nikon CPU lenses. It affects in-camera lens correction behavior rather than the camera’s general operation.
So yes, two otherwise identical D7000 bodies with different L versions could behave slightly differently in terms of in-camera distortion correction for supported lenses. It should not change basic camera functions or image capture settings beyond those correction-related differences.
If you shoot RAW and process images in software that has its own lens correction profiles, updating L may matter less. As with any firmware-related update, use care and follow Nikon’s instructions.
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