How to update the firmware in a Nikon Z mirrorless camera
Nikon has released updated firmware version C 2.10 for the Z6 and Z7 mirrorless digital cameras. In addition to bug fixes, this firmware update also adds support for the two new DX format Z-mount lenses, the 16-50mm and 50-250mm zooms released with the Nikon Z50 mirrorless camera.
Updating the firmware on a Nikon Z mirrorless camera is fairly straightforward. To do so, you’ll need:
A formatted XQD memory card
An XQD card reader for your computer
A fully charged EN-EL15 battery
Nikon firmware update file
After downloading the firmware update, copy the binary (.bin) file to the ROOT (main) directory of the XQD card. Put the card in your camera and navigate to the Firmware Version option in the Z6 or Z7’s SETUP (wrench icon) menu. Follow the on-screen prompts to update your firmware to the current version (currently 2.10).
Updating the firmware in the Nikon Z6 and Z7 mirrorless cameras
Nikon has issued Firmware Update C: version 1.10 for the D810 DSLR, effective October 29, 2015.
This update makes mostly minor tweaks to images captured in Live View mode, but it also adds an External Recording Control option to the HDMI item in the Setup Menu. This feature allows the camera controls to start and stop recording to 3rd-party HDMI recorders that support the Atoms Open Protocol.
The Fujifilm X-T1 (Graphite) edition offers some new features that will also be available to original X-T1 owners via a firmware update in December 2014. Image courtesy of Fujifilm.
Fujifilm announced a new color (Graphite) X-T1 body to be released later this year. While it looks really nice, it’s really the same camera as the original (black) X-T1, which I use as my primary travel/family camera. The bigger news, however, was a firmware upgrade coming in December that will match the original (black) X-T1’s features with its silver counterpart. I looked through the firmware features, which you can read here, and the following items caught my eye:
Electronic shutter option for fast primes: You will be able to shoot at a shutter speed of up to 1/32,000s with the electronic shutter. That’s perfect for using a fast prime in bright light without having to stop down. The downside is that this feature will only work with the 23 f/1.4, 25 f/1.4 and 56 f/1.2 Fuji prime lenses (I’m scratching my head on that one).
Natural Live View Mode: Because the X-T1 uses an electronic viewfinder (EVF), the viewfinder displays the scene with in-camera settings applied, like monochrome or “Velvia” mode. What that means is that sometimes the viewfinder image is too contrasty or saturated due to the chosen film emulation mode. Natural mode will display a normal image in the viewfinder, while the captured images will have the film emulation settings applied to them.
Linking the focus area to the metering area in spot metering mode: This is something my Nikon’s do, and it’s a feature I find quite useful. Currently, the spot meter uses the center of the frame, meaning you can’t just choose a metering area with the focus points without recomposing the shot.
Sadly, the one feature I really want, ± 2EV bracketing, wasn’t on the list. I hope Fuji reconsiders and adds this feature… it would make HDR capture so much easier!
