Fujifilm Avigan (Favipiravir) Clinical Trials For COVID-19 (Coronavirus) Treatment in USA and Russia Start

By Louis Ferreira | Published: April 8, 2020


Fujifilm has been involved in the fight against COVID-19 (Coronavirus) from the start and we have covered it longer than anyone ( 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8) with as much depth as would be reasonable on a photography site. It finally looks like larger countries are starting to wise up with Russia and the United States of America announcing the start of Clinical Trials of Avigan (Favipiravir) for COVID-19 (Coronavirus) Treatment.

I certainly think it would be interesting for Fujifilm to “save” the world from COVID-19 with a viable treatment considering how badly it has devastated the creative community and how big of a roll Fujifilm plays in our community. While a vaccine is said to be at least a year away there are multiple viable treatments in trials right now and from my reading, Avigan (Favipiravir) seems to be the most viable of all with the most scientific evidence supporting its use, but there are a few others.

It seems to me that a lot of the push for hydroxychloroquine (Plaquenil) treatment came out of the initial successful Avigan (Favipiravir) trials in China and Japan since both can be used to treat malaria, but hydroxychloroquine hasn’t been tested as scientifically as Avigan (Favipiravir) for COVID-19 Treatment. The difference between the two drugs being that Avigan (Favipiravir) is still a drug of last resort for many treatments, whereas Hydroxychloroquine is often used as a primary treatment for malaria and more around the world which makes the drugs very different beyond the scope of this site.

Reducing recovery time and improving lung function within days would be a big win against COVID-19 and it might make the disease far less deadly, which would allow us to return to some semblance of normalcy. I know a lot of creatives are working for free or not at all nowadays thanks to the disruption caused by the virus, but there does some to be some legitimate hope on the horizon.

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via New York Post, Boston Globe, NewsWeek

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INSTAX Mini 11, INSTAX Mini Blue Marble Film, and INSTAX Square White Marble Film Delayed

By Louis Ferreira | Published: April 7, 2020


Instax Mini 11: B&H Photo / Amazon / Adorama
Instax Mini Blue Marble Film: B&H Photo / Amazon
Instax Square White Marble Film: B&H Photo / Amazon

Fujifilm recently announced the Instax 11 alongside INSTAX® Mini Blue Marble Film and INSTAX® Square White Marble Film which you can read about here. Now they have released a notice of delay which you can read below translated from Japanese. This seems like an odd announcement since I know some Instax 11 mini cameras have hit the market in the US, but maybe Fujifilm only made an initial shipment.

Dear customers
Thank you for your patronage of the instant camera instax series products.

The instant camera “Check” and “instax mini 11 (Eleven),” which were announced to be released in early April, Production is delayed and on May 15 we can secure a sufficient supply Release will be postponed.

We apologize for any inconvenience to customers who have already made a reservation or are considering purchasing, but we appreciate your understanding.

The release date of the film has also been decided, so we will inform you.

Product Name
Instant camera “Check” “instax mini 11”
Mini format film “BLUE MARBLE” Square format film “WHITE MARBLE”

Release Date
Instant camera “Check” “instax mini 11” <Initial> Early April 2020 <After change> May 15, 2020
Mini format film “BLUE MARBLE” Square format film “WHITE MARBLE” <Initial>
Early April 2020 <After change> April 17, 2020

via Fujifilm

Posted in Instax, Instax Mini Link, Instax Mini LiPlay, Instax SQ6| Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Iridient Developer 3.3.11 Released With Fujifilm X-T4 Support + X-Transformer 1.6.4

By Louis Ferreira | Published: April 7, 2020


Iridient Digital is always quick to release new Fujifilm camera support. Yesterday they released an update adding Fujifilm X-T4 support to Irident Developer 3.3.11 and a few weeks ago they added it to Transformer 1.6.4.

Iridient Developer Version History
3.3.11 – April 6, 2020 (Maintenance Release)

  • New Features:
    • Support added for RAF images from the Fujifilm X-T4.
    • Support added for RAF images from the Olympus E-M1 Mark III
    • Support added for NRW images from the Nikon Coolpix P950.
    • Support added for DNG images from the Leica S3.
  • Improvements:
    • The Batch Window now appears in the Window menu list of open windows.
    • The Lightroom plug-in now allows selection using non-RAW (JPEG, TIFF, …) image formats. Makes selecting images from unsupported camera models in old versions Lightroom much easier, especially if shooting in RAW+JPEG.
    • Updated to the latest Adobe XMP SDK release (2020.01).
    • Updated to latest OpenEXR v2.4.1 libraries.
    • Updated DNG color and white balance default metadata to the latest Adobe DNG Converter 12.2 release.
  • Bug Fixes:
    • Workaround implemented for crashing issues in the macOS 10.15.4 update with Apple’s vImage library.
    • Fixed a crashing issue on macOS 10.7.x systems.
    • Fixed an issue with some ORF images from recent Olympus models showing overall green or magenta color cast, particularly from E-M5 Mark III and E-M1 Mark III ORF images at higher ISO levels (3200+).
    • Fixed an issue with the Save to Folder selection dialog in the Batch window not working after the first selection on macOS 10.15.

Download Here

Iridient X-Transformer Version History
1.6.4 – March 20, 2020 (Maintenance Update)

  • New Features:
    • Support added for RAW images from the Fujifilm X-T4.
    • The Adobe Lightroom plug-in is no longer restricted to selection by RAW images only. Standard images, such as from RAW+JPEG mode, can now be used for selection as long as they have an identically named RAW image next to them. This makes for easier selection in older versions of Lightroom that may support for newer camera models.
  • Improvements:
    • Updated camera calibration and profile information for models newly supported in Adobe’s latest DNG Converter 12.2 update.
    • Lossless RAF decompression speed on macOS improved by 10-15%.
  • Bug Fixes:
    • Fixed a macOS 10.7 specific issue with sporadic crashing when using drag and drop to select images for conversion.

Download Here

Fujifilm X-T News, Rumors, and Collaboration
Fujifilm X-T Owners Group
Fujifilm X-T Page

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Fujifilm X-T4 Preorder: B&H Photo / Amazon / Adorama
VG-XT4 Vertical Battery Grip: B&H Photo / Amazon / Adorama
NP-W235 Battery:  B&H Photo / Amazon / Adorama
Fujifilm BC-W235 Dual Battery Charger: B&H Photo / Amazon / Adorama

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Fujifilm X100V vs. X100F 23mm f/2 Lens Comparison

By Louis Ferreira | Published: April 6, 2020


DPR published a comparison today between the new 23mm f/2 on the Fujifilm X100V and the old design used on the X100-X100F. While there isn’t a huge difference between the two there are some small noticeable improvements.

At infinity, the X100V’s lens is not appreciably sharper than that of the X100F at optimal apertures in the center of the frame (which was never a weak point of the older model), but it’s noticeably more consistent edge-to-edge, being sharper and more contrasty at the extremes of the frame at all apertures.

The differences between the two lenses that are visible at infinity become even more apparent at closer focusing distances. If you’re a fan of relatively close-range portraits you can expect higher contrast from the X100V at wide apertures, and somewhat smoother bokeh, too. Meanwhile for copy work (or for taking pictures of your dinner) the superior edge definition from the X100V’s lens at all apertures might make the difference between a shot that you can actually use, versus one that you can’t.

In the truly closeup range, neither camera is at its best, but despite delivering slightly lower resolution, the X100V wins again by virtue of the higher contrast and near-total lack of ‘haziness’ compared to the older X100F. This difference is especially noticeable wide open, but holds true until around F5.6.

You can read the full review and access the same photos for comparison here.

Fujifilm X100V: B&H Photo / Amazon / Adorama

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cinema5D General Manager Toshi Iida Interview About, Fujifilm X-T4, Fujifilm GFX, Fujifilm GFX100, Video, and COVID-19

By Louis Ferreira | Published: April 6, 2020

cinema5D Interviewed Fujifilm General Manager Toshi Iida about the effects of COVID-19 on Fujifilm and the Fujifilm X-T4. It is a long interview so excerpts are below:

  • Coronavirus COVID-19
    • Toshi Iida is really sorry for the loss of people from COVID-19 and how it is affecting events like the Olympics that photographers work during and he hopes there is a swift recovery
    • Toshi Iida thinks we will return to some normalcy, but can’t be sure how long it will take
    • Fujifilm was first impacted at their China manufacturing site in early February, which was followed by an impact on demand
    • At the moment they are focusing on keeping their product development going
    • Fujifilm is working hard to overcome the situation with their own effort
    • At first, Fujifilm had to extend the Chinese new year by command of the gov
    • Then Fujifilm’s factory went back to normal by gov order
  • X-T4
    • Fujifilm originally intended to produce all X-T4 in China starting February due to the extreme demand
    • If you’re making something for the mass market China is the best place to produce a product
    • Fujifilm is worried about actual demand being affected by this situation
    • The preorders are still strong though so there are customers waiting for the X-T4
    • There are some warehouse issues they are working around, but most people can buy online still
    • With the X-T4 they have not seen preorders canceled yet
    • Fujifilm employees haven’t been asked to stay home in general because Toshi Iida thinks as a manufacture Fujifilm needs to continue to innovate rapidly
    • XT-3 was on the market for 1.5 years and X-T4 was developed rapidly to add IBIS and a bigger battery because those were the only complaints about the otherwise well-received X-T3
    • The rapid turn around was based on R&D time
    • X-H1 IBIS was too big and the IBIS in the X-T4 is 20%-30% smaller and lighter
    • X-T4 IBIS also required a new shutter be developed too
    • X-T4 also had a new longer life battery developed for it
    • So IBIS, the new shutter, and longer battery life should all be enough to make photographers happy
    • The Fujifilm X-T3 will still be produced and sold
    • Some customers would prefer the X-T3 at a lower price point than X-T4
    • The 6.5 stop IBIS unit was the most difficult thing to develop for X-T4
    • The X-T3 IBIS is better than the X-H1 IBIS in every day even though it is smaller and lighter
  • GFX
    • Medium format is the full-frame format for Fujifilm
    • Fujifilm is well aware of the dropping price point of full-frame, but that is why they have the GFX50R
    • Fujifilm is trying to make medium format GFX cameras that are small, lighter, and more affordable to become a mainstream product
  • Video
    • Fujifilm is a later comer to video with the X-T3 and the X-T4 is an attempt to further catch up
    • Fujifilm’s journey will never end and they are listening and adding more for filmmakers and videographers
    • Fujifilm has a lot of very high-quality broadcast lenses that they use the technology from in their MK and GF/XF lenses
    • They get a lot of requests for an anamorphic lens, but they just introduced the cine zoom Premista lenses and they are selling well so maybe in the future

Fujifilm X-T News, Rumors, and Collaboration
Fujifilm X-T Owners Group
Fujifilm X-T Page

Fujifilm GFX News, Rumors, and Collaboration
Fujifilm GFX Owners Group
Fujifilm GFX Page

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Fujifilm X-T4 Preorder: B&H Photo / Amazon / Adorama
VG-XT4 Vertical Battery Grip: B&H Photo / Amazon / Adorama
NP-W235 Battery:  B&H Photo / Amazon / Adorama
Fujifilm BC-W235 Dual Battery Charger: B&H Photo / Amazon / Adorama

Fujifilm GFX100: B&H Photo / Amazon / Adorama
Fujifilm GFX50R: B&H Photo / Amazon / Adorama
Fujifilm GFX 50S: B&H Photo / Amazon / Adorama

via cinema5D

Posted in Fujifilm GFX, Fujifilm GFX 100, Fujifilm GFX 100 Megapixel, Fujifilm GFX 100S, Fujifilm GFX 50R, Fujifilm GFX 50S, Fujifilm X-T3, Fujifilm X-T4| Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

More Viltrox 33mm f/1.4 Photos

By Louis Ferreira | Published: April 5, 2020

We previously reported that the Viltrox 33mm f/1.4 will be coming April 21st, now photorumors is reporting the same and received some additional photos to share. We also covered the price here and specs here, where we also talk about 3 additional AF lenses coming from Viltrox soon for X-Mount.

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VILTROX 85mm f/1.8: B&H Photo / Amazon
VILTROX 33mm f/1.4: B&H Photo / Amazon

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