Sticky: Have you called Canon today? 1-800-828-4040

Have you called Canon today, to request the much needed firmware updates? Well you need to: 1-800-828-4040
There have been several people that have reported that "voice messaging is passed immediately up to feature requests development dept."
We all need to start calling... until these features have been addressed.

Here's some of Pablov's list to help structure your call:
FEATURES/IMPROVEMENTS REQUEST LIST:

- Add / Improve: In Full HD (1920x1080) mode, allow these frame rates: 29.97, 25, 23.976 fps
FIX the current 30.00 fps to the standard NTSC 29.97 fps
Improve the video quality in 23.976 and 25 to minimize "jello" effect
- Improve AutoFocus algorythm in Live View mode (contrast detection mode)
- Add Focusing Aids in Video mode
- Add HD (1280x720) video mode with the above frame rates.
- Improve: Make HDMI output at FULL HD (1920x1080) and CLEAR of any overlay or information when recording and/or when just watching in Live View (if when recording is not possible)
- Add: a split video function to continue recording once the 4GB limit is reached in another video file without stopping the recording process.
- Allow Audio Manual Gain

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The reps on the phone have said that the voice messaging goes straight up to the higher ups. Call today! Open 24/7! Call tonight!1-800-828-4040

This is better than any letter! Dealing with our phone calls costs good coin, and at some time providing firmware updates for their customers will be more cost effective than having customer service reps take our phone calls.
Can someone post up the dial-in number for Europe, South America, Africa, Asia, etc.

When you have called, please post in here and relate your experience. Thanks for your participation.

I called earlier today and was coming here to make this same post.

The rep I spoke to also said that phone calls are the only way to make sure our voices are heard.

I called. Very easy. Everyone else should do the same. The Canon rep asked for my name, address, email, and the serial number of my 5D. I inquired about 24p and other frame rates for the 5D. He mentioned the calls and customer complaints about the lack of manual control and the eventual firmware upgrade canon released. I would hope his mentioning of this would suggest a similar scenario for 24p. Who knows. 24p is less of an issue for me than it is for directors who contact me. There is a mistaken belief that 24p is all you need to make images that are cinematic. For this reason and a few others (mainly the existence of the 7D), it would be nice to have 24p.

Just called - it was easy. I got a nice guy on the phone who let me know that they've had "quite a few" 5D Mark II owners calling up. He also said he was happy to take the call because he owns the camera, too, and would like to see a firmware update.

I asked what the chances were, and he said something to the effect that Canon hadn't "made any announcements yet."

That sounded especially promising. Make your call now, if you haven't already done so.

Great thread, great posts. Simple and easy, actions instead of just talk.

Very well done !!

Let's hope everybody owning a 5D Mark II do the same.

It's very glad to have our calls taken friendly and in an easy and straightforward way.

- Take also a look at: viewtopic.php?f=11&t=4938&start=200#p35237
That answer given by the lady at the phone is very interesting:
She basically said: "(...) We really need this kind of input. It's input like this from our customers that directly led to the release of the manual video settings firmware release"

- And also the comment from the guy who took your call, telling that he was happy to take it because he also owns a 5D Mark II and would like to see a firmware update.

- This is the RIGHT TIME to call Canon indeed.

Do it respectfully, politely, there's nothing to loose and MUCH to win.

Agreed this thread is doing great here. Very professional and on track. I'm about to give up on the equvialant on DVXuser... it's devolved to into a 4 page thread aguing over whether the 7D firmware will work on the 5d...

I'm glad the pros are here. Keep the calls going. You don't have to stop at just one... .... PER DAY!

Just called.
We should add on this thread phone numbers for non us residents.

Called.

- What I got so far for non U.S. nor Canadian residents is:

- UK: 0844 369 0100
- List of European PRO Representatives wich includes phone numbers of most european countries.
http://cpn.canon-europe.com/content/contact_us/representatives.do

If somebody get additional information (working phone numbers), please post it and PM me, I will also update the 5dmark2 blog with that info, because it could help a lot.

- Keep on Calling. Remember to be respectful and polite.

For those ones who still didn't call or hesitate about it: check "I Called Canon" at the blog and other threads started by other members here too, you might be VERY surprised on the responses that we got from Canon.

Complaining online doesn't really help, don't waste your time and make the call, adding your 2 cents will help a lot.
Think well what you will request and do it politely.

- I strongly think THIS is the very RIGHT time to call Canon, BECAUSE:

- The 7D has just been released with the fixes/features we all need and request since long ago
- Both cameras use Digic 4
- Canon has said that a single Digic 4 can handle 24p and 60p, and that they didn't take a decision yet (see Press conference report at http://dc.watch.impress.co.jp/docs/news/20090901_312421.html )
- Lot of people is calling to request the update with fixes and improvements

UPDATE: this still completely valid even many months later and after Canon announced they will release a firmware update. There is no detailed information on it, and there are LOT MORE possible improvements that can be done. Check the blog please:

Reference LIST of FIXES & IMPROVEMENTS :

http://5dmark2.wordpress.com/2009/12/17/canon-firmware-updates/

Thanks a lot to everyone supporting this Campaign. It will bring benefits to all users.

Greetings from Dubai,
Today i spoke to canon middle east representative, about the same and he had time and we spoke for around 5 minutes, i forwarded him the links of cinema5d forum and 5dmark wordpress, and told him how we Canon 5d Mark II users community feels after 7D, when i asked him do know what is happening in the wild after 7D announcment he said "i know what happens in canon" then i told him politely i can send you an email where you can follow and forward it to Canon Higher authorties. When framerate issue came he said you can convert the framerate with 3rd party software, i told him thats what we are saying when a cheaper camera such as 7D has that framerate ease, why not the expansive camera gets the same updates..

i have sent him the mail and i will follow up after few weeks..

Let Canon know that we want this changed!