On the finish of Might 2023, along with the newest X-S20 mirrorless digicam (see our assessment), FUJIFILM launched a model new companion smartphone app referred to as XApp. This new app permits you to management some digicam capabilities and switch media. Nevertheless it additionally makes use of some options that make their mirrorless cameras extra helpful as day-to-day companions. Let’s dive in!

With a awful 1.3-star score on the iOS App Retailer, the previous FUJIFILM Digicam Distant app had a really dangerous fame. The digicam’s unreliable connections, outdated person interface, and lack of assist for contemporary capabilities and codecs have been clear indicators that an replace was desperately wanted.

And FUJIFILM gave us a worthy one with the brand-new XApp. This app isn’t an replace to the previous Digicam Distant App, however somewhat a brand new itemizing within the App Retailer the lets us begin with a clear slate.

New person interface

The XApp encompasses a minimalistic design with monochromatic shade use. The person interface seems to be very clear and is simple to grasp and use.

The brand new person interface is a giant improve in comparison with the previous Digicam Join App. Picture credit score: CineD

The primary options are laid out clearly as quickly as you begin the app. You’ll be prompted to grant a bunch of permissions to entry your photograph library (required for transferring photos out of your digicam to your cellphone), location (for instance for geotagging), and so forth.

The person interface is optimized for smartphones and tablets. Picture credit score: CineD

The XApp additionally scales properly on bigger gadgets, like iPads and different tablets. Culling by way of quite a few pictures and choosing them for import is especially pleasurable, particularly on tablets.

Digicam connection

Connecting to a FUJIFILM digicam couldn’t be simpler. You’ll want to replace your digicam to the newest firmware to make it suitable with the brand new XApp. Getting the digicam prepared to hook up with a wise system was significantly simplified with the newest firmware updates.

1. Maintain the DISP/BACK button to entry the shortcuts menu. Picture credit score: CineD2. Within the Bluetooth and Perform Menu, choose “Bluetooth”. Picture credit score: CineD3. Activate Bluetooth and choose “Pairing” within the Bluetooth Menu. Picture credit score: CineD4. Digicam is able to pair with Good Machine. Picture credit score: CineD

Picture switch

As quickly as your cellphone is related to your digicam, you possibly can choose the outstanding “Picture Acquisition / Images” button to repeat content material out of your digicam to your cellphone.

You get previews of all of the content material that’s saved in your reminiscence card. You solely see thumbnails when transferring pictures within the JPEG or HEIF format although, because the App doesn’t assist RAW pictures or video recordsdata. All RAW pictures and movies will present a generic thumbnail and not using a preview and can’t be transferred.

While you wish to work along with your RAW pictures or video recordsdata, I’d strongly advise utilizing a cable or card reader to switch the recordsdata from the digicam to your pill or laptop. Even when it have been attainable with the XApp, it will take a very long time to switch these massive recordsdata over WiFi.

You get picture previews of your JPEG and HEIF pictures, however no RAW photograph or video assist. Picture credit score: CineD

To switch photos, the smartphone wants to hook up with the digicam by way of WiFi. The app solely asks you to hitch the digicam’s WiFi community and the remaining is completed for you.

The progress display whereas transferring photos. Picture credit score: CineD

HEIF assist

For picture sharing, the JPEG and new HEIF photos with the well-known Movie Simulations are nice. You get high-resolution previews of the pictures in your cellphone or pill, and you may also pinch-to-zoom in your system for checking particulars and focus.

After choosing the pictures that you simply’d wish to switch, you possibly can choose whether or not to switch the full-size pictures or resize the pictures. This selection will save house in your cellphone, however you may additionally think about using the HEIF format. This offers you an identical high quality however at decrease file sizes in comparison with JPEGs, and you need to use the full-resolution HEIF, which finally ends up being the identical file measurement as a downscaled JPEG. iOS and macOS have been suitable with HEIF pictures since 2017 beginning with iOS 11 and macOS Excessive Sierra. You too can work with these recordsdata on Home windows with the assistance of extensions.

Distant management

Surprisingly, Distant Management and Digicam Management are two separate options which can be discovered in numerous places within the XApp.

The Distant Management characteristic is an easy digital shutter button that takes an image (with a shutter maintain choice) or begins/stops a video.

Distant Management and Digicam Distant are two separate person interfaces. Picture credit score: CineD

While you wish to management the digicam settings and see a reside preview, you press the outstanding “Picture Acquisition / Images” button after which swap to the Digicam tab on the highest. Contained in the Digicam Management interface, you possibly can swap between Picture and Video mode for various units of settings.

Adjustment choices for Aperture, Publicity Compensation, ISO, Movie Simulation, and White Stability in Picture mode. Picture credit score: CineD

In Picture mode, you get a preview picture with touch-to-focus performance, which works precisely however is comparatively gradual to react in your contact enter. There may be additionally primary standing data seen across the preview picture and you’ll regulate the aperture, publicity compensation, ISO, movie simulation, and white steadiness.

Adjustment choices for Shutter Pace, Aperture, Movie Simulation, and White Stability in Video mode. Picture credit score: CineD

In Video mode, you solely get the choice to regulate shutter pace, aperture, movie simulation, and white steadiness. Surprisingly, you can’t regulate ISO in video mode. Extra settings can be good to have in a future replace.

Digicam settings Backup/Restore

One handy characteristic of the XApp is the Settings Backup/Restore operate. In the event you use a number of digicam our bodies or hire your digicam, you possibly can merely save your digicam settings and restore them earlier than you get going once more.

Backup setting from the related digicam and restore from backups. Picture credit score: CineD

Sadly, you possibly can solely restore settings to the identical digicam mannequin (from X-H2 to X-H2 for instance). I perceive that completely different digicam fashions have completely different characteristic units, however I want I may at the least switch the capabilities to a distinct mannequin that each cameras assist.

Timeline & exercise

One thing distinctive in regards to the XApp is the Timeline and Exercise options. These options allow you to see your exercise along with your FUJIFILM gear.

Timeline view with the digicam and lens used, in addition to photograph events. Picture credit score: CineD

The Timeline reveals you a chronological view of all of the occasions you used your digicam and lenses. The app additionally compiles occasions with all the pictures taken on a sure day or in a selected location. You too can go into photograph occasions and take a look at extra particulars like a map with pins the place all the pictures have been taken.

Trying on the timeline particulars. Picture credit score: CineD

The Exercise characteristic is a statistical abstract of all of the metadata in your photos. You get to see the entire quantity of photos you took, complete video recording time, and what number of photos you transferred to your cellphone.

Synchronizing the exercise out of your cellphone to the XApp. Picture credit score: CineD

There may be additionally a breakdown of the cameras and lenses you used and what number of photos have been taken with any movie simulation. The identical goes for movies (which can be saved in your reminiscence card).

Breakdown of all of the metadata from all of the captured photos within the Exercise tab. Picture credit score: CineD

You’re required to create an account utilizing “Proceed with Apple/Google/Fb” as a way to use the Exercise characteristic. Perhaps in some unspecified time in the future, this can flip right into a “social community” of some type the place FUJIFILM customers have their very own public person profiles the place they’ll select to share a few of this data exterior of the XApp.

I don’t see any skilled use for these options, however they’re a really good contact for private enjoyment. These options are positively geared towards lovers.

Geotagging

Geotagging (including location data to) pictures with the assistance of the smartphone app lastly works (reliably) for the primary time with any FUJIFILM app. The digicam will present a geolocation icon on the display, which is able to blink pink if no location has been transmitted recently from the cellphone. Simply open the app in your cellphone, let it join for a number of seconds and the present location can be captured within the subsequent photograph.

Fantastic adjustment of the situation synchronization interval. Picture credit score: CineD

In my expertise, this labored very properly and I solely needed to open the app to power a location replace to the digicam a number of occasions. Sadly, the situation knowledge is just saved for JPEG/HEIF pictures however not for RAW pictures (in a sidecar file). Simply remember that extra frequent location updates will use extra of your cellphone’s battery however I by no means needed to cease utilizing the app as a result of I felt it was draining my (iPhone 13 mini) battery too rapidly. You’ll be able to customise the situation synchronization interval within the app settings.

What’s lacking

I’d actually like to see an Intervalometer choice for Timelapses within the XApp. A pleasant person interface for establishing a Timelapse and executing it out of your smartphone can be very handy.

Additionally, a method to regulate extra settings in photograph and video mode can be welcome when you actually wish to rig the digicam in a hard-to-reach house and wish to management the entire digicam remotely.

Let me know within the feedback what options you wish to see added to the XApp!

Conclusion

For customers who need prolonged performance for his or her FUJIFILM digicam for on a regular basis use, the XApp is a really welcome introduction and superb at what it does. I actually love how intently the HEIF recordsdata come to native iPhone pictures in the case of metadata. The imported mirrorless pictures are additionally included in iCloud’s photograph recollections because of geotagging and in-phone face and animal recognition.

Skilled customers must depend on third-party options like body.io and different Digicam-to-Cloud suppliers to wirelessly and safely switch RAW pictures and high-resolution movies.

I hope that this app will solely turn out to be much more helpful over time if FUJIFILM decides to maintain up the Kaizen spirit (steady enchancment of software program over time) with the XApp as properly.

Obtain hyperlinks

The FUJIFILM XApp is obtainable for iOS (App Store Link) and Android (Google Play Link).

I examined model 1.0.2. of the XApp on an iPhone 12 mini working iOS 16.5.

Extra details about the FUJIFILM XApp may be discovered on the FUJIFILM Website.

Do you employ a smartphone app as a companion to your digicam? In that case, do you employ it just for enjoyable or additionally for skilled use? What are your experiences with the FUJIFILM Digicam Distant or XApp? Let me know what you suppose within the feedback beneath! I’d love to listen to from you!