*UPDATE* 5D Mark II Firmware

Canon Rumors
0 Min Read

*UPDATE*
This info apparently comes from the Super Meet event in San Francisco. Canon is a sponsor of the event.

This information isn’t official from Canon that I can find.

Not in February…
We’re told the 5D Mark II feature firmware update will not be available in February. Another thing not in line for the firmware is 720p mode.

Thanks Andrew

cr

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65 Comments
  • No 720P will pi$$ a lot of people off – me especially, as i’m fed up with having to downsize everything for clients who don’t want more than 720!

  • Whhhhhhat, I held off a shoot till next month, since I though this bloody firmware was about to come out, pretty pls Canon can you release it ASAP.
    Cheerio

  • 24p and 25p are the important updates. 720p/60fps is not even near as important. Upscaling 720p to 1080p is also stupid because no one wants to use crappy uscaled footage in their 1080p works.

  • And what extra’s will this firmware bring us PHOTOGRAPHERS?

    I am having a 5D2 now for over a year and only tried the video function once or twice. Its a gadget, though great for the indie filmers, yes. But why should I need this as a photographer?

    Let those software developers for a primary Digital STILL camera rather focus on improved AF systems and better ISO performance instead of some video features….

  • This is nothing official, just a comment from a person that is not directly related to the event either.

    We should go to the real source.

    BUT in the worst case, if it’s true, then it’s another demonstration of how Canon is somewhat “playing” with customers (if you don’t understand this, it’s because you missed some additional information…)

    We are planning to start a new campaign, this time worldwide, fast and even easier…

    We are getting tired of some company’s behavior with customers and professionals which invested THOUSANDS of dollars in Canon equipment and are being treated in a bad/unprofessional way.

    .

  • Firmware updates rarely bring any improvements to a camera. Occasionally they may fix small AF errors or sometimes ISO banding issues, but none are issues with the 5D Mark II. You can’t possibly expect a firmware update to make your AF any better.

    These firmware updates do a lot for Video types because its a new technology/feature. Otherwise, there is hardly anything new or advanced about the 5D Mark II.

  • I hope that after waiting since the launch of the 5D MkI that is is firmware to disable the mode dial as this bloody thing is drives me crazy. If you pick one camera up after using another the mode dial has inevitably shifted from M to A or P or C1 or something other than M!!!!!!!!!!

    Why oh why can’t it have a lock on it? And to think 2 years later the MkII came out with the same design fault….then a year after that the 7D did it again!!!!

    I’d settle for firmware to switch it off, and lock it into a mode that I choose!

  • Tim Smith
    Technical Marketing and Training manager at Canon USA: At 2009 Createasphere UK…

    “We sort of had this soft announcement of a firmware upgrade, that i can confirm for you. Europe announced a little bit before us that theres going to be a firmware update that will add 24 frames to the camera itself and were expecting that first half of next year and that will add 24 frame rate to the 5D and that will match the other 3 cameras that do 24 (or 23.98) 29, 30 and 60i, also 720p as well as 1080 now so youll have 1080 & 720, you’ll do 60fps, 60p in 720 mode so your gonna get a lot of choices in terms of frame rates coming through”

    Tim Smith Technical Marketing and Training manager at Canon USA
    On Tech media planet podcast episode #14 @13 min mark…..

    “Are you ready for a scoop?..Absolutely. We are going to do this, we are going to do a firmware upgrade to give you the functionality of the other 2 cameras, so youll have 24.98, .. you know..97, you’ll have 60i you’ll have 30 but not 30P, youll now have 29.98 and it will all be done through a firmware system”

  • Anything that’s approached official has always said “first half.” If they reasonably expected first quarter, they’d have said first quarter. If it happens to get done before the end of June, I’m sure we’ll see it when it’s done (no reason not to release it as soon as it passes QA). But everything that’s said Jan/Feb/other “early 2010” dates has been rumor and conjecture.

  • I realize this is rumor, but Canon has not said anything about the firmware since the last announcement of a release in the first half. I mean. It´s not really credible that it would take 9 months to develop a small file like a firmware update. This smells.. Then Philip Bloom says he heard the mode is not really working very well. Means I´m gonna stop waiting and will be jumping on the 7D train after all. Yay. More money for lenses :)

  • Looking at 3rd party work flow draft, I think adding 24fps needs a complete rework of the structures, far more complex than I will anticipate.

  • come on….technically it is perfectly possible!
    and if the jello effects gets stronger…so what…let it be a gimmick…but to some this gimmick will be nice.

    so please canon…720/60….please!!!

  • How quickly we forget that Canon added MAJOR functionality to the 5D2 video mode after its release. It would be a shame if the 5D2’s capabilities don’t at least match the 7D after the firmware update but Canon is hardly treating 5D2 owners badly.

  • Wish I bough a Nikon D3s, Did my first shoot with the 5D MKII, swapped from Nikon to Canon (Yes including all the lenses) because I was told by Canon it would shoot in full HD and 60 fps @720p with the firmware update, compared to the 24 fps 720p of the Nikon, (the 1D mkIV was not available yet, when I had the shoot)

    The 5D MkII is crap in low light noise is very bad at 3200 and completely unusable at 6400, specially in video!

    The 5D only works in full auto with video, no manual exposure (Apart from the focus)

    Sound is also a mayor issue, and there is no head phones output and no on screen level display.

  • When did canon say 720p?

    What i remember is rumors coming out from a picture taken of a screenshot of an example of what the firmware might bring (it being the menu of a DIFFERENT camera)

  • Because the D3s gives you this? you like the outdated codec of the Nikons too right? and the extra jello. This post makes no sense at all

  • Have you seen how soft and lacking in detail D3s images are next to the 5DMk2.

    D3s high ISO images are no better than 5Dmk2 when the latter is downsize to the same 12MP with contrast lowered and softness applied.

  • You’re funny. The 5d2 is crap, eh? Buy a d3s and a red package. For about 45k you might have a system that will satisfy you. Moron.

  • I have an external mic and without on screen level meters i don’t know what i am getting.
    Levelmeters pls …

  • quote from Cinema5D post:

    ————————-

    ” Again (posted many times..) from the Canon Press Conference Report many months ago in Japan:

    That tells (in japanese):

    ~~ 24fps and 60fps were made possible (on the 7D) not because of dual DIGIG 4, actually a single DIGIC 4 can handle 24fps and 60fps. ~~

    – Check (and translate if you want) “Canon Press Conference REPORT about 7D, 5D Mark II and Digic 4” at:

    http://5dmark2.wordpress.com/2009/09/28/5d-mark-ii-features-request/

    – WE MUST REMEMBER ONE THING: Most of the video related improvements implemented on the 7D were in big part a direct consequence of all our worldwide requests to the 5D Mark II (If you have good memory, you will remember that Canon even admitted that -not mentioning 5D2 though- on their 7D announcement):

    – Standard frame rates (not that 30.00 fps non-standard mode)

    – 24p and 25p mode

    – dedicated menu / button

    – more accessible playback menu with “EDIT” function that allows to Cut & Save parts of the clip (that even ALL P&S cameras have, saving you LOT of editing time on a computer when you need only part of a clip/shot)

    – (HD output through HDMI ?)

    etc.

    The fact that Canon implemented them on the 7D does NOT necessarily means Canon won’t implement them in the 5D Mark II, you all know how business (and executives) are…

    – WHY they didn’t implement many of them on the 5D2 yet? Well, that is a GOOD question you SHOULD ask to Canon.

    I can’t just forget what happened with the full Manual Control and 24/25p, not being released to the public until many, many months later (see previous post: http://www.cinema5d.com/viewtopic.php?f=56&t=9121&st=0&sk=t&sd=a&start=90#p70046 )

    Competition is key factor, but customers demand is too.

    Keep on requesting what you need and what you DO know it CAN be implemented (Magic Lantern has already proven lot of features are possible, thus giving us a solid base to know this camera much deeper than any other)

    – So, KEEP ON REQUESTING. There are still chances to get more improvements (remember that only online complains are NOT enough)

    I won’t tell a lie saying we can get “all” what we request (not because it’s technically impossible, but because Canon’s own marketing plans, manager’s decisions, and lot of that same old story that sucks…), but we CAN certainly get more than this camera currently gives.

    We are mostly professionals who paid $2,700 for one (or more) body-only camera (plus all the additional full frame lenses, etc), it’s not a toy or game console (which in fact is frequently updated). That increases the chances to be heard indeed. ”

    ————————-

  • ” The 5D only works in full auto with video, no manual exposure (Apart from the focus)” ??

    Well, I encourage you to DO request features that can be implemented, but Manual Control was already given :) thanks to huge demand…

    Remember Canon own words: “By Popular Demand…”

    http://www.usa.canon.com/consumer/controller?act=MultiMiscPageAct&key=EOS_5DMKII_Firmware&fcategoryid=139

    Sure, they had the firmware with full manual control since LONG ago, but the HUGE demand pushed them and helped a lot to release it to public on June 2009.

  • totally agree with can ON .. ive had my 5d2 for over a year and as a photographer ive turned the video functions on a handful of times … i bought the camera because its great and it does the job i need and would never consider moving back to nikon.. but instead of perfecting the video caperbilities ..lets see a firmware that deals with CAMERA issues ie banding in shadow areas…..etc……

  • Hey Gibby,, they were just giving their opinion on what they thought of the camera- there’s no need for name calling just because you don’t agree with them… Douchebag.

  • The horrible auto gain audio filter is more egregious than selectable frame rates. After 24p, this is especially so, unless everyone is making silent films or synching sound from another Recorder.

  • Agreed! stop toying with us canon! enough creating expectations.tired of wainting!

    i´d prefer if they put it all out and tell us when and what they are going to do, so that we could make decisions on what to sell what to buy.

  • Agree and it would’ve been nice to get the 60p for slow-mo.

    If the HW in the 7D is different and they are not sure it can be done how could they have announced it months ago, if it is the same and maybe they even had it working months ago what the hell is up with the purposeful delay and locking out 720p60?

  • Canon already said in an interview that single digic can do 720p60 though!

    So either half of them are lying or half have no clue what thye are talking about.

  • Hmm. Cannot find the quote from your website now (too many mentions of firmware to easily find the right post), but at least the gist of the comment was about you hearing about problems making the firmware work satisfyingly. Right?

    If you say no I will have to trawl that site until I find it ;)

  • I am also with you. Not including 60p would be a RIDICULOUS move form Canon – especially since we know that it is possible at 720p since the data rate is LESS than other frame rates. Not including it will just provoke another wave of protest and bad publicity for Canon.

    If they release the firmware with 60P, it will NOT cannibalise 7D sales since the price gap is still wide enough between the two cameras – but it WILL attract some film makers into spending MORE for a 5D. If you have to buy either a ‘low’ end 7D or an extremely expensive ‘pro’ 1D Mk IV, just to get variable frame rates, there is clearly something wrong with Canon’s product line. People interested in film making will purchase a 7D, unless the 5D has at least EQUAL frame rate abilities as well as superior image quality, full frame sensor, etc. Canon risk cannibalising 5D sales, not 7D sale, unless they get the firmware right.

    CANON: WE NEED 60P, DON’T GIVE US A HALF BAKED FIRMWARE!

  • Like many others have expressed on Twitter, I REALLY hope that this is not true. If Canon want to stay competitive, they need to have as much consistency as possible with their other models. We know that the data rate of 60p (at 720p) is entirely achievable on the 5D, as we have learnt from sources and white-papers from Canon. If Canon wants to take the competition seriously, they MUST provide consistent frame rates across the board. If not, their line up will just look ridiculously segmented, and another wave of unhappy customers and bad publicity will follow.

    If they release the firmware on time, including 60p, it can only have a POSITIVE effect on their sales – some film makers might even upgrade and spend more money on a full frame camera which is competitive with the other models on offer. A half baked firmware won’t do Canon, we need 60p!

  • No one is forced to upscale 720p to 1080p. What 60p does add however is the ability to do slow motion footage, and at an easier to edit resolution when 1080p is overkill.

    We desperately need the frame rates of the 7D on the 5D. If they can’t do this in the firmware, it will only have a negative impact on 5D sales as people will get the cheaper 7D model for film making, even though the 5D has other advantages (image quality, full frame, etc) that we all want to use.

  • Ever think maybe Canon would rather sell you a 7D than a 5D?

    …wait for it…

    …I see the lightbulb…

    …it’s getting brighter…

  • The mode dial takes some significant force to move. I don’t see how it can be moved accidentally unless you are mistreating your camera. Mine has never been set to a position other than where I set it.

  • Makes sense being tough to do. But does it make sense announcing the firmware if they are not certain it works, or haven´t gotten it to work?

    The whole thing is very weird.

    Situation could be easily resolved if Canon followed the advice my favourite teacher gave me all those years ago: Tell it like it is.

  • The 5dmk2 is a fantastic camera,the video option is a wonderful tool and at the price they charged,here in New Zealand $8.000.000 it deserves the firmware updates that will make it equal too or technicly better than the 7D we 5dmk2 owners that shoot both photographs and video all require,everybody needs to breath deeply,wait as it will all pan out to our advantage,i too am frustrated but tyhe best thing to do is sign the partition and be heard by those in Canon. Ps..when they do release the firmware dont forget to say thankyou.

  • Uhm, no it really isn’t.

    I think Canon *just* might want to sell more $2700 cameras than $1600 cameras. And if you want to stupidly argue that basic point, be my guest.

  • I´m tired of rumors! tired of uncertainties! i just want to have an official statement on when will the firmware be released and what will it include.

  • “I´m tired of rumors! tired of uncertainties! i just want to have an official statement on when will the firmware be released and what will it include.”

    So true..

    “Although I am also waiting for the Firmware upgrade, some of the responses appear as though people think that Canon owes it to them. Please. “Everything is amazing and nobody’s happy””

    True also. But some people seem to feel that Canon owes them nothing. Is it so preposterous to want sound levels displayed? It just makes sense and is – as the lantern-guys showed – very easy to fix. Canon does not need to wait 6 months to do something about that. Really. No excuse. What happened to making sure your customers are happy? There is surely a middle ground. And right now, the total silence from Canon is weirding a lot of people out.

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