How to Check & Update Fujifilm X100V Firmware

Firmware updates are put out from time to time by camera manufacturers to fix bugs or add new features. There’s no particular regular schedule for the updates, so it’s a good idea to get in the habit of checking from time to time. For example, Fujifilm posted a v.3.01 firmware for the X100V in mid-2023. It was a fairly extensive update that addressed a number of issues and added some new features.

You can find the latest firmware for the Fujifilm X100V here.

Checking Your Camera’s Firmware

Before proceeding, you’ll want to check your camera’s firmware version. There’s no point trying to update if there’s no newer version.

It’s a very easy process to check the firmware. But you’ll need to know the right button to press.

• Start with the camera powered OFF.
• Hold down the DISP/BACK button on the back of the camera.
• Power the camera on.
• You’ll then see a screen that shows the version of the firmware that’s currently installed on your X100V.

You can then check it against the latest version on Fujifilm’s website. If the version numbers match, you’re already good to go. If there’s a newer version on the website, you can continue on to the update procedure.

Updating the Fujifilm X100V’s Firmware

NB: With the most recent firmware update, Fujifilm has issued special guidance specifically for Mac users. You can find it here.

There are some prerequisites to updating the firmware:

• The camera battery should be fully charged. Interrupting a firmware update can be disastrous and render the camera (or just about any other device that requires firmware updates) completely broken. So make sure that the battery is fully charged before starting. The last thing you need is for the battery to run out mid-process.
• A memory card. While it’s not technically required that the SD card be freshly formatted and blank, it’s still good practice to avoid mixing firmware updates with image files you want to keep.
• Download the latest firmware. You can download it directly from Fujifilm’s website.

The update process is easiest using a computer. Because you have to download the firmware and then copy it across to the memory card.

Here’s the general process. Fujifilm has a more detailed version (and includes many more disclaimers) here.

• Step 1: With the memory card in a memory card reader of your computer, copy the downloaded firmware file across to the root (top level) of the memory card. The file should be called FPUPDATE.DAT.
• Step 2: When the copy process completes, put the memory card in the camera. The camera should be powered off while you do this.
• Step 3: Hold down the DISP/BACK button on the back of the camera while you turn the camera on.
• Step 4: Press the MENU/OK button and follow the on-screen prompts to confirm.
• Step 5: Wait. Don’t touch dials, buttons, or open camera compartments. Let the update process do its thing. It shouldn’t take longer than about 90 seconds, and it’s possible the screen might go blank in that time. When the process is completed, you’ll see a screen that says “Firmware Upgrade Completed. Turn off the camera.”
• Step 6: You can then confirm that the new firmware is properly installed by checking the firmware (see above).

Things Worth Knowing

Don’t interrupt the firmware update process. It doesn’t take long–about 90 seconds–but interrupting the process can have disastrous consequences and render your camera completely unusable.

If you encounter an error, Fujifilm has helpfully provided this error and response page that includes steps to take.

Fujifilm has a video version of the firmware update procedure. It’s aimed broadly at their cameras–not just the X100V–so includes some elements that aren’t relevant to the X100V (such as separate camera body and lens firmware updates). You can watch it here:

macOS Compatibility Bug

UPDATE: With the most recent firmware update, Fujifilm has issued special guidance specifically for Mac users. You can find it here.

There is currently a bug in some Fujifilm X and GFX series cameras–including the X100V–that shows up in a pretty specific set of circumstances: if you’re saving more than 4,000 files in the camera to a single folder on an SDXC card and then directly accessing the card using macOS. In that case, the extra files (i.e., after the first 4,000) might be inaccessible. You can find more information here.

As a workaround, Fujifilm is working on a firmware patch that will limit the number of files that can be written to an individual folder.

Fujifilm X100V Price & Availability

The X100V has been out for a while now, but it has only gotten more and more popular, and Fujifilm hasn’t been able to keep pace with the demand.

So you might have some trouble finding them in stock at stores. But it’s worth shopping around in case a shipment comes in. Some stores will also take a waitlist or let you place an order on backorder, which will then hold your place in the queue.

Buy New

Check the current price and availability of the Fujifilm X100V at:

• B&H Photo
• Adorama
• Amazon

Buy Used

The X100V has also been out long enough that you might have luck finding some used ones available. These are some good places to try:

• KEH
• B&H Photo (Used Department)
• MPB

Accessories for the Fujifilm X100V

Below are model numbers for some of the core accessories for the Fujifilm X100V, along with some other recommendations.

Memory Card:

The Fujifilm X100V doesn’t come with a memory card, and there’s no officially recommended specific model. But the X100V does feature relatively high-bitrate video recording, which means you’ll need a card that can keep up with the large stream of data, especially if you’re shooting video or burst photos.

I’ve put together some more detailed recommendations on SD cards for the Fujifilm X100V separately, but here are some quick recommendations.

• SanDisk Extreme V30
• Lexar 1667x
• PNY Elite Performance

USB Cable:

To connect your Fujifilm X100V to a computer, and for some charging operations, you’ll need a USB cable. The X100V has a USB-C (USB Type-C) connector. You’ll need a cable that can transmit data as well as power.

There are various configurations available depending on the length of cable you need and the connector on the other end of the cable (i.e., for what you’re plugging it into).

Most computers have Type A USB connectors. Some of the newer laptops only have a smaller USB-C connector. So you’ll need to check the device you’re connecting the camera to.

• USB-C to USB-A Cable
• USB-C to USB-C Cable

Battery & Power Accessories:

• Battery: NP-W126S. The Fujifilm official battery isn’t cheap but does have the advantage of being officially supported by Fujifilm as working with the X100V. You can also pick up much more cost-effective aftermarket versions, which can be excellent alternatives.
• Battery Charger: BC-W126S. Again, there are various aftermarket versions that can offer good value. Find them under the same model number.
• AC Power Adapter: AC-9V
• DC Coupler: CP-W126

Remote Shutter Release:

• Remote Shutter Release: RR-100 This is a cable shutter release with pretty basic functionality. It doesn’t include a timer or intervalometer. (For intervalometer / time lapse functionality, try the aftermarket JJC shutter release.)

Lens Accessories:

• Telephoto Conversion Lens: TCL-X100II. This is a dedicated telephoto conversion lens that magnifies the view by 1.4x and converts the field of view to the equivalent of a 50mm lens (35mm equivalent).
• Wide-Angle Conversion Lens: WCL-X100II. This is a dedicated wide-angle conversion lens that broadens the X100V’s original lens field of view by 0.8x to offer the equivalent of a 28mm focal length (35mm equivalent).
• Protector Filter PRF-49 / PRF-49S
• Lens hood: LH-X100. There are also aftermarket versions that are much more cost-effective and do fundamentally the same thing. You can find them under the same model number.
• Adapter ring: AR-X100

Camera Case:

You can obviously use just about any camera bag for the X100V. There are some excellent street-style messenger bags that make for good options (like Domke’s messenger bags (I’m a big fan of these) or these from ONA), but any there’s nothing specific about the X100V that requires a specially configured camera bag.

But Fujifilm (and some third parties) also make an old-school leather case that fits snugly around the camera and can remain in place (with a flip-down top section) while shooting.

• Leather Case: LC-X100V

Hand Grip:

• Grip Belt: GB-001. This is a hand grip / wrist strap that attaches to the tripod mount on the bottom of the camera.

Microphone:

• Stereo Microphone: MIC-ST1

Flash:

• Shoe Mount Flash: EF-X500
• Shoe Mount Flash: EF-X20
• Shoe Mount Flash: EF-60
• Wireless Commander: EF-W1

Images and product information from Amazon PA-API were last updated on 2023-12-01 at 13:56. Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon Site at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.