Improvements in menu and viewfinder info

[RGF]

With every new camera Canon seems to up its game in the area of menus and in some cases viewfinder info.

It would be nice if these "improvements" were available to older, but current, models. For example multiple my menu tabs, if possible viewfinder level indicator, and the latest from the 5DS is mirror lockup and then take the picture after 1/4, 1/2, .. second.

I can understand why Canon does not make these functions available to cameras that are not in production but it would be nice they would update the firmware for current cameras such as the 7D M2, 1Dx, 5D M3, ...

 

[Mt Spokane Photography]

The viewfinder data is a hardware issue, its a custom LCD with pre-formatted text and symbol that just light up or go dark.

The Rear LCD is software controlled, so they can update it, probably within limits. However, like many other products, the manufacturer wants you to buy new, and will not put new features in a existing product unless it was something promised, or supports expansion into a large market. If you want to purchase 100,000 units, they will talk about it.

 

[RGF]

The viewfinder data is a hardware issue, its a custom LCD with pre-formatted text and symbol that just light up or go dark.

The Rear LCD is software controlled, so they can update it, probably within limits. However, like many other products, the manufacturer wants you to buy new, and will not put new features in a existing product unless it was something promised, or supports expansion into a large market. If you want to purchase 100,000 units, they will talk about it.

Of course. But then again adding new features to the the 5D M3 or 1Dx will not cause me not to purchase a 5DS or 7D M2. Very different cameras.

I realize that Canon wants us to trade up and will use everything they can extract $ from my wallet. However a commitment to current users to refresh firmware may help sway some Nikon users to switch. That is until Nikon does the same. Perhaps it will create a needless arms race or simply raise the cost of doing business. Since Canon is more profitable than Nikon this will be one more way they gain a leg up.

 

[unfocused]

...like many other products, the manufacturer wants you to buy new, and will not put new features in a existing product unless it was something promised, or supports expansion into a large market...

Well, that's not entirely true.

http://www.usa.canon.com/cusa/consumer/standard_display/EOS7D_firmware

 

[Maximilian]

With every new camera Canon seems to up its game in the area of menus and in some cases viewfinder info.

It would be nice if these "improvements" were available to older, but current, models. ...

I understand and fully agree. at least for the menue structure and handling of the camera, so it'll be easier to have similar operation on different bodies.

I can understand that a lot of things cannot be done due to hardware restrictions, e.g. processor power, screens and buttons available.
I can also understand that Canon has limited ressources focusing on new projects and no intial need to fulfill our wishes here.

But it would be nice for us customers.

If I were in the Canon dev dept I would make a suggestion to standardize the interface part of the FW structure so that it can be replaced easily by a newer version, leaving the functions of the body untouched.
But I have no clue about their way of FW development.

So that'll stay a wish, I suppose.

 

[RGF]

...like many other products, the manufacturer wants you to buy new, and will not put new features in a existing product unless it was something promised, or supports expansion into a large market...

Well, that's not entirely true.

http://www.usa.canon.com/cusa/consumer/standard_display/EOS7D_firmware

Yes But

nice improvement, but that does not standard menus between other cameras.

They could add mirror lock up and then delay which is in the 5Ds/R.

 

[FEBS]

Yes But

nice improvement, but that does not standard menus between other cameras.

They could add mirror lock up and then delay which is in the 5Ds/R.

I can agree with your thoughts there about. However, where can you find that back in other industries. Building in features of a new product in an older product means also lost sales. That's the reason is does only happen very rare. In adobe CC you get it, but you have to pay every month and that recurring bill will go on.

I would even pay for a few updates on the firmware of my 5Diii, if for example EC in M with auto-iso was included. But I do understand that this will create a lot of troubles in servicing this camera with a next firmware update for new GPS device, new lens,... I think this stays a dream for us, however for Canon (and Nikon, Sony just the same) it's an opportunity to sell us a new model.