Fujifilm Improves GFX and Offers SDK

2021.04.23

Today, Fujifilm announced a number of improvements to their latest Medium-Format Digital Cameras and an SDK for their mirrorless platform. The GFX-100 gets the most advancements, followed by the GFX 100S, plus APS-C cameras can also be controlled by a new SDK. There a lot of news to unpack but the clear take-away is that Fujifilm continues to provide the most updates for existing cameras than any other manufacturer.

The Fujifilm GFX-100 launched in mid-2019 to become the first digital camera to exceed 100 MP and the first Medium-Format model with built-in image-stabilization. This enormous camera weighs 1.4kg to allow all these features at the time yet a much lighter model followed relatively soon after. The new Fujifilm GFX-100S is more capable in most respects despite weighing just 900g or over 30% lighter! Firmware version 4.0 for the GFX-100 is scheduled to improve the performance of this camera closer to its successor. The new firmware will:

1. Improve Autofocus to the same level as the GFX-100S.
2. Enable coordinated image-stabilization, often called Dual IS, to combine ISIS with optical stabilization.
3. Introduce a new Nostalgic Negative Film Simulation mode.
4. Widen Clarity control to ±5 and allow ½ steps for Shadow and Highlight tone.
5. Add a Focus-Limiter function that applies to all lenses.
6. Introduces a number of new customization options.
7. Enables the camera to stay powered on when a memory-card is removed.

A new version of the Pixel Shift Combiner software was released today too. This version supports the GFX-100 and GFX-100S to merge images up to 400 megapixels. It improves color accuracy of final images.

Finally, a new Camera Control SDK was released to allow programatic control of GFX and X-series mirrorless digital cameras. This includes basic control and remote operation but not RAW decoding.

• Digital Camera