R5 Firmware update - Free or by subscription?

Victor Engel wrote:

juanmaasecas wrote:

Victor Engel wrote:

Has Canon ever charged for a firmware update? I don't think so.

They did

https://m.dpreview.com/news/9160679900/canon-will-add-c-log-to-the-eos-5d-mark-iv-for-99

Doesn't count: "The update, which we were told includes an unspecified hardware change"
Edit: I've read the rest of the thread and amend my statement to say it doesn't count because hardware the user doesn't have is required.

IIRC, the cover had to be removed and the update was done by a direct connection to the board. If that was indeed the case, $99 seems a reasonable cost.

Distinctly Average wrote:

Victor Engel wrote:

juanmaasecas wrote:

Victor Engel wrote:

Has Canon ever charged for a firmware update? I don't think so.

They did

https://m.dpreview.com/news/9160679900/canon-will-add-c-log-to-the-eos-5d-mark-iv-for-99

Doesn't count: "The update, which we were told includes an unspecified hardware change"
Edit: I've read the rest of the thread and amend my statement to say it doesn't count because hardware the user doesn't have is required.

IIRC, the cover had to be removed and the update was done by a direct connection to the board. If that was indeed the case, $99 seems a reasonable cost.

Seems to be easier than that. Just the USB cable and enable with third-party app.

Kameratrollet wrote:

Distinctly Average wrote:

Victor Engel wrote:

juanmaasecas wrote:

Victor Engel wrote:

Has Canon ever charged for a firmware update? I don't think so.

They did

https://m.dpreview.com/news/9160679900/canon-will-add-c-log-to-the-eos-5d-mark-iv-for-99

Doesn't count: "The update, which we were told includes an unspecified hardware change"
Edit: I've read the rest of the thread and amend my statement to say it doesn't count because hardware the user doesn't have is required.

IIRC, the cover had to be removed and the update was done by a direct connection to the board. If that was indeed the case, $99 seems a reasonable cost.

Seems to be easier than that. Just the USB cable and enable with third-party app.

However it was done, it took time and effort with tools we did not have at home.

There was also a 'voice tag' upgrade.

I think the fact they tried this out with the 5DIV and haven't since suggests it was more of a pain than worth it.

I hope its true, but my faith in Canon Rumors has dropped over the years.

If it was some special features that are completely new and not available on other (including Canon) cameras and requires hiring a new R&D team to get it done, charging extra to cover the R&D cost sounds fair.

However, current rumors indicate that most if not all features predicted are already available on newer and cheaper Canon cameras. Canon is just porting such previous R&D works already done on other cameras back to R5.

This requires a lot less R&D effort, and Canon should not charge customers

highlights wrote:

Given all the rumours, speculation, "leaks", insider information, talk, jibber/jabber etc it is possible that any firmware update could be both substantial (and worth while), and while is no doubt some "cut and paste" from developments/improvements elsewhere in the R system there will have been some development and integration costs.

So will be charged for? Could it? maybe even should it - after all a worthwhile Firmware up grade is bound to be cheaper than the subsequent hardware improved R5II.

And too some payments to cover costs make gain some financial now return than seeing no return until the new R5II is shipped.

What do others think?

If they do this, you're paying for mine

In 2017 Canon offered early EOS 5D4 users the ability to add C-Log to their camera, but it required a chargeable factory parts change---Not simply a firmware update.

Much ado about nothing,

highlights wrote:

Given all the rumours, speculation, "leaks", insider information, talk, jibber/jabber etc it is possible that any firmware update could be both substantial (and worth while), and while is no doubt some "cut and paste" from developments/improvements elsewhere in the R system there will have been some development and integration costs.

So will be charged for? Could it? maybe even should it - after all a worthwhile Firmware up grade is bound to be cheaper than the subsequent hardware improved R5II.

And too some payments to cover costs make gain some financial now return than seeing no return until the new R5II is shipped.

What do others think?

If the firmware will have all the features in the rumors, I'm willing to pay for it around 100$.

Sure I prefer firmware upgrade at no cost, but in case of a great one that can add real useful features, I might accept the payment.

If you are a Canon employee that is doing a survey, please delete my response

Leigh A. Wax wrote:

In 2017 Canon offered early EOS 5D4 users the ability to add C-Log to their camera, but it required a chargeable factory parts change---Not simply a firmware update.

Much ado about nothing,

"Update: Canon has clarified its original statement. It now says that no hardware change is made but that, 'due to the software architecture in the camera we need to connect and use our service tool to upgrade.' The company also says that non-C-Log versions of the 5D IV will continue to be sold."

Kameratrollet wrote:

Leigh A. Wax wrote:

In 2017 Canon offered early EOS 5D4 users the ability to add C-Log to their camera, but it required a chargeable factory parts change---Not simply a firmware update.

Much ado about nothing,

"Update: Canon has clarified its original statement. It now says that no hardware change is made but that, 'due to the software architecture in the camera we need to connect and use our service tool to upgrade.' The company also says that non-C-Log versions of the 5D IV will continue to be sold."

...which still shows that it was not something a user could do on their own as a simple FW update, so it still stands that Canon has never charged for a firmware update.  This has already been hashed over further up in the thread as you know.

Otaraka wrote:

There was also a 'voice tag' upgrade.

I think the fact they tried this out with the 5DIV and haven't since suggests it was more of a pain than worth it.

I hope its true, but my faith in Canon Rumors has dropped over the years.

Voice tag or C log, but not both if I remember it right.

For R there is a stop motion "firmware" for $99 at a service center. Perhaps also an on/off feature already embedded in the original firmware...

highlights wrote:

Given all the rumours, speculation, "leaks", insider information, talk, jibber/jabber etc it is possible that any firmware update could be both substantial (and worth while), and while is no doubt some "cut and paste" from developments/improvements elsewhere in the R system there will have been some development and integration costs.

So will be charged for? Could it? maybe even should it - after all a worthwhile Firmware up grade is bound to be cheaper than the subsequent hardware improved R5II.

And too some payments to cover costs make gain some financial now return than seeing no return until the new R5II is shipped.

What do others think?

I don't think they would charge (unless there was a third party licence).

There will be bug-fixes included which Canon will want people to install - they could have a paid and an unpaid version of firmware, but they would either have to have some sort of 'unlocking' feature, or maintain two separate parallel versions. The unlocking is an extra complication (some things are genuinely complex and you have to accept that, but complications are generally to be avoided). Multiple versions would be a real headache to maintain and test.

Keep it simple...