5D: Previews acting funny

[KevinCarter]

Kevin,
I've never installed anything. Where is this software? and how to you install it? right into the camera?

[KevinStecyk]

By software, I meant Firmware. I hope I didn't confuse you with my terminology.

Go here to Canon USA's site:

Canon EOS 5D Digital SLR

If the link doesn't work, go to the support for your 5D and find Drivers and Downloads.

Just follow Canon's directions as given on its site. You might even wish to print them out before you launch the firmware update process.

The current version of software/Firmware is: Details - EOS 5D Firmware Update Ver. 1.1.1 (release date: 3/18/2008)

If you haven't updated your Firmware ever before, it's no big deal. Again, follow the directions given by Canon.

In hand waving terms, download software to computer. Unzip software. Put software on a card in the root directory. Make sure your batteries are well charged. Put card in camera and then invoke the camera's command to update the firmware and (don't touch anything while this firmware upgrade is taking place...a couple / few minutes).

The very first time I did upgraded my firmware, I was apprehensive. After that, it was as easy as it gets. Just follow the directions and make sure that your batteries are charged.

Good luck!

[KevinCarter]

Curious, before doing all this, have you or has anyone solved anything by reinstalling same firmware you already have? just checked and I do have 1.1.1

[KevinStecyk]

I've been fortunate and have never had problems with my cameras malfunctioning where I wasn't directly responsible. My Canon cameras have been good to me.

Do I expect that a reinstall of your firmware will solve your problems? No, as I indicated before, it's a shot in the dark. At least if you do reinstall your firmware, you can cross it off your list of things to do or check. It takes less than ten minutes, including download. And it can't harm anything. Put differently, if there's nothing to lose, the gain is obvious.

As others if have mentioned, if you've checked your cards and the camera appears okay (nothing obvious malfunctioning), then there's little to work with. I'd try the firmware. And when that fails, barring other suggestions, take it to a Canon service center.

[Lenny Hartley]

I have a different issue with my 5d mk2, in that the preview only shows for a split second, this is intermittent, but when it decides to do it its very annoying,
I have changed the menu setting for the preview images to different values but
no difference, still does it too often. i can live with it, its not a big issue however
when I seen that somebody else was having problems with the preview thought
I would mention my issues.
All the previous suggestions re changing cards and formatting card have no effect.

[KevinCarter]

thanks Kevin,
the firmware, what I see in the vitural hard drive on desktop is:
5d000111.fir / icon ia black rectangle.
this is what you drag into your cd card?

Lenny, thanks! appreciate that. Is it odd that this is just starting out blue after having camera two years? When did this start for you?

[Noel_Carboni]

Lenny, what you're seeing is what will happen if you immediately go back to focus lock (i.e., if you go right back half down on the shutter button, or never let it all the way up). I see this when I'm shooting astrophotos with the Canon TC80-N3 timer controller. Apparently it tries to go right to focus/exposure lock immediately after the prior exposure the way I have it set up. Is it possible you've got a dirty/sticky shutter button?

Kevin, I'm sorry but I have no further insight for you, other than to avoid putting the new firmware in as software just doesn't degrade. Either it works or it doesn't, and it occurs to me you might mess up your chances of getting a good (possibly warranty) fix out of Canon if you upgrade the firmware yourself.

-Noel