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Fujifilm promises performance boost with X-Pro1 firmware v2.00

Sep 6, 2012 at 05:00:00 GMT

UPDATE FIRMWARE FUJIFILM

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Photokina 2012: Fujifilm has also announced firmware v2.00 for the X-Pro1 high-end mirrorless camera, promising performance improvements. Firmware 2.00 addresses many of the criticisms that have been levelled at the camera by many reviews. This includes improved autofocus speed, better manual focus behaviour and less waiting for processing and card-writing. We've been using a beta version of the firmware and have prepared some notes on its effects. The final version of the firmware will be available for download from September 18th 2012.

First impressions:

The write times are the most noticeable improvement with the last firmware. Using a comparable SanDisk 45MB/s UHS-I card as used in our review, we found the time taken for the buffer to empty dropped from about 14 seconds in JPEG mode to 10 and from 55 seconds to around 29 seconds. The camera also gains the ability to enter playback mode during card writing, making those write times much less of an irritation.

Both autofocus and manual focus feel much more responsive. Manual focus in particular is greatly improved - the lens aperture stays fully open when trying to manually focus, meaning that depth-of-field is minimized and focus precision is increased. This is a big step forwards from the original behavior that would adjust the aperture uncontrollably. The 'feel' of manual focus has also been tweaked so that you don't find yourself repeatedly turning the focus ring with no obvious change in the focus distance.

In our review we stressed that we hoped Fujifilm would commit itself to improving these features, so it's heartening to see it do just that. X-Pro1 owners will be pleased to see these improvements aren't reserved for X-E1 buyers and Fujifilm should be commended for that.

Press Release:

Firmware update ver 2.00 improving the performance of the Fujifilm X-Pro1

Fujifilm is pleased to announce the release later this month of new firmware for the Fujifilm X-Pro1, designed to improve performance and enhance the users’ photographic experience.

Since the launch of the X-Pro1 in early 2012, Fujifilm has received customer feedback on the camera’s performance and is addressing the issues raised by launching a firmware upgrade.

On the installation of the new firmware, consumers will see a significant improvement in speed of Auto Focus, improved manual focus and processing/ writing speeds.

Improvements made after firmware update:

Improved performance of auto focus*1
Focussing in challenging lighting conditions, where light is low or bright, will now be much faster in Auto Focus mode. The focusing distance has also been improved, allowing you to get closer to the subject and capture a great shot without switching to macro mode.
Manual Focus improved performance
• Improved operability
The speed of the image coming into focus when turning the focus ring has been vastly improved. When adjusting the focus ring using the electronic viewfinder or the LCD panel on the back of the camera it is now much easier to focus, always displaying the image closer to full aperture with minimum depth of field.
• New addition of 3x magnification for checking focus
The 10x magnifications / focus check feature on the X-Pro1 has been well received and in this firmware update an additional 3x option is now available. It is also now possible to find the optimum focus point whilst viewing the entire screen.
Improved writing speed/ processing speed.
• Improved wirting speed to memory card
At maximum speed the X-Pro1 can now write to memory card twice as fast as before. *2
• Improved speed for playback after shooting
Image playback now occurs less than one second after pressing the image playback button. On some occasions previously, for example when using continuous shooting, you had to wait until the images had been processed before they were shown on screen.
Other additional functions:
Auto (6400) has been added to the ISO setting. This increased ISO not only speeds up the shutter speed, but also stabilises the image and mitigates blurring of the subject.

*1: The effect will differ according to the lens attached.
*2: the effect will differ according to the card type and image compression.

Launch date of the dedicated firmware: September 18th, 2012 6:00a.m. (GMT)

To enable these features, please update the firmware of your Fujinon XF lenses at the same time.

The firmware can be downloaded from “Support” on the Fujifilm website. Please go to the support website below for details on other changes. Firmware available at Fujifilm global website: http://www.fujifilm.com/support/digital_cameras/

Comments

Total comments: 60

Noticeable improvement with the focusing in low-light. Shot a job yesterday during the taping of a tv show. Used the M mount adapter with Leica glass as well the Fuji lenses in manual focus mode much better. Plus being able to playback images more quickly was great especially since the job required raw and jpg on the spot with an art director looking over my shoulder often. Nice.

0 upvotes

Still no face detection AF? Fuji, com'on!

0 upvotes

It seems like a great update! What I also would have liked to see is a very simple thing imo; i would like to be able to change the naming if the files. I also own an X10 which names it's files exactly the same. I don't like that, it will get me into trouble sooner of later. I want to decide the naming myself!

0 upvotes

If you buy an image importer such as FlashPipe you will have lots of options to change and add to the file name. I add a prefix of the short model name like [X-Pro1] to distinguish the files.

0 upvotes

If you use lightroom you can rename when importing.

0 upvotes

I think Fuji has addressed exactly what most of us wanted to be fixed, especially the manual focusing. Of the three now most complained of omissions that of focus peaking is entirely subjective. I used the Sony implementation for a bit and found it not reliable, got in the way of composition and I ceased to use it. The new 3x magnification for precise focusing should enable anyone to focus manually. So I don't clamour for visual or audible confirmation of correct manual focus though I must admit that my old Pentax K100 Super does it well. And a minimum shutter speed at which the camera moves ISO up if set to Auto: well, the X100 only has one focal length so it is simpler to implement it there as Fuji has done. But it's not going to work properly with all zoom lenses and you would have to dive into the menu to change a parameter each time you changed prime lenses. In principle anyone ought to be able to hold the camera steady using Auto ISO with Fuji's formula.

0 upvotes

AF speed comparison - old FW vs new:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ca0YWDgE9wA

It does not freeze anymore when focusing!

But speed does not seem to be all that faster.

1 upvote

I think this is with 60/2.4.

0 upvotes

It still freezes.

0 upvotes

I am not sure but to be it clearly shows a lag when it focuses. Why does it to that? Does it do it all the time? And in real life? I have never seen another camera do this. I thought it was my browser. I have never used one of these in person, do they all have this hiccup?

0 upvotes

Great, looks like Fuji is committed. I hope that 21mm lens comes out sooner rather then later.

0 upvotes

I agree about the focus peaking. It does seem that Fuji are responding to customer needs with their upgrades, so I'm sure if as many owners as possible send them emails with feature requests then they may just be implemented in the future. I've just sent my own mail doing just that !

1 upvote

Actually I just sent a direct message to Fuji Headquarters about minimal speed for AutoISO. They should know how important it is for us (I assume, it is not only me who wants the minimal speed for AutoISO)...

3 upvotes

Yes. This is critical. The Auto ISO on the X-100 is programmed better than their Pro model. Needs to be as other pro cameras where you can set the minimum shutter speed independently of ISO.

0 upvotes

For autoISO you can set the requred minimal speed on the shutter speed dial. This way it works for me very well and I think it is elegant implementation of this feature.

Comment edited 4 minutes after posting

0 upvotes

It works, but actually then you are using it on full manual, but exposure automation is done by the auto-ISO feature! As long as the conditions are dark enough for auto-ISO to engage, the end result is the same... A nice trick!

0 upvotes

This works great, as long as you are shooting an average scene. If you are shooting a backlit scene or if you're shooting a something dark like a black suite, or something bright, like a white dress, the camera will expose for grey instead. Normally, you can increase or decrease with exposure compensation, but when you shoot in manual, the exposure compensation dial does nothing. It would be great if the camera allowed you to shoot manually and then use the Auto ISO to increase or decrease the exposure when you turn the exposure compensation dial.

0 upvotes

I welcome adding Auto ISO 6400 to menu. This absence was inexplicable to me. However, I also find it inexplicable why it seems it still will not be possible to set minimum shutter speed - this is even more important!

FUJI, are you listening??? Please...

0 upvotes

I'm very very surprised that minimum shutter speed wasn't a part of this firmware update, considering how easy it would have been to implement, and therefore, how easy it would have been to make many, many customers happy!

I also want a "Max shutter speed" as part of Auto-ISO, but baby steps....

0 upvotes

If you use full manual exposure with auto-ISO, you can set the shutter speed as you like and the auto-ISO will actually set the exposure. This works the same as adjustable shutter speed with auto-ISO in most cases. You just need to keep an eye on the exposure values if there is too much light.

0 upvotes

Awesome Fuji!! Glad you continue to support the cameras and show a strong commitment to the X-series.

0 upvotes

Designing and releasing products that are ready for market AND meet every single persons wishes will never be the case. Companies invest large sums of revenue to design and release a product that fits a specific demographic and more importantly, early adopters. Fuji has never claimed the X Pro1 was perfect nor for the mass consumer market. Regarding the "it's way too expensive" complaint...this is an issue with a different buyer than Fuji is targeting. My products see this complaint too and we ignore this because this is not our buyer. We have other products to fit this market. Fuji built an entirely new platform and therefore was brave enough to take on the challenge and release it and then support issues the real owners want corrected. For us Fuji XP1 owners, we are simply rewarded with incredible IQ and a camera Fuji is committed to it's owners on and supporting it. We are fully aware of it's challenges! Completely happy I replaced my Mark II with this fabulous camera.

0 upvotes

The shutter lag better be improved to be as good as the X-E1... Why isn't this being mentioned?

0 upvotes

Before I start, I think it's great that Fuji is still working on their products like this.

But what I don't understand why they can't implement focus peeking (or peaking...not sure which) into the camera for easier manual focusing.

They could do this with a firmware update. They MUST be able to do this. Why am I certain they could? Take a look at the "firmware hack" that's called Magic Lantern for Canon cameras. That's a hack, not made by Canon at all, yet it allows my 3 year old 5DMkII to have focus peeking via live view...which I use all the time now for certain shots...not to mention a ton of other enhancements and software for the Canon line.

Imagine what Fugi could do since they KNOW the intertal programming specs for the Xpro-1. So wouldn't it be logical to assume that they could implement focus peeking for this camera for more precise manual focusing?

Check out Magic Lantern here:
http://www.magiclantern.fm/releasenotes

I don't know, am I way off base here?

Comment edited 2 times, last edit 4 minutes after posting

3 upvotes

It is "Peaking" by the way.. and I agree. I use several legacy lenses on the X-Pro1 and focus peaking would make manual focusing so much more accurate.

3 upvotes

Focus peaking is probably patented.

0 upvotes

Actually there is a bit of focus peaking already in the X-Pro 1. If you look through the EVF and see moiré on your subject (i.e. clothing) then you are close to perfect focus. But it only works if there is something that creates moiré.

The 3x magnifier will make things easyer, but real focus peaking would have been my No. 2 wish on the list (after minimum shutter time control in Auto ISO)...

2 upvotes

+1. Fuji HAS to do something to have a focus confirmation in OVF when using M-mount lenses. After that, the xp1 would be my perfect camera.

0 upvotes

Oh.... and the battery life...... My new xp1 suddenly died after 1 day shooting. 10 minutes before the battery icon showed half power remained.........

1 upvote

I keep trying these Fuji cameras out and although I really want to like them, for the price they just aren't responsive enough. If I want a rangefinder type camera I want it to operate seamlessly. Every time I pick one up I find myself digging through menus, and fussing with controls and getting frustrated.

I wish they made a camera more like the Leica M9 without the price tag of the M9.

0 upvotes

Have you tried a M9? Did you find it to be very respondsive with easy to operate menues?

9 upvotes

Why do you need to dig into menus? Everything you need to take a beautiful image is at your fingertips... unlike many other cameras.

5 upvotes

Odd. I rarely, if ever, go into the menus with my XPro1. I have ISO assigned to the fn button, I can set the metering method using the AE button - all visible through the OVF. I can't imagine why you need to go into the menus every time you pick one up. Can you give some examples of when you need to go into the menu?

3 upvotes

Díd you ever pick up an Xpro-1 or is this just in your imagination? I use mine quite often but the last time I had to go into the menu I can't remember. That's actually what i love most about this camera! I pick mine up and start shooting! Another question; did you ever see a Leica M9 from up close? The rest of you comment is just a load of crap, so that last part is probbably a product of your imagination also...

2 upvotes

Smatty, the M9 has the simplest menu of any digital camera and as focus and aperture are as fast as your fingers can make it, it is very responsive too. You should try one.

0 upvotes

Hope Fuji releases a firmware 2.0 for X100 users :)

0 upvotes

"much more less" ?
Excellent command of English.

1 upvote

Hooray!!! Way to go Fuji. Why is it still not possible to change aperture and exposure compensation when af lock is engaged? Shutter speed can be changed though... THAT would be something for the next update! Oh, and a sensible implementation of Auto ISO of course... Oh, and a working histogram in manual mode! Oh, and deletion of an image even zoomed in or when capture data is displayed. Oh, and consistent use of controls in Fn Menu (like ISO) regardless whether OVF or EVF is used. Thank you very much!

1 upvote

The biggest issue for many X-Pro 1 users does not seem to be addressed by this big update: Minimum Shutter Speed for AUTO ISO!

I simply don't understand why this feature, which has been working perfectly in the X100 for over a year now, is omitted in the X-PRO 1?

I really appreciate the improvements in FW 2.0! Especially Auto ISO up to 6400. But nothing has ruined more shots for me with the 18mm lens that the 1/30s shutter time threshold in low light. I use the 18mm lens for street photography and hardly any person can be captured sharp at 1/30s without motion blurr!

I just don't get it and I'm really dissapointed...

http://FujiXfiles.blogspot.com

4 upvotes

Hi smatty,

+1.

I am extremely happy with the predicted improvements, but also for me AF-Speed was less an issue than the missing lowest shutter-speed threshold for Auto-Iso.
For the time being I have stopped using the Auto-iso function most of the time due to that reason. Only alternative is complete manual-mode +auto-iso, but than the exposure compensation does not work anymore and I have to rely on the camera - what under some circumstances is not possible.

So please Fuji, have a heard and implement the minimum shutter-speed adjustment for auto-iso simmilar to the X100. Thanks in advance.

0 upvotes

For some, setting the shutter speed is good enough. I.e. use the Auto ISO mode, then set the shutter speed to 1/100, if you never want to drop below 1/100.

0 upvotes

Northgrove: Yes, it can work sometimes, but in variable light, and that is why we want to use Auto ISO, you can easily blow out the highlights when the scene gets too bright and you are at a fixed open aperture And the Auto ISO can not compensate down more than ISO 200...

Not a very good work around!

1 upvote

It should be one day job for the programmer to add this feature. Why they don't?

1 upvote

That's the way I see it, too. They can probably copy and paste the code from the X100.

With all the comments on the net asking for this feature in the past 6 month, I would love to hear Fujis reason to keep it out of the X-Pro 1.

0 upvotes

Smatty - To set auto ISO at a set shutterspeed will blow out the highlights as much. There is no difference whatever.
If you use Shutter priority 1/100 and auto iso you can't go to a lower ISO than 200, and if you would have the possibillty to set the Auto-ISO not to go lower than 1/100s, you would get the same burned highlights at ISO 200....

0 upvotes

Good to see company standing behind their product correcting its problems.
But we should also remember why we're in this situation in the first place...

Corporations like using consumers as beta testers in any chance they get and sell unfinished products hoping there's more brand/fashion blinded fans than those who notice "cracks under shiny paint&waxing."
It sure isn't in interests of consumers if this becomes more common so we should discourage makers from selling half ready products and maybe fixing its issues some day.

I'm sure no one would accept half working car which would need fixing to be able to drive at highway speed.

0 upvotes

I think you've hit the nail on the head, especially as some of the flaws we see in 'finished' products are so immediately obvious one can't help wondering why they weren't addressed on day one of testing, let alone after almost deafening criticism!

The X1 has received great acclaim, but imagine just how blown away people would have been if Fuji had taken just a little more time to sort out these teething troubles first.

1 upvote

Because there are limited resources in product teams
Because we would still be waiting for the perfect camera
Because they would not have 6 months of user feedback
Because every other company does the same thing (how many PEN models before OMD?)
Why DO people keep asking this question?
At least Fuji makes most of the improvements available on the older model.

Comment edited 49 seconds after posting

6 upvotes

@57even

Because .............. you're wrong.

DPReview found numorous flaws in the product after just one review. They certainly didn't need six months to find the flaws.

Other reviewers, many of them "one-man bands", found the flaws after just a few hours or weeks of use.

You are not seriously suggesting that these reviewers have greater resources than the "limted resources in [Fuji's] product teams"?!

The long and short of it is, Fuji were sloppy.

1 upvote

Am I?

Do you think it takes the same amount of time to solve an issue as it does to find one?

I bought one, knowingly, despite the flaws. The camera even got a silver award - despite the flaws. It took great pictures too - despite the flaws.

Because they shipped the product when they did I have had several enjoyable months taking some of my best shots - which I miraculously took with an imperfect camera.

In the meantime Fuji have developed better firmware that improves my existing camera making it even better so my investment is not wasted.

So pray tell me who lost out by Fuji shipping the camera when they did? Me? Fuji?

3 upvotes

Nice to see Fuji working hard on addressing those ´issues´. Just a bit disappointed active exposure compensation with AutoISO in M mode has not been handled. That would make it perfect for me.
Also, nice to have would be the possibility of naming the custom presets to something more meaningful and user friendly.
Nevertheless, a nice gift on the first Photokina day.

0 upvotes

I expect future firmware upgrades will emerge which will work on the Xpro1 and X-e1.

0 upvotes

At last!!! I have been waiting for this ever since I bought the camera.

Comment edited 27 seconds after posting

1 upvote

Along with all these updates I wish they would find a way that would allow custom naming of the user presets.. there is a bank of 6 presets but I'll be darned if I can remember what the heck I set them too.. Getting old ain't for the feint of heart.

0 upvotes

Pretty stoked to see these improvements...but I hope they added the ability to change the minimum shutter speed when you are using auto iso.....bummer that there is no mention of that. Auto ISO is useless when the min shutter speed is too slow for any given ISO.

7 upvotes

I'm afraid not.

0 upvotes

I'd also like to see exposure compensation dial working (it's ignored now) in manual exposure mode or it's just going to pick a wrong AUTO ISO, trying to always expose for an "average" EV0.
That and OVF frameline adjusting *before* you half press the shuter in manual focus mode (because it will help framing and there is no reason it doesn't adjust right away since focus distance is known).
Those are my most wished for updates. Fingers crossed!

2 upvotes

I agree that a min shutter speed setting would be great but AutoISO 6400 is very welcome.

Especially in a situation where you want to set Apature/Shutter and let the camera auto adjust ISO.

0 upvotes

Great to see those improvements. Will update my XF1 once launched.

2 upvotes

Boom.

0 upvotes

Total comments: 60


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