So the source was right (thanks). The countdown has to start again, the Fuji X-T1 FW 4.0 will come on June 29 – I guess at usual at around 5AM London Time – Midnight in NY (if there are no last second delays ;) !)
Here are the features you will get:
(1) New AF system with Zone and Wide/Tracking modes for effortless capture of moving subjects
(2) Improvement of AF accuracy
(3) Eye Detection AF
(4) Auto Macro mode
(5) AF improvement in the Movie mode
(6) Improved Shutter Speed Dial operation
(7) Exposure Compensation control in Manual.
(8) Finer lines on the framing grid enhances visibility
(9) Name of Silent mode changed to avoid confusion
About Nr. 9: I made a proposal at the FXF, to rename “Sound & Flash OFF” to “Sound & FLash”. It just would be clearer, what do you think?
On June 29, you’ll be able to download here. Full details about new FW here.
When I first shared the rumor with the date of the Firmware 4.0 release, I knew that it was a risk, since Fuji will probably change it once they get their feedback about bugs and potential improvements.
So here we are again, with another delay… In fact, a trusted source told me that the (amazing) X-T1 Firmware 4.0 has been pushed back for a few more days to June 29! As usual, I expect it to come at about 6:00 AM London Time (midnight in New York).
Those who already installed the BETA, remind the following tips when you use the new AF-system for tracking:
1) For AF-tracking with CL or CH (focus between each shot), you have to use Mechanical Shutter (MS) only. It doesn’t work with MS+ES (electronic shutter) enabled
2) Turn Off face detection to enable PDAF
3) High Performance Mode ON
UDPATE: by FR-reader Tomáš Tuček: “An editor of the Czech website Digiarena.cz announced the firmware in an article today in the morning, with a link to the official firmware site of Fujifilm. As we wondered where the new firmware is, he wrote in the evening that Fujifilm CZ sent a corrected info with the date of 29th (someone mistook the Mondays). The conversation, in Czech (google translated)”
TRACKING TIPS For AF-tracking with CL or CH (focus between each shot), you have to use Mechanical Shutter (MS) only. It doesn’t work with MS+ES (electronic shutter) enabled
+
Turn Off face detection to enable PDAF
+
High Performance Mode ON
_ _ _
A must read in these days is definitely this FXF thread, where people from all over the world, who have installed the “Fujileaks” 4.0 FW, share their findings… which is mostly enthusiastic. Just go through it here and read by yourself.
I have FW 4.0 Beta on my X-T1, and I’m happy with the improved AF-speed (especially on slower lenses like the 35mm). It might be just a Placebo, but I feel like there is less hunting.
And what about AF-Tracking?
Sure, the new Zone AF and Wide Tracking AF are very welcome additions and definitely user-friendly features! But how well do they really work?
I have to say that I’m very happy with my own tracking tests, but personally I’ll set aside my final judgment, for 3 good reasons:
1) I have on my X-T1 some kind of BETA firmware leaked on the web. I don’t know which version it is. The final version might improve it further. 2) I’m not a PRO, and if I try to track ice-skaters, I won’t get the results a skilled photographer can get. Also, AF-Tracking is something I don’t really use normally. For the way I like to shoot, I’m mostly in AF-S or Manual Focus. So I’m not the ideal person, who can test & judge the performance of the Tracking. 3) I would like to see what you can make in different shooting conditions/subjects
That said, I can’t really complaint about the tracking. As you can see from the video I’ve shared here, the Camera has no problems to follow a subject (in this case with Zone Mode). Taking shots in CL (dropbox – my dog running) gave me a high percetage of keepers. As you can see, the AF-system lost my dog on the second shot, but locked on it again in the third shot… tracking it correctly until it run out of the frame.
Also looking at Rico’s FW4 AF Tracking test, there is hardly anything to complaint about it. Another one, who is happy with the new tracking, is FXF member Jean Mareaux (Flickr). He tested it on his dog using the 56mmF1.2 and shared this link to the downloadable images.
Initial Conclusions: :) :) :) .
As said, for the final judgment, I’ll wait the official firmware (if I can install it) and more feedback from other photographers.
Finally Online: the Fujifilm X100T review of riflessifotografici! Here an excerpt:
“I lately switched from the X-Pro1 to the X-T1 and sometimes I found myself thinking nostalgically to the “old” Hybrid viewfinder. This is not to say that the electronic viewfinder is not good, because it’s not true. The electronic viewfinder is what makes CSC cameras special since you can visualize what would be the final result before you push the shutter button. The thing is that, sometimes, photography is not necessarily rational. Sometimes instinct wins over thinking, the heart wins over the brain…sometimes you just touch a camera and it’s love at first sight…You either love it immediately or you’ll never love it. Again, this is not rational, but we all know it works like that.”
Just A Few Warm Impressions On Fujifilm X100S at sebastianboatca / Stockografie, the X100T and Marrakesh Part 2 at stockografie / Exploring San Francisco Streets with the Fujifilm X100T at sjl / Traveling with the X100s at sandbox-photos / Fuji X100T Review and New York’s High Line Park – Part I at TheCameraProject youtube / A few months down the road with the Fuji X100T at cliftonbeard /
Fujifilm X-T1
Sony A7r/s Vs. Fuji X-T1
X-T1 First Impressions + Why I Switch from the Sony A7s at devinjamesoncreative / Fuji X-T1 vs Sony A7r – A Pixel-To-Pixel Showdown at alikgriffin / Something completely different… product video shot on X-T1 at Foot Patrol youtube channel / minimal gear, natural light and VSCo presets at inmybag / 88 Pitti Uomo, Summer. Pitticolor! Fuji X-T1 with 35mm at alessandromichelazzi /
Travelling with the X Series at jurgencoll (translation) / Why I Switched from Canon to Fujifilm at andrewsgibson / Paris Travel with X-T1, 56mm and X100S at storehouse / Fujifilm X Series … I’ve finally made the switch from DSLR… at johncolson /
Jpeg / RAW / Converters
Processing X-Trans images in Lightroom at xshooters / Fuji X-Ploits; Details Are Captured Well With The X-Trans Sensor at thewanderinglensman /
Acessories / Flash / Adapter / Extension Tubes
Lens Hood For The X100T at d7100shooter & Two Piece Case For The Fuji X100T always at d7100shooter / DIY Shutter Release Cable for the X-T1 at musicphotographer / Premium handcrafted camera strap at benezeth (translation) / Review: The Jinbei HD 600 II: Portable Flash Power for my Fuji X cameras at morethanwords / Lighting demo with Fuji X at Wilkinson Cameras at prophotonut /
a bit of everything
bigheadtaco interviewed Fuji Guy Billy. See the video on his youtube channel
Follow FujiFilm blog/podcast called The X Line at thexline (iTunes) / Is the Fujifilm X enough? at jorgefm / Fuji X-Ploits; Black and White Part 3 & Part 4 for at thewanderinglensman / A Successful Evening of Astrophotography at cliftonbeard / Life with Fuji – Part 1 at miksmedia /
Iridient Developer 3.0.3 has just been uploaded! This release includes Fujifilm X-T10 support and also a bug fix for GPS metadata from the Fujifilm Camera Remote application. This update include a number of other bug fixes, further improvements to noise reduction especially for some monochrome conversions and performance improvements for preview on Retina displays (5K iMac, HiDPI monitors, etc).
