Firmware Friday: Xmas comes early for Canon, Fuji, Leica, Olympus, Panasonic, Ricoh, Sigma and more
posted Friday, December 22, 2017 at 10:53 PM EDT
With 2018 fast approaching and the holiday season in full swing, our Firmware Friday roundup this week is a veritable cornucopia of goodies. We've news of new firmware (and in some cases, software too) for still and video cameras from Canon, Fuji, Hasselblad, Leica, Olympus, Panasonic, Ricoh, Sigma and Yi Technology. With so much to cover this time around, we'll do our best to keep things brief.
Let's get right down to it!
Canon Cinema EOS C700 and C700 GS PL
Starting things off this week, we have the Canon Cinema EOS C700 and C700 GS PL, two very closely-related cameras which this week receive a raft of new features just in time for Christmas. You can now import .cube-format 3D lookup tablets created using Blackmagic Design's DaVinci Resolve software, and other new features include a new 2K Super16mm cropped recording mode, support for Hybrid Log Gamma HDR ITU-R BT.2100 output, and an unspecified selection of new white balance color temperature options.
You can also now record at frame rates of 23.98, 24, 25, 29.97, 50, or 59.94 frames per second when using the MO-4E adapter to attach B4-mount lenses to an EF-mount C700 body, or the MO-4P adapter with the PL-mount C700 GS PL body. Other tweaks include simplification of Slow & Fast-mode frame rate selection, a new red color for the Slow & Fast-mode icon during recording, and a fix for a sound lag issue when using the Scan Reverse Rec option. Additionally, the Cinema EOS C700 (but not its PL-mount sibling) gains new Peripheral Illumination Correction support for the EF-S 18-55mm f/4-5.6 IS STM, EF-S 35mm f/2.8 Macro IS STM or EF 85mm f/1.4L IS USM lenses.
You can download Canon's new firmware at the links below:
Fujifilm X-Pro2, X-T1, X-T20, Tethered Capture Plug-in and Tethered Shooting Software
Moving on to the Fujifilm cameras, we have updates for three models this week. Firmware version 4.00 for the Fuji X-Pro2 is the most exciting of the trio, adding support for 4K video capture. And as if that wasn't already plenty, it even works in concert with the company's clever Film Simulation modes! (Note that you can't output 4K video footage via HDMI, however.) And if you're more concerned with still shooting, you'll perhaps be even more thrilled by the addition of support for USB cable-connected or Wi-Fi wireless tethering with FUJIFILM X Acquire, Tether Shooting Software HS-V5, or the standard or Pro variants of the Tether Shooting Plug-in for Adobe Photoshop Lightroom.
And to go along with the above firmware, Fuji also has updates for some of its camera software. The new releases of Tethered Capture Plug-in for Adobe Photoshop Lightroom and the Tethered Shooting Software HS-V5 for Windows (both bearing version number 1.7) add support for the new USB / Wi-Fi tethering capability of the X-Pro2, as well as allowing backup and restoration of its settings.
The new firmware version 5.40 update for the Fuji X-T1, meanwhile, adds support for the recently-launched Fuji Instax Share SP-3, an instant photo printer capable of producing low-res square prints that are 2.4 inches on each side. If that seems familiar, it's because the same feature was recently added to the GFX 50S, X-T2 and X-T20. Finally for Fuji's new firmware, version 1.11 for the Fuji X-T20 corrects a problem where the Boost icon was incorrectly shown when High Performance was enabled.
Download Fuji's updates at the links below:
Hasselblad A6D-100c, H6D-50c, H6D-100c, X1D-50c and HC / HCD lenses
Next up for this week, we have Hasselblad's new firmware version 1.20.0 for the X1D-50c, H6D-50c and H6D-100c. Here, numerous changes are shared between the trio. They all receive new selectable crop mask modes, with the crop both shown in live view mode and tagged in the raw files. They also get a new Backup storage mode which records the same file format (3FR, JPG or MP4) on both memory cards simultaneously, and now indicate exposure info in the Live View Spirit Level overlay mode. Hasselblad also notes support for new (unspecified) memory card types, says that it has fixed a bug which could cause battery drain even when the cameras were powered off and has added an additional EXIF tag capturing the model information of the attached lens.
For the H6D-50c and H6D-100c, the only other change is a new Image menu which, presumably, gathers together related options previously found in other menus. The X1D-50c, meanwhile, forgoes these last two changes in favor of new image preview, zoom, browse and video playback functionality for the electronic viewfinder, including support for live view panning using the touchpad. (And the touchpad remains active even when using HDMI output now, too.) There's also new autofocus support with some HC and HCD lenses (and improved AF speed with the XCD 90 lens), better low-light autofocus reliability, higher focusing precision and a promise of a higher success rate for the function, too. And the X1D-50c also receives a new Function button option to cycle through crop modes, as well as a new Touch menu which again likely just better-organizes existing options.
The new autofocus support for HC and HCD lenses with the X1D-50c requires that the lenses themselves be updated, too. The new firmware version 19.0.2 update for the HC and HCD lenses makes no changes other than to support the new body, and is available for the HCD 28, HC 35, HC 50, HC 50-II, HC 80 and HC 100 optics.
And finally, the firmware version 1.18.1 update for the Hasselblad A6D-100c aerial camera is said to tidy up the user interface significantly, improve live view and optimize its overlays, and optimize center pulse timing as well. It also adds support for 4K and Full HD video capture, center zoom, and an exposure simulation function for both still and video live view / capture.
You can download Hasselblad's firmware at the links below:
Leica T (Typ 701) and TL
Continuing down the list, we have firmware updates for the Leica T (Typ 701) and Leica TL. Firmware version 1.7 for the Leica T and firmware version 2.2 for the Leica TL both make the exact same change, adding support for the new Elmarit-TL 18 f/2.8 Asph. lens. Nab them at the links below:
Olympus E-M1 Mark II
Firmware version 1.4 for the Olympus E-M1 Mark II is also very quick to summarize, making just one change. Operational stability while shooting using the electronic viewfinder has apparently been improved. You can install the update using the Olympus Digital Camera Updater application for Windows or MacOS.
Panasonic AJ-PG50, AJ-PX270, AJ-PX285MC, AJ-PX298MC, AJ-PX380G, AJ-PX398MCF, AJ-PX800G, AJ-PX800MC, AJ-PX2300MC, AJ-PX5000G, AJ-PX5000MC, Lumix Tether and PHOTOfunStudio
Panasonic has updated ten of its professional video camera models as well as one related accessory, and shipped updates to its Lumix Tether and consumer-oriented PHOTOfunSTUDIO applications as well.
Perhaps most importantly for all of the video cameras and the AJ-PG50 memory card recorder, Panasonic has removed the 50Mbps limit on recording to internal SDHC / SDXC cards, while simultaneously noting that it cannot guarantee recording / playback at bit rates above 50Mbps. Support has also been added for tally control of the video cameras from external devices like the AK-HRP200 remote operation panel using the existing Tally menu, and all but the AJ-PX270, AJ-PX298MC and AJ-PX285MC also allow for tally control by IP or serial comms. (Those three models support IP only, and not serial comms.) IP communication is via Wi-Fi, using either the D-Link DWA-171 adapter in Australia, or the Verizon USB730L in the US market.
There are also a variety of improvements for all 11 devices in other areas, including menu tweaks to prevent accidental CPS formatting of MicroP2 B-series SDXC-compatible flash cards, support for downloading firmware without simultaneously triggering installation, improved UDP streaming capabilities, and fixes for a variety of stability issues at bootup and in operation. In addition to these changes, the ATW function has been tweaked per Chinese customers' requests on the AJ-PX298MC and AJ-PX285MC only.
Finally for Panasonic, the company has issued version 1.0 of PHOTOfunSTUDIO 10.0 PE for users of the Lumix DC-G9, as well as updating its Lumix Tether app to add support for the G9. The Lumix Tether v1.1 update also adds new rotation and resizing buttons to the user interface when reviewing images.
You can download Panasonic's firmware and software at the links below:
Ricoh Theta V and all related apps
Firmware version 1.20.1 for the Ricoh Theta V makes quite a few changes, too. Stitching accuracy is said to have been improved for still images, and purple fringing effects have been reduced. There's also a new rotational shake correction function for video capture if zenith correction is turned on during smartphone transfer, and the degree of shake of subject shake has been reduced. (Ricoh notes that this last change may increase image noise in some circumstances, however.) A problem with weak spatial audio when using the TA-1 3D microphone accessory has also been fixed, and the default shutdown time reduced from 48 to 18 hours. Ricoh also notes that there are other, unspecified bug fixes in the update.
Ricoh has also updated all of the apps and desktop software for the Theta V, many of which are also shared with earlier models. In most cases, Ricoh says it has fixed bugs, but doesn't note what these entailed. However, it does also say that support for upgrading Theta firmware from Android devices has been added to the Ricoh Theta S app, and support for the iPhone X has been added to its iOS equivalent. And the spatial audio issue mentioned previously has also been corrected in the Windows / MacOS Movie Converter applications, which also now support Facebook.
Download all of Ricoh's updates at the links below:
Sigma EF-630, FD-11, sd Quattro and sd Quattro H
Sigma has four updates for us this week, of which two are for cameras, and two for related accessories. The firmware version 1.08 update for the Sigma sd Quattro and version 1.04 update for the sd Quattro H both make unspecified improvements to functions and stability.
The Sigma EF-630 flash strobe, meanwhile, gets different fixes depending on the platform. Sigma and Canon-compatible versions correct unintended flash triggering when using the sync terminal, and now allow switching between metric and imperial distance display in custom mode. The Nikon-compatible variant, meanwhile, gets improved color tone in TTL, TTL-BL and Manual modes.
And finally, firmware version 1.01 for the Sigma FD-11 flash USB dock improves firmware installation time for Sigma and Nikon users. (Canon users already received this change last June.)
You can download Sigma's camera updates below. Firmware for the flash strobe and USB dock must be installed using Sigma Optimization Pro.
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Sigma sd Quattro v1.08: https://www.sigma-global.com/en/download/cameras/firmware/#sd
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Sigma sd Quattro H v1.04: https://www.sigma-global.com/en/download/cameras/firmware/#sd-h
YI M1 (aka YI Camera)
And finally for this week, we come to Yi Technology's Yi M1 mirrorless camera, also known as the Yi Camera. Firmware version 3.1-int for the Yi M1 adds support for raw and raw+JPEG shooting in concert with autoexposure bracketing. Overall stability has also been improved, and some unspecified bugs have been fixed. You can download this update here.
And that's all for this week! Be sure to check back next time for more firmware news...
(Camera parts image courtesy of Kelly Hofer / Flickr; used under a Creative Commons CC-BY-2.0 license. Image has been modified from the original.)