Reports of EOS 7D Mark II Firmware 1.04 Locking Up Camera

[Canon Rumors]

There’s a thread on the FredMiranda.com forum that says a few users have experienced lockups of their 7D Mark II after upgrading to firmware 1.04.</p>
<p>From FredMiranda</p>
<blockquote><p>I decided to update the firmware since I do have the 70-200II ( even though my 300 2.8 is usually on there )….Camera locked up twice shooting one game, I was looking through view finder turned away looked back through and had no info like it was shut off…the second time it was resuming from sleep….</p></blockquote>
<p>One of our forum moderators recommends the following procedure after updating firmware. It can solve some issues, but not all.</p>
<blockquote>
<p class="p1"><span class="s1">My recommendation with any new firmware is to recordthe camera settings, and after installing the firmware,  do a camera reset, remove the battery for a few minutes, then restart the camera and restore the settings.  That will eliminate some issues, but not if there is actually a firmware issue.</span></p>
</blockquote>
<p class="p1">Please report on our forum or the FM forum if you’re experiencing lockups after updating to firmware 1.04 on your EOS 7D Mark II.</p>
<p class="p1"><a href="http://www.fredmiranda.com/forum/topic/1365402" target="_blank">Read the thread at FredMiranda</a></p>

 

[bergmacr]

I just purchased an EOS 7D Mark II from B&H yesterday. I came in the mail today and after using it with my 70-200 2.8 ii for about 10 minutes, it is already locking up. Either the screen turns back and when i click play, no photos show up, or the camera focuses but wont take a picture as if the shutter is locked.

Is there anyway i can see If my camera had this firmware upgrade?

 

[Mt Spokane Photography]

I just purchased an EOS 7D Mark II from B&H yesterday. I came in the mail today and after using it with my 70-200 2.8 ii for about 10 minutes, it is already locking up. Either the screen turns back and when i click play, no photos show up, or the camera focuses but wont take a picture as if the shutter is locked.

Is there anyway i can see If my camera had this firmware upgrade?

Yes, its there in the Camera menus. If you see the new firmware, 1.04, report this to Canon on their Forum. Otherwise return the camera if it happens again.

 

[LSXPhotog]

After reading that, it appears many did not follow proper firmware upgrade procedures, causing the problem. I'm going to upgrade tonight and try the 70-200 II and all other lenses. Report back happy or angry.

 

[Otara]

No problems here, but only shot 4-500, with 70-200 II

 

[Sonoma County Photog]

Hello,

I upgraded my 7DII and have not had a problem yet. Are the lockups exclusive to the 70-200 F/2.8 lenses? I have one and plan to use it in the morning at a graduation ceremony. Maybe I should just use my 7D to make sure I don't have a problem?

 

[RGF]

On a trip now, glad I did not upgrade before I left.

 

[Mt Spokane Photography]

On a trip now, glad I did not upgrade before I left.

I tend to wait a couple weeks as well. We don't know if there is a issue generally, but it is sounding suspicious.

 

[deblack]

I upgraded two days ago. Haven't seen problems (or benefits), but haven't used my 70-200 f2.8 yet. I have the 70-200 version 1, not the version 2. Is the problem seen on both versions of the 70-200?

 

[Loswr]

IIRC, there was at least one previous firmware update that fixed some things but broke something else, and was followed in a few days with a new update.

This could be another case like that, or could be incorrect installation procedure (how many people pull the battery after the update?). Time will tell...

 

[arbitrage]

I also posted on FM yesterday but will add my experience here. I updated FW on Wednesday morning. I did power down and removed the battery for a few seconds as instructed. Shot about 1500 images that morning using both 600II and 100-400II. Had no problems. In the afternoon I went out shooting again and at one point put my 7D2 down with 100-400II on it. Shot for a few minutes with my 1DX and when I picked up my 7D2 it was frozen. I only could see the top LCD. it wouldn't access menus and wouldn't control the lens. I could still change SS with the back dial. Turning on and off didn't help. Removing the battery solved he lockup. I shot a few hours today and no lock ups. Tomorrow will be sun up to sun down migrating bird shooting so I will see if it happens again.

 

[GadgetBoy]

I had already experienced 3 lock up of 2 different bodies with firmware 1.0.2 : the AF was blocked, and the bodies refused to take a picture. Had to shut down the 7D mk II in each cases.

 

[Ruined]

This really appears one troubled body. Lets hope Canon sorts it out.

 

[weixing]

Hi,
No problem so far. Will report back if got lock-up.

Have a nice day.

 

[whothafunk]

i have no issues with the 1.04 update, everthing works fine with either lenses (8-15, 70-200, 17-55).

 

[gbchriste]

I'm always baffled by the folks who rush to update firmware whenever a new release comes out. Since December 2008 I've owned a 40D, a 5DII and now two 5DIIIs. And in all that time and through 4 bodies I've updated firmware exactly once and then only to accommodate the addition of an EyeFi card to my equipment list.

My default position on firmware is unless there is a compelling reason to update, I don't. What might those reasons be?

1) The firmware update is needed to correct aberrant or malfunctioning behaviors that I'm personally experiencing. For example, if the update info says, "Corrects behavior X on certain cameras" but I'm not experiencing that behavior, I won't bother with the update.

2) The firmware update will add new capabilities that I specifically want to take advantage of. My update to use the EyeFi for instance. Or if an update were to come out to keep the selected AF point on the 5DIII illuminated, then I'd certainly apply that.

3) The firmware update will improve the performance of capabilities I regularly use. If there had been an update to improve the focus accuracy on the 5DII, I absolutely would have applied that.

But I would never apply a firmware update just because a new version came out. The risk-vs-reward ratio has to be in my favor.

 

[Mt Spokane Photography]

I'm always baffled by the folks who rush to update firmware whenever a new release comes out. Since December 2008 I've owned a 40D, a 5DII and now two 5DIIIs. And in all that time and through 4 bodies I've updated firmware exactly once and then only to accommodate the addition of an EyeFi card to my equipment list.

My default position on firmware is unless there is a compelling reason to update, I don't. What might those reasons be?

1) The firmware update is needed to correct aberrant or malfunctioning behaviors that I'm personally experiencing. For example, if the update info says, "Corrects behavior X on certain cameras" but I'm not experiencing that behavior, I won't bother with the update.

2) The firmware update will add new capabilities that I specifically want to take advantage of. My update to use the EyeFi for instance. Or if an update were to come out to keep the selected AF point on the 5DIII illuminated, then I'd certainly apply that.

3) The firmware update will improve the performance of capabilities I regularly use. If there had been an update to improve the focus accuracy on the 5DII, I absolutely would have applied that.

But I would never apply a firmware update just because a new version came out. The risk-vs-reward ratio has to be in my favor.

So, Whats your point?

Many users were experiencing AF issues with the 7D MK II, and rather than return their cameras, wanted to see if the firmware fixed things.

I can't blame them for installing the firmware, its supposed to fix issues.

 

[Keith_Reeder]

This would be the second QA issue to strike Canon in as many months.

Jeez.

Every single camera - any manufacturer - that's ever had a new firmware released has generated some reports of bricking or other problems.

 

[gbchriste]

I'm always baffled by the folks who rush to update firmware whenever a new release comes out. Since December 2008 I've owned a 40D, a 5DII and now two 5DIIIs. And in all that time and through 4 bodies I've updated firmware exactly once and then only to accommodate the addition of an EyeFi card to my equipment list.

My default position on firmware is unless there is a compelling reason to update, I don't. What might those reasons be?

1) The firmware update is needed to correct aberrant or malfunctioning behaviors that I'm personally experiencing. For example, if the update info says, "Corrects behavior X on certain cameras" but I'm not experiencing that behavior, I won't bother with the update.

2) The firmware update will add new capabilities that I specifically want to take advantage of. My update to use the EyeFi for instance. Or if an update were to come out to keep the selected AF point on the 5DIII illuminated, then I'd certainly apply that.

3) The firmware update will improve the performance of capabilities I regularly use. If there had been an update to improve the focus accuracy on the 5DII, I absolutely would have applied that.

But I would never apply a firmware update just because a new version came out. The risk-vs-reward ratio has to be in my favor.

So, Whats your point?

Many users were experiencing AF issues with the 7D MK II, and rather than return their cameras, wanted to see if the firmware fixed things.

I can't blame them for installing the firmware, its supposed to fix issues.

My point was that firmware updates always come with a risk of causing problems. I've worked in IT and software engineering for 25 years and know from first hand experience that no amount of testing and QA and can assure that a software update of any type to any system is 100% guaranteed to be free of the risk that problems introduced may in fact be more urgent than those being solved. I see it on a fairly regular basis in our software development organization which has a very high degree of software engineering capability and maturity, coupled with a very disciplined testing and QA process. Nevertheless we are occasionally forced to back out a software change and roll back to an earlier version literally within hours of a new release because our team of 5 testers could never in a million years test every iteration of the software operation that our 1000+ users can within in a couple of hours.

But be that as it may, if people are updating their camera firmware to correct an AF issue, then that would fall within my criteria for applying a firmware update - to correct an issue of malfunction or performance. In that circumstance the balance of risk-vs-reward is in the favor of the user.

 

[DigitalEdgePhotography]

Got my 7D2 back from Canon for the focusing issue. Seems that *may* have been fixed, too early to tell.

It came back from Canon with the 1.04 firmware loaded on it.

While shooting an event today with my 24-104 f/4L attached, it locked up on me twice.

Had to power cycle the body before it would fire again.

Is version 1.05 out yet? 8)