Canon EOS Firmware Updates: I just love the Canon experience whenever it's time to update the firmware on my 7D. It is such a hassle. Just when I thought I had this process down Canon...

chaprick

I just love the Canon experience whenever it's time to update the firmware on my 7D. It is such a hassle. Just when I thought I had this process down Canon throws me another curve. This time the EOS Utility program (I am using a MAC OSX operating system), kept telling me I am "Out Of Memory." NOT!!! So I finally figured out that there was an updated version of the EOS Utility program out there on the Canon website. After downloading that I was then able to update the camera firmware. I'm not sure if this process would be any easier on a PC. All I know is Canon makes it very hard to understand their process and gives you no information on when updates are available or required in this case. This has probably been covered before on this site but I am fairly new here. Sorry if I am bringing up old news. OK.....I got that off my chest.

JayB Loc: Northeast US

I have nothing helpful to say. I've been in denial about this issue because of all the complaints about it. I usually don't plug my 7D into my PC anyway, I just plug in the card to download pics. I guess it's time to wade into the wild so I don't get behind.

Photogdog Loc: New Kensington, PA

chaprick wrote:

I just love the Canon experience whenever it's tim... (show quote)

Believe me, you're not the first Canon user to have this problem. You're right, Canon does a lousy job of notifying users regarding firmware updates. Normally, the updates come up on this site.

The one thing that I find useful is that the Canon website make the information available if you're looking for it. When I updated my 7D, I went through their site, downloaded the upgrade on to the memory card in my camera and then followed the directions from the webite to install.

chaprick

That is what I did also. The curve ball was the need to update the EOS Software. I had no idea I needed to do that. I just happened to look and see if there was a newer version and there was, The program itself does not have any "Update Software" choice. You have to go to the Canon website to find it. It's done now.

GrahamS Loc: Hertfordshire, U.K

I don't use the Canon Utility program to update the firmware on my 7D. I just copy the updated firmware file to the root directory of a CF card and insert it into the camera. From there on I just use the camera firmware update menu.

MS. DONNA Loc: NEW SMYRNA BEACH FL

If you have a camera store near you, they might update it for you for free :) colonial photo & hobby does mine for me when i bring it in

chaprick

GrahamS wrote:

I don't use the Canon Utility program to update the firmware on my 7D. I just copy the updated firmware file to the root directory of a CF card and insert it into the camera. From there on I just use the camera firmware update menu.

That's probably the best way to do it.

MS. DONNA Loc: NEW SMYRNA BEACH FL

that is how the camera store did it for me, with the sd card

Photogdog Loc: New Kensington, PA

GrahamS wrote:

I don't use the Canon Utility program to update the firmware on my 7D. I just copy the updated firmware file to the root directory of a CF card and insert it into the camera. From there on I just use the camera firmware update menu.

I do the same thing. I have a card reader hooked into one of my systems and download the update to a CF card. I then put the card in the camera, go to the menu, flick the toggle over to the wrench icon , scroll down to the firmware version & hit the center button in the dial. I get the screen that asks if I want to update. I hit "Yes" & I'm off to the races.

However, I think the OP is right. When you spend $1,000 or more on a product from a major manufacturer and register the product after purchase, you shouldn't have to hear about firmware updates through the grapevine (photography magazines, forums like UHH, etc). I don't think it would be that big a deal for the big companies to maintain a database that they could use to send out e-mails, snail mails or whatever to alert their customers about upgrades.

This isn't just a Canon issue. I have a number of Sonys and found out about firmware upgrades secondhand as well.

jeep_daddy Loc: Prescott AZ

GrahamS wrote:

I don't use the Canon Utility program to update the firmware on my 7D. I just copy the updated firmware file to the root directory of a CF card and insert it into the camera. From there on I just use the camera firmware update menu.

This is how I did it and it worked like a charm. Easy Peazy!

lachmap Loc: Sydney Australia

I bought a Canon 50D 3 yrs ago. I haven't even tried to do a firmware update. Should I? If it seems to work ok for me should I risk it? I must admit I have had a couple of looks on Canon's site and got thoroughly confused and gave up.

photonphysicist Loc: Texas

I have updated the firmware on my 7D a few times. I prefer to write the actual firmware file to a CF memory card, put the CF memory card into the camera, go to the menu selection for updating the firmware, and then do the update directly in/on the camera. Pretty straight forward, just make sure the batteries are fully charged.

ygelman Loc: new -- North of Poughkeepsie!

GrahamS wrote:

I don't use the Canon Utility program to update the firmware on my 7D. I just copy the updated firmware file to the root directory of a CF card and insert it into the camera. From there on I just use the camera firmware update menu.

Can you give some details, please? Like, what is the "root" directory.

PhotoGator Loc: Florida

Canon Consumer Firmware and Software Upgrades and Downloads.
At the window enter your camera model name, such as 7D, T3i...
then select from the drop down list.

http://consumer.usa.canon.com/cusa/support/consumer

NOTLguy Loc: Niagara on the Lake, Ontario

chaprick wrote:

I just love the Canon experience whenever it's tim... (show quote)

Can anyone tell me "what benefits" they saw after updating their firmware.

I must admit that I used to do it religiously, but never really saw any great improvement in performance. It's now several years since I updated my firmware, and I don't seem to be suffering from it.