Skip to main content

Nikon releases a so-so solution for the D5's paltry 4K recording times

nikon d5 firmware update extends recording time 53740976 l
Stefan Holm
While Nikon’s announcement of the D5 earlier in January was eagerly anticipated, there was one big sticking point — the headlining 4K feature could only record in three-minute clips. But that’s changing with a new firmware update Nikon announced earlier today.

With the 1.10 firmware update, Nikon D5 users can get up to 29 minutes and 59 seconds of 4K video recording, a big step up from the previous three-minute limit. The Canon 1D X Mark II, by comparison, can only record a ten-minute 4K video at the highest frame rate, though it has had that capability since the beginning.

The firmware update is a big improvement for video — but there is a catch. That 30-minute video is divided into as many as eight separate files, of up to 4 GB each, which can be merged using Nikon’s included software, ViewNX-Movie. Essentially, Nikon D5 users still have only three-minute clips to work with, but won’t have to restart the camera and can stitch the files together without the gaps that would arise from starting a new recording. Whether or not that makes the D5 more viable for video is up for debate, with questions remaining as to whether the stitching is truly seamless and how long merging those large files will take.

Along with the increase in video recording, the firmware update also includes flicker reduction, fixing uneven exposure under some fluorescent lights that some early users were experiencing. The D5’s 153-point autofocus also now has a nine-point option for focusing on a smaller region. The update also introduces electronic image stabilization for video, though that mode will limit the angle of view and isn’t available with the 1080p resolution.

The update also adds more options to the shooting screen, including a silent shutter-release mode and a display for the time remaining in continuous shooting. The option for exposure compensation now also reaches three on both ends. The firmware also fixes some minor bugs, Nikon says, including some Wi-Fi connection issues.

The firmware update is available from Nikon’s download center.

Editors' Recommendations

Hillary K. Grigonis
Hillary never planned on becoming a photographer—and then she was handed a camera at her first writing job and she's been…
GoPro’s latest action camera is $50 off for Black Friday
The GoPro Hero 12 action camera recording water on a beach.

GoPro is the best action camera brand for adrenaline junkies and outdoor lovers, so there's always high demand for GoPro Black Friday deals. The latest release, the GoPro Hero 12 Black, was just rolled out in September, but surprisingly, its price has already been slashed for the shopping holiday with a $50 discount from Best Buy, so it will be yours for $350 instead of $400. We're not sure how long this offer will remain online though, so if you want to get the action camera for cheaper than usual, you should proceed with the purchase immediately.

Why you should buy the GoPro Hero 12 Black
The GoPro Hero 12 Black continues the brand's tradition of stepping up the capabilities of its action cameras with every succeeding generation. It's capable of recording 16:9 videos in 5K resolution at up to 30 frames per second, and 4K resolution at up to 60 frames per second, and it adds High Dynamic Range, allowing you to capture all of your most memorable adventures with extreme detail. The action camera features HyperSmooth 6.0 stabilization that does magic on shaky footage, and up to 8x slow motion for moments that the human eye will never see on its own.

Read more
This Black Friday camera deal might just get me to switch to Sony
Sony A7 III in hand.

Hear me out — while I've been plenty happy shooting Canon the past few years and would be more than happy with my Black Friday pick on that system — you can't help but look at what Sony has to offer on the full frame front and be at least a little bit tempted. And I'm not even talking about newfangled global sensors on that ridiculously awesome A9 iii.

I'm mostly thinking about the much larger world of lenses, particularly because, unlike Canon, Sony has embraced third-party lens manufacturers these past few years, whereas Canon ... has not. (To put it mildly.)

Read more
This 128GB SD card Black Friday deal is perfect for photographers
version 1647869006 2 insert sd card hand

If there's one thing a photographer can't have too many of, it's SD cards. For one, they tend to go missing every now and then. It happens to us all. Another reason is that an SD card will eventually fail. It's nobody's fault — that's just something that happens with this kind of removable storage.

So better to plan ahead and have a few extras on hand. And that's what makes this 128GB card from ProGrade the perfect Black Friday deal.

Read more