Canon EOS R firmware 1.4.0 now available for download

Holy...! The EOS R is a complete new Camera with this Update. AF Servo Performance (not just Eye Tracking) is massively improved, EYE Tracking is extremely responsive and works for far longer distances now, the refresh rate of the AF area on screen is much faster (i guess the same 60 fps the displays use, instead of the ~20 fps is was before) and, maybe even the best part, touch and drag focus selection on the display works butter smooth now, i dont regret having no AF joystick now.

what is definitely not on par with the recent sony cameras is subject recognition, and sticking to it when you pan the camera. the autofocus area still starts to wander off if you pan to fast, or even on its own.

but all in all i am more than surprised by this and looking forward to using the "new" camera at a wedding on the weekend and see how it behaves.
 
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YuengLinger

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Holy...! The EOS R is a complete new Camera with this Update. AF Servo Performance (not just Eye Tracking) is massively improved, EYE Tracking is extremely responsive and works for far longer distances now, the refresh rate of the AF area on screen is much faster (i guess the same 60 fps the displays use, instead of the ~20 fps is was before) and, maybe even the best part, touch and drag focus selection on the display works butter smooth now, i dont regret having no AF joystick now.

what is definitely not on par with the recent sony cameras is subject recognition, and sticking to it when you pan the camera. the autofocus area still starts to wander off if you pan to fast, or even on its own.

but all in all i am more than surprised by this and looking forward to using the "new" camera at a wedding on the weekend and see how it behaves.

I was noticing the same about the AF points "wandering." Too bad this wasn't improved, but so glad to hear about so many other improvements.

And you really have great work in your galleries on your website. Thanks so much for putting the link under your name. Lovely images!
 
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Update the 5DIV (And other highends like 1DXII) with this too please!!

Next step: Animal eye-AF!

would be great, but sadly those "oldies" most definitely do not have the processor power the R has. on some canon marketing material they stated the digic 8 has 40 times more performance in regards to autofocus calculations than the digic 6 in the 5d mark IV. so...io dont think the IV can become much faster, even if canon wanted to update.
 
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Ozarker

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Update the 5DIV (And other highends like 1DXII) with this too please!!

Next step: Animal eye-AF!
Someone here has replied that it works on his cat, so maybe we already have it. :) Someone else says it focused on a sheep's eye printed on a high chair.
 
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The new firmware feels less than an update but more like a complete do-over of some basic EOS R functions to me, and they did a great job with that.
I will see how the R performs on firmware 1.4 on a wedding on saturday and if the new "smoothness of everything" maybe drains battery life faster or not.

same for me, will be using the R alongside my 5D IV for a wedding on saturday (instead of a 5D III) - so far i think the R will be more than adequate in replacing the III.
 
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Hahaha! Cat-eye detect! That's great!

That's the tip of the ice berg .. I think it's got AT or anus tracking now for nude phot
Focus bracketing would have been a nice touch. Don't know why they skimp on such little features like this when its something already available in the ecosystem.
You don't know why?

Because in almost the entire product world, manufacturers don't put everything in everything. Mustang doesn't have a tailgate. Not every Chevy had a V8. Not every keyboard is contoured.

You don't know way?

Because about 299 photographers out of 300 wouldn't care. I do lots more than many of my photographer friends, and I wouldn't use it whatever camera its in. Actually, only about 1 in 80 photograhers I meet do any video, and hardly care bout video features in these new bodies.
 
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MadScotsman

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Focus bracketing would have been a nice touch. Don't know why they skimp on such little features like this when its something already available in the ecosystem. That aspect of their business model is quite sad. Auto focus is one of the most crucial aspects of a camera, it determines whether you get the shot or don't.

I've seen a couple of interviews with Ishizuka (CEO) where he had said outright that he wants to start attracting customers by adding features and value to the R line to increase customer satisfaction and attract more customers. I kinda figured that meant stuff like this too, but, I guess we'll see.
 
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cayenne

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People use it for macro shots, I think. So the whole subject can be in focus.

So, what's the advantage of doing this in camera vs on the computer which has been the norm?

I'd think you'd pretty much always get superior and better control doing the focus stacking on the computer while you're working a RAW workflow....much like I'd not really want HDR finishing on camera, I'd rather do it controlled on the computer side....

C
 
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HikeBike

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what is definitely not on par with the recent sony cameras is subject recognition, and sticking to it when you pan the camera. the autofocus area still starts to wander off if you pan to fast, or even on its own.

Quickly tried this out with an inanimate object as a subject after reading your comment...and you are correct. But I think this update is still fantastic and demonstrates that Canon is serious about providing meaningful firmware updates to the R line. So there's a good possibility we'll see this improved in a subsequent update.
 
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MadScotsman

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So, what's the advantage of doing this in camera vs on the computer which has been the norm?

I'd think you'd pretty much always get superior and better control doing the focus stacking on the computer while you're working a RAW workflow....much like I'd not really want HDR finishing on camera, I'd rather do it controlled on the computer side....

C


When shooting a carefully staged macro scene, the dedicated macro lens will have a wafer thin depth of field. Without Focus Bracketing, if I've made the artistic decision that I want the entire scene in focus, then I will need to compose, focus, shoot, refocus, shoot, refocus, shoot, etc. Perhaps as many as 40 times or more.

On my (wife's) RP, I simply need to set the bracket to 40 images, compose, and shoot.

Yes, it's still on me to combine them all in post, but the feature itself is useful, and can save time and tedium.

There are also landscape applications as well.
 
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Bert63

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Someone please test a big telephoto lens and tracking or shooting birds/sports!
Yes, please. Any information about use with the 100-400L II with 1.4 III or similar would be awesome.

I love my EOS-R but with the above equipped it’s so slow it’s almost unusable. When I put the same combo on my 5D4 it’s faster than my 7D2.

You can work around it if you have time, but it’s very disappointing. Makes fast BIFs hard to capture.

EDIT:

Just took the above combo out after getting the chance to update the firmware and it’s a day and night difference - it’s a new camera all over again.

Fantastic improvement.
 
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Ozarker

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When shooting a carefully staged macro scene, the dedicated macro lens will have a wafer thin depth of field. Without Focus Bracketing, if I've made the artistic decision that I want the entire scene in focus, then I will need to compose, focus, shoot, refocus, shoot, refocus, shoot, etc. Perhaps as many as 40 times or more.

On my (wife's) RP, I simply need to set the bracket to 40 images, compose, and shoot.

Yes, it's still on me to combine them all in post, but the feature itself is useful, and can save time and tedium.

There are also landscape applications as well.
Thank you for such a good answer. My answer to the OP on this subject was extremely basic because I thought he had no idea what the feature was used for. All I knew was that the macro shooters like it. Basic, because I only know that much. :) Your answer is wonderful.
 
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All I can say is it’s a good thing Sony had a head start because this thing rocks. Haven’t shot my 600 on it yet but playing around with the 100-400+ 1.4 and it’s awesome. Even just throwing a clear water bottles in the air and it nails it.
 

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Ozarker

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All I can say is it’s a good thing Sony had a head start because this thing rocks. Haven’t shot my 600 on it yet but playing around with the 100-400+ 1.4 and it’s awesome. Even just throwing a clear water bottles in the air and it nails it.
Wow! Are these cropped?
 
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And then a bluejay happened to just fly past not great angles but a nice small subject to test the tracking !
All these pics are direct WiFi uploads from the camera nothing done to them.
 

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