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Digital Camera News, Reviews and Tips

 

Canon EOS M Firmware Upgrade Might Just Make it an Awesome Camera

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Canon-EOS-M-Black

The Canon EOS M had all the potential in the world to be a market leader; however, Canon utterly failed in producing a competent AF system. Accordingly, the EOS M has been highly criticized for its sluggish performance and sales appear to have been equally sluggish.

While Canon has blamed the poor lens selection for the EOS M’s failure to fly off store shelves, the rest of the photographic community knows that it’s the slow AF system that keeps people from buying in. I love the EF-M 22mm f/2 lens that Canon includes as a kit lens for the EOS M – it’s compact, a great focal length as a walkaround lens and it has a nice, fast aperture. But, again, the AF speed is unacceptable.

When Canon announced the EF-M 11-22mm f/4-5.6 IS STM lens earlier this month, the company also revealed that a firmware update would be forthcoming for the EOS M and will improve the system’s AF performance. Now, it appears we have video proof of just what firmware version 2.0.2 for the EOS M will do. [Read more…]

Olympus PEN E-PL5 and PEN E-PM2 Firmware Updates

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Olympus E-PL5

Olympus has issued firmware updates for the PEN E-PL5 and PEN E-PM2. The new firmware provides the following improvements:

  1. Improved stability of touch panel operation during playback
  2.  Support for new VF-4 electronic viewfinder (automatic display switching by the VF-4 eye sensor is not supported)

Additionally, support for the new VF-4 EVF has been added to firmware updates for the following Olympus cameras: OM-D E-M5, PEN E-P2, E-P3, E-PL1, E-PL2, E-PL3, E-PM1 and XZ-2.

There are two options for updating the firmware:

  1. Launch the included Olympus camera software and connect the camera via USB cable to an internet connected computer. Choose the Update function from the Camera menu in the software to apply available updates for camera bodies, lenses and accessories.
  2. Download the software updater from the following link: http://www.olympusamerica.com/cpg_section/cpg_downloads_updater.asp and follow the installer instructions.

With each method, users can choose to display information related to what the update will apply, prior to performing the update.

Canon Releases 1D Mark IV Firmware Version 1.1.3

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1D Mark IV

Canon has released a firmware update for the 1D Mark IV. Firmware version 1.1.3 adds the following improvements and fixes:

  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”.

You can download the firmware update and get instructions on how to install it here on Canon’s website.

How Does Third-Party Firmware Affect Canon, Nikon and Panasonic Camera Warranties?

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5D Mark III Magic Lantern

We’ve covered Magic Lantern firmware and the new Canon 5D Mark III raw video feature lately. However, one thing we haven’t touched on is how using and installing third-party firmware on your DSLR affects your camera warranty.

Udi over at DIY Photography contacted Canon, Nikon and Panasonic to see what they had to say about using third-party firmware on their cameras. In short, Canon says that using Magic Lantern firmware won’t void your warranty, while both Nikon and Panasonic say that installing a third-party firmware will void your warranty.

Of course, if your Canon camera is bricked by the Magic Lantern firmware, Canon would charge for the repairs.

More over at DIY Photography.

Nikon D300, D300s, D700 and P7700 Firmware Updates

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Nikon D700

Nikon has released firmware updates for the Nikon D300, D300s, D700 and P7700.

The firmware updates for the D300, D300s and D700 add support for the new Nikon 800mm f/5.6E FL ED VR lens.

The firmware update for the Nikon Coolpix P7700 includes the following improvements:

When shooting with shooting mode set to M (manual) with Flash, and the ISO sensitivity set to Auto, ISO 80-200, ISO 80-400, or ISO 80-800, ISO sensitivity was sometimes not locked at ISO 80 and a different ISO sensitivity was sometimes applied.  This issue has been resolved.

You can download the firmware updates here at Nikon’s website.