It's that time again. The time that comes but once a year. Yes, you've guessed it, it's New Year's Eve!

This post serves simply to wish all blog readers, forum members, gallery posters, twitter followers and anyone else who is part of the EOS Network community a very Happy New Year! 

This year seems to have gone by rather quickly. It's seems only the other week I was starting this site and yet it's nearly a whole year already - certainly if you include the precursor blog site of blab pictures. But instead of looking back, what about looking forwards. What does 2010 hold for EOS Network and the world of photography at large? 

Dealing with photography first, it will be the year of HD Video. You can fight it all you want, but there is no denying that HD Video is going to feature ever more strongly in cameras over the coming year. More people will embrace the technology, it won't just be for professionals, consumers will get on board and all those who are against it now, will slowly start to see the benefits - even if it's just for a couple of clips to show family and friends. If you're not convinced, just take a look around the web. The appearance of HD video has done for photography what the transition to digital did 10 years ago. The EOS D30, at the start of this decade, ushered in a new wave of photography - sure digital was in use before, but the D30 made it accessible to most. 10 years later and we have a new firmware due for the EOS 5D Mark II that could (providing they listen to the requests from the many users utilising that camera) mark another turning point in the history of photography and film making. It won't just be the cameras though. There will be an ever growing number of third party accessories designed to help you shoot video more efficiently.

From a stills side, I think we'll see an increase in HDR imaging and cameras that feature wider dynamic ranges will be ever more in demand. 

For EOS Network, I'll continue to grow the site. The blog will once again run like regular clockwork, there will be new videos to explain features and functions, there will be training courses announced to help you all get the most from your EOS cameras. I also hope the community will continue to grow. I hope you'll make new friends, cement existing friendships and learn from each other. 

I know 2009 has been a tough year for some of you. Some have been unwell, some have suffered financial, emotional and physical strain. To those members who, for whatever reason, have found 2009 a difficult year, the good news is it's over! 2010 will bring new challenges and hurdles, but it gives you the chance to forge ahead. For those that have been unwell, I think I can speak for all members in wishing you a speedy recovery. 

All that remains to be said is: Happy New Year one and all! May 2010 be the year you want it to be! 

Well, it was a busy day yesterday - Canon announced four new firmware updates:

Ver 1.2.4 for EOS 5D Mark II

Ver 1.3.0 for EOS-1D Mark III

Ver 1.2.0 for EOS-1Ds Mark III

Ver 2.0.0 for WFT-E2/E2A

Before you all get excited about the EOS 5D MArk II one though, it's not the promised one from last year to give new frame rates for video shooting. It's mainly to add compatibility with the updated WFT unit for the EOS 5D Mark II, the WFT-E4 II.

The firmwares for the two Mark III cameras are equally functional, adding compatibility with new WFT unit (WFT-E2 II). 

Even if the new wifi units are not of interest, you should update your firmware anyway. Especially since the EOS 5 D Mark II firmware also "corrects a phenomenon in which visible noise may appear in images taken with continuous Bulb shooting".

Before doing any firmware updates, make sure you have a fully charged battery for the camera and that while the firmware update is happening, you don't touch ANY buttons at all. 

To find the latest firmware for your camera, visit the Canon BeBit site. 

So, you've got an EOS 5D Mark II, you have been shooting some movies and you like the idea of the EOS-1D Mark IV which has an instant filming button so you can press that and whatever mode you're in it will start filming?

Well, you can do it on the EOS 5D Mark II as well. Yes, the answer is indeed found in the Custom Functions. You know, those things that most of us never look at and hardly ever make use of? 

Well, the one you're looking for is a real cracker - Custom Function IV-3, and it's called "Assign SET button".

I'm willing to bet that if you take a look at this, it will be set to 0: Normal (disabled).

Try setting it to Option 6 - Record Movie (Live View).

With that done, head out of the menus and in whatever mode you happen to be in, press the SET button.  As long as Movie shooting is enabled in the Live View settings, (Live View Function settings > Stills + Movie > Any of the following three), pressing that SET button will pop up the mirror, put you in Live View mode and automatically start recording. 

If you're a photojournalist, or you just want to be able to react to a situation quickly, this will shave valuable time off accessing the movie shooting functions.Just be careful with it. It's easy to knock the SET button and find yourself in movie mode and filling card space without realising it.