Malfunction in Firmware 2.0.4 UPDATE

Contents: 

• Introduction
• Video Tests
• Additional Feedback
• Considerations

INTRODUCTION

For a full detailed report, please read our previous article.

We have been receiving additional reports from other users regarding the malfunction we found on Firmware 2.0.4: the “IRIS jitter”

Not all lenses are affected. This phenomenon occurs much more often with Macro lenses, but it is NOT limited to Macro lenses.

Please note that this is a firmware issue, not a lens issue.

How to reproduce the issue

As we explained in the previous report, it is very easy:

Set camera to M mode, Live View to “Stills+Movie – Movie Display“, which is the correct mode to get “full manual control” on movie mode. Then turn ON Live View mode and rotate the focus ring, and you will notice the iris jitter watching it directly or watching the image on the camera’s LCD, also hearing the noise of the iris.

Remember the camera is now in “full manual mode” for movie/video mode, so the iris should not change “at all” unless the user intentionally does change it.

Clarification of the issue: It is not the iris/diaphragm is closing or opening a step and remaining there. It is a jitter: a fast open/close or close/open movement of the IRIS, mostly depending on the direction the focus ring is being rotated. It usually occurs in small values (1/3 f-stops), with the consequence that the image is also suffering that “jitter” when recording a video clip (or even when not recording), making the footage unusable.

Important note: the IRIS jitter is NOT related to the amount of light being gathered by the sensor, nor being metered by the camera, because the same issue occurs in a dark room or with the lens cap on.

VIDEO TESTS

Thanks to the users who made their video tests and sent the links to us.

– With a Canon EF 100mm f/2.8 Macro USM lens:

Image jitter can be seen on the camera’s LCD monitor lot of times
It’s also recorded on the footage, making it unusable. It is much easier to see whilst testing or recording than in this video test. The most evident ones at 0:48, 0:57, 1:01, 1:03:

– With a Canon EF 300mm f/4L IS USM lens:

– With a Sigma 150mm f/2.8 Apo Macro:

– With a Canon EF 100mm f/2.8 Macro USM in a dark room:

For obvious reasons we can’t post a video showing the issue, but those users who own this lens can do the test in complete darkness, following the instructions, and then hear the iris jitter lot of times.

Note: this test can also be done with the lens cap on with the same results.

ADDITIONAL FEEDBACKS

Some feedbacks from readers regarding this issue with other lenses:

Canon 300mm 2.8L IS USM:

“Canon 300 2.8 IS + 1.4x TC – does it pretty much every time you cycle focusing from around 20m to infinity position

Canon 300 2.8 IS – does it at times, a bit randomly, not every time, seems to occur a bit more toward the near focus end”

Tamron SP Di  90mm 1:2.8 Macro:

“Firmware 2.0.4 iris jitter malfunction on Canon 5D Mark II tested also with the following lens in FULL manual mode (iris jitter appears nearly EVERY time when rotating the focusring, so it is totally unusable): Tamron SP Di  90mm 1:2.8 Macro”

CONSIDERATIONS

We are only reporting a malfunction with the sincere hope it will be fixed at some point.

We do understand the HUGE efforts made by Canon engineers with the latest firmware update, and we are really grateful for that.

This is a great chance for Canon, not only to fix this issue, but also to add some of the features improvements hugely requested by thousands of 5D Mark II users around the world. We have already mentioned them in our previous report (click here).

We love this extraordinary camera and we want the best for it, that’s why we put very big efforts on everything related to the 5D Mark II, because we know its huge potential.

We are confident this issue will be fixed and possibly some features added too on a new update, for the benefit of all Canon users.

We sincerely thank Canon for listening to customers and being steps ahead far of competition.

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