The last interesting announcement from Fujifilm is the EF-X500, a new high-end flashgun for the X series. The new flash will feature a high speed sync of up to 1/8000s on the X-Pro2 and 1/4000s on the other X cameras. It will support wireless control with optical pulse and has a Multi TTL function (repeating flash). It can be used as a Master or Slave. The Guide Number is 50 and the zoom reach is 24mm to 105mm (35mm format equivalent).
The EF-X500 will be weather sealed and Fujifilm promises to keep the size and weight contained to suit their cameras better. On the rear there is an LCD monochrome screen and several buttons to control all the settings.
Below are the main specifications reported in the press release. It will be available in May 2016 (price still unknown).
- Type: Hot-shoe mount flash
- Guide Number: 50/164 (ISO100･m/ft.) at 105mm zoom head position, equivalent to 35mm format.
- Zoom: 24mm-105mm equivalent to 35mm format. When the extendable wide panel is pulled out, the flash coverag e is approx.. 20mm.
- Bounce capability: Flash head tilts down to 10° or up to 90° and rotates horizontally 135° to the left and 180° to the right.
- Color temperature: Approx. 5600K
- Flash modes_ TTL / Manual / Multi.(repeating flash)
- Flash exposure compensation: -5.0 – +5.0, 1/3 step (The available range and step depend on camera models)
- High-speed synchronization (FP): Capable (supported camera only)
- Manual: 1/1 – 1/512, 1/3 step
- Multi.(repeating flash): 1/4 – 1/512, 1/3 step, 1-500Hz, 2 – 100 flashes
- Wireless communication type: Optical pulse communication (in multiple flash-unit photography operation)
- Wireless modes: Master and Remote
- Communication channels: From 1 to 4.
- Remote groups: Up to three groups (A / B / C)
- Power source: Four LR6 (AA-size) alkaline batteries, four FR6 (AA-size) lithium batteries, or four HR6 (AA-size) rechargeable Ni-MH batteries (optional).
- External Power Source: BATTERY PACK EF-BP1 (optional)
- Dimensions: W67.5 x H123.9 x D106 (mm)
Fujifilm also updated its Camera Remote app to be compatible with all Wi-Fi capable cameras. The reason for this is that Fujifilm has several apps on the iOS and Android store each for different cameras and some are more complete than others. They will all be merged into one single app capable of handling all the Wi-Fi features. Note that some cameras won’t support remote control including the X-E2 (firmware version 1.00 to 2.10 only), XQ2, XQ1, X-A2, X-A1 and X-M1.