Canon 5D Mark II firmware update adds 24p video recording | Electronista (And new audio controls too!)

Posted by Tom Stratton on March 2, 2010 · Twitter · Facebook · Reddit

This just in from Electronista – confirmation of the rumor that the 5D is going to get 24P recording!Canon_5D_Mark_II_400pix.jpg

Honestly, I didn’t think they were going to be able to do this in firmware – score, universe 1, Tom 0.

Canon 5D Mark II firmware update adds 24p video recording

updated 10:20 pm EST, Mon March 1, 2010
Manual audio level control now available

Canon has announced a firmware update for its full-frame EOS 5D Mark II camera. Version 2.0.3 offers several changes to the video frame rate, adding a 24p mode and bringing the 30p speed down to 29.97 to comply with television production standards.

Audio capabilities have also been improved for professional use, with manual controls available for the input levels. Recording is now processed using a 48KHz sampling frequency instead of 44.1KHz.

Aside from the video and audio changes, the firmware offers a new histogram display that enables monitoring. Users can also take advantage of a shutter priority AE mode or aperture-priority mode, while the camera and lens communication is said to be improved during manual sensor cleaning.

Despite the expanded options for video capture, the announcement appears to contradict earlier rumors suggesting a 60fps 720p mode would be introduced this spring.

The 5D Mark II firmware v2.0.3 is expected to be released sometime this month.

[From Canon 5D Mark II firmware update adds 24p video recording | Electronista]

There’s actually a lot more here than 24 FPS (though that is big news for a lot of people) and I think that it is a big step forward for the camera as a professional instrument. In fact, for most people I think that the 29.97 “downgrade” of the 30 FPS is going to mean more than 24 – after all, there really aren’t that many people whose work is going to end up projected in a movie theater… :-)

I don’t think that the audio tweaks are likely to get rid of the need for external recording device (not necessarily recorders, but at least a good mic).

Can’t wait to see this in action – hopefully we’ll get it soon – I’m still waiting for my Final Cut Pro plug-ins.