Johan, did you have any further contact with Canon RCC about the firmware?

Dan

NO offense at all, in fact there was literally nothing for me to be offended about. You were completely right I just felt like an idiot for going through all fo this crap with canon and actually having the updated firmware already (I had sent my camera in in june). I think it's a good thing for other people out there that you wrote what you did so hopefully no one else makes the same mistake.

Also as a testiment to canon's throughness I just received my second 1.0.3.0 update sd card today.

Got my XL H1 firmware updated yesterday. An interesting detail was revealed simultaneously.

I had to send the camera to maintenance to another city, and thus, asked them to adjust the color balance of the EVF at the same token. For the EVF of my camera is bit towards magenta. They said this should be a simple thing to do.

However, after updating the firmware they called me and said, that although in the earlier Canon models (XL1 and XL2) this was possible, the EVF color balance of XL H1 is not adjustable. If I got it right, in XL 1 there are adjustment screws and in the XL 2 color adjustment is set with some maintenance program. But, in XL H1 no such things exist any more. They added, that this is a surprise for them as well, for one would have expected to see such an adjustment in this level of camera.

Guess Canon had to balance with various things to keep the cost of XL H1 reasonable.

Anyhow, as you guys tend to say, just my couple cents (although I would have very much wanted to have the EVF calibrated) ...

Have you tried adjusting the viewfinder's hue using the menu?

I was able to adjust mine to what I considered correct.

Have you tried adjusting the viewfinder's hue using the menu?

Dan, where do you have such a setting? In the EVF menu there are only brightness, contrast and color, but no hue. I searched the manual with key word hue, and the only other place it is mentioned is the skin detail function.

Dear Lauri,

I did not have the XL H1 with me when I posted yesterday.

I checked the menus last night and the menu lists it as "Color", not "Hue". I could not remember what nomenclature the menu used.

I am sorry for the confusion.

Using a calibrated field monitor for comparison, I was able to adjust the XL H1's brightness, contrast, and color to match. It took about an hour shooting various scenes, under various lighting to get it right, but it has been well worth it.

I highly recommend calibrating your viewfinder. I have been able to use the manual white balance controls, in the field, without the benefit of a field monitor, and still obtain the desired color. In other words, I can now trust whats on the viewfinder to be what I am recording on tape.

I just checked my XL-H1 and it was at version 1.0.0.0. That's not surprising because given my unit's serial number and when I got it (mid December 2005), I think it was one of the first 100 produced off the line.

Anyone know what happened to the firmware between 1.0.0.0 and 1.0.2.0? That is, what were the minor updates before this 1.0.3.0 release?

Thanks!

Karen Nakamura
www.photoethnography.com

Johan, did you have any further contact with Canon RCC about the firmware?
Yes, yesterday I visited Canon RCC in Gothenburg and they loaded the new firmware 1.0.3.0 while I did another job in town. Service was free of charge because of guarantee. However, I should have had brought the bill with me to prove the camera was less than a year. My words "the XL H1 has still not been on the market a year" didn't convince the lady in the reception. But they probably managed to get a copy from the retailer.
The technician said there is also a 1.0.3.1 firmware to cope with camcorders with NTSC also.

According to their Swedish policy they will not send out any self upgrade SD cards. We have a handful of service stations which are allowed to do the upgrade.

BTW, I had a color laser photo of a screenshot showing plenty of the purple fringes. I asked if this was a problem with my camera or normal. He didn't comment this issue at all. He just said the camcorder was checked and looked OK.

I have the same situation, my H1 is having problems with the rack focus...

Carlos Quinones
It's Written Productions, LLc.

Carlos, can you be more specific? Exactly what kind of problems with the rack focus are you experiencing?

When you purchase the new 6x lens it ships with a card carrying new firmware (1.04 I believe is the number) that is required for feedback from the wonderful manual aperture ring to provide feedback to the H1.

What other, if any, changes this firmware provides, I do not know.

Obtained this info at Canon's DVExpo West which ended yesterday.

Thanks John, this firware version also includes all of the previous revisions as well. So, if a 6x buyer hasn't yet done the upgrade that this thread has been talking about, they're getting it anyway from the SD card packaged with the lens.

Just to save everyone some time, don't go to the website and email about the firmware update. They still say to send the camera in for the update. Instead, call the phone number listed presiously and they will take care of you. Took just two days to get the SD card and update.

Mike

Karen,

I don't what the changes were between 1.0.0.0 and 1.0.2.0 but I bought my my camera August this year and my firmware is 1.0.1.0. The camera does have the quarterstop iris increments.
Anyway I have contacted canon uk for the latest update they state I will need to speak to a specialist and they will contact me within 3 days.
Watch this space!


Mick

Canon contacted me today and confirmed that 1.0.4.0 is the firmware upgrade they are providing at the moment, but I need to send the camera to them for the upgrade, as it is a workshop only upgrade. When I pointed out that this upgrade was being shipped with the new x6 lens and could be upgraded by the camera owner, he agreeded to look into it and call be back tomorrow.

Regards

Mick

Canon have now been back to me and state the camera must be returned to them for the upgrade. So in the uk the HD1 has to be returned to Canon.

mick

Canon have now been back to me and state the camera must be returned to them for the upgrade.
mick
Mick, perhaps they want to sell you a new lens with an SD card! (Or do they remove the SD from the lens box in UK?)
You don't have a fellow who can lend you a card a few minutes? / Johan

Johan,
As far as I am aware the card does come with the new lens, but to date I don't know anybody with one.
As much as I pleaded with canon they were insistant that it is a service centre upgrade even though I was able to demonstrate that other countries are sending the upgrade out. Maybe this is a Europe thing!

Mick

Dear all, I just bought my H1 about 2 months ago. I picked my H1 to Canon service center today, but the staff said that I need to pay $500 (US) for the upgrade firmware service. Do you all need to pay for it?

Dear all, I just bought my H1 about 2 months ago. I picked my H1 to Canon service center today, but the staff said that I need to pay $500 (US) for the upgrade firmware service. Do you all need to pay for it?

Which upgrade are you getting!

Mike

Dear Mike, thanks for your reply!
I checked before but sorry that I am not quite sure about the firmware before, maybe 1.0.1.0 or 1.0.2.0
My new H1 still in service center cause there is a little scratch on the body.

Dear Mike, thanks for your reply!
I checked before but sorry that I am not quite sure about the firmware before, maybe 1.0.1.0 or 1.0.2.0
My new H1 still in service center cause there is a little scratch on the body.


What I mean is, what does the firmware upgrade do? If it is to add NTSC or PAL, it does cost. If it just to the 1.0.3 or something for the timecode repair, it is at no cost.

Mike

ic
the staff didn't mention anything but only the cost!
thanks very much!

ic
the staff didn't mention anything but only the cost!
thanks very much!


Still don't know what you had upgraded, but if it was NTSC or PAL and you did not want that, just tell them to take it off. The upgrade to fix the timecode issue and also add iris stop changes is free.

Mike

Nigel, this will make it clear for you.

The firmware update, not upGRADE, is free. You just have to insist that they send it to you. They will, and will send you an SD card with the installer program on it and instructions.

The upgrade, not firmware upDATE, to add PAL does cost $500 and the camera absolutely has to be sent to a service center.

Dear Mike and Dave, you all make me very clear about the update! I just told the service center for the request again, they will to do me a favour! thanks again! all experts here and the forum are very useful and helpful!
Thanks again!

Lucky you are, all around this planet !

In France, an old and silly country, Canon France does not know the possibility to update the firmware in its last version, even if the HD1 is in NTSC mode ! There is no solutions here to obtain this update ! No SD cards ! Nothing ! Just some tears...

If you purchase the new 6X lens, the SD card with the 1.04 update ships in the package with the lens. This update is required for the 6X to work with the H1.

If you don't have the 6X, then I am pretty sure the prior update would be all that you would need.

These updates would seem to be something that could be downloaded off the Canon websites and then copy/pasted to H1 existing SD cards and then follow the procedure for updating the H1. It would seem like a far less expensive and faster method for Canon - but maybe then again, there is a sound reason that Canon is not availing themselves of the website download method.

Many thanks for this information. The firmware version of my HD1 is 1.0.1.1.
It seems updating this firmware can resolve some problems of timecode in NTSC 24F mode, and iris step. Personnally, I think it's strange that the only possibility for us, frenchies, is to buy the 6X (I'll buy it afterall !) to obtain this firmware. And "Canon France" is not exactly Canon USA as you can imagine.

Since I've update from 1.0.0. to 1.0.4 I've lost the Gamma control in my Custom preset (the menu page where you can customize a lot of options like knee, black level, etc). There is a black square instead of "GAM N" as before.
Is it normal?
Other things like more iris apertures are fine.
Thank you.

I just checked one of my cameras with the 1.0.4.0 firmware (in NTSC-land) and the gamma setting is present and operates normally. Wonder if your firmware flash was bad?

Thank you Pete,

I've checked again and everythings seem to be fine now, the Gamma setting is back. Maybe one more reboot of the camera was necessary... Sorry for this false alert.

Very glad that all is well!

Dear Nick,
I was expecting the numerical F-Stop values to change each time I moved the iris dial, I was surprised how it actually worked.

So did I. I do not like this either. Changing aperture but the number does only change every second time but the iris changes every time. What is good with this?
Certainly not if you use an external exposure meter or you like to set several camcorders to the same setting. Just time consuming.

It is like the focus with its servo stuff: Turn the ring and see what happends. Nothing? Then turn more! Look again. Now it shows too much. Turn back. Check again ... Very time consuming in my opinion.

Why spend money for electronics when the good old mechanical solution was better? Why not make an optimum design? I don't get it. There are actually a pretty long row of software in this camera which could be improved and made available for everybody to benefit from.

Canon, please see how Sound Devices and others do and learn from them. And please listen to your customers! / Johan

I just bought an XL H1 used. I am the third owner and I do not have any info on the first owner or where it was originally purchased. I logged onto canon's site to see if I could register as an H1 owner, but it is only available for cameras purchased new.

My firmware says 1.0.0.0. Can I still call and get the latest upgrade, or do I have to be able to register my camera? From the sound of the posts on this thread, those of you who called were in Canon's database. That will not be true for me. If I have to haggle to get them to send me the SD card, rather than mailing in my camera, I want to know whether I have a leg to stand on.

Is it legal and ethical for me to ask one of you to lend me your card or is that a no-no due to copyright issues?

Any ideas?

Thanks,

Vence Vida

Perhaps the easiest, but most expensive, way to solve the problem would be to order the 6X lens. The latest firmware is shipped with it. I know how ridiculous this may sound but you may very well want this lens anyway. It is a great piece of glass and something I would think you should consider anyway.

It would be nice, but there is no way I can afford the extra $2,500 right now. I really just want to update the firmware.

I went ahead and called Canon today, and they took all my information and sent me the card, no problem. I'm VERY MUCH looking forward to those extra stops.

-Vence

Okay, I have gone around and around with Canon for over three months.
Everytime I called, they said they would send the card, but never did. Finally today, they said they have a new policy and won't send any more cards. They want me to send my cameras in. This has gotten very frustrating! All of my cameras have firmware 1.0.0.0

I have three XL-H1s and I can not afford to be without them for any length of time and sure as heck can't afford to express ship them all back and forth. I have three jobs in November that require me to genlock and link my cameras with timecode, and without the firmware update, my understanding is, it does not work well. Plus, I could REALLY use those smaller iris steps. Too often, one click is just too much change.

Does anyone have a firmware upgrade on SD card that you would be willing to send to me. I'll pay to have it sent back and forth and I will return it. Please!

Thanks,

Vence

Email sent.

Mike

One last question:
I have gotten my hands on an SD firmware update card from another H1 owner, but he no longer has the instructions on how to install the update. Can anyone tell me how to use the card?

Thanks,

Vence

Hey guys and gals, how about helping Vence out here? Got the instructions for installing the update?

Mike

Dear Vence,

I did not have these instructions with me when you originally posted your request, so sorry for the delay.

To update the XL H1's Firmware:

1. Connect the power adapter to the XL H1.

2. Turn the power dial to VCR/Play.

3. Set the Tape/Card switch to Card.

4. Insert the SD Card that has the firmware update.
It should say XLH1, Version 1.0.3.#.

5. Press the Menu Button, select System, Select Firmware.

6. An update message will be displayed, select OK.

7. The following message will be displayed:

Updating Firmware
Do not turn the power off.

8. During the update, the CARD access indicator will blink, the update should take about four minutes.

9. When the update process is complete, the unit will power off and power on automatically, and the new firmware version, 1.0.3.#, will be displayed for a few seconds.

10. Remove the SD Card.

11. Power off the camera and remove the power adapter.

12. Re-attach the power adapter and power on the unit in CARD Play mode.

13. Press the MENU button, select SYSTEM, the Firmware 1.0.3.# should be displayed.

Firmware 1.0.3.0 = Firmware updated to correct time code problem.

Firmware 1.0.3.1. Both 60i/50i switches are turned on and the time code error is fixed.

Thanks so much Dan. Don't know what I did with mine. :(

Got em now though! :)

Mike

Dan - Thank you very much for the instructions.

And thank you also for the assistance, Mike. Very much appreciated.

I'm on the road right now, checking this from a hotel, but I will run the update when I'm back later this week.

Dear Vence,

I sent you a private email.

Does anyone know if there is any new "flip" possibilities in the later firmware updates (my camera is at service, so I can't check)?

No.

Harry.

"no" - okay, still not any possible at all to flip image..?

Not possible.

H.