XL H1 Firmware Upgrade Details

Barry Gregg · August 22nd, 2006, 02:00 PM

Chuck is correct. I tried the email and got quite a run around of questions. When they agreed that I needed the update they insisted that the camera would have to be shipped to the repair center. After calling 1-800-828-4040 the SD card is on it's way! Thanks to all.

Patricia Lamm · August 22nd, 2006, 06:03 PM

That's an amazing discovery. I called the SD number as well, got someone who didn't know about the firmware-by-SD-card, but within in a few minutes he was on board and I'm being shipped my card. Thanks for sharing this information!

Dan Keaton · August 22nd, 2006, 07:16 PM

I think it is great that we can update the firmware in our XL H1's.

Canon prefers that we send in the cameras.

I would much rather not send an expensive camera through the mail anymore than absolutely necessary.

So, upon request, Canon, will send out the firmware, with instructions, to owners of the XL H1's.

I propose that Canon either post the firmware update on this site, or on their own site, so we can download it ourselves to our cameras. This saves Canon the cost of an SD card, and shipping.

Mr. Hurd, if you think this is a good idea, could you present this to Canon? With Canon's permission, we could post the firmware update and instructions on this site without any effort on Canon's part.

I feel that most of the users that reported in on this thread so far, preferred not to send their cameras to Canon service for this update, instead opting for the SD update.

Dan Keaton · August 22nd, 2006, 07:37 PM

The following is from Canon's website concerning this firmware update:

Checking Firmware Version:
To check the firmware version on the XL H1:
1. Turn the main power dial to 'VCR' mode
2. Slide the 'Card/Tape' to 'card' mode (switch is located on the handgrip, above the record start/stop button)
3. Press the 'Menu' button
4. Scroll down to 'System' and press the 'Set' button 5. The firmware version of the camcorder will be displayed.

It appears that when they state: "Set button 5" they mean the one and only "Set" button on the camera, the one above the "IRIS/Select" dial.

When performed, the "Firmware x.x.x.x" will be displayed near the bottom of the menu list.

Johan Forssblad · August 23rd, 2006, 02:22 AM

Great! Now some of our wishes will come true!

But it seems to work differently in Europe or at least in Sweden.
The Canon Support Centre here told me they will not send out any SD cards because they want the camera workshop to perform all upgrades.

They told me if I make the upgrade myself I will void all guarantees.
Even if I get a problem with anything else which is not depending on the firmware I will no longer be able to claim for guarantee!

I got a case number and have mailed my camera shop. Waiting to see what will happen.

BTW, this Canon website above speaks about "Service Notice: Release of Timecode Output Malfunction When Playing Back HDV 24F".
Does it not apply to 25F too? Anybody else in Europe please chime in! /Johan

Dave Perry · August 23rd, 2006, 01:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dan Keaton

I feel that most of the users that reported in on this thread so far, preferred not to send their cameras to Canon service for this update, instead opting for the SD update.

I just called Canon for the firmware update and they will definitely try to get you to send the camera in but also offer the option of having the SD card sent out to you. I opted to have the SD card sent.

Daniel Epstein · August 24th, 2006, 02:10 PM

My firmware update arrived today, quicker than I expected. It takes about five minutes to install and the instructions are very easy. The only part which is a little weak is it doen't tell you it is done for very long after it finishes so you might want to watch it work.
The Iris stepping is a huge improvement. I haven't had time to see what else is better.

Dan Keaton · August 24th, 2006, 02:13 PM

Dear Daniel,

Good news!

John Richard · August 24th, 2006, 04:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Daniel Epstein

My firmware update arrived today, quicker than I expected. It takes about five minutes to install and the instructions are very easy. The only part which is a little weak is it doen't tell you it is done for very long after it finishes so you might want to watch it work.
The Iris stepping is a huge improvement. I haven't had time to see what else is better.

By "Iris Stepping" do you mean what some of us call the auto "Rack Focus"?
If so, you confirm that Chris Hurd was right - I may not be crazy after all - the rack focus is slower and usable after the firmware update.

Chris - that is a great selling point now for this 20X lense and H1 combo - a perfect automated rack focus preset.

Chris Hurd · August 24th, 2006, 05:57 PM

Nope, iris stepping is a different thing altogether. What the firmware update provides is a smoother degree of change as you adjust exposure. Instead of 1/4 stop increments like before, it's now 1/8 stop increments which means that the exposure adjustment is more subtle than it used to be, very much a good thing.

John Richard · August 25th, 2006, 12:44 AM

Can someone who has done the firmware update and previously used the auto rack focus on the 20X lense prior to the firmware update see if the rack focus has slowed appreciably compared to the snap speed they saw before the update.

Dan Keaton · August 25th, 2006, 06:30 AM

I received the firmware update in the mail yesterday.

Due to a shoot last night, I have not installed it yet.

I intend to record some rack focus shots at all three speeds, then install the firmware and repeat the tests.

I hope to run these tests on Saturday.

Dave Perry · August 28th, 2006, 05:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by John Richard

Can someone who has done the firmware update and previously used the auto rack focus on the 20X lense prior to the firmware update see if the rack focus has slowed appreciably compared to the snap speed they saw before the update.

I tested before and after and saw no change in speed.

Sandor Bondorowsky · August 28th, 2006, 08:01 PM

Can someone post the update file that's on the SD card? It would save a lot of us the trouble of calling?

Is that a no no?

Sandor

Johan Forssblad · August 29th, 2006, 03:28 AM

Hi,
It works differently here. Canon in Sweden said they will not send out any SD card because:
-If something is going wrong the whole mother board could stop functioning.
Obviously they don't want to have any conflict about such cases.
They gave me some addresses in Stockholm, Gothenburg, Malmoe and Växjö where we should be able to get the update for free. They recommended us to first contact their main workshop, Canon RCC, in Gothenburg. /Johan

August 22nd, 2006, 02:00 PM	#16
Barry Gregg Regular Crew Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Poulsbo, WA Posts: 104	Chuck is correct. I tried the email and got quite a run around of questions. When they agreed that I needed the update they insisted that the camera would have to be shipped to the repair center. After calling 1-800-828-4040 the SD card is on it's way! Thanks to all. __________________ Walk in the light. www.barrygregg.us

August 22nd, 2006, 07:16 PM	#18
Dan Keaton Inner Circle Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Augusta Georgia Posts: 5,421	I think it is great that we can update the firmware in our XL H1's. Canon prefers that we send in the cameras. I would much rather not send an expensive camera through the mail anymore than absolutely necessary. So, upon request, Canon, will send out the firmware, with instructions, to owners of the XL H1's. I propose that Canon either post the firmware update on this site, or on their own site, so we can download it ourselves to our cameras. This saves Canon the cost of an SD card, and shipping. Mr. Hurd, if you think this is a good idea, could you present this to Canon? With Canon's permission, we could post the firmware update and instructions on this site without any effort on Canon's part. I feel that most of the users that reported in on this thread so far, preferred not to send their cameras to Canon service for this update, instead opting for the SD update. __________________ Dan Keaton Augusta Georgia

August 22nd, 2006, 07:37 PM	#19
Dan Keaton Inner Circle Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Augusta Georgia Posts: 5,421	The following is from Canon's website concerning this firmware update: Checking Firmware Version: To check the firmware version on the XL H1: 1. Turn the main power dial to 'VCR' mode 2. Slide the 'Card/Tape' to 'card' mode (switch is located on the handgrip, above the record start/stop button) 3. Press the 'Menu' button 4. Scroll down to 'System' and press the 'Set' button 5. The firmware version of the camcorder will be displayed. It appears that when they state: "Set button 5" they mean the one and only "Set" button on the camera, the one above the "IRIS/Select" dial. When performed, the "Firmware x.x.x.x" will be displayed near the bottom of the menu list. __________________ Dan Keaton Augusta Georgia

August 24th, 2006, 02:10 PM	#22
Daniel Epstein Trustee Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: New York, NY Posts: 1,267	Firmware Update Arrived My firmware update arrived today, quicker than I expected. It takes about five minutes to install and the instructions are very easy. The only part which is a little weak is it doen't tell you it is done for very long after it finishes so you might want to watch it work. The Iris stepping is a huge improvement. I haven't had time to see what else is better. Last edited by Daniel Epstein; August 24th, 2006 at 02:49 PM.

August 24th, 2006, 02:13 PM	#23
Dan Keaton Inner Circle Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Augusta Georgia Posts: 5,421	Dear Daniel, Good news! __________________ Dan Keaton Augusta Georgia

August 22nd, 2006, 06:03 PM	#17
Patricia Lamm Regular Crew Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Okemos, MI Posts: 174	That's an amazing discovery. I called the SD number as well, got someone who didn't know about the firmware-by-SD-card, but within in a few minutes he was on board and I'm being shipped my card. Thanks for sharing this information!

August 23rd, 2006, 02:22 AM	#20
Johan Forssblad Major Player Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Vittsjö, SKÅNE, SWEDEN Posts: 266	Great! Now some of our wishes will come true! But it seems to work differently in Europe or at least in Sweden. The Canon Support Centre here told me they will not send out any SD cards because they want the camera workshop to perform all upgrades. They told me if I make the upgrade myself I will void all guarantees. Even if I get a problem with anything else which is not depending on the firmware I will no longer be able to claim for guarantee! I got a case number and have mailed my camera shop. Waiting to see what will happen. BTW, this Canon website above speaks about "Service Notice: Release of Timecode Output Malfunction When Playing Back HDV 24F". Does it not apply to 25F too? Anybody else in Europe please chime in! /Johan

August 24th, 2006, 05:57 PM	#25
Chris Hurd Obstreperous Rex Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: San Marcos, TX Posts: 27,368 Images: 513	Nope, iris stepping is a different thing altogether. What the firmware update provides is a smoother degree of change as you adjust exposure. Instead of 1/4 stop increments like before, it's now 1/8 stop increments which means that the exposure adjustment is more subtle than it used to be, very much a good thing. __________________ CH Search DV Info Net \| 20 years of DVi \| ...Tuesday is Soylent Green Day!

August 25th, 2006, 12:44 AM	#26
John Richard Major Player Join Date: May 2006 Location: Incline Village, Nevada Posts: 604	Can someone who has done the firmware update and previously used the auto rack focus on the 20X lense prior to the firmware update see if the rack focus has slowed appreciably compared to the snap speed they saw before the update.

August 25th, 2006, 06:30 AM	#27
Dan Keaton Inner Circle Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Augusta Georgia Posts: 5,421	I received the firmware update in the mail yesterday. Due to a shoot last night, I have not installed it yet. I intend to record some rack focus shots at all three speeds, then install the firmware and repeat the tests. I hope to run these tests on Saturday. __________________ Dan Keaton Augusta Georgia

August 28th, 2006, 08:01 PM	#29
Sandor Bondorowsky New Boot Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: New Jersey Posts: 18	Sd Frimware Update Can someone post the update file that's on the SD card? It would save a lot of us the trouble of calling? Is that a no no? Sandor __________________ _______________________________________________________________________________ REMOTE DIGITAL MEDIA, Inc HD/SD/HDV FLYPACK 646-536-7340 5 - XLH1's, FOR-A HVS500, AVID Xpress Pro HD, Premiere Pro 2.0, Vegas 6, 6 - Focus FS-2's

August 29th, 2006, 03:28 AM	#30
Johan Forssblad Major Player Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Vittsjö, SKÅNE, SWEDEN Posts: 266	Hi, It works differently here. Canon in Sweden said they will not send out any SD card because: -If something is going wrong the whole mother board could stop functioning. Obviously they don't want to have any conflict about such cases. They gave me some addresses in Stockholm, Gothenburg, Malmoe and Växjö where we should be able to get the update for free. They recommended us to first contact their main workshop, Canon RCC, in Gothenburg. /Johan