In October 2019, the Fujifilm X Pro 3 was released. Since then, we still haven’t gotten the Fujifilm X Pro 4. And the updates for the Fujifilm X Pro 3 have been pathetic. For a camera that Fujifilm calls their flagship in the rangefinder-style category, it truly lacks compared to the rest of the brand’s lineup. But with the arrival of the new Fujifilm X app, the camera received the 2.0 firmware update. That’s a large jump from firmware 1.33. So does it bring with it several new features? Well, we updated our Fujifilm X Pro 3 review. You can see the newly updated sections below, or go check out our full review at this link.
Table of Contents
High ISO Output: Update June 2023
The high ISO output from the Fujifilm X Pro 3 has often been seen as a camera that isn’t all that great. And truthfully, it depends on how you’re using it. Over the long term, I’ve seen that its not so great when trying to recover details in wildlife photography. But it’s fantastic for both prints and documentary-style work. So essentially, to each their own.
In our print tests, the images were wonderful. Use it for documentary-style work and use the image noise as high ISO grain. Don’t do that for wildlife, though, as it just won’t hit the same.
Ease of Use Update June 2023
Here are the details of the new 2.0 firmware update:
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The firmware for each model supports new application software “FUJIFILM XApp” for GFX and X series cameras.
“FUJIFILM XApp” is the advanced application software for the current one, “FUJIFILM Camera Remote”, with which wireless communication becomes more stable and faster so that images and movies transportation from the camera becomes more smooth and comfortable with the smartphone and tablet terminal.
Moreover, the operation with the smartphone and tablet terminal becomes much simpler than the current application software, since all the data transportation operations, except for the “Bluetooth Pairing” between camera and the application software required at the first time only, are completed with the smartphone and tablet terminal.
Adding on the “Live View Mode” and access/download functions of the data in camera, several new functions are available, such as “Backup/Restore” to store the setting data in the shooting and setup menus, “Timeline” to review the shooting information of the camera/lens, shooting count/location, etc. and “Activity” to show the accumulated summary of the shooting count total, film simulation usage, etc., which should make GFX and X series cameras attractive more and more.
Note-1: Please see NEWS RELEASE for the details of “FUJIFILM XApp”.
Fujifilm releases the FUJIFILM XApp for the GFX / X Series of digital cameras
Note-2: “FUJIFILM XApp” works with iOS/iPad OS 13 or later and Android OS 11 or later.
Please download the “FUJIFILM XApp” from the following site by selecting the OS version of your smartphone / tablet terminal and the camera.
Note-3: “FUJIFILM XApp” will be available as soon as it is ready.
“AREA SETTING” has been added in the “USER SETTING” of the Setup menu, which changed the operation procedure for the initial setting and “TIME DIFFERENCE” setting as follows.
・24 hours display can be selected in “DATE/TIME”.
・Your living location can be selected with the world map as well as “Saving time” can be on and off in “AREA SETTING”.
・“LOCAL” can also be selected with the world map in “TIME DIFFERENCE”.
Note-1: “ARIA SETTING” and “DATE/TIME” menus appear when turning on the camera right after firmware upgrade. So please set up the above items in these menus.
“RESET” function in the Setup menu will change.
・“AREA SETTING” has been added on the list that would not be reset in “SET-UP RESET” function.
・“INITIALIZE” function has been added to reset all settings to default values, other than except for custom white balance.
Some of the menu related to the wireless connection changed as follows.
・“Bluetooth SETTINGS” in “CONNECTION SETTING” of the Setup menu has been changed to “Bluetooth/SMARTPHONE SETTING” and “IMAGE TRANSFER WHILE POWER OFF” has been added in this menu.
・“AUTO IMAGE TRANSFER” has been changed to “AUTO IMAGE TRANSFER” and “SMARTPHONE SYNC. SETTIN” has been changed to “SMARTPHONE LOCATION SYNC” for each.
Some of the menu items of “GENERAL SETTINGS” in “CONNECTION SETTING” of the Setup menu has been change as follows.
・“NAME” and “RESIZE IMAGE FOR SMARTPHONEH 3M” has been moved into “Bluetooth/SMARTPHONE SETTING” menu.
・“GEOTAGGING” has been moved into “SAVE DATA SET-UP” menu.
・“LOCATION INFO” has been moved into “SCREEN SETUP” menu.
・“〔Wi-Fi〕 BUTTON SETTING” has been moved into “BUTTON/DIAL SETTING” menu and changed to “Fn1 BUTTON SETTING”.
“Bluetooth Pairing Registration” has been added in “FUNCTION (Fn) SETTING” while pushing and holding the DISP/BACK” button, which changed the procedure to connect to the smartphone.
Even under busy Wi-Fi environment, the connectivity between the application for a smartphone (FUJIFILM Camera Remote) and a camera is improved.
The firmware bug has been fixed, which caused that the Live View display became black out and camera froze at changing “AF Area” in the display while taking “Live View Shooting” using Wi-Fi connection with smartphone applications (FUJIFILM Camera Remote) under the following conditions.
・“NUMBER OF FOCUS POINTS” in “AF/MF SETTING” menu is set to 425 POINTS (17×25).
・“FOCUS MODE” is set to “AF-S” or “AF-C”.
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You can download it here. Considering how bad the Cam Remote app was, you probably want to download this onto an SD card and then update the firmware. It’s quite odd that they’re jumping from firmware 1.33 to 2.0 all of a sudden. Not only that, but the only apparent changes that have come are for connectivity, Wifi, and the new X App. Frankly, I gave up all hope on Fujifilm ever supporting this camera again.
After the firmware update, the camera resets the location, date, and time. So reset this as needed. When this is done, you’ll need to hold down the display/back button to set up Bluetooth pairing as the X app states.
The first time I tested it, the connectivity worked pretty flawlessly. This was in my office with my router less than a meter away from me.
Eventually, I moved to my bedroom, and the app had a hiccup the second time it tried to communicate with the camera. I figured out that this is because when you power up the camera, the app has to find the camera first by Bluetooth. Once the app gives you the visual notification that this is working, you can use the work features.
Sometimes there’s a delay in communications, and this isn’t ideal. However, I’ll commend the fact that the app finally works.
With the new firmware 2.0 on the Fujifilm X Pro 3, a few things happen. Firstly, I can’t find a way to disable the 24hr time mode anymore. Second, it keeps the location info on all the time. Because of how Fuji’s menus are set up, the location info is in various locations. To shut it off, save battery life, and prevent the camera from getting warm, go into the wrench menu > save data setup > turn off geotagging. I’d also then go into the X app and set location syncing to the slowest time possible.
After two other tests in different locations, the app seems to be working perfectly fine now. Fujifilm nailed it, and I hope they don’t screw it up somehow.
As a long-time Fujifilm X Pro 3 user, I’m still quite confused. Why couldn’t they stuff better autofocus performance and at least the animal and bird autofocus scene recognition into this camera? Well, let me roll that one back, as that may be too much for those who are apologetic to a billion-dollar company that charged a very high price for one of the most premium APS-C cameras to come out in the past five years. Instead, why couldn’t they give us Nostalgic Negative? Why did this camera not receive the marketing that it truly deserved?
Make no mistake, you’ll take my Fujifilm X Pro 3 out of my cold, dead hands. But the lack of support is something that I’d expect out of Sony or Canon and not Fujifilm.
Build Quality Update 2023
My Fujifilm X Pro 3 continues to keep working very well. My back e-ink screen that displays the film simulation has cracked. However, the camera continues to still work nearly flawlessly. For the record though, I have the titanium dura-silver edition with the extra toughness.