Last night, Canon announced the release of a much-anticipated firmware update that enhances the video performance of the EOS 5D Mark II digital SLR. On a side note – it’s a sign of the times that an anxiously anticipated camera firmware update is targeted mostly at video features. But that’s another story…
With 1080p HD video, a mic input for stereo sound and the depth-of-field control of a full-frame sensor, the Canon EOS 5D Mk II quickly became a hot commodity with aspiring filmmakers and pro photographers who wanted to add video to their list of services. Not everyone was entirely happy, though. Although the video quality from the 5D Mark II was astounding, it fell a bit short in the eyes of experienced videographers. The new firmware update addresses some of those issues.
Canon EOS 5D Mark II firmware update 2.0.3 adds / changes:
- The camera now has 24p video capture
- The 30p frame rate has been changed to 29.97 frames per second to match current professional television production standards
- In-camera manual audio level control has been added
- A histogram display is now available for manual exposure in the video mode
- Aperture priority and shutter priority exposure control have been added to the video mode
- The audio sampling frequency has been changed from 48KHz to 44.1KHz
Canon EOS 5D Mark II firmware update 2.0.3 does not include:
- Canon EOS 5D Mark II firmware update 2.0.3 does not add the 60 FPS 720p frame rate from the EOS 7D and 1D Mark IV
Official Canon EOS 5D Mark II Firmware Update 2.0.3 Page >>
Canon EOS 5D Mark II Firmware 2.0.3 Download Page >>
I’m still wearing diapers when it comes to video knowledge and experience. So I won’t pretend to understand exactly how important all of those changes are. The audio sampling rate change, for instance – I have no clue. But some of it is obvious. I just shot a ton of videos (with the Canon EOS 7D) at the 2010 PMA tradeshow. Being able to control the audio level in the camera would have been nice. And the addition of a histogram display along with aperture and shutter priority exposure modes is just basic camera stuff. The 24p frame rate seems a bit esoteric to me. But I’ve only been making videos for a couple of years now, so what do I know? For those who don’t know, motion picture film records at 24 frames per second and a lot of people believe the 24p frame rate has a special look. I haven’t made a careful comparison so I won’t pass judgment. But people asked and Canon delivered. Which brings me to my final point – Canon’s HD video DSLRs are killing it right now.
The introduction of the 5D Mark II was the first major Canon volley (pun intended!). Next came the EOS 7D with 1080p and 720p at 60 FPS in a smaller, more affordable package. The recent announcement of the Canon EOS Rebel T2i / 550D, with the same sensor and video features as the 7D really left no doubt as to Canon’s intentions in the HD video market. They want to own it. I generally avoid public camera speculation but I’m going to indulge a little now. It’s a pretty safe bet that Canon will soon be announcing an EOS-1Ds Mark IV, full-frame sensor, pro DSLR body. And it’s also a pretty safe bet that camera will include HD video capture. But what can they do to step it up in their top-of-the-line pro body? There has definitely been a bit of rumor-mongering and I will go along with some of it and guess the camera might offer higher than 1080p video resolution and RAW video capture. Let me qualify myself again and say that, as a video beginner, I don’t necessarily understand all of the ramifications of those specs. However, as a longtime digital photographer I understand the value of more resolution and RAW files. More resolution (usually) means better image quality and having a RAW file means more room for image optimization. Both of those things also require more storage and processing power. There’s always a price to be paid for improved performance and technology. The features actually already exist in the modular Red cameras (learn more about Red cameras). Right now, Canon really has no competition in the HD DSLR market. So what else can they set their sites on? Red is the obvious target.
Thanks for allowing my speculative rambling. I hope I didn’t lose too many of you. For the readers who know more than me about high-end video, please add your thoughts in the comments below. Feel free to tell me where I’m wrong and share your own speculation. Please educate me and add to the article. There are a lot of us still photographers who are just wading into the murky waters of video. We would appreciate any illumination the long-time video guys have to offer.
Official Canon EOS 5D Mark II Firmware Update 2.0.3 Page >>
Canon EOS 5D Mark II Firmware 2.0.3 Download Page >>
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First of all, thank you for the informative article and the link. I’ve just updated my firmware. I am not a videographer, but I agree I was feeling a bit left out with the limited video functionality of the 5Dii as compared with the 7D. This update would give me a bit more control over parameters while shooting and make things easier while editing.
I agree, 24fps does have a characteristic feel to it and faster frame rates somehow make the picture look like it was recorded on a handheld digicam by an amateur on a low budget. I won’t contest the clarity of faster rates, but sometimes imperfections are more beautiful than absolute perfection. As an analogy to photography, a slightly optically imperfect lens gives better bokeh than an optically perfect lens.
This is the first that I’ve read of RAW for video and it seems promising. However, at the moment, the mind boggles thinking of the processing power and memory capacity needed to edit the resulting video. Canon seems to be moving in the right direction, if the demo video on the 7d website, which was shot with a TS lens, is anything to go by.
As always John..you are on it like white on rice. Audio is everything! Being able to control input levels is definately a defining moment for the dslr world. Once dialed it may save on having to bring and operate a secondary audio recording device depending on your specific audio needs of course. But for basic ambient applications and interviews it should be sweet out of the gate. Does the camera have a headphone jack?.
Thanks for your comment, Byron. For anyone reading the comments, Byron is a video pro, so he really knows what he’s talking about. I am just becoming sensitive to the problems sound adds to video. Top answer your question, Byron, I don’t believe any HD DSLR has a headphone jack, yet. My Auido Technica wireless mic receiver has a headphone jack, but there’s no level control and it blows out my eardrums. Maybe a headphone jack is something else we might see on the Canon EOS 1Ds Mk IV.
cannon cemra is vr good