New Canon EOS 5D Mark II firmware to add manual exposure control for video recording
By Ross Miller 
posted May 26th 2009 11:31PM
posted May 26th 2009 11:31PM
[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]
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Finally.
These are the details by the way:
Full aperture selection
ISO speed: Auto, 100 – 6400 and H1
Shutter speed: 1/30th – 1/4000th second
I am so happy about this... I've been waiting for a while
No lie. It's about damn time.
A lot of professionals who are usually provided with inside info. still contended we'd never see this update, yet, low and behold here it is.
Still a couple requests remain unanswered with regard to audio and 24/25p, but it's not as much of a deal breaker anymore.
Adding the manual controls for HD filmmaking had to happen and has definitely created a resurgence of interest in this camera.
No 24 & 25 FPS? INEXCUSABLE.
This thing should do any frame rate from 1 to 30 FPS, maximizing the data rate all the way so lower rates yield higher quality.
WTF, Canon?
...and what about the T1i?
also, i agree with "Information Central" - at *least* give us 24.
WHAT????????
WHAT??????????????
I think I need to change my pants.
HOORAY! No more silly ass workarounds and disengaging the lens!
June second for UK, likely the same time for US.
RED is going to have to get a few of those EPIC 9k's out the door soon or start losing the indie market
Yeah, everything I've read said Jun 2. No reason why you can't just download from alternate servers anyway.
Red is already dominating the indie market. My 2 REDs get rented like crazy by indie film makers. no self respecting indie film maker would shoot anything longer that 10 minutes on this thing. If your spending money on lights, actors, and everything else, 700 a day isn't that bad for a real movie camera. Now granted there are people who like to pretend they are making something that anyone other than their family and close friends will see. They, I'm sure will use this camera to make movies. Real indie filmmakers find some sort of independent funding. Just because its independent of studios doesn't mean it is cheap.
ldkfgl;dfkjhgdklfjg.,dmnxldfkghj YESSSSSSSSSSSS!!!!!!!!!
Looks badass.
Thank You for listening to your users Canon, but the product should have shipped this way day one. I am tired of companies releasing products then fixing them later with firmware updates. Don't get me wrong as a 5d MKII owner I am very happy that this is finally happening it just should have shipped with full manual video controls. There should always be the option for full manual controls on Pro and Prosumer level gear. Especially on a camera that was as eagerly anticipated as the 5d MK II was. End rant.
You didn't know there was no manual control in video going in on a $2700 camera?
Your other option for a 2700 buck cameras (alpha 900 and d700) don't even have video, so stop whining you troll.
No, I am a giant dumbass who just drops nearly $3000 on a camera body without researching it. You obviously did not understand my post and cannot read. Why even comment Syphilis! STFU and Get a f-ing clue.
Wow, basroil, way to put your foot into it. You embarrassed yourself with both the "troll" and "whining" canards at the same time.
And then augment that with your brilliant reasoning of, "If you're the only company doing it, do it shittily."
Stay away from focus groups, for the good of us all.
Aaahhhhrghhh. . . My sensor!!! It's. . . buuurniiing!!!!! Look for these stories right after that firmware update. Guaranteed.
shutter speed and aperture dont really affect the sensor... and since ISO settings don't change mid-shot, i doubt your sensor would take any damage or strain from a couple lens controls being thrown at it
Still no 25p for PAL country based productions or 24p for indi film makers though. So close, yet so far...
Is 2:3 pulldown that noticeable?
Depends on the final format but yes, it's quite noticeable from the videos I have been given at 30fps.
Still, I see video as a bonus (And not a really good one) and not a dealmaker/breaker... heck, my two DSLR's don't have video and I don't plan on upgrading them any time soon.
3:2 pulldown is only for 60i content, it doesn't work for 30p. I agree, lack of 25 fps is incomprehensible in Europe. 30 fps is just useless for us.
i wish i could afford half the stuff you people talk about on here....
Not everyone can have everything! Material goods never buy happiness anyways..
people just anticipate about future products sacrifice things that they don't need and save up for the things they want... future opportunity cost.
Yay!! Oh joy, this will make video so much nicer. The quality is already amazing, and with full manual, I'll be using it a lot more I bet. I've been dabbling with the video, and this sensor at 1080p is oh so much fun.
YEEEEEEEEESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS.
Unfortunately, still no 24p (at 23.976), and no NTSC frame rate at 29.97 (instead of the gross 30.00).
Cineform NeoScene puts the 5d2's video in 29.97 quite nicely (and quickly).
Yeah, but I don't want to use Cineform for the 5D files. I just want the right frame rate (industry standards), from the get go.
Oh come on Eugenia, the cineform process is something a lot of pros will be using anyways to facilitate speed while maintaining high quality in post. It's one of the reasons why I'm not really going to make any big complaints over the lack of 24p.
Besides, hopes are still riding on Tramm Hudson's homebrew hacks to piggyback on this update, providing manual audio control and hopefully 24p. Things are looking a lot better.
I already have Cineform NeoHD installed. But not everyone does. The point is to make things right from the get go, and not have to resort in workarounds. I don't like workarounds. Something either works, or it doesn't. And 30.00 doesn't do it for me. As for 24p, it is really needed, and no matter if you have cineform or not, won't make it real 24p.
But was this really a reaction to user input or to all the press that the GH1 is getting?
Eh, probably both.
User input definitely had some influence, but I don't think Canon felt any real pressure to act until information surfaced on the GH1, and the alleged specs of the Nikon D400 (which at this point and time remains unannounced).
audio levels please!
Very cool to finally see this. Definitely will be playing with it as soon as it comes out. I definitely have a request and that would be direct 24P... not sure why this was not available from the start... But I can understand 18 month product cycles and can appreciate capturing the market early on. Just really hope this feature is put in place, so I do not have to result to post processing this feature.
WTF no ipod dock... Canon are you listening!?
Hahaha, they had to! Canon users started buying Nikon lenses with aperture rings so they could control a Canon camera.
Who would have thought that a little company like Pentax and their soon to be released K-7 with aperture control for HD video would kick Canon up the arse and make them jump.
So true. Just read that adding an external stereo mic to the K7 allows for stereo audio to go with the silky smooth video. Nice.
Even though it isn't a dSLR by the strict definition, the GH1 already has aperture control for HD video. In fact its 14-140mm kit lens has a special stepless aperture built just for this.
Panasonic is the real one to thank here, not a camera that isn't even released yet, not to mention the K7 isn't even capable of 1080p.
Panasonic is making all the right moves lately in this race for hybrid photo/video cameras and shaking things up across the board.
Damn Canon is picking up
5D Mark II users have Hoya/Pentax to thank for here. :)
It's like Christmas all over again!!! Yay!! I'm actually as happy now as I was when I first got the camera.
Anyone have an idea if this is ever going to trickle down to the T1i?
I just got one and LOVE it, this however, would be equal to my wife getting breast implants!
Panasonic GH1 can do it.. Why not Canon! Yeah!
I thought that the frame rate was 29.97 but the Quicktime header is written wrongly and indicates 30p?
I've seen this on quite a few forums, where people have tested the frame rate?
Yeh, to the firmware update.
Now Canon, can we have 24/ 25P next please.
What about the T1i?I love how companies can easily update lower end cameras with the same upgrades such as the T1i but they don't. Pisses me off.
So you want the same exact video capabilities in an $800 camera that also exist in a $2700 camera? I bet Canon will get right on that.
Canon is the best camera maker in the planet and I wasn't surprised if they were listening to their customers. My uncle who is a wedding photographer trusts Canon and he loves it. I have a 5D Mark II myself and it does take awesome pictures.
Their lens selections are great too, unlike Olympus, Sony, Pentax, and Nikon.
lol?
Olympus, Pentax, and Nikon all have lens selections that easily rival Canon. Particularly Pentax, with its excellent reverse compatibility.
iKurt,
It's cool to be enthused over the 5DmkII but in the process when you start slandering other brands as if they had no market influence whatsoever, then you sound very naiive.
And seriously, Nikon, Pentax, Sony, etc. don't have a great lens selection...? Dude, you're lost.
I shoot Canon at work (1Ds Mark II and 5D Mark II) and Nikon personally. My 14-24 2.8 has no peer in Canon's lineup. I had a recent conversation with a Canon rep and he admitted, "Yeah, we have nothing to compete with that lens." The 14-24 is every bit as good as Leica's 19mm 2.8, one of the best wide angle lenses in existence - and it zooms! NIkon did this one right.
Also I own the Nikkor 24-70 2.8 and have used Canon's 24-70 2.8 for years (both lack vibration reduction, pity that). The Nikkor eats the Canon's lunch for image quality. But Canon does have that nice 24mm 1.4 which Nikon somehow seems to be incapable of bringing out! Grrrr...
This is a good update. I'm going to get it right about now.
Now all they need to do is make the video controls compatible with the new iPhone app and then we'll really have something to talk about, but this is still pretty awesome!
One of the points the press release is "Shutter speed: 1/30th – 1/4000th second." Is this just for shooting stills in live view or does this effect video in someway?
Didn't i just read this on Gizmodo? wait...what website is this? Engadget? Gizmodo? the URL says engadget.com, but articles scream Gizmodo. i just don't know who to believe anymore.
good yayay
if only i could afford such a sweet camera...
Honestly I would recommend against buying a camera by that mentality. There are cheaper bodies that are more than adequate for most. You shouldn't buy something like the 5D mark II unless you actually need it.
what are you my financial planner?
WE WANT 16x9 24p with true 1080x1920 resolution HD (in 24p) and a 1 stereo plug in for 1 Boom or 1 LaV. and that's it! Get it Canon? All the other crap you can keep and put that money into this for higher quality. Im never going to use 30p or 60p. Give us Prime Lens (included). Now that would bankrupt the RED-Silicone Imaging-sony-panasonic in the low pro FILMAKERS market. = ) Until then I and all my friends are sticking to RED rentals.