Never updated my camera, a problem?

I have an Xsi. I bought it when it first came out, 2009? Anyway, I have never hooked it up to my computer to update it. Is that a bad thing?
Thanks for your replies.

Your camera will continue to operate as it has for it's usable lifespan without updating the firmware...However, you may be missing out on updated features and problem solving that would be available with firmware updates.

You're not missing anything if your camera works fine. True there may be some issues solved in a firmware update, but if you're not having any issues, then those fixes won't really be noticed by you.
Its fine without a firmware update, nothing will be harmed.

I didn't realize any firmware update could be done by connecting a DSLR (Canon or Nikon) to a computer. For any that I've done I had to place the firmware update file on a CF card (then insert the CF card into the camera and follow the installation procedure).

The only thing I'm aware of that needs the camera connected to a computer is to use the Canon software to install your personal information (i.e., your name).

Canon updates are for the most part fixes or modest performance enhancements, but are definitely worth doing as they are very fast and simple. As Bob says, it's a matter of downloading and extracting the firmware to your PC or Mac then transferring it to empty, formatted memory, then following the camera menu prompt.

When DSLRs are just not the right tool, I use a Sony NEX-5 and the firmware updates for that add all sorts of functionality - additional modes etc - so well worth keeping updated in that case.

Bob_A wrote in post #14559292
I didn't realize any firmware update could be done by connecting a DSLR (Canon or Nikon) to a computer. For any that I've done I had to place the firmware update file on a CF card (then insert the CF card into the camera and follow the installation procedure).

The only thing I'm aware of that needs the camera connected to a computer is to use the Canon software to install your personal information (i.e., your name).

I haven't tried it, but I've heard that the firmware can be updated directly with the Canon EOS Utility over a USB connection.

I haven't tried it, but I've heard that the firmware can be updated directly with the Canon EOS Utility over a USB connection.[/QUOTE]

+1

It can.

As far as I can tell, the latest firmware is available from Canon's Japan site here:

http://web.canon.jp …eosdigital4/fir​mware.html

Scroll down inside the "Firmware Q & A" box to see what's changed. It appears an earlier version included some worthwhile bug fixes, which are incorporated in this one.

You don't need to connect Canon DSLRs to a computer to update their firmware. You only need to copy the firmware file onto a card using any kind of computer, put the card in the camera, and use the camera's Firmware menu to update it. The same menu should also tell you what version is in the camera.

I've done a couple of firmware updates on my Canon cameras. One was very worthwhile: it was listed by Canon as adding support for larger cards, but silently included information about a newly-released lens I happened to have, which tweaked the exposure and caused more information to be stored in EXIF.

Providing you're confident with files and folders, and it won't be too much of a time sink, I highly recommend taking the firmware updates. The good news is that Canon stop sending them out shortly after the camera has been discontinued, so it isn't a constant timewaster. The bad news is that Canon stop sending them out shortly after the camera has been discontinued, so full support for new accessories can be absent on discontinued cameras.

rrblint wrote in post #14560386
I haven't tried it, but I've heard that the firmware can be updated directly with the Canon EOS Utility over a USB connection.

+1

It can.

Yes, it can.

djohnfot wrote in post #14561306
+1

It can.

Yes, it can.

Well there you go. You can install firmware using EOS Utility for some cameras, but for others (like my 20D) you can only update in-camera using a CF card.