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One of the nice things about digital cameras is the ability for manufacturers to issue firmware updates, enabling them to fix bugs, improve the performance of existing features or even add all-new features that weren’t available when you first bought the camera. However, it’s easy to miss when a new firmware update comes out for your camera, especially if the updates are relatively minor.
So, in case you missed it, there have been several recent firmware updates for several popular camera models in the past couple of months as well as updates for Adobe Camera Raw, which added support for some new cameras and lenses. Most recently, there have been firmware updates for the Nikon Z9 and Nikon Z8 mirrorless cameras, helpful bug-fixing updates for the Fujifilm X-S20, Fujifilm X100V and the Ricoh GR III / GR IIIx, and a pair of updates for the Panasonic S5 II and S5 IIx cameras, among others.
Without further ado, let’s get updated. Below is a listing of recent firmware updates from the past few months:
Fujifilm Firmware Updates
Fujifilm issued a firmware update for their recent X-S20 camera. Version 1.12 is a minor update:
‘The firmware bug is fixed that the horizontal line of noise appears momentarily in a portion of the LCD monitor screen in rare cases.’
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Additionally, Fujifilm has also released a slew of firmware updates for several X Series models, including the Fujifilm X-T4 (v2.01), the Fujifilm X-T3 (v5.01), Fujifilm X-T30 (v2.01), and the Fujifilm X100V (v3.01).
All of the recent firmware updates address and fix a variety of bugs in each camera model. The v3.01 firmware update for the Fujifilm X100V, in particular, is a helpful update as it fixes an annoying bug that was introduced with the earlier v3.00 firmware, which caused the lens’s focusing motor to shift out to its “Near End” position every time you powered on the camera. Not only did this cause a noticeable delay in readiness when powering on the camera, but it also completely reset the focus distance from when the camera was last used.
Nikon Firmware Updates
Nikon released version 4.01 for its flagship Z9 camera. The new firmware fixes the following issues:
- The camera would in rare circumstances stop responding or fail to record a video correctly if an attempt for video recording took place after the standby timer had expired then reactivated with [Frame size/frame rate] set to 1920 × 1080 in the VIDEO RECORDING MENU.
- The camera would in rare circumstances stop responding or fail to record a video correctly if an attempt for video recording took place after the standby timer had expired then reactivated with [Frame size/frame rate] set to 1920 × 1080 in the VIDEO RECORDING MENU.
- The [Choose image area] and [Switch FX/DX] roles assigned to camera controls were disabled when a slow-motion video option was selected.
- The first shot in burst photography would sometimes fail to acquire appropriate white balance when [Auto] or [Natural light auto] was selected for white balance.
- If shooting continued while [ON] was selected for [PHOTO SHOOTING MENU] > [Photo flicker reduction], the photo live view display would be partially disrupted.
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The company also recently released a new v1.01 firmware update for the new Nikon Z8 mirrorless camera. The firmware addresses the following issues:The company also recently released a new v1.01 firmware update for the new Nikon Z8 mirrorless camera. The firmware addresses the following issues:
- Changed the timing of the high-temperature warnings appearing when the camera’s internal temperature increases mainly during video recording.
- Changed the position where the memory card high-temperature warning is displayed in video mode.
- Fixed the following issues:
- The battery would draw down more quickly while the camera was off if [ON] was selected for [Connect to smart device] > [Wi-Fi connection] in the [NETWORK MENU] even if [OFF] was selected for both [Bluetooth connection] and [Upload while off].
- Focus could still be adjusted using the focus ring when [Disable] was selected for a15 [Manual focus ring in AF mode] in the [CUSTOM SETTINGS MENU] if an option other than [Non-linear] was chosen for f9 [Focus ring rotation range] in the [CUSTOM SETTINGS MENU].
- SB-800 flash units would sometimes stop responding after pictures were taken with the flash disabled.
Panasonic Firmware Updates
Panasonic S5 II / Panasonic S5 IIx
Panasonic recently issued minor firmware updates to both the Lumix S5 II and Lumix S5 IIX full-frame mirrorless cameras, v2.1 for the S5 II and v1.2 for the S5 IIX. For both cameras, the firmware updates fix the same issue:
‘There were cases that some subjects and their outlines are colored depending on the shooting conditions. This phenomenon has been fixed.’
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Ricoh Firmware Updates
Back in July, Ricoh released firmware updates for the GR III and GR IIIx compact APS-C cameras. The new firmware introduced a new customization setting that lets users select from a list of 22 settings and toggle whether or not the camera would ‘remember’ these options upon power cycling the camera. For instance, you could tell the camera to remember your aperture at F4, even after powering off the camera. Meanwhile, unchecked settings would revert back to the default value when powering on the camera once more.
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However, a bug was discovered that caused any unchecked camera setting to revert back to its default value, even when using custom user settings U1, U2 and U3, and not just the shooting mode the user had last used. Ricoh quickly pulled the firmware download from its website as a result.
Ricoh issued new firmware updates for the Ricoh GR III (v1.81) and the Ricoh GR IIIx (v1.31), fixing the bug from the previous firmware update.
In addition to the bug fix, the new firmware updates include several new features and improvements:
- In the image playback mode, pinch-in (reduction) will switch to the thumbnail view. Additionally another pinch-in (reduction) will allow selection of images by shooting date.- In the image playback mode, pinch-in (reduction) will switch to the thumbnail view. Additionally another pinch-in (reduction) will allow selection of images by shooting date.
- [Customize Setting] — Two types of [Electronic Level Design] were added to [Display Customization]. There are three types to choose from: [Type 1], [Type 2] and [Type 3].
- Added [0.3m] to the [Snap Focus Distance]. In the [Snap Distance Priority] mode, [0.3m] can now be selected and Close-up photography is also possible. (Regardless of the DOF (1-3) setting, the aperture value is fixed at F16.)
- Improved stability for general performance.
- Simplified fonts have been updated.
- The original special power-off graphic screen remains even after a firmware update in RICOH GR III Street Edition and RICOH GR III Diary Edition.
Adobe Camera Raw Updates
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| Adobe’s latest Camera Raw update adds Raw support for the Sony a6700 as well as new lens profiles for Canon and Sony. |
Though not a camera firmware update, it’s also a good idea to keep your photo editing software up to date. Beyond bug fixes and new features, when new cameras are introduced, older versions of your photo software might not be able to read the Raw file formats of these newer camera models.
Adobe’s latest August 2023 (v15.5) update to Adobe Camera Raw, the company added support for Sony A6700 Raw files as well as a host of new lens profiles from Canon and Sony. Lens profiles for Canon’s RF 400mm F2.8L and RF 600mm F4L with the 1.4x and 2.0x teleconverter have been added, as well as profiles for the Sony FE 70-200mm F4 Macro G OSS II lens with and without Sony’s 1.4 and 2.0 teleconverters.
The update also addresses a trio of bugs:
- Rings or Vignetting with Tamron 17-70 Lens on Fuji XT-4
- The new Denoise is turning images black and white
- AI Noise reduction creates color banding on ILCE-7R
Author:
William Brawley
Source: Dpreview
