LAKE SUCCESS, N.Y., October 17, 2012 – Canon U.S.A., Inc., a leader in digital imaging solutions, today announced a new firmware update in response to user requests which further enhances the capabilities of Canon's flagship EOS-1D X Digital SLR camera. The EOS-1D X will now be capable of AF point illumination during AI Servo AF and cross-type AF for maximum apertures as small as f/8. The new firmware update is available now at no charge from the Canon U.S.A. website and can be downloaded by end users or through Canon Factory Service Centers.
AF Point Illumination During AI Servo AF
To support the needs of wedding, portrait, sports, wildlife, and theatrical performance photographers working in low light, the new firmware allows AF points in the EOS-1D X's viewfinder to be illuminated in red when the shutter button is pressed halfway during AI Servo AF, for easy viewing of the selected point. This valuable feature will enhance the photographers' ability to aim the camera accurately in low-light conditions, and when photographing dark subjects. To preserve exposure-metering accuracy, illumination is intermittent, not continuous. Three choices will be selectable from the menu system - Non-illuminated, Illuminated (Normal) and Illuminated (Brighter).
Cross-Type AF Support at f/8
The EOS-1D X is equipped with an innovative 61-point High Density Reticular AF System featuring up to 41 cross-type AF points, depending on the lens in use. The cross-type AF points recognize a wide variety of subject matter, making them highly desirable for maximum autofocus performance. Until now, cross-type AF on the EOS-1D X has been limited to EF lenses and lens/extender combinations with a maximum aperture of f/5.6 or larger. The new firmware allows cross-type autofocusing with the center AF point even when the maximum aperture of a Canon EF lens/extender combination becomes as small as f/8. Ideal for wildlife photographers and others who often use EF super-telephoto lenses with extenders, this new feature greatly expands the range of EF lens/extender combinations that support autofocus when used with the EOS-1D X.
If AF point expansion is selected with an f/8 maximum aperture lens/extender combination, the four AF points surrounding the center point will act as AF Assist points. This option effectively expands the size of the AF detection area to enhance autofocus performance with subjects that are small in the frame and difficult to track, such as small animals and birds in flight. AF points above and below the center will be sensitive to vertical contrast, while points to the left and right will be sensitive to horizontal contrast.
p.1 #2 · Canon U.S.A. Expands The EOS-1D X Digital SLR Camera Autofocus Capabilities With New Firmware Update
Oh wow!!!!!!! AF at F/8 is HUGE for some people on here!! Nice!
But that AF point illumination update is huge for me because I use the camera a lot at weddings. That's fantastic. I really hope I can download the new firmware before the wedding I'm shooting this saturday.
p.1 #3 · Canon U.S.A. Expands The EOS-1D X Digital SLR Camera Autofocus Capabilities With New Firmware Update
Will Patterson wrote:
Oh wow!!!!!!! AF at F/8 is HUGE for some people on here!! Nice!
But that AF point illumination update is huge for me because I use the camera a lot at weddings. That's fantastic. I really hope I can download the new firmware before the wedding I'm shooting this saturday.
I couldn't care less about f/8 af, but the af point light I suppose is good. Perhaps the 5d3 will get these updates.
p.1 #13 · Canon U.S.A. Expands The EOS-1D X Digital SLR Camera Autofocus Capabilities With New Firmware Update
With the f8 Af fix, does this mean that the people who were using lenses like the 400 f5.6 can now use it with the extender and have it Af properly? I seem to remember several points being made about the newer high end cameras not being able to AF in situations like this.
p.1 #15 · Canon U.S.A. Expands The EOS-1D X Digital SLR Camera Autofocus Capabilities With New Firmware Update
mikeinctown wrote:
With the f8 Af fix, does this mean that the people who were using lenses like the 400 f5.6 can now use it with the extender and have it Af properly? I seem to remember several points being made about the newer high end cameras not being able to AF in situations like this.
p.1 #18 · Canon U.S.A. Expands The EOS-1D X Digital SLR Camera Autofocus Capabilities With New Firmware Update
Will Patterson wrote:
Yes.
Well, not exactly. The reason Canon has had it disabled on a number of bodies over the years, is because putting a TC on any lens degrades its AF ability. Some bodies would result in such poor AF that the owners would have complained to Canon about poor AF, hence their decision to disable it.
The 1D X will now be able to AF at f8, but it will still not be as fast or accurate as focusing at F5.6 or F4.
p.1 #19 · Canon U.S.A. Expands The EOS-1D X Digital SLR Camera Autofocus Capabilities With New Firmware Update
reno.peterson wrote:
Avail the FW code for the 7D also!!! Please, OHHHH Please!!!
What?!? I thought NO ONE with a 7D complained about these issues. I thought that the AF worked just fine on the 7D and only a select few 5D Mark III and 1D X whiners had a problem. Hmmm.
p.1 #20 · Canon U.S.A. Expands The EOS-1D X Digital SLR Camera Autofocus Capabilities With New Firmware Update
mikeinctown wrote:
With the f8 Af fix, does this mean that the people who were using lenses like the 400 f5.6 can now use it with the extender and have it Af properly? I seem to remember several points being made about the newer high end cameras not being able to AF in situations like this.
Well, not exactly. The reason Canon has had it disabled on a number of bodies over the years, is because putting a TC on any lens degrades its AF ability. Some bodies would result in such poor AF that the owners would have complained to Canon about poor AF, hence their decision to disable it.
The 1D X will now be able to AF at f8, but it will still not be as fast or accurate as focusing at F5.6 or F4.
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