Canon announces free 24p / 25p update for EOS 5D Mk. II

Roger Keay · February 11th, 2010, 04:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chris Hurd

Processing the downconversion of the native size into HD is not that different between the two (21.1 vs. 18.0).

The difference in the size of the chips isn't as critical to the processor load as the number of photosites -- and that's not much of a difference.

That isn't the issue, it's encoding a 1080P60 HD image stream to AVCHD. A 720P image is 921,600 pixels per frame and 480P is just 345,600 while 1080P is 2,073,600 pixels. The 1080P frame is 2.25 times larger than 720P. That is a huge multiplier for the amount of work required to encode. The 720P60 encode probably requires less processor work than 1080P30.

Kevin Dooley · February 15th, 2010, 09:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bill Binder

Thank you Chris. This was my point exactly.

A tangible example of taking a pass at something I actually wanted to do (this was non-paying, so that might help set context).

Gotcha. I wouldn't pay to rent for something that wasn't paying me. But if it was a paying job, there wouldn't be a hassle - one phone call and I have whatever I need delivered in a couple of hours.

Billy Griffin · February 17th, 2010, 01:17 AM

Well, my my my...... here we are at 2/17/10 and still not a sound out of Canon.

I guess I can live with 30p and just enjoy what I have, but I still think Canon should have used better judgment BEFORE letting some announcement spill out. Albiet, I still say it's not a legit announcement that it was coming, just that it was under development. It always leaves them an "easy out" if confronted by enough customers..... "due to hardware limitations, we were unable to get a satisfactory firmware upgrade to accomodate the requested frame rates."

"Oh, and thanks to all those who ran out and bought up the original 5D Mk IIs while in stores, as we're now happy to announce the 5D Mk III with new frame rates!"

Daniel Browning · February 17th, 2010, 01:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Billy Griffin

Well, my my my...... here we are at 2/17/10 and still not a sound out of Canon.

February 17th, 2010. Day 48. We just finished the last of our last food reserves. Two more died last week. I'm not sure if it was the biting cold, pneumonia, or they just could not bear to go on living without the 5D2 firmware upgrade.

Some are starting to wonder if risking life and limb in these mountains is the only way to get Canon to deliver the firmware sooner than promised and with additional features like 60p. Now that Jon Fairhurst covered the deaths in a sobering clip posted to Vimeo, I'm sure Canon will speed things up. If not, the worst case scenario is one hundred and thirty four more days before the Canon deadline of "first half of 2010". With no food and the coming blizzard, I hope Canon is ready to shoulder the burden of so much tragedy.

Manish Pandit · February 17th, 2010, 06:06 AM

Dear Daniel,

That was excellent. It is snowing here in Birmingham now, even as I read that post.
"The biting cold makes many 5D users wonder when the torture will all end. When will we have our beloved frame rates? When will the Sun come out from behind the clouds?" LOL.

Saraswati Films | News and Events

Chris Hurd · February 17th, 2010, 06:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Billy Griffin

"...thanks to all those who ran out and bought up the original 5D Mk IIs while in stores, as we're now happy to announce the 5D Mk III with new frame rates!"

Heh. Not going to happen anytime soon. The Mark III version of this camera is still a loooong way off (even longer than the Mk. II firmware update, believe it or not). If you're reading elsewhere about a supposed Mk. III, well, if you believe enough in that stuff to get distracted by it, then you sort of deserve it I guess. Meanwhile on DV Info Net we're dealing with real information and facts... and the fact is, as Daniel points out above, that Canon still has 134 days left in its self-imposed deadline. So there's still a shred a hope for you to cling to.

Kevin Dooley · February 17th, 2010, 07:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chris Hurd

and the fact is, as Daniel points out above, that Canon still has 134 days left in its self-imposed deadline. So there's still a shred a hope for you to cling to.

Yup. I hate to say it, but I've by and large quit looking for a firmware announcement at the video forums I normally go to because it's just turned into a bunch of whining about why it's not here yet. Newsflash - when July 01 gets here, THEN Canon hasn't met their "deadline" and you can start complaining. Until then, use the camera you bought which has the same features as when you bought it...

Chris Hurd · February 17th, 2010, 08:23 AM

One Texan to another, Kevin... DV Info Net should be the video forum you normally go to. Just sayin'!

Bill Binder · February 17th, 2010, 10:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kevin Dooley

when July 01 gets here, THEN Canon hasn't met their "deadline" and you can start complaining. Until then, use the camera you bought which has the same features as when you bought it...

I can complain whenever I want.

And don't forget, complaining is probably what got us manual controls (back when, you know, there was no promise for anything by any date).

Kevin Dooley · February 17th, 2010, 10:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bill Binder

I can complain whenever I want.

And don't forget, complaining is probably what got us manual controls (back when, you know, there was no promise for anything by any date).

True, you can do whatever you'd like - but it just kind of looks like an impatient toddler stamping their feet if you do it now.

It's a little different to complain that something that has been announced isn't out yet, when the deadline hasn't been blown, versus asking for additional functionality that should have been in there from the beginning.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chris Hurd

One Texan to another, Kevin... DV Info Net should be the video forum you normally go to. Just sayin'!

It is - this is by far my favorite production site/forum. I've learned more lurking for the past several years here than just about the rest of the internet combined.

Wayne Avanson · February 17th, 2010, 10:49 AM

He he

nice one Daniel.
Day 28. Just eaten the last of the dried cracker crumbs I found in the sleeping bag.

Can't…hold…out…much…longer…

Oh hang on. It's OK, just found the fridge again.

Dom Stevenson · February 17th, 2010, 10:51 AM

"This is by far my favorite production site/forum"

Me too. Particularly when there's poster's like Daniel Browning around to make us laugh while we're waiting for the update.

Very funny. Thanks Daniel.

Jon Fairhurst · February 17th, 2010, 11:42 AM

I read a first-person post on another forum from a guy who went to the Earl's Court video show. Supposedly, Canon told him that the firmware would be available in less than two weeks.

Now for the boulder of salt: the guy has five posts. But his first posts were technical and credible. (He's not happy with the codec's block artifacts on large, flat areas like a clear sky. I agree. That's the weakest aspect of the codec.)

In any case, it should be here before long. As Chris predicts (and I fully agree), Canon will not want to go to NAB without the new firmware in our hands. So, maybe we get it in two weeks. Maybe not. But it shouldn't be as long as two months.

Dom Stevenson · February 19th, 2010, 03:21 PM

I was told "any day now" at Earl's Court this week.

And "by the end of January" at another London show before Xmas.

James Miller · February 19th, 2010, 04:40 PM

I was just about to ask the large canon guy at the stand when the release day may be when the chap in front asked the same question. He was a little offish and said "It will be here when it's here, I don't know anything more." at that point I u turned and went to watch the street dancers on the sony stand, much more friendly.

I went on the last day, so this guy had probably been asked the same question hundreds of times.

There seemed to be a 5Dmk2 on every stand.

February 17th, 2010, 01:17 AM	#213
Billy Griffin Regular Crew Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Enumclaw, WA Posts: 58	Still no firmware upgrade !!! Well, my my my...... here we are at 2/17/10 and still not a sound out of Canon. I guess I can live with 30p and just enjoy what I have, but I still think Canon should have used better judgment BEFORE letting some announcement spill out. Albiet, I still say it's not a legit announcement that it was coming, just that it was under development. It always leaves them an "easy out" if confronted by enough customers..... "due to hardware limitations, we were unable to get a satisfactory firmware upgrade to accomodate the requested frame rates." "Oh, and thanks to all those who ran out and bought up the original 5D Mk IIs while in stores, as we're now happy to announce the 5D Mk III with new frame rates!"

February 17th, 2010, 06:06 AM	#215
Manish Pandit Regular Crew Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Birmingham, United Kingdom Posts: 35	5D firmware update Dear Daniel, That was excellent. It is snowing here in Birmingham now, even as I read that post. "The biting cold makes many 5D users wonder when the torture will all end. When will we have our beloved frame rates? When will the Sun come out from behind the clouds?" LOL. Saraswati Films \| News and Events __________________ Blackmagic Cinema Camera, Sony PMW EX3, 5D, 7D, HVR A-1, ME66/K6, Editing Studio, FCS 2 Film is the New Pen

February 17th, 2010, 08:23 AM	#218
Chris Hurd Obstreperous Rex Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: San Marcos, TX Posts: 27,368 Images: 513	One Texan to another, Kevin... DV Info Net should be the video forum you normally go to. Just sayin'! __________________ CH Search DV Info Net \| 20 years of DVi \| ...Tuesday is Soylent Green Day!

February 17th, 2010, 11:42 AM	#223
Jon Fairhurst Inner Circle Join Date: May 2006 Location: Camas, WA, USA Posts: 5,513	I read a first-person post on another forum from a guy who went to the Earl's Court video show. Supposedly, Canon told him that the firmware would be available in less than two weeks. Now for the boulder of salt: the guy has five posts. But his first posts were technical and credible. (He's not happy with the codec's block artifacts on large, flat areas like a clear sky. I agree. That's the weakest aspect of the codec.) In any case, it should be here before long. As Chris predicts (and I fully agree), Canon will not want to go to NAB without the new firmware in our hands. So, maybe we get it in two weeks. Maybe not. But it shouldn't be as long as two months. __________________ Jon Fairhurst

February 17th, 2010, 10:49 AM	#221
Wayne Avanson Major Player Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Lancashire UK Posts: 496	He he nice one Daniel. Day 28. Just eaten the last of the dried cracker crumbs I found in the sleeping bag. Can't…hold…out…much…longer… Oh hang on. It's OK, just found the fridge again.

February 17th, 2010, 10:51 AM	#222
Dom Stevenson Major Player Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: London UK Posts: 430	"This is by far my favorite production site/forum" Me too. Particularly when there's poster's like Daniel Browning around to make us laugh while we're waiting for the update. Very funny. Thanks Daniel.

February 19th, 2010, 03:21 PM	#224
Dom Stevenson Major Player Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: London UK Posts: 430	I was told "any day now" at Earl's Court this week. And "by the end of January" at another London show before Xmas.

February 19th, 2010, 04:40 PM	#225
James Miller Major Player Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Sussex, UK Posts: 317	I was just about to ask the large canon guy at the stand when the release day may be when the chap in front asked the same question. He was a little offish and said "It will be here when it's here, I don't know anything more." at that point I u turned and went to watch the street dancers on the sony stand, much more friendly. I went on the last day, so this guy had probably been asked the same question hundreds of times. There seemed to be a 5Dmk2 on every stand.