Canon has announced up-coming free-of-charge firmware updates for six professional-model Canon imaging devices.

The new firmware updates target two cameras in Canon’s Cinema EOS System digital cinematography product line-up “” the EOS C300 Mark II and the EOS C100 Mark II “” along with the XC10, XF305 and XF300 professional camcorders and the ME20F-SH multi-purpose camera. Details are as follows:
The EOS C300 Mark II, EOS C100 Mark II  updates will add Dual Pixel CMOS AF with both conventional EF lenses and the new CN7x17 KAS S/E13 and CN-E18-80mm T4.4 L IS KAS S EF4 Cinema Lenses. It will also enable a Dual Pixel Focus Guide5 function that improves focus matching support and displays whether the focus is in front of or behind the subject when using manual focus.

A new firmware update for the EOS C300 Mark II will enable support for Canon Log 3. Users can choose the most appropriate log gamma for their production needs at any given time.

New firmware will enable the XC10 to achieve approximately double its current maximum AF speed. Also, in addition to the current MXF format, the new update will add the option to record in the versatile low-data-volume MP4 format.

Three new image quality modes will be added to the XF305 and XF300: Wide DR, which expands dynamic range from the cameras’ existing 300% to 600%; SN Priority, which suppresses noise; and Highlight Priority, which produces images with enhanced sharpness, colour reproduction and mid-to-high range brightness gradation for natural-looking video expression.

A new firmware update for the ME20F-SH will enable the option of turning off recording parameter data, which is displayed on screen, when using a remote control or external recorder. In addition to the camera’s 2x and 4x digital zoom, the update will add a new 3x magnification ratio. Aspect Markers that display aspect ratio will also be enabled. Users will be able to choose from 4:3, 4:3 S35 mm, 2.39:1, 1.66:1 and 1.85:1 ratios.                  

The first of the updates is to be made available in June 2016 from Canon’s product support pages.