Fuji X-T2 Firmware Update v4.00: What’s new?

Street in Ruthin (Image David Bailey, Fuji X-T2)

In my article last month on the Fuji X-T20 firmware update to v2.00, I mentioned how much I was looking forward to the expected Fuji X-T2 firmware update to v4.00. This has now been released and so, in order not to disappoint regular readers, I am glad to report on the enhancements of this update. I promise however to spare those readers over much repetition of my tributes to Fuji Kaizen goodness. Be assured that I am nevertheless thinking such thoughts and may break my promise at any time.

Focus Bracketing

Fujifilm state that: “The update will enable the photographer to shoot focus distance bracketing up to 999 frames. When the photographer starts shooting, the focal location is shifted with each activation of the shutter by the step of focus shift set from 1 to 10.”

This new capability is likely to be of most interest to macro and landscape photographers. My own interest is centred on the opportunity to achieve sharp focus from very near to very far in landscape shooting particularly when using very wide lenses. In some such situations, even hyper-focal techniques are unable to achieve the required front-to-rear sharpness, particularly relating to the extreme near corners of a scene. For subsequent processing, Affinity Photo and of course Photoshop are already capable of handling focus stacks to take advantage of this facility.

Compatibility with lenses

Compatibility of the X-T2 with the newly developed cinema optics, the FUJINON MK18-55mm T2.9 and the FUJINON MK50-135mm T2.9. Four benefits are introduced: First, aperture information can be displayed on the monitor. The upgrade allows users to select speed or aperture. Second, the upgrade allows users to check the focus distance with the distance indicator shown on the monitor. Third, the upgrade automatically corrects the distortion and colour/brightness shading. Finally, the camera calculates the white balance based upon the lens position and outputs the colour expressions with Film Simulation modes.

Enlarged indicators

The upgrade allows users to enlarge indicators and information in the viewfinder and/or LCD monitor. It will also enable users to customise the location of where the information is shown on the display. This brings the X-T2 up to speed with the same improvement last month in the X-T20. For those with less-than-perfect eyesight, such as myself, this is a very welcome option.

Puddles at Puddington (Image David Bailey)

Video – Addition of F-log SD card recording

The upgrade allows users to record F-log movie data into their SD card. This brings the X-T2 into line with the X-H1 and is a feature of great utility to videographers who would wish to do their grading in post-processing.

Video – Addition of 1080/120P high-speed mode

This allows users to shoot 1080/120P high-speed video (1/2, 1/4 and 1/5 speed slow motion), ideal for recording spectacular slow-motion footage.

Enhanced Phase Detection AF

I have not yet had a chance to test this new capability but, based upon the rate of improvement in previous firmware updates, I am confident that the AF capability of my X-T2 will be much enhanced, further eroding the difference between mirrorless and DSLR performance in this respect.
Latest updates to the AF algorithm provide the following performance enhancements:

The low-light limit for phase detection autofocus has been improved by approximately 1.5 stops from 0.5EV to -1.0EV, raising the precision and speed of autofocus in low-light environments.
The range at minimum aperture has been expanded from f/8 to f/11. For example, even when using the XF100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 R LM OIS WR with the tele-converter XF2X TC WR, phase detection autofocus can now be used.
Major improvements have been made to the AF-C performance while operating the zoom, which provides major benefits when shooting sports and other scenarios in which the subjects moves unpredictably.
Finely-detailed surface textures of wild birds and wild animals can now be captured at high speed and with high precision as a result of improvement in phase detection autofocus.

The phase detection AF improvement in low light is of great interest to wildlife photographers as, of course, is the ability now to utilise phase detection autofocus from f/8 to f/11 when using the XF100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 R LM OIS WR with the tele-converter XF2X TC WR. It will significantly enhance the performance of this combination up to its maximum 1,200mm in full-frame terms. I can’t wait to try it out since I have currently restricted my use of the 2.0 TC to the f/2.8 50-140mm lens.

And the 1.4 TC has been used only with the f/4.5-5.6 100-400mm. Happy days!

Addition of “Flicker Reduction”

For enhancing the quality of indoor sports photography, the upgrade allows users to reduce flicker in pictures and the display when shooting under fluorescent lighting and other similar light sources.

Addition of “Select Folder” and “Create Folder”

Enables the user to choose the folder in which subsequent pictures will be stored. And also enables the entry of a five-character folder name to create a new folder in which to store subsequent pictures.

Fujifilm X Acquire functions

New functions are added to store and read of camera settings by FUJIFILM X Acquire
Once connecting a camera to a computer via USB cable, the “FUJIFILM X Acquire” allows users to backup or restore camera settings via a file. With “FUJIFILM X Acquire” (v.1.7 or newer), Custom Registration/Edit settings are also stored and read.

In my opinion, the top three improvements Fuji have made for X-T2 photography are

Enhanced phase detection AF
Focus bracketing
Enlarged customisable indicators in EVF and LCD

But I turn my nose up at none of the improvements in this X-T2 firmware upgrade to v4.00. After all. I may well at some point want to get serious about videography and those enhanced facilities in this upgrade will suddenly zoom up my list of priorities. All is grist to the Kaizen mill. My apologies for breaking my promise not to mention that again.

Note 17 May 2018: Today Fuji temporarily removed the update from the website because of some unresolved issues reported by users. It should be back soon. The following advice comes from Fuji:

“To all loyal Fujifilm X Series customers and photographers,

It has been brought to our attention that there are a few issues with the recently released X-T2 ver 4.00 firmware update. We have therefore taken the difficult decision to remove the update from the website until we are confident that all the issues have been completely fixed.

We deeply apologize for any inconvenience and disappointment this has caused.

Sincerely yours, Toshi Iida, General Manager, Optical Device and Electronic Imaging Products Division, Fujifilm Corporation, Tokyo, JAPAN

Details of the Problem

We have discovered malfunctions in the firmware ver.4.00 released on May 8 2018. They are as follows:

When RAW files, which were taken by X-T2 (before firmware ver.4.00), are converted in camera (ver.4.00) or by “FUJIFILM X RAW STUDIO”, they are not converted properly.
When pressing the shutter button halfway under certain conditions, the live view can flicker.
In rare cases, a hang-up can occur.

We have identified the cause and plan to release the upgraded firmware to address the malfunctions as soon as we can.

In the meantime, for customers who have upgraded the firmware to ver.4.00, the firmware ver.4.01*,

whose functions are same as ver.3.00, have been posted on our website. Please download it and update your camera.

• *Ver.4.01 doesn’t include the additional functions of ver.4.00.

Again, we sincerely apologize for the inconvenience caused.

[ X-T2 Ver.4.01 Download page ]

• X-T2 Camera Body Firmware Update Ver.4.01

Note

We announced the firmware update for GFX 50S, X-H1 and X-Pro2, which was planned in May 2018, on the Global website on 12 Apr 2018. However, it will be postponed because we need more time to check the firmware for the three models. For detail, we will inform you later.”

Another user reports: “But there’s a major flaw when trying to record F-Log to the SD cards and use an external monitor.”

So its back to version 3 (or 4.01) until Fuji crack the problems.

I will respond to any comments about it in response to my article on the upgrade.

David Bailey

__________

Tags
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13 COMMENTS

Wayne Gerlach 17 May 2018 At 23:13

In addition to Per’s comment below, a further message to William and Don – have a quick look at the posting on Petapixel
https://petapixel.com/2018/05/17/fujifilm-pulls-x-t2-firmware-v4-0-after-discovering-malfunctions/
especially the note at the end re upgrades to other Fuji cameras. Maybe just wait a bit until they get it all straightened out.

In regard to Fuji’s Kaizen (there, it’s mentioned again) my experience is that it is good, but not perfect. I upgraded my Fuji X-E2 from firmware version 1 directly to version 4. All apparently ok, it did bring the camera up to XE-2S spec. But when I went to download images to a Windows 10 computer it didn’t function using a USB cable. A quick search on the ‘net shows that many people have this problem with this X-E2 upgrade. However, Fujifilm Australia service dept claimed that they were not aware of the issue, and further said that they could not get any info on it out of Japan either. When I indicated that they could search and see the problem in many places on the ‘net they said they’d check and get back to me. They had all my details, but nothing further from them. So, I’d modify it to "Kaizen…..sometimes".

On a positive note however, I did like your images David, and agree that the Ruthin shot is excellent – light, composition, perspective, all +++.

Reply
- William Fagan 18 May 2018 At 09:10
  
  Thanks Wayne. A a regular user of old film cameras waiting on a new digital firmware update is no big deal for me. I am usually a ‘hold out’ with new software or firmware whether it is from Apple, Adobe or one of the camera companies. I just updated my Lightroom CC yesterday and I have discovered that the Fuji film profiles are now in a different place along with very similar Adobe profiles which seem to match the Fuji profiles. Users of other camera makes should go looking for these. I am assuming that they will show up in Lightroom for Leicas, Nikons etc.
  
  With software I am very much a ‘pick and choose’ person. I use the 10% of features that I like and ignore the rest.
  
  William
  
  Reply
- David Bailey 18 May 2018 At 10:45
  
  Wayne,
  
  Thanks your comments re the images!
  
  It is clearly disappointing that Fuji have had to pull V4 for the X-T2 but two points occur:
  1 Fuji have promptly apologised and acknowledged there is a problem and advised they are fixing it. This contrasts with for example Nikon whose first instinct is to deny problems with their cameras and take ages to do anything. See Thom Hogan’s website for many examples
  http://www.bythom.com/
  
  2 I note your general approval for Kaizen and they seem to have let you down on that particular occasion. However, the main fact is that Fuji do have and are committed to a policy of continuous improvement for their range of cameras. This does differentiate them clearly from some other brands. As you say, nothing is perfect.
  
  David
  
  Reply
William Fagan 17 May 2018 At 21:18

Thanks David. My X-Pro 2 is getting a lot of work right now. Today it went on 15.6km hike (25,000+ steps on a 6 hour hike according to my iPhone) up to a hidden lake at over 2,000ft. Yesterday it visited our National Botanic Gardens with a recently acquired 60mm f2.4 ‘macro’ lens which, by the way, despite what has been said online, has excellent fast autofocus on the X-Pro 2. Last week the X-Pro 2 went on another hike in the Wicklow Mountains and in recent weeks it has covered various topics ranging from hen houses to horse races.

I will upgrade my firmware with V5. It all sounds useful, even though most of my photography is of the walking about landscape and cityscape variety. All of today’s photos were taken with the 10-24mm zoom. My favourite feature of Fuji cameras is the ability to use the Velvia film settings either with RAW images in Lightroom or in JPEGs straight out of the cameras. They are true digital slides bringing back the great days of slide photography in a digital format. Now if some one would only do the same with Kodachrome. We can only live in hope. The Kodachrome and Velvia years were some of my best years in photography. I am putting together some equipment to convert some slides taken by my father and myself between 25 and 50 years ago to 36 MP images using a Nikon D800E. I will be reporting on the results here. Meanwhile, for present day photography the Fujifilm Velvia setting works a treat.

Note to Leica. Let’s also have some slide film settings in a modern digital Leica.

William

William

Reply
- David Bailey 18 May 2018 At 10:33
  
  William,
  
  You have been putting in some serious effort to get your shots. I very much look forward to seeing the results if you have the time, stationary at your desk, to process them and write about them!
  
  Do hope the V5 firmware for your X-Pro2 works well and is not recalled like my V4 firmware for the X-T2! I hadn’t noticed any problems mainly because I have been out with my X-T20 and the 23mm f1.4 doing some street photography in Chester. You shall be inflicted with the results of that in due course! I am now using this camera for street photography at waist level, zone focussed and using the touch shutter facility on the tilted LCD. I like this mode best as it is not intrusive.
  
  I use Velvia for most landscape and wild-life shots and agree it is splendid.
  
  David
  
  Reply
John Nicholson 17 May 2018 At 18:27

Well, I don’t suppose I’ll be going down the Fuji road, but I’m glad you are! You certainly know how to create temptation! These are wonderful images, and the interplay of shapes and dark and light in your Ruthin street scene is superb. Thank you.

Reply
- David Bailey 18 May 2018 At 10:20
  
  John
  Thank you for your appreciation. I spent a couple of hours in "downtown" Ruthin that morning and had a great coffee and a sticky bun. As soon as I saw the light on the house in that street I felt quite excited. All my other shots in town were however in the range from mediocre to deeply unmemorable!
  David
  
  Reply
  - Mike Evans 18 May 2018 At 10:27
    
    Now, now, David. I have copyrighted mediocre and deeply unmemorable. They are specialities of mine.
    
    Reply
    - David Bailey 18 May 2018 At 21:40
      
      Mike
      
      You’ll have to sue me because I can’t stop offending!
      
      Guilty as charged
      
      David
      
      Reply
Per Ofverbeck 17 May 2018 At 13:31

Looks like a little patience is advisable here…

http://www.fujifilm.com/support/digital_cameras/software/firmware/x/xt2/index.html

Reply
Don 17 May 2018 At 09:39

I am very curious to know why this latest Fuji firmware update was rolled out for the XT-2 but not for the X-Pro2? Am wondering does any other reader know?

Reply
- Mike Evans 17 May 2018 At 11:02
  
  I’m not sure about this, Don. David might be able to answer since it was his article.
  
  Reply
- David Bailey 17 May 2018 At 12:54
  Don,
  On the following link,
  
  http://www.fujifilm.com/products/digital_cameras/x/fujifilm_x_pro2/features/page_08.html
  
  I think firmware v5.00 for the X-Pro 2 is just released with the following enhancements:
  
  New Firmware Ver.5.00
  Enhanced Phase Detection AF
  
  Latest updates to the AF algorithm provide the following performance enhancements
```
1: The low-light limit for phase detection autofocus has been improved by approximately 1.5 stops from 0.5EV to -1.0EV, raising the precision and speed of autofocus in low-light environments.
2: The range at minimum aperture has been expanded from F8 to F11. For example, even when using the XF100-400mmF4.5-5.6 R LM OIS WR with the teleconverter XF2X TC WR, phase detection autofocus can now be used.
3: Major improvements have been made to the AF-C performance while operating the zoom, which provides major benefits when shooting sports and other scenarios in which the subjects moves unpredictably.
4: Finely-detailed surface textures of wild birds and wild animals can now be captured at high speed and with high precision as a result of improvement in phase detection autofocus.
```
  Addition of “Flicker Reduction”
  
  For enhancing the quality of indoor sports photography, the upgrade allows users to reduce flicker in pictures and the display when shooting under fluorescent lighting and other similar light sources.
  Addition of “Select Folder” and “Create Folder”
  
  Enable to choose the folder in which subsequent pictures will be stored. And also enable to enter a five-character folder name to create a new folder in which to store subsequent pictures.
  Enlarged and customizable indicators or information
  
  The upgrade allows users to enlarge indicators and information in the viewfinder and/or LCD monitor.
  This upgrade will also enable users to customize the location of where the information is shown on the display.
  
  Trust thie helps,
  David
  Reply