Updating your cameras firmware.

Normally I don’t bother much with PhotoLife, give it a quick scan & toss it. But in this month's there is an article that we all should read. It’s in the Q & A section. It’s about updating your camera’s firmware. It’s something I’ve never thought too much about. Anyway, cut a long story short I updated both my cameras in less than an hour. The Canon XSi had a small up date, probably would never affect me but the Canon 5D had major ones.

To save you the trouble of digging it out of the trash here's the relevant bit, & if your a Canon user here's there web page.

http://www.canon.ca/english/index-customersupport.asp

Enter .... Support Firmware......in the...Search By Keyword...field. Then the type of camera etc.



All the best

Mike Maclaverty



Here’s the Q & A.



Question 1:
What is your view of firmware updates for digital cameras? While reading dpreview.com and robgalbraith.com, I often see that some manufacturer has posted yet another firmware update. Why do the companies release cameras before they are ready and then fix problems with new firmware?
Javier Castillo

Answer 1:
As you indicate, new firmware—the operating system for an electronic camera—is often issued. An update is simply a new binary file that will change the processing parameters or add certain functions. Modifications of this type could be made to high-tech 35-mm autofocus SLR cameras as well, but the installation process required a trained technician. While some firmware is designed to fix a technical problem, others actually enhance a camera with even better speed, accuracy, versatility, or image quality. (It's easy to find firmware updates with a Google search: use the keywords Support Firmware and the name of the manufacturer and the camera model.)

In any event, I decided to pose your question to one of the camera companies, and here's their reply. “Designing and building any highly sophisticated computer-controlled device always involves an ongoing process of fine tuning and testing of every possible combination of its features and capabilities. As demand for more features and better performance grows, we diligently test and re-test new designs in a constant quest to deliver the best product possible without glitches or bugs. Because firmware can be updated as necessary by the user, it's a great way to correct quirks that occasionally come up or to add a new feature that becomes available after a camera is introduced.”

It's worth checking for firmware updates once a month. (Save the pertinent Web page as a Favourite in your browser for easy access at any time.) Owners of Olympus, Panasonic, and Sigma Four Thirds lenses and flash units, as well as owners of Metz flashes and the Nikon SB-900, may also find updates for those accessories. While installing any new firmware, be sure to follow the instructions to the letter to avoid damaging the equipment. The updates from all manufacturers are available free of charge and they're not difficult to install. That combination makes this an ideal method for keeping your equipment up to date and delivering the best possible performance.

a. A digital camera is similar to a computer in some aspects, so its operating software (or firmware) can be updated. The process no longer requires a trip to a service centre as it did in the past, making it easy and quick to improve functionality.

b. In both the Olympus and Lumix systems, lenses and flash units (as well as the cameras) can be updated with new firmware. Sigma's Four-Thirds mount lenses can also accept new firmware, as can certain Metz and Nikon flash units.