Firmware Friday: Lots of updates for Fuji, Hasselblad, Olympus, Ricoh, Sigma and Sony imaging gear

 

 

With Olympus' big firmware news already covered in a previous article last week, and Senior Reviews Editor Mike Tomkins on his way back from the WPPI show plus a shoot with the brand-new Sony A7 III in Las Vegas, our regular Firmware Friday roundup necessarily took a brief hiatus last week. We return in style this week, though, with a healthy selection of firmware news on which to report from Fuji, Hasselblad, Olympus, Ricoh, Sigma and Sony.

As we've lots to cover, let's cut short the preamble and get right down to it!

Fuji X-A3, X-A10, X-A20 and associated software

Firmware version 2.20 for the X-A3 and version 2.20 for the X-A10 both make the same two changes, and one of these is also shared with version 1.10 for the X-A20. All three cameras receive new support for the Fuji instax SHARE SP-3, a photo printer which creates small Polaroid-like 62 x 62mm instax prints.

In addition, the X-A3 and X-A10 both gain support for the Fujinon XC15-45mmF3.5-5.6 OIS PZ lens. You can use the rear command dial to control the focal length when the LCD is flipped into selfie orientation, and the zoom position will be remembered through power cycles, although to save time it won't reset its position if you power on in playback mode. In single or continuous autofocus modes, the focus ring instead acts as a fine adjustment dial for the zoom, with the ring reverting to its traditional function only in manual focus mode.

You can download the X-A3 firmware version 2.20 update here, the X-A10 firmware version 2.20 update here, or the X-A20 firmware version 1.10 update here.

At the same time as its new camera firmware, Fuji has also released updated versions of its various software applications. Fujifilm X Raw Studio version 1.1 (Windows / MacOS), X Acquire version 1.7 (Windows) / 1.7.1 (MacOS), Tethered Shooting Software HS-V5 for Windows version 1.8 and Raw File Converter EX 2.0 (Windows / MacOS) version 4.2.12.0 all add support for the newly-announced Fuji X-H1 camera body. In addition, the X Acquire update for Windows debuts the ability to backup and restore camera settings via the tethered connection, not just for the X-H1 but also for the GFX 50S, X-T2, X-Pro2 and X100F.

Hasselblad A6D-100c and XCD lenses

Moving along, Hasselblad has released firmware version 1.18.2 for the A6D-100c aerial camera, as well as firmware version 0.5.16 for its XCD lens series. The aerial camera update reduced shutter lag jitter, increases the standby timeout to 30 seconds, and fixes some unspecified minor bugs. Note that this new firmware comes with two known bugs: failure to launch video mode or correctly control the aperture remotely from the DJI Go app. We're guessing that an app update will likely follow to address these concerns. The lens firmware, meanwhile, aims to resolve an AF problem seen on some XCD120 lens units, and is also said to bring unspecified minor bug fixes. You can download the aerial camera firmware update here, and the lens firmware update here.

Olympus E-M1, M.Zuiko 12-100mm F4.0 IS Pro, 300mm F4.0 IS Pro and various software

As well as the Olympus E-M1 II, E-M5 II and PEN-F updates we told you about a little over a week ago, Olympus has also shipped a new update for the original E-M1. Firmware version 4.4 continues an impressive run of nearly 4.5 years of updates for the E-M1, and corrects autofocus issues when used with Panasonic's Leica-branded DG Elmarit 200mm F2.8 / Power O.I.S. lens (model H-ES200). The company has also released updates to its Viewer 3 application for Mac and Windows, as well as for its Capture app for the same two platforms. The Viewer updates add support for the "latest cameras" -- there's no list of specific newly-added models provided -- and also withdraws support for the Windows Vista operating system. The Capture update, meanwhile, adds support for the E-M1 Mark II body running version 2.0 firmware.

You can update your E-M1, E-M1 II, E-M5 II or PEN-F camera bodies using the Olympus Digital Camera Updater app (click here for PEN-F or E-M1 II and E-M5 II, or here for the other models). As for the software, hit the links for the Olympus Capture version 1.3 update (Windows / MacOS) or here for the Olympus Viewer 3 update (Windows / MacOS).

Ricoh Theta V and apps

Firmware version 2.10.1 for the Ricoh Theta V is a biggie, bringing not just improved live view image quality, but also new support for moving files from the camera to a directly-attached external USB drive courtesy of a standard USB On The Go cable. Right now, you can only move sub-4GB files from the camera to the USB drive, and can't keep a copy on the camera, although future firmware is slated to add copying ability as well. Ricoh also promises some unstated bug fixes, and has released updates to its Theta S apps for Android and iOS platforms. Both app updates now allow you to select plug-ins from the settings screen, and iOS users also get support for using their smartphone's volume button as a remote shutter button, a feature which Android shooters got a month or so back.

Android users can update their app in the Play store, and their camera can be updated from the app. iOS shooters can update their app in Apple's iTunes store, and can update their camera using either the Windows or MacOS apps.

Sigma 30mm F1.4 DC DN | Contemporary for Sony E-mount, huge Global Vision update program for Canon EF-mount

Sigma has released one new firmware update for the 30mm F1.4 Contemporary lens in Sony E-mount trim, and a huge raft of seven updates for the Canon EF-mount variants of its Global Vision lenses, and updates are apparently planned for a further 15 models.

The 30mm Contemporary lens firmware improves manual focus feel, Eye AF performance and Lock-on AF performance near the borders of the image frame. The Canon EF-mount firmware adds support for Canon's built-in Lens Aberration Correction function in the 1DX II, 5Ds, 5DS R, 5D IV, 6D II, 77D, 80D, as well as the Rebel T6s, T6i, T7i and SL2 when used with the 35mm F1.4 DG HSM, 50mm F1.4 DG HSM, 85mm F1.4 DG HSM, 135mm F1.8 DG HSM, 18-35mm F1.8 DC HSM, 24-70mm F2.8 DG OS HSM or 100-400mm F5-6.3 DG OS HSM lenses. (All of these being Art-series models, save for the 100-400mm Contemporary.)

Updates will follow later for four Contemporary-series models, eight Art-series models and three from the Sports series. These will include the 17-70mm F2.8-4 DC MACRO OS HSM, 18-200mm F3.5-6.3 DC MACRO OS HSM, 18-300mm F3.5-6.3 DC MACRO OS HSM and 150-600mm F5-6.3 DG OS HSM from the Contemporary series, the 50-100mm F1.8 DC HSM, 30mm F1.4 DC HSM, 12-24mm F4 DG HSM, 24-35mm F2 DG HSM, 24-105mm F4 DG OS HSM, 14mm F1.8 DG HSM, 20mm F1.4 DG HSM and 24mm F1.4 DG HSM from the Art series, and finally from the Sports series, the 120-300mm F2.8 DG OS HSM, 150-600mm F5-6.3 DG OS HSM and 500mm F4 DG OS HSM.

You can update your lenses with Sigma's optionally-available USB dock accessory, or contact the company for more information.

Sony AXS-R7 portable memory recorder

And finally for this week, we come to Sony's AXS-R7 Portable Memory Recorder, an external 4K raw recorder for the Sony F5 and F55 video cameras. Here, firmware version 1.10 brings with it support for the Venice / CineAltaV cameras, as well as support for recording version data in raw and x-ocn format clips. The update can be downloaded here.

And that's all for this week. Check back next Friday for more firmware 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.)