Canon has announced a comprehensive firmware upgrade for its (almost) three year-old 18-megapixel EOS 7D DSLR camera. An impressive list of new features includes higher maximum RAW burst rate, in-camera editing, user-definable Auto ISO and support for the company's GP-E2 GPS Receiver.
An upgrade to firmware v2 for the EOS 7D will add the same memory management algorithms from the flagship EOS 1 series cameras to improve the camera's continuous shooting capabilities. It will also extend the maximum RAW buffer to a new high of 25 RAW files or 130 JPEGs, or 17 consecutive RAW+JPEG images.
Photographers will be able to begin post-production using the camera itself, which will be able to process RAW files and correct artefacts such as peripheral illumination, distortion and chromatic aberration. Users will be able to adjust white balance, sharpness and Picture Style adjustments immediately after a shot is taken, with modifications being saved as new image files to preserve the originals, and resizing of JPEG images will be possible without needing to head for the PC or Mac.
A new image rating facility will allow for the filtering of large volumes of images in-camera, with the rating stored in the metadata. The rating information is compatible with a range of editing software including Canon Digital Photo Professional, Apple Aperture, Adobe Lightroom and Bridge.
The upgrade will add the ability to limit the maximum ISO sensitivity to any point within the ISO400 - 6400 range for greater control over exposure, and also the ability to adjust the ISO Auto range from 100 - 3200 to 100 - 6400. In the same vein as the new EOS 5D Mark III, the firmware upgrade will cater for file name customization. Time zone settings, faster scrolling of magnified images and a quick control screen during playback will feature, too.
The camera's audio capabilities will also receive some welcome attention, benefiting from a digital wind-cut filter and similar 16-bit digital stereo sound capabilities as the EOS 5D Mark II, sampled at broadcast-quality 48 KHz, with manual control of audio levels.
The new free-to-download (and install) firmware upgrade will be available from early August, 2012.
Source: Canon
