WOW! New firmware!!

[defordphoto]

See the Sticky: http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=50967

Man! I thought this camera (1DMKII) turned on fast before! As soon as you hit the switch this baby is ready to go NOW! It's immediate. Very impressive. And they've improved AI Servo tracking too!! That's a bonus for us sports shooters for sure, and the tracking was awesome before! I have to go shoot some winter motocross now or something.

Way to go Canon!!!

[sGu]

Have you tested AI servo yet? Would like to know if there is noticeable difference before and after.

[Pekka]

Sounds like Canon designed Mark II hardware and OS very well. It's not everyday you get better low light AF by firmware update :)

[defordphoto]

sGu: No. Not tested yet.

Pekka: Yeah! This is exciting!! Still gotta test and see the difference.

[Cadwell]

Sounds like Canon designed Mark II hardware and OS very well. It's not everyday you get better low light AF by firmware update :)

Either that or someone made a mistake in the original software and they've only just noticed. In any event, the AI Servo was pretty damn impressive before so ANY improvement has to be good!

[timmyquest]

Hmmm, i wonder how i can afford a 1D with instant startup, better focusing, great ISO performance and an 8mp sensor.

:-(

[defordphoto]

Sell more photos! ;)

[defordphoto]

Either that or someone made a mistake in the original software and they've only just noticed. In any event, the AI Servo was pretty damn impressive before so ANY improvement has to be good!

It addresses low-light AF issues. Myself and a few others here on this board did see this weakness. I noticed it when shooting the sprint boats on cloudy days and/or shooting low-contrast objects you'd sometimes lose AF and/or it'd start hunting. It wasn't horrible, but an issue nonetheless.

[Pekka]

See also http://www.robgalbraith.com/bins/content_page.asp?cid=7-6462-7435 for some interesting reading.

QUOTE:
The result: an across-the-board improvement in EOS-1D Mark II autofocus, with the most noticeable benefit coming about in low light shooting. Plus, a near-elimination of the camera's tendency to backfocus exclusively when a predictive error occurs.

[scottbergerphoto]

This is great news. Canon via Chuck Westfall, went to great lengths to explain that the less then expected low light AF of the 1D Mark II, was a trade off for the other benefits of a passive AF system. I've been very frustrated in low light, low contrast situations about the slow af of the 1D Mark II. I guess they finally figured that that explanation wasn't enough.

Regards,
Scott

[defordphoto]

Great reading there Pekka. I saw that this morning. Scott: It's sure nice to know they're listening.

[scottbergerphoto]

Great reading there Pekka. I saw that this morning. Scott: It's sure nice to know they're listening.I just wish they hadn't responded to the initial reprts by telling us the problem really didn't exist.
Scott

[defordphoto]

Initially, it could have simply been that they just did not know. My wife works R&D for one of the largest computer maufacturers on the planet and sometimes they just do not know exactly what the problem is.

Anyway, it's fixed and I'm a happy freaking camper!

[timmyquest]

I just wish they hadn't responded to the initial reprts by telling us the problem really didn't exist.
Scott

You have to wonder how many cameras they sold because of just that though ;)

[defordphoto]

You have to wonder how many cameras they sold because of just that though ;)

Probably Zero.

[Cadwell]

Well I've been away for a week and haven't had time to download/install the update (or indeed keep up with the gossip). I guess I could do it now.... but first... is everything tickety-boo with it or does it stuff something up? Have Canon slipped another of their little "gotchas" in there?

[Pekka]

Well I've been away for a week and haven't had time to download/install the update (or indeed keep up with the gossip). I guess I could do it now.... but first... is everything tickety-boo with it or does it stuff something up? Have Canon slipped another of their little "gotchas" in there?

Some people report camera->PC transfer problems. I use card readers so it's all ok. Definitely boots faster and AI server seems to be more accurate.

[Tom W]

Yep - boot time is faster than I can get the camera to my eye. Its as good as instant. Can't compare AI Servo times, as I don't have enough experience in low-light situations to make a comparison. It seems to have also had a positive effect on 1-shot low-light shooting though, but I can't say for certain.

[Cadwell]

Sounds good then, I'll give it a go. I never transfer images from the camera to PC (always use a card reader) so if there is a problem there, it isn't an issue for me.