Canon has released the much rumoured firmware update for the EOS-1D X Mark II. Although I don’t often write about firmware and equipment updates I wanted to make an exception with this update as there are several new interesting features that might be appealing to some users. Of particular note is the function to set the GPS positional data retention period. I have found in my own experience that the GPS frequently looses connection when I am on ship moving in and out of my cabin; so this should resolve that issue. The addition of a function to append IPTC data is also appealing and could be useful in certain situations.

Firmware Version 1.1.2 incorporates the following improvements to enhance functions.

1. The addition of a selectable color-tone option for the LCD monitor.
2. The addition of a function to append IPTC data.
3. The addition of a function to transfer only protected images.
4. The addition of a function to set the GPS positional data retention period.
5. An increase in the number of network connection settings that can be saved to a memory card from 20 to 40.
6. When retrying FTP transfer, extension of the minimum auto power off time to 10 minutes.
7. Improvement of wireless transmission when using Wireless File Transmitter WFT-E6.

In a nutshell: what’s new and different?

This new upgrade (version 1.1) addresses specific issues that professional news and photojournalism organizations have brought to Canon’s attention. Not all of these will be important in more ordinary, everyday use to individual photographers (including myself). That said, the changes and new features that this firmware adds to the EOS-1D X Mark II camera are the ability to:

• Install up to 39 items of IPTC information into the camera, and to add data (or deliberately not apply it) to images you take
• Add set-up information for up to 40 new Wi-Fi® networks to a memory card, and load that data as a full set of possible Wi-Fi networks to select from for connection
• Transfer only “protected” images via Wi-Fi
• Retain GPS position data:  Continue to apply last known GPS location information to images subsequently taken, even if GPS connection is lost (photographer went inside a building, etc.)
• Change LCD color tone (four pre-defined settings), to either approximate display from other cameras you’re working with, or to shift color tone based on ambient lighting as the LCD monitor is being used

The aim of these changes is to enhance a professional photographer’s workflow; improve on-location network and Wi-Fi operations (especially for photographers working at large events, with many Wi-Fi networks in simultaneous operation); and to smooth the process of transferring images and managing them with new embedded metadata.

Keep in mind that the EOS-1D X Mark II differs from other Canon EOS models in that it not only permits network communication and transfer of images via Wi-Fi (using the optional WFT-E8A or WFT-E6A wireless file transmitters), but also via wired ethernet connection — there’s a dedicated ethernet port on the camera for this purpose.  This allows similar network connectivity, but without some of the variables users can encounter on-location with Wi-Fi transmission.

Read more at the Canon Digital Learning Center