Painless
 

More to the topic at hand: I called the 800 number yesterday morning, waited on hold for a good long time, finally got to the right guy who said "We have two options. Send the camera in or we can send the upgrade to you." I chose the latter and the card was here when I got home from work tonight. It installed without a problem. Just one word of note: the "Updating firmware... " message disappears leaving a blank screen well before the install is complete. Blinking of the card activity LED is your only indication that anything is happening during this time. Typically if power goes down during a firmware upgrade you are in deep kimshee so it's a good idea to plug the AC adapter into a UPS for this process (Ernesto is rolling through at the moment).

Curiosity led me to check the flash card. It contains a single 7 MB file called VBJ3.FIM listed as a "Unix Exectable File" which appears to be a binary of some sort. From this we learn that the camera's OS is Unix!

Johan, could you call again the Canon maintenance in Sweden and explain that if an SD card is sent to people in Northern America, most likely we are also able to update the firmware in Scandinavia.

TC UPDATE: After synching TC last Tuesday, I left both my XL H1's in Free Run, 24F HDV to see how close they'd stay. After just under 115 hours, they had drifted by 79 frames. That's about two-thirds of a 24F frame drift per hour, or a little less than 1 frame/hr assuming 30fps modes drift by the same amount.

I don't know but would guess the cameras use quartz timing similar to digital wristwatches. The slight drift seems congruent with that idea, as does the fact that the displayed clock time has drifted fast by a couple of minutes since I last set the date/time on the cameras 8 - 9 months ago. The camera that had the faster TC also had the clock that was "more fast."

Other users with two or more cameras will probably find different drift rates, as the +/- error of any given timing crystal will be random, but hopefully this little experiment is useful by way of example. The firmware update definitely does allow you to keep your TC synch while powered down, but the utility of this is at best around an hour for 1-frame or smaller synch errors. The upshot, I think, is that if you want frame-accuracy, you'll need to re-tether at least hourly. If you need absolute rock-solid lock, you probably need continuous tethered GenLock.

At 24 fps 115 hours is about 10 million frames. Thus the difference between your two cameras is about 8 ppm. That's quite reasonable for a pair of battery powered non-ovenized crystal oscillators.

Yeah, about what one would expect. The take home message is that although the firmware now does allow the externally synched Free Run timecode to continue while powered off, there will be a gradual drift. Folks shouldn't wrap for the day assuming the cameras will automatically be frame-accurate tomorrow. Gotta re-synch regularly if you want frame accuracy.

Drat.

Just received my firmware update and when I went to install it the camera says that I already have the 1.0.3.0 update BUT my iris only advances in quarter stops. (i.e. 2.0 2.2 2.4 2.6 2.8) so now I get to be on the line with canon tech support and to be honest like msot people have discovered in this thread they don't really seem to be super knowledgeable about the camera...

oh well.

Dear Nick,

This is tricky.

After the firmware update, the iris (F-Stop) numbers will be as you indicated.

However, when you move the iris dial, there will be a F-Stop value in-between each number.

For example, as you go from 2.0 to 2.2, you will have to move the iris dial two clips, with the first click being halfway between 2.0 and 2.2.

If you look carefully in the viewfinder or monitor, you will be able to see a subtle difference.

Canon does have technical support specialists that are knowledgeable with the XL H1. When I stumped one of their reps with a question, they transferred me to a person that was knowledgeable.

::ahem::

That is to say canon knew exactly what they were talking about and I was an idiot. Just as Dan pointed out the iris does not LIST a change there is just an extra click, thinking back abotu ti I'm pretty sure I also read that some where (probably this thread) any how turns out I did have the firmware update the whole time so II guess I should have reported this earlier, I just didn't use the stock lens enough to notice.

so uh yeah, once again,
canon = super great (though I was on hold for a while)
nick= idiot.

I'm going to go crawl under soemthing...

Dear Nick,

I hope I did not offend you in any way, no offense was intended.

I was only trying to state that when I called Canon, the rep knew that he was in over his head and immediately referred me to the XL H1 specialist. I was probably lucky.

The other part of my post was to explain how subtle the change was. I was expecting the numerical F-Stop values to change each time I moved the iris dial, I was surprised how it actually worked.

I just ordered my SD card via the assigned phone number. Sure enough I had to haggle to get them to send it to me. They wanted me to send the H1 in for service. Not happening! I finally convinced them and hopefully it is on it's way!

I'll let you all know how it turns out. Can't wait for thos 1/8 stop changes. 1/4 stop increments are for pansies!!!!!

:)

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.

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.

What happened between 1.0.0.0 and 1.0.2.0?
 

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

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.

Where...do I go ?
 

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?

New Firmware w/ 6x Lens Req'ed
 

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.

Update---Update!
 

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

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?

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.

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!

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.