Download Fujifilm X-Pro2 Bug-Fix Firmware ver.1.01 Now !

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You can now download the Fujifilm X-Pro2 Bug-Fix Firmware here.

The firmware update Ver. 1.01 from Ver.1.00 incorporates the following issues:

  • 1. The Phenomenon is fixed that in rare cases, established customized menu settings are reset to factory default setting when the camera is turned off.
  • 2. Improvement of image quality when shooting in the long exposure mode.

Some users of the new FUJIFILM X-Pro2 have advised us that they have experienced that, except for the date and language setting, their established customized menu settings are reset to the factory default setting when the camera is turned off.

We apologize for any inconvenience this may have caused to our loyal customers, and have addressed this issue with our newest firmware upgrade (Ver.1.01). We recommend that all owners of the FUJIFILM X-Pro2 digital camera download the newest firmware upgrade, both to resolve this issue and to achieve improved image quality when shooting in the long exposure mode.

If you have any questions relating to this issue, the firmware upgrade, or otherwise your X-Pro2, please contact your local Fujifilm support center.

You can rest assured that Fujifilm is absolutely committed to quality and service excellence, with respect to the X-Pro2, and with respect to all other FUJIFILM products.

Interview with Fuji Managers: About Future Lenses, Kaizen, no X-Pro2 4K, Acros & improved X-Pro2 Film Simulations (like Velvia) & more

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Fujifilm X-Pro2: USA: BHphoto / AmazonUS / FocusCamera / Adorama / Pictureline / BestBuy  CANADA: AmazonCA / EUROPE: AmazonDE / AmazonUK / WexUK / PCHstore / AmazonITA / AmazonFR / AmazonESP /   AUSTRALIA: CameraPro

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Fuji Managers Toshihisa Iida and Makoto Oishi met imaging-resource at this years’ CP+ in Japan. Now IR just published the long and interesting talk they had with the Fuji Managers. Here some excerpts:

Market Share: “According to CIPA, I think our share is probably between 14% and 15% within mirrorless [by global] value. The volume is lower, because of the higher-end products.”

KAIZEN (X-E2 FW 4.00): “Of course there’s an argument whenever we introduce a new firmware upgrade that it’s damaging the existing product. So there are pros and cons, but we decided that we really needed to take care of the existing customer first before thinking of the new customer. […] So I think that’s right, to show our customer loyalty for their purchase. […] Because now the camera is costing somewhere around several hundred to a thousand dollars. So it’s ridiculous for us to ask customers to upgrade every two years or so.”

X70, will there be a Teleconversion Lens?: “Probably not.”

Back Illuminated Sensor: “Manager: It used to be said that backside technology is good for the smaller sensor. So we are not quite sure how beneficial it would be for a bigger sensor. […] Imaging Resource: Yeah. The smaller your pixel is, then the more overhead you have for all of the routing and circuitry and everything. So backside helps more with smaller pixels. Manager: And of course we have to care about sensitivity, because BSI allows higher sensitivity. But it also damages the capacity, right? I mean dynamic range.”

4K: “[X-Pro2 sensor and processor] is fast enough and powerful enough to do 4K movie. […] I think that there’s some limitation, because with a 4K movie, for example, we need to sort out heating issues also. So I cannot say it’s impossible, but very difficult to put, you know, 4K capability into the X-Pro2. If we develop 4K movie-capable cameras, we will need to change the form factor.”

ACROS & Improved Film Simulations (like Velvia): “ACORS is a more expanded expression of black and white. This could be done because of the new sensor and the new processor. Because the new sensor is a 24-megapixel and has fast [readout], and a powerful processor, that can do the more complicated processing. […] we like to keep improving the film simulation modes. For example, because of the new sensor and processor, even Velvia mode is improved [No over-saturation]. So we don’t just introduce new simulations, but we also keep improving existing simulations.” – Read the ACROS Article here

Organic Sensor: “It’s way too eary [for any practical products to come from it].” – read this rumor

XF120mmF2.8 Release: “Q: In February last year you showed an X-mount lens roadmap that included the XF 120mm f/2.8 Macro. Is that still on track to be released this year? And/or do you have an updated roadmap? A: At the moment, we are sticking to that roadmap, but we are always listening to what customers say, and what new lenses the customers demand. So we’re consistently reviewing our roadmap. And as soon as we make a decision we will make it public.” – rumor says delay to end of 2016

New Lenses: “Many customers said they want a long telephoto prime [and] something like a 35mm f/2, a smaller prime lens, even though they can compromise a little bit on the aperture. For example, this is f/2 instead of f/1.4, but you know the form factor is much smaller.” – XF23mmF2 rumor

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The Fujifilm X100T Teardown :: Look Inside the X100T

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iFixit posted its Fujifilm X100T iFixit disassembly guide here (PDF version). They rate the dissambling as “difficult” and say it will take you “2 to 4 hours”. Other Teardowns: X-M1 here and X30 here.

Recently lensrentals dissambled the XF55-200 (see it here).

X100T (save $200):  BHphoto / AmazonUS / FocusCamera / Adorama / Pictureline

Fuji X-Pro2 now $200 off :: XF16mmF1.4 now $350 off :: XF56mmAPD now $600 off :: & More – Open Box or Refurbished – LIMITED NUMBER!

HIGH ISO Sony A7II Vs. Fuji X-Pro2: “Even at ISO 25,600 difference less than half stop. X-Pro2 better color fidelity. Well done, Fuji!”

skalierFujifilm X-Pro2
USA: BHphoto / AmazonUS / Adorama / CANADA: AmazonCA / EUROPE: AmazonDE / AmazonUK / WexUK / PCHstore / AmazonITA / AmazonFR / AmazonESP / AUSTRALIA: CameraPro
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Don’t blame me guys… I just report what others say about the X-Pro2 (the good and the bad)… and in this case it’s the well known and respected review site admiringlight. Of course you are free to choose whom you trust or not. That said, admiringlight has, IMHO, shown in all these years that they really know their craft.

And now let’s talk about high-ISO!

Remeber when focus-numerique said they could not spot any difference between the Full Frame 24MP Sony A7II and the Fujifilm X-Pro2 at High-ISO? Well, admiringlight could see a difference, but even at ISO 25,600 it is just slightly in favor of the Sony A7II (less than a half a stop).

Oh… and before you start saying that Fuji cheats at high-ISO, admiringlight knows about the different ISO standards Sony and Fuji use, and compensated for that in its test.

Here an excerpt:

“At ISO 6400 and below, the two cameras are extremely close in noise performance…I’d estimate 1/3 stop difference or less.  At ISO 12,800 and 25,600, the difference is a bit more pronounced, but still less than a half a stop difference, which I think shows a great performance from the X-Pro2.

However, the crops above don’t tell the whole story at the highest ISOs.  While the color fidelity of both cameras is fairly impressive as ISOs climb, it is particularly neutral with the X-Pro2, which shows no noticeable color cast as ISOs increase.  But most telling is in looking at the whole images, where the dark background of the images show distinct differences.  The X-Pro 2 maintains good color control here and shows no visible banding. […]

Now take a look at the Sony image at ISO 25,600, below. While the well illuminated areas show slightly less noise, the dark background shows some pattern noise and maybe even some slight banding, with a slight purple color cast. There’s even what appears to be some sensor heat artifacts in one spot along the top edge, to the left of the book, that is showing some purplish blobs.”

admiringlight also compares the X-Pro2 with the X-T1, where the results up to ISO6,400 are similar, but “at ISO 12,800 and 25,600, the X-Pro 2 shows it’s stuff. There’s a noticeable detail advantage (again, even downsampled), and the noise is finer grained on the X-Pro 2. Still, it’s maybe a half stop difference at ISO 25,600 and maybe 1/3 stop difference at ISO 12,800.”

cheers,
Fuji X Forum, Facebook, RSS-feed and Twitter

And The Fastest SD-Card for your Fujifilm X-Pro2 (or X-T1) is…. ?

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TESTED: Third Party Fuji Batteries? “Inflated capacity values. Some batteries almost Fraud!”… and the Winner is…?

One of the questions I get now and then via email (and it’s actually also a hot topic at the Fuji X Forum here), is which SD-Card is the fastest for the Fuji X-Pro2 (or X-T1). – NOTE: X-Pro2 in Stock at AmazonDE and WexUK.

Easy answer: any UHS-II SD-Card.

But there are of course differences between the different SD-cards. X-Guru Rico made his Top 3 chart, starting from the fastest:

1. Lexar 2000x 300 MB/s (BHphoto – AmazonUS – Adorama – [shoplink 43268 ebay]Your eBay[/shoplink])
2. Toshiba Exceria Pro 260 MB/s (AmazonUS – [shoplink 43269 ebay]Your eBay[/shoplink])
3. SanDisk Extreme Pro 280 MB/s (BHphoto – AmazonUS – Adorama – [shoplink 43270 ebay]Your eBay[/shoplink])

Any experience with these SD-cards and the customer service related to it? Which SD-card/brand would you recommend to fellow X-shooter?