Fujifilm’s new app is purposeful and feature-rich.
Most distant taking pictures/viewing digital camera apps from main digital camera producers are, nicely, crappy. And Fujifilm’s previous Digicam Distant app isn’t any exception. Useful 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 as if I am not alone.
However Fujifilm hopes to alter all that with the introduction of the brand new Fujifilm XApp, obtainable now for a variety of X- and GF-mount cameras. Not solely does this refresh provide higher reliability over its predecessor, however expanded performance too. Let’s take a better look.
Fujifilm XApp: Helpful options, quicker speeds and higher design
It takes about ten seconds to switch a full-resolution picture from the XApp to a wise gadget.
ISO 320 | 1/125 sec | F2.8 | XF 27mm f/2.8 R WR
Picture: Dan Bracaglia
Fujifilm makes a whole lot of lofty promises concerning 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 photographs with higher reliability at quicker speeds than the previous app. The XApp additionally consists of new options, lots of that are fairly progressive.
Now you can again up and save most popular digital camera settings inside XApp, and recall them with a couple of faucets of the display. It additionally helps you to file and add information from taking pictures periods within the type of an ‘Exercise Log.’ This gives stats about which movie simulations, lenses, apertures, and so on., you make the most of essentially the most. You may also seize location information 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 couple of steps.
Pairing, looking & sharing with the Fujifilm XApp
Pairing the digital camera through Bluetooth takes solely a second. However to get essentially 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.
Organising the Bluetooth pairing is easy; simply comply with the on-screen directions. I used to be profitable on my first try. Nonetheless, if you happen to’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.
Organising 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 middle of the display with a message below it stating the standing of the Bluetooth connection (see above, proper). Under that’ll you will discover 4 core choices. Essentially the most outstanding, ‘Picture Acquisition/Pictures,’ for transferring photographs, 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 ascertain a Wi-Fi reference to my X-E4. As soon as related, you may remotely scroll via thumbnails and choose and switch these you want to share. Picture thumbnails load pretty rapidly, although, as do particular person picture previews; nevertheless it takes roughly 10 seconds to switch a single full-resolution JPEG. You may also view picture EXIF information from throughout the app by tapping an data icon on the prime of the display.
Distant pictures utilizing the Fujifilm XApp
When related to the digital camera through Wi-Fi, you may have management over an array of key settings.
Distant pictures is little question a necessary function for some, and the Wi-Fi-based distant taking pictures interface on the Fujifilm XApp is nothing in need of incredible. Vital data is displayed across the body equally to the way it seems in your digital camera display, with icons for battery life, file dimension, photographs remaining, and extra. Extra crucially, customers have whole management over key parameters like aperture, publicity compensation, ISO, movie simulation, and white steadiness. You may also faucet the display to set focus anyplace within the body.
Customers have whole management over aperture, publicity compensation, ISO, movie simulation, and white steadiness
And distant taking pictures is not restricted to nonetheless pictures. You may simply soar 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 a substitute makes use of Bluetooth fairly than Wi-Fi to fireside the shutter. To entry it, you will want to leap again to the principle display 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 solution to hearth the shutter, which might be helpful for conditions the place the digital camera is tripod-mounted, like group images, landscapes, or astrophotography. Simply ensure your good gadget 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 solution to interpret taking pictures information, particularly if you happen to’re like me and luxuriate in diving into numbers and stats. On the principle display, faucet ‘Add Exercise’ to switch taking pictures information 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 far more.
You may also faucet the ‘Timeline’ button on the backside of the display for a day-by-day view of what you shot and the place. I opted to show off the geotagging setting, nevertheless, as I discovered it slightly intrusive and pointless for snapping frames round my neighborhood. That stated, if I had been on trip, I would positively contemplate 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 Digicam Distant app has provided the function for a while. Nonetheless, I’ve lengthy hesitated to attempt it for worry of one thing going mistaken, particularly given the app’s lackluster repute for general stability. And so, up till immediately, 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 assessment, expensive 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 little thing went rapidly 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 routinely.
The entire process took about two minutes (although your mileage will range relying on how massive the replace is).
Ultimate ideas on the Fujifilm XApp
Off to a tough begin within the Apple App Retailer, ratings-wise, at the least the XApp is extra widespread than the Digicam Distant app. Personally, I would give it 4 out of 5 stars with room for enchancment in picture switch pace and general stability.
Whereas there are nonetheless some bugs that doubtless have to be labored out – I did have the app freeze on me a couple of instances – the Fujifilm XApp is a large enchancment over the much-maligned Digicam Distant app. It is much less clunky, simpler to navigate, and way more purposeful. However most importantly, it seems to work with higher reliability, resulting in much less person frustration.
Whereas periodically opening and shutting the app to attempt options and obtain photographs, 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 worry of misfortune.
Finally, solely time will inform simply how good the XApp is. As help for brand spanking new cameras and extra options are rolled out, it is crucial the app stays secure 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 turning into extremely popular. However skimp on upkeep and bug fixes, and XApp will find yourself doomed to mediocrity, similar to its predecessor.