Canon 5D Mark II – Manual Exposure Control in Video Mode
Written by Eric on May 26th, 2009 | 4 Comments
Canon has apparently been reading the numerous forum posts where 5D Mark II users have requested – nay, demanded – manual exposure control for their videos. Well an email from Canon USA has confirmed that it’s coming . . . in June to be exact.
Canon will issue a firmware update to enable full manual exposure controls while shooting video, including ISO, aperture and shutter speed. Although, I’m not sure what they mean by shutter speed. Isn’t the shutter always open in video mode?
May 26th, 2009 at 10:18 pm
This is a real breakthrough.
(announce is here: http://www.usa.canon.com/consumer/controller?act=MultiMiscPageAct&key=EOS_5DMKII_Firmware&fcategoryid=139 )
I think the manual control over shutter speed means manual control over the number of frame per seconds – but this would still leaves the exposure time of each frame unaddressed. I wonder how they will design this and integrate these new adjustments with the current hardware controls. If they go up to 30fps (going through 24fps) this will be amazing. I’m curious about the details of the fps steps in video mode (from 0.1 fps to 30fps?). Also, will the manual controls will be changeable while filming? I really hope so. Changing the fps while shooting would open the door to quite creative effects. Finally, please, make these controls accessable programmatically in real time through the SDK, while shooting… :-)
And this camera is already a legend…
Mine is ready for the firmware update :-)
May 26th, 2009 at 10:26 pm
Nah… it seems that the shutter speed control is to allow the exposure time of each frame from 1/30th to 1/4000th second. No fps control for now it seems… we are fixed as 30fps.
June 2nd, 2009 at 3:07 pm
Why there was no option for 720P added is beyond me, its on the new rebel??
July 7th, 2009 at 11:06 am
So when will they allow digital zoom in video mode??? Prime lens with zooming capabilities…. That is something even the Red Scarlet can’t do.