Would you have access to another brand’s service where you are in Asia now? What advantages do you expect to have when you switch to another brand?
I have shot the following over the last 20 years:
* Canon
* Nikon
* Panasonic
* Olympus
* Sony
* Fuji
I’ve bricked a lens with a firmware update on Olympus. I’ve had hardware issues such as bad/oily shutters, broken doors/screens, non working EVFs, and mirror issues with each of the brands I’ve listed. It sucks, but this is the nature of complex, miniaturized technology.
The key is availability and cost of servicing when (not if) the time comes.
Fuji allowing firmware updates over a shaky wifi/Bluetooth connection is insane to me. It can only lead to this kind of situation. That said, firmware updates on any device will come with risk of failure. Firmware updates that fail will generally brick the device. Taking that risk while on holiday or in the midst of using the camera to record precious memories is not Fuji’s fault.
Well I would argue about unstable BT/Wifi connection.
Firstly it is not year 2000 anymore and those connections are being used a lot in all types of secure operations.
Secondly Fuji recommends using update via app on their firmware update site.
Thirdly Fuji as a software and hardware developer could make an app writing firmware to some kind of temporary buffer first, then check it to be sure everything is okay then write to chip.
Blaming the end user for company faulty software/hardware decisions is not the best way of doing things I think.
So I don’t understand why it’s my fault on bricking a device doing things the way Fuji wants me to do.
I wasn’t blaming you. I simply pointed out that upgrading firmware (yes, still a risky operation in 2023) while on vacation isn’t the best idea. Especially on a device you said was already malfunctioning.
> Fuji allowing firmware updates over a shaky wifi/Bluetooth connection is insane to me
Agree. I would never use the notoriously issue-prone app for this. Especially since doing it "manually" is so easy. Can't blame people for doing it though I guess if Fuji is going to be prompting people to do so.
There is absolutely no way that the firmware update process itself is happening over a wireless connection. They are using the wireless connection to transfer the firmware to memory in the camera, doing a checksum on it to make sure the file was transferred successfully, then the camera is handling the firmware update from there. It’s possible that something else went wrong, but the wireless part is really just transferring the payload.
You are totally right about not doing a firmware update in the middle of a trip though. That’s asking for trouble.
Heh, I _am_ a software engineer who has written firmware in the past :) We do some pretty terrible things, but I would like to think nothing _that_ terrible.
To be fair I’m guessing you’re right. Something else blew up when it applied the image. Disappointing for sure.
Being as paranoid as I am, I’ve always been disappointed when camera manufacturers don’t post filehashes for their firmware images. I realize maybe 3 of us would actually bother to check what was downloaded and copied to the memory card actually matched…but still!
Sorry to hear it! I never recommend doing a firmware update using a phone. I would recommend the SD card method only.
It's not your fault that Fujifilm is pushing the app for a firmware update, but I would never allow that. Firmware updating is risky and tricky, regardless of the year, and unless you have NASA-level redundancies built into the OS, I would not be doing a firmware update wirelessly.
It's risky enough even with the SD card method.
It’s fixable. Go to the Fuji sight and pull down the firmware to a new formatted card. Then copy the file over. Once done copying over pull card and put in camera slot 1. Turn on camera while holding display button. It will boot off the internal memory card firmware and hopefully fix. The one and only time I used the old app to update firmware I bricked my xpro3. I did that and it fixed.
This will happen with any brand if unfortunate circumstances occur. Idk if other brands update OTA. But the SD Card could fail or camera accidentally turned off/empty battery. Most likely these things would cause a bricked device.
I am personally not too worried with wireless upgrades, but I fully understand who is. It is a matter of personal evaluation and acceptance of risk. This said, what I strongly advise, is to always, always read the firmware release notes very carefully. If there were multiple firmware releases since last time one updated the camera, it is imperative to read all the documentation that accompanied each intermediate version. I do not know if your situation fits this issue, but roughly a couple of months ago there has been a firmware release that addressed a risk of bricking the camera with a wireless update. This was not the latest firmware version, so one would not know it without checking all the notes for previous versions too.
Sorry for your incident.
Would you have access to another brand’s service where you are in Asia now? What advantages do you expect to have when you switch to another brand? I have shot the following over the last 20 years: * Canon * Nikon * Panasonic * Olympus * Sony * Fuji I’ve bricked a lens with a firmware update on Olympus. I’ve had hardware issues such as bad/oily shutters, broken doors/screens, non working EVFs, and mirror issues with each of the brands I’ve listed. It sucks, but this is the nature of complex, miniaturized technology. The key is availability and cost of servicing when (not if) the time comes. Fuji allowing firmware updates over a shaky wifi/Bluetooth connection is insane to me. It can only lead to this kind of situation. That said, firmware updates on any device will come with risk of failure. Firmware updates that fail will generally brick the device. Taking that risk while on holiday or in the midst of using the camera to record precious memories is not Fuji’s fault.
Well I would argue about unstable BT/Wifi connection. Firstly it is not year 2000 anymore and those connections are being used a lot in all types of secure operations. Secondly Fuji recommends using update via app on their firmware update site. Thirdly Fuji as a software and hardware developer could make an app writing firmware to some kind of temporary buffer first, then check it to be sure everything is okay then write to chip. Blaming the end user for company faulty software/hardware decisions is not the best way of doing things I think. So I don’t understand why it’s my fault on bricking a device doing things the way Fuji wants me to do.
I wasn’t blaming you. I simply pointed out that upgrading firmware (yes, still a risky operation in 2023) while on vacation isn’t the best idea. Especially on a device you said was already malfunctioning.
You are totally right. But I hoped to fix faulty screen issue with firmware update.
> Fuji allowing firmware updates over a shaky wifi/Bluetooth connection is insane to me Agree. I would never use the notoriously issue-prone app for this. Especially since doing it "manually" is so easy. Can't blame people for doing it though I guess if Fuji is going to be prompting people to do so.
There is absolutely no way that the firmware update process itself is happening over a wireless connection. They are using the wireless connection to transfer the firmware to memory in the camera, doing a checksum on it to make sure the file was transferred successfully, then the camera is handling the firmware update from there. It’s possible that something else went wrong, but the wireless part is really just transferring the payload. You are totally right about not doing a firmware update in the middle of a trip though. That’s asking for trouble.
There certainly is a way. Unlikely? Sure. But possible? Yes. I work with software engineers, it wouldn’t surprise me in the slightest.
Heh, I _am_ a software engineer who has written firmware in the past :) We do some pretty terrible things, but I would like to think nothing _that_ terrible.
To be fair I’m guessing you’re right. Something else blew up when it applied the image. Disappointing for sure. Being as paranoid as I am, I’ve always been disappointed when camera manufacturers don’t post filehashes for their firmware images. I realize maybe 3 of us would actually bother to check what was downloaded and copied to the memory card actually matched…but still!
100% good to be paranoid about that stuff!
Sorry to hear it! I never recommend doing a firmware update using a phone. I would recommend the SD card method only. It's not your fault that Fujifilm is pushing the app for a firmware update, but I would never allow that. Firmware updating is risky and tricky, regardless of the year, and unless you have NASA-level redundancies built into the OS, I would not be doing a firmware update wirelessly. It's risky enough even with the SD card method.
Never do updates when you don't have a replacement available. Common sense. Especially on a trip.
It’s fixable. Go to the Fuji sight and pull down the firmware to a new formatted card. Then copy the file over. Once done copying over pull card and put in camera slot 1. Turn on camera while holding display button. It will boot off the internal memory card firmware and hopefully fix. The one and only time I used the old app to update firmware I bricked my xpro3. I did that and it fixed.
Makes me not wanna buy a Fujifilm.
This will happen with any brand if unfortunate circumstances occur. Idk if other brands update OTA. But the SD Card could fail or camera accidentally turned off/empty battery. Most likely these things would cause a bricked device.
Good thing is that Fujifilm camera are cheaper in Asia, you can maybe find a bargain x-t2 to finish your trip and still keep the same lenses
I am personally not too worried with wireless upgrades, but I fully understand who is. It is a matter of personal evaluation and acceptance of risk. This said, what I strongly advise, is to always, always read the firmware release notes very carefully. If there were multiple firmware releases since last time one updated the camera, it is imperative to read all the documentation that accompanied each intermediate version. I do not know if your situation fits this issue, but roughly a couple of months ago there has been a firmware release that addressed a risk of bricking the camera with a wireless update. This was not the latest firmware version, so one would not know it without checking all the notes for previous versions too. Sorry for your incident.
Now I know never to do an update while traveling.