Just received an email
After talking with a 3rd party firmware tester, the source informed me Canon has a firmware upgrade coming for the 5D2 and its processing issues tentatively on Monday.
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35 Comments
Hi,
I am quite interested in whether the Batch/serial number of the 5D II cameras may have anything to do with the ‘Black spot’ issue.
The variants would be that people with cameras affected may not have noticed or been able to replicate the issue.
However, so far to my knowledge only people with cameras that have SN – 02301xxxxx have been able to observe the issue, whether by accident or otherwise. This does lead to the possibility of a batch problem.
I myself have one with SN 02301107xx and have observed the issue, not deliberatley I might add.
Posts from people that appear to have considerable knowledge in this technology have a forming consensus of opinion that the problem may due to read error, possibly the speed at which the data is being read or data loss/drop due to a hardware fault – a slighlty faulty batch of components on the main board (maybe).
My camera is with Canon at the moment as they requested it be sent to :
Canon (UK) RCC
Unit 130 Centennial Park
Centennial Avenue
Elstree Hill South
This was after they scrutinised the pictures I sent to them.
I guess the crux is whether it could affect all of the current 5D II’s or some of them, who knows. I am also waiting with reserved judgement about the fix that will ‘mitigate’ the problem. I have used that word myself before when issuing statements after company issues.
Ah well, time will tell.
Regards
Glen W
Chris L. & Glen – I’ve found a way of reproducing the black dots, its to photograph a piece of black construction paper with holes in it with a bright light source behind it. I haven’t yet tested my 5D2 with SN 02201xxxxx but I will report back as soon as I do.
Sorry to say this, but mine is 02201XXXXX and does generate black dots under the “right” conditions. The reason some may be finding no spots is that they appear only under specific conditions–and are hard to spot (sorry…) I have not found this artifact to be very problematic as it is rare, would not be visible in most prints, and can be removed with a Photoshop action. That being said, Canon should get the bottom of this issue and provide a firmware fix or hardware recall if required.
Fantastic camera BTW.
I have a 5D2 with 02201xxxx and DO have black dots on mine. Was taking photos of some neon lights and it’s definitely there.
I have a mate who’s neighbor works for a chip shop that a Canon employee uses and *he* says the firmware update will let us use the 5DII with film.
Wow.