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Fujifilm Dev Kit, Pixel Shift And GFX100 Firmware Updates

Fujifilm has announced a trio of software updates including the large firmware update Ver.4.00 for the flagship GFX100 camera coming June 2021. They’ve also announced a software development kit for developers to add camera control for newer X-System and GFX cameras as well as Pixel Shift Ver.1.2.0 for the GFX100 and GFX100S. Read below for full software details and links to Fujifilm’s firmware pages.

GFX 100 and other Fujifilm Software updates 2021

Fujifilm GFX100 latest firmware Ver.4.00 released coming June 2021

Having released the newer GFX100S compact medium format camera, Fujifilm has turned its attention to the flagship GFX100 with the announcement of firmware version 4.00 which is set to arrive in June 2021. This will bring a comprehensive set of feature updates to bring it in line with the newer 100S model, addressing everything including AF, stabilisation and menu systems.

Improved autofocus performance to the same level as GFX100S

The camera’s autofocus algorithm will be updated to the latest version boosting AF speed and Face/Eye-detection performance as well as enhancing AF accuracy even in portrait photography that involves subject movements. The ability to track a moving subject will also be improved, making it possible to maintain an accurate focus on a subject that is moving away from the camera.

Coordinated control of in-body and optical image stabilisation mechanisms

The new firmware enables coordinated control of the camera’s in-body image stabilisation (IBIS) and a lens’s optical image stabilisation (OIS). Image stabilisation is applied with optimum correction based on the two mechanisms’ acceleration, frequency detected by gyro sensors and the amount of camera shakes to minimise motion blur even when shooting handheld. This enhances the image stabilisation function of GF lenses featuring OIS such as FUJINON Lens GF120mmF4 R LM OIS WR Macro or the FUJINON Lens GF45-100mmF4 R LM OIS WR with additional 0.5-stop.

Addition of the Film Simulation 'Nostalgic Neg.'

The new firmware adds the Film Simulation 'Nostalgic Neg.,' characterised by colours and tones reminiscent of the 'America New Colour,' which emerged in the 1970s to advocate the potential of colour expressions to the world and established colour photography as the mainstream style for photographic fine arts. The style combines 'soft tonality' with 'high saturation' at the same time and applies warm amber to highlights to soften the look while maintaining fine details and pop colours in shadows for lyrical looks.

Other added functions and operational improvements

  1. The level of 'clarity' can be set in the range from -5 to +5. The 'tone curve' can be adjusted in the increment of 0.5 stop for both highlights and shadows.
  2. The 'focus limiter' function is added to specify any focusing range. Choose the default focusing distance or select it from the specified range.
  3. Pictures can be enlarged in the magnification of 1x, 2x, 4x or 8x in playback. There is also an option to select the magnification used in the previous playback (from centre).
  4. Function button can be assigned to switch 'shooting mode' between P, S, A and M modes.
  5. The front and rear command dials can be set to rotate in a reverse direction.
  6. The number of items in the Q menu can be selected from 4, 8, 12 or 16 for both stills and video. The items to display in the Q menu are customisable.
  7. The Q button can be assigned as a function button.
  8. The camera stays ON even when an SD card is removed.
  9. Electronic image stabilisation is available while shooting video.
  10. It corrects camera shake that occurs when shooting video handheld. (1.1x crop when this mode is turned on)
  11. Live View can be enlarged even while shooting video.
  12. The Focus Check Lock can now also be set to ON/OFF to maintain focus check or not when starting to shoot video.
  13. Video recorded in the SD card can be backed up to the SD card in another card slot.
  14. The elapsed video recording time can be displayed on the LCD for checking.
  15. The AF area size can be changed while shooting video.
  16. Video files recorded with F-log can be played back in conversion equivalent to BT.709.
  17. Added White Balance / ISO metadata to RAW footage, output to Atomos Ninja V HDR Monitor Recorder via HDMI. The footage is recorded as Apple ProRes RAW files and White Balance / ISO can be adjusted in Final Cut Pro.

Fujifilm did add a precaution to this update advising that the menu structure has been changed and some functions have been renamed. In particular movie setting menu has undergone major changes due to the expansion of setting items, and some of the settings will revert back to the default value accordingly.

Link to download Fujifilm GFX100 firmware (available June 2021)

Pixel Shift Combiner updated to Ver.1.2.0

One of the main selling points of Fujifilm’s GFX100 and GFX100S cameras is the ability for photographers to capture 100 megapixel images. Pixel shift technology increases this to 400 megapixel equivalent, with new firmware providing incredibly useful features to make this level of resolution easier to capture with more accurate colours with some minor caveats.

The latest software version 1.2.0 adds a new 'Accurate Colours' option to produce 100MP image with no false colours, in addition to the existing function of generating ultra-high 400MP resolution images in Accurate Colours.

Another addition is the function to automatically detect an error when images cannot be correctly combined due to camera shake, etc. that occurred during photo shooting. The ability to detect flawed images before the completion of image generation is expected to speed up photographers’ workflow.*1

A further new function of the update enables enlarged viewing of combined RAW images for checking details. This means users can visually check details of combined RAW images inside the Pixel Shift Combiner before processing them in RAW developing software. In other words, workflow steps up to checking combined images can be completed within the Pixel Shift Combiner.

*1This function does not detect flawed images at 100% accuracy.

Key Features

Option of creating 100MP Accurate Colours images in addition to 400MP images

GFX 100 pixel shift firmware technology 400MP

Users can choose between 'High resolution + Accurate Colours' and the new 'Accurate Colours' option according to their preference.

'High resolution + Accurate Colours' option

False colour check in pixel shift for GFX cameras

This option uses the processes shown in 1) and 2) below to generate 400MP images in Accurate Colours.

'Accurate Colours' option

This option uses the process 1) only to generate 100MP images in Accurate Colours.

(Image-generating processes)

In order to record accurate RGB information with all pixels, the function shifts its image sensor by the size of one pixel and shoots four frames.

The function repeats the process 1) four times while shifting the image sensor by the size of half a pixel to achieve four times the original resolution.

Detecting flawed images during image generation

Warning while merging pixel shift images

The Pixel Shift Combiner detects image flaws, caused by vibrations, etc. during photo shooting, and displays an alert during image generation.

New 'enlarged view' function for checking generated images

Zoom feature to check sharpness

Users can double-click on a job that has been processed in the Job List to see an enlarged view of the generated image, making it easy to visually check whether each of the jobs is a success or not.

Enlarged view of a RAW image affected by a camera shake that occurred during shooting (with an alert)

Available now - Download GFX camera Pixel Shift Firmware 1.2.0

Digital Camera Control Software Development Kit

Fujifilm also announced the release of the Fujifilm X Series and GFX System Digital Camera Control Software Development Kit (SDK), which will help software developers integrate the functionality of Fujifilm X Series and GFX System cameras into any applications that are currently being developed. 

Available on April 22, 2021 the SDK will allow developers to initiate the automatic transfer of images, from a supported Fujifilm camera, to a computer using a Windows or macOS operating system.

Remote access to the basic controls of any supported Fujifilm camera is also supported.

Information regarding the conversion of the RAW image data contained in Fujifilm’s proprietary RAF file is not provided with this SDK.

Models supported by the Fujifilm X Series and GFX System Digital Camera Control Software Development Kit (SDK) available for the following cameras:

Download Fujifilm SDK from April 22nd. 2021 here.

Read more about some of these incredible cameras and their capabilities in our blog:

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By Park Cameras on 26/04/2021

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