Firmware Friday: New features for Leica Q, Canon Cinema EOS C300 II

This week, our Firmware Friday roundup is short and sweet. With just two camera models receiving new firmware -- both of them relatively pricey models with a more limited audience than more commonplace consumer gear -- we can get you informed and on your way to enjoy the start of  your weekend a little quicker than usual.

Are you shooting with the Leica Q Typ 116, or the Canon Cinema EOS C300 Mark II, or at least interested in what these cameras have to offer? If so, read on! If not, be sure and check back next time to see if your favorite camera model has new firmware ready. :)

Leica Q (Typ 116)

The new firmware version 2.0 release for the Leica Q (Typ 116) is a big deal for owners of that camera, because it comes packed to the rafters with new features and tweaks to make the shooting experience more pleasant and powerful. Leica's own site notes the addition of a separate DNG raw shooting mode that allows raw-only shooters to forego JPEG copies of their images taking up card space. There's also a choice of three autofocus point sizes, improved face detection autofocus capability, and the autofocus will no longer attempt to follow subjects outside the image frame when using digital zoom. Additionally, switching to the menu system or playback mode when shooting using the EVF is now quicker.

The folks over at Leica Rumors add a number of other changes to the list which aren't mentioned in Leica's own presentation. These include support for new flash strobes, the ability to shoot to shutter speeds of 120 seconds, a countdown during long-exposure noise reduction, tweaks to the level display and information display screens and Wi-Fi password entry, and improved touchscreen playback zoom behavior. The User Profile mode can now be accessed from the function button, too, and there are tweaks to the thumbwheel and video buttons as well. More details can be found in Leica Rumors' coverage.

Leica Q Typ 116 owners can get the new firmware on the company's website.

Canon Cinema EOS C300 Mark II

From Canon, meanwhile, we have the new firmware version 1.0.4.1.00 release for the Cinema EOS C300 Mark II camera. Here, the company has provided a detailed list of changes as follows:

1. Adds Canon Log 3.
   Gamma information will not be shown correctly in the metadata of clips filmed on the Canon Log3 Gamma setting included in Firmware Version 1.0.4.1.00 and above when using the bundled software application Canon XF Utility 3.0 or earlier. Therefore, we recommend our customers install Canon XF Utility 3.1. The installer for this application has already been released.

2. Reduces Canon Log 2 noise in dark areas.

3. Enables magnification to be used even during recording.
   "Face detection and tracking" and live view display using Browser Remote do not work when magnification during recording is On.

4. The following features are enabled when these lenses are attached: CN7x17 KAS S/E1*3, CN-E18-80mm T4.4 L IS KAS S or CN20x50 IAS H/E1*3.

   ​The lens firmware also needs to be updated for the CN7x17 KAS S/E1 or CN20x50 IAS H/E1.

   • ​Enables autofocus using the Dual Pixel CMOS AF function. (Not applicable to the CN20x50 IAS H/E1 lens)

   • Enables the joystick on the camera's grip unit to be set to operate the zoom.

   • Enables control of iris to be set to manual operation, and control of focus, zoom and iris using the separately-sold Remote Controller RC-V100.

   • Enables automatic aperture and push auto iris functions.

   • Enables retrieval of metadata, such as the model name and the focal distance of the lens attached, and display of metadata on the camera.

5. Enables Dual Pixel Function when these lenses are attached: CN7x17 KAS S/E1 lens, CN-E18-80mm T4.4 L IS KAS S lens or any of the EF cinema prime lenses.

6. Adds peripheral illumination/chromatic aberration correction for the following lenses:

   • ​COMPACT-SERVO lenses: CN-E18-80mm T4.4 L IS KAS S

   • CINE-SERVO lenses: CN20x50 IAS H/E1

   • EF lenses: EF 35mm f/1.4L II USM, EF 50mm f/1.8 STM and EF-S 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM.

7. ​Enhances menu operations so that settings related to resolution/color sampling, etc. are retained to the extent possible when changing recording settings such as the frame rate.

8. Supports ACESproxy (ACES 1.0).

9. Alleviates the black-dot phenomenon that appears in the periphery of high-brightness light sources.

​And that's all for Canon. More details and the firmware for the EOS C300 II can be found here.

(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.)