Firmware Friday: Nikon Z8 compatibility issues, minor tweaks for Sigma, Fujifilm and OM System

Camera image: Nikon

Happy Friday, folks. Outside of the significant firmware update for the Nikon Z8 (which has had some drama since being available for download), it's been relatively quiet on the firmware front. That said, there are some minor updates for Nikon, OM System, Fujifilm and Sigma cameras and lenses. Read on to see what's new.

Nikon

First and foremost, a PSA. The firmware update for the Nikon Z8 was officially made available for download at the beginning of July, but with it came some trouble. First, updating to the Z8 Ver 3.00 could result in functionality issues with Tamron lenses. Tamron says it's working on a solution, but there hasn't been an update at the time of writing. You may want to hold off on updating your Z8 if you use Tamron lenses as a result.

Perhaps more significant is that Nikon (and Viltrox) issued a warning not to update your camera's firmware with third-party lenses or mount adapters. This warning was initially only on the Z8 firmware download page, but is now also on other recent firmware pages.

Nikon hasn't specified what could happen if you don't listen to that advice other than saying it "could result in camera malfunction." If you are updating to any of the firmware options below, please make sure to remove any third-party lenses and mount adapters.

With that out of the way, here's what's new for Nikon cameras.

Image: Nikon

Nikon Z8 Ver 3.00

Still Photography

• Extended the dimensions of focus areas available with [Wide-area AF (C1)] and [Wide-area AF (C2)] AF-area modes.
• The subject detection function became available during manual focus.
• The subject detection area selection is now available for manual focus.
• Added support for “Flexible Color” Picture Controls.
• Added a [C15] high-speed frame capture + release mode option.The image quality for high-speed frame capture + can now be set separately from other release modes.
• Added [High ISO NR mode] in [PHOTO SHOOTING MENU] that allows to select a noise reduction processing mode.
• Added frequency setting mode to [High-frequency flicker reduction] in [PHOTO SHOOTING MENU] that allows frequency presets to be configured.
• [Options] has been added under [Focus shift shooting] in the [PHOTO SHOOTING MENU] to allow [Pixel shift shooting] to be used together with focus shift shooting.
• [Options] has been added under [Pixel shift shooting] in the [PHOTO SHOOTING MENU] to allow [AE bracketing] to be used together with pixel shift shooting. [Starting storage folder] has also been added.
• [Pixel shift shooting] options can now be set when the self-timer mode is selected.
• Added and changed the following functions to [Auto capture] in [PHOTO SHOOTING MENU].
  • Date and time to start auto capture can now be configured in advance
  • Auto capture is now available with camera’s manual focus settings
  • The appearance and some item names in the settings display have been changed
  • The detection range available for [Advanced: Distance] has been extended
  • Auto capture is now compatible with the new [C15] release mode option
  • A yellow frame is now displayed during auto capture
• The Profoto A10’s continuous LED light can now be used as an AF-assist illuminator. Note: The firmware update is needed for Profoto A10. See Profoto’s corporate website for details.

Video Recording

• Extended the dimensions of focus areas available with [Wide-area AF (C1)] and [Wide-area AF (C2)] AF-area modes.
• The subject detection function became available during manual focus.
• The subject detection area selection is now available for manual focus.
• Added support for “Flexible Color” Picture Controls.
• Added and changed the following functions to [Auto capture] in [VIDEO RECORDING MENU].
  • Date and time to start auto capture can now be configured in advance
  • Auto capture is now available with camera’s manual focus settings
  • The appearance and some item names in the settings display have been changed
  • The detection range available for [Advanced: Distance] has been extended
  • A yellow frame is now displayed during auto capture
• Selecting [ON] for [Hi-Res Zoom] in the [VIDEO RECORDING MENU] now displays a focus point on the detected subject in the shooting display.
• Added a function to include file names used in the camera when recording videos to an external recorder that supports file name transmission via HDMI. The following Atomos external recorders support this function (as of May 2025).
  • Ninja V *
  • Ninja V+ *
  • Ninja (2023 models)
  • Ninja Ultra
  • Shogun (2023 models)
  • Shogun Ultra
  • Shogun Connect *
    * Some recorders may require an ATOMOS OS upgrade or paid activation of the recorder. Contact ATOMOS for details.

Playback

• Added [Date] to [Filtered playback criteria] in playback menu and playback “i” menu.
• Added [Customize retouch options] to [Retouch] in the playback “i” menu.
• Added [Auto-rotate during playback] to the playback menu.
  Controls
• Added a [Maximum aperture Lv] item to the [CUSTOM SETTINGS MENU] in position of a14.
• Added a [Focus limiter setting] item to the [CUSTOM SETTINGS MENU] in position of a16.
• Added a [Minimum] option to Custom Setting c2 [Self-timer] > [Interval between shots] in the [CUSTOM SETTINGS MENU].
• Added [Auto capture] to the roles assignable to the “i” menu via [CUSTOM SETTINGS MENU] > f1 and g1 [Customize menu].
• Added assignable custom controls and roles to the following items in the [CUSTOM SETTINGS MENU]. Also, the options for [Zoom on/off] have changed.
  • f2 [Custom controls (shooting)]
  • g2 [Custom controls]
• Added assignable custom controls and roles (for example, [Jump to the source image] and [Trim]) to [CUSTOM SETTINGS MENU] > f3 [Custom controls (playback)].

Network

• Added [Wi-Fi connection (STA mode)] which allows you to connect the camera to the smart device via a wireless LAN access point.
• Port numbers can now be specified using [Connect to FTP server] in [NETWORK MENU].
• Added [Upload in HEIF format] to [Connect to FTP server] > [Options] in [NETWORK MENU]. Note: Converted HEIF images are not stored on the memory card.

Other Changes

• Voice memo recording is now available with external microphones.
• The speed at which the camera cycles through focus points using the multi selector or sub-selector no longer slows down when changing direction.
• The tonal characteristics have been changed when [ON] is selected for Custom Setting g14 [View assist] in the [CUSTOM SETTINGS MENU].
• The camera now records company and model names in the video metadata recorded with [ProRes 422 HQ 10-bit (MOV)] selected for [Video file type] in the [VIDEO RECORDING MENU].
• Added support for “NX Field*”, a remote shooting system for corporate users.
  • * Visit the “NPS” website for overview and user’s manual of NX Field.
  • Nikon Professional Services (NPS) (English)
  • Note: “NX Field” app for smart devices may not be available in some countries and regions.
• Automatically obtained IP address will be maintained after automatic IP addressing disabled.
• Automatically obtained gateway/DNS server addresses are now displayed in the TCP/IP edit display.
• File names of the image and audio now match if the file name of the image is renamed during transfer.

Image: Nikon

Nikon Z50 II Ver 1.02, Nikon Z6 III Ver 1.11 and Nikon Zf Ver 2.02

• Updated some guidance texts displayed on the camera when connecting to the Nikon Imaging Cloud service (the connection procedure itself remains unchanged).

Nikon Z5 II Ver 1.01

• Updated some guidance texts displayed on the camera when connecting to the Nikon Imaging Cloud service (the connection procedure itself remains unchanged).
• Changed the camera name displayed when pairing with SnapBridge.
• Changed the camera name displayed on USB-connected devices when [iPhone] was selected for [USB] in the [NETWORK MENU].
• Renamed d13 [Display on during burst] in [CUSTOM SETTINGS MENU].

Sigma

Image: Sigma

Sigma BF Ver 1.01

• The specification has been changed so that file numbers are not reset when “Initialize Internal Storage” is performed.
• An issue that prevented shooting with some third-party L-mount interchangeable lenses has been fixed.
• Other minor bugs have been fixed and operational stability has been improved.

Sigma 10-18mm F2.8 DC DN | Contemporary Ver 1.1 for L-Mount

• The exposure stability has been improved.

Additional Sigma lenses

• Sigma 16mm F1.4 DC DN | Contemporary Ver 1.3 for L-Mount
• Sigma 23mm F1.4 DC DN | Contemporary Ver 1.1 for L-Mount
• Sigma 30mm F1.4 DC DN | Contemporary Ver 1.3 for L-Mount
• Sigma 56mm F1.4 DC DN | Contemporary Ver 1.2 for L-Mount
• Sigma 18-50mm F2.8 DC DN | Contemporary Ver 1.3 for L-Mount
• Sigma 14-24mm F2.8 DG DN | Art Ver 1.5 for L-Mount

Benefit of the updates:

• The operational stability has been improved.

Fujifilm

Image: Fujifilm

Fujifilm X half Ver 1.01

• “FILM CAMERA MODE” is unintentionally deactivated when the shutter release button is held down fully for about 1 second after “AUTO POWER OFF” is activated with “FILM CAMERA MODE”.
• The thumbnail image of the recorded image may become abnormal in rare cases if the “Frame Advance Lever” is operated so quickly after shooting with the “GRAIN EFFECT” setting ON in “FILM CAMERA MODE”.

OM System

Image: OM System

OM-1 Mark II Version 1.3 and OM-3 Version 1.1

• Stability of touch panel operation during playback was improved.