firmware update and improvements coming with old batteries?

Canon has just released a first firmware update for the EOS R5 Mark IIproviding bug fixes. But the most interesting is yet to come, with a possible improvement concerning using old batteries LP-E6NH, which currently restricts the case in certain conditions, notably video.

Firmware 1.0.1: fixes and improvements for the EOS R5 Mark II

The version 1.0.1 you firmwarealready available on the Canon site, focuses mainly on fixing bugs and improving the general stability of Canon’s latest high-performance hybrid body. Here are the main changes:

Fixes an issue where when lenses not communicating with the camera are attached to shoot video in RAW/SRAW format, the videos may not play correctly in applications.
Improves the stability of the touch control when the function [Commande tactile] is set to [Sensible].
Fixes an issue in which the camera LCD displays abnormalities after resuming camera operations from the state [Viseur désact.].
Fixes an issue in which the camera stops working properly when the shutter button is pressed while the message BUSY is displayed on the screen.
Fixes an issue where Err70 may be displayed if the display mode switches between LCD and viewfinder while the BUSY message is displayed.
Fixes an issue in which the camera’s LCD display exhibits abnormalities after using EOS Utility to capture and import videos.
Fixes an issue where videos captured using the EOS Utility function may not play back on the camera.
Optimizes auto white balance for specific environments when Custom Image is set to [Act.].

Upcoming improvement for old batteries

Canon USA also announced to some of our colleagues that a firmware update planned “later this year” will allow the use of the 24p video mode with old LP-E6NH battery. This improvement is particularly awaited by users, because the impossibility of using 24 fps with the old batteries was not mentioned in the manual and was discovered by the first buyers.

However, it is important to note that some limitations will persist when using the LP-E6NH battery instead of the new LP-E6P that came with the unit. These restrictions include:

the inability to record in 8K DCI/UHD, RAW/SRAW, Fine quality and some high frame rates
the disabling HDMI RAW output
unable to take photos while recording video
deactivation of modes High Frame Rate and Pre-continuous shooting
the inability to use Wi-Fi and Ethernet

A step in the right direction?

This announcement from Canon is a positive step to address user concernsespecially those with a large stock of old Canon batteries. Although the exact date of availability of this update is not yet known, it should provide partial solution to a problem that has frustrated many professional videographers.