The Photo Times: Canon Firmware Upgrades for the EOS-1D X and EOS-1D C Digital SLR ...

MELVILLE, N.Y., Oct 22, 2013 (BUSINESS WIRE) –

Canon U.S.A., Inc., a leader in digital imaging solutions, announces

improvements in the functionality and convenient operation of the EOS-1D

X Digital SLR camera and the EOS-1D C Digital SLR Cinema camera through

new firmware scheduled to be available starting in January 2014 and

November 2013, respectively. Firmware enhancements for the EOS-1D X

Digital SLR camera are designed to provide photographers with greater

creative freedom and speed, especially in sectors such as sports,

wedding, nature/wildlife, and journalism, which often contain rapidly

changing action, sometimes in low-light environments. Service

enhancements for the EOS-1D C Digital SLR Cinema camera improve lens

performance, lens status display, metadata storage, and audio recording.

“Canon constantly strives to provide our customers with advanced and

innovative technology in our products,” noted Yuichi Ishizuka, executive

vice president and general manager, Imaging Technologies

Communications Group, Canon U.S.A. “We understand the daily life of

photographers, we listen closely to what they have to say, and we use

their feedback in our constant efforts to improve existing products and

develop new ones. The latest Canon firmware for the flagship EOS-1D X

Digital SLR camera provides better automation to help photographers

fine-tune how the camera operates moment-by-moment so users can

concentrate on creativity and success. Filmmakers have also requested

improved functionality for the EOS-1D C Digital SLR Cinema camera, and

its new update delivers.”

Improved Operability for the EOS-1D X

Developed as the ultimate Canon EOS camera, the EOS-1D X Digital SLR is

designed with foresight that enables its performance to be periodically

improved with new firmware upgrades, helping to ensure maximum long-term

value for owners and users of the camera. These improvements are

engineered to support and advance the evolving creative needs and

business imperatives of professional photographers and committed

high-end amateurs. The features provided by firmware version 2 are

designed for more efficient automation that takes the task of changing

settings away from the “heat of the moment” and enables photographers to

concentrate on creativity and obtaining valuable shots. Firmware version

2 upgrades and operability additions include a total of 10 features that

are now new or improved:

–

AF Performance with Moving Subjects – For greater creative

control, additional parameters have been added to AI Servo 2nd

Image Priority, enabling users to adjust these settings for more

accurate AF performance according to the situation at hand.

Photographers can fine-tune the balance between prioritizing focus

versus the framing rate for the second and subsequent shots in a burst.

–

Enhanced AI Servo AF Performance in Low Light Conditions – The

AI Servo focusing algorithm has been improved to allow more time for

light sampling during AF activation prior to shutter release,

enhancing AF performance in low-light situations. Additionally,

initial AF control is now based on the new “+2 focus priority” setting

of AI Servo 2nd Image Priority, which has higher distance

measurement capabilities under low-light conditions. Upon full

depression of the shutter button, settings from AI Servo 1st

Image Priority take over and then settings from AI Servo 2nd

Image Priority are applied on any subsequent images in the burst. This

increases the probability that the first image in a burst sequence

will be as sharp as possible.

–

Improved Acceleration/Deceleration Tracking Parameters – To

improve tracking performance of fast-moving subjects that fill the

frame, additional parameters for acceleration/deceleration tracking in

AI Servo AF have been added to provide photographers with more precise

control when photographing rapidly moving subjects that accelerate or

decelerate quickly or unexpectedly. In response to feedback from

professional photographers, these new settings have been added to

handle larger differences in speed (i.e., the rate of change in image

magnification) compared to the previous firmware.

–

Selection of Initial AF Point While Shooting in 61-Point Auto

Selection AF – This new option in the AF Menu provides more

continuity when switching to 61-Point Auto Selection AF from any other

AF Point Selection mode. The option maintains the AF point selected

from the previous Selection mode as a starting point for 61-Point Auto

Selection AF. It also maintains the ability to change to a

pre-programmed AF point when changing the Selection mode. This

time-saving option is designed to help eliminate the need to stop and

think, and helps photographers to customize their individual shooting

style.

–

AF Point Switching According to Camera Orientation – In

addition to programming the EOS-1D X camera to automatically switch to

a different AF point and area selection mode based on camera

orientation, firmware version 2 adds the option of programming only

the AF point according to camera orientation (horizontal, grip up and

grip down). This new ability to select up to three different AF points

according to camera orientation allows for greater customization of

the camera to specific shooting styles.

–

Expanded Minimum Shutter Speed in Auto ISO – In response to

user feedback, this improved functionality in Auto ISO enables

photographers to select a minimum shutter speed as high as 1/8000th

of a second to freeze moving subjects.

–

Exposure Compensation in Auto ISO with Manual Mode Set – This

new function enables photographers to manually set a desired shutter

speed and aperture, use Auto ISO to control the exposure, and use

Exposure Compensation to adjust the exposure for challenging lighting

conditions (e.g., a very dark or very bright background). This new

function can be activated through the Quick Control Dial or by using

the Main Dial while pressing the SET button.

–

Toggling Between Alternate Camera Settings – EOS-1D X camera

users can now toggle between three groups of camera settings instantly

by pressing the shutter button, AE Lock button [*] or the AF-ON

button. Selectable settings that can now be assigned to the AE Lock

and AF-ON buttons via Custom Controls include:

–

Currently selected AF point vs. pre-registered AF point

–

AI Servo AF configuration sets (Case 1 through Case 6)

–

One-Shot AF vs. AI Servo AF

–

Currently selected drive mode vs. 14 fps Super High Speed drive

mode

With these new options, photographers can reconfigure their EOS-1D X

camera on the fly, while keeping their eye on the viewfinder to maintain

concentration on the shot they are trying to get. For example, the

camera could be set up for One-Shot AF and single shot drive mode on the

shutter button, AI Servo AF in Case 1 with high-speed continuous drive

mode on the AE Lock button, and AI Servo AF in Case 4 with

super-high-speed 14 fps continuous drive mode on the AF-ON button.

–

Same Exposure for New Aperture in Manual Mode – This new

firmware feature provides users with the ability to maintain

consistent exposure levels in Manual mode when the aperture changes,

for example when a photographer shoots at maximum aperture with a

variable-aperture lens (such as the Canon EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6L IS USM

telephoto zoom) or when using a lens equipped with built-in extender

(such as the EF 200-400mm f/4L IS USM Extender 1.4X). The feature

gives users the option to have the camera adjust the shutter speed or

the ISO to compensate for the aperture change.

–

Display Protected Images Only – Users can now page through

protected images only via an option on the main dial. This feature

already exists with rated images, and is an expansion of that

capability.

Enhancements for the EOS-1D C

A versatile, self-contained 4K cinema camera as well as a robust still

photography camera, the Canon EOS-1D C will also benefit from a new

service update that further enhances the performance of this unique

imaging device.

–

EF Lens Communication – The new service update for the EOS-1D C

Digital SLR Cinema camera will enable Canon EF-mount Cinema lenses to

store lens metadata in the video recorded by the camera. Furthermore,

Canon EF-mount Cinema lenses will be supported by Peripheral

Illumination and Chromatic Aberration Correction functions, helping to

improve overall image quality [1].

–

Audio Recording – In response to user requests, audio on the

EOS-1D C camera has also been enhanced. Currently audio recording is

limited to a MIC input, but the forthcoming service update will permit

selection of LINE or MIC input, allowing use of a wider variety of

external audio sources.

New Firmware Release Schedules and Installation Procedures

Firmware version 2 for the EOS-1D X Digital SLR camera is scheduled to

be posted on the Canon U.S.A. website in January 2014. Users will be

able to download and install the new firmware on their own, or have it

installed by an authorized Canon Factory Service Center. For more

information please visit: www.usa.canon.com/eos1dxfirmware.

The update for the Canon EOS-1D C Digital SLR Cinema camera is scheduled

to be available November 2013, and will be installed at no charge as a

service upgrade that requires the camera to be sent to an authorized

Canon Factory Service Center. For more information please visit: www.usa.canon.com/CinemaEOSFirmwareUpdate.

About Canon U.S.A., Inc.

Canon U.S.A., Inc., is a leading provider of consumer,

business-to-business, and industrial digital imaging solutions. With

approximately $40 billion in global revenue, its parent company, Canon

Inc.

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+1.24%

, ranks third overall in U.S. patents registered in 2012+

and is one of Fortune Magazine’s World’s Most Admired Companies in 2013.

In 2013, Canon U.S.A. has received the PCMag.com Readers’ Choice Award

for Service and Reliability in the digital camera and printer categories

for the tenth consecutive year, and for camcorders for the past three

years. Canon U.S.A. is committed to the highest level of customer

satisfaction and loyalty, providing 100 percent U.S.-based consumer

service and support for all of the products it distributes. Canon U.S.A.

is dedicated to its Kyosei philosophy of social and environmental

responsibility. To keep apprised of the latest news from Canon U.S.A.,

sign up for the Company’s RSS news feed by visiting www.usa.canon.com/rss

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+Based on weekly patent counts issued by United States Patent and

Trademark Office.

All referenced product names, and other marks, are trademarks of

their respective owners.

[1] Lens compatibility updates do not apply to top-end Canon EF

Cinema zoom lenses CN-E30-300mm T2.95-3.7 L S and CN-E14.5-60mm T2.6 L S.

SOURCE: Canon U.S.A., Inc.








 
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