Canon firmware updates for the EOS-1D X and EOS-5D Mark III

Canon just published new firmwares for two of its flagship cameras.

EOS 1D X firmware 2.0.7

Firmware version 2.0.7 incorporates the following functional improvements and fixes:

1. Improves the AF controllability when shooting in Live View mode with a wide-angle lens (fixed focal length or zoom).
2. Fixes a phenomenon in which, when shooting long exposures (several minutes), vertical lines appear on the right edge of captured images (still photos).
3. Fixes a phenomenon in which the Auto Exposure Bracketing (AEB) may not perform as intended when in continuous shooting mode and where the shutter speed is longer than 1 second.
4. Improves the reliability of the control mechanism for the Picture Style Auto setting.
5. Fixes a phenomenon in which the electronic level indicator does not work correctly.
6. Fixes a phenomenon in which, when using the "Save and read camera settings" function, the color space data that is selected in "Custom shooting mode (C1-C3)" is not saved. ^*1
7. Corrects some incorrect indications on the "English" and "Russian" menu screens.

^*1 As a result of this fix, cameras with Firmware Version 2.0.7 will not be able to read the "camera settings file" created with cameras running Firmware Version 2.0.3 (or earlier). If you require the "camera settings file", please create it after updating to firmware version 2.0.7.

You can download the new firmware from the Canon website.

EOS 5D Mark III firmware 1.3.3

Firmware version 1.3.3 incorporates the following improvement and fix:

1. Improves the AF controllability when shooting in Live View mode with a wide-angle lens (fixed focal length or zoom).
2. Corrects some incorrect indications on the "English" and "Russian" menu screens.

You can download the new firmware from the Canon website.

New Nikon D5500 camera and 300 f/4 and 55-200 f/4-5.6 lenses

Note: I've been quite busy in beautiful (and snowy!) Bavaria so I bring you this news with some delay…

Nikon recently announced a number of new products: a new D5500 DSLR, an updated and much lighter 300mm f/4 telephoto lens as well as a third generation of the popular 55-200 f/4-5.6 zoom lens.

Nikon D5500 – Highlights

• Vari angle touch screen monitor
• Strong monocoque body (i.e., chassis and body are integral)
• Built-in WiFi
• 24.2 Mega Pixel
• 5fps continuous shooting
• Video of up to 1920x1080 at 60fps

Full spec: see Nikon website
Price: ± $899.95

AF-S NIKKOR 300mm f/4E PF ED VR – Highlights

• Nano Crystal coat suppresses chromatic abberrations and ghosting
• Fluorine coat repels water and oils
• PF (Phase Fresnel) lens element
• Electromagnetic aperture
• Much lighter (almost half the weight!) and compacter than the previous model

Full spec: see Nikon website
Price: ± $1,999.95

AF-S DX NIKKOR 55-200mm f/4-5.6G ED VR II – Highlights

• Retractable barrel, reduces size
• Second generation VR (up to 4 stops)

Full spec: see Nikon website
Price: ± $349.95

New version of Canon DPP: support for more cameras

In answer to many users of older Canon cameras, Canon released a new version of its Digital Photo Professional (DPP) software, which now supports – in addition to its current range of full-frame DSLRs – the EOS-1D Mark IV, EOS 70D, EOS 7D Mark II, EOS 7D, EOS 5D Mark II, EOS 700D and EOS 100D.

So if you are an owner of one of those “older” cameras and would like to use the latest version of Canon's DPP software, be sure to check out and download DPP 4.1.50 from the Canon Europe support site.

Note: the serial number of an applicable camera is required for the download!

DPP 4.1.50: Key Features

• Faster, real-time adjustments.
• Improved RAW file workflow.
• Better, more approachable user interfaces.
• Compatible with 64-bit native environments.
• Colour adjustments for specific colour gamuts.
• Improved highlight recovery provides expanded tonality.
• Improved shadow recovery function.
• Support for movie playback.
• Auto Lighting Optimizer can be applied to JPEG images.
• Better integration with EOS Utility.

DPP 4.1.50: Supported Cameras

• EOS 100D
• EOS 5D Mark II
• EOS 5D Mark III
• EOS 6D
• EOS 6D
• EOS 700D
• EOS 70D
• EOS 70D
• EOS 7D
• EOS 7D Mark II
• EOS-1D C
• EOS-1D Mark IV
• EOS-1D X

Nikon D750 and D810 firmware updates

Nikon released two firmware updates last month as well. The new Nikon D750 and D810 both received a firmware update.

Nikon D750 firmware C:1.01

• When shooting with an optional Speedlight and Auto FP high-speed sync enabled with On selected for ISO sensitivity settings > Auto ISO sensitivity control in the photo shooting menu, images were sometimes over-exposed. This issue has been resolved. (Enabling auto FP high-speed sync: Select 1/200 s (Auto FP) or 1/250 s (Auto FP) for Custom Setting e1: Flash sync speed)
• When menus were displayed with the camera connected to a 4K-compatible TV via HDMI, display in both the camera monitor and on the TV was not correct. This issue has been resolved.
• Noise that could sometimes be heard when Custom Setting d1: Beep was set to any option other than Off has been reduced.

You can download the firmware update from the Nikon support site: USA | EU

Nikon D810 firmware C:1.02

• When playback zoom was applied to an image displayed in the camera monitor (image display enlarged) while the memory card access lamp was still lit immediately after capture, the image was not correctly displayed. This issue has been resolved.
• When menus were displayed with the camera connected to a 4K-compatible TV via HDMI, display in both the camera monitor and on the TV was not correct. This issue has been resolved.
• Noise that could sometimes be heard when Custom Setting d1: Beep was set to any option other than Off has been reduced.

You can download the firmware update from the Nikon support site: USA | EU

Canon EOS 6D Firmware 1.1.6 Released

Canon last month released a firmware update for its EOS 6D camera.

The following has been updated:

• Fixes a phenomenon in which the camera may not first use the centre AF point to focus, when the AF point selection is set to automatic in AI Servo AF mode.
• Fixes a phenomenon in which focus cannot be finely adjusted with specific lenses when shooting remotely with EOS Utility software.
• Corrects some Ukrainian language displayed on the menu for ISO Setting.

The new firmware can be downloaded from the Canon website.