Firmware Upgrades. No Rocket Surgery Needed
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I want to thank reader Sue for the prompt to write this article. Firmware updates are always a question for camera owners and in some cases create concern about how to accomplish them successfully, given the warnings attached to the subject by manufacturers?
Is The Upgrade Necessary?
When a manufacturer issues a firmware upgrade, in most cases, they do so because they have found a bug in the code that operates the camera. Most of the time, these are minor issues, although sometimes an upgrade solves a big visible program. For some manufacturers, a firmware upgrade adds functionality or unlocks functionality already there but not accessible. Fujifilm is best known and most respected for using firmware upgrades as a method to give more usability to their cameras. You could read the documentation and determine that nothing listed impacts you at all and choose not to do the firmware update. There is nothing wrong with that decision. Be aware however, that if you do contact the manufacturer for support, their first instruction will nearly always be to upgrade the firmware to what is current
Read the READ ME
Manufacturers post firmware updates on their support web pages. In most cases they are relatively easy to find, although web sites differ. One element of every firmware update is the READ ME file which documents at a high level what the firmware update does. This is important information that everyone should read, and that most users never look at. The READ ME explains the major changes in the firmware update, but will often leave out minor changes. There’s likely a case of providing the most needed information balanced against the knowledge that most customers will never read the document anyways. As an owner, before applying a firmware update, take the time to read the documentation that goes with the firmware upgrade.
Do You Need a Computer?
In all cases in my experience a computer is required to do the firmware upgrade in some for another. Unlike your smartphone which does it’s upgrades and updates over the air (OTA), cameras do not. A firmware update for a camera is more than just firmware, it often involves changes to the camera’s operating system. Thus the firmware can contain a lot of information and while relatively small in size, it does require exclusive control of the camera.
After navigating to the manufacturer’s support site, find the firmware update for your camera. Download it to your computer. Depending on the maker, the firmware may just be a file, and in other makers, you must use a maker specific firmware update application. The latter is increasingly common, and in my opinion a step backwards. It requires you to install an application on your computer, and there is no guarantee that this application will work with your computer and its operating system. Moreover, you will need the cable that came with your camera to connect it to the computer, which has most often vanished into a black hole, unless you are in the tiny minority that downloads images from your camera to the computer via USB rather than using the more common and much faster card reader. If your camera requires you to use such an app, you download it, follow the instructions and it will do the job, Operating system and computer hardware notwithstanding. Windows support is typically a given, and Macintosh support is generally available, but some makers do not even offer it. Fortunately this is mostly in the space of Chinese made accessories, but be aware.
In the case that you are shooting a Canon or Nikon product, the common update path is just a file, and the firmware update program is built into the camera operating system. This is very simple, but you must follow the instructions.
First make sure you are starting with a fully charged camera brand battery. Most makers have firmware in their batteries to identify them as genuine. Third party batteries don’t have this proprietary code and sometimes firmware updates will detect a non-genuine battery and refuse to function without one.
Second, for file based updates, it will require you to copy the firmware update file into the top level of an empty memory card. Empty means empty. Firmware updates don’t need massive cards, but for your own sanity, format the card in the camera before using it for an upgrade.
Put the card in your computer card reader and following the instructions in the READ ME, copy the needed file(s) directly to the memory card. Once done, eject the card and put it in the camera.
Different cameras do in camera firmware updates differently. The manual and the READ ME will tell you the process to follow. On some cameras, you must start them in update mode which typically involves holding down a button or two while turning the camera on. On others, such as Nikon and Canon, firmware updates are simply a configuration menu item. Simply follow the instructions in the documentation and start the upgrade.
Don’t Touch the Camera During an Upgrade
Firmware upgrades are sometimes very fast, sometimes they take longer. All the documentation always says, don’t touch buttons, dials or settings while the upgrade is taking place. If you cannot be patient and keep your hands away, leave the room for a while. Firmware updates that go bad invariably are related to user touching things when they should not. A firmware upgrade often fully replaces the existing firmware and if this fails, your camera may not restart. This event is exceedingly rare and if you follow the documentation you can do firmware updates on anything without taking the camera to a shop or in for service.
Every System is Different
For folks owning more than one brand, there can be a problem called complacency. For example, just because I know how to do firmware updates on brand #1, that does not mean I know how to do firmware updates on brand #2. At present, I own three brands; Canon, Leica and Hasselblad. I have done firmware updates on all of them and they all have a different process. Don’t assume that all makes or even models are the same, take the time to read the READ ME file. If you do that, firmware updates are a walk in the park.
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I'm Ross Chevalier, thanks for reading, watching and listening and until next time, peace.
