Canon’s latest news includes a couple of exciting excitements that photographers can look forward to in the next few weeks and months ahead.

Following on from the release of its firmware upgrade for its EOS 7D a few months back, the latest announcement it that Canon’s high-end full frame EOS 5D Mark III will similarly receive an upgrade of its own.

As with the 7D, the upgrade enhances certain features, spanning both video workflow efficiency and still shooting. The company elaborated that the new firmware upgrade, which will be available in April next year, enables HDMI output functionality, as well as improved AF performance for photographers shooting with telephoto lenses.

Video pros, take note

Following feedback from cinema and TV production professionals, the new firmware includes ‘clean’ HDMI output, which enhances overall video editing and monitoring procedures. Videographers using the camera will be able to output high-definition uncompressed video data (YCbCr 4:2:2, 8 bit) without any embedded icons or symbols, from to an external recorder using the camera’s HDMI terminal.

 

The company explained that the new functionality will also enable easier editing of data with minimal image degradation for greater on-site workflow efficiency during production, as well as the option to record to the internal memory card at the same time.

 

Enhanced features introduced by the upgrade further include outputting of time code over HDMI to an external recorder, as well as the ability to synchronise start and stop of video capture with the start and stop of recording to an external device.

 

The new firmware will also enable real-time output to external monitors, ideally suited for on-set monitoring by the wider production team.

 

 

The new firmware also caters to still photographers, adding improved autofocus (AF) performance when capturing still images, which Canon explained will “open up more advanced shooting possibilities for photographers.” When it becomes available, the new firmware will enable the camera to utilise the EOS 5D Mark III’s central dual cross-type focal points, when using a lens and extender, which results in a maximum f/8 aperture. The current firmware only caters to dual cross-type focal points up to f/5.6.

 

This should be a boon to sports and nature photographers who use AF when getting closer to distant subjects.

 

Internationally speaking

However, the 5D Mark III update not the only news that Canon shared. The company also announced that it would host two of the world’s most renowned professional photographers at this year’s Canon SA Expo. Photojournalist, Ziv Koren and wildlife photographer, Brutus Östling are confirmed as being among the guest speakers on Canon’s panel for the Expo at the Sandton Convention Centre from 30 November to 2 December.
 
Canon reiterated that it has increased its efforts this year and thus will be hosting two speaker sessions, which will run simultaneously throughout the expo period.  
 
“We are extremely excited about the calibre of local and international speakers who will be sharing their expertise with visitors at the Expo. Both Koren and Östling are Canon ambassadors and those interested in their fields of photography cannot afford to miss these sessions,” commented Michelle Janse van Vuuren, marketing manager at Canon SA.

To the point

Indeed, judging by the current lineup of speakers and sessions that will be on offer at this year’s Expo, it certainly looks like Canon has a tantalising lineup planned, with no shortage of photographic knowledge on offer for photography enthusiasts and photography professionals alike.