Call Canon about 5D 24p firmware update

[Lee Wilson]

You can join an add your ".02", or just "waste" time "only" speaking and trying to find arguments of why not to call.

I think the argument that calling Canon is pointless is a valid argument based on good empirical data, to point this out it is not 'wasting time', adding your voice to the conversation is rarely 'wasting time'.

I think we should be realistic now, everything has passed, we have cameras that shoot 24p/25p on the market, cameras now even from Canon that shoot multiple frames rates (and much cheaper than the 5D) - and still the 5DII has no 24/25p firmware update - what do you suppose Canon are now waiting for ?

Let's be realistic here, it is most probably not going to happen, not now after such a long time, the 5DII will be known as the full frame sensor camera crippled with a less than ideal frame rate.

 

[5dmark2]

"Be realistic" was one of the arguments against any action before Manual Control was released...

"By Popular Demand" means a lot. I'm not saying that it was the only reason, but it was another one to make pressure.

What Canon is waiting for, is possibly a market situation when the 5D mark II has to be "pushed" a little up to keep on selling.

That will happen when Nikon and RED arrive.

RED? yes, Canon is interested to compete with RED since many months ago (CanonRumors also posted about that).
7D and 5D2 would be a very good couple to get some market share. But 5D2 needs some "fixes"

Anyway, who doesn't ask, hardly receive anything, and this takes just 5 minutes, much less than to write many arguments here or there against a possible improvement to a camera, or "IF" it would help calling.

Who wouldn't like his/her camera to be improved?

So far calling Canon and asking that our request be entered as "feature request" for the 5DmkII is the best we can do.

5 minutes is a TINY investment in time that could make a BIG difference when many people join together.

 

[reem12]

I spoke to someone last week and they said that canon is hearing us loud and clear, lets just see how clear it is.

 

[aron]

Ok, I called Canon today. I talked to the fella on the other end of the line, and he had a few questions for me. He wanted tell me that the 5dmk2 is first and foremost a still camera. I told him I purchased it to replace my 5D, and that I do advertising still photography as well as video work. Then he asked if I had pro-video equipment, and I told him I do have pro-video equipment (Panansonic, Nyaaaa.) And he explained that the camera is not a pro-video camera, and it shouldn't be expected to act like one. He then cordially took down my request for 24 and 60fps and functional HDMI out. He was very nice and we had a brief, but informative conversation. Canon may update to 24 fps, and that's great, but what I think is going to happen sooner rather than later is a new breed of Canon pro and pro-sumer HD cameras, maybe that shoot to CF cards and use EOS lenses. I'm happy with my hpx and sgblade combo, even though I think the days of 35mm adapters is nearly over. The 5dMK2 is fantastic because of it's mobility, but we're all aware of its limitations. On the other hand, i use all kinds of tools for purposes they weren't originally intended. A rock is a rock until it's thrown, then it's a weapon. Maybe the petition will work, maybe 200,000 calls to Canon will get 24p firmware released, but I'm not going to hold my breath.

 

[ydgmdlu]

"Be realistic" was one of the arguments against any action before Manual Control was released...

This is an example of what I meant. Do not get your hopes up. Don't think that just because Canon gave us the manual control update means that they have any intention, now or ever, to give us 24p.

"By Popular Demand" means a lot. I'm not saying that it was the only reason, but it was another one to make pressure.

Do you really take that at face value from a huge company whose main interest is in the bottom line? How do you know that it wasn't just a PR trick to cover for whatever actual reasons might've been behind the decision?

What Canon is waiting for, is possibly a market situation when the 5D mark II has to be "pushed" a little up to keep on selling.

Now you're beginning to make sense. But the problem is that the 5D isn't having any problems selling right now.

That will happen when Nikon and RED arrive.

RED? yes, Canon is interested to compete with RED since many months ago (CanonRumors also posted about that).

That might not be for several months. And in that case, a firmware release won't be because of all of the customer calls. It would be because of pressure from some other company.

But Canon's DSLRs don't really compete with RED's products anyway. The DSLRs are still cameras with hacks that allow for video, while RED makes high-end digital cinema cameras. Two different markets. If Canon wanted to compete with RED, they would release digital cinema cameras, not update their DSLRs.

Saying that the 5D Mark II or the 7D "competes" with the RED One or the Scarlet is like saying that a Toyota sedan "competes" with a Mercedes. The Toyota corporation does make a line of cars that competes with Mercedes: They're called Lexus.

Anyway, who doesn't ask, hardly receive anything, and this takes just 5 minutes, much less than to write many arguments here or there against a possible improvement to a camera, or "IF" it would help calling.

Sounds like communism to me. And I don't mean that to provoke a knee-jerk reaction. I simply mean that inevitably, a small percentage of the user base will make the effort, and if/when the update does come, all (including those who don't make the effort) will benefit. Isn't freeloading great?

Who wouldn't like his/her camera to be improved?

Why work for it when you know that somebody else will do the work for you? Yes, communism, I say.

 

[ydgmdlu]

As Barry has said time and time again, don't buy a camera with the expectation that it will do something later that it doesn't currently do. Buy it for what it is. You have no right to complain if you're trying to use something for purposes other than what it was designed to do. The 5D wasn't designed to be a 24p camera.

 

[5dmark2]

Up to you

Up to you

Why work for it when you know that somebody else will do the work for you? Yes, communism, I say.

Fortunatelly lot of people don't rest upon others like you...

You spent much more time "speaking" (thinking and writing arguments to reply) than DOING.

Lot of people like only to speak and keep speaking while others try to DO things. Even when you think any action won't help you rest on them. Let's see what happen in short time. As I said, huge demand is another force, along with competition, market trends, etc. But every big company pay attention to customers. So telling them what we want, CAN help.

Up to you man.

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- About someone replying and telling it's mostly a still camera:

1- it's not the typical situation when you talk to a representative, at least when calling to the right department.
It sounded more like a business representative than a customer support one.
Even though, in such case after calling you can hang up and call again and talk to another one. There are too many to get your phone call picked up by the same one!

2- yes we know that, but then ask him if so WHY Canon promoted it so strongly with video feature in firsts pages of White Paper and its website? -it's been removed, but was there for months-

It's a fact that they could use "arguments" the way it's more "convenient", but if you are informed and get deeper you can handle even better arguments, because this camera had an unexpected success in video and filmmaking market, and they know that, and video features CAN be improved in the camera, so why not to request?

Even if they come up with another model like 7D, wich uses same Digic 4 processor it demonstrates video can be improved (dual Digic 4 are aimed to achieve faster burst rate and noise reduction, but a single digic 4 can handle better video features as press conference report tells).

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- BUT let's clear it up for those who still haven't called:

When calling customer support you can simply ask to enter a feature request for the 5D Mark II in their system, and that's VERY simple and fast.

Don't get confused by other people's "arguments", you won't be the first calling, the last either.

But a community acting together letting them know how much we want fixes/improvements and how many we are, THAT can make a difference.

Let's quote someone else who DID take action:
http://5dmark2.wordpress.com/2009/09/04/i-called-canon/

The number is (800) 828-4040. And please don’t whine that “It won’t help”. Ultimately it could prove futile, but there is absolutely no downside to calling Canon and letting them know how much we are countng on their support.

- So it's up to everyone spending 5 mins. making a simple phone call or spending 30mins. (or much more) trying to find and writing arguments against calling...

 

[fates]

Really now, it might be time to stop derailing this thread. This thread is set up a person who has taken a little time to call Canon, to then post the experience with that call.

This thread is to structure the calls going into Canon, and to provide an opportunity for all who have done so to chime in with what they have learned.

We have heard every argument to stop this campaign. Thanks. It hasn't persuaded us from continuing the plight. Save your keystrokes for elsewhere.

For those of you who are calling, please continue to post your experience here or in the other forums. Thanks for your continued support.

 

[fates]

Might be a good time to start calling:

http://reduser.net/forum/showthread.php?t=34997

http://www.cinema5d.com/viewtopic.php?f=56&t=5353