New Canon 7D firmware

[systemoverblow'd]

http://www.canonrumors.com/2012/06/c...e-v2-official/

New Firmware
As suspected, Canon has officially announced an update to the Canon EOS 7D firmware.

Press Release
London, UK, 28 June 2012 – Canon today enhances the EOS 7D with firmware v2, adding a range of new features for enthusiasts looking to push the limits of their photography. Building on the camera’s high speed, advanced handling and creative versatility, the new firmware provides photographers with a host of new benefits including higher maximum RAW burst rate, in-camera editing functions, user-definable Auto ISO and support for Canon’s latest GPS Receiver, GP-E2.

Originally launched in 2009, the EOS 7D was carefully developed based on the feedback from thousands of photographers from across the globe. Offering the perfect combination of outstanding image quality and exceptional versatility across a range of photography styles, even today it is still considered to be one of the best APS-C cameras on the market. When developing the new firmware Canon followed a similar approach, gaining direct user feedback to bring the EOS 7D up to date with enhanced performance and a greater range of shooting capabilities and creative functionality.

Enhanced RAW performance
With an 18 Megapixel APS-C CMOS sensor, Dual “DIGIC 4″ processors and an extended maximum ISO of 12,800, the EOS 7D offers fast, high-quality shooting at speeds of up to 8 frames per second. Thanks to the new firmware which adds powerful memory management algorithms taken from Canon’s flagship EOS-1 series, photographers will now be able to enjoy greater flexibility in continuous shooting, with the maximum RAW buffer now extended to a new high of 25 RAW files or 130 JPEGs. Combining with the camera’s high 18MP resolution and 14-bit image processing, this will allow photographers to capture the decisive moment with rich detailed images.

In-camera image editing and rating
A range of newly-added editing functions also gives photographers more control over how images look, allowing post-production to begin in-camera. Photographers can now process their RAW files and correct artefacts such as peripheral illumination, distortion and chromatic aberration. Additionally, adjustments to white balance, sharpness and Picture Style, as well as a host of other parameters, can now also be made immediately after shooting, with the results saved as new JPEG files. JPEGs can also be instantly resized, without the need for a PC or Mac.

Photographers can now easily filter large volumes of pictures on their way back from a shoot using an image rating facility. Image rating data is stored in each file’s metadata, which can be read by a range of editing applications, including Canon Digital Photo Professional, and other industry software such as Apple Aperture, Adobe Lightroom and Bridge.

Extra control in stills and movies
The EOS 7D’s new firmware provides extended versatility across both stills and movies. Newly-added control of Auto ISO enables photographers to limit the maximum ISO speed to any point within the native ISO 400-6,400 range. Offering greater control over exposure, this will enable photographers to customise the maximum automatic ISO speed to suit their personal preferences, or to adjust parameters in different situations to meet specific creative goals.

Improved audio functionality in movie mode also provides aspiring videographers with greater control while shooting videos. Users can complement the camera’s Full HD (1920x1080p) movie footage with 16-bit digital stereo sound, sampled at broadcastquality 48KHz, and new manual control of audio levels allows users to choose from 64 sound levels. A digital wind-cut filter also reduces noise made by movement of air around the microphone, ensuring sound is clear and free from peripheral interference.

Track your travels with GPS compatibility
Firmware v2 also provides added capacity for users to track the location of their images with new support for the GPS Receiver GP-E2 – Canon’s latest high-performance GPS unit. The GP-E2 is attached securely to the hotshoe, and connected to the camera via a cable, making it easy for EOS 7D photographers to geo-tag photos with longitude, latitude and altitude data as well as the direction in which the shot was taken – adding the information to the EXIF file of the image1. A GPS Logger tracks movements by downloading GPS data at regular intervals, and compatibility with Google Maps means users can easily view their route in Canon’s free Map Utility software.

Firmware v2 will roll out across the region from August 2012.

Canon EOS 7D firmware v2 – new features:

Improved maximum burst for RAW images (up to 25)
In-camera RAW image editing
In-camera Image Rating
In-camera JPEG resizing
Maximum Auto ISO setting (ISO 400-6400)
Manual audio level adjustment in movie recording
GPS compatibility
File name customisation
Time zone settings
Faster scrolling of magnified images
Quick control screen during playback

[dfinn]

The only one I see that really matters much is the is the RAW buffer.

[systemoverblow'd]

The only one I see that really matters much is the is the RAW buffer.

I could see a lot of those coming in handy for a lot of people. On top of the raw burst, I'm excited about max auto ISO setting (maybe I would actually use auto ISO now), manual audio for video and file name customization. Nothing amazing, but adding more functionality to a camera I already have isn't a bad thing.

[dfinn]

I guess I'd never use auto iso but I don't use auto anything except WB which doesn't matter when shooting RAW (never use auto WB for video).

Oh, I forgot there's no magic lantern for 7d so the audio stuff is probably useful.

[Altmanator]

Auto ISO is pretty awesome in the right circumstances and when you find yourself in one you'll have that aha moment.

One example, shooting sports in changing light. If you need to hold at least 1/500 to freeze action and need at least f/4 to have adequate DOF.

Shooting this in AV mode at a set ISO would cause the shutter speed to drop below acceptable levels. Shooting in Manual mode with a set ISO would result in under and over exposed images. Manual mode with auto ISO works great. Every shot is 1/500 and f/4, just the way you need with ISOs ranging from 400, to 1600.

Now if they would only open things up so you can use Auto ISO combined with exposure compensation in AV or M, that would be awesome. Canon seems to be holding on to that feature though as they didn't even implement it in the 5DIII

[dfinn]

Shooting in Manual mode with a set ISO would result in under and over exposed images.

That shouldn't happen if you are paying attention to your exposure meter as well as your histogram (assuming you have time)

[kidwoo]

25 RAW files

per second?


Holy shit!! It's RAW video!!!!!!

[Fuzz]

I do use auto ISO quite a bit (yes, I'm not a real/serious photographer).

Shooting in Av mode, auto ISO is handy for me when I don't care about shutter speed. The camera always tries to use the lowest ISO to achieve a shutter speed equal to 1/focal length. I'm not too worried about noise these days, so I'd rather have a usable shot at ISO800 instead of an unusable shot at ISO100.

I do come out of auto ISO when I want to control my shutter speed (even in Av mode). When I want a high shutter speed to freeze motion even if it means using ISO400. Or when I want an intentionally slow shutter speed for motion blur.

Now if they would only open things up so you can use Auto ISO combined with exposure compensation in AV or M, that would be awesome.

Not sure I understand the bolded part? I can use auto ISO with exposure compensation in Av mode just fine on my 5D2.

[time2clmb]

I'll be using the image rating feature, and the increased buffer will definately be put to use this winter. The only thing I currently do not like about the auto ISO is the inability to put a max on it...therefore have not used the feature. This update solves that.

I guess I'd never use auto iso but I don't use auto anything except WB
****************************
That shouldn't happen if you are paying attention to your exposure meter as well as your histogram (assuming you have time

I shoot full manual also, all the time. However the auto ISO will be useful for me in the custom dial. For example, I set up C2 on the dial for from the hip wildlife shots, most of which seem to happen during dawn and dusk. I set it up to 4.5 with a shutter speed fast enough to shoot handheld. Currently, since light is never the same when you see something I have to make an adjustment to the ISO and a tweak to the ss which could potentially cause me to loose the shot. I do not use the auto ISO because some times it pics a number too high for my liking ex 4000. With auto ISO I can now use it since I know that I have maxed it out at 3200 and only leaves me with having to do a quick tweak to get it dialed to where I want it. One less thing to do in such a short time and if it's still not a high enough at least I have the choice to decide if it's worth having the shot at reduced noise quality.

Why use the feature? If i'm shooting a landscape and see some thing trotting across a field I can simply switch over to C2 and have at least some of the settings I want to use. Or if i'm heading out on a drive I can just flip it over and let it sit on the car seat ready to go.

[Fuzz]

I do not use the auto ISO because some times it pics a number too high for my liking ex 4000.

So the 7D auto ISO goes that high? On the 5D2, auto ISO maxes out at 3200 which is very usable.

[time2clmb]

^^^uhhhh...fuck I thought it went higher. Maxes out auto ISO @ 3200 which is where I would have set it. Ok...maybe not so useable for me then lol. Guess I should have checked. D'oh.

[Altmanator]

Not sure I understand the bolded part? I can use auto ISO with exposure compensation in Av mode just fine on my 5D2.

Whoops, your right. It works in AV mode but it does not work in Manual. I don't know if there's any good reason why it shouldn't work in manual but Canon does not offer it. I believe Nikon does.

[systemoverblow'd]

It's out now.

Firmware: http://www.usa.canon.com/cusa/consum...ersAndSoftware

Video: http://web.canon.jp/imaging/eosd/sam.../firmware.html