topic R5 firmware rollback in EOS DSLR & Mirrorless Cameras

R5 firmware rollback

R5-ed — Thu, 22 Aug 2024 20:12:21 GMT

Need advice on R5, please.

Updated R5 from firmware 1.5.2 to 2.0 and desperately want to return to 1.5.2. I've seen YT vids on dropping battery door and changing out sd cards while update in progress. Does it work?

TIA

Re: R5 firmware rollback

R5-ed — Tue, 27 Aug 2024 20:56:59 GMT

Thanks 😉

Re: R5 firmware rollback

shadowsports — Tue, 27 Aug 2024 21:51:00 GMT

Greetings ,

Firmware downgrade is not officially supported or recommended. I can't with good conscience provide the process, but I will tell you that "dropping the battery door" is never a good idea.

Huge improvements in performance were made between 1.5.2 and 2.0. May I ask what was so magic about v1.5.2?

Re: R5 firmware rollback

R5-ed — Fri, 30 Aug 2024 18:27:34 GMT

Thanks for the reply.

The AF took a HUGE hit with the FW update so I successfully "downgraded" last week.

Now the thing can focus on Great Dane-sized fawns 15 feet away again - instead of some random leaves in the upper left frame. 😀

Re: R5 firmware rollback

Tronhard — Fri, 30 Aug 2024 18:45:09 GMT

What focusing set up do you use on your camera?
Do you use evaluative or some other variant?
Do you have animal eye/face tracking with Servo set up?
Do you hold focus with the shutter button or use Back Button Focus?

Re: R5 firmware rollback

R5-ed — Fri, 30 Aug 2024 20:01:45 GMT

Thanks for trying to help.

I use triple BBF mostly with evaluative, servo unless doing landscape photography.

This camera is a dud. I missed the return window due to lockdowns. It came with a misaligned sensor which Canon finally repaired after gaslighting me because I wasn't a pro and consequently couldn't tell an in-focus shot from a consistently back-focused one. There is still something wrong with the on-sensor AF tho. It never has, and never will focus consistently but I live with it in FW 1.5.2.

Because Canon would not even offer me a refurb replacement I have been stuck with this for years now. I'm just waiting for more info from stills photographers on how AF on R5 ii is for SMALL birds before deciding my next step. But I needed to get this thing back to quasi-reliability for perched birds as sapsucker season is rapidly approaching.

Anyway, I learned a hard lesson and will never buy another pricey camera without renting first, then thoroughly testing my copy during the return window. Live and learn.

PS. Big 👍 on the Tolstoy quote, my favorite author!

Re: R5 firmware rollback

dpsaiz — Fri, 06 Feb 2026 03:13:25 GMT

If you have a CPS account you can borrow camera bodies and lenses for evaluation purposes. Canon will ship to you and provide a return shipping label.

One of the perks of a CPS membership.