New firmware from Canon, Eye-Fi, Ricoh, Samsung, and Sony
posted Friday, March 30, 2012 at 5:21 PM EDT
New firmware updates seem to be rolling in faster than we can keep up with them lately. That might mean more typing for us, but it's great news for photographers out there: it means products that are more stable, and occasionally, that offer new features.
First of all, Canon's EOS-1D Mark IV gets a new update to firmware version 1.1.1, available immediately from the Canon USA website. The new release reduces the incidence of overexposure with two upcoming lenses, the EF 24mm f/2.8 IS USM and EF 28mm f/2.8 IS USM. It also rolls in changes made in the previous v1.1.0 release of firmware.
Canon has also added Google Cloud Print compatibility to three of its wireless all-in-one printers, the PIXMA MG6220, MG8220, and MX892. Information and firmware can be found on Canon's site.
WiFi-capable flash memory maker Eye-Fi, meanwhile, has an update for its Eye-Fi X2-series cards that fixes four problems. Firmware v5.008, available through the company's Eye-Fi Center software, now forces a network scan on Wi-Fi switch on, fixes a potential Card Error problem in Direct mode, improves WiFi compatibility and performance, and adds an auto-repair mechanism for private partitions.
Next up is an update for the Ricoh CX6, taking that model to firmware release 1.24. This corrects a relatively minor glitch, whereby bright portions in the live preview image may blink a red-purple color briefly, when the shutter button is half-pressed in Toy Camera or Miniaturize modes. Again, changes made in earlier versions are included in the new firmware, which can be downloaded from the Ricoh website.
Samsung is next in our lengthy list, with an update for the NX200 compact system camera. Firmware version 1.04 for the NX200 is on the Samsung website, and most notably improves low-light autofocus. It also reduces raw file sizes by up to 25%, while improving raw processing speeds. As you'd expect, changes made in previous firmware releases are retained.
Finally, Sony USA has published firmware for the Alpha SLT-A65 and Alpha SLT-A77 Translucent Mirror cameras. Available from the Sony eSupport website, the new firmware has the same list of changes for both cameras: auto compensation support for six lenses, more responsive power switch, front and rear dials, and auto review, better autofocus accuracy in bright scenes, and more responsive AF with the 500mm F4 G SSM lens. Both updates retain the improvements from earlier firmware releases.