Following their Kaizen philosophy of improving their lineup of cameras, Fujifilm has released new firmware for three of their cameras.
Fujifilm X-E2
The X-E2 receives the most significant update, adding all the functionality of the brand new Fujifilm X-E2S (kit/body) except for 1.) no auto mode and 2.) Max ISO is 25,600 instead of 51,200.
The update is so substantial to the existing X-E2 firwmware that a new owner’s manual is available for this camera. The X-E2 will now operate similar to the X-T10 with improvements to the menu system and display, as well as the AF functions. See link below to download this.
X-E2 Owner’s Manual: Download Link
Ver. 4.00: Download Link
1. New AF System
- New AF system with Zone and Wide/Tracking modes
The AF System complements the fast and accurate 49-single-point autofocus system with new Zone and Wide/Tracking modes, which use 77 autofocus points across a wider area to substantially improve the camera’s ability to capture moving subjects.- Improvement of AF accuracy
Single-point AF divides the focus area into smaller sections to more accurately determine the distance to the subject for even greater focusing accuracy. The built-in phase detection pixels have the detection range of 0.5EV, an improvement from the previous 2.5EV, delivering phase detection AF performance that enables fast focusing in low-light conditions and on low-contrast subjects.- Eye Detection AF
The firmware update provides Fujifilm’s Eye Detection AF, which automatically detects and focuses on human eyes.
The function allows you to easily focus on the eyes even in difficult conditions, e.g. when shooting a portrait wide open to obtain a beautiful bokeh background.- Auto Macro mode
The firmware update introduces the Auto Macro function, which automatically switches the camera into the Macro mode while maintaining the conventional AF speed. You no longer have to press the Macro button to initiate a close-up shot. This update eliminates the Macro function assigned to the Macro Button, allowing you to assign a different function to the button.- AF improvement in the Movie mode
The optimized algorithm delivers a more natural and smooth AF action during movie recording.2. Function enhancements
- High-speed electronic shutter with a maximum speed of 1/32000sec.
The FUJINON XF Lens series lineup includes a number of fast fixed focal length lenses which boast very high sharpness with the aperture wide open, producing excellent out of focus “bokeh”. However, fast apertures are difficult to use if the light is too bright, so to ensure users can create shallow depth-of-field effects, the camera is now equipped with a fully electronic shutter offering a maximum shutter speed of 1/32000sec. The mechanical shutter will not operate at all when any speed for the electronic shutter is selected, which also delivers a completely silent shooting experience; perfect for shots of sleeping children, pets, weddings, and more. In addition, it is possible to set the electronic shutter in 1/3 steps from a range of 1sec to 1/32000sec.
Notes 1: Shutter Sound
The shutter sound can be muted if desired. Use the new “SHUTTER SOUND” and “SHUTTER VOLUME” options in the setup menu to choose the type and volume of the sound made when the shutter is released.
Notes 2: The Electronic Shutter may not be suitable for fast-moving objects. Flash can not be used.- White Balance Bracketing.
Just fire the shutter once and capture the same scene at your selected white balance setting plus one frame at a warmer and another at a cooler color temperature. White Balance bracketing can be set in ±1, ±2 and ±3 steps.- Enhanced ISO Auto Setting to AUTO1/AUTO2/AUTO3.
You can use three ISO Auto setting AUTO1/AUTO2/AUTO3 in menu.- Exposure Compensation control in Manual
You can use the Exposure Compensation dial to make exposure adjustments while shooting in the Manual exposure mode with the ISO Auto setting.- Natural Live View function is just like the naked eye
One of the great benefits of an electronic viewfinder is that ‘what you see is what you get’; the final image is displayed in real-time so any Film Simulation modes or other effects can be checked while shooting. But users sometimes need to see colors close to how they’re viewed with an optical finder, or to focus on shadow detail, which some high-contrast effects block out. To aid this, the Natural Live View function has been added and, when “PREVIEW PIC. EFFECT” is turned Off in the menu, an image close to the naked eye is displayed during live view.- Finer lines on the framing grid enhances visibility
The lines on the framing grid, which you can choose to display in the Screen Set-Up menu, have been made finer making it easier to view the subject.- New Video Frame rates (50P / 25P / 24P)
As well as the existing 60fps and 30fps selections, 50fps, 25fps and 24fps options will be available with the update. 50fps and 25fps allow video editing in the PAL regions, such as Europe, without converting the frame rate. 24fps offers a cinema-like view.- Manual Shooting in Video mode
The update will enable ISO sensitivity selection prior to shooting videos, as well as the ability to adjust aperture and shutter speed during movie recording.- Phase detection AF support for Instant AF
In Instant AF mode, which is operated by pressing the AF-L button during manual focusing, the update will enable Phase Detection AF, providing faster focusing speeds.- Expansion of shutter speed in Program Shift mode
In the current Program Shift mode, the slowest-speed setting is 1/4sec, but this will increase to a maximum of 4secs.3. Operability improvements
- The new user interface
The new user interface has been designed with particular attention paid to the size and layout of displayed settings. This allows you to concentrate fully on shooting through the viewfinder.- Improved Shutter Speed Dial operation
When the Shutter Speed Dial is set to T and the Shutter Type to Mechanical + Electronic, you can use the command dial to set a full range of exposure times from 30-1/32000sec. Previously, this was limited to 30-2 seconds. This means you can change the shutter speeds across a broader range without having to change camera position.- Name of Silent mode changed to avoid confusion
The Silent Mode has been renamed to “SOUND & FLASH “.- Direct selection of AF area
The update will let users select the focus area using the 4-way selector buttons, without pressing the Fn key.- Unlocked AE-L / AF-L Buttons
The function of the AE-L / AF-L button is currently locked, but will be interchangeable, depending on the user’s preference.- Variable Focus Area during MF
When working in Manual focus mode, the update will enable changing the size of the focus area during Instant AF with the AF-L button.- Q. Menu customization
To make the Q Menu (used for quick access of frequently-used items) even more efficient, the update will allow its items and layout to be changed to the user’s preference.- Interlocking of Metering and Focus areas
Users will be able to interlock the AF area position with the Metering area when Spot Metering mode is selected.- Movie Recording
Movie recording starts by pressing a function button not the shutter button. “MOVIE” in DRIVE options is eliminated.4. Other changes with the update
- Supports focus limiter function for XF100-400mmF4.5-5.6 R LM OIS WR
To be fully compatible with the lens, the new firmware supports focus limiter function for FUJINON XF100-400mmF4.5-5.6 R LM OIS WR.- “BACKGROUND COLOR” menu
“BACKGROUND COLOR” menu in “SCREEN SET-UP” menu is eliminated.- The maximum number of images taken in the continuous shooting mode
JPEG in High-speed continuous shooting mode: approx. 28 images ⇒ approx. 18 images RAW in High-speed and Low-speed continuous shooting mode: 1 or 2 less images than before the update.
Fujifilm X-T1
Ver.4.30: Download Link
Improvements with this firmware update:
- Using flashguns in Bracketing/Continuous shooting modes
Optional flashguns can now be used for bracketing and burst photography. When using the EF-X8, which is bundled with the X-T1, the flash fires in ISO, FILM SIMULATION and WHITE BALANCE BKT modes.- Instant AF Setting in manual focus
Focus and exposure can now be locked when the AF-L button is used in manual focus mode. You can shoot after locking AF and AE with your thumb.- AF+MF operation with AF-L button
When using the AF-L button to lock focus in AF+MF mode, you can still adjust the focus more accurately using the lens’s focusing ring.- Focus zoom in AF+MF
The FOCUS ASSIST button can be used for focus zoom and you can fine tune focusing using the lens’s focusing ring with focus zoom activated.- Additional Custom Display options
Functions have been added to the DISP. CUSTOM SETTING option in the setup menu. Choose the information you want, then concentrate on shooting.
(Additional items)
Focus frame / Shooting mode / Information background / Focus mode / Shutter type / Continuous mode / Dual IS mode / Movie mode / Blur warning- The Fn7 Button
The movie-record button can now be used as a Fn button (Fn7). Press and hold DISP/BACK to select what it controls.- Fully compatible with FUJINON XF100-400mmF4.5-5.6 R LM OIS WR
To be fully compatible with the lens, the new firmware supports focus limiter function for FUJINON XF100-400mmF4.5-5.6 R LM OIS WR.
Fujifilm X-T10
Ver. 1.20: Download Link
Improvements with this firmware update:
- Support for XF 100-400mmF4.5-5.6 R LM OIS WR.
Optional flashguns can now be used for bracketing and burst photography. When using the EF-X8, which is bundled with the X-T1, the flash fires in ISO, FILM SIMULATION and WHITE BALANCE BKT modes.- Improvement of the eye sensor’s performance.
A bug is fixed in which the speed of the eye sensor to switch from the LCD display to the EVF can be slow with certain SD cards right after the camera is turned On.