IMPORTANT ALERT MAC OS USERS with GFX (incompatibility issue)

[Valued Customer]

If you are using a GFX100s, GFX100, GFX50S II or certain GFX50 and using MAC OS Please read below. Hopefully we will get a quick firmware update.

FUJI FILM NOTICE BELOW

SEE, https://fujifilm-x.com/en-us/global-news/2022/0202_4199100/

Important notice for consumers processing FUJIFILM digital camera files using macOS

Feb.2.2022
FUJIFILM Corporation

FUJIFILM Corporation has identified a firmware incompatibility between specific X and GFX series cameras listed below. This incompatibility can result in macOS users being unable to directly access files if they were initially saved to SDXC memory cards in-camera. To prevent this anomaly, Fujifilm is creating a firmware patch, which will be available for free download by X Series and GFX System users upon its completion.

In the interim, please review the following information carefully for further information and recommended next steps.

I.Firmware Incompatibility Overview

1. X Series and GFX System Cameras Affected:
   • The models that do not depend on the firmware version
   GFX100, GFX100S, GFX50S II, X-Pro3, X-T4, X-S10, X-E4, X-T30 II and X100V
   • The models that depend on the firmware version
   GFX50S (Ver.4.00 or later), GFX50R (Ver.2.00 or later) and X-T3(Ver.3.20 or later)
2. Memory Cards Affected: SDXC memory card
3. Computer Operating System Affected: macOS only. The incompatibility does not affect Windows users.
4. About the incompatibility
   While the current firmware versions allow these X and GFX series cameras to internally write and store 9,999 frames*1 to a single folder, it has been observed that if more than 4,000 files are written in-camera to a single folder on an SDXC card and directly accessed using macOS the firmware incompatibility creates two potential scenarios:

(1) Some files on the memory card may become inaccessible if the card has been connected to the computer through an internal or external memory card reader and directly accessed using macOS.

(2) If the memory card is not ejected correctly from a computer using macOS, there is a likelihood that data may be lost*3 if the same card is directly connected and accessed a second time using macOS. However, risk of data loss in this situation can be prevented by following proper ejection procedures*2 for macOS operating systems. If the proper procedures are followed, no data will be lost. However, files will still remain inaccessible when attempting to directly access the data on the memory card using macOS.

*1 The number of frames, or images, does not correlate to the total number of files because one image can potentially create 3 files if the user is utilizing JPEG, RAW (RAF) and Voice Memo (WAV) in making one image.
*2 For more information related to properly ejecting SD memory cards from macOS, please refer to the official Apple website (as of Feb. 2, 2022). The instructions are as follows:

• • Ejection process below referenced from Apple website
    • To eject an SD card, drag the icon that represents the card to the Trash.
    • After the icon disappears from your desktop, you can remove the card from the slot.
    • Don't remove a card while your Mac is in sleep mode, as this could lead to data loss.
    • Always wake your computer and eject the SD card before removing it from your Mac.

*3 FUJIFILM is not responsible for any loss of use, images, files, data, or other information in connection with the use of FUJIFILM products caused by the above improper ejection procedures.

II. Addressing the firmware incompatibility

To prevent the impact of the incompatibility, Fujifilm is developing a firmware patch that will limit the number of files that can be written to a single folder. This patch is expected to be available for free download by X Series and GFX System users soon.
In the interim, consumers using macOS to directly access files saved to SDXC memory cards by the specific FUJIFILM X and GFX series cameras listed above are encouraged to:

1. If using a new or recently formatted SDXC memory card:
   • Do not save files for more than 1,000 frames, in-camera, to any folder.
   • Once the number of frames reaches 1,000, create a new folder using the “Folder Selection” function in the “Set-up” menu of the camera and save additional frames to the new folder.
2. If using an SDXC memory card with existing files or one that has not been recently formatted:
   (See the detail instruction linked here.)
   (1) Directly connect your camera to the computer operating macOS via USB to directly access your files.
   (2) If there are no movie files larger than 4GB in the folder, all files can be transferred to the computer operating macOS. Please note that movie files larger than 4GB will be shown as 4.29GB on macOS regardless of its actual file size.
   (3) If there are movie files larger than 4GB in the folder, download all files except the movie files to the computer operating macOS.
   Afterwards, disconnect the USB cable from the computer and follow the procedures below.
   Please refer to the options below to download the movie files larger than 4GB.

[ Using a Windows computer: ]

• • Directly access the SDXC memory card from the computer operating on Windows through internal/external card reader.
  • Download those movie files of more than 4GB to the computer operating on Windows and eject the card from the reader.
  • Format SDXC card already possessed or above card with the camera.
  • Insert the formatted SDXC card to Windows computer with internal/ external card reader and copy those movie files to the memory card.
  • Insert the SDXC card which the movie files of more than 4GB are copied to the computer operating macOS with internal/ external card reader and download them.

[ Using a Dual-slot Camera: ]
Dual-slot camera: All models of GFX series cameras and X-pro3, X-T4, and X-T3

• • Put the SDXC memory card with the movie files of more than in one card slot and the one formatted card into the other card slot and copy those files to the formatted SDXC memory card.
  • Use an internal or external card reader to directly access and download the movie files to a computer operating macOS.

(4) When all files are fully downloaded from the SDXC memory card to the computer operating macOS, please format the SDXC memory card and follow the suggested guidelines from Section 1 (If using a new or recently formatted SDXC memory card).

If you do not have a Windows PC, or dual-slot camera, please contact Fujifilm Customer Service in your region.

Thank you for your understanding and for being a part of the Fujifilm community.

Mac, and macOS are trademarks of Apple Inc. in the U.S.A. and other countries.
Windows is a registered trademark of Microsoft Corporation in the U.S.A. and other countries.

 

[raymondg]

Can someone please clarify if the GFX100s cameras are affected?

I.Firmware Incompatibility Overview

1. X Series and GFX System Cameras Affected:
   • The models that do not depend on the firmware version
   GFX100, GFX100S, GFX50S II, X-Pro3, X-T4, X-S10, X-E4, X-T30 II and X100V
   • The models that depend on the firmware version
   GFX50S (Ver.4.00 or later), GFX50R (Ver.2.00 or later) and X-T3(Ver.3.20 or later

Dependent/Not dependent of Firmware version??? what does that mean??? do they need a patch or not? Very confusing.

Thanks


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[Frankintexas]

I agree, the announcement is not as clear as it could have been. Here's my interpretation:

1. X series and GFX systems affected REGARDLESS of currently installed firmware version:

GFX100, GFX100S, GFX50S II, X-Pro3, X-T4, X-S10, X-E4, X-T30 II and X100V.

2. X series and GFX systems affected DEPENDING on the currently installed firmware version:

GFX50S (Ver.4.00 or later), GFX50R (Ver.2.00 or later) and X-T3(Ver.3.20 or later.

Hope this helps.

 

[raymondg]

[No message]

 

[RobBobW]

Bottom Line:

- Don't store more than 4000 images in a folder

- Always eject your media properly

 

[RHWeber]

I may be wrong, but as I read this warning it applies to images that are imported from a memory card into a desktop folder using the OS import process. I always use Capture One to import photos and they are imported directly into a Capture One Catalog. I used this process for 50 images I took Wednesday without any problem. Does anyone have an opinion regarding my conclusion.

 

[dbateman]

I may be wrong, but as I read this warning it applies to images that are imported from a memory card into a desktop folder using the OS import process. I always use Capture One to import photos and they are imported directly into a Capture One Catalog. I used this process for 50 images I took Wednesday without any problem. Does anyone have an opinion regarding my conclusion.

 

[JimKasson]

I may be wrong, but as I read this warning it applies to images that are imported from a memory card into a desktop folder using the OS import process. I always use Capture One to import photos and they are imported directly into a Capture One Catalog. I used this process for 50 images I took Wednesday without any problem. Does anyone have an opinion regarding my conclusion.

I think this is Mac OS problem. Windows back in the 98SE days had a limit on the number of files in a folder. But that was lifted in WinXp.

But there’s still the green ribbon of death.

This maybe a general problem to remember, especially for external hard drives connected to a Mac computer.

What should happen is an update to the Mac OS to handle more files.

However, it does slow down a folder access due to caching if you have too many files in a folder.

 

[RHWeber]

I have never used a windows machine for photography. What is the green ribbon of death.

 

[JimKasson]

I have never used a windows machine for photography. What is the green ribbon of death.

The green ribbon is Explorer's way of indicating that it is busy doing something. It is performing a task that is taking a long time and so it shows a green bar so that you can see its progress. ... Explorer has to create the thumbnail images from each file and it takes time to do this. Sometimes a very long time. Until it's done with the thumbnails, you can't do any much in File Explorer.

 

[dbateman]

I have never used a windows machine for photography. What is the green ribbon of death.

The green ribbon is Explorer's way of indicating that it is busy doing something. It is performing a task that is taking a long time and so it shows a green bar so that you can see its progress. ... Explorer has to create the thumbnail images from each file and it takes time to do this. Sometimes a very long time. Until it's done with the thumbnails, you can't do any much in File Explorer.

Yes this is special caching and decoding process for just image files. Using a very inefficient raw processing method.

If you right click on that folder, go to properties, go to the customize tab, then in the pull down change pictures to "General items". It will load your 100000 images in a second.

It will now just show the embedded image preview, which is much faster.

The biggest drawback of this change, is Windows will no longer pull the Exif data out from each file. So you can't sort or group images based on anything you might be interested in doing with tabs at the top.

 

[Brian OReilly]

Nope - I think this is a Fuji firmware problem...

Brian

 

[Valued Customer]

Here is a good description,

 

[Singingsnapper]

I'm a bad boy when it comes to firmware updates. My GFX100s is still on the first version. I haven't had any issues downloading into Lightroom Mac.

 

[Theia]

Originally, only 999 images could be saved to a folder, but Fuji updated this to 9,999 with firmware 4.0 on the GFX50S:

"3)The maximum number of photos that can be saved in each folder on an SD card will increase 10 fold from 999 to 9,999."

Presumably this larger limit was already baked into the first firmware version for the GFX100S.

 

[Brian OReilly]

But...

This is the same guy who erroneously stated it was an Apple Issue...

He has also provided a lot of incorrect information about Fuji cameras and how they handle exposure etc.

Interesting stuff - but perhaps we all need to be caution as to the veracity of information on Youtube

Hope this helps

Brian

 

[dbateman]

Well it looks like firmware version 4.4 is out now for the 50S.

I might just hold onto version 4.3.

Please let me know if any other secret stuff was added to 4.4.

I still have to see if I can get focus bracketing to work with my viltrox 18mm or 45mm tubes. They might not be compatible, too bad as only $108 each rather than $320 each at B&H. The 35-70mm works with the tubes for some great close up photography.

Other cameras updates are out as well.