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This Fujifilm XT5 Firmware Fix Will Make You Curious

Chris Gampat
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02/04/2023
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Chris Gampat The Phoblographer Fujifilm 30mm f2.8 Macro review edited Fujifilm x pro 3 shoots XT5 product 2.81-160s1600

Last Updated on 02/04/2023 by Mark Beckenbach

The Fujifilm XT5 was one of the hottest-selling cameras during the 2022 holiday season. And since its release, its received two firmware updates. We’ve incorporated our findings from these updates into our Fujifilm XT5 review. But, these Fujifilm XT5 firmware updates truly shouldn’t have existed to begin with. Unlike what Fujifilm users have experienced in the past, we’re not getting new features at all here. Instead, these two updates fix problems: problems that would make you raise your eyebrows in confusion.

We compared the Fujifilm XT5 to the XT4 a little while back. Ultimately, we concluded it’s not worth the upgrade. If you really want the features of the XT5, it’s probably worth it to go for the XH2 instead. Fujifilm also stated a while back that they wouldn’t be issuing as many firmware updates in the future. Nor would they be giving users more features like they used to. This is a major disappointment. It leads me to believe that all future Fujifilm XT5 firmware updates might not be that great.

Here are the pertinent updates from our Fujifilm XT5 review. Take a look at the full review. And if you’re interested in purchasing one, check it out at Adorama and Amazon.

Ease of Use Updated January, 2023

Fujifilm XT5 firmware Ver.1.02 gave the following

The firmware bugs have been fixed, which caused that the cameras rarely froze right after the completion of the firmware update with the current version using a smartphone (tablet) in which Camera Remote application software was installed.
Note:
When updating the firmware with the revised version, please be sure to update the firmware using an SD card according to steps below.
Detail of firmware update steps

We’re glad that this is fixed. Fujifilm has a slew of issues regarding the use of their app and connectivity to cameras. And we hope that they truly take it more seriously.

Metering Updated January, 2023

Fujifilm XT5 firmware Ver.1.01 offered the following changes:

The firmware bug has been fixed, which caused the color reproduction looks bad in the under-exposure area of the image when taking the photo under the following conditions.
[ Conditions ]
・FILM SIMULATION： “NOSTALGIC Neg.” or “ETERNA BLEACH BYPASS.”
・LENS MODULATION OPTIMIZER： ON
・SMOOTHS SKIN EFFECT： “STRONG” or “WEAK.”
・LENS APERTURE：F10 to F18

Other minor bugs have been fixed.

We really have to say this is a weird problem. When working with the photos with the new firmware update in Capture One, we didn’t find shadows a problem. To clarify, we also used the settings Fujifilm referred to.

However, no one would really use these settings anyway if they were photographing a cityscape or landscape. The reason why you’d use them is for group photos. And as a Fujifilm photographer since the start, this is more perplexing.

First off, if you’re shooting a group portrait, you’re probably using a wide-angle lens to get everyone in the frame. Additionally, you wouldn’t necessarily stop down to f10. As a point of reference, in 2018, we published a post on the best focusing style for landscape photography. The same mindset applies here. I truly don’t understand why you’d stop an APS-C camera down to f10: you’d get diffraction. If you were using a flash, you could instead raise the ISO and, therefore, the sensitivity to the entire scene. Alternatively, you could use an electronic shutter and stop down to somewhere like f5.6 or even f8 (but even that latter aperture might be pushing it a bit).

The point here though is that there are workarounds. And why Fujifilm would have to actively issue firmware for this when there are other glaring issues with the Fujifilm XT5 is mind-boggling. More obviously, though, it hints at a bunch of inexperienced photographers buying the camera and not actually thinking critically.

With all this aside, the problem shouldn’t happen. But Fujifilm could’ve and should’ve dedicated their resources to other things instead of issuing a firmware update to correct this.

app camera ease of use fujifilm fujifilm xt5 fujifilm xt5 firmware fujifilm xt5 firmware update landscape metering XT4
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Chris Gampat is the Editor in Chief, Founder, and Publisher of the Phoblographer. He provides oversight to all of the daily tasks, including editorial, administrative, and advertising work. Chris's editorial work includes not only editing and scheduling articles but also writing them himself. He's the author of various product guides, educational pieces, product reviews, and interviews with photographers. He's fascinated by how photographers create, considering the fact that he's legally blind./ HIGHLIGHTS: Chris used to work in Men's lifestyle and tech. He's a veteran technology writer, editor, and reviewer with more than 15 years experience. He's also a Photographer that has had his share of bylines and viral projects like "Secret Order of the Slice." PAST BYLINES: Gear Patrol, PC Mag, Geek.com, Digital Photo Pro, Resource Magazine, Yahoo! News, Yahoo! Finance, IGN, PDN, and others. EXPERIENCE: Chris Gampat began working in tech and art journalism both in 2008. He started at PCMag, Magnum Photos, and Geek.com. He founded the Phoblographer in 2009 after working at places like PDN and Photography Bay. He left his day job as the Social Media Content Developer at B&H Photo in the early 2010s. Since then, he's evolved as a publisher using AI ethically, coming up with ethical ways to bring in affiliate income, and preaching the word of diversity in the photo industry. His background and work has spread to non-profits like American Photographic Arts where he's done work to get photographers various benefits. His skills are in SEO, app development, content planning, ethics management, photography, Wordpress, and other things. EDUCATION: Chris graduated Magna Cum Laude from Adelphi University with a degree in Communications in Journalism in 2009. Since then, he's learned and adapted to various things in the fields of social media, SEO, app development, e-commerce development, HTML, etc. FAVORITE SUBJECT TO PHOTOGRAPH: Chris enjoys creating conceptual work that makes people stare at his photos. But he doesn't get to do much of this because of the high demand of photography content. / BEST PHOTOGRAPHY TIP: Don't do it in post-production when you can do it in-camera.