1DC: Canon 1D C firmware version 1.3.5 released

marvinhello

marvinhello

Well-known member
Canon called me today saying 1D C can now be sent in for firmware update to version 1.3.5, this version specifically addresses the line input issue found in previous version (1.3.4).

They called every single 1D C user on record because many of them were not aware of the issue. The engineer whom I spoke to did not know the exact cause of the problem, and neither were they informed about any future firmware updates.

FYI, the line input issue was officially acknowledged on 2nd May 2014 (by Canon USA & Japan), the fix was released today (29th May 2014).

Since someone said Canon people have been looking at this forum all the time, I'd like to say that although I'm baffled and disappointed by the line input issue, I appreciate the fact that a fix was provided in a timely manner. Please continue the support and development on 1D C (eg. keeping up with 1D X and other necessary enhancements discussed in this forum). Thanks.
 
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marvinhello said:
Since someone said Canon people have been looking at this forum all the time, I'd like to say that although I'm baffled and disappointed by the line input issue, I appreciate the fact that a fix was provided in a timely manner. Please continue the support and development on 1D C (eg. keeping up with 1D X and other necessary enhancements discussed in this forum). Thanks.
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Any positive aspect of a quick handling of the line issue is greatly overshadowed by Canon's inability to bring the 1Dc up to 1Dx level, let alone actually bring the camera forward with innovative new features.

Aside from some users' wishful thinking about frame rates and other things that might be hardware limited, there are many things that should be possible had Canon chosen to do so (waveform, time-lapse mode, meta data from movie files that show ISO, shutter and aperture and so on...).

A $12000 investment in this changing camera landscape must last longer than a year or so.
 
AndreeOnline said:
Any positive aspect of a quick handling of the line issue is greatly overshadowed by Canon's inability to bring the 1Dc up to 1Dx level, let alone actually bring the camera forward with innovative new features.

Aside from some users' wishful thinking about frame rates and other things that might be hardware limited, there are many things that should be possible had Canon chosen to do so (waveform, time-lapse mode, meta data from movie files that show ISO, shutter and aperture and so on...).

A $12000 investment in this changing camera landscape must last longer than a year or so.
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Ok then... did you get any notification from Canon? I just sent my camera in today, gotta wait for 3-5 days.
 
I didn't get a notification, but I never directly registered the camera. My understanding, though, is that Canon forces the reseller to register the buyers of all of the C Series cameras on their end. I've never quite understood how that works, but B&H called me get my information to register my C100 and Texas Media told me they couldn't exchange my 1DC when I complained about the line level malfunction since the camera was already registered as being sold. This was after Canon Tech Support told me to return the 1DC to the dealer.

I'm in the US, by the way, and the canon.usa website has not been updated for the new firmware notification.

I agree that Canon's handling of the 1DC is very disheartening. If they are going to treat it like an upgraded 1DX, then at least give us the 1DX firmware upgrade. If they are going to treat it like a cinema camera, then give it some of the functionality of the C-Series cameras. Canon is not obligated to upgrade the firmware of their cameras, but they are obligated to make it at least seem like they support their product. This is especially true when the product is the flagship model with a 2X cost increase over the next lower model. Releasing a half-assed firmware update and doing what appears to be no actual quality control or testing is bad business. Taking half a year to find the problem with the firmware is absurd, and then taking a month to release the update that requires owners to send in their camera with all of the costs associated is terrible business. Plus, my experience with Canon Tech Support showed that they had almost no training or communication with whoever is handling the 1DC in Japan. In fact, the tech support guy trying to help me track down my issue still had the first version of the firmware on the 1DC that they had at the office. "I don't know" was all they could offer. Seriously.

I wish that Canon looked at these forums to get information, but even if they did I doubt it would make any difference with the 1DC. There just doesn't seem to be any support for the camera. My guess is that they assigned some guy to write some code to implement MJPG and a decent compressed S35 while developing the 1DX, slapped on a 2x premium, and then assigned the product to the entirely different Canon Cinema Team. The Canon Cinema Team just looked at the DSLR and laughed. At least, that's the way it feels as owner.

The crazy thing is that I just bought the 1DC. I looked at the GH4 and the A7s and still decided that the 1DC was the best choice even with the price premium and the age of the camera. My experience with tech support and the line level issue has soured me to Canon and the 1DC. Seriously, Canon, it wouldn't take much to keep the 1DC viable and your customers happy.

Rant over.
 
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Speaking of checking online forums, I just registered my 1DC and noticed that they actually ask about what forums people are on. Dvxuser was not on the list. Dvinfo, reduser, Cinema5d, engadget, and a few others were, though.
 
If your going to live on the edge you have to be prepared to die on the edge. Was one signature away from purchasing one of these and am glad I didn't. Sad because this thing really had no other competition and the image that it produces is beautiful. My guess is since it was rushed to market and never really "caught on", it remains rather low on the engineering departments to'do list. The gh4/a7s are its only real competition on the video end, and given the wide price difference I do not see canon pouring much more time into this generation tech.
 
I think the best example of how poorly the 1DC has caught on is exemplified in the press release for the firmware announced last October: "In response to user requests, audio on the EOS-1D C camera has also been enhanced" and yet it appear that not a single user really tried to use the line input until April. If Canon really wanted to respond to user requests, it wouldn't take much work.

Canon really should realize that the release of the 1DC and the subsequent support was a bad business decision. The backlash and negative attention that they received from the videographers and photographers based on the perceived overpricing and cash grab has to have cut into sales of their other cameras. Then, not supporting the camera has made those who did buy the camera less likely to trust Canon products in the future. A decent firmware update would fix most of the negativity, though.
 
cpreston said:
Speaking of checking online forums, I just registered my 1DC and noticed that they actually ask about what forums people are on. Dvxuser was not on the list. Dvinfo, reduser, Cinema5d, engadget, and a few others were, though.
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It's very strange that dvxuser isn't listed...
 
Totally agree with most of what has already been stated. If Canon had only come out with a working firmware update with a robust set of features it would have restored my faith.
Although I love my 1DC my next camera will be a Sony... get with it Canon! I mean now, please! If not you are going to lose a LOT of faithful Canon users.
 
"The crazy thing is that I just bought the 1DC. I looked at the GH4 and the A7s and still decided that the 1DC was the best choice even with the price premium and the age of the camera. My experience with tech support and the line level issue has soured me to Canon and the 1DC. Seriously, Canon, it wouldn't take much to keep the 1DC viable and your customers happy."

Well it is not crazy, I have a c500 which is turning out to be an Alexa class camera- it is finally getting traction in the film world, and I have been working with the new GH4, which is glued to me and goes everywhere I go-

But, bhut and butter- the camera that I love is the 1D C. There is something so right about the 1.3 crop, and, what comes out of the camera is distinctive and frankly- just beautiful.

Is it state of the art? I don't know now or five years from now, but, it is a warhorse, in it for the long run. If you were going into battle and could take but one gun...It is is and always will be capable of making a unique artistic statement and that is why we are in the game, no?

Canon being who they are, are just inscrutable, but I have come to accept their way of doing things. 24 pics a second not 24fps. The 1D C, being this wonderful hybrid really turns you on to, somewhat forces you to understand that way of imagining the imaging.

At the last NAB, I talked to one of the highest up canon guys and hit him with all the issues- to paraphrase- "I can not imagine us not implementing and supporting what the camera is capable of"

Not really an answer but it is- It is their gifted, autistic child that they don't quite understand, but is their transitional baby.

I think that they should take a lead from google with the google glass- call those who are working with the 1D C explorers and set up some kind of a support group with a connection to the real masters at Canon.

And, by the way, buying into the Canon world is going to get you ready for the next NAB when they are going to totally spank the industry.
 
lightstrum said:
And, by the way, buying into the Canon world is going to get you ready for the next NAB when they are going to totally spank the industry.
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As much as I would like to agree, it doesn't seem realistic at this point. Since the f5/f55 launched, they have lost a substantial foothold in the pro market to Sony and I don't see Canon regaining much anytime soon.

btw I am fully invested in a wide range of EF glass and would love to be wrong :) I don't doubt they will release something impressive, but they have a lot of ground to make up with standard feature sets that are missing across multiple levels of the industry.

The 1DC @8500 and a few more firmware tricks could have been a top seller and a really strong force in the industry, but maybe they already knew that and didn't want it mucking with other product sales.
 
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Well truth be told, I agree about the price, as I did buy it used for a bit less than what you suggest, and the reason being that it is a tank and a safe used buy. However, the C500 that I bought with the cine primes deal in January was a total no brainer, if they had let that deal run for 5 weeks instead of 5 days they would have sold a ton and established a larger user base.

I was all set to buy the f55 or Dragon when the c500 deal happened. The reason that it worked was because of the CD od7q coming online. The Dragon was still unavailable and when comparing the f55 to the c500 it was a bit of a leap of faith as od7q was not proven. For me it came down to price, weight and the deal on the cn e primes, and that has proven to make it a keeper for me. The c500 is incredibly versatile and light for what it does and it spanks the sony color wise out of the camera. And look into what Shane Hurlbut is doing with 2k 10 bit- giving a good run at Alexa. The c500 4k taken to 1080 matches real nicely with the c500 2k- in fact it matches well with the c500 4k.

It is the best 1-2 punch in the industry if you are into the ef lenses.

Further, I have the GH4- incredible for what it does. CD has promised that the od7q will be able to take the 4k hdmi feed from it and the Sony a7s, now if Metabones releases an ef to m43 adapter (there already is one to sony) think of this set up when the a7s comes available-

c500, 1d c, gh4, a7s, od7q, using the vast array of ef lenses. Now what can't you shoot with that set up? And, as a group weighing about the same as the f55/4k or the Dragon and less $$ than either.

I travel a lot and the redundancy built into the system I described is fantastic, also the battery life on the Canons is amazing and, and, and....
 
The dragon and alexa are in a league of their own, but it's always a good thing to be happy with a purchase :) Color will always be a subjective matter, as many(myself included) prefer the sony color matrix over canons, not that it's better but is preferred by some.

I cannot say I'm a fan of hurlburt's work, the look and feel of need for speed seemed almost plastic. Much of what he has shot with the Canon's I don't believe is doing the EOS ecosystem any justice. Could be wrong, but I think what ever kickbacks he is getting from Canon is a much more important factor than any real world tests he is influenced by.

External recorders are godsend for some, and a wretched curse for others. Lucky dog finding a used 1DC! Fingers crossed for a monster firmware update and a future model that is REALLY made for motion picture acquisition.
 
I think Canon is too far behind to "spank the industry." They lost their window of opportunity by standing still.

My own opinion of the 1DC remains now as it was in the beginning, just a beautiful camera and 4k images and I would LOVE to own one, even now. I agree with the point about going into battle with just one gun, the 1DC is it.

I'm not willing to jump on a bandwagon of discontent, but I will express my reasons why I didn't buy it then and would find it even harder to buy one now.
1.) I wanted a higher frame rate than 24 fps for 4k. In the end I couldn't concede on that limitation. Basically, nothing else stood in the way.
2.) I Spent way more outfitting a Sony F55, matte box, memory, PL cinema glass, around $65k. I would have loved to put to use all the Canon L-glass I already own with the 1DC. I was not willing to accept adapters for Canon glass on the F55. So aside from my 5DMKII and Canon L-Glass, the whole investment in Canon is now a waste for me. If Canon had just a modicum of updates/support for the 1DC, waveform monitor, 29.97p 4k..I'd have been ALL IN with it. Now, although I still have all the glass and it is great glass, it's useless currently, and my recent purchase of Sony PL Cinema Primes and F55 is money Canon didn't get.
3.) I don't feel as strongly toward the C500. Although I like the stronger lens mount, better viewfinder, by the time you price one out with a 3rd party external recorder and cable and power it altogether, you are knocking on the door of F55 territory which doesn't need it, with internal XAVC 4k recording and 180 FPS 1080p slo-mo and 4k 60 fps.
4.) The main objection now to the 1DC is it's got 4k competition, AX100, GH4, A7. I wouldn't touch the 1DC at its current price point, maybe not even at 1/2 off. The risk is too obvious, a lower priced, sub performing variant is going to come from Canon to answer the bell, and although it will have the frame rates, video features to match the competition, it will undercut the 1DC yet still not have as good an image. So I would just say bail on Canon, the glass, the cameras unless I was purely a still photographer.
5.) The one constant for me with the 1DC, is I have always adored the lovely video images, and would love to own one now, but the landscape has changed.
 
Canon USA website has been updated to reflect the latest firmware version 1.3.5

http://www.usa.canon.com/cusa/profe...geKeyCode=prdAdvDetail&docId=0901e02480c13ac4

Firmware Version 1.3.5 incorporates the following improvements.
Fixes a phenomenon in which the line-level audio input function of some EOS-1D C cameras does not operate as expected with Firmware Version 1.3.4.

The phenomena described above will occur in cameras running Firmware Version 1.3.4 whose sixth digit from the left of the serial number is “1”, “2”, “3”. Examples of affected serial numbers are: “xxxxx1xxxxxx”, “xxxxx2xxxxxx”, “xxxxx3xxxxxx”.
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So it seems like the issue is not affecting all 1D C cameras
 
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Why will an ASC accept kickbacks to promote a camera at the cost of his career? In the still photography world there are instances of people getting induced to change camera systems as they are given goodies cheap/free. However, in the filmworld, I haven't heard of it and don't believe it is sufficient inducement for a successful filmmaker to throw away his ethics. Shane Hurlbut has been posting tests in his site about the pros and cons of the C500 and how he is using the camera according to its strengths. So I am don't believe the accusation is fair.

LeoGrey said:
I cannot say I'm a fan of hurlburt's work, the look and feel of need for speed seemed almost plastic. Much of what he has shot with the Canon's I don't believe is doing the EOS ecosystem any justice. Could be wrong, but I think what ever kickbacks he is getting from Canon is a much more important factor than any real world tests he is influenced by.
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indiawilds said:
Why will an ASC accept kickbacks to promote a camera at the cost of his career? In the still photography world there are instances of people getting induced to change camera systems as they are given goodies cheap/free. However, in the filmworld, I haven't heard of it and don't believe it is sufficient inducement for a successful filmmaker to throw away his ethics. Shane Hurlbut has been posting tests in his site about the pros and cons of the C500 and how he is using the camera according to its strengths. So I am don't believe the accusation is fair.
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I remember back when 1D C was just announced, Shane Hurlbut wrote an article about it and said Canon 1DC "crushes the F65, Epic, Alexa in one fell swoop." then this was soon removed from the article.
 
indiawilds said:
Why will an ASC accept kickbacks to promote a camera at the cost of his career? However, in the filmworld, I haven't heard of it and don't believe it is sufficient inducement for a successful filmmaker to throw away his ethics.
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Throw away his ethics/jeopardize his career? I doubt he would shoot with junk, but I never mentioned such silliness. If one has a close working relationship with a manufacturer, that would undoubtedly play a larger role in one's camera selection than any test. Making movies is a risky business, full of politics and kickbacks. Think of a professional athlete being signed to an apparel company, may not be as flashy or obvious, but the writing is still on the wall :)
 
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marvinhello said:
I remember back when 1D C was just announced, Shane Hurlbut wrote an article about it and said Canon 1DC "crushes the F65, Epic, Alexa in one fell swoop." then this was soon removed from the article.
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Well dollar for dollar it does, hahaha. Seriously Shane is given to hyperbole but he is a real enthusiast and I for one prefer that to all the naysaying that goes on in this business. I am really anxious to see what Fathers and Daughters looks like- all shot on Canon c500 2k 10bit. Shane in recent meet ups talked about the shortcomings in Need for Speed, and what he is doing to address them. Isn't that what learning is about?

This guy is shooting with Russell Crowe, I don't think he risks that with whatever Canon can give him. Get real with your conjectures and putdowns guys. He is out there taking chances- what you see as opportunism I see as somebody willing to experiment.

The Alexa and the Red are much explored cameras, the C500 not so much, saying they are in a different league, I feel is a bit early and based on the fact that it was released before decent supporting gear came online.

With the 5d mk111, 1d c, c100,c300,c500 and ef lenses, Canon has a hell of a lot more people working their gear in the field than any other company. Do you think that this is not going to result in Canon producing better and better cameras? My bet is that it will, next NAB.
 
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For those interested, I got my camera back with the updated firmware. I had a very quick turnaround of one day with the help of Texas Media Systems who have been helping me out with this issue since I bought the camera from them. The line level option now maintains its setting when starting recording and and turning the camera on/off. The camera amp level should be set to 25% for proper line level gain staging. I'm still not sure at all why Canon didn't implement a bypass of the amp circuit or at least have a line level preamp setting of 1 point above full off, but I guess I will chalk it up to them being a camera manufacturer and not an audio company. It is useable in a pinch, though.
 
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