Fujifilm to update firmware for X-Pro1, X-E2, X-E1 and X100S (again)

Fujifilm has announced forthcoming firmware updates for its X-Pro1, X-E2 and X-E1 mirrorless interchangeable lens cameras, and for the X100S fixed-lens large sensor compact. Features promised include customizable Auto ISO, exposure preview in manual exposure mode, improved workflow for in-camera Raw conversion, and the ability to edit filenames in-camera. The X-Pro1 and X100S will also gain more accurate viewfinder framelines. The update for the X-Pro1 will be available on 5th December; those for the X-E1, X-E2 and X100S on 19th December.

We’re hugely impressed by Fujifilm’s continual updates and improvements to its cameras – it’s fair to say that the X-Pro1 has been transformed since its launch into one of the most capable mirrorless models on the market. In this round of updates, the X-Pro1, X-E1 and X100S inherit many of the small tweaks first seen in the X-E2; users are likely to appreciate the addition of customizable Auto ISO in particular.

Quick summary of key changes:

• Ability to edit the file name of shots taken in-camera
• Improvements made to the in-camera RAW file converter process 
• More precise display of the exposure setting in live-view and histogram* 
• Improved playback view and file numbering for continuous shooting* 
• Ability to change aperture and shutter speed in AE lock*
• Setting of the max and default ISO and minimum shutter speed in ISO AUTO* 
• Improve the cover range and accuracy of the bright frame in the OVF**

* Already implemented on X-E2
** X-Pro1 and X100S only

Jump to:

• Press Release – X-Pro1
• Press Release – X-E1, X-E2 and X100S

Press Release – X-Pro1:

Further firmware upgrade available soon for FUJIFILM’s flagship X-Pro1 camera

FUJIFILM Corporation (President: Shigehiro Nakajima) will be releasing another new firmware upgrade for its flagship Fujifilm X-Pro1 compact system camera on November 28th which will offer users enhancements to operability and functionality.

This latest firmware upgrade is being released in response to customer demand and will offer X-Pro1 users the chance to update their model to incorporate functionality available on the most recent X series cameras launched in October 2013. 

The X-Pro1 is set to continue as the company’s flagship X series model, and Fujifilm is striving to keep the level of technology offered on this product as up to date as possible so that purchasers of the X-Pro1 will have greater longevity of use.

Release date of the new firmware

5th December 2013 (Thu.) GMT 05:00/JST 14:00

Firmware version

FUJIFILM X-Pro1: Ver. 3.10

Main contents of the firmware update

1.  Improve the cover range and accuracy of the bright frame in the OVF

The cover range of the bright frame displaying the shooting area in the optical viewfinder has been improved so that a field of view closer to the actual image can be checked. By maintaining the position of the bright frame with parallax compensation during AF lock, the shooting area can be checked even when letting go of the shutter release.

2. See the exposure setting in live-view and histogram 

The images and histogram will reflect current exposure levels (with the shutter speed and aperture set during manual exposure also displayed on the image). In scenarios where the live view and the final shot will appear differently, eg: when using flash, this setting can be turned off.

3. Aperture and shutter speed can be changed once AE lock is selected

The aperture or shutter speed can be changed while maintaining exposure (EV value) with the AE lock button. The photographer has the ability to tweak settings down to the very last moment before shooting.

4. The default and maximum sensitivity and minimum shutter speed can be set when ISO AUTO is selected

When selecting “AUTO” in the ISO setting, users can also set standard ISO, Maximum ISO and a low-speed shutter limit. The Low-speed shutter limit has been extended to 1/500 seconds.

5. New fuctionality allowing you to edit image filenames

An image filename (DSCF***) is automatically allocated to each picture when shooting, this can now be changed to your filename of choice.*1 This added functionality is useful when organising the images after shooting, and sorting the images into groups.

*1 It can be changed to a 4-letter filename when selecting “sRGB” and a 3-letter filename when selecting “Adobe RGB” for the color space.

6. Change of numbering for images shot using continuous shooting

When shooting using continuous shooting, only the first image is currently displayed in full screen and subsequent frames are displayed in small on the bottom right, and the file number was set as “S+7-digit number”. With the new firmware, all frames in continuous shooting are displayed as full screen shots in playback. The file number has also been altered to follow numerically as per standard single shots, thereby allowing uniform management of images after shooting.

7. Improvement of RAW file conversion function

When developing RAF images in-camera using the built-in RAW file converter, the firmware upgrade improves the flow by taking you back to the original RAF image once the conversion has been done, whereas before it left you with the converted JPG file on screen and the user had to go back to the next RAF file manually.

Details on improvements 2, 3, 4 and 5 are available in the operation manual on the support page below.

Please visit the following URL for details on other changes.

Firmware download

http://www.fujifilm.com/support/digital_cameras/software/#firmware

* This firmware is exclusive to the FUJIFILM X-Pro1.

Press Release – X-E1, X-E2 and X100S:

Firmware updates available soon for the FUJIFILM X-E1, FUJIFILM X100S, FUIFILM X-E2

FUJIFILM Corporation (President: Shigehiro Nakajima) will be releasing firmware upgrades for its premium X-E1, X100S and X-E2 models to enhance operability and functionality.

This latest firmware upgrade is being released in response to customer demand and will offer users the chance to update their models to incorporate functionality available on the most recent X series cameras launched in October 2013.

Fujifilm is striving to keep the level of technology offered on these products as up to date as possible so that purchasers of the X series models will have greater longevity of use.

Release date of the new firmware

19th December 2013 (Thu.) GMT 05:00/JST 14:00

Firmware version

FUJIFILM X-E1 ：   Ver. 2.10
FUJIFILM X100S ：  Ver. 1.10
FUJIFILM X-E2 ：  Ver. 1.10

Contents of the firmware update

For an overview of improvements to each model please refer to the list below.

●　Updates now available for the X-E1, X100S and X-E2

1. New functionality allowing you to edit image filenames

An image filename (DSCF***) is automatically allocated to each picture when shooting, this can now be changed to your filename of choice.*1 This added functionality is useful when organising the images after shooting, and sorting the images into groups.
*1 It can be changed to a 4-letter filename when selecting “sRGB” and a 3-letter filename when selecting “Adobe RGB” for the color space

2. Improvement of RAW file conversion function

When developing RAF images in-camera using the built-in RAW file converter, the firmware upgrade improves the flow by taking you back to the original RAF image once the conversion has been done, whereas before it left you with the converted JPG file on screen and the user had to go back to the next RAF file manually.

●　Updates available for the X-E1 and X100S

3. See the exposure setting in live-view and histogram

The images and histogram will reflect current exposure levels (with the shutter speed and aperture set during manual exposure also displayed on the image). In scenarios where the live view and the final shot will appear differently, eg: when using flash, this setting can be turned off.

4. Change of numbering for images shot using continuous shooting

When shooting using continuous shooting, only the first image is currently displayed in full screen and subsequent frames are displayed in small on the bottom right, and the file number was set as “S+7-digit number”. With the new firmware, all frames in continuous shooting are displayed as full screen shots in playback. The file number has also been altered to follow numerically as per standard single shots, thereby allowing uniform management of images after shooting.

5. Aperture and shutter speed can be changed once AE lock is selected

The aperture or shutter speed can be changed while maintaining exposure (EV value) with the AE lock button. The photographer has the ability to tweak settings down to the very last moment before shooting.

●　Updates available for the X-E1

6. The default and maximum sensitivity and minimum shutter speed can be set when ISO AUTO is selected

When selecting “AUTO” in the ISO setting, users can also set standard ISO, Maximum ISO and a low-speed shutter limit. The Low-speed shutter limit has been extended to 1/500 seconds.

●　Updates available for the X100S

7. Improve the cover range and accuracy of the bright frame in the OVF

By maintaining the position of the bright frame with parallax compensation during AF lock, the shooting area can be checked even when letting go of the shutter release.

Details by model

* These models do not have an optical view finder

Details on improvements 1, 4, 5 and 6 are available in the operation manual on the support page below.

Please visit the following URL for details on other changes.

Firmware download

http://www.fujifilm.com/support/digital_cameras/software/#firmware

** This firmware is exclusive to the FUJIFILM X-E1, X100S and X-E2 models. Firmware is software that controls the camera body.

Comments

Bravo again to Fuji in their CONTINUED development of already-released models.

Finally! Setting minimum shutter speed in Auto ISO. This is update for the X-E1 that I’ve been. Great job Fujifilm.

Wow, positive responses in a dpreview forum! Fuji do something nice for their clients and they say thank you. Well done all round 😉 The naysayers and Sony fanboys must be distracted by a Nikon thread…or something shiny.

Thank you Fuji for taking photographers seriously and listening to them!

This is great – I´ll keep my X-Pro1 and recently bought 2 more lenses!

All this is great, but can we also please have a +2, 0, -2 bracketing option?

If I remember right, my Nikon D700 had one firmware update in four years. I used to be proud of this as it suggested ‘how right’ Nikon got the camera, first time round.

Fuji have a different approach. It’s more like ‘live R&D’. It’s not a good thing in most cases. Fuji seem to be balancing on the edge of greatness but ALWAYS get let down by their designs.

You could also see it like this: Fujifilm keeps on working for you, even after having received your cash.

Depends: some stuff is just bugfixes, but lots of it are real improvments and even new features! New features from Nikon you´ll only get, if you buy the next Nikon 😉

In the interest of fairness, most features Fuji brought to us via firmware upgrades are features that should have been there in the first place, or that simply helped the cameras to be on par with their competition in certain areas. My X100s is still massively lacking in many ways (but so are most mirrorless cameras anyway, and even DSLRs). Just an example : the X100s is the only camera other than compact cameras I’ve ever used that doesn’t keep the focus locked after taking a picture and keeping your finger half-way through the shutter release. Or, like most mirrorless cameras, there still is no way to have direct access to AF points. in a $1000+ cameras, while every single DSLR in that price range allows it.
Regarding the D700, Nikon could have solved their completely useless custom memory banks via a firmware upgrade, but they didn’t. Worse, they carried it over on the D800, which reaches the confines of absolute, unequal brainless idiocy.

Regrettably, I will not be upgrading to this firmware for the time-being, if at all.

With the XE-2 adjustment to shadow control (at a default zero of +1 to the X-pro1/XE1) which means less DR in the darks, and also the very worrying early cut off of shadows in the X100s, the loss of jpeg shadow DR is a real possibility in this firmware update. Has the X100s early shadow cut has found its way in to the X-Pro?

The dpreview X100s SR tests did not include a shadow control analysis unlike the X-Pro 1 DR tests, so we don’t know if we can compensate for the early cut-off. In any case, if the +1 shadow default is the new reality, then we’re screwed anyway.

It would be interesting to know if Fuji have further extended the highlights via the loss of shadow DR. That would be some consolation as I still get blown highlights even at DR400 sometimes. Currently I get 3 stops of highlight protection over the Nikon D5100 highest DR mode (not HDR).

I have and enjoy the XE-1.
The maximum iso in auto iso is a good improvement.

What would still be a very niceto have: focus peaking that works well in the OVF. Currently it is quite usable in the screen but too subtle in in the OVF. Also, extra colours for focus peaking.

Good on you Fuji!

My X100s thanks you.

Just what I hoped for. Now I’m prepared to use manual mode on my X100s!

Thank you Fuji. Show them how it’s done. Bravo.