Is there any benefit in updating firmware?

I'm using 7D, but it doesn't really matter.

Does anyone know what is the benefit in updating firmware? What I know for sure it does not sharpen the image

kakegawa wrote in post #12381656
I'm using 7D, but it doesn't really matter.

Does anyone know what is the benefit in updating firmware? What I know for sure it does not sharpen the image

It fixes bugs. Adds more control over video? (for the 7d I think I heard that) and you wouldn't want to buy a brand new computer and then run windows 98 on it would you?

Aperture1.4 wrote in post #12381681
It fixes bugs. Adds more control over video? (for the 7d I think I heard that) and you wouldn't want to buy a brand new computer and then run windows 98 on it would you?

i'm just thinking if it does not break, don't fix. thanks for the input

kakegawa wrote in post #12381691
i'm just thinking if it does not break, don't fix. thanks for the input

Yup, I'd go along with that. Read the release notes for the firmware upgrades and, if none of the fixes affect you, feel free to skip installation until one of them is relevant. Some people will say that Canon add in extra bits without mentioning them in the release notes. Why they believe that happens I don't know - there's absolutely zero evidence that it is the case. Besides, Canon lists the most obscure fixes (Corrects mis-spelling in the Esperanto menu) in the release notes.

If you call tech. support for whatever reason, one of the first questions technician will ask is whether you have the most recent firmware.
There must be a good reason for that, eh?

Have you ever updated Windows?

+1 on the look through the firmware release notes and if there is nothing that affects you - don't update.

Hermeto wrote in post #12381782
If you call tech. support for whatever reason, one of the first questions technician will ask is whether you have the most recent firmware.
There must be a good reason for that, eh?

There is, indeed. It means that the 'technician' doesn't have to recognise your fault as being one fixed by a firmware update. Instead of wasting time and money in training their technicians to recognise such faults, they just get the user to do the upgrade. It gets rid of the user and, in a very small number of cases, might actually fix the problem. If it doesn't fix it then it has cost Canon zero time, money or effort.

Can any of you give a reason why -not- to run the updates?

hollis_f wrote in post #12381752
Yup, I'd go along with that. Read the release notes for the firmware upgrades and, if none of the fixes affect you, feel free to skip installation until one of them is relevant. Some people will say that Canon add in extra bits without mentioning them in the release notes. Why they believe that happens I don't know - there's absolutely zero evidence that it is the case. Besides, Canon lists the most obscure fixes (Corrects mis-spelling in the Esperanto menu) in the release notes.

I've been in the software business for 20+ years. With most software development companies the "Release Notes" that go out to the public/users is a stripped down version that only contains things that will visually or functionally affect them.

Things that were changed/tweaked to the core system that users will not understand or care about will not be included in there. Also, there is some Intellectual Property contained in some changes that are competitive advantage and are not included in the publicized release notes.

I never want to be first to install but after others have tested I try to keep all firmware up to date.

hollis_f wrote in post #12382337
There is, indeed. It means that the 'technician' doesn't have to recognise your fault as being one fixed by a firmware update. Instead of wasting time and money in training their technicians to recognise such faults, they just get the user to do the upgrade. It gets rid of the user and, in a very small number of cases, might actually fix the problem. If it doesn't fix it then it has cost Canon zero time, money or effort.

I agree, but the point of the story is that the users will end up updating firmware, one way or another.
If so, why wouldn't they do it in the first place, when the new firmware is released..

krb wrote in post #12382357
Can any of you give a reason why -not- to run the updates?

It takes time and effort and carries a small, but finite, risk of bricking the camera.

Some users may be better off not installing it if they are unconfortable with computers. The risk of incorrectly installing any firmware always has a possibility for failure. Unfortunately when failures occur it may involve fixes that can only be made by manufacture.

I personally install the latest upgrades as long as others have proven their effectiveness in not breaking anything else in the upgrade.

I thought that, too. Then sent my 40D for a shutter failure. They updated the firmware, like I didn't really know it needed it. The pictures I'm getting now are much better. There is a large team of techs and users who look at many aspects of using a certain model and they also listen to regular users out there. If there is an issue worth correcting, they'll do it. Also, with new lenses and specifications for video and software updates, it just makes sense to do the update.

hollis_f wrote in post #12382434
It takes time and effort

A person who thinks that updating the firmware takes too much time and effort is most likely a person who cannot be bothered to drag their wretched soul out of bed in the first place. We're talking about a process that takes 2 minutes at the most.

True, but so long as you do not have a dead battery in the camera and are not using a dodgy memory card the odds of a problem occurring are very small. Anything else that would cause bricking is most likely going to require a trip to the service center anyway so you can't really blame the firmware update for that.

I have tried 2 times to update the firmware for my XSi, I am using a 4gb memory card, and when I do the download thing to the camera it says there is nothing on the card. Did I read somewhere that maybe 4gb is too big and I need a 2gb card?