Canon Firmware

Firmware Updates For Everyone!

Canon Rumors
Canon Rumors
55 Comments
1 Min Read

well, almost everyone.
The following firmware is said to update these cameras to work with the WFT-E2 II.

The 5D Mark II gets an added fix, see the note.

1Ds Mark III: http://web.canon.jp/imaging/eosd/eos1dsm3/firmware-e.html

1D Mark III: http://web.canon.jp/imaging/eos1dm3/firmware.html

5D Mark II: http://web.canon.jp/imaging/eosd/firm-e/eos5dmk2/firmware.html
*note: Corrects a phenomenon in which visible noise may appear in images taken by continuous Bulb shooting.

WFT-E2/ E2A: http://web.canon.jp/imaging/wft/wfte2-firmware-e.html

Stealth Upgrades?
I’m not sure if anyone has ever confirmed a Canon firmware update to include undisclosed tweaks and fixes. Anyone know for sure?

thanks Ray

cr

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55 Comments

  • As a programmer I can say that the stealth software and firmware improvements happen all the time. Sometimes only very small tweaks, sometimes far repercussions of some previous major corrections, often only programmer knows it. As an example look at the list of last improvements of Nikon Capture NX 2.2.4. Firmware in cameras isn’t so complex so situation is not that bad. The RISC microprocessors used there have a limited list of instructions. However I strongly advise to download every new release of the camera firmware even if we are happy with our present one. We can always be more happy, can’t we?

  • ” Stealth Upgrades?

    I’m not sure if anyone has ever confirmed a Canon firmware update to include undisclosed tweaks and fixes. Anyone know for sure? ”

    – We, at least, know for a FACT unofficial firmware releases with additional functions.

    – Aside that, we have just posted:

    http://5dmark2.wordpress.com/2009/12/17/canon-firmware-updates/

    – We would thank to anyone who has the chance to contact any Canon Representative, Manager or even Executive, to mention the above post.

    We know most people who have some direct contact to Canon are reluctant to get involved in anything related to requests for improvements. But mentioning it doesn’t heart.

    Customers requests and feedbacks give the company the chance to get better products and MORE SALES, and thats what the company want, doesn’t it?

    So don’t be afraid. Canon has a great customer service in most places. Check the blog for further Information & Testimonials.

    Thanks a lot to everyone supporting.

  • Which firmware update are you confirming has undisclosed fixes. Unreleased / test firmware does not count for obvious reasons.

  • I just updated my 5D Mk II from 1.1.0 to 1.2.4 and all went well. We’ll see how the photos look tomorrow.

  • With “unofficial firmware releases” we mean not released to public, obviously.

    Many are for testing purposes, others might not see the light unless huge demand…

  • “Firmware Updates For Everyone!” except for those with 500D’s that would like manual control of video mode… and 24p, but since the since the 5DmkII hasn’t got it yet.. i guess i’ll just buy a 7D.

    see, canon have it figured out. they know how to get my money.

  • the firmware version on the 5D suggests a rather big update, however does it only do 2 listed things? I was hoping to see new video modes in this update.

  • why give more if they can get these ppl to upgrade next year? (either the 500D replacement or to the 7D).

    You just got to know how Canon thinks :D

  • I love the initiative of your 5DM2 ‘improvements’ campaign, but it would get more traction with Canon if it looked more professional.

    For example:

    – have a clearer, more sober design with high contrast
    – review the typography (Tahoma looks less serious)
    – have a clear summary of your points, using proper bullets, that you can disseminate widely; save the detail and the WHY of each request for a ‘more info’ page
    – fix the punctuation in the text (no more exclamation marks! trailing dots….etc.)
    – stop using a mix of BOLD and normal text

    Just look at any Greenpeace or Amnesty campaign as a reference. These groups are pushing for something totally different of course, but the same tools and methodologies apply.

  • 5d updated from 1.1.0->1.2.4? that means it took 14 attempts to get the WFT-E2 II AND fix the bulbmode noise issue working with the 5d2 code line…. lol 1.1.1, 1.1.2, 1.1.3, ….1.2.0, 1.2.1… 1.2.4 yay it works!

  • Yes… we have to wait the new Nikon d700s or d800 and sell back our Canon 5D mark II just a couple of days before, in order to get back some money!

  • Are you kidding me? How does it seem that Canon doesn’t care? Isn’t the fake they released the manual firmware and have plans for the 24p one show that they DO care?

  • Going from 1.1.0 to 1.2.0 suggests a big change in the software, but it seems like it was behind the scenes, i.e. structure. Revising for new functionality down the road? Going to .4 is kinda weird.

    But the bottom line is

    WHERE IS 24p VIDEO?!?!?

    Thanks for letting me vent.

  • Thanks for your suggestion.

    We’ll take them in account.

    Unfortunately some of them are impossible using WordPress’ free templates, the options are very limited (in design, colors, font type and size, etc).

    Thanks a lot.

  • He has a huge point. It’s not the limitation to the WordPress templates he’s talking about. It’s confusing to read, reads as very unprofessional, and while I respect your passion and share your interest, the poor grammer and use of English makes it difficult to take seriously. It’s one thing to post spelling and grammer mistakes in a comment (I do it all the time), it’s another to do so in writing an entire website. If that site is something you intend to pursue seriously you should get a good book on grammer and style like Strunk’s Elements of Style and Guide to Grammar and Style by Jack Lynch.

    “WHY releasing Firmware Updates?” I have no idea what that even means.

    The use of bullet points between your normal sentences is very confusing. This is something you should only do when listing features, not in place of writing a paragraph. As an example, “- This is VERY significant and also a unique case in a LONG time.” That is a continuing senstence from the previous one, and should not be a bullet point, not to mention the second half of the sentence is grammatically incorrect and barely understandable.

    It’s also unclear who you are talking to in your writing. Are you trying to convince Canon they should release more firmware updates, or are you trying to educate people about why they already do release firmware updates? Your topics need to be as clear as possible.

    Not saying this to insult or bash you, but I doubt Gamble, Jeff and I are the only people who have this view.

  • Thanks for your comment. We understand your points and share some of them.

    It would be GREAT to have more professional writers doing this job on their own sites.

    We already proved that is not the “pro look” of a letter what can make a change, it is the MASS of customers and users TAKING ACTIONS (right and polite actions).

    So even if it is not professionally written, it can help a lot. In fact it already did, and it will too.

    We would LOVE to see professional writers getting involved, helping the Filmmaking and Canon users community, doing what they do best.

    That will help a lot indeed, BUT most people who owns or write on renowned websites were and are reluctant to do it (fear? of what?)

    So, we have done most by ourselves, that’s what we had along this last year, and we keep doing the best we can, with the help of LOT Canon users.

    In fact, all the improvements achieved for the 5D Mark II are a direct consequence of the customers requests.

    So big thanks and credits go to EVERYONE who contacted Canon representatives, managers or executives, and who picked up the phone and CALLED CANON to register features requests.

    – This is a Community action. That CAN make a difference (not a letter by itself no matter how professional it looks).

    Thanks.

  • Still the same error on accessing Flash C.Fn settings with “compatible” Canon ST-E2: This menu cannot be displayed. Incompatible flash or flash’s power is turned off. In standard flash function settings, it’s not possible to change Flash mode, shutter sync and FEB.

  • Just buy and read the book “Guide to Grammar and Style” by Jack Lynch, or Strunk’s “Elements of Style.” It will help you a lot and then you will not need professinal writers.

  • Thanks for the advice.

    Although much more helpful for the cause/campaign would be to have dedicated people spreading the voice, testing the camera and understanding the huge and deep technical capabilities not exploited yet, writing their own articles on their own websites and also requesting the very possible improvements to Canon.

    We won’t get jealous at all :)

    This is really a COMMUNITY action, not a blog alone.

    We only act as informers, collecting information/documentation and helping people to take right, polite and constructive actions to achieve what CAN be done: to improve the Canon 5D Mark II.

    That’s all.

  • Well, look at it this way. Unless you get some decent editing, grammer and a more educated look to your site, no one is going to link to it – though I’m sure many would like to if it came across as something intelligable. I’d put a link to it on my site, but frankly it’s too embaressing at this point.

  • Why Mr.W? I’ll never do that, I’m sorry, I like this site, I like rumors, I still like Canon more than you think and I like comments of the others.

    I also believe that some products could be improved, because nothing is perfect.

    But if I buy a Nikon do you start looking at me like I am an alien? Usually I do not judge people by the brand of their camera: do you do that? That’s sad…

  • Yes, Canon did that after thousands people asked that, I think you work for Canon… if so please read what community asks :-)

    And please do not forget that the Canon 5D mark II is first of all a camera… so photography is the priority, video is a plus… and there are a lot of videocamera on the market to record video.

  • Well, “no one is going to link to it” is not true… We had and have already links to our site.

    But what is even more important is that you write your own articles about these campaigns, these very possible improvements and the reasons why to implement them, and then if you like include a link to our site.

    We do not earn anything by doing this, there is no advertisement revenue of any kind, no nothing.

    We do it ONLY for improvements for ALL 5D Mark II users. Even in last term they will benefit users of other models too indeed.

    7D and 1D Mark IV (regarding video mode) are a clear effect of thousands of customers requests.

    We also include some few links to handy/useful websites that could help users too. But we don’t earn a cent doing this.

    So it’s up to everyone to join these Campaigns (and link to us if you like) or not.

    At last all users will benefit from it.

    We appreciate your suggestion, but believe that we are doing the best we can (maybe hard to understand, but true…).

    If you find a better site that do all of this, please feel free to contact us and we’ll link to it.

  • A great point! They changed the firmware to appease video uses eventhough they released it mainly as a still camera.

    Again… Does that show it doesn’t care? I’ve own tons of electronic equipment over the years and the main point of firmware for 99.9% of them is to fix any obvious bugs. This is the first time ever I’ve seen a company actually add great features to a product through a firmware.

  • Canonrumors and the thing you say about people who talk about good things to wait is you want to sell your 5d II to get unreleased Nikon cameras?

    I have a Nikon F401 btw and show film nikon for many years.

    Every product in the world can be improved but as an educated consumer there is a very easy to find features list for every camera. You buy for that feature list. To say a company doesn’t care after they released a great product and already improved it beyond the initial feature list is quite puzzling.

  • Yes, it’s not that you’re doing enough already, we all want you to DO MORE!! Take a class, take several classes; buy books, lots of books and read them; study hard! Get a degree in graphic design and information technology. Learn English and get a degree in it as well. Do all the stuff that we’re not willing to do, because all we really want to do is sit on our fat asses and criticize you. It’s the internet!

    It’s one thing to be proactive, something else to be effective, but the best of all is to be proactive and effective so that we don’t have to be! In your spare time! For free! Good luck!

    PS: No matter how slamming you make your site, we’ll still feel free to criticize you. In fact, once you make your site really cool, we’ll slag you because it’s cooler than our sites. And if your site actually makes a difference, no one will give you credit for it. It’s the internet!

  • Oh yes, I agree with the fact they can do a lot with a firmware upgrade: that’s why I am disappointed. I am a photographer, my first interst is photography, I bought a photocamera for 2500 euro and after one year, just to give you an example, I am still not allowed to use a different ISO from 400 in manual mode, I wrote in manual mode! Who cares about manual video features if the manual photography mode is still like that?!
    Anyway I like your passion for this brand and I hope you are more right than me, but I am not confident since we have been waiting for basilar improvements for such a long time…

  • Brian, you are a baby, no costructive discussion at all with you, keep your Internet stupid in the way you wish: the only you can.

  • only ISO400 if you select ***AUTO ISO*** in manual mode. There is a bit of contradiction between manual mode & auto ISO, (similar to AEB not possible in M).

    I actually find having to choose between either a specific setting (for each of 3 exposure settings: aperture, shutter & ISO) or leave all or smome of them completely open-ended under the mercy of the camera’s metering in the different modes (auto, aperture priority, shutter priority, manual), I find that too stupid sticking to old PSAM traditions that were established when technology was so limited & limiting. I mean today’s camera processors should be more than able to handle user-selectable ranges (w/ minimum and maximum) for each of the 3 exposure settings. For example if you want to shoot a handheld landscape, you just need f=8 or f=11 for best results, you don’t need a specific shutter speed, just want it to be no slower than 1/125, you don’t need a specific ISO, just want it to be no higher than ISO800. There is no way to tell a modern camera to not go beyond 1/125 & ISO800 with f8 in Av mode. Manual mode wouldn’t help either to express your relative flexibility WRT shutter & ISO.

  • Correction on Original Post: The firmware allows the 5d Mk ii to access the wft-E4 II which is a new product and not access to the WFT-E2.
    Steve

  • It’s very interesting to know that with ISO 50 you get smaller Dynamic Range, so I personally avoid it.

    About noise patterns (I understand what you mean), there is a very interesting post and test about that, along with some “unusual” ISO values that seems to be better than the “normal” (and even lower) values (that is contrary to what one may think).

    Take a look at http://www.cinema5d.com and search for ISO tests. If you don’t find it, feel free to contact us, I will personally look for it. No problem.

    Cheers.

  • The “Reply” option is closed for the 3rd comment of this blog post, so it goes here:

    — @Brian:

    We got your points. Thanks for that, we know there will always be critics… not only because it’s internet, but because it’s human kind… It’s always easier to talk or see others’ actions than to do things. We have to deal with it all the time.

    But in last term we find people who understand what we (and other people) do and support or join us, and that’s REALLY GREAT.

    Nico didn’t understand your “ironic” post.

    — @Nico:

    No worries Nico!! I personally know what you are looking for and we support that too, your request was already included in our list.

    ——————

    After those suggestions and critics, we still try to do our best, so we really considered them and then made some changes to the post and site, trying to make it a bit more clear and good looking (with some limitations we can’t surpass yet)

    Thanks for your posts.

    – We REALLY hope people understand what we do and what we mean, and support what is MOST IMPORTANT: the EFFORTS and IDEAS behind us

    (and forgive our -many times- poor english and low skills on web design. We could give lessons in other language and areas indeed ;) but not those)

    —————

    – IF you are interested on 5D Mark II improvements, then check:

    http://5dmark2.wordpress.com

    Feel free to spread it, contact Canon and politely request some (or all) Features listed (lot of people already did), and if you like link to us.

    And if you build or find a better site with these goals (or at least some related articles), contact us, we’ll love to link to it, seriously.

    – We also thank CR guy for keeping this great site alive, because we also find useful information and inspiration here.

    Cheers.

  • 5D MKII Team- Well, if you are looking for advice about increasing sales on Canon high end products, all Canon would have needed to do with the 1D MK IV to potentially sell a lot more would have been to make it FF with a crop factor, for one. Nikon still bests Canon in all aspects in the market area Canon is targeting with that camera. The only advantage the MK IV has over any D3 camera is the 5-steps-ahead-of-everyone-else 1080 HD video. As far as still camera features, it’s substandard at best. If you would like a full commentary/suggestions for the camera that pros are really looking for by someone who is a pro and has used Canon products for over a decade, that Canon has the technology to make, please post an e-mail address where I can comment.
    Thanks.

  • Yes Catastrophile, I meant in manual mode and AUTO ISO, thanks for the remark :-)

    And I agree totally with all you wrote after.

    I like lot of depth of field and the 35mm lens… I wish I could use my canon 5d in AV mode, setting a minimum shutter speed of 1/125, enough to freeze human gestures and in the same time let the camera set the minimum ISO to get the best quality :-) In this way, I can set aperture between 5 to 11 to have sharp pictures with context and I can concentrate only on the picture, without thinking about ISO and time. Now my Canon chooses by default a time of 1/30 or 1/40 in the I put AUTO ISO in AV mode with a 35mm lens: a too big time :-(

  • Yes, I was recalling that thread.

    I didn’t check about the less DR on ISO 160, good to know indeed.

    At least in some situations it could be more useful than ISO 200.

    It’s very important (but hard at the same time) to know the real possibilities, limitations and (sometimes weird) behaviors of this camera!!

    Thanks for the additional info.

    Cheers.

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