Canon has released firmware updates for the EOS R5, the EOS R6, and the EOS 1Dx Mark III. If you have been waiting to get this firmware and hoping it would solve some of the minor issues with the EOS R5 I think you will be pleasantly surprised.
R5 Updates:
Click here to Download R5 Firmware from Canon USA
Firmware Version 1.3.0 incorporates the following fixes and enhancements:
1. Adds [Canon Log 3] to [Canon Log settings]. You can select [Canon Log] or [Canon Log 3] from [Canon Log settings] in the Shooting tab of the menu. – Support for RAW movies shot with Canon Log3 and RAW (Light) will be available in Cinema RAW Development and in Digital Photo Professional version in a future update. – Digital Photo Professional will also support the processing of RAW movies shot in Canon Log3 settings and the application of Viewing LUT in future update.
2. Adds [RAW (Light)] to the movie recording size and [IPB (Light)] to 8K/4K to enable lower bit rate shooting. These settings can also be selected when RAW+MP4 is set.
3. Adds a high frame rate of 119.9 fps/100.0 fps to the Full HD movie recording size.
4. Adds [Electronic full-time MF] to the AF tab of the menu. When a lens is attached, manual focus adjustment is always possible with both One-shot AF and Servo AF.
5. Adds [6: Monitor Off] to [Shooting info. disp.: Screen info. settings] in the Shooting tab of the menu. This update makes it possible for the camera’s monitor to be turned off at all times during shooting.
6. The transfer time (estimated value) now displays on the camera monitor during FTP transfer.
7. Adds the ability, when transferring images via FTP, to select protected images that failed to be transferred and protected images that have not yet been transferred and transfer them all at once.
8. Adds [Save/load cam settings on card] to the Function settings tab of the menu. This allows you to save the camera settings to a card, or load a saved file and restore the camera to the settings you saved to a card.
9. Fixes a phenomenon, in which, in rare instances, the camera does not function normally when using certain CFexpress cards.
10. Fixes a phenomenon, in which in rare instances, the camera cannot function normally when the drive mode is set to “High-speed continuous shooting” to shoot still images continuously.
11. Fixes a phenomenon in which the power may become suspended when the camera is powered via USB for an extended period of time.
R6 Updates:
Click Here to Download R6 Firmware from Canon USA
Firmware Version 1.3.0 incorporates the following fixes and enhancements:
1. Adds [IPB (Light)] to 4K to enable lower bit rate shooting.
2. Adds [Electronic full-time MF] to the AF tab of the menu. When a lens is attached, manual focus adjustment is always possible with both One-shot AF and Servo AF.
3. The transfer time (estimated value) now displays on the camera monitor during FTP transfer.
4. Fixes a phenomenon, in which in rare instances, the camera cannot function normally when the drive mode is set to “High-speed continuous shooting” to shoot still images continuously.
5. Fixes a phenomenon that may corrupt the image displayed in the viewfinder.
6. Fixes a phenomenon in which the power may become suspended when the camera is powered via USB for an extended period of time.
1Dx Mark III Updates:
Click Here to Download 1Dx III Firmware from Canon USA
Firmware Version 1.4.0 incorporates the following fixes and enhancements:
1. Adds [RAW (Light)] to the movie recording size and [IPB (Light)] to 4K to enable lower bit rate shooting. These settings can also be selected when RAW+MP4 is set.
2. The transfer time (estimated value) now displays on the camera monitor during FTP transfer.
3. Improves communication reliability when using FTP and USB simultaneously.
Does the R5 still overheat with new firmware?
I just tested the R5 using IPB light and got exactly 20 minutes @ 8k. The camera started to feel noticeably warm at 15 minutes and the overheat indicator came on at exactly 17 minutes. So it appears that those ratings remain exactly what Canon said they were. While recording to IPB light might decrease the strain on the CFe/SD cards, it probably increases the strain on the CPU. If I had to guess what the main source of heat in the camera is I would say it seems to be the CPU. Heat seems to emanate from the whole back of the camera and the card slot is not particularly hot after triggering the overheat shutdown.
Some of the other new features like the full-time manual focusing even in servo mode are great but it is only compatible with certain lenses. (I can confirm that it does NOT work with Canon’s RF 28-70mm f/2.) It does work with the RF 70-200mm f/2.8 though. Canon’s DPAF is very nice but it cannot read minds (yet). So being able to push through or pull back on an obstruction like a chain-link fence or some tall grass is a nice feature that should make it easier to get focus on the subject in some cases. This can be especially useful when trying to take macro photos and your focus may have started further away than you actually wanted. Now you can easily guide the focal plane to where you want it and hopefully let the DPAF take over at that point.
This is a nice little firmware update especially for the R5. I think it shows that Canon is very committed to the RF mount and the R5/R6 in particular. If you are still on the fence about whether you want these cameras I would strongly consider getting off the fence ASAP. If you can afford it there is no reason not to get one especially if you are a pro, as the AF and feature set make the R5 a killer setup for pretty much any professional use case.
As for the 1Dx Mark III, there is honestly not a lot of reason to buy it at this point other than the bulletproof build quality and battery life. It is probably still the best option for a professional baseball or football photographer who is going to be using the EF super telephoto prime lenses. But for many sports the R5 will be just as good, especially with new RF lenses like the RF 70-200 f/2.8 and its dual focus motors.
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