Firmware Friday: Fuji X-T1, X-A5, Nikon Z7 and A900, Panasonic FZ80-line, Ricoh Theta V, Sony A9 updated

This week, our regular Firmware Friday roundup returns after a brief hiatus with news of firmware updates for ten still cameras and three video cameras, as well as a raft of software news. If you're a Fujifilm, Nikon, Panasonic, Pentax, Ricoh or Sony shooter, you'll want to keep reading. If not, we'd suggest taking a look at our Black Friday camera deals instead. (And if you buy a new camera, bookmark our Firmware Friday page so you can check for new firmware regularly.)

We've a lot to discuss, so let's skip the preamble and see what's new!

Fujifilm X-T1 and X-A5

We'll kick things off this week with Fujifilm. The company has two new updates to offer this week, one apiece for the X-T1 and X-A5 mirrorless cameras. The X-T1 firmware version 5.50 update whose withdrawal we spoke of in our last roundup has now been replaced by firmware version 5.51. This brings with it the same changes as v5.50 -- compatbility with newer lenses, essentially -- but corrects an issue which prevented both zoom and manual focus operation with the XC15-45mmF3.5-5.6 OIS PZ lens. Whether or not you've installed the v5.50 update, you'll want to download v5.51 here and install it on your X-T1 now.

Firmware version 1.21 for the X-A5, meanwhile, is pretty straightforward. Responsiveness of the exposure compensation dial has been improved, and the company also says that it has fixed "slight defects", without specifying which. Download this update here.

Nikon Z 7, Coolpix A900, Camera Control Pro, Capture NX-D, Message Center 2, Picture Control Utility 2. ViewNX-i and Wireless Transmitter Utility

Nikon fields by far and away the most updates this time around, although they're predominantly on the software front. For cameras, the Coolpix A900 has received firmware version 1.4 (download here), while the recently-launched Z 7 mirrorless camera is now running firmware version 1.02 (download here). The Coolpix A900 v1.4 update adds support for SnapBridge version 1.2, and corrects pairing issues with some Android devices. Firmware version 1.02 on the Nikon Z7, meanwhile, fixes the following issues:

• Fixed an issue that caused the display to flicker if pictures were scrolled during playback zoom after the user had taken pictures using the viewfinder with Prioritize viewfinder selected for monitor mode and then removed his or her eye from the viewfinder before starting playback.

• Fixed an issue that caused Capture NX-D or ViewNX-i to crash when displaying NEF (RAW) pictures taken with the following options selected for HDR (high dynamic range) in the PHOTO SHOOTING MENU:

  • HDR mode: On (series) or On (single photo)

  • Save individual images (NEF): On

• Fixed an issue that allowed the camera to exceed the value chosen for ISO sensitivity settings > Maximum sensitivity in the MOVIE SHOOTING MENU if it was from ISO 200 to 20,000 and On was selected for MOVIE SHOOTING MENU > Electronic VR.

• Updated some help displays.

On the software front, there are a raft of updates from Nikon, but the bulk of these (Camera Control Pro v2.28.0, Picture Control Utility v2.4.1, ViewNX-i v1.3.1 and Wireless Transmitter Utility v1.8.1) simply add support for the recently-launched Nikon Z6 mirrorless camera. Capture NX-D v1.5.1 also adds support for the Z6, but further fixes several issues in the previous release:

• NEF (RAW) photos taken with the Z 7 using HDR (high dynamic range) would sometimes not display.

• NEF (RAW) photos taken using Silent photography with the Z 7 in burst mode could sometimes not be opened.

• Color control points could not be placed on some rotated images

You can, if you prefer, also download Capture NX-D v1.5.1 and ViewNX-i v1.3.1 in a single package here. Finally, Nikon Message Center v2.3.1 for Mac now requires macOS 10.12.6 (Sierra) or later, but makes no other changes.

Panasonic FZ80, FZ81, FZ82 and FZ83

Firmware version 1.1 for the closely-related Panasonic FZ80, FZ81, FZ82 and FZ83 makes but one change related to the digital print order function which can be used to select photos for printing in-camera, then have them automatically printed by a compatible external printer. Panasonic doesn't go into much detail, but states that it has "improved operation of the print set (DPOF)". You'll find the update available to download here.

Ricoh Theta V

Ricoh has an update for its Theta V 360-degree spherical panoramic camera in this week's roundup. Firmware version 2.50.1 for the Theta V makes a fair few changes as follows:

• The version of the USB Data Transfer plug-in has been upgraded. Various settings can now be made.

  ※When handling files that exceed 4GB, dedicated software is required.

  • Move, copy and delete each file

  • Format of external devices (ext4/FAT32)

• The power lamp can now be used to display the battery level in detail.

  • 80% or more     Blue

  • 50 to 80%     　　Yellow

  • 30 to 50%     　　Lights red

  • Under 30%      　Flashes red

• Changed the device name displayed when connecting by Bluetooth.

  • Old: Numerical part of the serial number (12345678)

  • New: THETA + serial number (THETAYL12345678)・

• Shooting video is now supported by Self-timer function.

• Bug fix

The update can be applied using the Ricoh Theta app for Windows or Mac OS devices following the instructions here.

Sony A9, F5, F55 and Venice

Which just leaves Sony for this roundup. The company has updated several high-end products: Its flagship A9 mirrorless camera is now running version 4.00 firmware, with a raft of changes as follows:

• Allows you to transfer still images during record and playback operations

• Adds the following new FTP transfer functions:

  • Allows you to narrow the transfer target, such as protected images or non-transferred images, and transfer the applicable images together as a batch

  • Allows you to transfer the image being viewed by pressing the assigned custom key

  • Allows you to transfer all images automatically while recording

  • Allows you to select the transfer target file formats when transferring images records in RAW+JPEG format to an FTP server

• Updates the destination folder configuration with the following options:

  • Allows you to register up to nine FTP servers

  • Allows you to change the destination folder configuration flexibly on the FTP server

  • Allows you to save image data in the folder that you choice

  • Allows you to register [media card slot number] in the folder configuration

  • Allows you to make the folder configuration the same as on your camera

• Improves the overall stability of the camera

Finally, the new firmware version 2.10 release for the Sony Venice, as well as v9.20 for the Sony F5 and F55, all make the same change, supporting two new XQD memory cards, the QD-G120F and QD-G240F.

And that's all for this week. Be sure to check back next time for more Firmware Friday 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.)