EOS magazine news

Canon RAW Codec is a software plug-in that enables the import and display of Canon RAW image files when installed in Windows Vista (including SP1)/Windows XP SP2 and XP SP3. Windows Imaging Component (WIC) supported applications (Microsoft Windows Live Photo Gallery etc.) are required. Version 1.7 adds support for the EOS 1D Mark IV and 550D. Windows 7 32-bit version is now supported. 64-bit operating systems are not supported. You can download the update by going to: http://www.canon.co.uk/ and following the ‘Software and User Manuals’ link under the ‘Quick Links’ heading

Canon has responded quickly to the problems with firmware version 2.0.3 for the EOS 5D Mark II (see news story 18 March 2010). It has now introduced version 2.0.4 with the following message:   We apologize sincerely for the inconvenience caused to our customers by suspending the availability of the Version 2.0.3 firmware.  We are now introducing the Version 2.0.4 firmware. This firmware corrects the malfunction that occurred in the previous Version 2.0.3 firmware, in which the manual recording level changed and made recording impossible.  Customers who have the Version 2.0.3 firmware on their cameras should update the firmware to Version 2.0.4. The firmware upgrade can be installed by the user. Full instructions and downloads are available at the >> Canon Download Centre

The EOS 5D Mark II firmware update version 2.0.3 released a couple of days ago (see news item on 16 March 2010) has a malfunction and has been withdrawn. Here is the message on Canon's firmware page: Recently we have 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 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. We apologize very sincerely for the inconvenience, but we are going to stop making this firmware available for download. For customers who have already updated to the new firmware, when using the camera with the mode dial set to C1/C2/C3, please either set the sound recording settings to Auto. We are currently preparing firmware that will correct this malfunction. As soon as those preparations have been completed, we will let you know on t

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

Canon will soon be releasing a firmware update for the EOS 5D Mark II. Originally announced in late 2009, the update adds 24 and 25 frames per second (fps) recording to the camera’s movie function. Developed following feedback from photographers and cinematographers, Firmware 2.0.3 enhances the EOS 5D Mark II’s video performance. The addition of new frame rates expands the camera’s potential, providing filmmakers with the ability to shoot 1080p Full HD footage at 24fps (actual 23.976fps) – the optimum frame rate for cinematic video. 25fps support at both 1920x1080 and 640x480 resolutions will allow users to film at the frame rate required for the PAL broadcast standard, while the new firmware will also change the 30fps option to the NTSC video standard of 29.97fps. A new histogram display for shooting movies in manual exposure, shutter-priority (Tv) and aperture-priority (Av) have been added and exposure modes will also be available in movie mode. Improved audio functionality will

Canon has been voted as Europe's top camera brand for the tenth consecutive year in the Reader’s Digest Most Trusted Brands Survey 2010, an annual pan-European survey of consumer attitudes to brand products and services. Reader’s Digest asked its readers in 14 languages across 16 European countries to nominate the brand they trusted most in a range of consumer categories, including cameras. Respondents were drawn from the Reader's Digest customer database of 4.5 million homes in Europe, and more than 32,000 responses were analysed. Canon was one of only three brands nominated as ‘most trusted’, Canon coming out on top in 14 of the 16 countries. Respondents rated each brand on the following four criteria: Quality, Excellent Value, Strong Image and Understands Customer Needs. The 14 countries that selected Canon as the ‘most trusted’ camera brand were Austria, Belgium, Finland, France, Germany, Hungary, Netherlands, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland an