Firmware Friday: New features for Fuji X-Pro2, X-E3; Important bugfix for Panasonic Varicam 35 and HS
posted Saturday, January 20, 2018 at 12:30 AM EDT
Our Firmware Friday roundup this week is short and to the point. We have news of new firmware from two companies this week, Fujifilm and Panasonic. Fuji has updated its X-Pro2 and X-E3 cameras with new features, while Panasonic has fixed a problem that could rarely cause system errors on the Varicam 35 and HS camcorders.
Without any further ado, let's look at what's new!
Fujifilm X-E3 and X-Pro2
Firmware version 1.10 for the Fuji X-E3 and firmware version 4.00 for the Fuji X-Pro2 both add new features, but that's as far as their similarity goes. The X-E3 gains support for automatic geotagging and time/date synchronization via Bluetooth, piggybacking off your smartphone for the relevant info. It also receives a fix for the live view flickering when dynamic range was set to 400% and face detection enabled. The X-Pro2, meanwhile, gets a new 4K video mode complete with support for Fuji's Film Simulation modes. (Note that you can't output a 4K signal via HDMI, however.) It also gains support for USB or Wi-Fi tethered shooting.
You can download the Fuji X-E3 firmware version 1.10 update here, and the Fuji X-Pro2 firmware version 4.00 update here.
Panasonic Varicam 35 and HS
For Panasonic's Varicam 35 and HS, it's the opposite story. There are no new features in firmware version 7.50-00-0.01 for the Varicam 35, nor in firmware version 7.50-00-0.00 for the Varicam HS. And both cameras, although distinct models, receive the exact same change in their new firmware: Panasonic has corrected a rare issue which could cause an E36 system error to be displayed when Rec. Stop was pressed, the flash card inserted or removed, or the card formatted. In all cases, Panasonic stresses that no data was lost or cards damaged, however it has resolved this problem in the new firmware.
(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.)