[mikenott]

Canon have announced v2 of the 7D software to be rolled out in August. Main changes are:

Improved maximum burst for RAW images (up to 25)
In-camera RAW image editing
In-camera Image Rating
In-camera JPEG resizing
Maximum Auto ISO setting (ISO 400-6400)
Manual audio level adjustment in movie recording
GPS compatibility
File name customisation
Time zone settings
Faster scrolling of magnified images
Quick control screen during playback

More details on Canon Rumours http://www.canonrumors.com/2012/06/c...aceBookhttp://

Michael

[Pigeon_Pete]

Thanks

[GYRob]

this is almost a 7d mk2 :)
Rob.

[Robert L Jarvis]

Except video not autofocus!

[gergrd]

A major firmware upgrade may suggest that the 7D will be around for awhile longer (which is fine with me).

[SC2birders]

Details of the new firmware upgrade posted today (6/28) on Canon/usa website. To be made available in August.

[Roy C]

Just out of interest guys,although only officially announced by Canon now it was common knowledge three weeks ago and was posted in a previous thread HERE

[mikenott]

Oops. As OP it falls to me. And I remember reading the original, but I do recall thinking it was rumour rather than fact at the time (he said, furiously trying to dig himself out of a hole with a sieve for a spoon!)

[mikefr]

The revised manual incorporating the new firmware can be downloaded here:
http://www.usa.canon.com/cusa/consum...uresAndManuals

Some more info and some video clips from Canon:
http://www.usa.canon.com/cusa/consum...EOS7D_firmware

[gergrd]

I got an email from Canon (US) about this update today and they try to make it sound like the second coming. I wonder if some engineer at Canon accidentally flushed their rumored mirrorless camera design down the toilet and now they are scrambling to make a firmware upgrade sound like a really big deal? Nevertheless, I'm happy if the 7D stays current for a good while longer.

[Weekend Birder]

The improved maximum RAW burst is useful. For me, the rest is window dressing.

[Roy C]

Originally Posted by Weekend Birder

The improved maximum RAW burst is useful. For me, the rest is window dressing.

For me the ability to set a max ISO in auto ISO is a absolute cracker of a upgrade. The 7D already works superbly well in auto ISO (in either Av or Tv mode) and is a must for the bird photography IMHO as it is one more less thing to worry about in the field.

[tony.saw]

Originally Posted by Roy C

For me the ability to set a max ISO in auto ISO is a absolute cracker of a upgrade.

Quite agree, especially when in an Asian rainforest!
Tony

[Roy C]

The one thing I would liked to have seen although I do not know if it is possible in firmware is to be able to apply exposure compensation when shooting in auto ISO and manual modes - I know this is possible in some Nikon's but I do not think any of the Canon's have this.

[Weekend Birder]

Originally Posted by Roy C

For me the ability to set a max ISO in auto ISO is a absolute cracker of a upgrade. The 7D already works superbly well in auto ISO (in either Av or Tv mode) and is a must for the bird photography IMHO as it is one more less thing to worry about in the field.

I've never used auto ISO Roy. I'll give it a go.

[Roy C]

Originally Posted by Weekend Birder

I've never used auto ISO Roy. I'll give it a go.

What you get with auto ISO on the 7D is:

Av mode : The camera will give a shutter speed of around focal length of lens x 1.6 so with a 400mm lens it will almost always be 1/640 sec.

Tv mode : The Camera will open the aperture right up or maybe close-it down 1/3 stop - with my 400/5.6 it would be either f5.6 or f6.3 which is great for this lens as it is pin sharp wide open (not so good if you have a lens that needs stopping down though).

With either of the two modes you can still apply Ev comp.

[Weekend Birder]

Thanks for the info - I've set up a custom mode for this and I'll give it a whirl.

[postcardcv]

I'm probably missing something obvious, but why would you want to be able to apply EV comp in manual?

[Roy C]

Originally Posted by postcardcv

I'm probably missing something obvious, but why would you want to be able to apply EV comp in manual?

Normally when shooting in manual you can change the metering by altering the shutter speed or aperture - so if you set say f5.6 and 1/1000 sec and lets say you want Ev+1 on that then you would just change the aperture to f4 or the shutter speed to 1/500 sec and you will be changing the exposure. But this does not work if you are on auto ISO (Canons) - all that happens is when you change the aperture or shutter speed is that the ISO changes to counteract the exposure change you wanted so the metre is always on zero (unless it needs less than ISO 100 or more than 1/8000 sec thus exceeding the cameras capabilities)

This is no good for my manual method with birds as I set the ISO and metre off of something around 18% grey and set the returned shutter speed and aperture to suit. Now this is fine for evenly toned birds (in the ambient light) but for light or dark birds you have to change the exposure by reducing or increasing the shutter speed but as explained above this does not work if you are using auto ISO. The beauty of using this over say Av or Tv mode is that the background tone does not influence the exposure.

[Froggy]

That's pretty much how I do it Roy !
Don't use auto ISO though , I'm a bit scared of it going over the not so magic 1600 on 550d !

Can be a pain though in changeable conditions , like juggling 4 plates at once !
I need more practice , hardly got out this year so far :(

[Geats]

Looks like a beneficial upgrade then

[Overread]

Originally Posted by gergrd

A major firmware upgrade may suggest that the 7D will be around for awhile longer (which is fine with me).

Maybe, maybe not. To me the update is, barring the change to the RAW burst rate (which is great!), only updating the software side with features that have been already developed and present in lines lower than the 7D. If anything its overdue the update in firmwire considering that many of the added features are in the 60D or even rebel series cameras.

Personally I really wish Canon would treat their high end bodies more like computer software and less like disposables - I'm sure there is a lot that can be unlocked or added to the 7D's features with its existing hardware.

[postcardcv]

Originally Posted by Roy C

Normally when shooting in manual you can change the metering by altering the shutter speed or aperture - so if you set say f5.6 and 1/1000 sec and lets say you want Ev+1 on that then you would just change the aperture to f4 or the shutter speed to 1/500 sec and you will be changing the exposure. But this does not work if you are on auto ISO (Canons) - all that happens is when you change the aperture or shutter speed is that the ISO changes to counteract the exposure change you wanted so the metre is always on zero (unless it needs less than ISO 100 or more than 1/8000 sec thus exceeding the cameras capabilities)

This is no good for my manual method with birds as I set the ISO and metre off of something around 18% grey and set the returned shutter speed and aperture to suit. Now this is fine for evenly toned birds (in the ambient light) but for light or dark birds you have to change the exposure by reducing or increasing the shutter speed but as explained above this does not work if you are using auto ISO. The beauty of using this over say Av or Tv mode is that the background tone does not influence the exposure.

Ah-ha, I'm with you now. I am familiar with manual exposures but having never bothered with auto ISO it didn't strike me that the camera would shift the ISO to counter any under/over exposure.

[Roy C]

Originally Posted by Overread

To me the update is, barring the change to the RAW burst rate (which is great!), only updating the software side with features that have been already developed and present in lines lower than the 7D.

I agree but it is still welcome - I have just got a little SX40 and fired up the CHDK hack and it is amazing the extra features you can get by just running some software, not only the ability to shoot in RAW and superfine jpeg but also a host of other things like battery life remaining percentage, different histogram displays, a load of overrides to aperture,shutter speed, ISO and a host of other things all done by effectively updating the software.

[mikenott]

Now available for download:

http://www.usa.canon.com/cusa/consum...ersAndSoftware

Michael.