[Rumour] Canon EOS 7D Firmware Version 2 Coming Soon

[bwana]

According to Canonrumours.com there's a firmware update on the horizon that will bring the following enhancements to the 7D.

IMPROVED RAW MAXIMUM BURST
In the EOS 7D the maximum burst of RAW file frames was 15 – with the firmware update this will be significantly increased so that the camera’s buffer will handle up to 26 RAW frames in a continuous burst.

IN-CAMERA RAW CONVERSION
The EOS 7D will allow for in-camera post-processing of images. RAW images can be edited in-camera and options can be changed before saving the finished file as a ready-to-print JPEG or for sending wirelessly. This function can be used with full resolution RAW files, but not with M-RAW or S-RAW files.

The settings for in-camera RAW processing include White balance, Picture Style, High ISO speed noise reduction, Colour Space, and lens data corrections (Peripheral Illumination Correction, distortion correction and Chromatic Aberration Correction).

IMAGE RATING CAPABILITIES
Like other Canon EOS DSLRs, such as the EOS 60D, EOS-1D X and EOS 5D Mark III, the EOS 7D will be able to rate images from 1 to 5 stars in-camera for quicker and easier sorting of images within your workflow. The ratings can be used to sort images in applications such as Adobe Elements, Adobe Bridge and Apple Aperture. The ratings are XMP compliant and Canon’s Digital Photo Professional software has been updated to reflect this.

AUTO ISO MAXIMUM SETTING
Within the EOS 7D’s shooting menu photographers will have the ability to set a maximum ISO speed for ISO Auto, within the ISO range of 400-6400, so that you can minimise the amount of noise in your images.

MANUAL ADJUSTMENT FOR AUDIO RECORDING LEVELS
During EOS Movie shooting you will be able to manually adjust the audio recording levels to one of 64 levels, whilst the sound volume during playback can be set to one of 11 levels. During movie recording noise from the aperture is reduced and the camera also has an automatic wind cut filter.

JPEG RESIZING
Within the camera’s image-recording menu with all JPEG images you will be able to resize the image (for image downsizing) and save it as a new image. Note that the aspect ratio cannot be changed.

SUPPORT FOR THE GP-E2 GPS UNIT
The GP-E2 unit arrived with the EOS 5D Mark III and this firmware update will enable the GPS unit to be used with the EOS 7D, via a cable connection, so that photographers can geo-tag images with latitude and longitude data in the EXIF fields.

QUICK CONTROL DURING PLAYBACK
With the Quick Control (Q) button pressed during image playback photographers will be able to select options for protect images, rotate images, rate images, resize images, highlight alert, AF point display and image jump.

FILE NAME SETTING
In the EOS 7D’s camera settings menu in user setting 1 the first four characters of the file name can be adjusted, whilst in user setting 2 the first three characters of the file name can be adjusted and the fourth will be set automatically according to the recording quality.

TIME ZONE SETTING
Within the EOS 7D’s camera settings menu you will be able to set the time zone, plus daylight saving time can also be set.

FASTER SCROLLING OF MAGNIFIED IMAGES
The screen scrolling speed will be faster for scrolling through images when they are enlarged. The ease of use is improved when using the camera to zoom in and check focus.

[Dolby]

Nice!

I like the auto ISO maximum

[bwana]

The speculated increase in RAW buffer capacity is impressive to say the least.

[adsl2]

The speculated increase in RAW buffer capacity is impressive to say the least.

It looks like they use the same buffer for multiple bodies and only software limit them.

[koffiejunkie]

Aaah man, couldn't they sneak spot metering that follows active focus point in there?

I like the auto ISO maximum

I hope they add setting minimum shutter to that mix.

[MadMailMan]

It looks like they use the same buffer for multiple bodies and only software limit them.

I don't think that is the case. How would it serve them to cripple their hardware only to un-cripple it with firmware later? I think what they have done is some sort of trickery with the offload protocol from the sensor, via the two DIGIC 4 processors, to the buffer. What I want to see if is if there is a difference in size of the resulting RAW files before and after the firmware update.

[koffiejunkie]

I don't think that is the case. How would it serve them to cripple their hardware only to un-cripple it with firmware later?

They may use the same RAM chip in the 7D and the 1D, say. Economies of scale. But they don't want the 7D canibalising 1D sales, so they don't use all the available memory. This is a very common practise in technology - it's simply cheaper to use one chip and disable some features in software than to maintain inventory of different chips.

A few examples come to mind:
- Tri-core AMD chips - really 4-core chips and some people have success unlocking the 4th core.
- Neatgear routers' firmware is full of extra features if you know the URLs
- CHDK and Magic Lantern on Canon cameras...

I don't know that that is necessarily the reason - just explaining the possible reason for doing so. But I wouldn't be surprised if it is the same amount of RAM that they just unlocked.

[MadMailMan]

I get what you are saying I just can't fathom why Canon would restrict the buffer on the 7D when there are so many other distinguishing features between the 7D and 1D bodies. Then again, who really knows what the hell Canon really "thinks." I just hope the firmware comes soon.

And like you I would also love to get spot metering on the active auto focus point. Not likely though.

[koffiejunkie]

And like you I would also love to get spot metering on the active auto focus point. Not likely though.

Yeah, that's the bane of my existence. With spot metering stuck in the middle, I might as well be using center-point AF/recompose too. Might as well buy an old 5D for that matter. What the heck did I get the fancy 7D for? GRRRRR

Friend of mine just picked up a D700 on eBay for less than my 7D was new. Making me jealous...

[MadMailMan]

Hey, while on the subject of the 7D. I've seen a lot of b!tching on the interwebz about "banding in the blacks" by other 7D users. They claim the uniform banding is because the processing of the raw data from the sensor is split equally between the two DIGIC 4 processors and the two processors are rendering black slightly differently. Try as I might I cannot replicate what these guys are getting. Have you had this issue with any images?

[koffiejunkie]

I do see red banding (and blotches) here and there at high ISO, but not uniform.

It depends somewhat on what you use to open your images. I think Adobe does a pretty decent job of cleaning it up, some competing products less so... I think it also depends highly on the screen you're using. On my MBP, i don't really see any banding except at very high ISO, but on my rubbish Samsung 24" it stands out like a sore thumb. For all Canon cameras. So I can safely say banding is there, but I don't think it's as big an issue as people make it out to be - I'm certainly not afraid of using 6400 - but it's disappointing that Canon continues to have this lurking in the shadows. I don't see this at all in Nikon's NEF or Pentax's PEF/DNG files, regardless of software or monitor.

[MadMailMan]

Any ideas on when "soon" is?

[koffiejunkie]

I'm wondering too...

[adsl2]

I really hope it is/was not just a rumor.

[MadMailMan]

I really hope it is/was not just a rumor.

Oh, don't even go there.