Canon 50D firmware update fixes vertical banding issues
By Thomas Ricker 
posted Apr 23rd 2009 7:24AM
posted Apr 23rd 2009 7:24AM
Listen up Canon users, the mothership just issued firmware updates for its EOS 50D, Rebel XSi (450D), and Rebel XS (1000D) DSLRs. The updates provide support for the AF assist beam on Canon's Speedlight 270 EX flashgun. More importantly perhaps, is firmware version 1.0.6 that "addresses the vertical banding noise phenomenon" for owners of the 50D. By addresses we presume Canon means fixes but we won't know until we hear your feedback. Well?[Via Digital Photography Review]
In order to "fix" the issue it would have had to be a problem, but since it was just a "phenomenon" Canon only had to "address" it.
You've just got a plus, my friend! :D:D:D
But it just shows that people expect from digital gear much higher quality than film gear ever had.
We become customized to something good extremely fast: few yeas back all complained about poor ISO 1600 - now they complain about banding at ISO 12800...
"In order to "fix" the issue it would have had to be a problem, but since it was just a "phenomenon" Canon only had to "address" it."
Or it had been Apple, it would have been a "feature".
well played, charlie.
best-of-breed user comment. Superlative.
The "vertical banding issue" they fixed is ONLY with SRAW1 images, a mode very few people use. Aperture doesn't even support SRAW1, that's how inconsequential it is.
The horizontal banding issue that everyone has been screaming bloody murder about manifests itself primarily above ISO 3200 in SRAW and JPEG... that's not fixed -- or even addressed. It's probably a sensor hardware problem. You see the horizontal lines across this image...
http://www.flickr.com/photos/fyngyrz/3465524794/
...that is the real problem the 50D has. Interestingly, early similar shots with the 500D do NOT show this problem. The sensor is 15mp, just like the 50D; but we don't know if it's different otherwise. There's no sign at all, after 8 months of customers flaming about this, that Canon is in any way trying to fix this for existing cameras.
So I wouldn't get too excited about the 1.06 update WRT banding. Sorry to be the bearer of bad tidings.
having a 50D, i have not seen this problem.
but then again, an update is always nice.
and the 270 EX was not on my 'gadgets to have' list anyways. (maybe when i c how small and good it is i might change my mind...)
No, updates are not always nice. Supposedly this f's up your focus microadjustments for your lenses, if you use that, so you'll have to do that again.
I'm a Newb XSi user so i'll have to Install this and try to figure out what got fixed. :p
Nothing :)
How about adding some nice thingies to the XSi? I feel so screwed over buying this camera. sure, the image quality is great, but other than that - I was hoping for more goodies, basic-res video, for example, after all, they have live view in this camera..
ah well, maybe the Ti1 (or whatever its called) will be our savior...
Shul, the XSi came out before any other cameras had video recording. I can't see WHY you would ever feel screwed, since you knew 100% what the XSi offered.
What I REALLY wish they would add to the XSi, is an option to have more than THREE exposure brackets. I would be pretty happy with 7 or 9... and would be overjoyed at unlimited. I would REALLY be overjoyed if I could independently set each exposure range. So, I could do something -4, -2, -1,0,+1,+2, +4. I love shooting HDR, and this would be great.
I would ALSO love to see another menu item, with quick keys, so you can relatively quickly change settings. I would love to have one that turns on all of the focus points, switches to AI Servo, goes to burst mode shoot, moves ISO to 200 or 400, runs the Aperture out to the lowest setting, all with one menu setting. (for shooting flying birds). Then have another one, that sets up the HDR mode above... maybe another for portraits. Basically, just a one-click shortcut to a bunch of defaults for a style I am shooting.
I love shooting HDR, and would really love to see my first suggestion implemented. The consumer level canon (XSi/XS) are already far superior to the consumer level Nikon offerings because you can choose to bracket. Take it to the next level.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/ryfter/3457486646/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/ryfter/2691161627
http://www.flickr.com/photos/ryfter/3454124868/
I did a quick ISO comparison test using both no noise reduction and with noise reduction
No noise reduction
(small size)
http://www.learnslr.com/cs-canon-50d-guide-faq/canon-50d-106-iso-comparison
(large size)
http://www.learnslr.com/cs-canon-50d-guide-faq/canon-eos-50d-106-upgrade-iso-comparison
With noise reduction
large
http://www.learnslr.com/cs-canon-50d-guide-faq/50d-iso-comparison/canon-eos-50d-106-iso-comparison-with-nr
I have had some vertical banding noise problems with my 50D. It is mostly visible in dark areas of photos, but it has been a real problem for me. I hope this update will correctly fix the problem, so I can get same quality from my 50D as I get from my 350D..
Since when did the 350D have ISO 12800 let alone 3200 and 15MP.
How can you even compare the Quality of the 50D to the XT/350D?
Hell my XSI shoots rings around the XT/350D
I also own a 50D and I only have serious banding when I try to shoot at ISO12800 in near total darkness, at 6400 it is slighty noticeable under the same conditions. If it "has been a real problem for me" then Dont shoot at Higher ISOs than 3200. Problem solved
Just updated my 50D to 1.0.6 from 1.0.3 and it appears that the 'de magnify' ability on image review has been removed (need to revert to hitting the playback button to review the entire image on the screen) and when ISO expansion is enabled you only have two options above ISO 3200 - H1 and H2 instead of being able to select a particular level.
Seems strange, when my understanding was that Canon kept previous firmware 'fixes' in any new firmware release... Has anyone else experienced the same?