Mondo Firmware Friday: Canon, Fujifilm, Leica, Nikon, Olympus and Sony update 14 cameras and 1 lens

 

 

Our Firmware Friday roundup this week is a doozie, with well over a dozen updates for cameras and lenses from a wide range of brands, including Canon, Fuji, Leica, Nikon, Olympus and Sony. We've a lot to discuss in what we've dubbed Mondo Firmware Friday, so let's get right down to it!

Canon EOS R and RF 24-105mm F4 L

We'll start off this week with Canon. The company has shipped one firmware update for its recently-launched EOS R mirrorless camera and announced another that's on the way. It's also updated one RF-mount lens model, the RF 24-105mm F4 L IS USM.

The just-shipped EOS R firmware version 1.1.0 update (download here) is a relatively modest update with four bug fixes and one new feature, as follows:

1. Support for "continuous shooting" is available when "silent shutter" has been enabled.

2. Corrects a phenomenon in which an error may occur if there is a large number of files in a specific format on the memory card.

3. Corrects a phenomenon in which an error may occur when silent shutter has been enabled.

4. Corrects a phenomenon in which horizontal linear noise may occur when using specific lenses together with certain recording image quality settings.

5. Corrects a phenomenon in which the information displayed in the viewfinder may become abnormal.

Canon has also shipped firmware version 2.0.0 for the RF 24-105mm F4 L lens (download here), which adds support for the EOS R firmware version 1.1.0 update. And while this update doesn't include much in the way of new features, regular readers will have spotted news of another upcoming firmware update for the EOS RP in our recently-published Q&A with Canon.

We don't yet know what firmware version it will carry, nor can we tell you exactly when it will arrive, beyond that it will be in the next couple of months). We can tell you for sure one cool new feature that it will contain, though. The EOS R will be receiving the same ability to pair Eye AF with Servo AF (C-AF) mode as seen in the just-launched EOS RP. Watch this space for more in a future roundup!

Fujifilm X-A5, X-T3 and X-T100

Moving along to Fujifilm, the company has recently updated three mirrorless camera models, the X-A5, X-T3 and X-T100. The X-A5 and X-T100 both receive three new features, as follows:

1. NEW “Bright Mode” added
   The customer can select the new “Bright Mode” which allows shooting more brightly and vividly when selecting the “Advanced SR Auto” mode on the Mode Dial. The “Bright Mode” can be turned ON/OFF easily with a single tap on the LCD touch-screen.

2. 5 step adjustment available for “Portrait Enhancer” Mode
   The “Portrait Enhancer” mode can now be adjusted in 5 levels. Through this update, customers can more freely customize the skin tone by using the “Portrait Enhancer” mode.

3. NEW “Night+” added
   Customers can now shoot better pictures in night scene by using the “Night+”. The “Night+” mode would automatically adjust not only the ISO but also the brightness and vividness of the picture. This mode would be effective when shooting Night Portraiture as well.

The X-T3, meanwhile, receives support for recording movies larger than 4GB without having to span the footage across multiple 4GB files. So long as you are using an SD card with greater than 32GB capacity which has been formatted in-camera, you will be able to capture these clips in a single 4GB+ file, instead.

You can download the Fuji X-A5 v2.00 update here, the X-T3 v2.10 update here, and the X-T100 v2.00 update here.

Leica Q-P, Q (Typ 116) and SL (Typ 601)

Leica's first firmware updates of 2019 have now arrived for the Q-P, Q (Typ 116) and SL (Typ 601) cameras. Firmware version 3.1 for the Leica Q-P and Q (Typ 116) adds a new Easy Connect option as follows:

• New QR code for easy pairing of smartphone and camera.

• 1-Click connection with FN-Button; WLAN starts without submenus on FN-button.

• Fixed WLAN name and password, no submenus for setting name and password.

• No submenus for setting a connection mode, e.g. Create WLAN or Join WLAN.

The Leica SL (Typ 601) firmware version 3.4 update adds the same functionality as above (other than the FN-Button support), but also gains new compatibility enhancements to enable support for upcoming lenses from L-mount Alliance partner companies, Panasonic and Sigma. Occasional front-focusing issues with the Vario-Elmarit-SL 24-90 f/2.8-4 Asph. lens have also been resolved.

You can download Leica's updates here.

Nikon D5, D500, D850, Z6 and Z7

Nikon hasn't actually shipped any new firmware this week, but it has hinted at a pair of upcoming updates for its Z6 and Z7 mirrorless cameras, as well as an update apiece for the D5, D500 and D850 DSLRs.

The first for the Z6 and Z7, scheduled for release in May 2019, will add eye-detection autofocus support for both single-servo and continuous-servo AF modes, complete with the ability to select which eye the camera should prioritize. It will also be possible to enable autoexposure tracking in continuous high-speed extended mode, and low-light AF performance will be improved. A subsequent firmware update -- availability yet to be determined -- will add support for a 12-bit 4K or Full HD raw data stream, for capture using an external recorder. The update will also add support for the CFexpress standard alongside the existing XQD standard.

The D5, D500 and D850, meanwhile, wil all receive CFexpress support as well, again with availability of the updates to be determined.

Olympus E-M1

Next up, we have Olympus. The company has updated its E-M1 mirrorless camera to firmware version 4.6, with just one change. A bug occurring only while shooting at slow shutter speeds has been resolved. You can get the update using the company's Digital Camera Updater app.

Sony DSC-RX0 and MPC-3610 Venice

All of which brings us to Sony. The company has updates this time around for the ultra-compact DSC-RX0 camera and the professional Venice MPC-3610 video camera. The DSC-RX0 firmware version 3.01 update (download here) corrects a display issue whereby the wrong magnification value was shown when using the manual focus assist function, and improves overall stability. The Venice v3.00 update (download here), meanwhile, makes a dozen or so changes as follows:

1. Added imager modes 6K 2.39:1  5.7K 16:9

2. Supported the X-OCN XT recording format

3. Added De-Squeeze ratios 1.25x,1.3x,1.5x,1.8x

4. Added Cache rec function

5. Added AXS Relay Rec function

6. Added simultaneous format

7. Added SxS recording folder structure selection

8. Supported 6G/12G output SDI

9. Improved imaging assist function

10. Supported CBK-WA02 Wireless LAN Adapter

11. Improved VF menu operations and Frame Line setting

12. Supported to apply CDL files

And that's all for this week. Be sure to check back next time 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.)