Nikon D5 firmware update released with 4 significant improvements including extending the 4k video recording limit

Four key upgrades are introduced in the firmware update for the latest Nikon FX-format flagship DSLR, each one set to further deliver the potential and quality of today’s photography needs

Nikon Australia has announced the development of a new firmware for the Nikon D5. The new update, C: Ver. 1.10, is set to expand functions and boost the performance of the notable DSLR for professionals.

Availability: 23 June 2016
Pricing: Available for free download

The D5 has been extremely well-received on all fronts, winning prestigious global photo and imaging awards, such as the recent TIPA Awards 2016 and the Camera GP (Grand Prix) 2016 Readers Award – sponsored by Japan’s Camera Journal Press Club.

The free firmware update focuses on advancing the camera’s shooting capabilities, with four key improvements – amongst other additional updates1. These four upgrades are the introduction of a 9-point dynamic-area autofocus (AF) AF-area mode and an extension of maximum recording time of movies – including 4K UHD movies, Flicker Reduction for still images and electronic Vibration Reduction (VR) function for video recording.
¹ Details regarding “additional updates” are provided on the firmware’s free download page at Nikon Download Centre

Four Key Upgrades

1. 9-point dynamic-area autofocus AF-area mode: added for selective focusing on a limited portion of a moving subject. With dynamic-area AF, the camera focuses based on information from surrounding focus points2 – even if the subject briefly leaves the focus point selected by the photographer. The D5 originally supported 25-point, 72-point and 153-point dynamic-area AF. Now, with the new 9-point dynamic-area AF option, photographers will find extra efficiency when focusing on a more specific portion of a moving subject.
   ² In dynamic-area AF with 9, 25 or 72-point, the number of focus points actually in use may be less than 9, 25 or 72 – depending on the selected primary focus point
2. Extension of maximum movie recording time: including 4K UHD Movies. Movies up to 29-minutes-59-seconds in length can now be recorded at all movie quality and frame size/frame rate settings. The new firmware even increases the maximum recording time of 4K UHD (3840×2160)³ movies – from 3-minutes to 29-minutes-59-seconds. In addition, movies are recorded on up to 8 separate files, each of which has a file size of up to 4GB. Separate movie files can be combined to create a single movie using ViewNX-Movie Editor.
   ³ The maximum recording time for 4K UHD time-lapse movies is 3-minutes
3. Flicker Reduction for still images: introduced for more stable exposure, even under lighting that flickers.When shooting under fluorescent and other types of artificial lighting, flicker may cause uneven exposure in parts of images, and/or variations in exposure and colour reproduction characteristics between individual images captured continuously – or in quick succession. The Flicker Reduction function for still images⁴ reduces these effects. When the function is enabled, the camera detects the peak brightness as light flickers, and automatically times the shutter release with these peaks for stable exposure and colour reproduction characteristics. This function is effective when continuous shooting is used with indoor-sporting events or other similar conditions captured at fast shutter speeds⁵.
   ⁴ Still images captured during viewfinder photography (not available with mirror-up mode)
   ⁵ The continuous shooting rate may be slower
4. Inclusion of electronic Vibration Reduction function: effective with hand-held recording – for HD and Full-HD⁶ movie recording. The new firmware has been equipped with an electronic VR function⁷ that reduces the effects of camera shake with hand-held recording of movies in the FX- or DX-based movie formats (image areas)⁸. The effects of camera shake in three directions, vertical (up and down), horizontal (left and right) and rotational (around the centre of the lens) are reduced. This function’s effective when recording movies in places or situations where usage of a tripod is prohibited or inconvenient – or when there simply isn’t time to set one up. In addition, electronic VR can be used in combination with the optical VR built into a NIKKOR lens for more effective reduction of the effects of camera shake.
   ⁶ Not available with 1920 × 1080 crop settings
   ⁷ When electronic VR is enabled, the maximum sensitivity allowed is ISO 102400, even if ISO sensitivity is set to Hi 0.3 or higher. The effects of electronic VR are also reflected when photos are captured during movie recording (live frame grab)
   ⁸ The angle of view will be reduced slightly
   NB: The camera’s current firmware version can be checked using the Firmware version option in the setup menu