UPATE: Canon 5D owners, you can grab the 2.0.3 2.0.4 firmware update right here: http://web.canon.jp/imaging/eosd/firm-e/eos5dmk2/firmware.html

It took a lot of commenting and complaining from the many folks who bought a Canon 5D Mark II, but unless you live under a rock (or just don’t care) then you’ve heard that Canon is releasing an updated firmware for the 5D Mark II that will allow for 24p recording (and take the 30p frame rate to the more NTSC friendly 29.97), 48k audio, audio levels and a number of other enhancements. So never mind what was said in the past about the 5D’s chip not being able to process 24p; it is coming (some new 5Ds may already be slipping out with the firmware installed) and there’s now a video from the Magic Lantern guy that shows him updating a 5D with this new firmware:

5D Mark II 2.0.3 upgrade from Trammell Hudson on Vimeo.

If you’re not familiar with Magic Lantern then you’re not keeping up with the ever-changing world of DSLR video. Magic Lantern is “an open platform for developing enhancements to the amazing Canon 5D Mark II full-frame digital SLR.” Magic Lantern adds a number of features needed on any “pro” video camera:

  • On-screen audio meters
  • Manual gain control with no AGC
  • Zebra stripes (video peaking)
  • Custom Cropmarks for 16:9, 2.35:1, 4:3 and any other format
  • Control of focus and bracketing

Obviously some of these above features have been implemented into the official Canon 2.0.3 firmware release, but it really goes to show the ingenuity and passion that filmmakers have placed behind this camera. Now let’s get these features into the 7D, too.