5D MarkII Firmware update 1.1.0 with Video Manual Controls

Well It's here!!!!

And right on the date they have announced it June the 2nd 2009.

While I'm writing this I'm making the update and will post some more new tomorrow but for now here goes what consists this update and what problems it addresses.

First you can get the Firmware update here at Canon web page.

And direct link to the PDF Manual file for the Manual Exposure on the movie mode.


Firmware changes

Firmware Version 1.1.0 incorporates the following improvements and fixes.

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. *For details on how to use this function, please download the PDF files from the bottom of this page. 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.

*Digital Photo Professional software version 3.6.1 or later (for Windows and Macintosh) can be used to automatically correct the peripheral illumination of RAW and JPEG images that were captured in the Peripheral illumination correction setting with cameras that have Firmware Version 1.0.7 or earlier.

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.

First impression after install is that when you change the aperture you will hear the shutter opening and closing and that interferes with sound recording. So if you are trying to record something with sound I suggest an external microphone. Also for the speed you can ear the cracking of the dial.

It looks, at first impression, that the sound on the shutter is the same you ear on the G10 movie mode but amplified a couple of times.

I think people would still prefer to buy Nikon lenses with manual aperture values and use it here instead of this NOISY crack sound but time will tell.

My first opinion is that this feature is great but it's not a killer if you are going to use the camera to record sound from the built in microphone unless of course you are on loudly external events ;)

I also noticed that when you take a photo while shooting a movie the exposure settings (ISO, Aperture, Shutter Speed) set for the movie will be applied to the still photo instead of the previous firmware where you would have to take a photo with the settings the camera was using for video and sometimes they were not the ones you would like.

Now with Manual control mode you loose the possibility of AE Lock and Exposure Compensation.

Take a look at this small example video of the Shutter, Speed and ISO dial buttons sound I did this movie right after the firmware update so no bother comment on quality or content issues. It's just first test.

I will upload the video tomorrow since Vimeo is too slow and YouTube is updating it's database :(

Here is the Video watch it in HQ for better quality. Had to put it on YouTube since Vimeo still did not have it available by this time.



--- Updated ---

Just want to mention that I got a good external microphone that I used on my old Sony MD player and that it fits perfectly to the camera and can help you dealing with all those noise button cracks and clicks. I'm using the Sony ECM717 with great results.

Share your experiences with external microphones on comments.

--- End of Update ---

Tip: FREE EBook

Today I bring you a lot of tips and good information on this great EBook written by David D. Bush.

With lots of pictures, How to Master and capture great pictures with your DLSR.

Just see for yourself...

5D MarkII Video: Manual Controls Coming Soon

FINALLY!!!!
It looks like Canon will get it BIG,this time, let's hope so.

As soon as I got more news will let you guys know but for now here is today's official announcement.

Canon has announced a firmware update for its EOS 5D Mark II digital SLR enabling manual exposure when shooting videos. With the updated version, users will be able to manually adjust the shutter speed, aperture and ISO settings in the video mode. The new firmware will be available for download on 2 June 2009 from Canon's website.

Press Release:
Canon Enable Manual Exposure in Video on EOS 5D Mark II

LONDON, UK, 27th May 2009: Canon announced today it will release a firmware update for the EOS 5D Mark II allowing users to manually control exposure when shooting video. The new firmware will be available for download from 2 June 2009 on Canon Europe’s support web site.
Following the launch of the EOS 5D Mark II in September 2008, Canon’s Research and Development team has listened closely to customer feedback to develop additions to the camera’s movie recording functionality.

Allowing EOS 5D Mark II owners to achieve even more stunning video results with the camera, the firmware update will include the following manual controls when shooting video:

* Full aperture selection
* ISO speed: Auto, 100 – 6400 and H1
* Shutter speed: 1/30th – 1/4000th second

The EOS 5D Mark II integrates full HD movie capability into a high-end 21.1 Megapixel camera; opening a multitude of new possibilities for photojournalists and news photographers.
Since its launch the camera has proved its appeal to professionals working in diverse fields, from studio and wedding to nature and travel.

Now, following customer feedback, Canon has improved functionality for professional video users, further unleashing the potential of the EOS 5D Mark II for cinematographers and photographers alike.

Camera Raw 5.4 RC Available on Adobe Labs

Adobe has recently released a Release Candidate for their new Camera Raw.

As always this brings a lot of new cameras to the set and if you are using the Hasselblad series or the new Nikon D5000 this is a major for you.

Although this is only a Release Candidate but is very functional and the Hasselblad possibilities just rocks.

Check the ful article for the full list of new supported cameras.

The Camera Raw 5.4 Release Candidate is now available on Adobe Labs. The release includes new camera support for the following models:

* Canon EOS 500D (EOS Rebel T1i)
* Epson R-D1x
* Hasselblad CF-22
* Hasselblad CF-22MS
* Hasselblad CF-39
* Hasselblad CF-39MS
* Hasselblad CFH-22
* Hasselblad CFH-39
* Hasselblad CFV503
* Hasselblad CWD
* Hasselblad H2D-22
* Hasselblad H2D-39
* Hasselblad H3D-22
* Hasselblad H3D-31
* Hasselblad H3D-39
* Hasselblad H3DII-22
* Hasselblad H3DII-31
* Hasselblad H3DII-39
* Hasselblad H3DII-39MS
* Hasselblad H3DII-50
* Kodak EasyShare Z980
* Nikon D5000
* Olympus E-450
* Olympus E-620
* Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH1
* Sigma DP2

This release also includes new DNG Compatibility conversion options. These choices are explained on the Adobe Labs web site and help address the additional options available with an upcoming revision of the DNG Specification.

If you have feedback on this release please post a descriptive topic on the Adobe User to User forums.

DIY: Ball Bungee

It's been a while since I did not posted any news here on the blog but the boat has started to put some water and the holes need to be closed. Since there are so many holes to close it's taking a little bit longer to maintain Lighting Mods at full speed but I hope that soon it will be at full speed again.

I would like to thank you all for the kind words that has been arriving through the sooo many emails and for the numerous requests for some more DIY projects.

While you wait for more new stuff take a moment to go through the right side menus and check the other stuff, you may find something useful in there for your small strobes and maybe it could even help you out at some point.

THANK YOU readers for hanging out.

A lot of people been asking me where to get the Ball Bungees because not every corner have them available.

I decided that it was time to put out this inexpensive Do It Yourself (DIY) Ball Bungee project. I name it Ball Bungee as title for today's article, just as a reference, but the real name I call them is NUT BUNGEE.

Sounds a little like what I feel sometimes... but it fits it's purposes and that's what matters.

Let's begin by explaining what are these Ball Bungees and what they are useful for.

They are loops of a thin elastic rope whose nodes ends on a plastic ball. With this Ball Bugees you can, not only stretch tight schedule, but they are simply a versatile tool to fix things together. I use it for a lot of different purposes and one of them is secure the umbrella to the light stand for a much easier way to carry them both.



Unfortunately, buying these loops are not offered in Portugal like in so many other countries. So I decided to create a simple, but with lot's of images, DIY project so you can create yours in a blink of an eye.


First you need to move your body to a hardware store near you and search for these next items:



Elastic rope with 4mm or 6mm. I do prefer the 4mm and let you know why later on, but you can always make these with any thickness and color you like.

Next we go NUTS!!!!!



Thickness M8 or a M10 size nut depending on the thickness of the elastic rope you have chosen for your project.



I also bought some M12 just in case the 6mm elastic rope would not fit inside the M10.



So let's take a closer look at what you really need:


- Elastic rope about 1 meter or more, depending how many you would like to make.
- Nuts M8 or larger, depending on the thickness of the rubber rope.
- Scissors.
- Lighter.
- Ruler or Metric Tape.




These are 2 different Original Ball Bungees with different sizes to tight different things.


Now that we have what we need let's begin...



I'm cutting the 6mm Elastic Rope with a 40cm long to produce a 20cm Nut Bungee, so if you need to make a longer one just cut it more, simple as that.



Now you understand why the lighter ;) So in order for the tips would not come apart is better to burn them a little so that the elastic would not unweave itself.



Here it is burned but not toasted.



Now let's grab the 6mm Elastic Rope and put the both ends through the tiny Nut hole with the help of the scissors (this sounds like weird but it's not... hole, nuts, nut, hole... well simple), let's move on.



UFFFF!!!! DONE!!! The 6mm is very thick and difficult to tight the not so that's why I prefer the 4mm Elastic Rope. They also make the job done and for the small strobes are perfect unless you are trying to tighten together heavy stuff.



This is what it should look like in the end.



This is something I was searching through the shells and found interesting so I bought it to test if was really cool. And in the end it does :)

What is it, you may ask?

It's a cover for the 10M Nuts with this you can cover your Nuts (uppsss!!) your Screws, well not that a... hum!! well this writing is a different lead. STOP STOP STOP REWIND!!!!!

So, as I was saying this is a cover to conceal the Nuts and this way they would not be banging on your stuff while in the bag. Unfortunately I only saw for the M10 Nuts, maybe they will have it somewhere else. Anyway I will give you an idea of what I'm talking about.



This is the box where they came in.



See what I mean? To cover the Nuts, just that :)



Since they do not have a hole in the back end one need to be made.



So grab the scissors and make a nice hole that corresponds the size of the Elastic Rope thickness you have.



This is what it should look like in the end.



Put it through the Elastic Rope right before you put the Nut.



Then make a loop knot at the end and you have your Nut Bungee ready to use.



That's it. I also made a bigger ones with the small Elastic Rope just in case I need them bigger than my originals.



An example of what you can use them for.



Another example of what you can use them for.



You can even use them to hold your strobes either together or against something. Just use your imagination.

If you prefer you can always get original ones at FlashGels in the U.K. Just tell them you are coming from Lighting Mods for a discount ;)

Hope you enjoy this DIY and see you again soon.