It has been reported that Canon will soon be releasing an important firmware update for the Canon EOS 7D. Unlike most firmware updates that correct a little bug and a typo in one of the foreign language menus, this update will add a considerable amount of features that were recently included in the Canon 5D Mark III. These include:
IMPROVED RAW MAXIMUM BURST
Increasing the maximum burst when shooting RAW images from 15 fps to 26 RAW frames in a singlecontinuous burst.
IN-CAMERA RAW CONVERSION
Post-processing of RAW images in-camera, including adjusting or setting the white balance, Picture Style, High ISO Noise Reduction, Color Space (AdobeRGB/sRGB) and lens corrections (Peripheral Illumination Correction, Chromatic Aberration Correction, and distortion correction).
The file can then be saved as a JPEG for immediate output and use.
IMAGE RATING CAPABILITIES
Rate your images in-camera, from 1 to 5 stars. This feature speeds up the process of sorting and organizing images when you return to your computer and begin to work in Adobe Bridge, Apple Aperture, etc.
AUTO ISO MAXIMUM SETTING
Set the maximum ISO that the camera will use while working in Auto ISO, between 400-6400 (inclusive).
MANUAL ADJUSTMENT FOR AUDIO RECORDING LEVELS
Manually adjust the audio recording level while shooting video, as well as the volume during playback.
JPEG RESIZING
Resize (downsize) a JPEG image in-camera and save it as a separate image, for easy immediate output and use.
SUPPORT FOR THE GP-E2 GPS UNIT
Use the new Canon GP-E2 GPS unit to geo-tag your images.
QUICK CONTROL DURING PLAYBACK
Press the Q Button during image playback to quickly access several options including Protect Image, Rotate, Rate, Resize, Highlight Alert, AF Point Display, and Image Jump.
FILE NAME SETTING
This adds the ability to change the naming convention of file name prefixes, so that instead of an image file being named IMG_xxxx, it can now be anything you wish such as DJK1xxxx or 7D12xxxx. The second option of this feature allows you to change just the first three letters of the name, and the third letter will reflect the file size setting, such as IMGL0025.JPG for Large JPEG files or IMGL0025.CR2 for large RAW files.
TIME ZONE SETTING
Set your time zone with the option to adjust for daylight savings time.
FASTER SCROLLING OF MAGNIFIED IMAGES
When reviewing an image during playback, this will allow you to scan around a magnified image quicker.
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Be sure to check the Canon 7D page under Drivers and Software to see when this update has been released.
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Canon 7D Experience e-book guide to the 7D – If you are looking to take full control of your Canon EOS 7D and the images you create, be sure to have a looks at my e-book guide Canon 7D Experience. Since I publish only in e-book form, this may be the only book that will be able to quickly incorporate these major changes to the menus and features of the camera! I will send out an update supplement to all those who have purchased the PDF version of Canon 7D Experience, and I will incorporate all the changes in an updated version of the guide, so that all new readers will obtain the latest information.