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Understanding how to Update SPT Canon Service Adjustment Software
May 8th 2018

IMPORTANT:  DO NOT UPDATE SPT SOFTWARE WITH A CAMERA CONNECTED TO THE SOFTWARE

 

Updating Current SPT Software

 

Whenever a update is available, current SPT Canon Service Adjustment Software displays “Update ... is Available’ in the Opening Window.  When you want to Update your software click on ‘Update Software’ menu at the top of the page.  By clicking 'Yes' in the popup window the update will download and automatically update your software.  

 

  • Opening window / Update Software / Click ‘Yes’ in the Popup Window

 

 

Opening Window / Current SPT Software

 

 

 

Updating Previous SPT Software

 

In the Opening Window click 'Check for Updates' and follow the screen prompts.

 

 

Opening Window / Check for Updates 

 
 
Understanding the Canon 5D MK II Internal Shutter Count
May 7th 2018
Service Advisory from Canon regarding the Canon 5D MKII Shutter Count 
 
Problem
The shutter reading in the General Page of the software can be inaccurate by up to 2048 shots.  This is the camera’s  Internal Shutter Count.
 
 
Reason:
The 5D II has a firmware bug that limits the accuracy of its shot count and total count, read or written, to within 2048 of the actual value. Since the internal shutter count was never designed to display its count to the user, it doesn't have much effect on them until they come in for service.  Because of that Canon did not feel it necessary for an update to correct this defect. 
 
 
You can verify the shutter count:
SPT software are definitely reading and writing the count correctly. We have been able to verify this by comparing to the camera's own built-in shutter count, accessible under the factory menu (DATA CK > ERR), which gives exactly the same results as the SPT Software.
 
 
Technical:
The EOS 5d II stores the correct count until it gets above intervals of 2048 (800 in hexadecimal). Then it just fails to write the current count to Eeprom, until it gets to the next interval, which is 4092, and so on.  It updates an internal counter, so the camera is able to maintain a shutter count, and if you click the shutter enough times, it will start reading correctly again (It'll just jump up by 2048). 
 
 
Keep checking for Firmware Upgrades, Canon may address this issue at some point.
 
Understanding Canon's USB 2 and USB 3 Connectors
May 3rd 2018

Canon uses USB cables to connect their camera’s to PCs.  Although most Canon D SLRs use USB 2 cables known as a ‘micro-USB’,  newer Canon D SLRs have upgraded to USB 3. 

 

USB 2_‘micro-USB’

 

USB 3

 

An easy way to tell USB 3 from USB 2 is that the plastic tongue of the connector is always blue on a USB 3.

 

SPT Service Adjustment Software can use either USB 2 or USB 3 to connect SPT software to the camera …. with the exception of the Canon EOS 5DS and 5DS R.

 

Canon 5D S using the USB 3

 

 

Canon EOS 5Ds and 5DS R

  • Use a USB 2 ‘micro-USB’ for the 5D S and 5DS R cameras.  

 

  • Or use a USB 2 extension from your PC, and then plug your existing cable into that. The PC will treat it as a USB 2 connection.

 

If you use USB 3 to connect your Canon EOS 5DS or 5DS R to SPT Service Adjustment software, they will not communicate correctly and will probably lock into Service Mode.  This can be fixed by connecting the camera to the SPT Service Adjustment Software using a USB 2 cable.