Canon R5 Canon R5 Firmware Update v1.8.1

[RDM5546]

Did the download and install. I am now playing with it to see the changes. The is a new manual upgrade too. I download that as well. There is also a new version of DPP to go along with it.

 

[Deepgreen]

The annoying thing is that I've done the same thing for every update but it's just not working this time. The message that my newly-formatted SD card still has pre-1.6.0 files/software on it is unsettling.

 

[Dean Wilson]

Well, if you want to get "technical".... about Zebra stripes Thank you for keeping me honest.
I did notice that 1.8.1 is available at Canon USA, however 1.7.0 is still Recommended. You need to scroll to the bottom for 1.8.1

***********************
UPDATE: However, once you find the firmware and download it, then 1.8.1 bounces back to the top as is Recommended.

 

[koenkooi]

The annoying thing is that I've done the same thing for every update but it's just not working this time. The message that my newly-formatted SD card still has pre-1.6.0 files/software on it is unsettling.

And your CFe card is empty as well?

 

[PKM-UK]

The annoying thing is that I've done the same thing for every update but it's just not working this time. The message that my newly-formatted SD card still has pre-1.6.0 files/software on it is unsettling.

Hi Ian,

Sorry your update woes continue - I've not experienced this myself and it does sound odd.

Did you format the SD card in camera (maybe try a deep format, or a different SD card?), remove the lens and put the camera into 'P' Mode (as per the update instructions - hand on heart, I don't always do this last bit myself either).

If neither of this works with the *.FIR file placed in the root of the SD card, then I'm stumped.

Phil

 

[Deepgreen]

Hi Ian,

Sorry your update woes continue - I've not experienced this myself and it does sound odd.

Did you format the SD card in camera (maybe try a deep format, or a different SD card?), remove the lens and put the camera into 'P' Mode (as per the update instructions - hand on heart, I don't always do this last bit myself either).

If neither of this works with the *.FIR file placed in the root of the SD card, then I'm stumped.

Phil

I have done all of those things, BUT I have removed the second, CFe, card, and I now get a slightly different error messge. That card has the older versions on it I now see, so that may have been the issue - the firmware is updating via the CFe card now that I have removed all the old versions from that card. This never happened with previous updates, which is why I hadn't considered the CFe card. I was fixated on it being done via the SD card and hadn't considered the CFe card as the culprit! It was 'Koenkooi' member who raised the CFe card point - many thanks, and many thanks to all who have tried to help with this issue - much appreciated!

 

[PKM-UK]

Hi Ian,

I didn’t even realise you could use the CFe card for f/w updates, but it seems the camera may look at both? Interesting.

Well done Koenkool - something to note for the future in case others run into this issue.

Phil

 

[Deepgreen]

I have now tried the new 400mp feature on my R5 and am sorely disappointed. A tripod-mounted shot of the garden had vast amounts of artefacts that actually make the shot less usable than a standard RAW 45mp shot! I think the amount of care and preparation needed for the IBIS high-res. stuff will mean it is all-but-pointless for almost all users. I am open to being convinced but I think Canon have over-reached here and their reputation may suffer as a result. I'll be interested to see what others think.

 

[Deepgreen]

And your CFe card is empty as well?

You've hit the nail on the head! Many thanks for your thought. This has never happened previously so it didn't even occur to me the check the CFe card.

 

[Dean Wilson]

An important takeaway from all this is: Follow Instructions.
When updating your firmware remember a very important step:

"This completes the firmware update. Please initialize the card before use."

 

[Deepgreen]

An important takeaway from all this is: Follow Instructions.
When updating your firmware remember a very important step:

"This completes the firmware update. Please initialize the card before use."

Indeed, and I had followed the instructions to the letter - just not for the second/CFe card! BTW, I didn't initialise (format?) the CFe before using it after the firmware update and it works fine as it is.

 

[BradS]

After all the pre-release, rumor-based hype about improved AF in the new R5 firmware, I am very disappointed. Personally I have no use fo 400 Mp and would have preferred AF improvements to better match the reported performance of the R3 and even the much less expensive R7.

 

[TonyB]

After all the pre-release, rumor-based hype about improved AF in the new R5 firmware, I am very disappointed. Personally I have no use fo 400 Mp and would have preferred AF improvements to better match the reported performance of the R3 and even the much less expensive R7.

I agree. This is hardly a “major firmware update.” It’s a niche feature that less than 1% of R5 owners will utilize. I would’ve liked to see pre-shooting recording, some choices other than 20fps with electronic shutter, improved AF, improved menu system, and others that users have been asking for. Let’s hope there’s a 1.9 and 2.0 coming soon with more useful features.

 

[RDM5546]

This is an interesting upgrade on paper. It allows the shooter to use the full resources of the sensor to the maximum. The 45MP of the R5 only has green 22.5MP, red 11.25MP and blue 11.25. Only through the limited magic of the debayering algorithmic process do we get and approximate RGB 45MP image. I think the early pictures I have seen so far are just that and in time some people will learn to use this tool better to make images using the IBIS sensing that are slightly better than other shooting methods on the R5. Maybe Canon will be good enough show us some competitive 400MP examples of this. The improve may comes with strings attached and only be useful in niche use cases. Time will tell.

 

[Deepgreen]

I was doing some astrophotography last night and was scrolling through the ISO function on my R5. I noticed that the granularity had seemingly reduced, which I assumed was as a result of the firmware 1.8.1 installation, as it wasn't the case before I installed it a few days ago. For exmple, ISO 1250 was missing. The levels now ran (according to my screen information): 800, 1600, 3200, 6400, etc., i.e. doubling with each step. However, I have discovered that my settings had reverted to a coarse granularity, and I have had to re-set them (in the orange tab in ther menu). I post this in case anyone else has noticed the issue and is concerned (as I initially was) that functionality has reduced. This hasn't been the case with previous updates.

 

[Deepgreen]

This is an interesting upgrade on paper. It allows the shooter to use the full resources of the sensor to the maximum. The 45MP of the R5 only has green 22.5MP, red 11.25MP and blue 11.25. Only through the limited magic of the debayering algorithmic process do we get and approximate RGB 45MP image. I think the early pictures I have seen so far are just that and in time some people will learn to use this tool better to make images using the IBIS sensing that are slightly better than other shooting methods on the R5. Maybe Canon will be good enough show us some competitive 400MP examples of this. The improve may comes with strings attached and only be useful in niche use cases. Time will tell.

I have tried a number of firm tripod-mounted landscape shots with the 400mp function and saw terrible artefacts in huge areas of the images. I will keep experimenting, but it seems to me at the moment to be such a tricky feature to make work properly that it's nigh-on pointless.

 

[Deepgreen]

I have just tried a few 400mp shots of the moon on a firm tripod with a 2 sec. timer delay to avoid shutter vibration. The movement, even at 1/400s, was too much for the 400mp function and it came out looking like a 0.004mp shot! I'm finding it hard to imagine what scenario this function is supposed to assist with as everything needs to be so still (including the camera seemingly set in concrete!) that only 'still life' shots might be possible, and they are easy to shoot close up (i.e. without the need for vast detail to be extracted) anyway! I'm baffled at the reasons for enabling this feature.

 

[Dean Wilson]

Hello Ian,
I think IBIS High resolution shot, in its current software development, would be great in a controlled environment, such as you would find for product photography. Now whether firmware development leading up to 2.0 sill improve on IBIS....only time will tell.

 

[Deepgreen]

Hello Ian,
I think IBIS High resolution shot, in its current software development, would be great in a controlled environment, such as you would find for product photography. Now whether firmware development leading up to 2.0 sill improve on IBIS....only time will tell.

Yes, I wondered about that but product photography is surely catered for pretty well by 45mp shots. I get superb detail resolution from mine anyway. I have tried tripod-mounted landscape shots on calm days (i.e. nothing moving) and they are just not as good as the 45mp equivalents - certainly no better detail and loads of zebra artefacts everywhere. Oh well, at least it was a free 'upgrade'!

 

[Deepgreen]

I managed to take an artefact-free shot today at the 400mp setting, but, although it was quite a 'busy' outdoor shot, it only came in at 156mp. I wonder what has to be done to achieve the full 400ish size (not that I necessarily want to) as I am unclear what settings I could change, given that most are fixed anyway when using the function.

 

[Dean Wilson]

I took one as well and the output jpeg as 242 MB, however after editing it became 501 MB.

 

[Deepgreen]

I took one as well and the output jpeg as 242 MB, however after editing it became 501 MB.

Wow! To misquote a 1975 film, we're gonna need a bigger SD card!

 

[Dean Wilson]

Or the 1992 film portraying the distant future (2008) starring Rutger Hauer.

 

[RDM5546]

Has anyone heard any more recent rumors about a R5 firmware 2.0 being released by the end of this year? This sounds very encouraging!

 

[MikeZ]

I have not heard a thing. BTW, what are the suspected improvements for FW2.0?

 

[RDM5546]

Getting rid of the video 30 minute timer (like the R7) is probably the most frequently speculated followed by the R3/R7 autofocus interface. I want them to offer ES slower speeds that 20fps. H+ 20fps H 10fps and L 6fps like found on the R7. Other people have had other requests as well. The use of 2.0 Firmware name suggests it would truly a major grade more than "1.9" would suggest. I have heard there would be two upgrades this year with one being a major upgrade. I doubt the 1.8.1 upgrade was considered major by most people. I like using both the R7 and the R5. They are both great tools. The R7 firmware has several bells and whistles that seems like the R5 users would love.