Topic: Canon 5D firmware update (Read 8480 times)

sojournerphoto · « **on:** March 19, 2008, 08:36:54 am »

A new firmware for the 5D is available. Apparently it allows use of bigger CF cards and some stuff. I've not downloaded it yet, but thought I'd share the surprising news. It can be found at http://www.canon.com/eos-d/index.html

There's also 1.0.6 for the 1Ds3 there, although mine came with that installed.

Mike

neil snape · « **Reply #1 on:** March 19, 2008, 02:24:48 pm »

Good news.

I wish they would correct the blaring tethered shooting bug for EOS Capture and DPP (for importing into LR of course).

Eric Myrvaagnes · « **Reply #2 on:** March 21, 2008, 10:19:13 pm »

I just did it for my 5D. Thanks for the mention.

But I would like to offer a warning to anyone else out there who, like me, hasn't previously updated camera firmware: RTFuM!!!, by which I mean: "Read The Firmware update Manual"!

So here is my own sad saga, which I share with the world in hopes that it may prevent some other poor sucker from making the same stupid, lamebrained, careless error that I did (Query about Forum Etiquette here: I hope that Ad Hominem attacks are permitted when they are inflicted only on oneself.)

So I "read" through the instructions (I'm usually a pretty careful reader, but . . .) and noted that it said (I thought) that you needed an 8 GB memory card to do the upgrade. I idly wondered why such a big card, but I went out and got a new Sandisk 8GB Extreme III which I'd been wanting anyway -- my biggest previous card being 4GB.

I downloaded the zipped firmware file, unzipped it, and copied it to my new card. No problemo. Meantime I had charged fully one of my batteries. I inserted fully-charged battery and 8GB card in camera and started the update procedure. But instead of showing me a progress screen, my camera screen went blank. Ouch! I waited a while, but it seemed that nothing was happening, so I turned it off.

Yes, there had been a warning that "Pressing any button or turning off the power while the upgrade is happening may disable the camera." But with no progress, what was I to do?

So then I reread the instructions, more carefully, and realized it said I needed an 8 MB card, not 8 GB (doh!!!) Actually, at least 8MB and "not greater than 2GB". So I got one of my 1 GB cards and loaded the firmware file onto it and tried again. And guess what? My camera was indeed disabled. Nothing would come up on the screen at all.

So I searched the web for anything about "Canon firmware update failure" and found lots of suggestions that "turning off the power may disable the camera", but no suggestions about how to do a fix. So it seemed that a call to the New Jersey Canon shop might be needed, but they close at 4:30 and it was now 4:29 and a half. So I'll call on Monday.

But then I noticed in one forum a suggestion that maybe taking out the battery for a bit and reinserting it might restore the old firmware. So I tried that, figuring that Murphy would guarantee that nothing that simple could possibly work. But, mirabile dictu it worked! My camera started right up, and I was able to install the new firmware (with the 1GB card and another freshly charged battery) just fine.

So there was a happy ending after all.

But if you are planning to try this at home, please, PLEASE, RTFuM!

Eric (who will never make that exact mistake again. But there are plenty of others . . . )

Andrew Teakle · « **Reply #3 on:** March 21, 2008, 10:34:57 pm »

Eric,

Thanks for the warning. Now I've got to go out and find a card smaller than what I own. I'll borrow a friend's.

Cheers,

Andrew

Ray · « **Reply #4 on:** March 22, 2008, 02:34:49 am »

I wonder if I'll ever use 8Gb cards in my 5D. I've already got plenty of 4GB, 2Gb and 1GB cards.

I generally adopt the policy, if the firmware update is not needed, don't take the risk. If it ain't broke, don't fix it.

I've still got the original firmware that came with my 5D. I once had a problem wherein a couple of RAW files mysteriously appeared as huge files, like 2Gb instead of 12MB, after download to my laptop. I discovered the problem when trying to record my images to DVD. The number of images that were supposed to fit on the disc just didn't, not by a long shot.

Presenting the problem on LL resulted in some sound advice. Get the latest firmware update. I downloaded the update on CD and printed out the instructions, then misplaced everything, so when I eventually found the time and motivation to implement the update, just before my next photographic trip, I couldn't find the disc and printed instructions. Being naturally lazy, I just didn't bother.

Oddly enough, that initial problem that motivated me to download the firmware update, has never, ever recurred during 30,000 or more subsequent shots. The reflex mirror fell off, though, but that's an entirely different matter.

neil snape · « **Reply #5 on:** March 22, 2008, 03:19:55 am »

I installed mine on a 8GB Seagate card. This worked, lucky for me as I didn't read the firmware instructions thinking it was the same as before. Maybe it always said 2GB max, I never noticed.

marcmccalmont · « **Reply #6 on:** March 22, 2008, 08:10:06 pm »

I found a use for all of my old 256 and 512 Mb cards ... firmware updates!!
Marc

Eric Myrvaagnes · « **Reply #7 on:** March 22, 2008, 09:32:44 pm »

Quote

I found a use for all of my old 256 and 512 Mb cards ... firmware updates!!
Marc
[a href=\"index.php?act=findpost&pid=183591\"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a]

I'll keep one of my 1G cards around just in case I ever need to update again. My new 8GB will get some use as a companion to the two 4GBs that I use for almost everything. I even have somethign smaller than a 1GB but I don't remember what size it is. I think it came with my point & shoot. It would probably have been just the thing for firmware updates.

tandlh · « **Reply #8 on:** March 22, 2008, 11:15:33 pm »

Interesting discussion on the size of the card. I read the six pages that was on the site for the firmware upgrade and must have missed the card size warning. I used my Lexar 8GB card for the upgrade and didn't have a problem at all. But the card also worked before the upgrade as well. I had FW version 1.1.0 before the upgrade.

Mike Louw · « **Reply #9 on:** March 23, 2008, 09:01:00 am »

Quote

Interesting discussion on the size of the card. I read the six pages that was on the site for the firmware upgrade and must have missed the card size warning. I used my Lexar 8GB card for the upgrade and didn't have a problem at all. But the card also worked before the upgrade as well. I had FW version 1.1.0 before the upgrade.
[a href=\"index.php?act=findpost&pid=183629\"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a]

Ditto to all the above....

Eric Myrvaagnes · « **Reply #10 on:** March 23, 2008, 10:54:33 am »

Quote

Interesting discussion on the size of the card. I read the six pages that was on the site for the firmware upgrade and must have missed the card size warning. I used my Lexar 8GB card for the upgrade and didn't have a problem at all. But the card also worked before the upgrade as well. I had FW version 1.1.0 before the upgrade.
[a href=\"index.php?act=findpost&pid=183629\"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a]

Mine was version 1.0.6 before the upgrade. I have no idea what I was missing between it and 1.1.1. Maybe 1.1.0 would have let me use the 8GB card. Or maybe I did something else stupid on the first try ('Eric, are you sure you are in the "creative zone"'?). Anyway, I'm just so pleased my camera works now.

sojournerphoto · « **Reply #11 on:** March 23, 2008, 06:55:48 pm »

Quote

Mine was version 1.0.6 before the upgrade. I have no idea what I was missing between it and 1.1.1. Maybe 1.1.0 would have let me use the 8GB card. Or maybe I did something else stupid on the first try ('Eric, are you sure you are in the "creative zone"'?). Anyway, I'm just so pleased my camera works now.
[a href=\"index.php?act=findpost&pid=183725\"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a]

Thanks for the warning Eric - that must be why Canon gave me a 512Mb card when I bought the camera - so I'll use that when I do the upgrade.

It does seem to pay read the manual before doing firmware upgrades on canon equipment. The IPF5000 requires a particular procedure also.

Mike

Eric Myrvaagnes · « **Reply #12 on:** March 23, 2008, 07:19:33 pm »

Quote

Thanks for the warning Eric - that must be why Canon gave me a 512Mb card when I bought the camera - so I'll use that when I do the upgrade.

It does seem to pay read the manual before doing firmware upgrades on canon equipment. The IPF5000 requires a particular procedure also.

Mike
[a href=\"index.php?act=findpost&pid=183811\"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a]

My one wish is that Canon update instructions included mention of what to do (or at least try) if you do something wrong; that is, take out the battery and see if the firmware reverts to the old one successfully. It took a fair amount of googling to find that suggestion (from a camera owner, not from Canon). I was about ready to ship mine off to New Jersey. I'm glad I searched for a fix.

Eric

Author Topic: Canon 5D firmware update (Read 8480 times)