New Canon 5D Mark III firmware update spotted at NAB Show 2013

A Canon 5D Mark III running on a new firmware has been seen at the National Association of Broadcasters Show 2013 providing clean HDMI 1080p output.

The Canon 5D Mark III is scheduled to receive a firmware update by the end of April. Recently, a representative for the company said that the shooter will get its sought-after update later this month, in order to have some of the DSLR’s issues fixed.

Among other things, such as faster autofocus when a Speedlight AF Assist Beam is in use, the new firmware update should also provide clean HDMI output to camera owners. This step is necessary as Canon is risking to remain behind Nikon, which is offering this feature in most of its new DSLR cameras.

Canon 5D Mark III DSLR has been spotted running on a new firmware update at NAB Show 2013. Atomos is demoing its next Ninja Blade at the event, which is capable of recording clean 1080p videos with the help of the camera.

Next Canon 5D Mark III firmware update captured in the wilds of the NAB Show 2013, courtesy of recorder maker Atomos

The Japan-based company has already announced that improved 1080p output will become available, but a demonstration has not been made yet. However, DeeJay Scharton, owner of the DSLR Film Noob blog, has had a chance of playing with a 5D Mark III running on the new software at the National Association of Broadcasters Show 2013.

Scharton made his way to the Atomos booth in order to check out the company’s new Samurai Blade recorder. The company was using a Canon 5D Mark III to show off its next-generation smart production recorder and the representatives allowed DeeJay to test the new device.

The film maker was surprised to see that the DSLR camera was outputting clean 1080p videos, fact which was not possible without an official firmware from Canon. Nevertheless, an Atomos employee confirmed that the company has been working with Canon for a long time.

Canon 5D Mark III firmware update has been sent to Atomos six months ago

It seems like Atomos received the firmware update more than six months ago, in order to improve timecode transmission through the company’s HDMI-to-SDI converter.

Unfortunately, other details have not been disclosed, but it is clear that the new Canon 5D Mark III firmware update is very close to its release date and that the company has not given false promises during NAB Show 2013.