Keeping your camera’s firmware up-to-date is like giving it a mini makeover—it not only fixes any pesky bugs but also sometimes adds cool new features that enhance your photography experience. Think of it as a health check that keeps your gear in top-notch shape, ensuring everything runs smoothly, especially when you’re counting on it the most.
This guide focuses on how to update Canon R5 firmware, but if you’ve got another model in the Canon EOS family, stick around!
The steps are pretty similar across the board, so you’ll find this tutorial handy for sprucing up your own Canon camera too. Whether you’re shooting landscapes, portraits, or just capturing everyday moments, updating your firmware is a simple way to make sure your camera is always ready to go.
What you will need to update your Canon R5 Firmware
Before we dive into the firmware update process, let’s make sure you have everything you’ll need to get the job done smoothly. Here’s your checklist:
- Internet Connection: You’ll need a stable internet connection to download the firmware update from Canon’s website. Slow or interrupted downloads can lead to corrupted files, so make sure your connection is solid.
- Fully Charged Camera Battery: The last thing you want is for your camera to power down mid-update. A fully charged battery ensures that your camera stays on through the entire process. If your battery is showing its age, it might be a good time to swap in a fresh one before you start.
- SD Card: An SD card with enough free space to store the firmware file. It’s a good idea to use a card that you’ve formatted specifically for this update, just to keep things clean and tidy.
Once you’ve got all these items ready, you’re set to update your firmware and get back to shooting with the latest and greatest your camera has to offer.
Step-by-Step Guide to Updating Your Canon R5 Firmware
If you’d rather just watch me explain the process, here is a 4 minute video I made to explain the process:
Updating your camera’s firmware might seem daunting, but it’s actually pretty straightforward. Just follow these steps, and you’ll be up and running with the latest features in no time.
- Finding the Firmware Update:
- Head over to Canon’s official website.
- In the search bar, type in ‘Canon EOS R5 firmware update’ or substitute ‘R5’ with your model if you’re using a different EOS camera. (or click here)
- Choose the firmware update that matches your camera model. It’s important to select the correct one to avoid any compatibility issues.
- Downloading the Firmware:
- Click on the download link for the firmware. Make sure you’re downloading the latest version.
- Save the file to a location on your computer where you can easily access it.
- Extract the .zip file you just downloaded by right-clicking on it and selecting “Extract All” or using any standard unzipping software you have available. Inside the extracted folder, you’ll find a file with an “.FIR” extension. This is the firmware file.
- This .FIR file is what your camera will read to perform the update. It’s important that this file is placed correctly on your SD card to ensure the camera recognizes and reads it without any issues. The file needs to be in the root directory of the SD card, which means it should not be within any other folder. Simply copy the .FIR file and paste it directly onto your SD card after it has been formatted and is empty of other files. This placement ensures the camera can access and initiate the firmware update smoothly. – By making sure the .FIR file is in the root directory of your SD card, you eliminate potential issues of the camera not finding the update file, which is a common snag that can frustrate the updating process.
- Preparing the SD Card:
- Insert your SD card into your computer. If your computer doesn’t have a card slot, you might need an external card reader.
- Before transferring the firmware file, format the SD card to delete any existing data and ensure compatibility with your camera.
- After formatting, copy the extracted firmware file directly onto the root directory of the SD card. The root directory is the first or top-most directory in the filesystem where the SD card is listed.
- Updating the Firmware on Your Camera:
- Ensure your camera’s battery is fully charged before starting the update.
- Insert the SD card with the new firmware file into your camera.
- Turn on your camera and go to the Menu. Navigate to the ‘Firmware Update’ section, which you can usually find under the ‘Settings’ tab.
- Select the firmware file on the SD card and confirm you want to update. The camera will begin the update process automatically.
- Important: Do not turn off your camera or remove the SD card while the update is in progress. This can take a few minutes, so patience is key.
- Finalizing the Update:
- Once the update is complete, your camera will restart automatically.
- It’s a good practice to check the firmware version post-update to ensure the process was successful. You can find this information again in the ‘Firmware Update’ section of the settings menu.
And that’s it! Thats all you need to update the firmware on your Canon R5!
Brad is a seasoned photographer whose journey began in 2006 with a 3.1-megapixel digital camera. Over the years, he has specialized in various photography genres—from weddings and portraiture to product and studio photography. Based on the Sunshine Coast of QLD, Brad combines his love for education and photography, sharing his expertise on DSLRAD.com, a platform committed to capturing life’s treasured moments and empowering photography enthusiasts.