Fujifilm has released firmware updates for the Fujifilm X-T4 and Fujifilm X-S10 to add support for the Tascam CA-XLR2d-F XLR as well as new firmware for the X-Pro3, X100V, GFX100S and GFX100.
Contrary to what we were used so far, this time they also included non Fujifilm X Photographers to the talk, meaning photographers that are not part of the official X photographers program, but who simply started using X or GFX gear, even though they have no relationship with Fujifilm Corporation.
The first not official X/GFX photographer to be part of the Fujifilm Nordic Webinar series is called Soren Solkaer.
Soren Solkaer went digital since 2002
he instantly started shooting with Full Frame digital (but in his analog times he shot medium format)
about 1 year ago, his prost production guy told him “Sir, we have to talk, there is a new camera in town“
Soren was very skeptical. He didn’t want to change his camera as he was so used to his full frame gear
his post production partner told him there are files now, that are way better than his full frame files
in some of his exhibitions he prints 2×3 meters big, and squeezing that our of full frame can be done, but having a bigger file is a huge advantage
his post production partner told him the files of GFX are bigger and the quality is just amazing
despite being very reluctant, he tried out the GFX system and he saw that his post production partner was right
he did not start with the 50MP GFX but he started right with the 100MP GFX100S
on top of the resolution, there were many other things that hugely impress him of the Fujifilm GFX100S
he needed to get used to the menu, the buttons, etc
in the last 25 years he mainly took portraits of celebrities
the interviewer asks about the speed of the GFX100S, and he says that he shoots full manual control (except for autofocus), and after a bit of time of getting used, he now gets 100 out of 100 perfectly exposed and focused images
in some other of his project the file size itself is not necessary at all, and in those cases he still uses his full frame gear
lately for a projects he photographs bird formations flying in the sky at fairly low light. He shoots at 1/500 of a second and wide aperture, so he only has the ISO left to adjust. And the higher he goes with ISO, what is gained in resolution with the GFX100S, is lost in noise at high ISO.
another issue: GFX100S shoots at 5fps continuous AF. For birds, the more fps you get the higher the chance to nail the right moment
And here comes Soren’s question: Will there be any improvements down the line in terms of sensitivity and also buffer? Here is what Fujifilm Nordic answers:
there are some secrets Fujifilm Nordic can not reveal, but what they can say is that in May there will be an X summit with an announcement, where we will see new sensor and also new processor technology
there will be definitely a speed improvement on the APS-C X system, so why shouldn’t those improvements drop down also to the GFX system?
Actually the whole GFX system started this way: first 5 years with X system, then Fuji started with the GFX system and pulled the technical stuff of the GFX system into the X system
without telling every secret, but GFX system will get faster and faster with the new hardware
speed will increase on the GFX system
Fujifilm Nordic can’t tell when, but they are confident that it will go into that direction [of more speed]
one day Soren will get a medium format camera that can burst quite a lot more than the current GFX cameras
“we are working on it, definitely“
I guess it is safe to assume that Fujifilm Nordic is referring to the stacked APS-C sensor to be announced in May 2022 (as Fujifilm officially teased here) and hence hint to the possibility that the stacked technology could find its way also into future GFX cameras.
Just to be clear, so far in terms of rumors I have no hints about any stacked sensor GFX camera coming. Of course this doesn’t mean it won’t come, I just say that at the time of this article I have no information about it.
The summary above is just an extract of Soren’s part of the talk with Fujifilm Nordic. But actually the whole 2 hours talk also with the official Fujifilm X Photographers is well worth a listen. So make sure to check it out down below.
GFX Gear – Buy within April 3 and submit your claim by May 3
Steelsring is launching the Steelsring EF/GFX PRO Edition smart autofocus adapter. In addition to the multifunctional button there is also an aperture ring with A/C switch like we find it on Fujinon GF lenses.
FUJI Lens Mode Switch Simulation
FUJIFILM GF lens support mode C (Aperture priority by camera command dial) , mode A (Programming auto mode by camera) and Aperture dial mode.
For Steelsring EF/GF I/II/III adapters, with the help of short click of adapter’s MFB (multi-function button), it is able to simulate the mode switch simulation between C and A modes. initial mode simulation is mode C.
For PRO edition, with the add-on control ring in aperture body, it is possible to simulate an aperture dial too, the mode will cycle in C->A->Aperture Dial for PRO edition via short click of MFB, initial mode simulation for PRO edition is aperture dial instead of C for I/II/III adapters.
Lens mode switch simulation works always, is not relevant to adapter’s working mode as Adapter or GF lens simulation.
About MFB(multi-function button)
Activate firmware update mode for I/II/III and PRO adapters.
Press and hold MFB, then connect to PC/MAC via USB cable, then release the button will enable adapter enter firmware update mode.
When mounted on camera body with lens combination, after camera power on normally
Short click MFB once, will start lens mode switch between C and A for I/II/III adapter, or C->A->Aperture dial for PRO adapter.
Press and hold MFB for 5 secs or longer, then release MFB, will trigger adapter’s mode switch between Adapter mode and GF lens simulation mode, camera body will reboot EF/GFX adapter to be effective immediately.
About Manual Focus Ring (PRO edition only, not available for I/II/III adapters)
When lens mode switch simulation is in C or A mode, aperture control is done via camera body dial, then we use the control ring to simulate a manual focus ring, it is more like power focusing of curtain EF lenses. To be effective, lens body AF/MF mode switch must be set to AF, and camera body focus mode dial set to MF. Turning control ring, it will activate camera’s MF assistant automatically.
About Automatic Focus Bracketing (PRO edition only, not available for I/II/III adapters)
When PRO adapter’s control ring can function as manual focus ring, it is able to set the begin and end positions of auto focusing bracketing depth now. So before entering Auto Focusing bracketing setting in camera body menus, please make sure adapter’s lens mode switch simulation is in C or A mode, and set Lens body AF/MF mode to AF, then turn the adapter’s control ring to set the position accordingly. Please do not turn lens body’s manual focus ring, it is useless because lens won’t report any distance change after focusing position changed, but FUJI’s algorithm need that value.
After finishing automatic focus bracketing positioning setting, control ring can be set to aperture dial simulation again.