Firmware Friday: EF-mount, Super 35 movie cameras from Canon, Blackmagic get updates

by Mike Tomkins

posted Friday, February 28, 2014 at 2:41 PM EDT

This week, Firmware Friday brings news for owners of two Super 35mm-format, EF-mount interchangeable-lens video cameras, the Canon Cinema EOS C100 and Blackmagic Production Camera 4K. While Canon adds a brand new feature for customers shooting its camera, Blackmagic's update focuses on resolving startup issues -- but early reports from users suggest it may perhaps add another problem in their place.

Canon Cinema EOS C100 firmware version 1.0.3.1.00 adds a new continuous recording function for use with Grass Valley's EDIUS Pro 7 non-linear editing software. When the firmware is installed, a new menu option is added to start and stop recording. When recording has been started through the menu, pressing the Start / Stop button marks the video with in and out points, but doesn't actually cause recording to stop or restart. Double-slot recording is automatically enabled when two SD cards are inserted and the function is active.

The new firmware is available for download from Canon's website. Note that if you plan to use the new continuous recording function and you're using Canon's bundled Pixela Data Import Utility for Windows software tool, you'll also need to download an update which takes it to version 2.1, and adds support for the new function. An updated version of the EOS C100 user manual describing the new feature is also available.

The Blackmagic Production Camera 4K update, meanwhile, is installed automatically by the latest version of the company's Blackmagic Camera Utility. After installing and updating with Blackmagic Camera Utility v1.6.2, the company says that issues with incorrect startup of the Production Camera 4K will be resolved -- however, some users are reporting new issues with columns of hot pixels after the update has been applied. (And rolling back to earlier firmware is said to resolve the issue.) If you want to update, you'll find the required software here.