Firmware Friday: Seven cameras from Blackmagic, Canon, Leica, Ricoh and Sigma get updates

 

 

After a few weeks in a row of smaller roundups, our regular Firmware Friday series returns with a rather larger article this week, bringing news from no less than five manufacturers -- Blackmagic, Canon, Leica, Ricoh and Sigma. In all, seven different cameras have received updates (or the promise of future updates) in the past week.

We've quite a bit to discuss, so let's get right down to it!

Blackmagic Pocket Cinema Camera 4K and 6K plus Blackmagic RAW

Kicking things off this week with Blackmagic Design, the company released its Blackmagic Camera 6.6 update yesterday. There are new features for both the Pocket Cinema Camera 4K and 6K models, as well as for Blackmagic RAW and the Adobe Premiere Pro / Avid Media Composer plug-ins.

The Pocket Cinema Camera updates bring the following changes to both the 4K and 6K models:

• Added support for Blackmagic Pocket Battery Grip.

• Added support for language localization.

• Added support for built-in camera horizon tool.

• Added support for pinch to zoom up to 8x magnification.

• Added USB PTP control support.

• Added ability to type in customized frame guide ratios.

• Improved auto focus performance.

In addition to these changes, the Pocket Cinema Camera 4K also gets the following changes:

• Added support for 4K 2.4:1 4096 x 1712 recording in Blackmagic RAW up to 75 fps.

• Added support for 2.6K 2688 x 1512 up to 120 fps recording in Blackmagic RAW suitable for Super16mm lenses.

• Added support for 2.8K 4:3 2880 x 2160 recording in Blackmagic RAW up to 80 fps for anamorphic lenses.

• Added support for 2x desqueeze preview when recording 4K 4:3.

• Added support for 1.33x desqueeze preview.

• Added ability to embed custom 3D LUTs in Blackmagic RAW clips as metadata.

• Added common off-speed frame rate options above slider when changing frames.

• Added common ISO options above slider when changing ISO settings.

• Added 1:1 and 4:5 frame guide options.

• Added ability to monitor voltage level when powering via 12V DC connector.

And for Blackmagic RAW, there are changes as follows:

• Blackmagic RAW Avid Media Composer plugin general performance and stability improvements.

• Blackmagic RAW Adobe Premiere Pro plugin general performance and stability improvements.

• CUDA general performance and stability improvements.

Windows users can get all of these changes here, while MacOS users can get them here.

Canon PowerShot G7X Mark III

Next up, we have the Canon PowerShot G7X Mark III, which received firmware version 1.1.0 yesterday. There's just one change in this update, adding a new movie servo AF mode. In addition to the existing servo AF mode (now called Mode 2), which aims for smoother and more natural autofocus during movie capture, there's now a new option called Mode 1 which will react to changes in your subject's distance and make focus adjustments more quickly. You can download this update here.

Leica M (Typ 240)

Almost two years after it last received an update, the Leica M (Typ 240) was gifted a new firmware release last Tuesday. Version 2.0.6.0 is also available for download immediately, but we can't tell you precisely what it changes, as Leica's release notes state only that it has performed "general bug fixing". Troubled by any quirks with your M (Typ 240)? Give the update at the bottom of this list a try!

Ricoh Theta V and Z1

Continuing down the list in alphabetical order, Ricoh also promises unspecified bug fixes in its latest updates for the Theta V (version 3.10.1) and Theta Z1 (version 1.20.1) 360-degree spherical panoramic cameras. However, the company has also added one new feature to both models -- a handheld HDR mode accessible under still image options. You can update either camera model using the Ricoh Theta app for Windows (download here) or MacOS (download here). You'll also need to update the apps for your Android or iOS devices; you can get version 1.26.0 of the Theta app for Android in the Google Play store, and version 2.8.0 for iOS in the Apple Store.

Sigma fp

Our final piece of firmware news this week is for an update whose development has been announced yesterday, although the firmware itself can't yet be downloaded. Intended for the Sigma fp, the world's smallest and lightest full-frame video camera, the update will address two recently-discovered issues. Firstly, when recording ultra-high def Cinema DNG footage to an SSD (but not to an SD card), the thumbnail image and first two frames of playback are unintentionally enlarged. Also, dark areas of the frame can have an incorrect luminance level in Cinema DNG format, depending upon the ISO sensitivity you have configured. Watch this space for news once the update is available in a future roundup!

And that's all for this week. Be sure to check back next time for more firmware news!

**Worried you might've missed a critical update lately? Don't be! Just click here for all recent Firmware Friday articles!**

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(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.)