Canon has announced the availability of a locking mode upgrade for the Canon 5D Mark II and 7D, which will prevent the settings from accidentally being changed. For now, the service upgrade has only been announced for Japan and will cost 10,500 yen (roughly $125 USD).
No word yet on the availability of this service upgrade in the US or other markets.
Is this a feature that you would want? Will you pay for the upgrade if/when it becomes available in your market?
[Canon Japan via Rob Galbraith]
It has occurred to me more then once so preventing the mode dial from accidentally changing is a must have. Price is a bit high compared that this is a design flaw but probably still is acceptable.
About time! Yes I would pay for this upgrade in the US…though upset that I should have to as this is such a basic feature that it could be called a design flaw.
I am dying for this feature. I consider the unlocked dial a nightmare; it changes everytime I put the camera in a case. I would DEFINITELY pay for this feature. It’s long overdue.
I agree with Ed. Thought it was obvious that such a feature would be included.
I saw on Twitter that it’s available in the US: http://www.usa.canon.com/cusa/consumer/products/cameras/slr_cameras/eos_7d?pageKeyCode=prdAdvDetail&docId=0901e02480245968
I’d consider it if I could afford one of those cameras in the first place.
Yes! Finally! I would easily pay $100 for this feature and I was shocked that a professional camera didn’t have this critical feature. I use a holster-style bag (Think Tank digital holster) and get so frustrated when I “whip it out” and later find the dial has been brushed to some other setting.
I’ve never had the mode dial change by accident via any method, but it seems clear some folks really want this upgrade. By all means then, bring it on.
I agree that this should have been on the original and yes I would pay to fix it.
Yes,
even if I am very angry about this lack, first on the 5D, and again on 5DII and 7D, I would pay for the upgrade here in Europe – Italy.
It’s incredible and absurd that Canon has not made these cameras with a safety dial like this!
Canon has now discovered the hot water?
What do they do and who are the ‘selected’ photographers who test the cameras before they are put on the market? Is it possible that no one has pointed to the almost absolute necessity of having a safety lock on that dial?
Or Canon (as with the absence of a control hardware mirror up) is deaf to the demands of its customers and its Management remains stubbornly conservative and plastered?!
Thanks God, I mean Canon, it has finally arrived…
This is a nice Hardware upgrade (somewhat unusual indeed), not free, but cheap enough to make it affordable to most users.
Maybe some cameras had a weak mode dial, while others manufactured later have a better built one (like the flimsy CF Card door in the original 5D Mark II release that was improved on further copies), since we didn’t have any problem with our at all.
As we always say, why Canon doesn’t offer non-free upgrades to Firmware (Software) improving some of the features/functions too? Just like most software companies do. If the cameras can be improved (they actually CAN) and if Canon can’t offer it for free, then offer it as an option.
It’s even good from a business point of view:
http://5dmark2.wordpress.com/2009/12/17/canon-firmware-updates/
– A side note related to Hardware design improvements (“mistakes” in this case):
Canon SHOULD fix all Battery Grips TOO, which are nicely built, but using a PLASTIC knob (engaging metallic gear) to attach to the camera body, thus giving a potential cause of failure (we have had this problem, as so many other users).
THE BIGGEST MISTAKE: the battery grip design prevents it from disassembling when it’s attached to the camera body, so… when the knob breaks or get stuck inside the battery grip, it CANNOT be removed easily (at all).
TWO big build & design mistakes:
1-Using plastic knob instead of metallic one on battery grips that cost over $230
2-Not possible to disassemble the battery grip when it’s attached to the camera.
These same mistakes repeat in all current Canon DSLR cameras.
At least Canon should spend few more dollars on a metallic knob… and improve the design too, allowing to disassemble the grip even when attached to the camera.
There is an online store which provides the replacement part for the knob (original from Canon, obviously with a plastic knob too), in case you don’t have any tech service to take your camera to (or if they don’t know how to remove the battery grip; unbelievable but possible…) and you can remove it by yourself (it is possible, not easy at all, but possible).
Amazing easy to fix issue, but the grip is STILL being made the same way since so many years ago…
When is Canon going to open an “easy, clear and direct” channel to get users feedbacks and suggestions (that really works)? We don’t know, but indeed we already suggested it too.
By all means, yes! I can’t see why Canon wasn’t pro-active in realizing this dilemma.
My camera is still under warranty and I’ve been complaining to Canon since I got it. I think it is nonsense that I should have to pay for repair of a defect they caused, but will probably get it fixed.
Differently needed feature but canon should be paying it to customers for lack of it and wasted shots…however, $100 is little to much for semi-pro to pay who bought this camera for higher grade & resolution.
Funny this should come up today…I was an AC on a shoot, and the shooter accidently moved the mode knob by accident after the shot was complete in his hand off of the camera back to me for a battery change…Fortunately, I saw it as it happened and
reset the knob to the “M” (manual mode), and we finished the shoot with no major errors. A lock on that mode knob would’ve prevented that had I not caught it.
As a practice, I always look at the “Info page” just before shooting to varify what all the camera settings are at…i.e.:
exposure time, F-stop, ISO, color temp.,etc…but in the heat of battle of a fast paced shoot the shooter just wants to compose and focus, and let the assistant make sure all other settings are just so…
So, the bottom line…any lock to lock those settings can be a potential life saver. I would pay the apx. $125 U.S. to fix this, but I’d definitely expect Cannon to cover all other major design flaws as a “recall” thing like with the auto industry…after all we paid good money not to get a post engineered camera.
I would definitely not pay for it, even though I wish there is a lock in my 5D Mk. II. Cameras of that class should come with this simple feature, known for ages and tested in many models. I could never understand the policy of Canon. Why not go for something they once invented or used in cameras successfully? It is like they are scared to come up with close-to-perfect model, so they downgrade them time to time. Now they seem to be so proud of their swivelling screen in 60D and I am asking why haven’t you put it in 40D 5 years ago? It is not like this technology was unknown to Canon! Oh, and one more thing that astonishes me: why Canon keeps using that un-ergonomical awkwardly located on-off switch instead of using something similar to what Nikon and nearly everybody else do?
I’m sorry guys but I can’t see what all the fuss is about. when you bought your 5d mark 11 or what ever you bought you all did your research into what they are like and what they do. If you didn’t and spent all that money then you must be mad. When I bought my 5D mark II I checked that it did everything I wanted it to. For me the Canon 5D mark II is still the best camera on the market.
I’ve had my camera for about 10 months now and never had any problems with it. If your unlocked dial is moving after you put into your camera case then maybe it’s time to change your case, besides a good photographer should always check there setting periodically.
One thing that’s annoying about this review is, the Nikon users must be laughing there socks off.
If and when the upgrade is available in the UK I wont be having it done, I personally don’t think it needs it.
This is a bit odd because this feature was standard on my old EOS 10 film camera of circa 1990. The dial was also slightly recessed and could really only be properly accessed through a small let-in arc.It worked very well. Why something so simple and effective could be incorporated in a camera twenty years ago but now seems to be likely to cost such a lot of money as a simple modification is difficult to_understand/accept.
I have to say tho that I have not had my mode dial change on my 5Dll………yet!
No way ! It’s a product conception problem. They’ll have to fix it for free.
I do not know if you can remember, I complained about this about “to me it is a design flaw” almost a year ago. I agree, it should be done free of charge by the factory or the reps in the different countries. We here in South Africa have a problem sending equipment to the suppliers, espescially if you do not stay in Joburg or Cape Town!
Has occured more than once on my 7d. This should be a free upgrade for something that is a design fault.
/B
Steve, I did research before I bought my Mk II and I have chosen it as a best camera available for me, but best doesn’t mean perfect. My point is that Canon could make it better for same cost or few bucks more but for some weird reasons they did not. My guess is that they don’t really care that much for their customers. Obviously they’d rather save 5 cents than make us really pleased. They know we would buy camera anyway, cus what else can we do, once we have spent $10000 for lenses.