New major firmware for the Canon EOS R should arrive soon

Viggo · Jan 7, 2019

One of my favorite days is when installing new firmware on my camera

Bentley Boy · Jan 7, 2019

Viggo said:
One of my favorite days is when installing new firmware on my camera

I’m not usually excited about firmware updates from Canon, but this one promises to be good!

JonSnow · Jan 7, 2019

Viggo said:
One of my favorite days is when installing new firmware on my camera

Your life must be full of wonders and excitement....

criscokkat · Jan 7, 2019

I'm going to guess at a minimum an overhaul of the touch sensor so it's more consistent in it's use. And more re-programability for assigning buttons more functions.

I'd be curious to see if a good chunk of the new SDK and corresponding API announced for the Canon PowerShot SX70 HS will also come to the Canon R. It seems like this would be mostly a no brainer in most all of canon's future releases. If the API is fast enough you could see some very interesting ipad programs written, especially for landscape or studio photographers. In addition while the SDK is available now, the corresponding new API isn't being released until March, which might coincide with this major firmware release.

edoorn · Jan 7, 2019

wonder if they can add that joystick and extra card slot

)

kidding... more af cases would be nice to have, and the option to assign a specific button to a very specific AF method (like the 5d4 can). And of course eye AF using servo.

furthermore, the rumour implies that Canon is actually doing something with this feedback, and I sincerely hope that they apply this to future R bodies too, because some things I think can't be fixed right now (physical button placement of several buttons, mentioned multicontroller,, touch bar?) but could be improved for future models

amorse · Jan 7, 2019

You know, despite all the negative press the R received I keep coming back to it as a great potential backup/secondary camera to my 5D IV. I mean, it takes the same battery, has nearly the same sensor, costs less, takes up less space, is lighter... I do think there is a really nice niche there.

Aaron D · Jan 7, 2019

amorse said:
You know, despite all the negative press the R received I keep coming back to it as a great potential backup/secondary camera to my 5D IV.

I got it for exactly that reason, traded in my 5Diii. It's a wonderful camera despite all you read to the contrary. Yeah it's not perfect, but it I wish people would stay on the learning curve awhile before posting their damnations.

edoorn · Jan 7, 2019

It's a great camera for sure and this firmware is a very good move too, but there's room for improvement and I'm glad Canon is recognising this and actually listening; it will make future R's much better

ykn123 · Jan 7, 2019

I own a EOS-R since s a few weeks and start loving it. I get used to the Touch & Drag AF but still miss the joystick some times. The main issue for me is the slow FPs in Servo Mode cmpared to One_Shot. Maybe this get a little better with the new firnware ? fyi: I programmed the MFn Bar to Low ISO (left), Auto Iso (right) and raising ISO (sliding the bar). It works if you get used to it but it is not perfect i think. Sometimes you press / touch a couple of times before Auo ISO is set but i'm getting better with it with the time. I programmed the lens control ring to exposure compensation and use it on the adapter with control ring for my EF lenses. Like that a lot. I mainly purchased it for the 50mm 1.2 honestly and added a grip immediatley - i'm not too much interested in a "small" body. Compared to my 5D4 it does not add a lot and to be honest i would not absolutely need it - but i wanted the 50 1.2 and also wanted to start with the new system.

mclaren777 · Jan 7, 2019

The only thing I want: for the shutter to automatically close when the camera senses a lens change

Viggo · Jan 7, 2019

Do people really find it needed to add eye-AF? I haven’t had a single fail to focus on the eye with just the box over the face anyway, at f1.2...

LDS · Jan 7, 2019

"It was mentioned that user and media feedback is going to play a major role in future updates"

It may not end well...

Normalnorm · Jan 7, 2019

Moving the AF point on the R with the touchscreen is far faster than any joystick.
For me, I would like more customization options on the buttons. The ones they have are not ones I use much but a toggle for exposure simulation would be wonderful.
Also, independent control ring functions dependent on the mode such as exp comp in AV or TV but aperture in M without pressing another button.

Other improvements may occur to me but overall the camera is a real winner for me.

Sharlin · Jan 7, 2019

ykn123 said:
The main issue for me is the slow FPs in Servo Mode cmpared to One_Shot. Maybe this get a little better with the new firnware ?

I wouldn't count on it :/ The fact is, DPAF is great, but that and also updating the EVF image means moving a lot of data from the sensor and processing it. I expect it takes an eventual dual-processor R body to get a faster burst rate with Servo AF.

magarity · Jan 7, 2019

"because rushing firmware is never in the best interest of customers"

Their QA crew must have nerves of steel. I assume this is not an offshored team.

Roy Hunte · Jan 7, 2019

Viggo said:
One of my favorite days is when installing new firmware on my camera

It is very satisfying.

tiggy@mac.com · Jan 7, 2019

Normalnorm said:
Moving the AF point on the R with the touchscreen is far faster than any joystick.
For me, I would like more customization options on the buttons. The ones they have are not ones I use much but a toggle for exposure simulation would be wonderful.
Also, independent control ring functions dependent on the mode such as exp comp in AV or TV but aperture in M without pressing another button.

Other improvements may occur to me but overall the camera is a real winner for me.

I don't own an R yet (waiting for next level up), but I can say definitively that I miss the touchscreen AF point control from the M series as I use 5D4s. Once you are able to whip the focus point around so quickly at will, you don't want to go back. I think people who need to rapidly move the point from one side of the screen to another recognize this, but lots of people are just poking the AF point one or two notches in a direction, and a joystick might feel more positively controlled for those folks. This might explain the diverging preferences. I certainly hope that a pro model in the future doesn't go joystick at the expense of touchscreen AF point control!

bokehmon22 · Jan 7, 2019

Viggo said:
Do people really find it needed to add eye-AF? I haven’t had a single fail to focus on the eye with just the box over the face anyway, at f1.2...

Needed? No. Want it? YES! If we are talking about needed features, our old camera already exceed our photographic abilities.

EyeAF allow us to work faster and concentrate on other aspect of photography in wedding/engagement/portrait (lighting, posing, composition, etc). It would be amazing to take picture of kids. Joystick and touch AF isn't fast enough to focus on moving kid.

Just because you don't use it doesn't mean other people don't want it.

EOS R eyeAF definitely need the FW. It's isn't as fast as Sony and focus single focus. It really trailed behind Sony eyeAF.

Roy Hunte · Jan 7, 2019

Viggo said:
Do people really find it needed to add eye-AF? I haven’t had a single fail to focus on the eye with just the box over the face anyway, at f1.2...

The eye detect AF works fine on mine, doesn't need any tweaks.