topic Re: EOS R8 - poor buffer/write performance / firmware downgrade in EOS DSLR & Mirrorless Cameras

EOS R8 - poor buffer/write performance / firmware downgrade

anzee — Tue, 28 Jan 2025 13:52:33 GMT

Hello!

I have a Canon Eos R8 since june 2023. I am using it as a hybrid camera for photos and videos.

Since the very beginning I am also using Tascam XLR audio adapter for the hot shoe. Filming mostly in 4k 50p light setting.

In december 2024 I found out, that I suddenly get audio problems (out of sync, scratches in audio,.. audible while montoring earphones and also in written file) when filming in 4k50p "light", although I used this setting for at least a year before without any problems. If i continued to film, the camera buffered out (with icon) and stopped filming. It helped to change the setting to 4K25p "light", but from time to time this also results in poor audio and buffer being filled. In HD the problem is not visible.

First thing to change was the SD card. Usually I was using V30 sandisk 64GB card, changed to 128GB V60 card. No difference. Tried also some other cards, with no luck (haven't tried V90, but it worked with v30 card before..). Tried different batteries with different charge states - no luck. Tried different lenses (rf70-200 f2.8, rf50 1.2, rf24-105, rf15-35), no luck. The problem persists if recording sound from Tascam, Rode NTG2 via jack or using internal microphones.

The last idea was the firmware. I think i upgraded to 1.4.0 firmware from 1.3.0 sometime in november. But cannot downgrade back to 1.3.0. to check that.

Has anyone else experienced this performance issue after upgrading to 1.4.0 firmware? Or is there a way to downgrade the firmware to an older version, to check.

Side question - anyone else also thinks that the HD quality of footage from R8 is really poor, so is the slow motion, but the 4k is just perfect...

regards, Anze

Re: Canon EOS R8 - poor buffer/write performance / firmware downgrade

Peter — Tue, 21 Jan 2025 19:13:35 GMT

For best write performance, low level format the card. You will need to do this every time you have filled the card if you want the best write speed.

Benchmark the card before and after.

Re: Canon EOS R8 - poor buffer/write performance / firmware downgrade

anzee — Tue, 21 Jan 2025 19:39:24 GMT

I did try making a low level format. But there is no difference. You can clearly see that the audio starts going places as the volume meters are unresponsive and laggy. For example, 4k 50p "light" gets weird audio performance after ~30s, the buffer bar shows at ~60s, and the camera stops recording shortly after. Sometimes i also get Error07.

Re: Canon EOS R8 - poor buffer/write performance / firmware downgrade

p4pictures — Tue, 21 Jan 2025 22:47:55 GMT

Firstly V30 cards are really not suited to 4K 50p recording, you're on the limit of what the card can do. A more complex scene or higher noise due to more ISO might mean the video file is not so easily compressed and you hit the limit of the card. V60 should be fine, however there have been some issues with EOS R5 Mark II and some Sandisk V60 SD cards, I would certainly give another brand of V60 or a V90 card a try.

Have you changed the audio compression setting in the custom functions, if it was previously set to be compressed and now you chose uncompressed this also adds the to load on the card.

Re: Canon EOS R8 - poor buffer/write performance / firmware downgrade

anzee — Wed, 22 Jan 2025 05:46:38 GMT

I understand that v30 card is on the limit. Will for sure try other non Sandisk v60 cards and also v90.

No, the audio compression was set to on. I also tried turning off the compression if it will worsen the result, but it seems similar.

Re: Canon EOS R8 - poor buffer/write performance / firmware downgrade

anzee — Tue, 28 Jan 2025 06:31:53 GMT

No other ideas? The problem that suddenly arose brought me a lot of stress while making interviews professionally, whereas before this was a walk in the park... 😞

Hope we get a new firmware soon, as i don't know how to downgrade to test this..

Re: Canon EOS R8 - poor buffer/write performance / firmware downgrade

anzee — Tue, 28 Jan 2025 11:44:33 GMT

And right now I tested with a brand new Angelbird 128GB v90 300MB/s card, low level formatted in the camera. Got buffer full error after 30s of filming in 4k50p light.

It must be something with the camera...

Re: Canon EOS R8 - poor buffer/write performance / firmware downgrade

Waddizzle — Tue, 28 Jan 2025 12:07:22 GMT

There’s no question that V30 and V60 cards are not the best choice for recording video at the highest resolution and frame rates.

But your issues seem to be mostly with the audio quality associated with the Tascam adapter mounted on the shoe. Tell us more about it. Model number? How is it being powered? How is it connected to the camera?

What microphone are you using? What about the microphone cables?

Re: Canon EOS R8 - poor buffer/write performance / firmware downgrade

Waddizzle — Tue, 28 Jan 2025 12:10:41 GMT

“ No other ideas? The problem that suddenly arose brought me a lot of stress while making interviews professionally, whereas before this was a walk in the park. “

So, what has changed. Are you doing anything differently now?

Re: Canon EOS R8 - poor buffer/write performance / firmware downgrade

anzee — Tue, 28 Jan 2025 13:17:27 GMT

I don't think the problem is with Tascam adapter, as the problem persists even while recording with internal microphones. Or through 3,5mm jack.

If it helps:
- Tascam CA-XLR2d-C, serial no 2290525
- Sennheiser e865s handheld microphone
- Rode M5 ambient microphone
- generic XLR cables, different length
- Rode VideoMic NTG with 3,5mm jack

But still, the problem is present even when using internal microphone. I will make a sample video and post it here...

Re: EOS R8 - poor buffer/write performance / firmware downgrade

anzee — Tue, 28 Jan 2025 14:00:32 GMT

Ok here we go...

Recording low datarate scene with my R8 using only internal microphones and some youtube interview played through mobile phone pointed towards the mic. Other camera is R5 mk1 recording the screen of R8. Full screen video and audio is captured with R8, picture in picture is a view of R8 lcd screen. It is interesting, that the footage is stopped at approx 30s, while the camera shows that is recording for quite some time until the buffer icon is shown. Shortly the buffer is full and R8 stops. You can hear the distorted audio coming from the R8 file...

Re: Canon EOS R8 - poor buffer/write performance / firmware downgrade

anzee — Tue, 28 Jan 2025 14:04:18 GMT

Like I said, no. Same setup as the whole time before, for more than 1,5 years. The only difference I can think about is the firmware update that I made, or some unknown and invisible mechanical problem that could be the cause..

Re: EOS R8 - poor buffer/write performance / firmware downgrade

anzee — Sun, 02 Feb 2025 11:09:18 GMT

So, no ideas how to downgrade the firmware? Would the service centre be able to do this?

Re: EOS R8 - poor buffer/write performance / firmware downgrade

stevet1 — Sun, 02 Feb 2025 15:35:29 GMT

anzee,

Just as a test, have you tried taking it out of 4K and just filming in HD for a bit?

Steve Thomas

Re: EOS R8 - poor buffer/write performance / firmware downgrade

anzee — Sun, 02 Feb 2025 17:39:57 GMT

Yes Steve I did. In HD it records flawlessly for at least 15mins, that's how long I tested recently.

Re: EOS R8 - poor buffer/write performance / firmware downgrade

Waddizzle — Sun, 02 Feb 2025 22:35:48 GMT

Only because you seem to be the only user reporting this type of issue, I doubt that the firmware update has anything to do with it.

Is your camera giving you over temperature warnings? If not, it should during long periods of 4K high speed recording.

Re: EOS R8 - poor buffer/write performance / firmware downgrade

anzee — Mon, 03 Feb 2025 07:15:48 GMT

You make a point with noone complaining, true.

The camera did give me over temp warnings, usually when filming in direct sun or also just turned on on the sun the bar was visible and slowly rising.

In these last months we have colder temps and not that much sun, so I didn't see the warning for some time. And I cannot film in 4K that long that it would give me the warning, as it buffers out before. Will try to put the camera in warmer environment and see if the temp warning shows

Re: EOS R8 - poor buffer/write performance / firmware downgrade

anzee — Sat, 22 Feb 2025 09:32:05 GMT

Sent the camera to the Canon service. At the end, it was a motherboard failure (apparently due to water ingress). Now it is working great again. Thanks to all that helped!