Firmware update for the Canon EOS-1D X

On top of the two updates for the older 1Ds III and 1D IV, I mentioned yesterday, Canon also updated the firmware for their flagship EOS-1D X camera.

Canon EOS-1D X v1.2.4

Firmware Version 1.2.4 incorporates the following functional improvements and fixes:

1. Improves the speed of the camera's acquisition of focus when using a Canon Speedlite's AF-assist beam.
2. Reduces the time it takes to display the metering result on the LCD or Viewfinder when the meter has been activated.
3. Fixes a phenomenon in which a "Caution 02" message is unnecessarily recorded in the camera status log.
4. Fixes a phenomenon in which continuous shooting pauses when using a Canon Speedlite.
5. Fixes a phenomenon, when the Canon GP-E1 is attached, in which the GPS device settings are reset to default settings when the camera has been powered off.

Note:
* This phenomenon occurs only with firmware Version 1.2.1.
* After changing the GPS device settings, please be sure to power off the camera before removing the battery. This will ensure that the camera's GPS device settings will be saved.

Download from Canon website

Firmware updates for the Canon 1Ds III and 1D IV

Canon recently released a firmware update for the EOS 1-Ds Mark III and Canon EOS 1D Mark IV cameras.

Canon EOS-1Ds Mark III v 1.2.2

Firmware Version 1.2.2 for the Canon EOS-1Ds Mark III camera incorporates the following functional improvement:

1. Enables the center AF point to autofocus when the camera is used with the EF 200-400mm f/4L IS USM Extender 1.4X lens and an Extender, whose combined maximum aperture is f/8.

Download from the canon website.

Canon EOS-1D Mark IV v1.1.3

Firmware Version 1.1.3 for the Canon EOS-1D Mark IV camera incorporates the following functional improvements and fix:

1. Enables the center AF point to autofocus when the camera is used with the EF 200-400mm f/4L IS USM Extender 1.4x lens and an Extender, whose combined maximum aperture is f/8.
2. Fixes a phenomenon in which abnormal images may result when continuous shooting mode is enabled and the image size is set to "RAW" or "RAW+JPEG".

Download from the canon website.

Firmware updates for the Nikon D300, D300S, and D700

One and a half months after the Nikon D3200, D7000, D600, D800(E), D3(S, X), and D4 got their update (see previous post), the D300(S) and D700 finally get their update to fix some compatibility issues with the new 800mm f/5.6 lens.

D300 Firmware Update A 1.11, B 1.11

• Support for the AF-S NIKKOR 800mm f/5.6E FL ED VR has been added.

Download: EU

D300S Firmware Update A 1.02, B 1.02

• Support for the AF-S NIKKOR 800mm f/5.6E FL ED VR has been added.

Download: EU

D700 Firmware Update A 1.04, B 1.03

• Support for the AF-S NIKKOR 800mm f/5.6E FL ED VR has been added.

Download: EU

New: 1 Nikkor 32mm f/1.2 lens for Nikon 1 mirrorless cameras

Nikon just announced a new lens for their Nikon 1 mirrorless system cameras: The 1 Nikkor 32mm f/1.2.
With a 35mm format equivalent of ±86mm, this ultra wide max aperture lens could be the ideal portrait lens (for the Nikon 1 system), able to provide a very shallow depth of field.

The 1 Nikkor 32mm f/1.2 will be available in June in black and silver, and will cost around $896/€859

Finally: The Canon EF 200-400 f/4L IS USM Extender 1.4x

The lens Canon shooters have been waiting for is finally here! At the end of May the Canon EF 200-400 f/4L IS USM Extender 1.4x should be available at the stores.

The new lens, which was seen in action during the 2012 Olympics already, promises to be a very  special lens indeed. Potentially better than Nikon's counterpart. For one, the built-in 1.4x teleconvertor (which can be enabled without having to remove the lens from the camera) means the versatility and flexibility of the lens is bigger. But perhaps optically it is better too (Nikon's 200-400 has one weakness: sharpness at greater distances).

All in all a very interesting lens. The price for this fine piece of technology is a bit on the steep side though; with €/$12,000 it is going to be twice the price of the Nikon counterpart (even including a 1.4x TC). Whether or not the lens is really worth it, or if it would perhaps even be better/cheaper to buy a separate Nikon body and the Nikon 200-400 instead, remains to be seen…

Fun: Hitler learns about Adobe's new Creative Cloud model

Adobe's plans for the Creative Cloud (where you are locked into paying a monthly fee to be able to use the software) has created quite a stir amongst their customers. Here's what happens when Hitler learns about the model…

(please note that the video contains coarse language)