When Fujifilm first introduced the fifth-generation of X-series cameras, I spent some time updated fourth-generation Film Simulation Recipes for the new models. There are several small differences in how fourth and fifth generation cameras render images, most notably how deeply blue is on the Classic Chrome, Classic Negative, Eterna, and Eterna Bleach Bypass film simulations. It’s an easy fix: if a fourth-generation Recipe uses one of those four film sims, reduce Color Chrome FX Blue by one (Weak instead of Strong; Off instead of Weak) on the fifth-generation camera. Or don’t make that adjustment, because you might not notice the difference anyway, and you’re perfectly happy with the results.
After republishing a number of “old” Recipes for use on the new cameras, I began to receive some feedback: stop rehashing existing Recipes. “You’re just publishing ones you’ve already made,” is one example. So I stopped. There are about 100 Recipes that I could do this with (make an X-Trans V version of an X-Trans IV Recipe). Not only would that take a lot of time to accomplish, but it would end up constituting most of the Recipes published for a couple of years. In other words, I totally get why some people would get annoyed by it. Still, there are a lot of fourth-generation Recipes that people want to use on their fifth-generation cameras.
One such Recipe is Kodak Portra 400, which is quite popular. Although I prefer Kodak Portra 400 v2 just a little more (that’s just my personal taste), which I did make an X-Trans V version of, I still really like this one and use it sometimes. I never did make a fifth-generation version of Kodak Portra 400, though; however, the Recipe can be used on the new cameras simply by either 1) leaving the Recipe as-is and accepting the results for what they are (which is nearly the same), or 2) do what I do, and adjust Color Chrome FX Blue to Off instead of Weak. There are a lot of people with newer models that have no idea that they can use the Kodak Portra 400 Recipe.
In other words, if you have a fifth-generation camera, which (as of this writing) are the Fujifilm X-H2s, X-H2, X-T5, X-S20, X100VI, X-T50, X-M5, X-E5, and X-T30 III (plus the GFX100 II, GFX100S II, and GFX100RF), you can use any fourth-generation Recipe—if it calls for Classic Chrome, Classic Negative, Eterna, or Eterna Bleach Bypass, simply adjust Color Chrome FX Blue down one position (or don’t make that adjustment, it’s ok if you don’t). Even though I didn’t make an updated version specifically for the new cameras, the Recipe is still available for you to use. So, if you have a newer model, take a look at the X-Trans IV Film Simulation Recipes, because your next favorite might be found there, just waiting to be discovered.
It doesn’t bothered me you made V2 of your recipes and tweak them.
It is like Fujifilm over X-Trans I to V tweaked the Velvia (as I use it as my default sim I fan see the difference and spot immediately X-Trans II sensor).
But I also understand it can annoy many as it duplicates and double ‘artificialy’ the number of receipes, double the search, give a list in the app, while you can simply yourself remember to tweak it yourself depending on your sensor gen and to your taste.
I’m the one letting the original setting on gen IV recipes when on gen V as I like to push both ColorEfex settings. A matter of taste.
Now gen VI is coming, so I wonder if we will have some further tweaking to take in account. It might very well, ending up if you want to have constant rendering to make adjustments from gen V to VI and even more from IV to VI.
V3 receipes 🤔 ??
I would suggest, if so then, from the feedback you already received that you keep V3 for the “core ones” / most used by viewer / more so your favourites.
I would welcome your my part V3 (and then B4, etc) receipes.
Perhaps also in the app make a clear separation between new and older recipes, aka on app start you asks the user which gen they are using, and then it becomes the default filtering (which you can of course override when undoing a specific search, but coming to the start setting when closing, restarting the app for example.
Just a suggestion…
Bottom line, it will he interesting to see the update and sim / effect the gen IV will bring us.
Might be an incentive to migrate for some.
On the meantime keep the good work Ritchie. Awesome for me to get such high number of receipes to look at and try 👍👌
Truly impressive each time when I present / advertise to newcomers in Fujifilm your website and apps 👏
Thinking about the blue difference between X-Trans IV and V rendering, I’m interested to know if you think there is a similar difference between X-Trans V as it looks from an X-series camera and a GFX one. I used your Reala Ace recipe extensively over the summer months in Britain and sometimes on looking back think the results from my GFX100RF are bluer than ones from my X100VI. Hard to be sure!
Thanks anyway for creating and listing all these recipes, however you decide to go about it going forward, Ritchie.
The difference exist as it’s vite the sensor of the GFX are more traditional and not X-Trans.
While Fujifilm has made it’s best to align.
Having too the RF and the X100VI, I can see sometimes and depending of the light conditions the difference.
While I’m not using them at both time, I do not really care much.
The difference is more prononced though between X-Trans IV + V and the standard Bayer sensor used on the X-A / X10->30 / X-T100+200 series.
While here also Fujifilm made a good job to fill the gap, but for recipes this a bit another story. Ending up to be less ‘universal’ than X-Trans V receipes going along with GFX of the same processor generation.
Hence why Ritchie produced dedicated recipes for them…
You can say the same with older GFX like the 50R & 50S.
Overall, the sims are there but like between X-Trans generation the variations in colour rendition is noticeable for previous models.
Do see also the heavy tweaking Fujifilm has done for GFX Eternal 55 (amazing work by the way).
Bottom line, I like to know that there are slight differences between X-Trans gen V and GFX gen V.
If not it would have been boring (see Ritchie post on the subject 😉) and then to why having both simply for sensor size, price tag, etc…
And I forget: congratulations Thomas on having both the VI and the RF. Wishing you happy shooting and handling with those 2 marvelous / dream cameras.
And I concur with you that the RF is sometimes more bluer with the same settings than the VI. Sometimes I drop from 1 value down, like using a receipie gen IV on V.
The X-T1 and X-T2 are more punchier on the reds with the Velvia than the following gen.
When I review my pics, it can be even sometimes outrageous when doing side by side comparison…
For the Velvia, Fujifilm said many times they tweak the simulation on each generation as they were not fully satisfied and could tweak further on next gen.
So I’m wondering what it would be on gen VI…
Along Classic Chrome, or Classic Neg, Reala…
Thank you, Horus. Yes, I enjoy both cameras a lot and it’s always good to hear the experiences of other users with the same cameras – it confirms things I’d otherwise remain unsure about and saves valuable time that would be spent experimenting! Enjoy your Fujifilm cameras too.
You’re very welcome Thomas and thank you very much.