The Fuji X Weekly App can now send Recipes straight from the App to your camera using a USB-C cable! Right now, this is only available on Apple, but it will be coming to Android within the next few months or so. If you haven’t read the announcement, there’s a bunch of important information in it, so I recommend starting there (click here)—it’s essential reading if you plan to use this feature.
The new Recipe transferring feature is called App-to-Camera Recipe Transfer Protocol (ATC RTP for short). A few days ago I discussed some of the known issues, but a couple of those have since been resolved, plus a new issue has come up, so I wanted to give a quick update. Let’s dive right in!
The two known issues that were fixed are 1) Recipes that use DR-Auto were transferring as DR100 instead of DR-Auto, and 2) a warning—for Recipes with Grain Off—that Grain was not able to be set when in fact it was set correctly (the error message itself was the bug). Those have been fixed on the latest Fuji X Weekly App update. If your phone didn’t automatically update the App, you may want to manually do so now. This is actually the second update since the new feature was released, so even if you haven’t encountered any issues yet, you may still want to double-check that you are running on the latest version.
The other known issue is that iPhones that use the Lightning plug (not USB-C) do not work with this feature; however, I’ve had several reports that using a Lightning-to-USB-C adapter will resolve the problem. I’ve not been able to try it myself to know for 100% certainty, but there have been enough reports that I’m fairly confident that this will work for you, too.
The new issue is a weird one. It might only affect those on iPhone 16, but I’m not completely certain about that. It seems that very few have encountered this problem, and it’s unlikely that it will affect you. If you are not able to get the phone to connect to the camera, and it always just says No camera connected even though you’ve tried everything, there is a potential solution. If you’ve encountered this rare problem, go to the Settings App on your iPhone, tap Privacy & Security (which is towards the bottom), select Files & Folders, and find the Fuji X Weekly App. Make sure that it is only in the list once (not twice) and that it is On (green); if not, toggle it/them Off/On until there is only one Fuji X Weekly option (not two) and it is On (green). If you find two Fuji X Weekly folders, when you toggle them one will disappear. This should resolve the problem, and you’ll be able to connect the camera to the phone.
Lastly, I wanted to give a quick update on the Instagram problem I had previously talked about. For those who missed it, Instagram removed my post announcing this new feature, claiming that I had violated their community standards, which obviously is not true or even remotely close to true. Restrictions were placed on my account, punishing me for something I didn’t do. I later learned that this is a systemic problem, and a lot of other people have had similar experiences, which is unfortunate. I requested that Instagram review their decision, and a few days later my post was reinstated, and the restrictions removed from my account; however, I never got an explanation. I still have no idea why they did this, but at least it’s been rectified.
I’m excited to announce a new feature in the Fuji X Weekly App: sending Recipes straight from the App to your camera! This will make Film Simulation Recipes much more accessible because it removes the necessity to manually program them into your camera’s C1-C7 Custom Settings presets. I’ve been working on this for about a year-and-a-half now, and I believe it will transform and significantly improve the Fujifilm experience for many people. There’s a lot that I need to discuss regarding this, so let’s dive right in.
The new feature is called App-to-Camera Recipe Transfer Protocol (ATC RTP), and it uses something called Picture Transfer Protocol (PTP), a standardized camera-to-software communication system that’s been utilized by all major camera brands for over 25 years. Fujifilm uses PTP for X RAW Studio and other programs. I was able to create the ATC RTP using publicly available information from both Fujifilm and the Fujifilm community, combined with lots of trial-and-error, plus a little assistance from AI.
Using PTP is generally considered very safe; however, there is a small inherent risk in unofficial, unlicensed, unsupported programs. While there’s not a lot that can go wrong with PTP, there is a minor chance of adverse affects, especially if not handled carefully by the developers. To mitigate those risks, we built-in many safeguards and heavily tested it (I tried my best to break my Fujifilm cameras using ATC RTP, and couldn’t—don’t attempt that yourself, though). I’m extremely confident in the safety of this feature, but I want to be upfront and transparent about the inherent precariousness. It’s better to lay out all the cards so that you can make an informed decision that you are comfortable with, and it’s important to me that you’ve read this disclaimer before connecting your camera to the App. If you do decide to use ATC RTP, it’s an experimental feature, and it is at your own risk. I do believe that this is about as safe as possible from an unofficial program, and I doubt you’ll find another option with as many safeguards or as heavily tested before release. Still, like with any new software feature, I do anticipate some bug reports, and hopefully they’re all very minor (be sure to let me know if encounter any, no matter how small).
Very importantly, connecting your camera to any unofficial, unlicensed, unsupported program may void your camera’s manufacturer warranty. Fujifilm confirmed this with me. I tried very hard to obtain a license from Fujifilm so that it wouldn’t risk voiding your warranty, but ultimately that didn’t work out (they told me that they only give licenses to large companies “like Adobe”). While that significantly delayed the release of this feature, if I had been able to obtain a license, that would have made the wait worthwhile. Since I was not able to get a license, using the ATC RTP may void your camera’s warranty. Manufacturer warranties vary from country-to-country, and warranty laws vary from region-to-region, so read your specific warranty information very carefully, and research the laws that apply specifically to you. Some people are better protected than others; however, even if your warranty is technically voided, it’s possible that Fujifilm may decide to honor it anyway (or not realize it was voided) should something fail on your camera. It’s up to you if you want to take that risk, but my recommendation is to wait until after your camera’s warranty has expired (one or two years after purchase for most, but up to five years, just depending) before connecting to any unofficial, unlicensed, unsupported programs (pretty much any software that connects to your camera that’s not from Fujifilm or a major brand like Capture One or Adobe), including the Fuji X Weekly App. Whether you connect today, wait awhile before doing so, or never use this feature, that is a personal choice based on what you are comfortable with, having been well informed (and I hope you appreciate that I’m not keeping this secret from you). I have connected all of my compatible cameras to the Fuji X Weekly App, including my brand-new GFX100RF, but that was my own decision based on my personal confidence in the App’s programming and in Fujifilm’s quality.
With all that out of the way, let’s talk about how this new feature can transform your Fujifilm experience. What ATC RTP does is push Recipes from the Fuji X Weekly App to your camera’s Custom Settings presets (C1-C7 for most cameras, C1-C6 for some, and C1-C4 for others). You can pick a single Recipe, and choose which Custom Settings slot to send it to, or—if you are a Patron subscriber—you can create and send sets of Recipes. No more manually programming them into your camera! This makes saving Recipes in your camera extremely simple, and changing them a breeze. You can also do it with your Custom Recipes, not just the 400+ Fuji X Weekly Recipes. Sending a Recipe from the App to your camera is completely free—use it as often as you’d like, as many times as you’d like. Going one-at-a-time, you can fill up your C1-C7 pretty quickly. Sending multiple Recipes at once is reserved for Patrons, and I included three Recipe Sets—Starter, Street and Travel—to get you started (with more to come). I have not yet figured out how to send Recipes to FS1-FS3 on the X-E5, so those will still need to be set manually.
Not every Fujifilm camera is compatible, but most newer ones are. Specifically, as of this writing, you can use the ATC RTP with the Fujifilm X-Pro3, X100V, X-T4, X-S10, X-E4, X-T30 II, X-H2s, X-H2, X-T5, X-S20, X100VI, X-T50, X-M5, X-E5, X-T30 III, GFX100S, GFX50S II, GFX100 II, GFX100S II, and GFX100RF. Presumably all new cameras released in the future will also be compatible, but I won’t know for certain until they are available to test. Unfortunately, older models (such as X-Trans I, X-Trans II, X-Trans III, X-T30 and X-T3, X-series Bayer, and the first few GFX models) are not able to connect to the Fuji X Weekly App.
There are a bunch of important notes, so let’s work through them. First, as of this writing, the ATC RTP is only available on iOS. It’s being worked on for Android and is coming soon, but it’s not ready yet, so it’s only on Apple to start with. Second, you need a USB-C (2.0 or 3.0) cable that is no longer than 4.9 feet (1.5 meters), preferably a good quality one. If ATC RTP is not working, try a different cable. Also, Lighting cables don’t work, but I’ve had reports that Lightning-to-USB-C adapters do work. Third, you need to make sure that your camera’s Connection Mode is set to USB RAW CONV./BACKUP RESTORE. This is found in the Network/USB (Connection) Settings section of the Menu. Next, you might need to set the USB Power Supply/Comm Setting to SUPPLY OFF/COMM ON (or just OFF, depending on your model), although most of the time AUTO seems to work. The USB-C cable needs to be connected to both the camera and the phone (try reconnecting if the App doesn’t recognize that your camera is connected). Your camera must be powered on for this feature to work (the camera’s screen will go dark when connected). Do not power off the camera or phone or disconnect the cable during a Recipe transfer. ISO and Typical Exposure Compensation are not transferred via ATC RTP, and should be set manually. Also, Video Recipes are not included in this feature.
It’s possible to get error messages after a transfer. If the camera rejects a setting, it will either be left unchanged or set to a default, which is a safeguard, and you’ll be notified. Some common settings that will get rejected are Dynamic Range and Clarity. Since Dynamic Range is ISO dependent, if the ISO is set lower than the minimum for the Dynamic Range (for example, DR400 with ISO 200), the camera will reject it. To fix it, increase the ISO and either try again or set Dynamic Range manually. Since Clarity is dependent on the Drive mode, if you are in burst (Continuous Low or Continuous High), HDR, etc., and not Still Image (a.k.a. Single or S), it will reject Clarity set to anything other than 0. To fix it, set the camera’s Drive mode to Still Image (S) and either try again or set Clarity manually. If you’ve never saved Custom Setting presets into your camera before, you may encounter some errors on the initial Recipe transfer, especially with the PASM models that require shooting modes to be set. You will need to fix the errors in the camera, such as selecting a shooting mode and adjusting the ISO within each preset, plus selecting the correct Dynamic Range setting. Within Custom Recipes, any free-form text must be spelled correctly in English in order to work; otherwise, use the dropdown menus. Also, for any Custom Recipe Sets that you create, make sure that the selected Recipes are compatible with the camera you are transferring to (if not, you will receive error messages when transferring).
That was a lot to lay out, but I hope you can appreciate why it all needed to be said. If the Fuji X Weekly App on your iPhone didn’t automatically update, be sure to manually do it now. You may also want to update your iOS version if it’s old. To begin using the App-to-Camera Recipe Transfer Protocol to send Recipes directly to your camera, tap the camera-with-arrow icon at the top of the Recipe list page or at the top of any Recipe within the Fuji X Weekly App. You’ll have to agree to the TOS and select OK a number of times. If you are a Patron, to create Recipe sets, tap the three dots at the top-right of the Recipe list page and select Manage Recipe Sets. I think many of you will really love this new feature, and it will transform your Fujifilm experience. Right now it’s only available on iOS, but it will be on Android pretty soon, too, so stay tuned!
Find more than 400 Fujifilm Recipes in the Fuji X Weekly App! Consider becoming a Patron subscriber to unlock the best App experience and to support Fuji X Weekly.
Earlier this week I released a new Fuji X Weekly App update, which I’m excited to share with you. I didn’t announce this right away because there was a minor bug that I wanted to fix before telling everybody about this, which has since been fixed and updated, so, as of late last night, that’s no longer an issue. There are two major new features, plus several really minor things you’re unlikely to notice—we’ll just focus on those two big things in this article.
First up is something that’s been under development in one way or another for five years. I explored many different ways to implement this idea in principal, and there were a couple failed attempts, just because of the complications in making it function smoothly. Ultimately, the approached that worked best and most consistently was less intuitive than what I would have ideally preferred, but it was the best option all things considered. I actually rolled it out first in the Ricoh Recipes App, just so I could work out any unforeseen issues before adding it to the Fuji X Weekly App. What is this new feature? Backup/Restore.
Notes, Favorites, and Custom Recipes are stored locally on your phone within the App’s data, and there has not been a way to share them among devices. If, for example, you have both an iPhone and iPad, you’d need to manually input all your Custom Recipes into both devices—they don’t synch. If you switched phones or lost your phone, it was possible to lose your Notes, Favorites, and Custom Recipes. Now, with Backup/Restore, you can save a copy, and share it among devices.
To save a backup, tap the Gear icon, then choose Back Up Data. You’ll be prompted to either Cancel or Continue. If you select Continue, you’ll have the opportunity to choose where you want the .zip file to be stored—it can be on your device or in cloud storage. Once saved, you can share this .zip file with any device that has the Fuji X Weekly App. To restore, simply choose Restore Data, locate the .zip file and tap on it (if it’s a different device, you may need to download the .zip file onto that device). One note of caution: when you Restore Data, it will override and replace whatever you may have added and/or changed since the Backup file was created. For instance, if you have a Custom Recipe on your iPad that’s not on your iPhone, but you Back Up Data on your iPhone and Restore that .zip on your iPad, you’ll lose the Custom Recipe on the iPad. It doesn’t add the backed up data on top of what’s already there; instead, it replaces it.
My recommendation is to periodically Backup the Fuji X Weekly App, even if you don’t have intentions of sharing it to another device. If you add a new Custom Recipe, or you made some changes to your Favorites, that might be a good time to select Back Up Data and create a new .zip file. Cloud storage is probably the most ideal place to keep it, just so if you lose your phone or change devices, you’ll have it available. Should something unforeseen happen, which does occur now and then, it’s better to be safe than sorry. With Backup/Restore, you can now have that peace of mind, and also match up your Notes, Favorites, and Custom Recipes between multiple devices.
The other big feature of this update is a major overhaul to Custom Recipes. Not only is adding Custom Recipes easier and more intuitive now, but they look and behave more like the 400+ Fuji X Weekly Film Simulation Recipes that come in the App. For example, you can add them as Widgets. You can Filter them, and Search them. You can add them as Favorites. If you sort alphabetically A-Z/Z-A, they will be in the correct place. This is a very significant improvement.
All of the fields (except Sensor generation) are freeform text; however, many have a dropdown menu or -/+ field for easier selection. If (for example) you type Velvia instead of selecting it from the dropdown list, the App will still include this Recipe in Filter by Velvia (just as long as it’s spelled correctly). Custom Recipes created prior to this update are fully compatible and will automatically be transformed to the new system (which was probably the trickiest part of revamping it). If you leave a field blank, that field will not appear in your Custom Recipe in the App. For instance, those with X-Trans III cameras can skip Color Chrome Effect, Color Chrome FX Blue, and Clarity, since X-Trans III cameras don’t have those options, and they will simply not show in the finished Recipe. Once you save it, at the very bottom of the Recipe you’ll notice a Notes field, which wasn’t available in the old system.
Those who use the Custom Recipes feature of the Fuji X Weekly App will absolutely love this update. This has been in the works for a long time, and I’m very happy with how it turned out. And it needed to be done prior to the implementation of Backup/Restore. In a sense, as far as the coding goes, these two features go hand-in-hand, and that’s why they were done together. While this update is mostly beneficial to Patron subscribers, there are some small under-the-hood improvements that affect everyone, so even if you are using the App for free, I do recommend updating to the latest version, if your phone did not do so automatically.
The Fuji X Weekly App is free to download and use. Consider becoming a Patron subscriber to unlock the best App experience and to support Fuji X Weekly.
One of the cool new features of the Fuji X Weekly App is Categories. There are a couple of ways to interact with and use Categories, one of which is only available to Patron subscribers, which is what we’re discussing in this article. For App Patrons, if you select Filter you can Filter By Category, in addition to all the other Filter options. This can really help you to hone in on Film Simulation Recipes for your specific situation and desired aesthetic. Let me illustrate.
Let’s say that you have a fifth-generation X-Trans camera, like the X100VI, X-T5, X-E5, etc., and you want a film-like aesthetic for Americana pictures that’s good for both landscape and street photography, you can find that. Simply Filter By your camera or sensor generation, and choose those Categories: Americana, Film-like, Landscapes, and Street. You can select as many or as few as you’d like—the more Categories you choose, the fewer results you’ll get. While you may not see a lot of options, the Film Simulation Recipes you do see will match your request pretty well. Let’s take a look at the results.
Across the Grand Expanse – Grand Canyon, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5 – Kodachrome 64
If there’s one film-like Recipe for Americana photography that’s good for both landscape and street photography, it’s Kodachrome 64. The film that this Recipe is based on is, of course, iconic. There are also versions for other cameras: X-Trans IV, X-T3/X-T30, and X-Trans II.
All Way Stop – Phoenix, AZ – Fujifilm X100VI – Summer of ’59
Summer of ’59 is currently a Fuji X Weekly App Patron Early-Access Recipe. Those that can Filter By Category can also view and use this Recipe; for everyone else, it will eventually become available once it has been replaced by a new Early-Access Recipe.
Ektachrome E100 is another App Patron Early-Access Recipe. It’s the most different of the six in this article. Like the previous one, this is currently only available to Patron subscribers, but it will eventually be available to everyone.
If you don’t have the Fuji X Weekly App on your phone, download it for free today—it’s available in both the Google Play Store and Apple App Store. It’s intended to be a useful free tool; however, becoming a Patron subscriber unlocks the best experience, and supports Fuji X Weekly.
There’s a brand-new Fuji X Weekly App update that I’m really excited to share with you. The main headline is a new feature called Categories, which can be interacted with in two different ways. The goal of Categories is to help you find Film Simulation Recipes for the specific situation that you are photographing in. This update is beneficial for both Patrons and non-Patrons.
The first way to interact with Categories is if you choose a Recipe—any Recipe, it doesn’t matter which one—and scroll towards the bottom just above Notes, you’ll find a Category Tag or maybe a handful of them (the amount varies from Recipe-to-Recipe). This tells you that the particular Recipe you selected has been identified as good for those specific situations and/or aesthetics. Now, tap on a Category Tag and it opens Discover Recipes, except instead of showing you all of the photos in the entire App to browse through, it shows only those that share that tag. This can help you to find Recipes based on image aesthetic. Each time you tap on a Category Tag, the order of the photos is reshuffled. For Patron subscribers, Category Tags can be used in conjunction with Filter by Sensor or Filter by Camera.
The second way to interact with Categories is only available to Patron subscribers. If you tap Filter, you’ll see By Category has been added to the list of options. You can choose one or more Categories—as many as you like, but the more you choose the fewer results you’ll get. You can Filter By Cameras (say X100VI), Film Simulation (say Classic Negative), White Balance (say Auto, Auto Ambience Priority and Auto White Priority), and Categories (say Film-Like and Street), and you’ll get a few results that match your request quite well. You can get real specific. If you are looking for (let’s say) a Film-Like Recipe that’s good for Portraits on Cloudy days for your X-Pro3, you can find that.
This is such a fun new way to interact with Film Simulation Recipes, and I anticipate that it will be extremely helpful to those who don’t know which Recipes to try. I’m really excited to introduce Categories to you because of all that, and also because so much work went into it. I didn’t keep careful tabs on the exact number of hours spent on this project, but it was a lot! The task of categorizing the various Recipes (over 400!) was pretty daunting on its own. I’m sure that it’s not perfect, and some might disagree with a certain Recipe’s inclusion or exclusion from a specific Category, but overall I think it turned out quite well. I really hope that some of you will find it to be a useful feature.
***Update: We were able to get the bug identified, fixed, and the app update submitted and approved by Apple in record time. On your iPhone, if the Fuji X Weekly App crashes immediately, make sure that you update to version 1.12.1 (and not 1.12.0) or update the iOS to the latest version (either option will fix it). I’m sorry for any trouble that this may have caused anyone.***
The Fuji X Weekly App is available to download for free from the Apple App Store and the Google Play Store! Consider becoming a Patron subscriber to unlock the best App experience and to support Fuji X Weekly. If your device didn’t update automatically, be sure to update it now.
There’s a brand-new Ricoh Recipes App update, and I want to bring your attention to it because it is a foreshadowing of the next Fuji X Weekly App update. Specifically, Custom Recipes—a new feature for Ricoh Recipes, but not a new feature for Fuji X Weekly—is intuitive and integrated into Filtering, Favoriting, Random Recipes, and the Selected Recipe Widget. In other words, it’s much better in the Ricoh Recipes App than how it currently is in the Fuji X Weekly App. This is something I’ve been working on for a long time, and I cannot wait to incorporate the improvements into the Fuji X Weekly App soon. You’re going to love it!
I want to also bring your attention to the new Backup/Restore feature, which allows you to save a backup file of your Custom Recipes, Favorites, and Notes. You can restore that file later, and you can also send the file to another device and restore it there. If you want to ensure your inputs are not lost, if you want to share those with another device, or if you are upgrading to a new device, Backup/Restore is a great new tool. This will be coming to the Fuji X Weekly App soon, too.
While the Ricoh Recipes App update does not directly affect most of you, it indirectly does, because these two significant improvements are coming to the Fuji X Weekly App in the near future. I’m very excited to incorporate these, because I think many of you will greatly appreciate them. I don’t have a specific timeline, but I’m hoping to get it out as soon as I can, perhaps in a month-ish, so definitely stay tuned!
Red Yucca in the White Sand – White Sands NP, NM – Fujifilm X-T4 ES – Aerochrome v2
The Full Spectrum Infrared Film Simulation Recipes are now in the Fuji X Weekly App! If your phone didn’t automatically update to the new version, I recommend manually doing so now (Android, Apple). Because those Recipes are different than those for “normal” (non-infrared) cameras, a lot of little tweaks had to be made to the App in order to display them correctly. It was significantly more work to get these into the Fuji X Weekly App than I had anticipated, but I’m happy they are available there now.
So far, I have published six Full Spectrum Infrared Recipes for Fujifilm cameras: Aerochrome v1, Aerochrome v2, Aerochrome v3, PurpleChrome, Cotton Candy Chrome, and Agfa 400S. These Recipes require a full spectrum X-Trans IV or X-Trans V model. Converting a normal camera to full spectrum is an expensive and invasive procedure from a third-party vendor, such as LifePixel, Kolari Vision, or Spenser’s Camera (to name a few). Otherwise, the Fujifilm X-T4 ES (“Extended Spectrum”) is a full spectrum camera (is sensitive to light outside the visible gamut) briefly offered by Fujifilm to the general public. As of this writing, I believe that you can still buy the Fujifilm X-T4 ES from B&H, but it requires a phone call or in-person visit, and cannot be ordered from the internet. Additionally, these Recipes require specific filters.
I know that the vast majority of people don’t own a full spectrum camera like the Fujifilm X-T4 ES, but I have seen a growing interest in infrared since I started posting these Recipes last summer. The general rule of thumb was that extensive editing was required—including channel swaps—in order to achieve good infrared results, particularly for color images. Thankfully, with the right filters and camera settings, that’s just not true, and excellent straight-out-of-camera infrared photography can be quite easy. While the number of people who will use these Full Spectrum Recipes will always be small, I do believe it will grow significantly in the coming months and years—I suspect there may be a small infrared resurgence of sorts.
Also, for those who may have missed it, I added several GFX cameras to the Fuji X Weekly App. If you haven’t opened it in the last few days, you’ll likely notice some changes. There are many more improvements in the works, and hopefully those will be ready in the coming months. While the Fuji X Weekly App has come a long ways since it was first released, it will continue to get better and better.
This Provia Summer Film Simulation Recipe kicks off a new series. Each Recipe in this series will use a different film simulation, beginning with Provia and ending with Sepia. None of them will be modeled after any specific emulsions, but more simply will be aesthetics that I like, that I want to create photographs with. Even though they won’t be mimicking specific films, I do intend for them to have an analog vibe. My goal is to publish a new Recipe in this series every three or four weeks. Lastly, they will each begin as an App Patron Early-Access Recipe.
I never wanted the Early-Access Recipes to be unavailable to non-subscribers for so long. Some have been 18 months or longer, most over a year. My initial idea was that they would be Patron-only for about six months or so, and then be made available to everyone; however, I’ve only reached that goal a few times. This series of Recipes will hopefully clear out the backlog, and the Recipes that some of you have long been waiting for will be available soon.
Golden CVS – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-S20 – Provia Summer – Photo by Jonathan Roesch
Provia Summer is in a similar neighborhood as Bright Summer, Bright Kodak, Eterna Summer, Summer of ’59, 1970’s Summer, and I’m sure a few others. Obviously it’s not exactly like any of them, as it has its own unique aesthetic. This Recipe is warm and colorful, producing images that have a summer-like feel. It’s not the most ideal option for artificial light indoors or nighttime photography, but in the right situations it can be alright for that; for best results, use on a sunny day.
This is an App Patron Early-Access Recipe. If you are a Fuji X Weekly App Patron, you have access to it right now. If not, no worries, as it will eventually be made available to everyone, once it is replaced by a new Early-Access Recipe. With the exception of the X-T3 and X-T30, it is compatible with all fourth and fifth-generation X-Trans cameras, which (as of this writing) are the Fujifilm X-Pro3, X100V, X-T4, X-S10, X-E4, X-T30 II, X-H2s, X-H2, X-T5, X-S20, X100VI, X-T50, and X-M5. It can also be used on the newer GFX models, and I’ve included a few examples of that at that bottom.
Example photographs, all camera-made JPEGs using this Provia Summer Film Simulation Recipe on a Fujifilm X-E4 and X-S20:
Vibrant Bougainvillea – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-E4
Dying Frond – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-E4
Sunlit Window – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-E4
Golden Arch – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-E4
Bright Bougainvillea – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-E4
Palm Grove – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-E4
Tower Window – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-S20 – Photo by Jonathan Roesch
Duel Window View – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-E4
Welcome to Wellness – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-E4
Water Drops – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-S20 – Photo by Jonathan Roesch
Faux Beauty – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-E4
Dusk Steeple – Litchfield Park, AZ – Fujifilm X-E4
Electric Open – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-S20 – Photo by Jonathan Roesch
Red Tree Trunk – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-E4
Yellow Fountain – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-S20 – Photo by Jonathan Roesch
Example photographs, all camera-made JPEGs using this Provia Summer Film Simulation Recipe on a Fujifilm GFX100S II:
Bougainvillea Trestle – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm GFX100S II
Broken Palm Bark – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm GFX100S II
Jonathan in the Desert – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm GFX100S II
Find this Film Simulation Recipe and over 350 more in the Fuji X Weekly App! Consider becoming a Patron subscriber to unlock the best App experience and to support Fuji X Weekly.
Don Bell Photographing – Philadelphia, PA – Fujifilm X100VI – Kodak Portra 400 v2
I get asked fairly regularly which Film Simulation Recipes are the most popular. For me, this is a fascinating topic, but it’s definitely hard to know definitively. While I get a glimpse on social media, my best gauge is the Fuji X Weekly website statistics; specifically, which Recipe articles are viewed the most. I don’t collect any data on the Fuji X Weekly App, so that’s no help—although, if I did, it would likely offer the most accurate picture; however, it would still be impossible to know which Recipes people programmed into their Fujifilm cameras, or how often they used each. Perhaps a survey would be particularly useful, yet even it has its limitations. While certainly a flawed method, page-view website statics offer the best glimpse at which Film Simulation Recipes are the most popular, so that’s what I’m using for this article. These are simply the Top 25 most-viewed Recipes on the Fuji X Weekly website last month (November 2024).
These types of lists are usually pretty predictable. There are often a few surprises—there is always some movement—but from one month to the next, it’s mostly the same. It’s unusual for Kodachrome 64 to not be in the #1 position, and this marks the second month in a row (and third time this year) that it isn’t. Beyond that, there aren’t many surprises.
Two Boats – Clinton, CT – Fujifilm X-E4 – Pacific Blues
Those Recipes with Kodak brand names in the title—Kodachrome, Portra, Gold, Tri-X, etc., etc.—are usually the most popular. Classic Chrome is the king of film simulations, as the majority of the most-viewed Recipes are based on that film simulation; however, the Number One Recipe this month is based on Reala Ace—the first time that has ever happened.
Without any further delay, below are the most popular Recipes of last month!
Top 25 Most Popular Film Simulation Recipes of November 2024
This is a new Recipe published on October 31st. It uses the Reala Ace film simulation as the base, which means it is compatible with X-Trans V cameras. I’m not surprised to see it make this list, but I’m pretty surprised that it is at the very top.
A Classic Chrome based Recipe for X-Trans IV cameras that is the long-time most popular Film Simulation Recipe for Fujifilm cameras. It’s rare that this one isn’t Number One; surprisingly, this is the second month in a row that it is ranked #2.
Reggie’s Portra, a popular Classic Chrome based Recipe for X-Trans IV cameras, usually ranks high. It’s position, along with the next three below, remain unchanged. This is the most versatile of the Portra Recipes, and the most popular for portrait photography.
Reala Ace is back in the Top 10! This was one of the most popular Recipes (even once #1), but then it fell down the list over the summer. It uses the Classic Negative film simulation (and not the Real Ace film sim), and is for X-Trans V cameras.
It is probably unfair to include the Film Dial Recipes in this list because it is not one Recipe, but 14. When it showed up in the Top 25, I was faced with the choice to included it (as unfair as that might be) or not. The Vibrant Arizona article is technically four Recipes, so there is a precedence for its inclusion. In October it was ranked #10.
This is an Eterna-based Recipe for X-Trans V cameras; however, it’s simply an adaptation of the X-Trans IV version that has been around awhile. It was #16 last month.
This version of Kodak Portra 400, which is compatible with X-Trans IV cameras, was commonly the third most popular Film Simulation Recipe on Fuji X Weekly for a long time; however, now it is more typically found in the 10-15 range. Last month is was ranked #14.
For awhile this was the highest ranked Classic Negative based Recipe, but lately is has been Number Two (if you don’t include Superia Negative from the Film Dial Recipe set). This particular version of Pacific Blues is compatible with X-Trans IV models, but there is also an X-Trans V version. It rose one spot since last month.
Vintage Kodachrome, which is based on Classic Chrome, is one of the older Film Simulation Recipes on Fuji X Weekly, and is compatible with X-Trans III cameras. It usually cracks the Top 15, and sometimes the Top 10. Last month it was #9.
This is the long-time most popular B&W Recipe on Fuji X Weekly. It’s based on the Acros film simulation, and has compatibility with X-Trans III, X-Trans IV, and X-Trans V models. It fell one spot.
This is an App Patron Early Access Recipe, which means that right now it is only available in the Fuji X Weekly App to Patron subscribers. Eventually it will be available free to everyone, but that might take awhile. This Recipe uses the Classic Negative film simulation, and is compatible with X-Trans V cameras. Last month it was ranked all the way at the very top.
A Classic Negative based Recipe that’s compatible with X-Trans V cameras (there’s also an X-Trans IV version). This one typically either just makes the Top 25 or just misses it, and last month it just missed.
I published this Recipe, which uses Classic Chrome and has compatibility with both X-Trans IV and X-Trans V cameras, in April. It fell two spots since October.
This Recipe doesn’t usually crack the Top 25. Interestingly, is is the only one in this list that uses the Nostalgic Neg. film simulation (aside from Nostalgic Film in the Film Dial set).
Yellow Beanie – New York City, NY – Fujifilm X100VI – Fujicolor Blue
This Fujicolor Blue Film Simulation Recipe was actually a failed attempt at recreating a certain look, but nonetheless I really liked the results, so I decided to make it an official Recipe in the Fuji X Weekly App. Whenever I attempt to replicate a certain look, it’s largely by trial-and-error, and there are a lot of failures along the way. Occasionally one of those failures is interesting on its own merit, such as this one.
What does Fujicolor Blue resemble? It definitely has a Tungsten-balanced film vibe, although I don’t think it matches any specific Tungsten emulsion. I think it also roughly resembles a daylight-balanced film used in conjunction with an 80A or other cooling filter. It definitely has a retro Fujicolor negative film look (perhaps along the lines of Fujicolor Super HR), but maybe also a bit of an Agfa aesthetic (such as Agfacolor 200). While it’s not exactly like any specific emulsion that I’m aware of, it has a strong analog feel, and you could probably convince someone that you shot film and not a modern digital camera.
Flowers & Fruit – Austin, TX – Fujifilm X100VI – Fujicolor Blue
This Fujicolor Blue Recipe is great for adding a cold feeling to a sunny daylight photograph, toning down an overly warm scene, pretty much any indoor situation, and nighttime artificial light scenarios. It’s highly versatile, but the pronounced cool cast in sunny daylight is not going to be for everyone. This Recipe is compatible with all fifth-generation X-Trans cameras, which (as of this writing) are the Fujifilm X-H2s, X-H2, X-T5, X-S20, X100VI, X-T50, and X-M5. Those with certain X-Trans IV models and newer GFX can use it, too; however, it will render slightly different (but don’t be afraid to try it).
Fujicolor Blue is an App Patron Early Access Recipe. If you are a Fuji X Weekly App Patron, you have access to it right now. If not, no worries, as it will eventually be made available to everyone, once it is replaced by a new Early Access Recipe. This also means that an different Early Access Recipe is now available for everyone, so be on the lookout for it.
Example photographs, all camera-made JPEGs using this Fujicolor Blue Film Simulation Recipe on a Fujifilm X100VI:
Spain – New York City, NY – Fujifilm X100VI
Poke Poke – New York City, NY – Fujifilm X100VI
Construction Site – New York City, NY – Fujifilm X100VI
Yellow Guy – New York City, NY – Fujifilm X100VI
Fujifilm Photography – New York City, NY – Fujifilm X100VI
Hudson Yards – New York City, NY – Fujifilm X100VI
Urban Skyscape – New York City, NY – Fujifilm X100VI
Green for Siding – Austin, TX – Fujifilm X100VI
How You Doing? – Austin, TX – Fujifilm X100VI
Airborne Bike 1 – Austin, TX – Fujifilm X100VI
Airborne Bike 2 – Austin, TX – Fujifilm X100VI
Here – Austin, TX – Fujifilm X100VI
Lake Dock – Clinton, CT – Fujifilm X100VI
Boatride – Clinton, CT – Fujifilm X100VI
Houseplant – Clinton, CT- Fujifilm X100VI
Fujifilm, Y’all – Austin, TX – Fujifilm X100VI
Don’t Slip – New York City, NY – Fujifilm X100VI
Chochin Lanterns – Clinton, CT – Fujifilm X100VI
Nashville Night – Nashville, TN – Fujifilm X100VI – Photo by Jonathan Roesch
Johnny’s BBQ – Nashville, TN – Fujifilm X100VI – Photo by Jonathan Roesch
Diamonds are For Baseball – New York City, NY – Fujifilm X100VI
This post contains affiliate links, and if you make a purchase using my links I’ll be compensated a small amount for it.
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Oysters & Seafood – Denver, CO – Fujifilm X-T50 – Cinematic Film Recipe
This isn’t a new Film Simulation Recipe, but one of the 14 Fujifilm X-T50 Film Dial Recipes that I published in May when the Fujifilm X-T50 was announced. I stated in that article, “It would be absurd to include all 14 versions of this Recipe in the Fuji X Weekly App; even adding eight to the App is too much, but (with hesitation) that’s what I’ve done.” Those eight Recipes—Standard Film, Velvia Film, Astia Summer, Kodak Film, Fujicolor PRO 160C Warm, Superia Negative, Nostalgic Film, and Neopan Negative—are all identical other than the film simulation, and are found in the App.
I left six of the 14 Recipes—Fujicolor PRO Film, Fujicolor PRO 160S, Cinematic Film (which is this Recipe), Reduced Bleach, Monochrome Film, and Sepia Print—out of the App. In the months since, I have had a number of requests to include the Cinematic Film Recipe in the Fuji X Weekly App, so—by popular demand—Cinematic Film is now available on your phone!
Hotel Chelsea – New York City, NY – Fujifilm X-T50 – Cinematic Film Recipe
This Recipe is compatible with all fifth-generation X-Trans cameras, which (as of this writing) are the Fujifilm X-H2s, X-H2, X-T5, X-S20, X100VI, and X-T50. For the X-T4, X-S10, X-E4, and X-T30 II cameras, I recommend setting Color Chrome FX Blue to Strong (instead of Weak). For the latest GFX models, I recommend setting Shadow to -0.5 (instead of -1). For more information on how I setup and use the X-T50 Film Dial Recipes, watch this video (click here). If you don’t have an X-T50 and still want to use the Film Dial strategy, simply add the Recipe to one of your C1-C7 slots, and program a Fn button to activate the film simulation menu. The Cinematic Film Recipe is especially great for taming high-contrast light, for a soft aesthetic, and for after-dark photography.
Film Simulation: Eterna Dynamic Range: DR400 Grain Effect: Weak, Small Color Chrome Effect: Strong Color Chrome FX Blue: Weak White Balance: Auto White Priority, +2 Red & -4 Blue Highlight: -1.5 Shadow: -1 Color: +3 Sharpness: -1 High ISO NR: -4 Clarity: -2 ISO: Auto, up to ISO 6400 Exposure Compensation: 0 to +1 (typically)
Example photographs, all camera-made JPEGs captured using this “Cinematic Film” Film Simulation Recipe on a Fujifilm X-T50:
This post contains affiliate links, and if you make a purchase using my links I’ll be compensated a small amount for it.
Find this Film Simulation Recipe and over 350 more on the Fuji X Weekly App! Consider becoming a Patron subscriber to unlock the best App experience and to support Fuji X Weekly.
Discover Recipes is great for exploration. All of the sample photographs in the App are displayed randomly in a tile grid, which allows you to find Recipes based on image aesthetic—tap on a picture to go to the Recipe that was used to capture it. Each time that you reopen Discover Recipes, the photos are reshuffled into a new order.
For Patron subscribers, Filter works with Discover Recipes, so you can (for example) only show the pictures for Recipes that are compatible with the X100VI, use Classic Chrome, and also require DR400. Whatever Filter options you have selected will apply to Discover Recipes. Colored Stars also will display for your Favorited Recipes.
To use this new feature, you’ll need to update the Fuji X Weekly App to the latest version (if your device didn’t do so automatically). Then, tap the circle-with-three-dots icon (for iOS) or three-horizontal-line icon (for Android) at the top-right, and select Discover Recipes. The “A” icon will toggle the Recipe name on and off, so you can customize your experience in that way.
Also new with this update: you can choose if you’d like to be notified when new Recipes are added to the App. If you don’t want that, simply choose not to allow notifications—it won’t hurt my feelings in the slightest. But if you do want to be notified when a new Recipe is added to the App, simply select Allow Notifications.
The Fuji X Weekly App is available to download for free from the Apple App Store and the Google Play Store! Consider becoming a Patron subscriber to unlock the best App experience and to support Fuji X Weekly.
Stop Time – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5 – Summer of ’59
This Film Simulation Recipe began as an attempt to recreate the aesthetic of some of Saul Leiter’s color photographs from the 1950’s and early-1960’s, particularly images like Paris 1959, Foot on El 1954, Bus 1954, San Carlo Restaurant 1952, Taxi 1957, Near the Tanager 1954, Phone Call 1957, and Pipes 1960—among others—with the greatest emphasis on Paris 1959. While I don’t think it’s possible to faithfully reproduce that look exactly on Fujifilm cameras, this Summer of ’59 Recipe is definitely at times pretty darn close. Also, some of Saul’s other photographs from that same era had a divergent aesthetic, and this Recipe isn’t good for replicating those.
During this time, Saul Leiter was using the first era of Kodachrome film. Something interesting that I learned while researching this is that Saul preferred shooting Kodachrome that was past the expiration date. He liked the way the film looked when expired, and especially the serendipity of not knowing what the precise aesthetic was going to be. An alternative name for this Film Simulation Recipe could be Expired Vintage Kodachrome.
Saul Leiter liked reflections, shooting through glass, and using layers. He kept his eyes out for catchy colors. He wasn’t afraid of shadows. His favorite lenses were telephoto, particularly 90mm and 150mm. If you are really trying to replicate his look, those are things you’ll want to consider. Vintage lenses might help, too.
Mint Chocolate Shake – Avondale, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5 – Summer of ’59
This Summer of ’59 Film Simulation Recipe is an App Patron Early-Access Recipe. If you are a Fuji X Weekly App Patron, you have access to it right now. If not, no worries, as it will eventually be made available to everyone, once it is replaced by a new Early-Access Recipe. It is fully compatible with X-Trans V cameras, which (as of this writing) are the X-H2s, X-H2, X-T5, X-S20, and X100VI.
One consideration is White Balance Shift: I wen’t back-and-forth on both Red and Blue, and I think +5 Red could alternatively be used, and/or -7 Blue could be alternatively used. All of the sample pictures in this article are with the WB Shift as published, and not the divergent options mentioned above.
Example photographs, all camera-made JPEGs using this Summer of ’59 Film Simulation Recipe on my Fujifilm X-T5:
Hanging Glass – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5
Falling Water in a Fountain – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5
Lion Water – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5
Pet Waste Station – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5
Red & White Blooms – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5
Bougainville & Palm Tree Trunk – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5
Summertime Feelings – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5
Founder’s Day Weekend – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5
Blue Flags – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5
Power Lines – Avondale, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5
An Arizona Home – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5
Corner – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5
Yellow Car – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5
Bougainvillea Along a Sidewalk – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5
Jogger – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5
CVS Pharmacy Sign – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5
Next Time – Avondale, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5
Sunlit Lamp – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5
Fake House Plant – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5
Bedroom Plant – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5
1000 Record Covers – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5
Fountain Pot – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5
Jo in the Backyard – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5
Bench End – Goodyear, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5
Twin Seats – Goodyear, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5
Fashion – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5
Outdoor Potted Plant – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5
Desert Cactus Landscape – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5
The Boys – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5
Red Hots – Avondale, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5
Protection – Avondale, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5
Pick Up – Avondale, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5
Find this Film Simulation Recipe and over 300 more on the Fuji X Weekly App! Consider becoming a Patron subscriber to unlock the best App experience and to support Fuji X Weekly.
I get asked fairly regularly which Film Simulation Recipes are the most popular. For me, this is a fascinating topic, but it’s definitely hard to know definitively. While I get a glimpse on social media, my best gauge is the Fuji X Weekly website statistics; specifically, which Recipe articles are viewed the most. I don’t collect any data on the Fuji X Weekly App, so that’s no help—although, if I did, it would likely offer the most accurate picture; however, it would still be impossible to know which Recipes people programmed into their Fujifilm cameras, or how often they used each. Perhaps a survey would be particularly useful, yet even it has its limitations. While certainly a flawed method, page-view website statics offer the best glimpse at which Film Simulation Recipes are the most popular, so that’s what I’m using for this article. These are simply the Top 25 most-viewed Recipes on the Fuji X Weekly website last month (January 2024).
Most of the time these lists are pretty predictable. Those with Kodak brand names in the title—Kodachrome, Portra, Gold, Tri-X, etc., etc.—are the most popular. Classic Chrome is the king of film simulations, as the majority of the most-viewed Recipes are based on that film simulation. X-Trans IV Recipes, especially for the X-Pro3, X100V, X-T4, X-S10, X-E4, and X-T30 II cameras, tend to be the most popular.
This time, however, I was a surprised by many of the rankings. The top two—Kodachrome 64 and Kodak Portra 400 v2—did not surprise me at all. Those particular Recipes are far-and-away the most popular. Third place, which made this list despite being so new (released towards the end of the month), is a good deal behind the top two. Reala Ace is now the most popular Classic Negative Recipe, edging out Pacific Blues. Kodak Vision3 250D is the only Recipe that uses Eterna, and Kodak Vision3 250D v2 is the only one that uses Nostalgic Neg.. There’s also only one PRO Neg. Std Recipe and one Acros, while five use Classic Negative and 16 (of the 25) use Classic Chrome. By far the most popular X-Trans II Recipe is Classic Kodak Chrome, which ranks 21st. Fujicolor C200 v2 is the only App Patron Early-Access Recipe that I’ve ever seen make it into one of these lists.
Without any further delay, below are the most popular Recipes of last month!
Top 25 Most Popular Film Simulation Recipes of January 2024
Blooms by the Pavilion – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X100V – Kodak Emulsion Recipe
I love this new Kodak Emulsion Film Simulation Recipe, even though it was a happy accident. I was trying to replicate the aesthetic of some Kodak ColorPlus 200 film scans that someone shared with me, but I was unsuccessful; however, in the process of failing, I discovered these settings, which are absolutely great!
Even though this Recipe doesn’t accurately mimic any specific emulsion (as far as I’m aware), it still looks very analog-like, and highly reminiscent of a few different Kodak negative stocks. I bet you could convince some people that you actually shot with film, and not a modern digital camera. While I used my Fujifilm X100V to capture these pictures, if I were to choose an interchangeable-lens model paired with vintage glass, I’m certain it would be even more convincing.
This Kodak Emulsion Film Simulation Recipe is compatible with all “newer” X-Trans IV cameras (X-Pro3, X100V, X-T4, X-S10, X-E4, and X-T30 II), but not the X-T3 or X-T30. Technically it is compatible with X-Trans V models, but, because X-Trans V renders blue more deeply on some film simulations, it will look slightly different (try it anyway!). I’m sure that you can also use this Recipe on newer GFX cameras; however, I don’t have any personal experience with that, and I’m sure it will render slightly different (again, give it a try, as you might like it).
This Kodak Emulsion Film Simulation Recipe is an App Patron Early-Access Recipe. The Fuji X Weekly App is free, yet becoming a Fuji X Weekly Patron unlocks the best App experience! One benefit of being a Patron is that you get early access to some new Film Simulation Recipes. These Early-Access Recipes will eventually become available free to everyone in time, including this new one. Patrons help support Fuji X Weekly and, really, without them there would be no App. So I want to give a special “thank you” to all of the Patrons!
If you are a Fuji X Weekly Patron, it’s available to you right now on the App!
Example photographs, all camera-made JPEGs using this Kodak Emulsion Film Simulation Recipe on my Fujifilm X100V:
Autumn Sun – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X100V
Autumn Tree Leaves on a Shrub – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X100V
Minolta SLR – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X100V
Homework – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X100V – Flash On
Vines Along a Shaded Wall – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X100V
Sunlit Table & Chairs – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X100V
Potted Flowers & Pavilion – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X100V
Flowers at a Neighborhood Park – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X100V
Palm Tree & White Building – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X100V
Hanging Lightbulbs – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X100V
Flag in the Wind – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X100V
Bougainvillea Branch on a Bright Day – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X100V
Yellow Wildflowers in the Desert – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X100V
Yellow Flowers Blooming – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X100V
Tall Saguaro Behind Dead Tree – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X100V
Reaching Saguaro Fingers – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X100V
Damaged Saguaro – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X100V
A Desert Landscape – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X100V
Dirt Road After Rain – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X100V
Cold Morning at the South Rim – Grand Canyon NP, AZ – Fujifilm X100V – Fujicolor C200 v2
The original Fujicolor C200 Film Simulation Recipe is great! This isn’t intended to replace that Recipe—there’s no need to replace it, since it’s excellent—but instead provide an alternative option for those looking for something slightly different. One film can produce many different looks, depending on a host of factors, including how it was shot, developed, and printed or scanned. In this case, a Fuji X Weekly reader wanted a Recipe that more closely matched his particular Fujicolor C200 scans. Oh, and it needed to be compatible with the Fujifilm X100V and X-Pro3, which the original version is not.
Fujifilm introduced Fujicolor C200 in 1990 as a low-budget, consumer-grade color negative film. I’ve shot a few rolls of it over the years, although it was never my go-to option. Fujifilm gave it a small refresh in 2017. Sadly, in late 2021, Fujifilm began selling rebranded Kodak Gold 200 as Fujicolor C200. Even though C200 is a cheap color film, it has a cult-like following, and many people enjoy its aesthetic and choose it over more expensive emulsions.
Bougainvillea Peeking over Wall – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X100V – Fujicolor C200 v2
This Fujicolor C200 v2 Film Simulation Recipe is an App Patron Early-Access Recipe. If you are a Fuji X Weekly App Patron, you have access to it right now. If not, no worries, as it will eventually be made available to everyone, once it is replaced by a new Early-Access Recipe. With the exception of the X-T3 and X-T30, it is fully compatible with X-Trans IV cameras: X-Pro3, X100V, X-T4, X-S10, X-E4, and X-T30 II. For fifth generation models, simply set Color Chrome FX Blue to Weak instead of Strong.
Example photographs, all camera-made JPEGs using this Fujicolor C200 v2 Film Simulation Recipe on my Fujifilm X100V and Fujifilm X-E4:
Main Street – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-E4
Dim Light & Neon Reflections – Tempe, AZ – Fujifilm X100V
Coffee Shop Christmas Tree – Phoenix, AZ – Fujifilm X100V
Backlit Potted Palm – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X100V
Afternoon Jo – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X100V
Sitting on a Backyard Bench – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X100V
Swinging Seat – Litchfield Park, AZ – Fujifilm X100V
Potted Blossoms – Litchfield Park, AZ – Fujifilm X100V
Artificial Flowers – Litchfield Park, AZ – Fujifilm X100V
AC – Litchfield Park, AZ – Fujifilm X100V
The Grinch that Stole a Golf Cart – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X100V
Autumn Path – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X100V
Autumn Canopy – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X100V
Bird on a Cross – Litchfield Park, AZ – Fujifilm X100V
Icy Morning at the Rim – Grand Canyon NP, AZ – Fujifilm X100V
Canyon Between the Pines – Grand Canyon NP, AZ – Fujifilm X100V
Morning Shadows – Grand Canyon NP, AZ – Fujifilm X100V
Comparison:
Original Fujicolor C200 Film Simulation Recipe (Fujifilm X-E4)
This new Fujicolor C200 v2 Film Simulation Recipe (Fujifilm X-E4)
Find this Film Simulation Recipe and over 300 more on the Fuji X Weekly App! Consider becoming a Patron subscriber to unlock the best App experience and to support Fuji X Weekly.
Small Clouds Above the Roof – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-T30 – Pro Neg Recipe
This Film Simulation Recipe is one that I’ve been working on and have had programmed into my Fujifilm X-T30 for some time now. It’s been through a lot of iterations, with small tweaks here and there over the last several months, before I landed on the final settings. The idea was to create a generic Kodak-ish color negative film aesthetic, perhaps something similar to ColorPlus 200 or Pro Image 100. While I did look at both of those emulsions a number of times during the development of this Recipe, I didn’t set out to strictly emulate either of them. I think there can be similarities at times to those two film stocks, but generally speaking this Recipe isn’t a replication of either. I hope that makes sense. I do think it does a good job at producing a generic color negative film aesthetic that is by-and-large Kodak-like, with occasional similarities to both ColorPlus 200 and Pro Image 100.
Pro Neg is a Fuji X Weekly App Patron Early-Access Recipe. The Fuji X Weekly App is free, yet becoming a Fuji X Weekly Patron unlocks the best App experience! One benefit of being a Patron is you get early access to some new Film Simulation Recipes. These Early-Access Recipes will eventually become available free to everyone in time, including this new one. Patrons help support Fuji X Weekly and, really, without them there would be no App. So I want to give a special “thank you” to all of the Patrons!
Beautiful Bougainvillea Blooms – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-T30 – Pro Neg Recipe
This Pro Neg Film Simulation Recipe is compatible with the Fujifilm X-T3 & X-T30, plus all X-Trans III cameras, which are the X-Pro2, X100F, X-E3, X-T2, X-T20, and X-H1. For newer cameras, you’ll have to decide on a Grain size (Small or Large), set Color Chrome FX Blue to Off, and Clarity to 0. This Recipe can also be used on the “older” GFX models (50R and 50S), but will render slightly differently.
Find the Pro Neg Recipe in the Fuji X Weekly App! If you are a Fuji X Weekly App Patron, it’s available to you right now.
Example photographs, all camera-made JPEGs captured using this Pro Neg Film Simulation Recipe on my Fujifilm X-T30:
Empty Schoolyard – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-T30
Backyard Wall View – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-T30
Hidden Triangle – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-T30
Gila River Hat – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-T30
Tree by Field 4 – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-T30
Bougainvillea Petals – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-T30
Little Cloud Between the Trees – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-T30
Twin Palms – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-T30
Palm Behind Bougainvillea Blossoms – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-T30
Suburban Colors – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-T30
Bougainvillea in the Sky – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-T30
Basketball Hoop at Dusk – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-T30
Hoop & Tree – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-T30
Court Cycle – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-T30
Dusk Saguaro – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-T30
One Fallen, One Standing – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-T30
Window Reflection – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-T30
Yellow Trumpet – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-T30
Backyard Rose Blossom – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-T30
A Fuji X Weekly reader shared with me some scans of expired Kodak Vision2 250D motion picture film that he shot on a Canon camera and had developed using the ECN-2 process. The pictures were very interesting, and I thought it would be fun to recreate the aesthetic for my Fujifilm cameras. I don’t feel that this is a 100% perfect match, but it’s pretty darn close, and definitely has the right vibe.
Kodak made Vision2 250D, a daylight-balanced color negative film, from 1997 to 2005. It was replaced by the very similar Vision3 250D. I have a Recipe already for Kodak Vision3 250D, which renders noticeably different than this Expired Kodak Vision2 250D Recipe. The Vision3 Recipe is one of my favorites, and you should definitely try it if you haven’t already. This Vision2 Recipe probably won’t be anyone’s go-to option, but it is fun to use on occasion, especially if you like warm pictures.
There are two versions: one for “newer” X-Trans IV cameras—specifically, the X-T4, X-S10, X-E4, and X-T30 II—and another for fifth-generation cameras, which are the X-H2s, X-H2, X-T5, and X-S20 (yes, the X-S20, even though it has an X-Trans IV sensor). Those with newer GFX models can use it, too, although it will render slightly different.
The Fuji X Weekly App is free, yet becoming a Fuji X Weekly Patron unlocks the best App experience! One benefit of being a Patron is you get early access to some new Film Simulation Recipes. These Early-Access Recipes will eventually become available free to everyone in time, including this new one. Patrons help support Fuji X Weekly and, really, without them there would be no App. So I want to give a special “thank you” to all of the Patrons!
Find this Expired Kodak Vision2 250D Film Simulation Recipe in the Fuji X Weekly App! If you are a Fuji X Weekly App Patron, it’s available to you right now.
Example photographs, all camera-made JPEGs using this Expired Kodak Vision2 250D Film Simulation Recipe on my Fujifilm X-E4 and Fujifilm X-T5:
X-Trans IV
Sun Below the Trees and Above a Building – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-E4
Waterless Fountain Detail – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-E4
Fountain Corrosion – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-E4
Reflection & Leaves – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-E4
Architectural Abstract – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-E4
Four Trumpets – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-E4
Sunlight through Tree Leaves – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-E4
End of the Road – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-E4
Cactus Moon – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-E4
X-Trans V
Fresh Blooms, Fading Blooms – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5
Electric Wheels – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5
Empty Pathway, Empty Chairs – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5
Indoor Joy – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5
Concrete Shapes – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5
Sun-Kissed Shrub Leaves – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5
Garden Wall – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5
Stucco & Spanish Tiles – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5
CVS Pharmacy – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5
Sunlit Bulb – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5
Red Vans – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5
Watering Pot – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5
Backyard Girl – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5
Happy Boy – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5
Bougainvillea & Blurry Tree – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5
Pink Oleander Blossoms – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5
Cactus Spikes – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5
Curious Dog – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5
Enjoying the Outdoors – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5
Sunstar through Leaves – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5
Arizona Sunset & Saguaro – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5
American Paint Horse – Litchfield Park, AZ – Fujifilm X-E4 – Kodachrome Blue
Kodak made Kodachrome color-reversal (slide) film from 1935 through 2009. There are three era’s of Kodachrome: 1935-1960, 1961-1973, and 1974-2009. Each era has its own look; the second and third eras are probably the most similar. Kodachrome is actually a B&W film, with color dyes added during development. It was a unique and complicated process. Because of how the film works, it’s the most difficult emulsion to scan, often producing a blue cast that doesn’t exist when viewing the slides through a projector or on a light table.
Professional labs will have a profile to color correct Kodachrome scans, but even that’s not usually a 100% match. As it used to be said, “There’s nothing like projected Kodachrome!” If the scans aren’t carefully corrected, the results are often significantly more blue than the slides. The feeling that all the world’s a sunny day (as Paul Simon sang) is completely gone. Once you know what to look for, it’s easy to spot these incorrectly color corrected Kodachrome images, and they’re prevalent.
Rebels – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-E4 – Kodachrome Blue
Over the last few weeks I’ve stumbled across several sets of these incorrectly color corrected Kodachromes while perusing the web, mostly from the second era of the film. I thought that the look was interesting, so I set out to recreate it on my Fujifilm X-E4; however, the process was more challenging than I had anticipated. I had assumed that Classic Chrome would be the best film simulation to base this new Film Simulation Recipe on—it was the obvious choice, right?—but I couldn’t get it to look right. It was actually the fifth film sim I tried before I decided that I was finally on the right track.
After four different modifications, I felt I got it as close as I could, and had a reasonable facsimile of the film when not appropriately color corrected. Interestingly, I compared my Recipe to some incorrectly colored Kodachrome 64 film scans in my collection—some frames I captured on a Canon AE-1 back in 1999 that (when I later had them scanned) the lab rendered too blue—and the resemblance was striking. I made one more small change to the Recipe to get it even closer, and called it good. One thing that I wish was possible is a little more color saturation, but +4 is the highest option; if +5 or maybe +6 were available, I’d have bumped Color just a tad higher.
Actual Kodachrome 64 film — improperly color-corrected scan
Actual Kodachrome 64 film — improperly color-corrected scan
Actual Kodachrome 64 film — improperly color-corrected scan
This Kodachrome Blue Film Simulation Recipe is compatible with the Fujifilm X-T4, X-S10, X-E4, and X-T30 II cameras. For X-Trans V models, set Color Chrome FX Blue to Weak. You can use it on newer GFX cameras, but it will render slightly differently, and I recommend setting Shadow to +1. This isn’t a Recipe that I suspect will be anyone’s go-to for everyday use—I’d look at Kodachrome 64 or Kodachrome II for general photography—but it’s a fun one that I think some of you will really appreciate in certain circumstances. I personally like the retro feelings that Kodachrome Blue produces.
The Fuji X Weekly App is free, yet becoming a Fuji X Weekly Patron unlocks the best App experience! One benefit of being a Patron is you get early access to some new Film Simulation Recipes, such as this one. These Early-Access Recipes will eventually become available free to everyone in time. Patrons help support Fuji X Weekly and, really, without them there would be no App. So I want to give a special “thank you” to all of the Patrons!
Find Kodachrome Blue in the Fuji X Weekly App! If you are a Fuji X Weekly App Patron, it’s available to you right now.
Example photographs, all camera-made JPEGs captured using this Kodachrome Blue Film Simulation Recipe on my Fujifilm X-E4:
Play Garden Tools on a Wall – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-E4
Stormy Day Bougainvillea – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-E4
Growing Bougainvillea – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-E4
Bougainvillea Day – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-E4
Bougainvillea Blue – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-E4
Building Storm over Street Lamp – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-E4
Three Palms over Building – Buckeye, AZ. -Fujifilm X-E4
Palm Lights – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-E4
Corner Tower – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-E4
Neighborhood Roof – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-E4
Concrete Roof Tiles – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-E4
Sunlight From Above – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-E4
Little Blue Rainbow – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-E4
Red Umbrella on a Sunny Day – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-E4
Water Angels – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-E4
Shoda – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-E4
Fake Flowers on a Table – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-E4
Potted Palm Plant – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-E4
Fresh Flowers – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-E4
Two Way Stop – Avondale, AZ – Fujifilm X-E4
Underpass – Avondale, AZ – Fujifilm X-E4
Taillight – Avondale, AZ – Fujifilm X-E4
Two Shoes – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-E4
Unexpected Portrait – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-E4
Guitarist – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-E4
Peace – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-E4
Attic Window – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-E4
Yellow Honeysuckle Trumpet – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-E4
For those with an iPhone, you can access Fujifilm Film Simulation Recipes right on your wrist! With the latest Fuji X Weekly update for iOS (1.6.0), the App is available for Apple Watch. If your iPhone didn’t automatically update the App, be sure to manually do it now.
Why might you need Film Simulation Recipes on your Apple Watch? First, for some it will be easier to enter a Recipe into your camera with the parameters on your wrist, rather than trying to do it while holding a phone (especially when out in the field). Second, if you left your phone behind (say, in the car), you can still access a particular Recipe if you have an Apple Watch on your wrist—a scenario that actually happened during the process of creating this update. Third, the Random Recipe selector is more readily available, and can make your photo outing even more fun. Fourth, the Fuji X Weekly Apple Watch App has a unique feature.
On the Apple Watch, the Fuji X Weekly App will display the five most recently-viewed Film Simulation Recipes (it will begin tracking this once the App has been updated). If you viewed a particular Recipe, then maybe looked at a couple others, but now want to go back to the first, it’s easy, because the App keeps track of the last five viewed—this is whether the Recipes were opened on the Apple Watch or the iPhone. This is also for the Random Recipe selector, so you could have the Fuji X Weekly App pick (for example) three different Random Recipes to use on a photowalk, and you’ll find all three in the Recently Viewed list on your watch. Cool, right?! This is the new feature that’s only available on the Apple Watch.
If you are a Fuji X Weekly App Patron subscriber, whatever Filtering you have on your iPhone will carry over to the watch App. So if you have (for example) Filter by Fujifilm X-T4 and Filter by Black & White selected, the watch will only display B&W Film Simulation Recipes that are compatible with the X-T4. The Apple Watch mirrors whatever Filter options are currently selected on the phone App. Also, multi-colored Stars for Favorite Recipes behaves the same on the Apple Watch as the iPhone; you cannot add or modify a Star on the watch—only the phone—but it will display the same on the Apple Watch as the iPhone. Oh, and any Custom Recipes you’ve created in the phone App will be displayed in the watch. The best App experience—including the best Apple Watch App experience—is reserved for Patron subscribers!
Any notes that you have added underneath the Film Simulation Recipes on the Fuji X Weekly iPhone App will be displayed in the Apple Watch; you cannot type any notes on the watch App, only on the phone, but you can view the notes you’ve already added.
The Recipes on the Apple Watch are sorted A-Z. Whatever Sort option (Z-A, New-to-Old, etc.) you have selected in the phone App will not carry over to the watch. The logic behind this is that you’re not likely going to use the Apple Watch to browse Film Simulation Recipes, but are most likely seeking a specific Recipe, and it’s probably going to be significantly easier to find when displayed in alphabetical order. For this reason, the watch will only Sort A-Z, and the other options are unavailable.
When you update the Fuji X Weekly App on your iPhone (if your phone didn’t automatically do it), be sure to open the App on your phone first. The Fuji X Weekly App should automatically be added to your Apple Watch, but if not, here’s the fix: open the Apple Watch App, tap My Watch, scroll to Fuji X Weekly, and select Install. If that doesn’t work, ensure that the iOS on your iPhone and Apple Watch are up-to-date. For those on Android phones or with a third-party watch, this update doesn’t affect you, but I am looking into the feasibility of potentially adding that compatibility in the future; however I’m not sure at this time if it will happen, and (if so) when. For those with an iPhone and Apple Watch, I hope that you enjoy this update!
Don’t have the Fuji X Weekly App? Download for free today!
