We’ve been taking a look at Fujifilm’s recently released firmware update for the X10, which was designed to reduce the much-discussed ‘white orbs’ blooming effect. Our initial conclusions are disappointing enough for us to pre-empt our forthcoming coverage of the issue with a quick update on our findings so far. Sadly, all the indications from our studio and real-world shooting so far are that the update appears to have very little effect on the appearance or intensity of these artefacts.
CES 2012: Fujifilm has confirmed in a discussion with dpreview, more details about its plans for the X-system. It also said a firmware update for the X10 aimed at reducing the ‘white-orb’ problem is due in early February, if not before. The firmware update, that addresses the hard-edged white discs or orbs generated when highlight regions clip, will reduce but not completely remove the effect. Meanwhile, the company hinted the X-Pro1 will be accompanied by at least one less expensive model.
Nikon has taken the unusual step of updating the firmware of its discontinued CoolPix P7000 enthusiast compact. Firmware v1.2 offers a broad selection of improvements and bug fixes, ranging from improved AF targeting to the correction of an error that meant the color temperature scale was reversed when correcting White Balance during in-camera Raw processing. The updated firmware can be downloaded from Nikon’s websites.
Fujifilm has said it will attempt to address the problem of X10 images showing ‘white discs’ with a firmware update in response to customer concerns. The company statement comes in response to our enquiries about the problem, and confirms the phenomenon is caused by sensor ‘blooming.’ It claims the camera is working within prescribed tolerances and that the problem is not uncommon in other cameras but says that it plans updated firmware to ‘lessen the effects’ of the blooming. We have prepared a quick test of the issue (which we will cover in greater depth in the full review), showing the effects of Fujifilm’s suggested ways of mitigating the issue.
Nikon has released firmware updates for its Nikkor 1 10-30mm f/3.5-5.6, 30-100mm f/3.8-5.6 and 10-100mm f/4.5-5.6 lenses. The 10-30mm and 30-100mm lenses are upgraded to firmware v1.02, which corrects a bug which causes an incorrect aperture value to be recorded. Meanwhile the 10-100mm power zoom firmware moves to v1.01 that, like the 1.01 upgrades for the other two lenses, addresses a problem by which images could ‘be blurred when shot immediately after the camera was shaken or moved quickly’.
A week after posting a firmware update for its G-system cameras, Panasonic has announced firmware updates for its DMC-G3 and GF3 Micro Four Thirds cameras. Version 1.2 improves compatibility of both cameras with Four Thirds lenses when mounted via the DMW-MA1 adapter. The updates are available for immediate download from Panasonic’s website.
News: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)
Sony has released firmware v1.03 for its SLT-A77 and A65 cameras. Currently only available via the company’s Asia site (the first region in which the cameras are widely available), the upgrade promises to improve the responsiveness of the control dials and function buttons, along with the speed of switching between EVF and LCD modes. It also adds support for the HVL-MT24AM macro flash accessory.
News: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)
Sony has released firmware v1.03 for its SLT-A77 and A65 cameras. Currently only available via the company’s Asia site (the first region in which the cameras are widely available), the upgrade promises to improve the responsiveness of the control dials and function buttons, along with the speed of switching between EVF and LCD modes. It also adds support for the HVL-MT24AM macro flash accessory.
News: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)
Ricoh has announced it will update the firmware of its GRD III enthusiast compact camera. The update, due in mid October, is the fifth feature-adding revision for the high-end model and includes several additional features that have come from its GXR and GRD IV cameras. These include the ability to assign an additional option to the ‘Adj.’ lever and the locking of the power button if the optional new GL-1 metal lens cap is fitted. The company says this will be the final update for the GRD III.
News: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)
Wireless flash control company PocketWizard has updated the firmware of its ControlTL system for both Canon and Nikon products. The update works in the MiniTT1 and FlexTT5 radios for both systems. The upgrade adds features such as Hypersync Automation, which attempts to adjust the timing of flash firing in response to shutter speed changes to maximise the sync speed. There is also a Speedcycler mode that, when used with an AC3 Zonecontroller, fires groups of flashes sequentially so that one group is always ready when shooting bursts of images.
News: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)