Firmware Friday: Nikon S2, Coolpix A get updates, as do Canon Cinema EOS cameras, Phottix strobes

 

 

Our Firmware Friday wrapup comes a little later than planned this week, thanks to a photo opportunity too good to be missed in downtown Knoxville. (More on that very shortly in our continuing Sony RX100 III review -- watch this space!) It's still Friday in the US, though, so we're squeaking under the wire just in time! This week, we have something of an unusual situation: seven firmware updates, but only five camera models and one flash strobe being updated. Yes, you read that right -- and all will become clear shortly.

Firstly, we have two updates from Nikon, aimed at the fixed-lens Coolpix A and mirrorless Nikon 1 S2 respectively. Nikon Coolpix A firmware version C:1.11 is available from Nikon USA, and makes four changes, of which three are focus-related. The minimum focus distance when not in macro mode has been adjusted downwards from 20 inches (50cm) to 12 inches (30cm), and the color of the focus area in manual focus changed to white for, says Nikon, better visibility. Focus lock times with extremely high-contrast subjects should also be shorter, and the camera will consume less power per shot captured in interval timer mode, allowing longer interval shooting sessions.

Nikon S2 firmware version C:1.01, meanwhile, hasn't yet dropped in the USA. Instead, you'll have to get it from Nikon Europe, if you're the impatient type. This fixes just one bug: the display could turn completely white if display brightness was set to a negative value. The problem has now been resolved. For Nikon, that's all this week.

Next up, we have four Canon updates for three Canon cameras. The reason? There are actually two hardware versions of the Canon EOS C100, and each needs different firmware. In both cases, the EOS C100 firmware updates resolve an issue with incorrect aperture display with EF Cinema lenses, adds support for the upcoming RC-V100 remote control, and inserts peripheral illumination correction data  for the CN-E35mm T1.5 L F Cinema prime lens and the EF-S 55-250mm f4-5.6 IS STM zoom lens. Firmware with the same three changes is also available for the EOS C500 and C500 PL. If your Canon EOS C100 was upgraded with Dual Pixel CMOS AF, you'll need firmware version 2.0.4.1.00; if not then get firmware version 1.0.4.1.00. If you have a Canon EOS C500, get firmware version 1.0.5.1.00 for that camera, and finally, get firmware version 1.0.5.1.00 for the EOS C500 PL here.

And that brings us to the final update, applicable to Phottix Mitros+ TTL Transceiver Flashes for Nikon. According to Phottix, the following nine changes are made in the new v1.05 firmware, which you can download here:

• Optimized manual power levels when in Strato II Rx mode.

• Adjusted slave flash beep function (C.Fn 04 and C.Fn 13), and audible button feedback when adjusting flash settings.

• Optimized manual power levels when triggered in Odin Rx Manual mode.

• Optimized LCD display and control in Odin A: B Ratio mode.

• Adjusted Mitros+ Odin Tx mode when used on Channel 4.

• Optimized shutter speeds and syncing issues between Mitros+ in Odin Tx mode and Mitros+ Odin Rx mode or Mitros+ flashes mounted on an Odin Receiver.

• Corrects issues with Odin Tx and OP Tx modes and auto zoom functions.

• Corrects 18-24 zoom issues resulting from communication between camera and flash.

• Optimized FV Lock and exposure issues in some situations when Mitros+ is in Odin Tx or OP Tx mode.

​That's all for this week. Check back next time for the latest on the firmware front, in another Firmware Friday roundup!

(Camera parts image courtesy of Kelly Hofer / Flickr; used under a Creative Commons CC-BY-2.0 license. Image has been modified from the original.)