Fujifilm’s new app is useful and feature-rich.
Most distant taking pictures/viewing digital camera apps from main digital camera producers are, properly, crappy. And Fujifilm’s previous Digital camera Distant app isn’t any exception. Purposeful at finest, clunky and unreliable at worst, within the two years had it on my cellphone paired with an X-E4 I’ve not often used it. And it positive looks like I am not alone.
However Fujifilm hopes to alter all that with the introduction of the brand new Fujifilm XApp, accessible now for a variety of X- and GF-mount cameras. Not solely does this refresh supply higher reliability over its predecessor, however expanded performance too. Let’s take a better look.
Fujifilm XApp: Helpful options, sooner speeds and higher design
It takes about ten seconds to switch a full-resolution picture from the XApp to a sensible machine.
ISO 320 | 1/125 sec | F2.8 | XF 27mm f/2.8 R WR
Picture: Dan Bracaglia
Fujifilm makes a number of lofty promises in regards to the new XApp and delivers on most of them. Along with a cleaner, extra simple design, the corporate says it ought to join and switch photos with higher reliability at sooner speeds than the previous app. The XApp additionally contains new options, lots of that are fairly revolutionary.
Now you can again up and save most popular digital camera settings inside XApp, and recall them with a number of faucets of the display screen. It additionally helps you to report and add knowledge from taking pictures classes within the type of an ‘Exercise Log.’ This offers stats about which movie simulations, lenses, apertures, and so on., you make the most of probably the most. It’s also possible to seize location knowledge and use it to create a nifty visible timeline of the place and what you shot over days/weeks/months.
And like its predecessor, the brand new XApp not solely alerts you to new firmware updates however downloads and transmits them to your digital camera in a number of steps.
Pairing, looking & sharing with the Fujifilm XApp
Pairing the digital camera through Bluetooth takes solely a second. However to get probably the most out of the app, you will must faucet the ‘Picture Acquisition/Pictures’ button to launch a Wi-Fi connection.
The XApp is fast to obtain from the Apple App Retailer (I loaded it up on my iPhone 12 Mini). In a matter of 60 seconds, I had it open and able to pair with my digital camera.
Establishing the Bluetooth pairing is straightforward; simply comply with the on-screen directions. I used to be profitable on my first try. Nevertheless, when you’re having a tough time getting the app to acknowledge your digital camera, attempt holding down the ‘Show/Again’ button on the again. On most trendy Fujifilm fashions, doing so will launch the wi-fi connection menu the place you may confirm that the Bluetooth pairing operate is on.
Establishing the Bluetooth pairing can also be surprisingly easy. I used to be profitable on my first try.
As soon as related, a graphic of your digital camera mannequin will seem on the heart of the display screen with a message below it stating the standing of the Bluetooth connection (see above, proper). Beneath that’ll you will discover 4 core choices. Essentially the most outstanding, ‘Picture Acquisition/Pictures,’ for transferring photos, requires activating a Wi-Fi connection, whereas the distant shutter launch, settings backup/restore function, and exercise log all can operate through Bluetooth.
It takes about 20 seconds for the XApp to determine a Wi-Fi reference to my X-E4. As soon as related, you may remotely scroll by way of thumbnails and choose and switch these you want to share. Picture thumbnails load pretty shortly, although, as do particular person picture previews; nonetheless it takes roughly 10 seconds to switch a single full-resolution JPEG. It’s also possible to view picture EXIF knowledge from throughout the app by tapping an data icon on the prime of the display screen.
Distant pictures utilizing the Fujifilm XApp
When related to the digital camera through Wi-Fi, you’ve gotten management over an array of key settings.
Distant pictures is little doubt an important function for some, and the Wi-Fi-based distant taking pictures interface on the Fujifilm XApp is nothing wanting implausible. Essential info is displayed across the body equally to the way it seems in your digital camera display screen, with icons for battery life, file dimension, pictures remaining, and extra. Extra crucially, customers have complete management over key parameters like aperture, publicity compensation, ISO, movie simulation, and white steadiness. It’s also possible to faucet the display screen to set focus anyplace within the body.
Customers have complete management over aperture, publicity compensation, ISO, movie simulation, and white steadiness
And distant taking pictures is not restricted to nonetheless pictures. You’ll be able to simply leap into video mode, the place you once more have full management over settings. No matter whether or not you are capturing stills or video, the response time utilizing the app is speedy, with no noticeable lag.
In fact, there is a second distant pictures choice that as an alternative makes use of Bluetooth reasonably than Wi-Fi to fireside the shutter. To entry it, you will want to leap again to the primary display screen and faucet the ‘Distant Management’ button. You aren’t getting any management over settings or perhaps a preview of the scene with this function. However you do get a fast and dependable approach to hearth the shutter, which may very well be helpful for conditions the place the digital camera is tripod-mounted, like group images, landscapes, or astrophotography. Simply be certain your sensible machine is inside Bluetooth vary of the digital camera for correct performance.
Exercise log and backing up settings
Take a look at your every day pictures stats within the Fujifilm XApp through the Exercise Log.
The Exercise Log is a visually-pleasing approach to interpret taking pictures knowledge, particularly when you’re like me and revel in diving into numbers and stats. On the primary display screen, faucet ‘Add Exercise’ to switch taking pictures knowledge out of your final outing with the digital camera, and comply with the on-screen prompts to zap it over to the app. As soon as full, you get a rundown of what number of images you shot, what lenses you used most, which movie simulations you most popular, and rather more.
It’s also possible to faucet the ‘Timeline’ button on the backside of the display screen for a day-by-day view of what you shot and the place. I opted to show off the geotagging setting, nonetheless, as I discovered it a little bit intrusive and pointless for snapping frames round my neighborhood. That mentioned, if I have been on trip, I might positively take into account turning it again on.
Along with the Exercise Log, customers can save their digital camera’s full suite of settings to be recalled at any time. Faucet the ‘Backup/Restore’ button and comply with the on-screen directions to both save a brand new financial institution of settings or load an previous one. Customers can save and identify a number of settings and even load pre-banked settings to a brand new digital camera, as lengthy it is the identical mannequin. Each backing up and restoring settings occur in only a few seconds.
Updating the firmware through the Fujifilm XApp
It took lower than two minutes to replace the X-E4’s firmware wirelessly utilizing the XApp.
Wi-fi firmware updates are nothing new for Fujifilm customers. The now-antiquated Digital camera Distant app has provided the function for a while. Nevertheless, I’ve lengthy hesitated to attempt it for concern of one thing going mistaken, particularly given the app’s lackluster repute for general stability. And so, up till right this moment, I’ve at all times carried out issues the old-school means: with a formatted reminiscence card, a pc, and a dream.
However for the sake of this evaluation, pricey readers, I made a decision to replace my X-E4 from firmware 2.0 to 2.01 through XApp. Hesitations about ‘bricking’ my private digital camera apart, I used to be delighted when every part went shortly and easily. Upon opening the app, I used to be greeted with a message indicating the supply of the brand new firmware (see above, left). And I merely adopted the on-screen prompts to obtain and switch the file over Wi-Fi, at which level the app switched again to a Bluetooth connection, and the digital camera started the replace course of robotically.
The entire process took about two minutes (although your mileage will range relying on how massive the replace is).
Closing ideas on the Fujifilm XApp
Off to a tough begin within the Apple App Retailer, ratings-wise, a minimum of the XApp is extra widespread than the Digital camera Distant app. Personally, I might give it 4 out of 5 stars with room for enchancment in picture switch velocity and general stability.
Whereas there are nonetheless some bugs that probably should be labored out – I did have the app freeze on me a number of occasions – the Fujifilm XApp is a big enchancment over the much-maligned Digital camera Distant app. It is much less clunky, simpler to navigate, and way more useful. However most importantly, it seems to work with higher reliability, resulting in much less consumer frustration.
Whereas periodically opening and shutting the app to attempt options and obtain pictures, I had minimal points getting the digital camera to pair through Bluetooth or Wi-Fi. And by no means as soon as did I’ve to leap into my iPhone’s settings to toggle issues off. That alone is a victory. Plus, I now have the boldness to wirelessly replace firmware with out concern of misfortune.
In the end, solely time will inform simply how good the XApp is. As help for brand new cameras and extra options are rolled out, it is crucial the app stays steady and dependable. Which is to say, the ball is in Fujifilm’s courtroom. Give this promising app the eye it deserves, and I can see it changing into extremely popular. However skimp on upkeep and bug fixes, and XApp will find yourself doomed to mediocrity, identical to its predecessor.