Firmware Friday: Fuji X-T30, Olympus E-M1X and M1 II, Nikon KeyMission 170 and lens updates aplenty

 

 

After a couple of smaller roundups, our regular Firmware Friday series returns this week with a much longer list of updates shipped by imaging companies in the past seven days. In all, we're aware of updates for four cameras and an impressive 15 lenses. Among the camera updates there's one which is a major, feature-enhancing update, and we also have news of a couple of pieces of updated software, so there's plenty to discuss.

Without any further ado, let's get right down to what's new!

Fujifilm X-T30 plus 23mm, 32-64mm, 45mm, 63mm, 100-200mm, 110mm, 120mm and 250mm lenses

We'll kick things off this week with Fujifilm. The company has shipped hands-down the most updates in the past week, with one camera and no less than eight of the lenses in this article bearing Fuji's logo.

Starting off with the X-T30 mirrorless camera's version 1.10 update (download here), Fuji has added the Quick Menu to the list of functions which can be assigned to a function button, and at the same time, made the Quick Menu button itself a customizable function button. (Which also means you can disable it altogether, if you find that button too easy to bump.) In the process, the company has also resolved the concern we raised in our own review, where we noted that the existing function button was too small and hard to press. Now, you can access custom functions from a much more easily-pressed control. Fuji also says it has fixed "slight defects", but doesn't elaborate on any other changes.

As for the lenses, there are a total of eight updates, all bearing firmware version 1.10, for the GF23mmF4 R LM WR (download here), GF32-64mmF4 R LM WR (download here), GF45mmF2.8 R WR (download here), GF63mmF2.8 R WR (download here), GF100-200mmF5.6 R LM OIS WR (download here), GF110mmF2 R LM WR (download here), GF120mmF4 R LM OIS WR Macro (download here) and GF250mmF4 R LM OIS WR (download here). In all cases, the sole change is support for phase-detection autofocus with the GFX100 camera body.

Nikon KeyMission 170 and 50mm lens

Next up, we have Nikon. The company has shipped two updates in the past seven days, one for its KeyMission 170 action camera, and another for its NIKKOR Z 50mm f/1.8 S lens. The KeyMission 170 firmware version 1.3 release (download here) adds support for the latest version 1.1.5 of the SnapBridge 360/170 app for iOS (available here). As for what has changed in the app itself, Nikon promises only "minor bug fixes". The company does simultaneously note, however, that iOS 11.3, 11.4, 12.0 and 12.1 all have an issue whereby they could sometimes interrupt the Wi-Fi connection if using remote live view, and that users should update to iOS 12.2 or higher to resolve the problem.

As for the NIKKOR Z 50mm f/1.8 S lens' firmware version 1.01 update, the company is promising more consistent exposure with the Continuous H (extended) release mode when using Z6 / Z7 camera bodies with firmware version C:2.00 or later. Download the lens update here, and if your camera firmware is behind too, get the Nikon Z6 update here, and the Nikon Z7 update here.

Olympus E-M1X, E-M1 Mark II, 40-150mm lens and Olympus Workspace

Next up, we have four updates to discuss from Olympus. Most significantly, the company has shipped firmware version 3.0 for the E-M1 Mark II, and as the name would suggest it's a major update. Changes are as follows:

• The following features have been added to current functions:

  • C-AF+MF to AF system

  • 5×5 to AF Target Mode

  • C-AF Center Start mode and C-AF Center Priority mode

  • Drive Priority and Detail Priority to Low ISO Processing when shooting still images

  • L100 to ISO sensitivity setting

  • "OM-Log400" to video picture mode

  • Instant Film to Art Filter

  • Frame Rate Priority to Live View Boost 2

  • It's now possible to select the number of shots between 3 and 15 when shooting with Focus Stacking.

• The following improvements have been made:

  • Enhanced performance of AF.

  • Improved quality of still images.

  • It's now possible to play back images and change settings while writing to a card.

  • Added Selecting Multiple Pictures function.

• The following new functions have been added:

  • Anti-Flicker Shooting function

  • It's now possible to develop RAW data at high speeds in Olympus Workspace by using the camera's image processing engine.

As for firmware version 1.1 for the E-M1X, it's now possible to use the camera's image processing engine via a tethered USB connection when developing raw data using Olympus Workspace, for improved performance.

There are also updates for two lenses. The M.ZUIKO DIGITAL ED 40-150mm F2.8 PRO's version 1.3 update and the M.ZUIKO DIGITAL ED 300mm F4.0 IS PRO's v1.5 update both make the same single change. Support is newly added for the just-launched M.Zuiko Digital 2x Teleconverter.

And finally, there's an update for Olympus' Workspace software for Windows and Mac to version 1.1. This adds support for tethered USB editing of raw files (as mentioned previously for the E-M1X), plus noise reduction, focus stacking and lighten composite tools.

Upgrades can be applied using Olympus' Digital Camera Updater application (download here), with the exception of Olympus Workspace which is updated through the "Update Software" link under the Help menu.

Sigma MC-11 mount converter plus 18-200mm, 18-300mm and 24mm lenses

And that brings us to Sigma, whose Canon-mount variants of the MC-11 mount converter, as well as the 18-200mm F3.5-6.3 DC MACRO OS HSM C014, 18-300mm F3.5-6.3 DC MACRO OS HSM C014 and 24mm F1.4 DG HSM A015 lenses, have all received updates in the past week. The lens updates (version 2.02 for the 18-200mm and version 2.01 for the others) all bring a fix for a bug whereby the AF point selection area becomes narrower with certain camera bodies attached. And firmware version 1.26 for the MC-11 EF-E mount converter simply adds support for the newly-updated lenses.

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

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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.)