Canon Firmware Update Boosts the R3’s Burst Photo Speed to 195 FPS

Canon has published a series of firmware updates for the R5, R6, and R3. The most notable improvement is to the R3, which can now shoot photos at a blistering 195 frames per second.

Canon R3 firmware version 1.2 adds a new custom high-speed continuous shooting setting that allows for the capture of between 30 and 195 frames per second at full resolution in JPEG, HEIF, or RAW. Canon says that this mode allows it to shoot between 2 and 50 photos at this speed.

“This gives photographers the ability to capture the definitive moment of action, such as when the bat connects with the ball in baseball or when a bird of prey attacks,” Canon says.

The update doesn’t just improve photos, however. Version 1.2 also allows the camera to shoot Full HD video at up to 240p, which the company says is usually reserved for dedicated video cameras.

Below are all 14 changes to the R3 in Firmware Version 1.2:

• Adds the ability to set “Custom high speed continuous” to the Drive mode. It is possible to shoot from 2 to 50 images continuously at a speed of approximately 30 to 195 fps.
• Adds the ability to select “FHD 239.76 fps/200.00 fps” in “High frame rate.”
• Adds the ability for in camera “Depth compositing” during “Focus bracketing.”
• Adds Focus bracketing and depth compositing with a flash (Speedlite EL-1).
• Adds the ability of time-lapse movie recording. Note that the time-lapse movie setting is retained even if the camera enters the Auto Power Off state before starting time-lapse movie recording.
• Adds the ability of Cloud RAW processing functionality. RAW processing with the latest image processing technology is possible. This is a paid service that requires the purchase of a Canon Imaging App Service Plan, which will be available starting July 25, 2022.
• Adds the ability to convert multiple HEIF images into multiple JPEG images..
• Adds the ability to set [Still Image Crop/Aspect] to [Custom Controls]. The assigned button can be used to switch between crop and aspect ratio.
• Adds the ability to crop and resize images during transfer to an FTP server.
• 802.1X authentication/WPA2-Enterprise now supports the PKCS#12 certificate format.
• Adds an electronic shutter sound to be played when the mechanical shutter or electronic 1st-curtain is set.
• Enhances the performance of “Movie Digital IS”. It stabilizes the image when taking selfies or walking shots using a wide-angle lens.
• Adds [Auto Power Off Temp.: Standard/High] to the menu for still shooting.
• Fixes an issue, which displays Error Code 70 on the camera, that may occur, in rare instances, when the [Disp. performance] setting is set to [Smooth].
• Fixes minor issues.

The firmware update is free and available to download immediately from Canon’s website.

EOS R5 and R6 Updates

Canon has also updated the EOS R5 and R6 cameras to version 1.6. The company says this update brings popular features from the R3 to the R5, such as the Auto Power Off Temperature function that — depending on the conditions — enables longer recording times than before.

This functionality means the exterior of the camera will become hotter depending on the operational environment, and Canon tested the enhanced times at 23 degrees Celsius (or 73 degrees Fahrenheit). If ambient temperature is higher or lower that, the company says the available recording time may differ. No matter what, recording is limited to 29 minutes 59 seconds and any times that are greater than that indicate that recording can be resumed immediately.

With this update, the R5 can record in 8K for 45 minutes, up from 20 minutes, and in 4K at 60P for 60 minutes with the full width of the sensor which is up from 35 minutes, and 50 minutes with an APS-C crop, which is up from 25 minutes.

Below are the full changes coming to the R5 in firmware version 1.6:

• Adds [Auto Power Off Temp.: Standard/High] to the menu for movie recording. When [High] is selected, the camera will not automatically turn off when the temperature of the camera body and card become high, which may allow for longer movie recording than before, depending on the shooting conditions. Note that the temperature of the bottom surface of the camera may increase at this time.
• Adds the ability to convert multiple HEIF images into multiple JPEG images.
• Enhances the performance of “Movie Digital IS”. It stabilizes the image when taking selfies or walking shots using a wide-angle lens.
• Fixes minor issues.

And finally, below are the full changes coming to the R6 in firmware version 1.6:

• Adds the ability to convert multiple HEIF images into multiple JPEG images.
• Enhances the performance of “Movie Digital IS”. It stabilizes the image when taking selfies or walking shots using a wide-angle lens.
• Fixes minor issues.

Both updates are free, and the R5 update and the R6 update can be downloaded directly from Canon’s website.

Image credits: Photos by Ryan Mense for PetaPixel.