Firmware Friday: Software aplenty + firmware too from Blackmagic, Canon, Fuji, Nikon, Panasonic and Ricoh

by Mike Tomkins

posted Friday, November 1, 2019 at 11:33 PM EDT

We thought last week's Firmware Friday roundup was big, but this week it's a whole different ballgame, with a truly spectacular amount to discuss for folks shooting cameras from Blackmagic, Canon, Fujifilm, Nikon, Panasonic and Ricoh. We've referred to really large roundups like this as being "mega" in the past, but we're tempted to substitute the word "giga" this week, as we've so much to talk about.

Let's get right down to what's new!

Blackmagic Raw for MacOS

Kicking things off with Blackmagic Design for the second week running, the company has released an update for its Blackmagic RAW software on MacOS systems only. Version 1.5.2 brings a fix for a driver issue with AMD GPUs when running MacOS Catalina 10.15.1. Download this update here.

Canon EOS 90D and RP, BG-E22 battery grip

Next up, we have three firmware updates from Canon. Two are for interchangeable-lens cameras, while the third is for an accessory grip intended for a third camera model.

Starting off with the Canon EOS 90D DSLR, firmware version 1.1.1 (download here) adds support for 4K capture of both Full HD and 4K movies with a capture rate of 23.98 frames per second, answering a criticism we raised in our preview of that camera. It also resolves a potential "Err 01" warning when shooting with either the EF 85mm f/1.8 USM or EF 100mm f/2 USM lenses.

As for firmware version 1.4.0 (download here) for the Canon EOS RP mirrorless camera, a 23.98 fps capture rate has been added for Full HD movie capture, and support has been newly added for the RF 85mm F1.2L USM DS lens.

And finally for Canon, firmware version 1.0.1 (download here) for the BG-E22 battery grip accessory, which is an optional extra for the EOS R mirrorless camera, has but one change. It's aimed at resolving a problem that could sometimes prevent charging of the installed battery pack using the PD-E1 USB power adapter, depending on the condition of the battery itself.

Fujifilm software utilities for MacOS

Next up, we have some more news related to Apple's MacOS Catalina 10.15.1 update, this time from Fujifilm. The company hasn't thus far released any new updates, but is instead disclosing (and offering its apologies for) some issues with its various software applications when used on this new MacOS release, so if you're using any of the following apps we'd recommend deferring an update to Catalina 10.15.1 for the time being, if possible. Apps and their issues are as follows.

The Silkypix-based Raw File Converter EX 3.0 is said to have issues including (but not limited to) the Open File and Develop functions failing to work correctly.

As for Fujifilm PC AutoSave, the sole noted issue is that the application's uninstaller will not function correctly, so you can't remove it post-upgrade, should you wish to do so.

The remaining issues affect a wide range of apps, and in all cases are caused if the access permission settings in Catalina 10.15.1 for Desktop or Documents folders, among others, are set to "Off". Affected apps include the X Raw Studio and X Acquire installers, Tether Plugin PRO for GFX and Tether Shooting Plug-in PRO for GFX, as well as the Tether Shooting Plug-in or Tether Shooting Plug-in PRO for Adobe Photoshop Lightroom.

Fujifilm is promising updates to fix these issues as soon as it has been able to develop and test new versions of each individual application. Watch this space for more info in a future roundup!

Nikon software utilities

There's also a raft of software updates from Nikon, but these aren't aimed at MacOS Catalina, so both MacOS and Windows users will want to keep reading. In all, there are updates for Camera Control Pro 2 (v2.29.1), Capture NX-D (v1.6.0), Nikon Message Center 2 (v2.4.0), Picture Control Utility 2 (v2.4.3), ViewNX-i (v1.4.0), the combined installer for both ViewNX-i & Capture NX-D (v1.19.030), and finally the Wireless Transmitter Utility (v1.9.0).

So what's new in each app? For all but Nikon Message Center, which simply supports all of the other updated apps in their latest versions, there's new support for the Nikon Z50 mirrorless camera. And for Camera Control Pro 2 (Windows or MacOS) and Picture Control Utility 2 (Windows only), that's the only change. In addition to their new Z50 support, the other updated apps have changes as follows.

Capture NX-D:

Pictures can now be protected.
Text can now be entered in text boxes even when multiple color control points are selected.
The mouse wheel can now be used to position control point sliders in the preview display, allowing fine adjustments to be made a click at a time.
Users can now prioritize speed or quality via Preferences > View > View Images.
The drop in thumbnail display speed for cropped images can now be addressed by selecting speed priority.
Fixed an issue that resulted in changes in hue when NEF images edited using Capture NX2 were saved in other formats.
Fixed an issue that caused the focus point to move if images were cropped or straightened with the focus point hidden.

Picture Control Utility 2 (MacOS only)

Added support for the dark mode feature introduced with macOS Mojave version 10.14.

ViewNX-i:

Added keyword-entry assist for XMP/IPTC Information > Tags > Keywords.
Folder and file names can now be up to 110 characters long.
Larger font sizes are now available via Options (for Windows) / Preferences (for MacOS) > View > Size of Text and Icon.

Wireless Transmitter Utility

The Z 7 and Z 6 can now be paired with the computer even if the Wireless Transmitter Utility is launched before a Wi-Fi connection has been established. The same is true of the Z 50.
On completing pairing, users can now choose a destination folder and the application used to display transferred images.
Added support for online help.
Added support for the dark mode feature introduced with macOS Mojave version 10.14. (MacOS only)

Panasonic AG-CX200MC, AG-CX350, AJ-UPX360ED and AJ-UPX360MC

Panasonic has released new version 2.01 firmware (download here) for its AG-CX350 series video camera, as well as its overseas variants, the AG-CX200MC, AJ-UPX360ED and AJ-UPX360MC. In all, there are seven new features and five bug fixes / operational improvements as follows:

New Features
- New 4K codec and conventional P2HD format recording are supported.
  (*AG-CX200MC does not support HEVC LongGOP100M, P2 MXF and AVC-ULTRA codec.)
  - HEVC LongGOP 100M (MOV)
  - P2HD AVC-ULTRA(P2 MXF) *Intra422, LongG
- 4ch audio recording is supported when you use MOV or P2 MXF formats.
- Multicast is supported when you use RTSP streaming or NDI|HX networks.You can use multiple ports (PC, switcher or application software) to receive a single streaming that is distributed by a camera.
- You can use CX ROP application software and NDI|HX simultaneously.
- ADAPTIVE MATRIX menu is added.You set this menu to “ON” so that the color is not saturated with strong blue LED.
- The function is improved at operating a USER SW so that a message is displayed at changing the settings. For example, you can see that the setting of LCD VF is changed from SDR to HDR.
- The initial value of the scene file menu is changed to “SPARK” as in AJ-PX298MC. To enable this setting, you need to initialize the menu after the update.
  (AJ-UPX360MC and AG-CX200MC only)
Improvements
- There is a problem that a center position mark is not strictly center of VF image when you use an expanded view of focus assist function. This problem is fixed.
- There is a problem that DRS ON setting is not reflected on when you change the LCD monitor image from the thumbnails to the camera image. This problem is fixed.
- The zoom function may not work if you rotate the zoom ring frequently and press the zoom button again and again. This problem is fixed.
- Quality of image with low bit rate IP streaming is improved.
- Quality of audio with RTSP/RTMP streaming is improved.

Ricoh G900, G900SE, WG-6 and DC Software II

And finally, Ricoh has released new firmware for its G900 and WG-6 cameras, as well as an updated DC Software II application for the G900 and G900SE cameras.

Both cameras have received a new Pixel Tracking Shake Reduction function in CALS mode, and have improved battery life when using interval shooting or interval movie functions. The G900 also has new ISO 12,800 and 25,600 settings in CALS mode. (Not familiar with this mode? It's a somewhat obscure option intended for photographs being submitted under CALS guidelines from Japan's Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism.)

As for the DC Software II update, it brings the following changes:

When installing DC Software II, it has enabled to select "All Users" or "Login Users" as using the software.
Corrected to enable to output G900 serial number information by using EX2.
(G900 firmware version ver. 1.01 is required.)
Corrected that EX2 outputs camera memo information.
Improved stability for general performance.

Download the G900 v1.01 firmware here, the WG-6 v1.02 firmware here, and the DC Software II update here.

And that's all for this week's roundup. Be sure to check back next week for all the latest firmware and software update news!

**Worried you might've missed a critical update lately? Don't be! Just click here for all recent Firmware Friday articles!**