New firmware for 16-80mm

https://www.fujirumors.com/fujinon-xf-16-80mmf4-r-ois-wr-firmware-1-02-released/

Let's see what's been fixed.

Inpuressa wrote:

https://www.fujirumors.com/fujinon-xf-16-80mmf4-r-ois-wr-firmware-1-02-released/

Let's see what's been fixed.

I couldn’t afford to wait for Fuji to fix this lens as my return period was only two days away. In terms of what needed fixing, it’s the OIS and AF. Even using electronic front curtain shutter, two second time delay and a tripod, images were blurry on the AF spot. Never had this with the 10-24, 18-55, 16-55, 23, 35, 56, 55-200 or 100-400 mm lens. If they actually sort out the problem I will try another copy as I had high hopes to take this lens to South America in December.

Has anyone installed? Any actual improvements?

Presumably, this will fix the reported shuttershock problems.  The release might explain why Amazon US is now saying the lens is unavailable.  Until two days ago, the store was reporting a 1-3 month delivery window.  Maybe Fujifilm woke up and decided to ship only after updating firmware.

Quick update and not that scientific only Mech Shutter, as ES will always be sharper when pixel peeping. F8  80mm 1/15 to 1/500. looks okay to me, all sooc jpg, i can't see any signs of shuttershock.

1/500

1/250

1/180

1/125

1/60

1/30

1/15

...and I'm sure more incremental fixes will be coming - but I'm glad I waited, rather than jumping right in (which I sometimes do).

But this whole 16-80 scenario bothers me personally.  On other forums (since I also use other brand gear), there are often statements about Fuji releasing cameras/gear that don't have mature FW.  I tend to come to Fuji's defense indicating the opposite, yet in the case of the 16-80, the release of this lens was sort of a marketing catastrophe.

This was such a long awaited optic - yet all the hoopla surrounding the issues with this lens, didn't bode well for Fuji (in this case).

Yes, I'll pick one up within the next 6 months or so - just glad I waited.

I too get peeved a bit when I see the lack of detail on what Fuji fixed in some of their FW update descriptions.  "Fixed other issues," or "Fixed minor issues" is too vague - kind of like trying to get us to believe that somehow Fuji used some special kind of sauce to fix problems that we shouldn't concern ourselves with.

MartinLux wrote:

Has anyone installed? Any actual improvements?

I installed the new firmware some minutes ago. I did around 50 test shots at home, and my impression is that this firmware corrects the main problem I found with my copy of this lens: wrong focus at short distances (it persisted with the previous firmware version). My shots now were 100% with the focus spot on, with an XT1. I also did some test shots using electronic vs mechanical shutter, even at very slow speeds such 1/4 seconds, and the results were very good. Now I don’t have time to make further tests, by I will report when I do so. My first impression is very positive. I would like very much to hear other colleagues impressions on this as well.

The ship has sailed for me also. This lens has a long way to go in actually matching the official pre-release images.

Ben Herrmann wrote:

I too get peeved a bit when I see the lack of detail on what Fuji fixed in some of their FW update descriptions. "Fixed other issues," or "Fixed minor issues" is too vague - kind of like trying to get us to believe that somehow Fuji used some special kind of sauce to fix problems that we shouldn't concern ourselves with.

For better or worse, that's a prevailing practice with just about anyone who writes and distributes firmware updates... regardless of the device.  It's often a matter of not wanting to disclose information of a proprietary nature or simply what vendors regard as "need to know" information.

Jack Nicholson's famous quote in A Few Good Men immediately comes to mind: "You can't HANDLE the truth!"  A bit extreme, but perhaps how most companies dealing with firmware updates view this and simply prefer to keep it vague.

Great to see Fuji has fixed the firmware!

However, if the new firmware v1.02 is as good as it's going to get, it might point to a need to beef up the hardware (specifically the electronics around IS).

Fuji is known to make hardware enhancements without announcements, so maybe the second production run of the 16-80 will be even better than now, while using the very same firmware.

I prefer mechanical shutter on my X-T3, so I might be waiting a year or two before considering this lens.  Most users and potential users should be satisfied with this firmware update, though.

Now, let sales go through the roof!

It would be best to know from which serial number the lens hardware is improved.

fernandojval wrote:

It would be best to know from which serial number the lens hardware is improved.

I agree, but does Fuji put out this information?

For example, does Fuji list this on the internet anywhere for lenses such as the 35mm F1.4?  I believe this is one lens in which hardware has been changed over the years.

I would be very impressed if they corrected the shutter shock issue with a firmware update. My impression was that this is mainly a hardware issue.

Ben Herrmann wrote:

...and I'm sure more incremental fixes will be coming - but I'm glad I waited, rather than jumping right in (which I sometimes do).

But this whole 16-80 scenario bothers me personally. On other forums (since I also use other brand gear), there are often statements about Fuji releasing cameras/gear that don't have mature FW. I tend to come to Fuji's defense indicating the opposite, yet in the case of the 16-80, the release of this lens was sort of a marketing catastrophe.

This was such a long awaited optic - yet all the hoopla surrounding the issues with this lens, didn't bode well for Fuji (in this case).

I too have been somewhat disappointed, for two reasons:

- I know for a fact that a prototype of the lens was being tested by a local photographer in Sept 2018, and had just been sent back to Fuji with his criticisms. Fuji had a long time to work out the issues with this lens, and it's obvious they didn't prioritize some. They truly released an unfinished lens this time.

- The ambassador reviews mentioned nothing about some of the problems seen in post-release reviews, such as in Christopher Frost's excellent review vid. Hopefully in the future the ambassadors will be a bit more thorough with their testing if they want their impressions to have any credibility.

Yes, I'll pick one up within the next 6 months or so - just glad I waited.

Me too, I cancelled my pre-order as soon as I saw some of the first detailed reviews. I can't afford to throw down  $1200 CDN for a lens with those kinds of issues. Very disappointing since it's a focal length I would really like to have.

I too get peeved a bit when I see the lack of detail on what Fuji fixed in some of their FW update descriptions. "Fixed other issues," or "Fixed minor issues" is too vague - kind of like trying to get us to believe that somehow Fuji used some special kind of sauce to fix problems that we shouldn't concern ourselves with.

Maybe coding errors for their firmware? Not really headline material...

Yannis1976 wrote:

I would be very impressed if they corrected the shutter shock issue with a firmware update. My impression was that this is mainly a hardware issue.

From other posts in this thread, it seems that shutter shock correction is almost perfect now.

This post is especially interesting:

https://www.dpreview.com/forums/post/63301395

fernandojval wrote:

It would be best to know from which serial number the lens hardware is improved.

It would be even better to know for sure there actually is or will be a hardware improvement

robert1955 wrote:

fernandojval wrote:

It would be best to know from which serial number the lens hardware is improved.

It would be even better to know for sure there actually is or will be a hardware improvement

Hopefully, they stop using unobtanium for their material.