Canon EOS 5D MarkII Firmware update 2.1.2

Canon just released a minor update to their EOS 5D MarkII. Althought nothing special has been identified it's always a good thing to have the latest update for compatibility issues with new fast CF cards already on the market.

You can download it from here (9.73Mb with English instructions).
 

Details

Changes:
Firmware Version 2.1.2 incorporates the following change.
1. Optimizes the camera’s performance when using certain UDMA 7-compatible CF cards released in February 2012 or later.

The Version 2.1.2 firmware being released this time is for cameras with firmware up to Version 2.1.1. If the camera's firmware is already Version 2.1.2, it is not necessary to update the firmware.

Q&A Section:
Preparations for the Firmware Update:

ALWAYS HAVE A COMPLETELY CHARGE BATTERY BEFORE BEGIN THE UPDATE.

After the downloaded compressed file (.zip) is extracted, a firmware folder is created.
*Extracting the downloaded file:
Right-click the zip file, and then select Extract All to extract the file. The extracted folder contains the firmware (file name: 5D200212.FIR, file size: 9,754,668 bytes) and instructions on the firmware update procedures (a PDF file in English).

Before starting the firmware update operations, please confirm the contents of the download, and carefully read through the firmware update procedures.

Q: What are some changes of Firmware Version 2.1.2?
A: The following change has been incorporated.
1. Optimizes the camera’s performance when using certain UDMA 7-compatible CF cards released in February 2012 or later.

Q: Are the previous versions of firmware included in version 2.1.2?
A: Yes, the following improvements from the previous versions are included:.

(Previous) Version 2.1.1 improvements:
1. Fixes a phenomenon where shooting stops after capturing one image when in continuous shooting or the Auto Exposure Bracketing (AEB) continuous shooting setting.
2. Corrects wording in the Dutch language menu screen.

(Previous) Version 2.0.9 improvements:
1. Improves writing/reading speeds when using UDMA 7-compatible CF cards.
2. Fixes a phenomenon where the IS function will not work when custom function C.Fn III-2 is set to [5: IS start] and the lens attached does not have an AF stop button. This is because custom function C.Fn III-2 allows users to assign IS start to the AF stop button on the lens.
3. Corrects misspellings in the menu screens displayed in Arabic, Portuguese, Spanish, and Thai languages.

(Previous) Version 2.0.8 improvements:
1. Fixes a phenomenon *1) in which movies are not taken at the shooting mode registered in the user's settings if a shooting mode Aperture priority (or Shutter priority) is registered in any of the camera's user settings (C1, C2, C3) and the user attempts to shoot a movie.
*1) This phenomenon occurs with cameras that have the Version 2.0.3 / 2.0.4 / 2.0.7 firmware.
2. Fixes a phenomenon in which the shutter will not release when pressing the shutter button when the auto power off function is set to "on". It occurs due to the communication between the camera and the lens or the flash or due to the CF card.
3. Fixes a phenomenon *2) in which overexposure occurs when shooting a Live View shooting simulation with the ISO speed set to L.
*2) This phenomenon only occurs when the EF 2x extender is used, the camera's ISO speed is set to L (Low), and the shooting mode is set to P (Program AE).
4. Fixes a phenomenon in which the settings of the Speedlite transmitter ST-E2 revert to the default settings when both the camera and the ST-E2 are set to auto power off.
5. Fixes a phenomenon in which the Macro Ring Lite (MR-14EX, MT-24EX) and slave flash do not sync while shooting wirelessly.

(Previous) Version 2.0.7 improvements:
1. Fixes a phenomenon in which the aperture exhibits abnormal movement when shooting movies in manual exposure mode and Aperture Priority AE (Av mode) using some Canon lenses (such as macro lenses).
Supplemental Information:
This phenomenon involves the aperture of the lens exhibiting abnormal movement when the focusing ring moves (during focusing). For zoom lenses with variable maximum apertures, the aperture changes when the zoom ring is operated (during zooming), but this is normal
behavior, where the effective aperture changes according to the focal length (the zoom position).
2. Fixes a phenomenon in which the exposure level shown in the LCD panel differs from what is shown in the viewfinder when shooting still images in manual exposure mode.
3. Fixes a phenomenon in which the Wireless File Transmitter (WFT-E4 or WFT-E4 II) may not automatically power off when used for FTP transfers.

(Previous) Version 2.0.4 improvements:
Firmware Version 2.0.4 incorporates five enhancements to the movie function and a fix to the manual sensor cleaning function of the EOS 5D Mark II camera.
1. Adds or changes the following movie frame rates.
- NTSC frame rate (fps)
. Firmware Version 2.0.4 or later
. . . Recording size / Listed / Actual
. . . 1920 X 1080 / 30 / 29.97
. . . 1920 X 1080 / 24 / 23.976
. . . 640 X 480 / 30 / 29.97
. Firmware Version 1.2.4 or earlier
. . . Recording size / Listed / Actual
. . . 1920 X 1080 / 30 / 30.00
. . . 1920 X 1080 / - / -
. . . 640 X 480 / 30 / 30.00
- PAL frame rate (fps)
. Firmware Version 2.0.4 or later
. . . Recording size / Listed / Actual
. . . 1920 X 1080 / 25 / 25.00
. . . 1920 X 1080 / 24 / 23.976
. . . 640 X 480 / 25 / 25.00
. Firmware Version 1.2.4 or earlier
. . . Recording size / Listed / Actual
. . . 1920 X 1080 / 30 / 30.00
. . . 1920 X 1080 / - / -
. . . 640 X 480 / 30 / 30.00
2. Adds a function for manually adjusting the sound recording level (64 levels).
3. Adds a histogram display (brightness or RGB) for shooting movies in manual exposure.
4. Adds shutter-priority AE mode (Tv) and aperture-priority AE (Av) mode to the exposure modes for shooting movies.
5. Changes the audio sampling frequency from 44.1 KHz to 48 KHz.
6. Fixes a phenomenon where communication between the camera and the attached lens is sometimes interrupted after manual sensor cleaning. (This phenomenon only affects units with Firmware Version 1.2.4.)

(Previous) Version 1.2.4 improvements:
1. Supports the WFT-E4 II wireless file transmitter that was released in December 2009.
After the firmware is updated, if the WFT-E4 or WFT-E4 II wireless file transmitter is used with the camera, the indications that appear under [Communication mode] on the [WFT settings] menu are changed as follows:
FTP -> FTP trans
PTP(PC) -> EOSUtility
HTTP -> WFTserver
HTTP account -> WFT account
2. Corrects a phenomenon in which visible noise may appear in images taken by continuous Bulb shooting.
This firmware update corrects a phenomenon that if the [C.Fn II-1 Long exposure noise reduction] setting is set to [2: On], noise may appear in images that are captured while the previous image is still being generated.

(Previous) Version 1.1.0 improvements:
1. Includes a function to enable the manual exposure setting when shooting movies.
*When shooting movies in manual (M) mode, the shutter speed *1, the lens aperture value *2, and the ISO speed *3 can be freely set to allow a greater flexibility.
Notes:
*1 Shutter speed range: 1/30 sec. to 1/4000 sec.
*2 Lens aperture range: maximum to minimum aperture value of the lens used
*3 ISO speed range:
Auto: ISO 100 to 6400 set automatically
Manual: ISO 100 to 6400, H1
2. Disables the function of the depth-of-field preview button when images are played back or when the menu screen is displayed on the LCD panel.
*There are indications that images being reviewed or the menu screen may suddenly disappear from the LCD panel. As this phenomenon may be caused by accidentally pressing the depth-of-field preview button, this firmware update disables the function of the depth of field preview to address this issue.
3. Fixes a phenomenon where the peripheral illumination of images cannot be properly corrected, even if the images were captured with the lens Peripheral Illumination Correction function set to Enable.
*Firmware Version 1.1.0 fixes a phenomenon where peripheral illumination may not be properly corrected due the type of lens used and shooting conditions.
4. Fixes the algorithms of the Auto Lighting Optimizer function when Custom Function C.Fn II-3 Highlight tone priority is enabled.
5. Fixes incorrect indications on the Arabic, Romanian, Spanish, and Ukrainian menu screens.
6. Changes the battery information displayed on the camera when using the optional Battery Grip BG-E6.
*If only one LP-E6 battery pack is installed in the Battery Grip BG-E6, the battery information for the empty battery slot shows the error message, Cannot communicate with battery. However, with this firmware update, this error message no longer appears, even if only one LP-E6 battery pack is installed.

(Previous) Version 1.0.7 improvements:
1. "Black dot" phenomenon (the right side of point light sources becomes black)
When shooting night scenes, the right side of point light sources (such as lights from building windows) may become black. The phenomenon may become visible if the images are enlarged to 100% or greater on a monitor or if extremely large prints of the images are made.
This firmware improves and mitigates this phenomenon.
2. Vertical banding noise
If the recording format is set to sRAW1, vertical banding noise may become visible depending on the camera settings, subject, and background. The firmware improves and mitigates this phenomenon

Notes:
When updating to Firmware Version 1.0.7, please also update the Digital Photo Professional and Picture Style Editor software *4 to the following versions or later. These software updates can be downloaded from our Web site.

*4 Digital Photo Professional: Version 3.5.2 or later (for Windows and Macintosh)
Picture Style Editor: Version 1.4.2 or later (for Windows and Macintosh)
If the existing software applications are used to display sRAW1 and sRAW2 images that were captured by a camera with Firmware Version 1.0.7, dark, low-contrast areas in the images may appear slightly magenta. If the updated software applications are used to display sRAW1 and sRAW2 images, the color of the images will appear normal, regardless of the camera firmware version.

Canon Rumors interviewed

If you are like me, a BIG follower of canonrumours.com, then you should not miss the interview Craig Blair (the guy behind the mask) gave to James Beltz at PhotoTips.biz.

First you will get to know the person behind the blog as he share the all story about Canon Rumors, he also shares some great stuff... if you are not yet into the blog then you should get it right away.

I leave you the video so you can check all the good juice.

"PhotoTips" Episode 108 - Behind the lens with Craig Blair from James Beltz on Vimeo.

Enjoy.

Canon 5D MarkII Firmware update 2.0.8

Canon released another update version of 5D MarkII firmware to correct some phenomenons...

This firmware update (Version 2.0.8) incorporates the following changes and fixes.

1. Fixes a phenomenon in which movies are not taken at the shooting mode registered in the user's settings if a shooting mode Aperture priority (or Shutter priority) is registered in any of the camera's user settings (C1, C2, C3) and the user attempts to shoot a movie.
2. Fixes a phenomenon in which the shutter will not release when pressing the shutter button when the auto power off function is set to "on".
3. Fixes a phenomenon in which overexposure occurs when shooting a Live View shooting simulation with the ISO speed set to L.
4. Fixes a phenomenon in which the settings of the Speedlite transmitter ST-E2 revert to the default settings when both the camera and the ST-E2 are set to auto power off.
5. Fixes a phenomenon in which the Macro Ring Lite (MR-14EX, MT-24EX) and slave flash do not sync while shooting wirelessly.

The Version 2.0.8 firmware being released this time is for cameras with firmware up to Version 2.0.7. If the camera's firmware is already Version 2.0.8, it is not necessary to update the firmware.

Direct download link here.

5D MarkII firm 2.0.4 More Errors Detected

It really seems that Canon has had his glory days.

Just when we thought everything has been fixed with the recent update 2.0.4 more users are starting to complaint about the new firmware producing errors in manual mode.

Ever since Canon has changed to the new sensors technology that more and more problems have arise from these sensors. And the fact is that Canon is aware of them but will still refuse to make it public nor fix the errors they are prone.

One of the biggest problems was the MarkIII focus issues that were never really fixed, but instead they made some minor adjustments and replacements to try to improve it without much great success.

Then came the actual problem of soft images on most of the recent cameras and this is due o the fact that for Canon to improve the ISO sensibility they needed something that could "catch" a more sensitive light and for that came a big change on their sensor technology. In fact such change has brought us the problem of ghosting or softness in the images. This is not something that you can really do in Photoshop, except maybe try and over sharp your images in order for them to look good, but the real problem is that now, and pay attention to this, you have to (at least) double your Shutter Speed in order to get things frozen or at least in real sharp focus.

YES, YOU HAVE TO, AT LEAST, DOUBLE THE REAL EXPOSURE TO GET A GOOD SHARP PICTURE.

This is something that Canon should mention on their new manuals has this never happened on cameras with older sensors. And when I'm talking old is sensor produced during the line of 1D MarkIIn series. So make this your mark point, every camera Canon has produce prior to the 1D MarkIIn were really good sensors after that all suffer from the ghosting (softness) effect and you will have to raise your Shutter Speed 2 or 3 times more than you were used to.

With this in mind you will then have to lower your Aperture or raise your ISO and here my friends is where your adventure starts.

If you are working on f2.8 and you can no longer lower the Aperture because your 2.8 lens then you have to raise the ISO and you know if your shooting a standing person and your meter will tell you that a good exposure will be 1/200 well that would not not freeze your subject very well, you need at least 1/400 or even 1/800 so it will make a good sharp picture.

Taking in account that you are working at f2.8, ISO 1600, 1/200 (meter readings) and you need the 1/800 to freeze your subject then the only option it will be to raise your ISO in such way your images will became useless for big prints. I know that you can use Noise Reduction on them but the point here is why Canon did not switch the sensors on their new cameras to match a good quality and freeze the action like previous models? Why not put this on the manuals so people could be aware of this matter.

A lot of you, and me, been complaining about soft images in part due to the lenses used but if you are an L user and spend a lot of money in gear you at least expect to have a company that focus on improving the way images are captured. Canon always have been a marketing company and never really care about their consumers, as long as sales go up everything is good.

I had so many complaints about Canon products since my upgrades of my 1D MarkIIn bodies and all due to new sensor and focus issues. Service Center here in Portugal sucks and thank god I have a CPS card that helps me nothing.

I also upgraded the 1D MarkIV to the new firm 1.0.6 only to find out that the camera lost it's ability to focus on low light and the servo mode is much more sensible in a way that it's completely useless. I talked to Canon about it, but they told me no complaints were sent about this, and with much pressure I have managed to returned to 1.0.4. I also found out about a thread at Fred Miranda forum concerning this matter and you can check it out here.

So it seems Canon his loosing ground but always making faulty cameras, let's hope future will come brighter on this matter.

What people at 5D MarkII Team are talking about the firmware 2.0.4 Iris problem:

MALFUNCTION IN 2.0.4 – IRIS issue

Firmware 2.0.4 is really a GREAT update, an extraordinary effort made by Canon engineers. But after some deep tests we have found and confirmed a malfunction in this firmware.

▪ Description of the problem:

When a Canon EF 100mm f/2.8 Macro USM lens is mounted on the camera and the user manually changes focus (rotates focus ring), the lens changes the iris/aperture “by itself”, even when the camera is in full manual mode.

It is not normal, and should not happen. The tests were made by several users with many copies on many camera bodies, so it’s not an isolated lens problem.

▪ This malfunction always occurs in this situation:

When the camera is set to M (Manual) mode and in Live View mode (Still+Movie – Movie Display), which is the correct mode for “full manual control” in movie mode.

▪ Additional details:

. It does NOT happen with Firmware version 1.1.0
. It happens WHEN recording video and also when NOT recording video
. It happens with ISO and every possible automatic setting fixed to a value, or turned off
. It happens in C1/C2/C3 too (if they are registered as “M” modes for movie recording)
. It happens in PAL and NTSC modes
. It happens in both lens modes: MF and AF mode
. The camera does NOT tell any change in aperture setting (it keeps showing the same value) nor give any kind of advice either
. The iris shifting can be heard (and seen)
. The brightness shifting of the image is visible on the camera’s LCD monitor when the iris/aperture shift occurs
. The iris/aperture usually changes in small values, but enough to make a footage unusable, so using this great lens for movie/video purpose may result impossible
ADDITIONAL REPORTS

We received some additional reports from many users.

Some of them:

. Regarding the malfunction of the Canon EF 100mm 2.8 Macro USM:

“By observing the IRIS as I adjusted the aperture I noticed that sometimes it doesn’t go correctly to the right size. I even noticed that sometimes as I stopped down the aperture for a step the IRIS would actually open a bit instead.”

. Other reports: We also received reports regarding 3rd party lenses experiencing “weird noises” coming from the iris, or iris/aperture inconsistencies when mounted on 5D Mark II with firmware 2.0.4 that weren’t present on firmware 1.1.0.

It seems very possible that these issues also occur with some 3rd party lenses and maybe other Canon lenses as well.
VIDEO TESTS

These 2 videos show the problem when the Canon EF 100mm F/2.8 Macro USM is mounted on the 5D Mark II in the full manual mode for movie mode, and the focus ring is rotated. Remember that this does not happen with firmware 1.1.0.





Please read full descriptions on each video for further details.
(Thank you 5D2Team for the great tip and videos and keep up the pressure)

Let's hope this will have an end soon. Thank god I bought a 5D MarkII digital photo camera to take pictures and not videos or else I would be pi....

I know Canon will fix all this on the next 5D MarkIII "Video" Camera as long with a new AutoFocus and who knows some 40 Mpixel files so we can all have our hard drives full in a snap.

Canon EOS 5D Mark II Firmware Update 2.0.4 to Correct 2.0.3

Canon delivers firmware 2.0.4 to replace old one released a couple of days ago and to fix several issues users were complaining about audio not working on C1,C2 and C3 modes.

Firmware changes

In the Version 2.0.4 firmware, the following phenomena that occurred with the Version 2.0.3 firmware (which was to enhance the movie functions) have been corrected.

* There was a phenomenon in which the manual recording settings made in C1/C2/C3 were changed and sound could not be recorded if manual sound recording was used in the C1/C2/C3 settings and the camera was subsequently turned off (or if Auto Power Off was activated). This does not occur in modes other than C1/C2/C3.

The Version 2.0.4 firmware includes the movie function enhancements listed in items 1 through 5 below, and also incorporates the correction listed in item 6.

1. Adds or changes the following movie frame rates.

NTSC:
* 1920×1080 : 30 fps (changed - actual 29.97 fps)
* 1920×1080 : 24 fps (added - actual 23.976 fps)
* 640×480 : 30 fps (changed - actual 29.97 fps)
PAL:
* 1920×1080 : 25 fps (added - actual 25.0 fps)
* 1920×1080 : 24 fps (added - actual 23.976 fps)
* 640×480 : 25 fps (added - actual 25.0 fps)

2. Adds a function for manually adjusting the sound recording level (64 levels).
3. Adds a histogram display (brightness or RGB) for shooting movies in manual exposure.
4. Adds shutter-priority AE mode (Tv) and aperture-priority AE (Av) mode to the exposure modes for shooting movies.
5. Changes the audio sampling frequency from 44.1 KHz to 48 KHz.
6. Fixes a phenomenon where communication between the camera and the attached lens is sometimes interrupted after manual sensor cleaning. (This phenomenon only affects units with Firmware Version 1.2.4.)

You can download the firmware 2.0.4 here.

Canon EOS 5D Mark II Firmware Update V2.0.3 Removed Due to Issues

Canon has removed the firmware 2.0.3 from their home page due to complains about audio not being recorded in C modes.

+++Official Announcement+++
Important Update Information for Firmware Update Version 2.0.3

We recently discovered a malfunction that occurs with Firmware Version 2.0.3, in which the manual recording levels for C1/C2/C3 are changed and the EOS 5D Mark II digital SLR camera becomes unable to record audio if the power is turned off (or if Auto power off takes effect) after registering "Sound Recording: Manual" in the camera user settings. For customers who have already downloaded and updated to Firmware Update Version 2.0.3, when using the camera with the mode dial set to C1/C2/C3, please set the Sound Recording settings to Auto to record with audio.

We are currently preparing a new firmware that will correct this malfunction and have temporarily disabled the ability to download the current firmware until the issue can be resolved. We will re-enable the download link on our web site and notify you via e-mail when it becomes available. If you have not registered your EOS 5D Mark II, please register so we will be able to notify you.

Canon always strives to provide the highest quality products to our customers. We sincerely apologize for any inconvenience this may have caused. We appreciate your kind patronage and support.

Let's hope it comes soon. Another flop from Canon :(

You can follow what users been talking and complaining about this update at the Fred Miranda Forum.

Canon EOS 5D Mark II Firmware Update V2.0.3 Available

Canon just announced the released update firmware for the EOS 5D Mark II digital SLR now marked as update 2.0.3.

What you will get with this update:

Firmware Version 2.0.3 incorporates five enhancements to the movie function and a fix to the manual sensor cleaning function of the EOS 5D Mark II camera.

1. Adds or changes the following movie frame rates.

NTSC:
* 1920×1080 : 30 fps (changed - actual 29.97 fps)
* 1920×1080 : 24 fps (added - actual 23.976 fps)
* 640×480 : 30 fps (changed - actual 29.97 fps)
PAL:
* 1920×1080 : 25 fps (added - actual 25.0 fps)
* 1920×1080 : 24 fps (added - actual 23.976 fps)
* 640×480 : 25 fps (added - actual 25.0 fps)

2. Adds a function for manually adjusting the sound recording level (64 levels).
3. Adds a histogram display (brightness or RGB) for shooting movies in manual exposure.
4. Adds shutter-priority AE mode (Tv) and aperture-priority AE (Av) mode to the exposure modes for shooting movies.
5. Changes the audio sampling frequency from 44.1 KHz to 48 KHz.
6. Fixes a phenomenon where communication between the camera and the attached lens is sometimes interrupted after manual sensor cleaning. (This phenomenon only affects units with Firmware Version 1.2.4.)

The new firmware is available for download on the link below FREE:
Firmware 2.0.3 download or here.
You can also check the official page with more detail information about this update View it here.
You can also get the Instructions Manual here.
And a Pocket Guidehere.

Canon unveils EOS E1 video plug-in for Apple’s Final Cut Pro

Hello and GREAT WONDERFUL news from Canon HDSLR department.

If you are using Final Cut to edit your videos the suffering has ended... well at least that's what Canon is planning by releasing this piece of software.

They Call it EOS E1 video plug-in for Apple’s Final Cut Pro. The plug-in is compatible with Final Cut Pro 6 or higher and currently supports Canon EOS 5D Mark II, EOS 7D and EOS 1D Mark IV cameras.

The plug-in will be introduced in a free Beta release in March 2010.

This third party plug-in allows simple and easy transfer of video content from Canon’s EOS DSLR cameras directly into Final Cut Pro. The EOS E1 video plug-in takes advantage of Final Cut Pro’s powerful Log and Transfer feature, which allows users to select and mark the video directly while it is still on the camera, add custom metadata and ingest the clips in the background so the editing can begin immediately.

The third party EOS E1 video plug-in it's a Yupiiiiiii!!!, FREE download.

Meanwhile and while waiting for the Canon plugin You can download this plugin that can help you with your files directly by clicking here or go to apple website Here and download it from there.

About 5DtoFCP
This unique workflow package allows the user to choose to edit in 1080p, 1080i or straight to standard definition 16x9 25fps. Custom droplets give one click access to compressor that will convert the H264 files into ProRes for editing. The user also has a choice whether to make the clip realtime (i.e. 30fps to 25fps) or timestretch so that one frame in 30fps is one frame in 25fps. This will result in a slowdown of 20% for pin-sharp results.

Compressor droplets are supplied to get the final 1080p/i self contained movie into standard definition 16x9 too. Easy to follow workflow diagrams help plot the conversions needed to get the best quality from a Canon camera’s 30fps HD files to 25fps.

Give it a try and let me know how it's working for you.

Here is the direct link to Canon Plugin available as a Beta version during March 2010.

Side by Side: Canon 1D MarkIV Vs 1D MarkIII

On Today's post I will try to make side by side review of the new 1D MarkIV and the previous model 1D MarkIII.

the idea here is not to get a full review, as I think there are out there a lot of good people who will pull up a great technical review of the cameras. What I wanted to make was a simple approach to what are the main differences between the 2 cameras and help you get a clear view of them both.

The side by side will be for the all exterior body as well as to some of the menu changes.

I have also included 2 videos at the end of this side by side so you can take a live view of them and make your own personal opinions about the new camera.

Now, let's get this party started...



The first thing I noticed when I opened the kit was that the AC Adapter Kit ACK-E4 was no longer included with the 1D MarkIV. This kit would allow you to plug the camera right into a AC socket and let it work without any battery.

This would be a great thing if you want to make some time-lapse and also would be nice to include it since the MarkIV have video has this would help minimizing the change of batteries. No Kudos for Canon on this matter as a new one would cost around 160,00 euros :(



The Canon 1D MarkIV and the Canon 1D MarkIII boxes are almost the same even the design is the same except the 1D MarkIV box is a little smaller, maybe this has something to do with the fact that the AC Adapter Kit ACK-E4 is no longer included.



On the front you also notice the new logo at the same place has the previous one ;)



When side by side the cameras are exactly the same, the body has not change much as you can see in the above picture.

I've included a specs chart between the Canon 1D MarkIV & Canon 1D MarkIII for a better understanding on what have changed. (Just click on the images below for a better viewing).






Let's Take a closer look at the Canon 1D MarkIV front view.



And here is the Canon 1D MarkIV front view, as you can see not much has changed.



On the side we can see that now the rubberized sealing are much better and the 1D MarkIV (on the right side) has grown a little bit because of the Mic and the HDMI connectors. Also the Extension Terminal System to connect the WFT-E2/WFT-E2II is attached to the body instead of the older model that had some kind of a screw in cover that keep falling and this cost 18,00 euros a piece.



Here you can see the inside of the rubberized sealing the battery and charger are the same for the 2 cameras the Canon LP-E4 Rechargeable Lithium-Ion Battery and it's charger the Canon LCE4 Battery Charger.



Here in detail the System Extension port cover and sealing. After a closer look the sealings are much better than the the ones on the 1D MarkIII.



Nothing has changed on the top part of the camera.



Not even the top LCD screen and buttons.



Here are the cameras side by side on the back part. Here you can start noticing some differences between them as canon has introduced a completely new LCD screen, but let's take a closer look.



When I first look at the back part of both cameras the LCD was what impress me. The new 3.0-inch ClearView II LCD monitor, 160° viewing angle, 920,000-dot VGA, reflection resistance with multi coating and high-transparency materials for bright and clear viewing is AWESOME!!!

So what is this new LCD screen, you might ask?

Here is Canon answer to your question:

"The new, high-resolution, 3.0-inch ClearView II VGA LCD has 920,000 dot resolution and provides a new level of clarity and sharpness with a 160° angle of view. Its performance is admirable, not only in confirming focus and composition, but in composing and shooting in Live View mode, or when shooting video. It features a tempered glass protective cover with an anti-reflective film and a new resin filling between the actual LCD and glass cover that helps minimize internal reflections and further improves visibility in bright viewing situations. During image playback, pressing the illumination button displays an LCD brightness screen, so brightness can be adjusted quickly and easily.



As opposed to the older mirror reflective one. I think it's clear here in the images that with the 1D MarkIII screen you see a lot of reflections as opposed to the darker one of the new 1D MarkIV. (Take a look at the videos, at the end of the page, for a better understanding of this)

And I can tell you that this is a Cristal clear screen to check pictures and to avoid glare when viewing them, even better than the one on the Canon 5D MarkII.



Another thing I noticed different, as I use a lot the AF-ON button on the back of the camera as my main AF button, was this button. It is a little longer than the previous one and has a bigger edge. Not tried it yet but noticed on the first impressions that now is much easier to press it than on the 1D MarkIII, also noticed that the touch for the auto focus is lighter with the new version. Will have to make some field tests to get into any final conclusions, but for the moment it feels much better.



Canon has added to the FEL button, near the exposure wheel, the ability to start and end recording of movie mode. This is a nice feature concerning that you will not need to activate the live view first and then start to record on the wheel button, but only time will tell if this would be a plus or another troubled button. As since Canon could not have another button, on this body, for this function (say like the Canon 7D has a dedicated button) then I think this could be a valuable option.



If you do not like using this feature you can always change it back to Default mode on the Custom Functions menu under the C.Fn.IV: Operation/Others - Start Movie Shooting (take a look at the image above)



The 1D MarkIV allows video so it was much needed the speaker so we can listen to the audio recordings. With the implementation of this speaker came also the possibility to listen to voice recordings (memos) that in the past were not possible to listen.

After taking a closer look at the holes I noticed that you can see, through them, the speaker so it feels like if you are on the field catching a lot of rain maybe some could go inside the speaker, but only time will tell about this. I think they could have placed the speaker at another place on the body so it would not be too much exposed to ambient conditions.

The Memo Microphone is at the same place as the 1D MarkIII.

I wish also that the On/Off switch would have changed has sometimes with mud and water it tends to be difficult to switch (this has happened to me also on the 5D MarkII)... oh well maybe on the next models ;)



On the front side right above the EOS-1 logo you have the video microphone. This is a monaural microphone for simple mono recording but stereo can be recorded through the self-powered external microphone connected to the stereo jack input port on the side of the 1D MarkIV.



The CF and SD card slots are the same except that now on the 1D MarkIV accept cards with UDMA speed.



On the menu a couple of things have changed between the 2 cameras. At first you will notice that the menu is much darker and do not have the annoying Clear Gray/Dark Gray horizontal bars, the new one is just like the 5D MarkII and 7D. The letters are much crispy and easy to read so overall the menu just feels much better.

The first menu I want to show you is the video mode. Now you can choose from NTSC or PAL and based on that option you will choose what you want to record based on that choice... Canon been dealing with video on their powershots for ages and never implemented this feature so that each region could have it's recording format and not be stuck at 30fps... SHAME ON YOU CANON!!!

If they are releasing an upgrade for the 5D MarkII, as promised, let's hope the G11 will get that luck too.



If you choose PAL then these are the movie options:

1920 x 1080 @ 25, 23.976 fps, 1280 x 720 @ 50 fps, 640 x 480 @ 50 fps



If you choose NTSC then you get these movie options:

1920 x 1080 @ 29.97, 23.976 fps, 1280 x 720 @ 59.94, 640 x 480 @ 59.94

It looks like if you want to make smaller videos out of this camera they did not gave us an option like the 5D MarkII at 640x480 @ 30 fps. They could have made this option available but now including the 640x480 @ 25fps. Not everyone that picks up this camera will be making HQ videos and sometimes on the field when you need to record a quick movie smaller ones are better even to send to the office.

Let's hope for a firmware update with this feature.



Another NEW feature is the possibility to have AF Point oriented has you turn the camera to a Landscape or Portrait Position. You can choose it on the C.Fn.III: Autofocus/Drive - 16 Orientation Linked AF Point



The new Peripheral Illumination Correction menu it's available right on the bottom of the Camera Menu (Red).



And you can correct each lenses with a much faster change on the menu.

And this stands for:

Matching the peripheral light falloff characteristics of more than 85 Canon EF lenses introduced over the past 22 years, the light level at the four corners of the image is automatically corrected, using a custom algorithm for each supported lens that reads the aperture in use and, when possible, the distance setting.
With JPEG images, the light falloff is corrected during image capture.
With RAW images, the correction can be done with Digital Photo Professional’s “Shot settings.” The degree of in-camera correction is about 70% of what can be done with Digital Photo Professional.

Lenses that do not have distance information cannot be corrected based on the shooting distance. With such lenses, the camera can make the correction only up to about 50 percent of DPP’s maximum.

Peripheral Illumination Correction

At high ISO speeds, noise along the image periphery is prone to increase. Therefore, the higher the ISO speed, the lower the peripheral illumination correction will be. The minimum correction will be about 20 percent of DPP's maximum. (With lenses not having distance information, it will be about 15 percent.)

Peripheral illumination correction data for up to 40 lenses can be registered in the camera. Upon factory shipment, the camera will have the correction data for approximately 29 lenses. The correction data can be registered or deleted from the camera with EOS Utility software. EOS Utility is updated as new EF lenses are introduced, thus ensuring forward compatibility.



The new JPG feature (RAW only with DPP) called Auto Lighting Optimizer function (ALO).

What is this you may be asking?

Well The Auto Lighting Optimizer function (ALO) automatically adjusts the picture during image processing to obtain optimal brightness and contrast. It corrects AE underexposure, flash underexposure, low contrast, or backlit underexposure (face detection). The algorithm works by optimally adjusting brightness and tone based on scene information, including the image histogram. This is the first time that the feature has appeared in an EOS-1 series camera.

The EOS-1D Mark IV’s ALO algorithm is one generation newer than that of the EOS 50D. It is improved in its handling of scenes without faces. For scenes with faces, the previous algorithm is employed. The default setting is Standard, but optional settings include Low, Strong and Disable.

ALO works with both JPEG and RAW images. With RAW images, photographers can choose the same settings that the camera offers when processing the images in the supplied DPP software. You can select from Standard, Low, Strong or Disable. With previous EOS DIGITAL cameras having ALO, the function worked only in the P, Tv, Av and CA modes. However, with the EOS-1D Mark IV, ALO now also works in the Manual mode and bulb as well, in keeping with the idea of enhanced JPEG workflow.




The External Speedlight Control menu has also changed to a much better position right on the second Camera Menu (Red) as opposed to the older position on the bottom of the 2nd Function Menu (Yellow).



The External Speedlight Control menu is the same as on the 1D MarkIII on which you can control your speedlights Custom Functions and settings as long as you have one attached to the hot shoe of your camera otherwise you will not be able to see these menus.




Here you can see the Flash Function Settings menu of the 1D MarkIV.



And in case you are using the wireless system here is the menu for it.



You also have the ability to set the flash Custom Functions while it sits on the camera hot shoe. This function was already possible with the Canon 1D MarkIII. This is an easier way to set your flash custom settings without having to know which number represents what on the flash. The menu tells you what C.Fn. you are changing and it correspondent name.



The Battery Info menu is the same for both cameras.




Another 2 new features are at the C.Fn.I:Exposure at Position 16 the AE Microadjustment and at position 17 the FE Microadjustment.

What Canon has to say about these features:

"Standard levels for Metering and flash exposure can be adjusted by the user via the AE and FE Microadjustment Custom Functions. With AE Microadjustment, the standard metering level can be adjusted by 1/8 EV step, max. +/- 1 step. With the FE microadjustment function (flash exposure standard level adjustment function), the flash exposure standard level can also be adjusted by 1/8 EV step, max. +/- 1 step.

When using multiple cameras at the same time, it is also possible to match minor individual differences accurately with these microadjustment functions."

After seeing some of the new menu features I decided to check a side by side between both cameras and see what really has changed on both menus. what new features canon has implemented on the menus so next you will see a side by side of the same menu on both cameras.




C.FnIII: Autofocus Drive - AF-assist beam firing has moved from position 14 to 15 and they had a new menu item 2: IR AF assist beam only

What Canon has to say about this new item:

"[C.Fn III-15: AF-assist beam firing] has had the [2: IR AF assist beam only] setting added. Set this to disable the series of small flashes fired as the AF-assist beam, as with Speedlite 270EX."





7 C.FnI: Exposure - Spot Meter Link to AF this is the same except that on the 1D MarkIV Canon had some more information.

"When AF point selection is set to 45 points, center spot area is used for spot metering". Meaning that if you choose the 45 points even that you enable this the metering will always be at the center point. Be careful to what you choose.




10 C.FnIII:Autofocus/Drive - Selectable AF Point

In this menu you can choose the different point for the AF system. Now Canon included the 45 against the 19 of the previous model.




11 C.FnIII:Autofocus/Drive - Autofocus Switch to Registered AF Point

Canon doesn't say much about this:

"For [C.Fn III-11: Switch to registered AF point], the [2: Only while is pressed] setting has been added. The setting name for 1 has been changed to [1: Switch with ]."




15 C.FnI:Exposure - Flash Sync. Speed in Av Mode

What Canon says about this:

"C.Fn I-15: Flash sync. speed in Av mode, the [1: 1/300 – 1/60 sec. auto] setting has been added. (If C.Fn I-15-1 or I-15-2 is set, high-speed sync will not be possible.)"




2 C.FnII:Image/Flash exp/Disp - High ISO speed Noise Reduct'n

What Canon say about the new ISO settings on this menu:

"Noise reduction at high ISO speeds is similar to that of the EOS-1D Mark III and other EOS Digital cameras going forward; however, the EOS-1D Mark III had only the “Disable/Enable” setting. The EOS-1D Mark IV now offers four settings: Standard, Low, Strong and Disable. The default setting(Standard) applies noise reduction.

With Dual DIGIC 4 Image Processor’s high image quality and high-speed processing, excellent noise reduction is executed at all ISO speeds while the image detail is well retained. Chromatic noise in the shadow areas and luminance noise are greatly reduced. The “Standard” setting obtains better noise reduction than the EOS-1D Mark III’s “Enable” setting.

Thanks to improved noise reduction, a CMOS sensor with a high S/N ratio, and the DIGIC 4 Image Processor's high-speed and low-noise image development, ISO 12,800 can be included in the normal ISO range and the ISO speed can be expanded to 25,600 (H1), 51,200 (H2) and 102,400 (H3)."




3 C.FnIII:Autofocus/Drive - AI Servo 1st/2nd img priority

Canon answers to what's on the menu with new features:

"C.Fn III-3: (AI Servo 1st/2nd image priority) has had the optional [3: Release/Tracking priority] setting added. Shutter-release priority (rather than focus priority) is given to the first shot. During continuous shooting (from the second shot onward), stable focus-tracking of the subject is given priority. This new setting, which was the only option for AI Servo AF release/tracking priority with the original EOS-1D, EOS-1D Mark II and EOS-1D Mark II N, was conspicuously absent on the EOS-1D Mark III. Now, EOS-1D Mark IV users will have the best of both worlds together with the new improvements to AF hardware and software."



On the table above you can find what each of the functions mean and what are their functions in the field.




8 C.FnIII:Auto Focus/Drive - AF Expansion w/Selected pt.


Here is what Canon has to say about the new features:

"With C.Fn III-8 and a manually-selected AF point, the effective size of the AF point can be expanded by using the AF points adjacent to the selected AF point. If the manually-selected AF point cannot achieve focus, focus can be achieved with one of the adjacent (expanded) AF points. The range of expandable AF points is shown in the diagram given here.
These settings can be effective for shooting a moving subject that is difficult to track with just one AF point, or with subjects that don’t have lots of detail or contrast. The [1: Left/right AF point] and
[2:Surrounding AF points] options are the same as the EOS-1D Mark III. These give the photographer a moveable “cluster” of either three (via option 1) or up to eight (via option 2) AF points, which can be moved freely around the AF coverage area. The [3:

All 45 points area] setting is a very powerful option that’s new to the 1D series. It effectively allows the photographer to manually select the starting point for focus detection while gaining the ability to track the subject anywhere it moves within the 45-point Area AF ellipse indicated on the focusing screen. (By comparison, when automatic focusing point selection is combined with AI Servo AF, the subject must
be initially detected with the center AF point.) In addition, C.Fn III-8-3 allows the camera to display the active focusing point in the viewfinder as it follows the subject during a burst shooting sequence. Here’s how it works: When C.Fn III-8-3 is combined with AI Servo AF, up to 18 AF points adjacent to the manually- selected AF point will become active.

Each time the subject moves to another AF point, the expanded AF points will also shift to surround the AF point covering the subject. In response to the subject’s movement, the AF point lit in red also shifts continuously. Since the clump of active focusing points can shift automatically according to subject movement, all 45 focusing points are effectively available for
burst mode shooting.

As long as the subject is within the Area AF frame, autofocusing of the subject will continue. This is the same logic as with automatic AF point selection. However, since the focusing is concentrated over a smaller area than during automatic AF point selection, focusing on a particular subject is easier. Also, if the main AF point loses the subject by a considerable amount during automatic AF point selection, all 45 AF points are used to search for the subject. With C.Fn III-8-3, the 18 expanded AF points are instead used to search for the subject.

For example, even if there is an object closer than the main subject, the camera can still quickly and securely track the main subject. If One-Shot AF is set and focus cannot be achieved with the manually-selected AF point, focus is executed with an expanded area of up to 44 AF points. Subject detection is done in three instant steps, with 6, 18, then 44 AF points. Because the manually-selected AF point is where the subject is supposed to be, focusing is easier and more accurate using the AF points closer to the main AF point. Better yet, DPP 3.7.3 and higher can display the active focusing point for each image when C.Fn III-8-3 is used together with manual focusing point selection, even when the active focusing point differs from the manually selected focusing point."




9 C.FnIV:Operation/Others - Record-Protect Button Function

On the MarkIV you now have the option to Play Memo since you now have a speaker to listen to it.




A new menu item was added to the 3rd yellow menu called Copyright Information.

this gives you the ability to have your name and copyright information right on the photos.



Here is the Copyright Details change menu.



Here is the Author's Name change menu.



This is how it displays on the Camera display.




Canon has also changed the name of the C.FnIV from Original Decision Data to Image Verification Data and moved from position 15 to 16 on the same Custom Function.

That's it...

We finally get to the bottom of all the new things you can find under the menus of both cameras.

You can check the details, specifications and accessories of each camera at Canon's webpage the direct links are:

Canon 1D MarkIII
Canon 1D MarkIV

And you can also Download the White Paper for each camera:
Canon EOS 1D MarkIII
Canon 1D MarkIV

Here are a two part video with all the new features and a side by side with some motor speed from both cameras.

PART 1


PART 2


If you like these 2 videos check also the unboxing of the 1D MarkIV on another article Canon 1D MarkIV Unboxing.

Hope you have enjoyed this side by side and stay tuned for more to come here on Lighting Mods.

Thank you for reading and watching.