Updated May 14, 2013
The images here are from the past few days on the Outer Banks. Part of getting good images is making sure your camera is regularly updated.
“There’s something funny going on with my camera.”
“When was the last time you updated your firmware?” I’ll ask.
“Firmware?”
The blank stares tell me all I need to know.
“How would I know about firmware?”
“By checking in with the camera manufacturer’s website. We always register our cameras online, so we get e-mail notifications.”
Just as there are bugs in computers and software that need to be addressed and fixed, or even just plain improved with a new feature, the same goes for cameras. After all, cameras are computers. Ones and zeros. And those ones and zeros are put together in very complicated ways to make our electronics work.
Recently, Arnie and I updated our firmware to address some focus-tracking issues. Yes, it works, and yes, you should do it.
If you follow the directions — yeah, yeah, I know, that requires actually reading the directions — it is not rocket science. First, however, make sure you have put in a fully recharged battery and that you have downloaded your images off your card(s), or if you use your cards as back-up, put in a fresh card.
And to make your life easier, I have noted some firmware links below for dSLRs. Each update will give a list is “issues” corrected. Some, you may not even have known you had, but do the update anyway.
Nikon: http://support.nikonusa.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/13783#Anchor-DSLR-3800
Canon: http://www.usa.canon.com/cusa/professional/standard_display/support_pro/pro_firmware-updates
Hasselblad: http://www.hasselblad.fr/sav/assistance-technique/firmware-downloads.asp
Leica http://us.leica-camera.com/service/downloads/software-_firmwareupdates/index.html (you’ll have to select your model from here)
Olympus: http://www.olympus.co.jp/en/support/imsg/digicamera/download/software/
Pentax: http://pentaximaging.com/support/manuals-and-literature (start with cameras and move to the right from there)
Sony: http://esupport.sony.com/US/p/select-system.pl?PRODTYPE=76 (start with Drivers & software in upper right)
For other brands that I have not listed here, do an Internet search with +[your brand] +firmware +update and something should come up!
There is a caveat with some brands. For example, Nikon has a list of approved flash cards that will work with their updating. The larger, 16MG cards, for example, do not necessarily work. Check these out:
- Please use a Nikon Approved Memory Card to install the Firmware Update into the D300:
http://support.nikonusa.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/14431 - Please use a Nikon Approved Memory Card to install the Firmware Update into the D800:
http://support.nikonusa.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/17778
Meanwhile, if you have not already done so, sign up for notifications of firmware updates. That, however, does not mean the manufacturer will contact you. Best to check on your own.
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This is a topic which is near to my heart.
.. Take care! Where are your contact details though?
If you go to our Contact Page link at the top right, you will see links there.
I do check from time to time for new firmware, and there’s one since last year for my new Canon T3i. But it isn’t downloadable for my Mac OS version. I emailed them to ask what to do and the response was that I should choose a different OS on the dropdown menu??? I need to call to speak to a person who makes sense. BTW, I don’t get a notification from Canon (even though I’m registered), but an alert does show up on the product page if I go there.
Mary,
This seems to be yet another tale of woe from us camera customers. And to find they were less than helpful is not good news.
Good luck on a phone call. Hopefully, that will resolve the issue.
Take care,
TBC
Margo, glad you sent this reminder. Nikon does a poor job of notification when there is a firmware update and there have been complaints about their systemo notification . You can be registered with them and not be notified; this just happened to me but luckily the update does not concern me. I also have a Fuji camera and they too have released an update without notification.
George,
Since Arnie keeps track of the firmware updates, I didn’t realize that they came from him and not Nikon, but now that I think about it, I can’t say as I ever got a reminder from Nikon either. Thank heavens for Arnie’s diligence!
Take care,
TBC
Thank you.
You are welcome!
TBC
Margo:
Great tip. Just a word of caution. Don’t rely upon notification from the camera manufacturers. I registered my M9 with Leica and even participated in a group to help diagnose an SD card malfunction in the M9 that gave rise to lost images in the field and Leica still did not notify me about a firmware upgrade that fixed the problem, leading to additional lost images when I was in Costa Rica with you and Arnie. We need to train ourselves to regularly check the camera websites that you have provided to make certain we have the lastest firmware in place. Dave
Dave,
I remember well your saga with Leica, and as you will note from other commenters, Leica is not the only one that is sloppy about letting their customers know about updates.
Thanks for the reminder to all, and …
Take care,
TBC
Thanks, Margo. I had no idea that my camera might need updates. I just registered my Canon camera and hope to receive the necessary update notifications from Canon. Dee
Dee,
As you can see from other commenters, registering is far from a guarantee that you will get notification of updated firmware. Best to check every so often (once a month?) to see what’s what.
Take care, and you are welcome!
TBC