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It's coming
We know there's a firmware update coming. I've been told it'll arrive on Monday from one source, and another says the first week of January.
One interesting thing I was told is that a new functionality could be added in the update (24p). I'm not too sure about that, Canon hasn't really been know to add features in firmware updates. Welcome to the rumors.
Official Canon Statement on the Black Dot Issue
Service Notice
EOS 5D Mark II Body support
Support & Service
Black dot phenomenon and Vertical banding noise
Posted on: December 17, 2008
To Owners of the EOS 5D Mark II Digital SLR Camera :
Thank you for using Canon products.
We have learned that some users of the Canon EOS 5D Mark II digital SLR camera have indicated two types of image quality phenomena that appear under certain shooting conditions.
1. “Black dot†phenomenon (the right side of point light sources becomes black)
2. Vertical banding noise
We are currently investigating ways to improve and/or mitigate these phenomena. An announcement will be made on the Canon Website when measures to address these phenomena have been decided.
The phenomena are likely to occur under the following shooting conditions.
1. “Black dot†phenomenon (the right side of point light sources becomes black) When shooting night scenes, the right side of point light sources (such as lights from building windows) may become black. The phenomenon may become visible if the images are enlarged to 100% or above on a monitor or if large prints of the images are made.
2. Vertical banding noise If the recording format is set to sRAW1, vertical banding noise may become visible depending on the camera settings, subject, and background. The following camera settings can reduce the phenomenon.
* Set the recording format to RAW or JPEG.
* Set C.Fn II-3: Highlight tone priority to 0: Disable if the recording format is set to sRAW1.
* The vertical banding noise is not noticeable if the recording format is set to sRAW2, but please set C.Fn II-3: Highlight tone priority to 0: Disable if you are concerned about noise.
Canon always strives to provide the highest quality products to our customers. We apologize for any inconvenience these phenomena may have caused. We appreciate your kind patronage and support.
cr
With the negative buzz/hype surrounding this issue it would be a mistake to let this go into January, just from a marketing perspective…
It is very likely that a 24 fps enhancement could be coming. Vincent Laforet’s blog had over 500 posters requesting this, and he has quite a bit of influence with Canon right now after the sucess of his video and the huge interest it generated. As I recall, he started lobbying for the feature based on the prototype he had, but said don’t expect it until next year.
also see Canons acknowledgement of the problem. (Translated from Japanese.
http://translate.google.com/translate?hl=en&u=http%3A%2F%2Fcweb.canon.jp%2Fe-support%2Fproducts%2Feos-d%2F081219eos5dmk2.html&sl=ja&tl=en
why CR2?
http://www.canon.com.au/support/customer/default.asp?DXI=KnowledgeBase/Customer/KBArticleForm&File=KB01657&productID=eos5dmkII
Thanks CR for posting this! Too bad this information is not part of the ‘Service & Support’ tab of the FAQ. Link: http://www.usa.canon.com/consumer/controller?act=ModelInfoAct&fcategoryid=139&modelid=17662#SupportDetailAct
Looking forward to those with the problem resolved by the latest firmware upload before I try it on my 5Dmk2.
I don’t care if it takes a little longer as long as they fix it a 100% right the first time instead of rushing it out to the public and its only fixing the problem(s) for 90% :|
I’d love to see manual control added to the video mode, but I’m not holding my breath…
@yitzy
Heya, I didn’t mean to CR it at all.. it’s obviously true. Thanks for the heads up.
and how about the much worse CA / color fringing compared to the original 5D. Even in pp impossible to get rid of it. looks terrible on large prints :(
Would the CA and fringing be more about lens limitation on the new sensor than the 5D2 itself?
I highly doubt they will add a new feature related to 24p. However, if they do do something like that, I’d put my money on 25p not 24p despite all the 24p fanboys running around the internets. Without 25p, Canon gave a big FU to Europe, something I’m thinking the Euros are not happy about right now.
@cr: about CA… you are right, but if we have the best l-lenses and get this issue, I don’t care, where the problem is – I just don want to see it on my images or at least fix it in pp. I am quite sure that my stock agencies will turn down some images of the 5DII…that never happened with the 5D … and this really can’t be the sense of this new camera. for now, I am back to good old 5D
also: lenses with A900 and D3 seem not to have this issue, so why do we canonians have problems one more time.
…I meant d3x above
As I understand it, there are two potential areas for CA’s.
1. The lens, of course. Any weaknesses are much easier to see because of the additional magnification that 21mp gives.
2. The 5D2 micro lenses over the sensor are smaller and generate their own CA. I don’t know if this is a real world issue or not.
I do know that lenses like the 24-105mm IS that is very sharp on my 40D does not produce as good of a image, particularly at the edges. For the first time, I notice viginetting on many lenses as well.
Use of primes rather than zooms makes a noticible difference, and the consumer grade zooms perform even more poorly than the “L” zooms.
Still, when reduced to normal viewing size, the images are excellent. However, if you have a publisher who checks photos at 100%, he is going to see more lens related issues.
24-105L CA and fringing.
135L No CA no fringing.
It may have something to do with the camera, but there is a lens component to this.
I’ve been very happy with my 35 1.4 with the camera…
as for the upgrades – I don’t see canon doing it either…adding new abilities in fw has not been a staple of there’s even back when people hacked the spot metering in the older cameras canon never just said screw it and added it the way they could have…
I think it’s possible to put the squeeze on Canon to make them supply a firmware update that purchasers require/desire. If there’s enough noise they will be compelled. Believe it or not, RED has Canon in a tough place. Soon, $3k red cameras will rival the DLSR market, supporting multiple lenses, upgradeable sensors, full motion video etc. Canon really needs to keep it’s loyal customers loyal by listening to the people. 1Ds MKIII people want a reason why their camera cost $5k more than our 5D MKII – and they want a medium format digital Canon. Our request for a 24p (25p) manual control firmware update is valid. We just need to keep reminding Canon we want it, and then remind them again. Heck, i’d be willing to pay money to a third party firmware upgrade if they’re smart enough to figure out how to do it!
I fully agree. My tests here in Germany with the video footage done with 30p and finaly burning a DVD are absolutly disappointing. Surprisingly Cybershot Power Director can handle the mov. files and they look good before you try to burn them on any given media to play them on a PAL TV. In fact it is a NTSC video cam. We need 25p.
Best
Bernhard
Anyone heard any updates on an ETA for a firmware fix? My guess is that everyone is essentially shutdown for the holidays so it won’t be until late January at the earliest we see anything.
I am very disappointed with the canon brand.
25P mode is essential.
what they are inflicting on the European unbearable.
very disappointed.
I hope someone shows canon the finger and hacks the camera. It’s typically canon to let users pay 3000 bucks for disabled manual controls in video mode to not compete with their video biz.
The 5d2 STILL has banding issues even the latest firmware. The Canon brand is losing its credibility.