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World of EOS photography

Firmware updates

Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2012 competition

Paul Nicklen won the Veolia Environnement Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2012 competition with his underwater shot of bubble-jetting emperor penguins (right). You can see the winning entries on display at the Natural History Museum, London, until 3 March 2013. To book tickets to see the exhibition, find out when it is on tour near you, view the winning images online, or for information about how to enter this year’s competition (closing date 22 February 2013) visit www.nhm.ac.uk/wildphoto. Each of the 100 spectacular prize-winning photographs are presented in a new book, Wildlife Photographer of the Year Portfolio 22, priced £25, which is also available from the website. The Veolia Environnement Wildlife Photographer of the Year competition is owned by the Natural History Museum and BBC Wildlife Magazine. Heinrich van den Berg (South Africa) was Commended in The Gerald Durrell Award for Endangered Species (below) Verreaux’s sifakas are found only in southern and south- western Madagascar. They are not as endangered as many of the island’s lemurs, but when Heinrich found a group feeding in trees in the Nahampoana Reserve what impressed him was the extraordinary way they leap from one tree to another. “They spring off their back legs, then twist in the air to land perfectly on the next trunk,” says Heinrich. The photographic conditions were ideal – the sifakas in shadow and a bright background behind – enabling him to use a slow shutter speed for the background effect of movement and a flash to freeze the leap. EOS 5D Mark II with an EF 16-35mm f1.4L USM lens at 27mm, 1/12 second at f9, ISO 100; two Quantum flashes.

The latest updates for EOS digital cameras are available by following the ‘Firmware Updates’ link on the EOS magazine home page at www.eos-magazine.com For further information on updating your firmware, see “Firmware update” on page 46. EOS-1D X Firmware version 1.1.1 offers new functionality and improved performance. Developed in response to photographer feedback, Firmware version 1.1.1 improves the scope and performance of the AF function and introduces minor fixes to offer professional photographers the ability to capture stunning images more easily in all conditions. During AI Servo AF shooting in low light, viewfinder information is now illuminated, with the AF points blinking intermittently in red, allowing them to be easily confirmed while shooting, without affecting the metering. Getting closer to the action is also even easier, with the firmware update allowing photographers to use Extenders to increase the focal length of their super-telephoto lenses, while maintaining the use of AF to capture a crisp, clear shot. The centre AF point (one cross-type with four supporting points) can now be used to autofocus at a maximum aperture of f8. Canon Extender EF 1.4x increases the effective focal length by 1.4x, so a 400mm lens becomes equivalent to a 560mm lens. There is loss of light equivalent to 1 stop, so a lens with a maximum aperture of f5.6 becomes the equivalent of an f8 lens – and will still offer autofocus with the EOS-1D X with firmware version 1.1.1 installed. Canon Extender EF 2x increases the effective focal length by 2x, so a 400mm lens becomes equivalent to a 800mm lens. There is loss of light equivalent to 2 stops, so a lens with a maximum aperture of f4 becomes the equivalent of an f8 lens – and will still offer autofocus with the EOS-1D X with firmware version 1.1.1 installed. New features • Autofocus at f8 • Illuminated AF points and viewfinder information in AI Servo AF mode. Fixes • Corrects a phenomenon where the metering value of the AE sensor becomes abnormal, affecting the final image • Corrects a phenomenon where Error 70 may occur during AEB shooting • Corrects a phenomenon where the firmware of the lenses cannot be updated normally • Minor corrections to Arabic menu EOS-1D X and the f8 issue Autofocusing may not function at f8 on some EOS-1D X cameras with firmware version 1.1.1. This version enabled the centre AF point to autofocus when the camera is used with lens/Extender combinations whose combined maximum aperture is f8 or wider. On some of the cameras with firmware version 1.1.1, auto- focusing does not function at f8. This is not an issue with the firmware itself, but with its installation at the factory. The problem can be overcome by overwriting the firmware. This phenomenon does not occur with a camera whose firmware has been updated by a user or by a Canon service centre.

Cameras with 4 or 5 as the sixth digit from the left in the serial number are affected. Even if the sixth digit from the left in the serial number is 4 or 5, cameras with a white dot in the battery compartment are not affected (right). To overwrite the installed firmware and activate the auto- focusing at f8, simply re-install firmware version 1.1.1. There is no change to the firmware version, as this is not an issue with the firmware itself.

Paul Nicklen (Canada) was judged overall 2012 Veolia Environnement Wildlife Photographer of the Year (above). This was the image Paul had been hoping to get: a sunlit mass of emperor penguins, leaving bubble trails in their wake. The location was near the emperor colony on the frozen area of the Ross Sea, Antarctica. Paul lowered himself into the only likely exit hole, then waited for the return of the penguins, with crops full of icefish for their chicks. Then it came: a blast of birds from the depths. They were so fast that, with frozen fingers, framing and focus had to be instinctive. “It was a fantastic sight,” says Paul, “as hundreds launched themselves out of the water and onto the ice above me – a moment that I felt fortunate to witness and one I’ll never forget.” EOS-1D Mark IV with an EF 8-15mm f4L USM lens, 1/1000 second at f7.1, ISO 500, Seacam housing.

Firmware update resolves EOS 6D video issue Firmware Version 1.1.2 for the EOS 6D fixes a phenomenon which prevents movie files shot using EOS 6D cameras from being played back on YouTube. However, firmware version 1.1.2 may present some Video Snapshot limitations, as follows: 1 EOS 6D running Firmware Version 1.0.9 If a video snapshot captured when the camera was running firmware 1.0.9 is combined with a video snapshot created by a camera which was running firmware 1.1.2, the resulting video snapshot album will be corrupted. 2 EOS 6D running Firmware Version 1.1.2 If you try to add a video snapshot from a camera running firmware 1.1.2 to the video snapshot album created when the camera was running firmware 1.0.9, a warning message ‘Cannot select this movie’ will appear and the video snapshot cannot be added. The following workaround addresses the two scenarios described above: 1 Shoot a video snapshot and create a video snapshot album. 2 Import the captured video snapshot album to your computer. 3 Start ImageBrowser EX (bundled with the EOS 6D). 4 Select the video snapshot album,and select [Edit Movie] in the [Edit] tab. 5 MovieEdit Task will start. 6 Select [Add Image] and select video snapshot album to add the movie snapshot. 7 Select [Save] and [Save image type] and then click [Save]. April 2013 update for EOS 5D Mark III A firmware upgrade for the EOS 5D Mark III in April 2013 will add features for both still and video shooting. The new firmware offers improved AF performance and enhanced HDMI output. When the camera is fitted with a lens and Extender resulting in a maximum f8 aperture, the new firmware enables the camera to use the central dual cross-type focal points, currently only available up to an f5.6 aperture. The new firmware includes ‘clean’ HDMI output, enhancing overall video editing and monitoring procedures.

Jordi Chias (Spain) was Commended in the Underwater Worlds category (right). Armeñime, a small cove off the south coast of Tenerife, is a hotspot for green sea turtles. They forage there on the plentiful seagrass and are accustomed to divers. Jordi cruised in the company of this one in the shallow, gin-clear water over black volcanic sand. “The dazzling colours, symmetry and textured patterns were mesmerising,” says Jordi, “and I was able to compose a picture to show just how beautiful this marine treasure is.” Like the other seven species of sea turtles, the green sea turtle is endangered, with populations declining worldwide. The many threats include habitat degradation, building development on their breeding beaches, ingestion of rubbish such as plastics and entanglement in fishing gear. EOS 7D with a Tokina 10-17mm lens at 10mm, 1/80 second at f11; ISO 160; custom-made housing; two Inon flashe s. © HEINRICH VAN DEN BERG/VEOLIA ENVIRONNEMENT WILDLIFE PHOTOGRAPHER OF THE YEAR 2012

8 Reproduced from EOS magazine January-March 2013

Reproduced from EOS magazine January-March 2013 9

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