Firmware Friday: Updates for Blackmagic cameras, Sigma lenses/converters, Fuji and Olympus software

 

 

Our regular Firmware Friday roundup returns this week with news of updates for two cameras from Blackmagic Design, around a dozen different lenses and mount converters from Sigma, and one software package apiece from Fujifilm and Olympus. We've quite a lot to discuss, so let's get right down to it!

Blackmagic Pocket Cinema Camera 4K and URSA Mini Pro 4.6K

It's been quite a while since we mentioned Blackmagic on our roundup, as somehow they slipped off the list of manufacturers we're monitoring. (Sorry, folks!) Now we've realized, we've put them back in the rotation and discovered their Blackmagic Camera Setup 6.2 update, which brings tweaks for two camera models. Both the Pocket Cinema Camera 4K and URSA Mini Pro 4.6K have had their CinemaDNG formats removed. For the URSA, that's the only change. The Pocket Cinema Camera 4K also receives all of the following:

• Added Blackmagic RAW codec support.

• Added Constant Bitrate 3:1, 5:1, 8:1, 12:1 recording for Blackmagic RAW.

• Added Constant Quality Q0 and Q5 recording for Blackmagic RAW.

• Added support for double tap on touchscreen zoom.

• Changed tap to focus behavior to tap and hold to focus.

To get these updates, download here for Windows users, or here for those on MacOS.

Sigma 24-70mm, 30mm, 60-600mm, 85mm, 120-300mm and 150-600mm lenses plus MC-11 mount converters

It's Sigma which has given us the most to talk about this week, though. The company has updates for six different lenses in several different mount variants, as well as for two of its MC-11 mount converters. The 24-70mm and 85mm Art lenses for Sigma and Canon mounts have received a fix for occasional overexposure when shooting at f/8 or narrower. (The Canon-mount variants' fix is specifically for use with the EOS R and its mount adapters, and the 24-70mm also gets fixes for camera lockups and video AF issues.) The 150-600mm Contemporary lens for Sigma, Canon and Nikon mounts, meanwhile, has received an optical stabilizer update which should yield a more stable viewfinder image, for easier framing.

The remainder of Sigma's lens updates are all specific to Canon EF mount. The 30mm Art lens is now compatible with 1.6x crop shooting on the EOS R / adapters, as well as with Lens Aberration Correction on Canon's cameras. Live view AF accuracy is also said to have been improved. As for the 60-600mm Sports lens, it has also received a fix for camera lockups when it's removed from the camera while the optical stabilizer is active. Finally, the 120-300mm Sports lens now has improved focus accuracy when used with the MC-11 mount converter, and supports Canon's Lens Aberration Correction function.

And that just leaves the MC-11 mount converters, both in SA-E and EF-E variants. Here, in-camera image stabilization of Sony cameras should be more effective, and flash exposure accuracy with Sony strobes has also been improved. In addition, all of the new firmware for the aforementioned lenses on Canon and Sony mounts is now supported by the adapters.

To update your lenses, you'll need Sigma's USB dock accessory and its Optimization Pro software, which you can download here. Those of you who own the mount adapters can update them using the same software and your supplied USB cable.

Fujifilm X Raw Studio

Last week's update for Fujifilm X Raw Studio on the Windows platform has already been superceded by a new version 1.6.1 release. (Mac users can safely move along, as there's no corresponding release for their platform.) The sole change made is a fix for a rare issue that prevents the application launching on Windows after it is first installed. You can download the new version here.

Olympus Workspace

And finally, we come to Olympus. The company recently launched its new Olympus Workspace image management and editing app alongside the E-M1X camera body to replace its older Viewer 3 app. Now, it has released an update to version 1.0.1, again for Windows users only. The sole change listed is improved stability; upgrade now through the software's own menu system.

And that's all for this week. Be sure to check back next time for more firmware news!

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(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.)