New Canon EOS 5D Mark II firmware to add manual exposure control for video recording

Hey, it's no autofocus, but Canon's sent word that a free firmware update is coming for the EOS 5D Mark II that'll enable manual exposure control while shooting video, including ISO and aperture settings and shutter speed. Excited? Yeah, us too. No word on what else the update might entail, but it looks like we won't have to wait long either, as the company's saying to expect the download sometime in early June.

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]

[iFargle @ May 26th 2009 11:36PM]

Finally.

[Mitch @ May 26th 2009 11:51PM]

These are the details by the way:

Full aperture selection
ISO speed: Auto, 100 – 6400 and H1
Shutter speed: 1/30th – 1/4000th second

[TheSuburbanWhiteBoy @ May 27th 2009 12:16AM]

I am so happy about this... I've been waiting for a while

[Porkchop Flavored Cupcake @ May 27th 2009 1:00AM]

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.

[Information Central @ May 27th 2009 4:16AM]

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?

[Jeff @ May 27th 2009 10:44PM]

...and what about the T1i?

also, i agree with "Information Central" - at *least* give us 24.

[Sisyphus @ May 26th 2009 11:36PM]

WHAT????????
WHAT??????????????

I think I need to change my pants.

HOORAY! No more silly ass workarounds and disengaging the lens!

[basroil @ May 26th 2009 11:40PM]

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

[Cycomachead @ May 27th 2009 12:14AM]

Yeah, everything I've read said Jun 2. No reason why you can't just download from alternate servers anyway.

[cory3218 @ May 27th 2009 6:20AM]

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.

[MrLegend @ May 26th 2009 11:41PM]

ldkfgl;dfkjhgdklfjg.,dmnxldfkghj YESSSSSSSSSSSS!!!!!!!!!

[Rehan @ May 26th 2009 11:42PM]

Looks badass.

[xr @ May 26th 2009 11:43PM]

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.

[Sisyphus @ May 26th 2009 11:44PM]

You didn't know there was no manual control in video going in on a $2700 camera?

[basroil @ May 27th 2009 12:38AM]

Your other option for a 2700 buck cameras (alpha 900 and d700) don't even have video, so stop whining you troll.

[xr @ May 27th 2009 2:32AM]

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.

[Information Central @ May 27th 2009 4:27AM]

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.

[Hantra @ May 26th 2009 11:47PM]

Aaahhhhrghhh. . . My sensor!!! It's. . . buuurniiing!!!!! Look for these stories right after that firmware update. Guaranteed.

[pete @ May 27th 2009 11:50PM]

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

[Guy @ May 26th 2009 11:47PM]

Still no 25p for PAL country based productions or 24p for indi film makers though. So close, yet so far...

[Eli @ May 27th 2009 12:20AM]

Is 2:3 pulldown that noticeable?

[Zoesch @ May 27th 2009 12:46AM]

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.

[belard @ May 27th 2009 2:49AM]

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.

[Tony @ May 26th 2009 11:53PM]

i wish i could afford half the stuff you people talk about on here....

[)ROFL( @ May 27th 2009 12:00AM]

Not everyone can have everything! Material goods never buy happiness anyways..

[xconan @ May 27th 2009 12:43AM]

people just anticipate about future products sacrifice things that they don't need and save up for the things they want... future opportunity cost.

[Igor @ May 26th 2009 11:58PM]

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.

[Rekit @ May 27th 2009 12:04AM]

YEEEEEEEEESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS.

[Eugenia Loli-Queru @ May 27th 2009 12:08AM]

Unfortunately, still no 24p (at 23.976), and no NTSC frame rate at 29.97 (instead of the gross 30.00).

[Sisyphus @ May 27th 2009 12:44AM]

Cineform NeoScene puts the 5d2's video in 29.97 quite nicely (and quickly).

[Eugenia Loli-Queru @ May 27th 2009 12:47AM]

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.

[Porkchop Flavored Cupcake @ May 27th 2009 1:11AM]

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.

[Eugenia Loli-Queru @ May 27th 2009 1:19AM]

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.

[Plothole @ May 27th 2009 12:21AM]

But was this really a reaction to user input or to all the press that the GH1 is getting?

[Porkchop Flavored Cupcake @ May 27th 2009 1:18AM]

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).

[jessezookmann @ May 27th 2009 12:40AM]

audio levels please!

[derek @ May 27th 2009 12:53AM]

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.

[peacefulpony @ May 27th 2009 12:59AM]

WTF no ipod dock... Canon are you listening!?

[Cunthor @ May 27th 2009 1:29AM]

Hahaha, they had to! Canon users started buying Nikon lenses with aperture rings so they could control a Canon camera.

[dan @ May 27th 2009 1:47AM]

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.

[Wonderkid @ May 27th 2009 1:53AM]

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.

[Plothole @ May 27th 2009 2:32AM]

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.

[La @ May 27th 2009 3:13AM]

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.

[darkmax @ May 27th 2009 2:04AM]

Damn Canon is picking up

[Peter Fang @ May 27th 2009 2:31AM]

5D Mark II users have Hoya/Pentax to thank for here. :)

[Team Louish @ May 27th 2009 3:01AM]

It's like Christmas all over again!!! Yay!! I'm actually as happy now as I was when I first got the camera.

[tellaband @ May 27th 2009 3:32AM]

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!

[i @ May 27th 2009 5:49AM]

Panasonic GH1 can do it.. Why not Canon! Yeah!

[Ug @ May 27th 2009 6:39AM]

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.

[Luc @ May 27th 2009 8:10AM]

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.