Canon Releases new EOS 1D Mark III Firmware version 1.1.3
Canon has released firmware version 1.1.3 for the EOS-1D Mark III digital SLR. Available now via Canon Japan’s website, the update incorporates a number of improvements and fixes. This firmware update (Version 1.1.3) incorporates the following improvements and fixes:
- Increases transmission speed when using high-speed SD cards. Through the efforts to accelerate transmission, the speed of writing images to or reading images from high-speed SD cards is made faster. *Depending on the SD cards you use, there may be no difference.
- Fixes a phenomenon involving not being able to release the shutter. Depending on the timing at which the AF-ON button and shutter release button are pressed, in rare cases the shutter could not be released; but this phenomenon has been fixed.
- Improves AF tracking in specific conditions. a) Improves AF tracking when shooting outdoors in bright environments. b) Improves AF tracking of low-contrast subjects. *The improvements described in a) have been incorporated since Firmware Version 1.1.1. The improvements described in b) are new to Firmware Version 1.1.3.
- Corrects errors in the Spanish and Korean menu screens. There were errors in the Spanish wording of some of the C.Fn items and in the wording of messages that appear in Korean during firmware updates, but those have been corrected. *The errors described above that appear in Korean during firmware updates will be corrected after this update is completed.
The Version 1.1.3 firmware being released this time is for cameras with firmware up to Version 1.1.1. If the camera’s firmware is already Version 1.1.3, it is not necessary to update the firmware.
Visit the Canon EOS-1D Mark III firmware download page for more info and instructions.
Canon Releases new 40D Firmware version 1.0.5
Canon has released firmware version 1.0.5 for its EOS-40D DSLR. Available now via Canon Japan’s website, the update contains bug fixes and a couple of modifications to the camera’s image playback.
This firmware update (Version 1.0.5) incorporates the following improvements and fixes.
- When playing back images just after recovering from Auto Power Off, the display now shows the last image played back.
- During remote shooting, images are now displayed on the camera’s LCD monitor right after they are taken.
- Corrects a warning message in Korean that appears when updating the firmware.
- Corrects errors in the Spanish menu screens.
- Corrects a phenomenon that prevented printing with some print systems.
- Corrects a rare phenomenon in which file numbers or image numbers were sometimes skipped.
The Version 1.0.5 firmware being released this time is for cameras with firmware up to Version 1.0.4. If the camera’s firmware is already Version 1.0.5, it is not necessary to update the firmware.
Click here for more information and for a download link.
Canon EOS 5D Mark II DSLR on the way?
Canon’s Full Frame pro-sumer DSLR, the 5D, is due for an upgrade. It was announced over 2 years ago, on August 22, 2005. There have been rumors floating around for a few months - as there always is once a camera nears 18 months old, Canon’s usual life cycle - like the image at the top of this post, showing the 5DmkII with Canon’s EF 24-105mm f/4L attached, probably doctored.
However, today there is another clue to the 5DmarkII. Not from Canon, but from PhaseOne - makers of some great workflow software. here is a screenshot of their webpage, showing the 5D mk II in a drop-down menu.
Now, usually these leaks and rumors come from some guy playing with photoshop to generate some buzz for fun. But here, with such a reputable player involved, it seems as if it’s only a matter of time before canon announces the 5Dmk2 officially.
The Canon 5D Mark II is rumored to include the following specs:
- 16MP DIGIC III
- 14 bit RAW
- sRAW format
- 3? LCD
- Live View
- Refined AF (similar to 40D)
- Semi Weather Sealing
- 4-5 FPS
Canon will hopefully make an official announcement soon. Until then, we can only wait, and hope, that it will be all we’ve been waiting for.
Two new Sigma lenses for APS-C sensors announced: 10mm F2.8 EX DC FISHEYE HSM and 4.5mm F2.8 EX DC CIRCULAR FISHEYE HSM hopefully for Canon EOS
Sigma 10mm F2.8 EX DC FISHEYE HSM
- Fisheye lens designed specifically for APS-C digital SLR cameras
- 13.5cm minimum focusing distance and 1:3.3 maximum magnification allows close up
photography - Equipped with HSM allowing full-time manual focus override
- Equisolid angle projection system is possible for art and scientific use
The Sigma Corporation is pleased to announce the launch of the new 10mm F2.8 EX DC FISHEYE HSM lens.
This autofocus fisheye lens is designed for use with digital SLR cameras equipped with APS-C size image
sensors. The Nikon version produces a diagonal angle of view of 180° (154° for Sigma, 167° for Canon).
The diagonal field of view of this fisheye lens produces striking images with exaggerated perspective and
distortion. The minimum focusing distance of 13.5cm/5.3inch, and maximum magnification 1:3.3 allows
subjects to be as close as 1.8cm/0.7inch from the lens’ front element. This close focusing capability allows
close-up photography and also it is possible to make use of large depth of field that covers wide range of
subjects. The Integral hood blocks out extraneous light and the Super Multi-Layer Coating minimizes flare
and ghosting, creating superior image quality. The HSM (Hyper Sonic Motor) ensures fast and quiet
autofocusing and allows full-time manual focus override by rotation of the focus ring. This lens is supplied
with a gelatin filter holder at the rear, allowing the use of gelatin filters.
Sigma 4.5mm F2.8 EX DC CIRCULAR FISHEYE HSM
- The first 180 degree circular fisheye lens designed specifically for APS-C size digital SLR cameras
- Fast F2.8 maximum aperture making it ideal for low light photography
- Minimum focusing distance of 13.5cm and a maximum magnification of 1:6
- SLD glass minimizes color aberration
- Equipped with HSM with full-time manual focus override
- Equisolid angle projection method is possible for art and scientific use
The Sigma Corporation is pleased to announce the launch of the new 4.5mm F2.8 EX DC CIRCULAR
FISHEYE HSM lens.
This autofocus circular fisheye lens has an angle of view of 180 degrees in all directions. It is exclusively
designed for digital SLR cameras with the APS-C size image sensor. When used in conjunction with digital
SLRs with APS-C size image sensors, it produces circular image within the frame.
The F2.8 large aperture value produces a bright image in the viewfinder and allows photographers to take pictures in low light conditions, making it an ideal lens for Astrophotography and Aurora photography. Due to the quantifiable angle/area relationship it produces, this lens can be used for scientific and arts applications such as solid angle measurements of cloud distribution over the sky or vegetation distribution of the forest.
The minimum focusing distance of 13.5cm/5.3inch and maximum magnification of 1:6 make it particularly
useful for close-up photography. SLD (Special Low Dispersion) glass provides effective compensation of
chromatic aberration. Sigma’s Super Multi-Layer Coating minimizes flare and ghosting. It is equipped with
an inner focusing system that creates high definition and good image quality over the whole frame. The HSM ?Hyper Sonic Motor? ensures fast and quiet autofocusing and allows full-time manual focus override by rotation of the focus ring.
Hopefully both of these will make there way onto Canon’s APS-C sized DSLRs like the EOS 40D, 30D, 20D, 400D (Digital Rebel XTi ), 350D (Digital Rebel XT), 300D (Digital Rebel). These would be a great addition to the lens selection for these bodies, and usually at a price break over a Canon alternative. What remains to be seen is the quality, so we’ll watch for those reviews to come shortly after release.
Canon EOS 1D Mark III Blue Dot Autofocus Fix Update
Rumors are now surfacing that this is only affecting a certain serial number ranges of the 1D Mark III - or at least new models are out in the wild that are “fixed”.
It seems that if you buy a 1Dmk3 right now, and get fresh, new stock, that you may be in luck - look for a blue sticker on the box.
Anyone get a new one? Was there a blue dot on the box? Are the issues resolved? Leave a note in the comments. This could be great new for the 1D mark 3 users out there - this problem has been lingering for too long as it is.
Update: The 1D MKIII “blue dot” body. Serial # 546562 or above sounds likw the new one, and there are some lower that have been repaired by Canon.
Update #2 (from here):
Any bodies currently being shipped to dealers in the USA, says Westfall, already contain the fix and have a serial number outside the range noted above. In fact, he says, any EOS-1D Mark IIIs that shipped from the factory since early in October 2007 to Canon sales companies globally - including the USA - already contain the sub-mirror fix. It’s a safe bet that dealers around the world have been receiving fixed bodies into their inventory since roughly mid-October, though various factors mean that some dealers will have started receiving fixed bodies sooner than that, and others later than that. In the USA, and perhaps elsewhere, the box containing a fixed EOS-1D Mark III will have a round blue sticker on the UPC code label.
Canon telling EOS 40D owners to expect Camera Raw fix soon
Rob Galbraith writes:
Customers calling in to Canon USA’s customer support centre this week are being advised that an upcoming firmware update for the EOS 40D will fix an incompatibility between that camera’s RAW CR2 files and Adobe’s Camera Raw plug-in, Photoshop Lightroom and DNG Converter software.
The incompatibility - which prevents the CR2 files from being processed - apparently affects only EOS 40D bodies with firmware v1.0.4 inside, and v1.0.4 only recently supplanted v1.0.3 as the firmware being installed at the factory. Version 1.0.4 has not been made available for download from a Canon website, so only newer cameras, and those who may have had the firmware installed during a service visit, are impacted by this.
The new firmware, presumably to be called v1.0.5 or higher, is expected to be released for download by the end of November 2007. More information on the problem, and a link to a utility that purportedly corrects the incompatibility by altering the metadata in v1.0.4 CR2 files, is in this forum thread.
Silkypix Developer Studio has also been impacted by the change in firmware v1.0.4 EOS 40D CR2 files. Ichikawa Soft Laboratory, the maker of this application, has today released v3.0.14.1 (Mac)/v3.0.14.2 (Windows), a beta version of the RAW conversion software that fixes the incompatibility.
The sooner the better for 40D users out there!
Canon has 4 out of top 5 DSLRs in September!
Arguably the best Lens system and, as we already knew, Canon is boasting top sales for their DSLRs. September figures show Canon has 4 of the top 5 spots:
- Canon Digital Rebel XTi / 400D (with EF-S 18mm-55mm lens)
- Nikon D40 (with 18-55mm kit lens)
- Canon Digital Rebel XT / 350D (with EF-S 18-55 kit lens)
- Canon EOS 40D (Body Only)
- Canon EOS 40D (with EF-S 18mm-55mm kit lens combo)
Not a surprise to us Canon users and lovers, but great news!
Here’s the original article.