Canon firmware updates

Canon recently released a number of firmware updates.

Canon EOS 6D (v.1.1.7), EOS 70D (v.1.1.2), EOS SL1 (v.1.0.1), EOS Rebel T5i/700D (v.1.1.5), EOS Rebel T6/1300D (v.1.0.2)

These firmware updates all fix the same problem:

• Corrects a phenomenon in which when using the camera with the EF-S 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM or EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6 IS II USM lens, even if lens aberration correction is set to “Enable”, correction will not be applied.
  Note: The update for the EOS 6D does not include correction for the problem with the EF-S 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM as this lens is incompatible with that camera 😀.

Canon is working to fix similar problems in their EOS-1D X, EOS-1D Mark IV, EOS 5D Mark III, EOS 7D, EOS 60D, EOS Rebel T1i/500D, EOS Rebel T2i/550D, EOS Rebel T3i/600D, EOS Rebel T4i/650D, EOS Rebel T3/1100D, EOS Rebel T5/1200D, EOS M, and EOS M2 cameras.

Downloads from the Canon USA site:

• EOS 6D (v.1.1.7)
• EOS 70D (v.1.1.2)
• EOS SL1 (v.1.0.1)
• EOS Rebel T5i/700D (v.1.1.5)
• EOS Rebel T6/1300D (v.1.0.2)

Canon EOS 7D Mark II firmware v1.1.0

Firmware v1.1.0 contains the following updates:

• Supports Wi-Fi adapter W-E1.
• Adds a setting to enable or disable automatic storage of the lens if it is extended out when a gear-driven STM lens^*1 is attached, and the power switch is turned to [OFF].
  ^*1 EF 40mm f/2.8 STM, EF 50mm f/1.8 STM, or EF-S 24mm f/2.8 STM lenses

Download: Canon USA

Canon EOS 5D Mark IV firmware v1.0.2

Firmware v1.0.2 contains the following updates:

• Improves communication reliability when using EOS Utility to register/update new Digital Lens Optimizer.

Download: Canon USA

Canon EOS-1D X Mark II firmware v1.1.2

Firmware v1.1.2 contains the following updates:

• The addition of a selectable colour-tone option for the LCD monitor.
• The addition of a function to append IPTC data.
• The addition of a function to transfer only protected images.
• The addition of a function to set the GPS positional data retention period.
• An increase in the number of network connection settings that can be saved to a memory card from 20 to 40.
• When retrying FTP transfer, extension of the minimum auto power off time to 10 minutes.
• Improvement of wireless transmission when using Wireless File Transmitter WFT-E6.

Download: Canon USA

The new Canon EOS-1D X Mark II

Canon has just announced its new flagship camera, the EOS-1D X Mark II. Like Nikon's recently announced D5, this camera is full of exciting new and improved features.

Here are some of the more pronounced specs (with some comment as to how they compare to Nikon's D5).

• 20.2 megapixel Full Frame sensor (similar to the 20.9 of the D5).
• Continuous shooting speeds of up-to-14 frames per second (fps) with Auto Exposure (AE) and predictive AF for viewfinder shooting and up to 16 fps in Live View mode (faster than the Nikon D5).
• Continuous shooting of up-to 170 consecutive RAW images at 14 fps (slightly less than the D5, but still plenty for even the most demanding action shooter).
• Improved 61-point viewfinder AF with expanded coverage and all AF-points selectable and supported to a maximum aperture of f/8 (sure, not the 153 – all cross sensor – AF points of the D5, but these are all f/8 and 61 is still more than enough, if they're good).
• Improved AI Servo III+ predictive AF algorithm for better accuracy.
• Continuous red illumination of all AF points within the viewfinder (Nikon has offered this for years, quite surprised this wasn't offered on the Canons before).
• 4K video at 60P (!) and Full HD at 120P (much better than the D5, but then Canon has usually been better at video anyway).
• Enhanced wireless functionality with the optional Wireless File Transmitter WFT-E8 (probably similar to Nikon's).
• Digital Lens Optimizer to help correct aberrations in-camera (you previously needed to do this in post processing, Nikon has offered this for quite some time on its cameras and works quite well).
• Compatibility with both CF and CFast memory cards for optimal performance and versatility (so now we have two competing fast memory cards: XQD (Nikon, Sony) and CFast, not sure which which is better…).