X-E3 Firmware Wishlist

[itchy shutter finger]

1.   IS Shortcut
2.   Focal Length in Information Display
3.   Y Axis Level Indicator
4.   Multiple Exposures >2

For my purposes, the FujiFilm X-E3 is the most near perfect system on the market. Note that I said "near perfect". I very carefully made my body selection based on feature set and minimalism. The optimal ergonomics was icing on the cake. No other Fujifilm camera body could make me as happy as the X-E3.

That doesn't mean I don't think it could be just a little better, and rather than feeling the need of a different camera, I am hopeful for a modestly improved firmware as noted below.

1.   IS Shortcut - There is no option to create a shortcut to turn off Image Stabilization via Fn, T-Fn, Q Menu, or MyMenu. XC lenses have no external switch to turn off IS (such as the XF lenses do), so the user must dive into the menu for this. Users who frequently go on and off the tripod currently must make that menu dive each time. As such a user, I would be very grateful for the ability to make such a shortcut.

2.   Focal Length in Information Display - This would be helpful to zoom lens users. This information is available in exif, so I assume it can be polled for display.

3.   Y Axis Level Indicator - Could be useful for scientific, engineering, or documentary purposes. I've grown so fond of the X Axis indicator, I can't imagine ever being without it again.

4.   Multiple Exposures >2 - Fujifilm have done such an amazing job of maintaining the classic features we enjoyed back in the day. As I recall, however, every camera on which I could perform multiple exposures could perform multiple-multiple-exposures. I'd have no problem holding the photographer responsible for the exposure, but a photo with five or six exposures (without software sorcery) is still something I'd like to do on the X-E3.

And that's it. These four features gets the X-E3 as close to perfection as I can imagine on it's current hardware base. And I can make a better case for keeping the X-E3 an X-E3 than evolving to an X-E4 (hint: any further hardware feature or feature that appears on other bodies are not "minimalist", which is something that holds high value for me.)

Thanks for any consideration, and I'm pulling for you, Fujifilm.    

[itchy shutter finger]

On 1/12/2020 at 3:08 PM, itchy shutter finger said:

1.   IS Shortcut
2.   Focal Length in Information Display
3.   Y Axis Level Indicator
4.   Multiple Exposures >2

I am revising my X-E3 firmware wishlist. I got around to looking at specs today for the X-Pro3, and I see that two of my wishes are now features of that camera. Actually there are are three; the IS shortcut is also a new feature in the X-Pro3, but I find the need for that feature so significant I think that all the X-models should get this update. It doesn't change the feature set of the camera; it just makes the existing camera do an even better job at getting out of the way of photography. I can see that items 3 and 4 may be a stretch for an existing camera, and since they exist in a new model, I can let them go on the X-E3.

Perhaps another useful improvement would be smoothing the wireless and Bluetooth connections between the camera and the Camera Remote phone app. It works, but it's no menial task, as the one app users know.  I think the phone app matters because that is what makes the fixed LCD a feature , not a flaw (at least for me).