C300It's looking like this strange and random problem might finally be no more (or at least so minimal that it won't be noticed). If you're a C300 owner, it's certainly possible you haven't even noticed it. The issue was related to extremely high contrast scenes where green or purple fringing would appear on edges. I originally wrongly assumed it might be a sensor issue, but it's clear now that it is probably related to the debayering or processing in the camera.

Keep in mind that many occurrences were somewhat rare or hard to notice. Here was the problem at its absolute worst -- Canon C300 is on the right:

Scarlet-vs-c300_fringing-e1333063296336-616x395

It looked like there were some users getting an earlier version of this firmware update, version 1.0.7.1, when they were sending in their cameras to Canon for repair. It seems some of the personnel at Canon were unaware of the firmware update, so it was difficult if you knew about the update to actually get it from the company. Some of the reasoning initially might have been that Canon wanted to release it in a larger update, and that's exactly what it looks like is happening with firmware 1.0.8.1.00. Here is a bit from the document associated with the new firmware:

Firmware Version 1.0.8.1.00 incorporates the following fixes and improvements:

  1. Some of the EF lens products that can be mounted on the camera can be controlled more reliably.
  2. Corrections to the Spanish and German language texts in the View Assistance function [View Assist.].
  3. Efforts to correct image color fringing when a subject is of high contrast have been made.

Note: Firmware version 1.0.7.1.00 incorporates items 2 and 3 above.

Firmware Version 1.0.8.1.00 is for EOS C300/EOS C300 PL cameras with Firmware Version 1.0.2.1.00 through 1.0.7.1.00. If the camera's firmware is already Version 1.0.8.1.00, it is not necessary to update the firmware. Once the camera is updated to the latest version, it cannot be restored to a previous version.

I'm glad to see Canon finally issue an official fix for the problem, and if you've got a C300, be sure to head on over to Canon's site and download the update.

Link: Canon USA -- Drivers and Software

[via Canon Rumors]

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