Firmware Updates Fujifilm

FUJIFILM Firmware Update Ver.4.00 (February 4, 2016) brings your X-E2 up to X-E2S specs

As we mentioned in our FUJIFILM X-E2S QuickFact Sheet, the X-E2S is essentially a firmware update (available free) of the X-E2, updating the AF system by adding the new Zone and Wide/Tracking options to the existing Single Point mode.

Other improvements include an electronic shutter and an improved menu user interface.

Physical changes – that apply only to the X-E2S and you won’t get from the firmware update – include the addition of the Full AUTO button (replaces Fn2), access to Macro (UP Arrow) and AF (DOWN Arrow) to the 4-Way Controller, and an enhanced grip.

So, you can either decide that the X-E2S has enough physical changes to warrant a physical upgrade or, if you are happy with your X-E2, just apply the free firmware update and you’re good to go.

The following video presents FUJIFILM X-E2S:

The latest rangefinder-style model in the X-Series range features optimum AF performance and easy handling.

The X-E2S has a durable, compact and lightweight body with a Real-Time Viewfinder that offers a large display magnification of 0.62x*1 and an electronic viewfinder with the world’s shortest display time lag*2 of 0.005 seconds. It also comes equipped with an AF system that excels at capturing moving subjects. The new X-E2S model inherits the functionality and rangefinder-style design of the original X-E2, and adds new features including an improved grip, an electronic shutter and a more intuitive GUI to enhance the user experience.

The firmware update Ver. 4.00 from Ver.3.10 incorporates the following issues:

Fujifilm X-E2 Firmware Ver.4.00: New AF system with Wide/Tracking mode: Image Courtesy of Fujifilm

Fujifilm X-E2 Firmware Ver.4.00: New AF system with Wide/Tracking mode: Image Courtesy of Fujifilm

  1. New AF System
    1. New AF system with Zone and Wide/Tracking modes for effortless capture of moving subjects. (*)
      The AF System complements the fast and accurate 49-single-point autofocus system with new Zone and Wide/Tracking modes, which use 77 autofocus points across a wider area to substantially improve the camera’s ability to capture moving subjects.
    2. Improvement of AF accuracy.
      Fujifilm X-E2 Firmware Ver.4.00: Phase detection AF performance that enables fast focusing in low-light conditions and on low-contrast subjects. Image Courtesy of Fujifilm

      Fujifilm X-E2 Firmware Ver.4.00: Phase detection AF performance that enables fast focusing in low-light conditions and on low-contrast subjects. Image Courtesy of Fujifilm

      Single-point AF divides the focus area into smaller sections to more accurately determine the distance to the subject for even greater focusing accuracy. The built-in phase detection pixels have the detection range of 0.5EV, an improvement from the previous 2.5EV, delivering phase detection AF performance that enables fast focusing in low-light conditions and on low-contrast subjects.

    3. Eye Detection AF. (*)
      Fujifilm X-E2 Firmware Ver.4.00: Fujifilm's Eye Detection AF. Image Courtesy of Fujifilm

      Fujifilm X-E2 Firmware Ver.4.00: Fujifilm’s Eye Detection AF. Image Courtesy of Fujifilm

      The firmware update provides Fujifilm’s Eye Detection AF, which automatically detects and focuses on human eyes.
      The function allows you to easily focus on the eyes even in difficult conditions, e.g. when shooting a portrait wide open to obtain a beautiful bokeh background.

    4. Auto Macro mode. (*)
      The firmware update introduces the Auto Macro function, which automatically switches the camera into the Macro mode while maintaining the conventional AF speed. You no longer have to press the Macro button to initiate a close-up shot. This update eliminates the Macro function assigned to the Macro Button, allowing you to assign a different function to the button.
    5. AF improvement in the Movie mode.
      The optimized algorithm delivers a more natural and smooth AF action during movie recording.
  2. Function enhancements
    1. High-speed electronic shutter with a maximum speed of 1/32000sec. (*)
      The FUJINON XF Lens series lineup includes a number of fast fixed focal length lenses which boast very high sharpness with the aperture wide open, producing excellent out of focus “bokeh”. However, fast apertures are difficult to use if the light is too bright, so to ensure users can create shallow depth-of-field effects, the camera is now equipped with a fully electronic shutter offering a maximum shutter speed of 1/32000sec. The mechanical shutter will not operate at all when any speed for the electronic shutter is selected, which also delivers a completely silent shooting experience; perfect for shots of sleeping children, pets, weddings, and more. In addition, it is possible to set the electronic shutter in 1/3 steps from a range of 1sec to 1/32000sec.
      Notes1: Shutter Sound
      The shutter sound can be muted if desired. Use the new “SHUTTER SOUND” and “SHUTTER VOLUME” options in the setup menu to choose the type and volume of the sound made when the shutter is released.
      Notes2: The Electronic Shutter may not be suitable for fast-moving objects. Flash can not be used.
    2. White Balance Bracketing. (*)
      Just fire the shutter once and capture the same scene at your selected white balance setting plus one frame at a warmer and another at a cooler color temperature. White Balance bracketing can be set in ±1, ±2 and ±3 steps.
    3. Enhanced ISO Auto Setting to AUTO1/AUTO2/AUTO3. (*)
      You can use three ISO Auto setting AUTO1/AUTO2/AUTO3 in menu.
    4. Exposure Compensation control in Manual.
      You can use the Exposure Compensation dial to make exposure adjustments while shooting in the Manual exposure mode with the ISO Auto setting.
    5. Natural Live View function is just like the naked eye. (*)
      One of the great benefits of an electronic viewfinder is that ‘what you see is what you get’; the final image is displayed in real-time so any Film Simulation modes or other effects can be checked while shooting. But users sometimes need to see colors close to how they’re viewed with an optical finder, or to focus on shadow detail, which some high-contrast effects block out. To aid this, the Natural Live View function has been added and, when “PREVIEW PIC. EFFECT” is turned Off in the menu, an image close to the naked eye is displayed during live view.
    6. Finer lines on the framing grid enhances visibility
      The lines on the framing grid, which you can choose to display in the Screen Set-Up menu, have been made finer   making it easier to view the subject.
    7. New Video Frame rates (50P / 25P / 24P). (*)
      As well as the existing 60fps and 30fps selections, 50fps, 25fps and 24fps options will be available with the update. 50fps and 25fps allow video editing in the PAL regions, such as Europe, without converting the frame rate. 24fps offers a cinema-like view.
    8. Manual Shooting in Video mode. (*)
      The update will enable ISO sensitivity selection prior to shooting videos, as well as the ability to adjust aperture and shutter speed during movie recording.
    9. Phase detection AF support for Instant AF. (*)
      In Instant AF mode, which is operated by pressing the AF-L button during manual focusing, the update will enable Phase Detection AF, providing faster focusing speeds.
    10. Expansion of shutter speed in Program Shift mode. (*)
      In the current Program Shift mode, the slowest-speed setting is 1/4sec, but this will increase to a maximum of 4secs.
  • Operability improvements
    1. The new user interface.
      The new user interface has been designed with particular attention paid to the size and layout of displayed settings.
      This allows you to concentrate fully on shooting through the viewfinder.
    2. Improved Shutter Speed Dial operation. (*)
      When the Shutter Speed Dial is set to T and the Shutter Type to Mechanical + Electronic, you can use the command dial to set a full range of exposure times from 30-1/32000sec. Previously, this was limited to 30-2 seconds. This means you can change the shutter speeds across a broader range without having to change camera position.
    3. Name of Silent mode changed to avoid confusion. (*)
      The Silent Mode has been renamed to “SOUND & FLASH “.
    4. Direct selection of AF area. (*)
      The update will let users select the focus area using the 4-way selector buttons, without pressing the Fn key.
    5. Unlocked AE-L / AF-L Buttons. (*)
      The function of the AE-L / AF-L button is currently locked, but will be interchangeable, depending on the user’s preference.
    6. Variable Focus Area during MF. (*)
      When working in Manual focus mode, the update will enable changing the size of the focus area during Instant AF with the AF-L button.
    7. Q. Menu customization. (*)
      To make the Q Menu (used for quick access of frequently-used items) even more efficient, the update will allow its items and layout to be changed to the user’s preference.
    8. Interlocking of Metering and Focus areas. (*)
      Users will be able to interlock the AF area position with the Metering area when Spot Metering mode is selected.
    9. Movie Recording. (*)
      Movie recording starts by pressing a function button not the shutter button. “MOVIE” in DRIVE options is eliminated.
  • Other changes with the update
    1. Supports focus limiter function for XF100-400mmF4.5-5.6 R LM OIS WR.
      To be fully compatible with the lens, the new firmware supports focus limiter function for FUJINON XF100-400mmF4.5-5.6 R LM OIS WR.
    2. “BACKGROUND COLOR” menu.
      “BACKGROUND COLOR” menu in “SCREEN SET-UP” menu is eliminated.
    3. The maximum number of images taken in the continuous shooting mode.
      JPEG in High-speed continuous shooting mode: approx. 28 images ⇒ approx. 18 images RAW in High-speed and Low-speed continuous shooting mode: 1 or 2 less images than before the update.

For detail about functions marked with (*), refer to “X-E2 Onwer’s Manual”:
X-E2 Owner’s Manual [Ver.4.00](PDF:3.77MB)


The following video presents X-Photographer shares his experience shooting with the new FUJIFILM X-E2S:

  • X-Photographer Chris Upton talks about his experience using the new FUJIFILM X-E2S for his work on travel, landscape and reportage photography.


You can pre-order / buy the Fujifilm X-E2 or X-E2S cameras at B&H: