Canon UK has reposted the 7D Firmware version 1.2.5 on their web site. This is the same firmware we previously posted.

Changes in this Firmware

Firmware Version 1.2.5 incorporates the following improvements and fixes.

1. Fixed a rare phenomenon in which there were rare cases where movie files taken could not be opened when repeatedly shooting movies with specific CF cards.
2. Fixed a rare phenomenon in which there were cases where “Err 02″ appeared when repeatedly shooting still images with specific CF cards.
3. Fixed a phenomenon that occurred when using high-capacity (32 GB or greater) CF cards: If either a CF card with only a little available space remaining or the battery was removed and then reinserted into the camera, and then the user attempted to start shooting movies immediately, shooting would stop.
4. Improved the writing/reading speeds when using UDMA 7-compatible CF cards.
5. Fixed a phenomenon that occurred when custom function C.Fn 4-1 was set to assign IS start to the AF stop button on the lens: When used with lenses that do not have an AF stop button, the IS function would not work.
6. Corrected some mistakes in the menu screens displayed in Arabic and Portuguese. (This applies to models in overseas markets. The models for the Japanese market do not display those languages.)

Download Below

Version 1.2.5 (Windows)

Version 1.2.5 (Mac)

thanks Paul

cr

*UPDATE*
Canon has killed the links to the firmware on the various sites around the globe. So I am going to host it instead.

Download EOS 7D Firmware 1.2.5 (12.4mb)

Extract the .fir file and put it on the root of a CF card. Put the CF card in your 7D and go to the firmware section in your menu. Select the file on the card and install.

This firmware is official Canon firmware that was prematurely leaked by Canon UK & Canon Europe.

Disclaimer
Should you install it? I have and everything is ok. If you’re a bit uncomfortable doing so, you can probably live without it. If you have any of the bugs listed below, installing it is probably wise.

thanks Eric

Changes in this firmware

Firmware Version 1.2.5 incorporates the following improvements and fixes.

1. Fixed a rare phenomenon in which there were rare cases where movie files taken could not be opened when repeatedly shooting movies with specific CF cards.
2. Fixed a rare phenomenon in which there were cases where “Err 02″ appeared when repeatedly shooting still images with specific CF cards.
3. Fixed a phenomenon that occurred when using high-capacity (32 GB or greater) CF cards: If either a CF card with only a little available space remaining or the battery was removed and then reinserted into the camera, and then the user attempted to start shooting movies immediately, shooting would stop.
4. Improved the writing/reading speeds when using UDMA 7-compatible CF cards.
5. Fixed a phenomenon that occurred when custom function C.Fn 4-1 was set to assign IS start to the AF stop button on the lens: When used with lenses that do not have an AF stop button, the IS function would not work.
6. Corrected some mistakes in the menu screens displayed in Arabic and Portuguese. (This applies to models in overseas markets. The models for the Japanese market do not display those languages.)

Posted on the Canon UK web site here (mac) & here (win)

thanks W

cr

Save Money!
Rebates on the 60D and 7D are coming February 20, 2011 in the United States and run through until March 20, 2011.

60D will get a $100 instant rebate.

7D will get a $200 instant rebate.

Both deals will apply to kits as well. No word on rebates for the rest of the planet.

cr

Effective December 6, 2010, Canon will start to provide as a chargeable service, a locking mode dial modification for the “EOS 5D MarkII” and “EOS 7D” digital single-lens reflex cameras.

This modification is available, for a fee, to owners of these cameras who would prefer a Mode Dial which locks in place and can’t be accidentally moved during normal camera operation.

For USA residents, the pricing of the locking mode dial modification service for EOS 5D Mark II and 7D cameras has been set at $100 per camera as of December, 2010. (Pricing and availability subject to change without notice.) For further details, see contact information for inquiries below.

Once modified, users must first press and hold down the central lock-release button in order to turn the Mode Dial. The modification is intended to prevent the Mode Dial from accidentally moving, once set to a particular exposure mode by the user.

Applicable Products
EOS 5D Mark II Digital SLR Cameras
EOS 7D Digital SLR Cameras

cr

Firmware version 1.2.3 incorporates the following fixes.

• Fixes a phenomenon in which the settings of the Speedlite Transmitter ST-E2 revert to the default settings when both the camera and the ST-E2 are set to auto power off.
• Fixes a phenomenon in which the Macro Ring Lite (MR-14EX, MT24-EX) and slave flashes do not sync while shooting wirelessly.

Download the firmware

thanks Olivier

cr

Canon 7DSV
I’ve received lots of information about the 7D Studio Version w/Barcode Scanner.

7DSV

This thing started to ship almost a month ago, that’s why I didn’t post about it.

From Canon’s Official Press Release

For wedding and portrait photographers, one of the most enjoyable parts of a project is the actual photographic element with the laborious work starting when the time comes to organize files, edit and ultimately provide the finished product. To help make this process less cumbersome, Canon U.S.A. Inc., a leader in digital imaging, today announced the launch of a new EOS 7D Studio Version DSLR Camera, ideal for professional school and event photographers which features four levels of “locking” camera controls for studio environments. In addition to the “locking” feature on the new EOS 7D Studio Version, the Company is also introducing a Canon Barcode Solution, which links customer data directly with the image file so that it can be maintained throughout the entire workflow process, ideal for school photographers, forensic and medical photo workflows.

Read More: http://www.usa.canon.com/cusa/about_canon?pageKeyCode=pressreldetail&docId=0901e024801dc12b

cr

New Waterproof Soon
A sign a new waterproof camera is on its way is Canon Canada seems to be replaceing broken D10′s with whole new cameras, instead of fixing them.

I’ve seen this once before with a midlevel PowerShot, and sure enough it was replaced shortly after.

There are lots of factors that probably go into these decisions, but cost of warehousing them is definitely a factor. A discontinued PowerShot is a hard sell for retailers outside of the G series.

Theres also perception issues and high administrative costs to just pricedrop a camera to get rid of them.

Entire 2010/2011 Season of House By Canon DSLR?
I received information that the makers of House plan to shoot the entire next season with the 5D Mark II and possibly the 7D.

However, this time they would be adapting PV & possibly PL lenses.

cr

Making the rounds
With sales figures of the grossly overpriced WiFi grips not going so well, it’s been suggested new grips will be coming for a few cameras. The grips will be GPS capable.

If it were true, I’d expect to see them for the xxD and 7D initially

The source claims the GPS grips will not have WiFi as well.

cr

New rebates from Canon USA
Save up to $200 when you purchase an EOS Rebel T2i (body or select kit combination) or up to $250 when you purchase an EOS 7D (body or select kit combination) between April 29, 2010 – June 5, 2010.

Read More (PDF): http://downloads.canon.com/

cr

From Vincent Laforet

NAB 2010 kicks off tomorrow – and you should expect some pretty fantastic announcements from a wide variety of companies. I know of quite a few – but am sworn to secrecy for at least another 12 hours or so.

For those of you who could not make it out to the city of sin for this conference – know that a lot of the buzz here surrounds the HD DSLR and “convergence” worlds. Very exciting times. I can’t wait to share a lot of what I know with you very shortly. Zeiss, RedRock Micro, Lite Panels, Marshall Electronics, Canon and many many more have some very exciting announcement to make tomorrow!

Read More: http://blog.vincentlaforet.com

From Canon, it could be the remotes we were told about.

Adobe has announced Creative Suite 5
Check out all the info about the new suite from adobe.

http://www.adobe.com/products/creativesuite/?promoid=FDTFL

cr

*UPDATE* What’s the firmware do?
I received some info about firmware 1.2.0. It is a legitimate version.

Fixes
- Fixes issues related to poor quality third party batteries.
- Added code for upcoming remotes, accessories and lenses.

The source is a good one.

5D Mark II Issue (Direct Quote)

Also, 5DII twitch (confirmed as a metering spike) is known – keeps things looking even for the sensor which fluctuates charge/discharge based upon several criteria.  It’s working properly when it does this, sensing changes that are electronic and compensating for image continuity.  It allows for smooth transitions, both while focusing and for proper exposure.  The sudden opening and closing “bridges” the gap during a discharge.  It is inherently random.

thanks

From POTN
A post on POTN shows a 7D with what appears to be firmware version 1.2.0. The current official version from Canon is version 1.1.0.

New Firmware Coming?

See the thread for more: http://photography-on-the.net/

No word yet on what fixes or features were addressed. It’s after April 1, so I think we can assume it’s not a PS job.

Thanks Troy

cr

Canon launches new Wireless transmitters for 1D Mark IV, 5D Mark II and the 7D
LAKE SUCCESS, N.Y., January 7, 2009 – Canon U.S.A., Inc., a leader in digital imaging, is announcing a step forward in the digital integration of professional photography workflows with the introduction of three new Wireless File Transmitter units to accompany each of the Company’s three professional Digital SLR Camera models. The new WFT-E2 II A Wireless File Transmitter, WFT-E4 II A Wireless File Transmitter and WFT-E5A Wireless File Transmitter for the EOS-1D Mark IV, EOS 5D Mark II and EOS 7D, respectively, provide professional photographers with a range of innovative wireless connectivity options for all photographic disciplines.

Full Press Release: http://www.usa.canon.com/……

Delkin Delivers Genuine Human Contact with New 420X CompactFlash Line
Poway, CA. January 7th, 2010 – Delkin Devices, Inc. today expanded their lineup of CompactFlash card storage by announcing four new blazing fast 420X PRO cards capable of transfer speeds up to 63MB/s. The new UDMA enabled flash memory comes with a remarkable San Diego based customer service team as well as a lifetime warranty, and is available in capacities of 8GB, 16GB, 32GB and 64GB. For a working photographer, the reliability and service support behind a memory card can be just as crucial, if not more so, than the camera itself.

“Unless they have blown it up, dissected it, or their dog has chewed on it, we’ll take it back,” said Eric Findley, Delkin’s Customer Service Supervisor. “Since we’re based out of Southern California it’s easy to call us up and talk to a knowledgeable person withinminutes. We stand by our hassle free exchange policy; in addition to the lifetime warranty on flash memory, we have industry leading product support policies on our batteries, readers, adapters, and most all of our digital camera accessories. We build superb products and we want photographers to know they can count on us to support them.”

Delkin’s PRO memory card line combines blazing fast speeds and increased capacity with unmatched reliability. Every card is manufactured with high grade NAND flash, advanced controller design, and quality control guidelines based on ISO:9001 standards. Additionally, built-in ECC (Error Correction Code) automatically detects and corrects any errors that might occur during data transfer. Delkin’s 420X CF cards are fully compliant with current CompactFlash specifications with support for Ultra DMA (UDMA) mode 6. These high-speed cards are able to instantaneously store high-resolution images and HD video, making recording faster and easier than ever.

Delkin has supported Lifetime warranties on its memory products for over 20 years and maintains a U.S. based support center where genuine human assistance is consistently available Monday through Friday between 8am and 5pm PST. Delkin’s 420X PRO line of CompactFlash memory cards and other innovative digital camera accessories may be found in camera stores and distributors worldwide, as well as the company’s website at www.delkin.com.

cr

Canon Rumors 2009 Awards!
Here are my picks for the best and worst of 2009. Stay tuned tomorrow for my predictions for 2010 from Canon.

*Note: You may disagree with something here, just be nice about it if you make a comment.

Best New Digital SLR
Winner: 1D Mark IV
Runner-up: 7D

This was a tough choice because I have never used a 1D Mark IV (I will be soon). I’m basing this on initial reports from various pros. The image quality, autofocus and feature set make it a winner. The only knock folks have against it is the price. Do digital SLR’s really need to cost $5000?

The 7D is a great camera for most people. After seeing and experiencing the softness of the files at small apertures, my opinion of the camera dwindled a little bit. I still think the 7D is Canon actually listening (for the most part) to consumers of prosumer level camera bodies.

As I said last year, Canon had to rethink the xxD line. The 7D addresses that, now lets see what the 60D brings us.

Worst Digital SLR
Winner: Rebel T1i

More mega pixels and a gimped movie mode. The 18-55 has no hope of resolving the 15.1mp sensor the T1i possesses, so why bother?

The 20fps 1080p movie mode is ridiculous. Lower the bitrate or some other way to gimp the movie mode to keep it below the 7D and 5D2.

The Rebel line also needs scrollwheel. It’s not a saleable feature, but it sure is a great thing to have. Ergonomics of the camera in general feel dated.

I was a big fan of the Rebel line until complacency set it. Yes, the Rebel is the best selling digital slr on earth, but that doesn’t mean it can’t push the boundaries of what a great entry level dslr should be.

Best PowerShot
Winner: S90
Runner-up: SD780

I was happy to see the return of the S line from Canon. I love the S90. I love the size, the ergonomics, the ring and the image quality the camera dishes out. It’s great to see Canon has some creative engineers.

SD780?! Yes, I love that little thing. It’s small (oh so small) and quite stylish. The HD movie mode and image quality are pretty decent. This is another creative offering from Canon.

Worst PowerShot
Winner: SX120
Runner-up: A480

Big, ugly, unreliable and boring.. that’s all I have to say about the SX120. It’s a solid value for what it costs, I’m just not a fan.

The A480 is cheap, and probably worth what it costs. I’d like to see IS put into their entry level camera. The LCD on this camera is horrendous as well.

Best New Lens
Winner: TS-E 17 f/4L
Runner-up: EF-S 15-85 f/3.5-5.6 IS USM

Oh how fun is that 17mm Tilt-Shift? Tons! Canon’s new tilt-shifts, especially the 17mm set the benchmark again for these types of lenses. Image quality, build quality and useablity are second to none. A job well done.

The 17-85 sure needed to be upgraded as a kit lens. The 15-85 is a well built and very good performer on the 7D. You immediately notice the build quality and heft of the new lens when you pick it up. I’ve used it and really think it’s worth the price.

Worst New Lens
Winner: 18-135 IS

Zzzzz….

Best New Third Party Lens
Winner: Tamron 17-50 f/2.8 VC

I was a big fan of the original, adding vibration correction to the lens just makes it an even better value.

Best New Third Party Camera
Winner: Leica M9
Runner-up: Panasonic GF1

The M9 is a fine example of a company listening to its followers and delivering a great camera to follow-up a not so great camera. I liked the M8, but it was a hassle at times to use.

It costs a lot, but who cares? I’m a big fan of the rangefinder and always will be. I currently use some film Leicas and I’m currently waiting for my M9 to arrive (possibly March!). Leica will not be able to meet demand for this camera in 2010.

The Panasonic GF1 is almost great. The problems I have with the camera is it feels like a point & shoot, the external EVF is pretty bad, I find the camera quite ugly with all those logos on the front and the jpg processing is very poor.

However, it’s a giant step in the right direction for Micro 4/3. I wish Panasonic would hire some real camera designers to really bring the system up to par with other photographic tools.

cr

7D at DXO Labs
DXO labs has added data for the 7D to their database of camera rankings.

http://www.dxomark.com/index.php/…..

They have also added data for the G11 & S90

http://www.dxomark.com/index.php/eng/…..

thanks Michael

cr