When a Firmware Update Is Worth Installing (And When It’s Not)

For some photographers, firmware feels like a dirty word—especially for beginners. Should you install every update that appears, or leave things as they are if your camera works fine? For many, it starts with a more straightforward question: What is firmware, and why does it matter?

For both beginner photographers and more experienced ones, firmware is a murky concept. Questions like “What is firmware?” “Do I need to update my camera’s firmware?” and “Is there a time when I should not update the firmware?” are common. Firmware is a pretty important subject that many overlook, because it is not as sexy as a new lens, but it is just as important as formatting your memory card. All this and more creates hesitation among photographers. There can be tension between “new improvements” and the idea of “don’t fix it if it’s not broken.” The goal really comes down to making educated decisions over automatic ones.

What Is Firmware? 

For many, this is a common question. Firmware is essential software embedded in the camera that serves as its operating system. It controls the hardware, features, menu systems, and image processing. It’s the lifeblood of your camera and keeps it functioning.

What Firmware Updates Actually Do

Firmware is the embedded brain of the camera, just like your computer’s operating system. It governs critical operations of the camera. A firmware update doesn’t just improve the camera; it can also fix bugs it may be experiencing. Understanding firmware, how to update your camera’s firmware, and where to find manufacturer updates are just as important as the technical side of photography. I mentioned before that firmware is a foreign concept to many new photographers, and here are a few things it controls in the camera:

• Autofocus and performance: Controls autofocus algorithms, lens focus speed, and subject-tracking features. Frequent updates can enhance eye AF tracking for humans, animals, and birds.
• Image processing and quality: Controls how your camera processes the image, including noise reduction, white balance, and color rendering.
• Exposure and shooting modes: Dictates your camera’s handling of shutter speed, aperture, and ISO, including expanded ISO ranges.
• Video recording: Manages the camera’s frames per second (FPS), resolution, and stabilization options.
• User interface and hardware interaction: Dictates menu layouts, button functionality, display behavior, lens communication, memory card behavior, and interaction with external devices.

Previously, firmware was dedicated only to cameras, but with advancements, you can now update your lenses’ firmware right from your desk as well. Early adopters included Sony, Nikon, Canon, and Fujifilm. Third-party companies like Tamron began using USB docks to update lens firmware. Updating your camera firmware has benefits, and so does updating your lenses. These include improved autofocus, new features, bug fixes, and compatibility with new cameras, among other changes.

Not all firmware updates serve the same purpose. Most updates fall into these three categories: improvements, features, and stability. You will often see updates that bundle improvements, features, and stability into a single release. Understanding the difference among these three will help you decide whether the update will have a meaningful effect on your photography or make your camera look better on paper.

• Improvements: Think of it as improving camera performance. The update refines how the camera already functions; these are often the most valuable. Improvements can include autofocus accuracy, subject tracking, metering consistency, startup speed, or buffer behavior.
• Features: Expands what the camera can do. It may include new shooting modes, file formats, customization options, or broadened controls. These feature updates may only be helpful if they align with the type of work you do.
• Stability: Makes the camera more reliable. Stability updates focus on fixing bugs, preventing crashes, and improving overall reliability. These are the least glamorous updates, but often the most important. Stability improvements can address issues such as camera lockups, unexpected shutdowns, communication errors with lenses or cards, and inconsistent behavior in certain conditions.

When a Firmware Update Is Worth Installing

Reliability and Known Bug Issues: When it improves reliability or fixes known issues, these are the most important updates you need to be aware of. You want and need a reliable camera; who wants an unreliable camera? No one. There have been some recent firmware updates that have fixed critical issues across many camera brands.

• Leica SL3 (v1.1.9): Fixed a critical bug where the camera could overwrite existing photos.
• Sony a7 IV (v6.00): Sony suspended this update after users reported malfunctions, including reboot loops and power behavior issues. (Google Play)
• Nikon Z8 / Nikon Z9 (v3.01 / v5.30): Fixed issues preventing proper functionality with specific lenses and expanded subject detection.
• Canon EOS R5 Mark II / Canon EOS R1 (v1.0): Addressed early issues with specific memory cards and included fixes for video autofocus and panning assist.
• Leica M11 (v2.1): Resolved reported startup freeze issues.
• Panasonic Lumix S5 II (v3.1): Included various stability updates and communication improvements.

Improves Autofocus and Metering: Photographers have always asked for cameras that perform better, especially in autofocus. These are often updated regularly these days. In 2024 and 2025, several manufacturers improved autofocus through firmware updates.

Fujifilm

• X-T5 (v4.10) / X-T50 (v1.10) / X-S20 (v3.10): Significantly improves AF tracking performance and subject recognition stability.
• X100VI (v1.20): Enhances subject tracking and focusing accuracy.
• GFX100S II (v1.10): Refines autofocus algorithms for better performance.
• X-H2/X-T5 (Older updates): Improved AF tracking stability during video recording. 

Sony

• a1 II and a9 III: Updates supporting "Real-time Recognition AF+" with enhanced human pose estimation for tracking athletes.
• a1 (v3.00) and a9 III: Added support for the Preset Focus function on lenses without power zoom.
• a7 IV and a7R V: Major overhauls incorporating advanced, AI-powered subject recognition.

Nikon Z

• Z6III (v2.0): Major update enhancing bird detection, 3D-tracking accuracy, and in-camera focus limiting for faster performance.
• Z50 (v2.1), Z5 (v1.1), Z6 (v3.3), Z7 (v3.3), Z6II/Z7II (v1.2): Previous updates for improved autofocus stability. 

Canon (EOS R Series)

• R1 (v1.01) and R5 Mark II (v1.02): Bug fixes specifically addressing performance issues with these newer models.
• R3, R5, R6 Mark II, R7, R8, R10, R50: General enhancements to autofocus, tracking, and flash photography.

Adds Features, You Will Actually Use: It has been great that manufacturers are adding new features through firmware. In the past, you waited for a new camera to be released, which meant new features and more money flying out of your bank account. Now we are seeing new features introduced—a breath of fresh air. A few manufacturers have released meaningful new features through updates. Nikon has been doing this more and moving away from its old ways. I have always felt Nikon was the more conservative manufacturer when it came to updates and listening to its customers; there has been improvement in this area.

Nikon

• Nikon Z9
  • Ver 5.30 (Dec 2024): Improved subject acquisition, enhanced Auto Capture with new AF standby position, and in-camera focus limiter.
  • Ver 5.0 (Feb 2024): Added Auto Capture, increased high-speed frame capture options, and expanded Picture Controls.
• Nikon Z8
  • Ver 3.0 (June 2025): Added Flexible Color Picture Control and enhanced custom button functions.
• Nikon Zf
  • Ver 3.0 (Oct 2025): Added film grain, vertical shooting, customized ISO, focus limiter, and High-Speed Frame Capture.
  • Ver 2.0 (Feb 2024): Added support for Pixel Shift.
• Nikon Z6 III
  • Ver 2.0 (Sept 2025): Included significant enhancements to video functionality, including improved Hi-Res Zoom.
• Nikon Z6/Z7:
  • Ver 3.0 (2020): Added Animal Eye-Detection AF.
  • Ver 3.40 (2022): Improved FTZ II adapter support and face/eye detection performance. 

Sony

• Sony BURANO (v2.0): Adds new recording formats (FFcrop 3.8K 16:9, S35 4.3K 4:3), 1.8x anamorphic de-squeeze, and additional exposure tools.
• Sony a7 IV and a7R V: Added major, modern updates, including advanced custom autofocus and anti-AI authenticity tools for video. 

Canon

• EOS R3 (v2.0): Added 195 fps high-speed continuous shooting, panning assist, and register people priority.
• EOS R5/R6 (v1.5): Added vehicle tracking AF (cars/motorcycles) and improved face/eye detection.

EOS Cinema

• Cinema EOS (C400/C70/C80/R5C): Added full-frame 3:2 open gate recording, Frame.io Camera to Cloud connectivity, and 1.5x anamorphic de-squeeze. 

Panasonic Lumix 

• Lumix S5II/S5IIX/GH7/G9II (Various): Added Lumix Lab app compatibility for remote shooting, new crop/hybrid zoom features, and MP4(Lite) recording. 

Fujifilm

• GFX100RF/X-T5/X-S20/X100VI: Added security enhancements, integration with the XApp, and improved connectivity, while removing the Instax print option

Improves Compatibility: Accessories, such as memory cards, are another time when you will want to update firmware. Past updates have enabled the use of higher-capacity memory cards. There was a time when this was a big issue: a manufacturer would release a new memory card, only to find it was not compatible with older cameras, and firmware would fix the issue.

When a Firmware Update Might Not be Worth Installing 

When Changes Don't Apply to Your Work: If an update focuses on something like eye focus for wildlife and you are not a wildlife photographer, it may not benefit you in any way, and it may not be a time when you would want to update the firmware. As I mentioned before, there may be other updates that will help you, and that is the time to update. More features are not always a benefit, either. If there are features you do not plan to use, then there is no need to update the firmware.

Right Before Important Work: The time when you want stability is always, but there are times when you will not want to update your firmware. If you have an essential shoot or trip coming up, now is not the time to update. There have been times when bugs were not caught until users brought them to attention. These bugs can affect the camera’s stability, and reliability can go out the window. You do not want to find out there are issues while shooting a wedding, client work, or an important trip. These fixes are not always released right away; they take time.

When Early Reports Raise Red Flags: This aligns with the information above. I am never an early adopter of anything, especially cameras and firmware. I wait for others to be the guinea pigs and test it. I want to make sure there is enough time between the release and my update. The Nikon D600 had a widely known manufacturing defect in which the shutter mechanism could fling oil or grease onto the image sensor, creating persistent dark spots, particularly in the top-left corner of images. The issue often requires wet cleaning, but it may reappear until the shutter breaks in or is replaced. I remember this being a headache when I was the store manager at our local camera store. Again, that’s why I am not an early adopter of new firmware or gear.

When the Update Solves a Problem You Don’t Have: There comes a time when issues arise that may not affect you, whether they fall into the categories of improvements, stability, or features. This is the time to sit down and think through whether it is necessary to upgrade the firmware; it’s thoughtful.

How to Decide: A Checklist  

Do you need to update to the newest firmware? This is the process that I go through, personally:

• Read the update thoroughly.

• Ask: Does this increase and improve reliability, speed, or confidence?

• Does it change how I shoot, or just what is possible?

• Can I test it safely before critical use?

• Does it make sense?

Best Practices for Installing Firmware

As crucial as firmware is, it can also cause significant problems if not done correctly. It’s an easy way to turn your camera into a brick. As scary as it sounds, it’s not too hard if you take things slowly and understand the process. Here are things to do to make it less of a headache:

• Back up settings and custom profiles.

• Use fully charged batteries. If you lose power during installation, you could end up with a bricked camera and need to take it to a repair facility. Scary? Yeah, but with a fully charged battery, there is far less risk.

• Use a formatted memory card.

• Read and fully understand the installation process. Directions are provided when you download the firmware.

• Test after updating to make sure the camera is stable and working as expected.

Firmware as Maintenance, Not Magic

Firmware is a part of camera ownership, just like oil changes in your vehicle. Everything needs maintenance, as does the camera. Firmware is there to improve your camera and fix bugs, like a vehicle. My brand-new Nissan Frontier Pro-4X needs the radio software updated to fix bugs with the radio and backup camera, and cameras are no different.

Where Can I Download my Firmware?

• Nikon
• Canon
• Sony
• Fujifilm
• Leica
• Panasonic
• Olympus

In the End

Firmware updates are tools, not obligations. I know photographers who have never updated their camera’s firmware and are just fine. I usually update to new firmware, but not right away. There is no right or wrong answer here; it’s a matter of personal preference. Firmware is something you need to be aware of and understand—the benefits and downsides—so you can make educated decisions about what’s best for you. Knowing when not to install your firmware is just as important as knowing when to.