5D MkIII firmware update .. what does it do?

Rupert67

Rupert67

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My 5D MkIII was showing that it had firmware version 1.2.1. installed so, having established that there was a more recent version (1.3.4.) I downloaded it from Canon's website and updated my camera accordingly.

Can anyone tell me what updating the firmware actually does, please? Is there something that I should be able to do with my camera now that wouldn't have been possible before yesterday?
 
ecoleman said:
Canon website should be able to tell you, but you won't necessarily have any new functions.

Firmware can simply update bugs and add new languages to the menu.

EDIT: A 10 second google found this

http://www.canon.co.uk/support/cons...type=firmware&firmwaredetailid=tcm:14-1496908
Click to expand...

Thanks for this .. I should have spent more time when on the Canon site! History of the various updates makes quite interesting reading though, especially as v 1.2.1. seems to be quite an old one.
 
It's a canon firmware update it will do little/nothing they refuse to add new features to older models!
 
a1ex2001 said:
It's a canon firmware update it will do little/nothing they refuse to add new features to older models!
Click to expand...

It's well worth checking what you actually get. The Canon 7D got a significant performance upgrade with firmware v2.0.0.

"...is the most comprehensive we can think of - significantly expanding the capabilities of the 7D. Changes include improved continuous-shooting buffer depth (to 25 Raws, up from the original 15), customizable Auto ISO, control of audio recording level for video and the ability to re-process Raws and rate images in-camera. The update also enables the use of the GP-E2 GPS module." https://www.dpreview.com/articles/2022169094/canon-releases-firmware-v2-0-0-for-7d

On the other hand, some recent Nikon firmware upgrades have taken things away - like instantly rendering third-party batteries useless, and no way to reverse it :eek:
 
HoppyUK said:
On the other hand, some recent Nikon firmware upgrades have taken things away - like instantly rendering third-party batteries useless, and no way to reverse it :eek:
Click to expand...

I remember quite a while ago reading something about a Toyota car sold in America, perhaps a hybrid, which required a specific engine oil that only Toyota could provide and not a 3rd Party. Either that or they would only honour warranty claims if their Toyota brand oil was used, can't remember exactly. But I'm sure it mentioned something about how that was against the fair competitive trade law or something so Toyota had to provide the oil for free.

I wonder, if true, how that would stand with Nikon restricting the use of only their brand battery in cameras?
 
gman said:
I remember quite a while ago reading something about a Toyota car sold in America, perhaps a hybrid, which required a specific engine oil that only Toyota could provide and not a 3rd Party. Either that or they would only honour warranty claims if their Toyota brand oil was used, can't remember exactly. But I'm sure it mentioned something about how that was against the fair competitive trade law or something so Toyota had to provide the oil for free.

I wonder, if true, how that would stand with Nikon restricting the use of only their brand battery in cameras?
Click to expand...

To be fair to Nikon historically they've been fine with that, Canon used to be very spotty with support for 3rd party batteries.
You often see that the 3rd party ones don't work as well in grips, etc either.
 
Byker28i said:
Why did you update without knowing what the update did?
Click to expand...
I made the natural assumption that, as with my Windows PC, updates should always be installed in order to get the best out of the equipment. What will I have lost on my 5DIII with v1.3.4 that was one of the features of the original (to me) v1.2.1?
 
a1ex2001 said:
It's a canon firmware update it will do little/nothing they refuse to add new features to older models!
Click to expand...

What new features would you expect and is the camera designed to take those new features? The camera was built to a design and specification which was deemed good enough from those that bought it.

And that statements not strictly true, the early update added support for the new GPS receiver GP-E2 and another brought in uncompressed HDMI output.
 
Last edited:
chrism_scotland said:
To be fair to Nikon historically they've been fine with that, Canon used to be very spotty with support for 3rd party batteries.
You often see that the 3rd party ones don't work as well in grips, etc either.
Click to expand...
The camera pops up a alert that it can't communicate with the battery if third party, but you click OK and they then work fine.
 
Rupert67 said:
I made the natural assumption that, as with my Windows PC, updates should always be installed in order to get the best out of the equipment. What will I have lost on my 5DIII with v1.3.4 that was one of the features of the original (to me) v1.2.1?
Click to expand...

I always look at what the camera update does, do any of the things affect me, will resolve any issues I'm having or may have. If it's working OK I thend to leave them alone, unless someone says "oh v1.3.4 is amazing, must have because..."
In the case of an operating system update, then yes, these are complicated pieces of code that are frequently updated to improve features or fix vulnerabilities so are necessary.

So all the updates so far fix (which were available from the the page you downloaded the firmware):

Firmware Version 1.3.4 incorporates the following fix:

1. Corrects a phenomenon in which when using the camera with the EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6 IS II USM lens, even if lens aberration correction is set to "Enable", correction will not be applied.

Changes in Version 1.3.3:
1. Improves the AF controllability when shooting in Live View mode with a wide-angle lens (fixed focal length or zoom).
2. Corrects some incorrect indications on the "English" and "Russian" menu screens.

Changes in Version 1.2.3:
1. Fixes a phenomenon in which the flash may not fire depending on the timing of when the shutter button is pressed.
2. Fixes a phenomenon in which the AF microadjustment value may change.
3. Fixes a phenomenon in which the LCD monitor may show a line of false color along boundaries of high contrast.
4. Fixes a phenomenon in which the histogram of a LiveView image is incorrectly displayed when an HDMI cable is connected.
5. Enables the brightness of the camera's LCD monitor to be adjusted even when an HDMI cable is connected.

Changes in Version 1.2.1:
1. Uncompressed HDMI output is now enabled.
2. Enables the center AF point to autofocus when the camera is used with Canon EF lens/extender combinations whose combined maximum aperture is f/8.
3. Improves the speed of the camera's acquisition of focus when using a Canon Speedlite's AF-assist beam.
4. Fixes a phenomenon in which the LCD monitor may freeze and display Err 70 or Err 80 when a still photo is taken during Live View or in movie shooting mode.
5. Fixes a phenomenon that may occur when the continuous shooting priority setting is enabled for multiple exposures, such that, after the sixth image is taken, there is a slight pause before the remainder of the sequence is completed.
6. Fixes a phenomenon in which the viewfinder display shows incorrect information during AEB shooting.
7. Communication with the WFT-E7 Wireless File Transmitter has been improved.
8. When images have been successfully transferred with the WFT-E7 Wireless File Transmitter through the FTP protocol, an "O" will be displayed. When images have not been successfully transferred with the WFT-E7 Wireless File Transmitter through the FTP protocol, an "X" will be displayed.
9. Fixes a phenomenon in which the camera may not function properly when an Eye-Fi card is used.
10. Fixes a phenomenon in which the focal length value listed in the Exif information is not displayed correctly for images shot with the EF 24-70mm f/4L IS USM lens.
11. Fixes a phenomenon in which the lens firmware cannot be updated properly.
12. Corrects errors in the Arabic language menu.
13. Fixes a phenomenon in which the camera changes the AF microadjustment value to -8.
14. Fixes a phenomenon in which the on-screen guidance cannot be fully displayed when setting the maximum limit value for the "Setting the ISO Speed Range for Auto ISO" option.

Changes in Version 1.1.3:
1. Supports the single focal length EF 40mm f/2.8 STM lens that is to be released at the end of June, 2012.
2. Fixes a phenomenon in which an image may become underexposed when using the Auto Lighting Optimizer for continuous Auto Exposure Bracketing (AEB) shooting.
3. Fixes a phenomenon in which the backlight of the LCD monitor may not turn off depending on the camera settings and timing.
4. Fixes a phenomenon in which the camera's power may not turn on when a super-telephoto lens*1) is mounted to the camera with an extender*2).
*1) EF 300mm f/2.8L IS II USM / EF 400mm f/2.8L IS II USM
*2) Extender EF 1.4X III / Extender EF 2X III
5. Corrects mistakes in the Dutch, Italian, Korean, Norwegian, Polish, and Swedish menu screens.

Changes in Version 1.1.2:
1. Supports a new accessory, GPS receiver GP-E2.
2. Fixes a phenomenon where a pink cast may develop over the image when the shutter is completely pressed with the camera's power turned off (by the auto power off setting).
3. Fixes a phenomenon where the camera operation stops after one shot when shooting in High Dynamic Range (HDR) mode.
4. Fixes a phenomenon where the Shooting Date/Time in the EXIF data of the image shows a later time than the actual shooting time.
5. Fixes the time zone for the Samoa Islands.
6. Corrects errors in the Finnish menu screen.
 
So realistically, probably nothing that you'd notice? The major improvements were in 1.2.1
Uncompressed HDMI output, fixed the eye-fi sd card issue
 
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