Coming in April 2013: Canon 5D Mark III firmware update

This is not an early April Fool's Day joke! Canon has officially announced via press release a new firmware update for the Canon 5D Mark III that will arrive in April 2013, almost half a year away. The new firmware update will offer uncompressed high definition video via HDMI and the f8 maximum aperture focusing upgrade that we recently saw released for the flagship 1D X.

The half-a-year-away announcement is raising two issues with photographers: 1) is the f8 delayed so far in the future so it can herd photographers (who have the financial flexibility) towards the 1D X? And/or is this announcement doing damage control after the Magic Lantern 5DMk3 Alpha 2 that opens the floodgates of uncompressed high definition video via HDMI? Or did Canon simply not think about offering this until Magic Lantern went live with the announcement, so they need the six months to develop this feature?

Press release parade via PDN Pulse and Photography Blog and Le Monde et al.

For a refresher on the Canon 5D Mark III as it is at the moment, check the list of completed 5D Mark III reviews.