firmware

What you’ve all been waiting for – X-T1 firmware version 4.00 is now available!

by Marc Horner June 29, 2015 Comments3

X-T1 Part IV – Rise of the tracking autofocus

Well it finally arrived. The firmware update we’ve all been looking forward to for the Fujifilm X-T1 digital camera.

So what does it actually change?

Glad you asked! Here’s a video by Billy from The Fuji Guys where he demonstrates all of the new improvements found in the update.

The new Firmware Update features an advanced autofocus system for incredible performance when shooting moving subjects and exciting action scenes. Users will also experience improved auto focus accuracy for still images and video, Eye Detection, enhanced shutter speed dial operation (1/3 stop increments!), Exposure Compensation control in Manual mode (using Auto-ISO), and finer framing grid lines for enhanced visibility and image composition.

But what does this mean in REAL terms?

Another great question. Thanks for keeping up. Well I’ve been using it myself for a while and really like it. I could chew your ear off about what I think about it but I’m not an actual working professional photographer, so I’m not going to see it in the same way as you might. Coupled with the fact that I work for Fujifilm, you’d expect me to simply tell you that it’s great.

So instead, here’s a selection of working professional photographers that have tried the Firmware in their own shooting environments and posted their respective findings.

Damien Lovegrove

Damien is a professional portrait photographer from the UK. He left his role as a cameraman and lighting director at the BBC back in 1998 after 14 successful years to create the renowned Lovegrove Weddings partnership with his wife Julie. Together they shot over 400 top weddings for discerning clients worldwide. In 2008 Damien turned his hand to shooting beauty and portraiture and has since amassed a dedicated following for his distinctive art. Damien now divides his time between teaching the next generation of photographers and photographing personal projects.

After a day shooting with with one X-T1 running 3.11, and one running 4.00, here are his findings and an extensive review of the new X-T1 firmware V4 including tips on some real gems of features that have not made the headlines.

When I was asked for my opinions on version 4 of the X-T1 firmware I was a little scared and excited in equal measure. Excited because the opportunity to shoot in a more dynamic style is quite appealing. Scary because relearning shooting procedures is never easy. I’ve never been one to shy away from innovation and I’m certainly not a luddite when it comes to tech so I jumped at the chance. Here are my findings.

Click here to read Damien’s review

———

Jeff Carter

British motorsport photographer Jeff Carter has been using Fujifilm cameras for his work for over 20 years, going right back to the wonderfully lightweight and versatile GA645 medium format film cameras, but it was the X100 that he bought in 2012 that changed the way he worked. Here was a small, discreet camera that allowed him to take the images he needed for his work in and around the paddock.

He took an X-T1 with FW4 to the recent Le Mans 24 Hours event and here is his account.

2.Pic2_20150610LeMansFP_XT1F-1682 — © Jeff Carter

Firmware 4.0 has transformed the X-T1. I recently tested the new autofocus at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, the world’s greatest endurance race and the biggest challenge for man and machine. This proved to be the perfect test ground for the X-T1’s new AF system and it wasn’t found wanting.

Click here to read Jeff’s review

———

Eivind Røhne

Eivind is a professional photographer from Norway. He’s been a commercial and editorial photographer since the mid ninetees. He loves people so mostly shoots fashion, lifestyle, commercial and editorial portraits, people at work etc. and he also love lines, shapes and man-made structures, so he likes to shoot industrial subjects, architecture and interiors for commercial and editorial use.

This time around the Fujifilm firmware buzz really hit the roof, with claims of an all new autofocus system that would practically give existing X-T1 owners a brand new camera. Bold claims indeed. Claims not only made by those saying they had gotten hold of rogue and secret beta versions of the firmware, but also claims made by Fujifilm themselves in their marketing teasers.

Click here to read Eivind’s review

———

If you already own an X-T1, I’m sure by the time you get to this point your camera will already have version 4 installed and ready to go. Hopefully you will find it as good as these guys did.

If you don’t already own an X-T1, hopefully these photographer’s reviews will be that final push to persuade you to take the plunge and try it for yourself. Hoping to welcome you to the Fuji family soon!

Filed under Blog

Fuji Guys: Hands-on with the new X-T10 and X-T1 Autofocus modes

by Dale Young May 18, 2015 Comments1

We’re all very excited by the new Autofocus features that were announced last week for the X-T1, and that will also be present on the brand spanking new X-T10 digital camera announced this morning.

After reading all about it, the first thing we wanted to do was go out and try it out ourselves. Marc and I were able to get hold of a pre-production X-T10 for the day so we made this little video for you.

Here’s a few more sample images shot on the day using the setup described. Keep in mind that this is a pre-production model so the final results may vary. All images are straight out of camera.

X-T10 with XF18-55mm lens – ISO200 – f/5.6 – 1/600

X-T10 with XF18-55mm lens – ISO200 – f/5.6 – 1/350

X-T10 with XF18-55mm lens – ISO400 – f/5.6 – 1/500

X-T10 with XF18-55mm lens – ISO500 – f/5.6 – 1/500

X-T10 with XF18-55mm lens – ISO500 – f6.4 – 1/500

First look – Fujifilm X-T1 firmware version 3.00

by Marc Horner December 18, 2014 Comments7

Merry Christmas, season’s greetings and all of that. If you have not received any Christmas presents this year, let Fujifilm be the first!

The long awaited firmware update for the X-T1 is finally here and you can download it by clicking right here.

Now if you’re still here, then you must be at least slightly interested in the opinion of a (mildly biased) X-T1 user regarding how the firmware update has changed his camera.

So, in order of how much I value them, here’s my low down:

Classic Chrome

I really like this Film Simulation mode. I had previously used the X100T and loved to just stick it on Classic Chrome, change EXP Comp to -2/3 and shoot. No need to do anything to the shots after because the JPEGS straight out of the camera are just superb.

Here’s a few shots I took recently+. All shot as RAW and then converted in-camera to Classic Chrome (left) and Provia standard (right)

I also want to add this one which is one of my favourite shots from the Alex Lambrechts street workshop. This was taken on an X100T using Classic Chrome straight from camera.

Interlock Spot AE & Focus Area

I never quite understood why Spot Metering only ever worked in the centre of the image. The beauty of it was that you could quickly expose perfectly on a specific subject rather than tweak with the EXP Comp dial, but then you had to re-frame every shot once you lock the exposure by half-pressing the shutter. This was a quiet change that made it onto the X100T, so I was delighted to see it also on the X-T1 FW update.

Shots below show spot metering on the focus point. If you look close you will see that they also demonstrate the next feature – changing the size of the AF square in MF

Change the size of the AF square in MF mode

This is one that lot of people have asked for over the last year or so. Personally I like to use MF for everything, and just use the AF-L button to autofocus. (TIP: Shoot B+W mode with Red of Blue focus peaking and it makes it SOOOOO easy to see the focal plane. Don’t forget to save RAW files in case you don’t actually want B+W images!). This little fix allows me to have the AF accuracy of normal AF mode while continuing to shoot how I prefer.

Electronic Shutter

Since my favourite prime lenses are the XF23mm and XF56mm, shooting wide open in bright conditions often causes me to need to stop down, not because I want a deeper depth of field, but because I don’t want to massively over expose my shots. Now I no longer need to worry as the shutter will just automatically adjust. And it’s surprising just how often it does this, even shooting around f/2.

Additionally, I like to use the remote app and leave the camera hanging around my neck for the ultimate “candid” shots on the streets. Manually activating the Electronic Shutter makes every shot completely silent.

Instax printing

This one doesn’t actually affect me right now, but I hope it will in the VERY near future. I love the prints you get from the instax cameras and to be able to send images from a top quality digital camera, straight to the printer will go down a treat around the dining table on Christmas day!

Button lock

This is a feature I’m sure a lot of people will like. You can basically choose to either lock ALL settings, or just select certain settings to lock. For now I’ve locked the Movei Record button that I so frequently accidentally press, although if I thought about it I could just change that function button to something more useful than Movie Record. However, the position of it does make it one I do often press by mistake. I’m used to having that particular function button either work as ISO or ND filter (both for using on X100S) and neither are needed on the X-T1. I’m sure I can find something useful to put there.

And everything else…

I’ve only mentioned the things that I think will change the way I shoot with my X-T1. There’s loads of other things that all seem great and I’m sure lots of people will use. Perhaps one day I will too. Here’s the full official list of changes:

1 Electronic Shutter
2 New Film Simulation “Classic Chrome”
3 LCD Brightness、EVF/LCD Color Control、Preview PIC. effect
4 Direct selection of AF area
5 Unlocked AE-L/AF-L Buttons
6 Variable Focus Area during MF
7 Direct selection of Macro mode
8 Q.Menu customization
9 New Video Frame rates (50P/25P/24P)
10 Manual Shooting in Video mode
11 Phase detection AF support for Instant AF
12 Interlocking of Metering and Focus areas
13 Expansion of shutter speed in Program Shift mode
14 Add Flash compensation in Function setting
15 Instax Printer Print
16 Lock Function
17 Three Custom White Balances
18 Expand EVF/LCD displaying types in manual exposure mode
19 AF+MF
20 PC tethered shooting support

To save your mousewheel the effort of scrolling back up to the top, here’s the link again to download the Fujifilm X-T1 update.

Hope you enjoy!

About the author

I am a full-time employee of Fujifilm UK but this post is not the official word of Fujifilm, simply just the opinion of a guy who just happens (rather conveniently) to love Fujifilm cameras!

Filed under Blog

The gear that keeps on giving

by Ben Cherry November 5, 2014 Comments2

The above image was taken with the X-T1 which had recently had a firmware update to make it compatible with the XF18-135mm lens which was used to obtain this shot, via the remote control feature and a monopod.

I remember when I first approached Fujifilm UK with the idea of testing their equipment in the jungles of Borneo. My intention was to rely on the X-Series to document my trip, which had a heavy focus on nature. Unfortunately at the time the X-Pro1 and X-E1 weren’t quite up to the speeds I required to use this system exclusively. If I had done this trip in 2014, oh how things would be different. Not purely because of the wonderful X-T1 but because of the firmware improvements made to the X-Pro1 and other cameras.

These firmware updates are so much more than simply updating cameras to optimise their usability with lenses launched more recently. If you look at this link you can see the timeline of improvements made to the X-Pro1, from large improvements like auto focus performance and better “single-hand” settings operability to extra functions being added like focus peaking for manual focusing. Below shows a screen grab with some of latest firmware updates for the X-Pro1.

It wasn’t just the flagship model which gained firmware upgrades; the X-E1 had much the same improvements and the X100 had an autofocus improvement that meant that it was in fact the ongoing firmware updates that were the most spoken about thing of this camera, instead of the previously poor autofocus. Further down the line, the X-E2 has had the refresh rate of its EVF improved to the very high standard of the X-T1. The X-A1 and X-M1 can now both wirelessly transfer pictures to the brilliant SP1 printer for near-instant prints.

Now the X-T1 is set for a major firmware update. The Internet has been buzzing with excitement around the new features that are integrated into the X100T and X-T1 graphite edition. Other than the wonderful 6-part creation of the graphite finish, this new version has some very exciting software improvements. The first headline feature is the new Classic Chrome JPEG film simulation that’s blowing everyone’s mind with its unique style that’s so different from the other film simulations available.

The second feature is the crazy electronic shutter toping out at 1/32000! For those of you using the fast prime lenses at F1.2 and F1.4, this opens up a huge realm of creativity. Only recently I had to juggle a neutral density filter between the XF23mm F1.4 and XF56mm F1.2 while exploring sunny Lisbon to take full advantage of the thin depth of field on offer. This new feature will make this a thing of the past, one less thing to have to worry about. The benefits of the electronic shutter don’t stop there – being electronic there are no moving parts to generate noise meaning it is truly silent shooting. This has always been one of the big factors that has made the X100s such a joy to use to quiet situations, a factor that often meant I would lean towards the X100s series instead of the X-T1.

Taken in the centre of Lisbon using an ND filter so I could use f1.2.

These aren’t the only updates to look forward to, as there are many many more features due to happen in a December firmware overhaul:

4-way controller AF selection
Changeable focus area during MF
Q menu customization
Interlocking AF and metering points
Unlocked AE-L/AF-L buttons
Direct selection of macro mode
Phase detection AF support for instant AF
Expansion of shutter speed in Program Shift mode
Manual shooting in video mode
New video frame rates

These all look like great improvements as the X-Series continues to evolve into an increasingly refined camera system, appealing to an increasingly wide genre. Notably for action/fast paced photography, the addition of the 4-way controller being able to move the AF point is very help for quickly adapting to situations instead of having to focus and recompose which can get annoying and frustrating with fleeting moments. The customisation of the Q menu is definitely a bonus, allowing photographers to really tailor the camera to their needs, prioritising the features that are most frequently used instead of constantly having to search through menus. I could go through and state the pluses of each new feature upgrade but this webpage explains them all.

These are the upgrades that Fujifilm have let us know in advance about, I can only imagine the other ‘goodies’ they have in store in the near future. Logically you would think that the X-E2 could potentially have remote shooting via phones or tablets like the X-T1 and X100T. Both the X-E2 and X-T1 might be able to wirelessly transfer pictures to the SP1 for wireless printing on the go. There are so many features that Fujifilm could add to the ever-increasing list of benefits for using the Fujifilm X-Series. I think the number 1 benefit on this list is that Fujifilm look after their current users, with upgrades such as this.

To look for the latest firmwares updates for your Fujifilm product search here.

Filed under Blog Photography

The kaizen continues! Multiple Fujifilm cameras get new firmware updates

by Fujifilm EMEA June 26, 2014 Comments2

Firmware updates to improve the Fujifilm X-T1, X-Pro1, X-E1, X-E2, X-M1, X-A1, XQ1, FinePix S1, FinePix XP70 and FinePix XP200 are now available to download from the Fujifilm Global website

X-T1

Version number : 1.10 (current 1.00)

Details of changes:

Addition of compatibility with “XF18-135mmF3.5-5.6R OIS WR”
Improvement of “Exposure compensation/exposure indicator” in EVF
Values are added to the scales of the indicator for better visibility
Improvement of Movie-record button operability
The phenomenon is fixed that images are not recorded with the set interval when “INTERVAL” in “INTERVAL TIMER SHOOTING” is set to 5 sec or less. In this case, the setting of “IMAGE DISP.” in “SCREEN SET-UP” will change to “OFF” automatically.

Further details and instructions on how to update the firmware in your X-T1 camera

X-Pro1

Version number : 3.30 (current 3.20)

Details of changes:

Addition of compatibility with “XF18-135mmF3.5-5.6R OIS WR”
Change of aperture display for zoom lenses
Display of aperture value when zooming with the shutter button pressed halfway will become same as the display when zooming without the shutter button pressed.

Further details and instructions on how to update the firmware in your X-Pro1 camera

X-E1

Version number : 2.30 (current 2.20)

Details of changes:

Addition of compatibility with “XF18-135mmF3.5-5.6R OIS WR”
Change of aperture display for zoom lenses
Display of aperture value when zooming with the shutter button pressed halfway will become same as the display when zooming without the shutter button pressed.

Further details and instructions on how to update the firmware in your X-E1 camera

X-E2

Version number : 2.10 (current 2.00)

Details of changes:

Addition of compatibility with “XF18-135mmF3.5-5.6R OIS WR”
Change of aperture display for zoom lenses
Display of aperture value when zooming with the shutter button pressed halfway will become same as the display when zooming without the shutter button pressed.

Further details and instructions on how to update the firmware in your X-E2 camera

X-M1

Version number : 1.20 (current 1.10)

Details of changes:

Addition of compatibility with “instax SHARE SP-1”
Images can be directly transferred to the “SP-1” from a camera and then printed.
Addition of compatibility with “XF18-135mmF3.5-5.6R OIS WR”
Change of aperture display for zoom lenses
Display of aperture value when zooming with the shutter button pressed halfway will become same as the display when zooming without the shutter button pressed.
Sound quality of while shooting movie is improved.

Further details and instructions on how to update the firmware in your X-M1 camera

X-A1

Version number : 1.20 (current 1.10)

Details of changes:

Addition of compatibility with “instax SHARE SP-1”
Images can be directly transferred to the “SP-1” from a camera and then printed.
Addition of compatibility with “XF18-135mmF3.5-5.6R OIS WR”
Change of aperture display for zoom lenses
Display of aperture value when zooming with the shutter button pressed halfway will become same as the display when zooming without the shutter button pressed.
Sound quality of while shooting movie is improved.

Further details and instructions on how to update the firmware in your X-A1 camera

XQ1

Version number : 1.20 (current 1.10)

Details of changes:

Addition of compatibility with “instax SHARE SP-1”
Images can be directly transferred to the “SP-1” from a camera and then printed.
Fixes an issue where, in rare cases, a camera could stop working during image transfer when starting “PC AutoSave” function by pressing the Wi-Fi button.

Further details and instructions on how to update the firmware in your XQ1 camera

FinePix S1

Version number : 1.01 (current 1.00)

Details of changes:

Fixes an issue where, in rare cases, the camera would freeze while zooming during playback.
Fixes an issue where “BEST FRAME CAPTURE” of “Continuous Shooting” doesn’t work with the remote release RR-90.
Fixes an issue where images are not recorded properly when the shutter speed is 10 sec. or longer in RAW shooting.

Further details and instructions on how to update the firmware in your FinePix S1 camera

FinePix XP70

Version number : 1.02 (current 1.01)

Details of changes:

Revision of the description on LCD when continuous shots are erased in “ALL FRAMES”.
Fixes an issue where the a camera sometimes doesn’t work when connected to a PC via a USB cable for a long time.
Fixes an issue where, in rare cases, “COMMUNICATION ERROR” could appear when saving images in PC AutoSave.

Further details and instructions on how to update the firmware in your FinePix XP70 camera

FinePix XP200

Version number : 1.02 (current 1.01)

Details of changes:

Fixes an issue where, in rare cases, a camera couldn’t work when selecting images in “SEND SELECTED MULTIPLE IMAGES” menu while communicating with a Smartphone.

Further details and instructions on how to update the firmware in your FinePix XP200 camera

Filed under Blog

New firmware for the X-E2 to bring it more in-line with the X-T1

by Marc Horner April 30, 2014 Comments11

Kaizen (改善), Japanese for “improvement” or “change for the best”, refers to philosophy or practices that focus upon continuous improvement. – Wikipedia

Way back in February 2014, our Senior Sales and Marketing Manager Toshi Iida mentioned during an interview with DPReview that the X-E2 would be due some loving from the R&D team in the near future.

“We will release new firmware for the X-E2 soon which will improve the refresh rate of the EVF bringing it to the same level as the X-T1 and also add an interval shooting function.”

EVF Refresh Rate

The new firmware version 2.00 has been released today and it includes the improved refresh rate on the EVF that Toshi mentioned. I’ve tested it quickly here and it is a noticeable improvement, but to be honest I didn’t find the previous refresh rate much of an issue to start with.

Selecting different colours when using Focus Peak Highlighting

It looks like the Interval Shooting feature didn’t quite make it into this one (lets hope for v 2.10), but instead we’ve got the ability to select different colours for the Focus Peak Highlighting – a feature that I really like on the X-T1.

In certain shooting situations (like ones that already contain lots of white), it can be difficult to see the white focus peak highlighting.

I personally tend to shoot on manual focus, using the AF-L button to Autofocus and then the focus ring to make minor adjustments. One thing I’ve been doing lately that makes it even easier to focus is to set the camera to B+W and then use the Red highlight peaking as it stands out hugely from the rest of the shot.

Here’s a couple of shots to demonstrate how easy it is to see the focal plane in this way. These shots are actually of an X-T1 screen so they’re for reference only. Also, please remember that these are shots of the LCD screen. When using the EVF the image is far more detailed.

I’ve just realised I’m drinking out of an 8 year old cup

I still shoot JPG+RAW so the final images don’t need to be in B+W. The reason I shoot JPG as well is so you can quickly use the playback mode to see a 100% crop to check you really did hit the focus bang on – handy when shooting at f/1.2!

Face Detection on Fn button

This is something I can see myself using, especially with the fast lenses shooting my kids when they are playing. I find the Face Detection AF very good at picking out their eyes, so to be able to switch it on and off at the single touch of a button when I’m changing between shooting them and shooting things without a face will be nice.

Conclusion

All in all I think this is a really nice upgrade for the X-E2. Perhaps some X-E2 users that were thinking about switching to the X-T1 might think twice now, but that’s OK – it’s all part of our philosophy of Kaizen to continually improve our products and hope that our users get plenty of joy out of their product before they feel they need to upgrade.

Any questions, Tweet me @Fujifilm_UK or leave a comment below.

Marc

Archives

firmware

What you’ve all been waiting for – X-T1 firmware version 4.00 is now available!

X-T1 Part IV – Rise of the tracking autofocus

So what does it actually change?

But what does this mean in REAL terms?

Damien Lovegrove

Click here to read Damien’s review

Jeff Carter

Click here to read Jeff’s review

Eivind Røhne

Click here to read Eivind’s review

Fuji Guys: Hands-on with the new X-T10 and X-T1 Autofocus modes

Other X-T10 videos

First look – Fujifilm X-T1 firmware version 3.00

The gear that keeps on giving

The kaizen continues! Multiple Fujifilm cameras get new firmware updates

X-T1

X-Pro1

X-E1

X-E2

X-M1

X-A1

XQ1

FinePix S1

FinePix XP70

FinePix XP200

New firmware for the X-E2 to bring it more in-line with the X-T1

EVF Refresh Rate

Selecting different colours when using Focus Peak Highlighting

Face Detection on Fn button

Conclusion

Related links: