Firmware madness from Fuji: Updates for all X cameras! :)

Well, Fuji really wanted to give all X camera owners a glorious day :)

There is a software update available for everyone:

X-T1 firmware ver. 1.10

  • 1. Addition of compatibility with “XF18-135mmF3.5-5.6 R LM OIS WR” – To ensure that autofocus performs as expected, upgrade the firmware for the camera.
  • 2. Improvement of “Exposure compensation/exposure indicator” in EVF – Values are added to the scales of the indicator for better visibility.
  • 3. Improvement of Movie-record button operability – To avoid an accidental movie shooting, the delayed time will become longer between the moment you press the button and a movie shooting starts or ends.
  • 4. 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.

X-E2 firmware ver. 2.10

  • 1. Addition of compatibility with “XF18-135mmF3.5-5.6 R LM OIS WR” – To ensure that autofocus performs as expected, upgrade the firmware for the camera.
  • 2. 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.

X-PRO1 firmware ver. 3.30

  • 1. Addition of compatibility with “XF18-135mmF3.5-5.6 R LM OIS WR” – To ensure that autofocus performs as expected, upgrade the firmware for the camera.
  • 2. 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.

X-E1 firmware ver.2.30

  • 1. Addition of compatibility with “XF18-135mmF3.5-5.6 R LM OIS WR” – To ensure that autofocus performs as expected, upgrade the firmware for the camera.
  • 2. 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.

_ _ _ Some fixes and improvements also for the X-M1, X-A1 and XQ1. And if you own the Instax Share SP-1 printer, you can now send images directly via WiFi to this little printer without having to send it first to your iPhone. If you own the best sellers in the X-lineup, X-T1 and the X-E2, then you still have to continue to upload your images to your smartphone first and from there send it to the printer. X-M1 ver. 1.20 / X-A1 ver. 1.20

  • 1. Addition of compatibility with “instax SHARE SP-1? – Images can be directly transferred to the “SP-1? from a camera and then printed.
  • 2. Addition of compatibility with “XF18-135mmF3.5-5.6 R LM OIS WR” – To ensure that autofocus performs as expected, upgrade the firmware for the camera.
  • 3. 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.
  • 4. Improvement of recorded sound – Sound quality of a movie shooting is improved.
  • 5. The phenomenon is fixed that in rare cases, gray stripes could appear in highlight portion of images with a standard viewer of a smartphone (only Android).

XQ1 ver. 1.20

  • 1. Addition of compatibility with “instax SHARE SP-1? – Images can be directly transferred to the “SP-1? from a camera and then printed.
  • 2. The phenomenon is fixed that in rare cases, a camera could stop working during image transfer when starting “PC AutoSave” function by pressing the Wi-Fi button.

WSJ blames Nikon for missing to enter “seriously” the mirrorless market.

The Wall Street Journal wrote a very negative article against Nikon’s strategy:

The market shows growth in just one category: “mirrorless” cameras. Nikon was among the last of major Japanese makers to release a mirrorless camera, and still offers only a handful of models. The company likely fears cannibalization of its high-end DSLRs, but its strategy seems not to be working. Nikon’s camera division, more than two-thirds of the company, posted a 9% revenue decline for the year through March

What do you think about the Nikon’s strategy?

Confirmed via trusted source: Sony 1 inch sensor used by Panasonic (and likely by other companies too).

The recently announced Panasonic FZ-1000 did shake up the industry by offering a tremendous zoom range and 4K recording in a sub $1,000 package.

And according to our sources the Panasonic is the first non-Sony camera using the Sony RX100m3 1 inch sensor. The source also said the sensor will be sold to other companies too (likely Fuji and Samsung coming as next).

It’s likely that Sony cares more about selling sensors (and leading the industry in that segment) than protecting their own RX camera range. And actually that’s a good news :)

Sigma DP2 Quattro: First full size images and ISO test!

The new Sigma DP2 Quattro promises to deliver “almost” medium format quality on a tiny APS-C sensor. So let’s check these new image samples to see if it’s true!

Yodobashi posted some low resolution image samples and included a rough ISO test. Also Mapcamera posted some nice images but again no high resolution version. To find them you have to click over at Digitalcamera and Sigma-Japan. They posted some high resolution images you can download to pixel peep!

And what do you think?

via Sigma Rumors.

UPDATED: Canon 55-200mm M lens announced!

Canon announced the new 55-200mm f/4.5-6.3 IS STM EOS-M lens:

Compactness and precision image quality is achieved through a new type of 5-group zoom system making use of short back focus and aspheric lens
Uses a UD lens to correct chromatic aberration for excellent image quality throughout the zoom range
The focusing mechanism employs a stepping motor and lead screw to provide quiet and smooth movie servo AF for shooting movies
Image Stabilizer equivalent to a shutter speed 3.5 settings faster
Maintains the EF-M lens design concept of projecting from the mount in a straight form
Lens disposition and coatings are optimized to minimize ghosting and flare
Uses a 7-blade circular aperture for exquisite blurred areas
Fast autofocus is achieved for still images using a rear focus system, high-speed CPU, and optimized AF algorithm

Angle of view (horizontal, vertical, diagonal) 23 ° 20 ‘~ 6 ° 30? · 15 ° 40 ‘~ 4 ° 20? · 27 ° 50 ‘~ 7 ° 50?
Lens constitution 17 pieces in 11 groups
Number of blades diaphragm 7 pieces
Minimum aperture 2-32
Minimum focusing distance 1m
Maximum magnification 0.21 times
Filter diameter 52mm
Maximum length × diameter ?60.9 × 86.5 mm
Weight 260g
Camera shake compensation effect 3.5 stages
(CIPA guideline compliant)

Info in Spanish at DSLRmagazine.