Hands on: Firmware updates

How long have you had your digital camera? Even if it’s only a few months old, chances are a firmware update has been released.

Firmware is, if you like, the camera’s operating system. It controls everything the camera does, the exposure modes, white balance, auto focusing, image quality settings, flash programs, the way the menu system looks and functions and what happens when you press any of the buttons and dials.

Often, firmware updates correct defects that weren’t noticed until after the camera went on sale; usually these aren’t major problems and only happen in a small minority of instances.

Canon’s 1.03 firmware update for the EOS 350D corrects a fault that prevents the camera working with Canon’s RC-1 remote controller, fixes a problem with continuously scrolling images during playback and sorts out communications problems with some CF cards.

As faster high-capacity CF cards have appeared, Canon and other manufacturers have released firmware updates to take advantage of them. So if your camera can’t read high-capacity cards, or you’re not getting the performance you’d expect from fast cards, a firmware update could provide the answer.

Manufacturers also release updates to add features or improve performance. There have been four firmware updates for the Olympus E-1 that have added higher sharpness settings, reduced recovery time from sleep mode, improved auto focus performance in low light conditions and under fluorescent light, and added support for high-speed CF cards.

When Nikon announced the D70s, an upgraded version of the D70, it released a firmware update for the older camera which included many of the features of the new model, including improved auto focus performance, updated menus with a new design similar to that of the D70s and support for Pictbridge-compatible printers. About the only feature beyond the scope of the update was the D70s’s bigger 2in LCD display.

Finding your firmware version
The current firmware version is usually displayed somewhere on the camera’s menu system. On the Nikon D70 press the menu button and select Firmware Ver in the setup menu. In common with other Nikon DSLRs there are two firmware versions, A and B.

In cameras that haven’t been updated the A version will be 1.01 or earlier and the B version will be 1.03 or earlier. Canon DSLRs display the firmware version on one of the setup menus. On the EOS 350D press the menu button, select the Set-up 2 menu and you’ll see the firmware version at the bottom of the list. For other makes and models, check the menu pages or the manual.

Carrying out an update
The firmware update process varies depending on your camera make and model. It usually involves downloading an update file from the manufacturer’s website and running it either from the camera itself, or from your PC with the camera connected via a USB cable.

For most Canon DSLR firmware updates the update file is downloaded and copied to a formatted CF card, which is then put in the camera. The firmware update is run from the camera itself by selecting the firmware version and pressing the Set button – the update won’t run unless the required file is present on the CF card. In the case of the Canon EOS 400D you can also connect the camera to your PC using a USB cable and run the update from the EOS utility software.

Owners of recent Olympus E-system DSLRs can check for and install updates online using the Olympus Master Plus software. Just connect the camera to your PC with a USB cable, log in and select Update Camera from the Online Service menu. The system checks to see if the firmware is older than the most recent available version and, if so, provides instructions for the online update procedure.