Fujifilm Announces Pixel Shift, Multi-Shot Function Firmware Update for FUJIFILM GFX100
New FUJIFILM Pixel Shift Combiner software application capable of creating up to 400MP images
Mississauga, Ont., November 25, 2020 – FUJIFILM North America Corporation (Fujifilm) is pleased to announce Firmware Version 3.0 for the FUJIFILM GFX100 digital camera (GFX100), which adds the Pixel Shift, Multi-Shot function to the GFX System’s flagship mirrorless camera. The firmware update allows photographers to create images with 400MP of resolution. Also available today, is the new software application, FUJIFILM Pixel Shift Combiner (Pixel Shift Combiner), which will allow the 16 RAW images created by the new Pixel Shift, Multi-Shot function to be combined into a single, 400MP image. It also facilitates tethered capture capability when used with the Pixel Shift, Multi-Shot function.
“This simple capture-to-edit workflow is a great solution for fine art or still life photographers, because the additional resolution creates images with incredibly accurate color reproduction that are high in detail and rich in tonality,” said Victor Ha, senior director of marketing and product management, FUJFILM North America Corporation, Electronic Imaging Division.
Use the new, Pixel Shift, Multi-Shot function to faithfully reproduce nearly every detail and to achieve optimal image quality with 400 megapixels of resolution.
? Using state-of-the-art technology to create an image: Utilizing the GFX100’s 102MP large-format sensor*1, high-precision, in-body image stabilization mechanism (IBIS) and its powerful X Processor 4 image processor, the Pixel Shift, Multi-Shot function slightly moves the image sensor by 0.5 pixels to incrementally record high-resolution RGB pixel information over the course of creating 16 RAW images. Those images can then be imported into Pixel Shift Combiner, to create a single 400MP image, and outputted as a DNG RAW file for further processing in Capture One*2 or any other compatible photo editing software.
? Preserving detail, one pixel at a time: The Pixel Shift, Multi-Shot function reproduces fine detail and color accuracy by shifting the image sensor so that each pixel records image data in red, green and blue. This allows for unparalleled color reproduction, with next to no false colors occurring, even in the finest of details. This benefit makes it the perfect choice for digital archiving and preserving works of art, cultural assets, and any other applications that require immense color fidelity and the reproduction of fine details.
? A simple workflow for tethered or untethered applications: In addition to combining and outputting DNG RAW files from images created through the Pixel Shift, Multi-Shot function, Pixel Shift Combiner also provides photographers with tethered capture functionality to allow for seamless transition from making images to combining, and, subsequently editing, them in Capture One*2 or any other compatible photo editing software.
“For those working in the archival or cultural preservation fields, these new functions are especially valuable to photographers documenting historical artifacts or large works of art, because they can be preserved digitally at 400MP, with color reproduction that only Fujifilm can provide,” said Ha. “With the Pixel Shift, Multi-Shot function, GFX100 can now be used to precisely record these artifacts so that they may be shared with future generations before they are lost forever.”
Fujifilm develops the new “Pixel Shift Multi-Shot” function to capture and generate the world’s highest resolution*1 of 400MP images with accurate color reproduction
-Applying the FUJIFILM GFX100 mirrorless digital camera for digital archiving of cultural assets
-Providing firmware and software that enable the use of this function from today
TOKYO, November 25, 2020 — FUJIFILM Corporation (President: Kenji Sukeno) is pleased to announce the development of a new function “Pixel Shift Multi-Shot” for the FUJIFILM GFX100 (GFX100), a mirrorless digital camera that features a Large Format sensor*2. The Pixel Shift Multi-Shot function can capture and generate 400MP images, the highest resolution in the world, with advanced color reproduction accurate to real tones, making it ideal for digitally archiving artworks, architectures and other cultural assets.
Today, Fujifilm has also released a free firmware upgrade (Ver.3.00) for the GFX100 and free software “FUJIFILM Pixel Shift Combiner” (Pixel Shift Combiner) to enable the use of the Pixel Shift Multi-Shot function.
Preserving artworks, architectures and other invaluable cultural assets in their present state and beauty without degradation is an important task for future generations. One of the solutions currently being used is digital archiving, recording and saving cultural assets in the form of digital information.
In June 2019, Fujifilm launched the GFX100, equipped with a 102MP Large Format sensor, the “X-Processor 4” high-speed image processing engine and a high-precision in-body image stabilization (IBIS) mechanism. It has been embraced by professional photographers and enthusiasts alike. Fujifilm has developed the Pixel Shift Multi-Shot function to broaden GFX100’s scope of applications to cover digital archiving as well as general photography.
The Pixel Shift Multi-Shot function automatically records 16 frames with a single shutter release, shifting GFX100’s image sensor at ultra-high precision at each frame. The GFX100’s IBIS mechanism is used to precisely control the movements of the image sensor. Then, the Pixel Shift Multi-Shot function produces single 400MP image, the world’s highest image resolution, from these frames using new dedicated software “Pixel Shift Combiner.”
Generally, an image sensor records only red (R), green (G) or blue (B) information with each of its pixels. Information about the other two colors is estimated and complemented based on information from surrounding pixels. The Pixel Shift Multi-Shot function automatically takes images while shifting the camera’s image sensor to record information about all three colors for each of its pixels, thereby allowing accurate color reproduction and delivering an advanced level of image resolution to capture the finest details.
Pixel Shift Combiner is used to process captured data into a single RAW file*3 in the Digital Negative (DNG)*4 format. These RAW files can be processed in the “Capture One*5” photo editing software to create images in TIFF*6 and other universal formats.
The Pixel Shift Multi-Shot function is ideal for digital archiving, as it can photograph colors, textures and other fine details of a wide variety of items including precious cultural assets to present them accurately, even the atmosphere they exude.
[Digital archiving workflow using “Pixel Shift Multi-Shot”]
With the introduction of the Pixel Shift Multi-Shot function, Fujifilm will explore latent digital archiving demand to contribute to the preservation of cultural assets into the future.
- *1For commercially available mirrorless digital cameras as of November 25, 2020, according to Fujifilm.
- *2Image sensor that measures about 55mm diagonally (43.8mm x 32.9mm) and is approx. 1.7times larger than a 35mm full-frame format.
- *3One of the formats used by images taken by digital cameras, indicating unprocessed data.
- *4Image file format developed by Adobe Inc. Adobe is a registered trademark or trademark of Adobe Systems Incorporated in the United States and/or other countries.
- *5Capture One and the Capture One logo are registered trademarks or trademarks of Capture One A/S in EU and /or other countries.
- *6One of the recording formats for still images.
1. Main features of the new function “Pixel Shift Multi-Shot”
- The function uses GFX100’s IBIS mechanism to automatically records 16 frames with single shutter release while shifting GFX100’s image sensor at ultra-high precision at each frame. Then, the Pixel Shift Multi-Shot produces single 400MP image, the world’s highest image resolution, from these frames with faithfully reproduced colors using the dedicated software “Pixel Shift Combiner.”
[Principle of “Pixel Shift Multi-Shot” (shifting of the image sensor)]
“Pixel Shift Multi-Shot” is achieved by the consecutive 16 frame shooting consisted of the following two processes.
① The process of recording the accurate RGB information
In order to record the accurate RGB pixel information with all pixels, the function shifts its image sensor by the size of one pixel to automatically shoot four frames to each pixel area.
② The process of quadrupling pixels virtually
The function shifts the image sensor by the size of 0.5 pixel to repeat the process described in ①four times to quadruple pixels, achieving 4x resolution.
The dedicated software “Pixel Shift Combiner” is used to combine the frames into single RAW file in the DNG format. These RAW files can be processed in the “Capture One” photo editing software to create images in TIFF and other universal formats, making it possible to generate 400MP images in a familiar workflow.
2. Release date
November 25, 2020
3. Distribution
GFX100’s firmware upgrade (Ver.3.00) and dedicated software “Pixel Shift Combiner,” which facilitate the use of Pixel Shift Multi-Shot, can be obtained as free downloads from the following pages:
Fujifilm GFX News, Rumors, and Collaboration
Fujifilm GFX Owners Group
Fujifilm GFX Page
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