When the camera is fitted with a lens and extender, resulting in a maximum f/8 aperture, the new firmware enables the camera to use the EOS 5D Mark III’s central dual cross-type focal points, currently only available up to an f/5.6 aperture.
Following feedback from cinema and TV production professionals, the new firmware includes ‘clean’ HDMI output, enhancing overall video editing and monitoring procedures. Videographers will be able to output high-definition uncompressed video data (YCbCr 4:2:2, 8 bit) without any embedded icons or symbols from the EOS 5D Mark III to an external recorder using the camera’s HDMI terminal. This will enable easier editing of data with minimal image degradation for greater on-site workflow efficiency during production, as well as the option to record to the internal memory card at the same time.
The enhanced features also include outputting of time code over HDMI to an external recorder, as well as the ability to synchronise start and stop of video capture with the start and stop of recording to an external device. Real-time output to external monitors will also be available, ideally suited for on-set monitoring by the wider production team.
The free firmware update will be available from April 2013.