Aerochrome v2 — Fujifilm X-T3/X-T30 Full Spectrum Infrared Film Simulation Recipe

Red Coast – Fort Bragg, CA – Fujifilm X-T4 ES – This new Aerochrome v2 Recipe

Last year, I started my infrared photography journey when I purchased a Fujifilm X-T4 ES full-spectrum IR camera. Since then, I’ve published seven infrared Film Simulation Recipes for the X-T4 ES, which can also be used on full-spectrum converted X-Trans IV (except the X-T3 & X-T30) and X-Trans V cameras. You must have a full-spectrum model to use these Recipes, which requires an expensive and invasive procedure from a third-party vendor; otherwise, the X-T4 ES (“Extended Spectrum”) is a full-spectrum camera briefly offered by Fujifilm to the general public (it’s very difficult to find, but in my opinion totally worth owning). If you have a “normal” (non-converted) camera, these Recipes will not work.

One camera that people have commonly converted (as common as it gets, anyway) is the Fujifilm X-T3. While the X-T3 is X-Trans IV, it has JPEG options more similar to X-Trans III—it’s missing some that are available on later X-Trans IV models. Because of this, my seven infrared Recipes won’t work on a full-spectrum converted X-T3 or X-T30. Dan Allan has a full-spectrum X-T3, and he really wanted to use my Aerochrome v2 Recipe, so he modified it to be compatible with his camera. It’s not 100% the same, but pretty close, and quite nice. Those with a full-spectrum converted X-T3 or X-T30 can now join the infrared Recipe fun!

Above Left: Original Fujifilm X-T4 ES Aerochrome v2 Recipe; Above Right: This new Aerochrome v2 Recipe for the X-T3/X-T30.

Dan was kind to share his modification with me (and all of you), and also allowed me to publish his wonderful photos in this article, which you’ll find below (thank you, Dan!). If you have an X-Trans III full-spectrum model, this Recipe will work by ignoring Color Chrome Effect, but it will render a little different (feel free to try, though). If you have a Fujifilm X-T4 ES—or an X-Trans IV (other than the X-T3 & X-T30) or X-Trans V camera that has been full-spectrum modified—this Recipe will work by choosing Grain size Small, Color Chrome FX Blue set to Off, and Clarity set to 0. Depending on your preferences, you might actually like this version a bit better. The blue sky is the most obvious difference (interestingly, it seems slightly less divergent in Dan’s pictures than in the set above), but there are other more subtle variances; however, the overall vibe is the same between the original Aerochrome V2 Recipe and the new version. This Recipe requires three filters: Kolari Vision IR Chrome filterHoya G(XO) Yellow-Green filter and Tiffen Yellow 2 #8 filter. The IR Chrome filter is intended for infrared photography, while the Yellow-Green and Yellow filters are for B&W film. I’m not sure if the order matters, but I have the Yellow filter first (closest to the lens), the IR Chrome next, and the Yellow-Green last (furthest from the lens).

Edit: Dan informed me that he has the IR Chrome filter first (closest to the lens), followed by the G(XO), and then the Yellow 2 #8 (furthest from the lens). He isn’t sure if the order matters, but it might. He also wanted to mention that his conversion was with Kolari, with their anti-reflection glass, which might have a minimal impact on the outcome vs the X-T4 ES.

Filters: Kolari Vision IR Chrome, Hoya G(XO) Yellow-Green & Tiffen Yellow 2 #8
Film Simulation: Velvia
Dynamic Range: DR400
Grain Effect: Strong
Color Chrome Effect: Strong
White Balance: 5000K, +7 Red & +7 Blue
Highlight: +2
Shadow: 0
Color: +4
Sharpness: 0

High ISO NR: -4
ISO: Auto, up to ISO 6400
Exposure Compensation: 0 to +2/3 (typically)

Example photographs, all camera-made JPEGs captured by Dan Allen using this Aerochrome v2 Film Simulation Recipe on his full-spectrum converted Fujifilm X-T3:

Full-Spectrum Fujifilm X-T3 & Aerochrome v2 Recipe — Photo by Dan Allen
Full-Spectrum Fujifilm X-T3 & Aerochrome v2 Recipe — Photo by Dan Allen
Full-Spectrum Fujifilm X-T3 & Aerochrome v2 Recipe — Photo by Dan Allen
Full-Spectrum Fujifilm X-T3 & Aerochrome v2 Recipe — Photo by Dan Allen
Full-Spectrum Fujifilm X-T3 & Aerochrome v2 Recipe — Photo by Dan Allen
Full-Spectrum Fujifilm X-T3 & Aerochrome v2 Recipe — Photo by Dan Allen
Full-Spectrum Fujifilm X-T3 & Aerochrome v2 Recipe — Photo by Dan Allen
Full-Spectrum Fujifilm X-T3 & Aerochrome v2 Recipe — Photo by Dan Allen
Full-Spectrum Fujifilm X-T3 & Aerochrome v2 Recipe — Photo by Dan Allen
Full-Spectrum Fujifilm X-T3 & Aerochrome v2 Recipe — Photo by Dan Allen
Full-Spectrum Fujifilm X-T3 & Aerochrome v2 Recipe — Photo by Dan Allen
Full-Spectrum Fujifilm X-T3 & Aerochrome v2 Recipe — Photo by Dan Allen
Full-Spectrum Fujifilm X-T3 & Aerochrome v2 Recipe — Photo by Dan Allen
Full-Spectrum Fujifilm X-T3 & Aerochrome v2 Recipe — Photo by Dan Allen
Full-Spectrum Fujifilm X-T3 & Aerochrome v2 Recipe — Photo by Dan Allen
Full-Spectrum Fujifilm X-T3 & Aerochrome v2 Recipe — Photo by Dan Allen
Full-Spectrum Fujifilm X-T3 & Aerochrome v2 Recipe — Photo by Dan Allen
Full-Spectrum Fujifilm X-T3 & Aerochrome v2 Recipe — Photo by Dan Allen
Full-Spectrum Fujifilm X-T3 & Aerochrome v2 Recipe — Photo by Dan Allen
Full-Spectrum Fujifilm X-T3 & Aerochrome v2 Recipe — Photo by Dan Allen

Find this Aerochrome v2 and other IR Recipes in the Fuji X Weekly App, available for both Android and Apple.

See also:
10 Frames: Infrared in the Desert — White Sands National Park with Aerochrome v2
Philadelphia in Aerochrome — Infrared Photography in the City of Brotherly Love

Deal Alert: Fujifilm X-T3 WW Discounted

Fujifilm just discounted the X-T3 WW, which is an X-T3 without a battery charger (USB charging only). The X-T3 used to be Fujifilm’s flagship model until the X-T4 was released two years ago, but they still offer it brand-new because it is a best-selling model, even outselling the superior X-T4. The X-T3 WW is one of the absolute best bargains available today, but now (through June 5th, apparently) the X-T3 WW is an even better bargain! If you’ve thought about buying one, it’s a really good time to do so.

This post contains affiliate links, and if you make a purchase using my links I’ll be compensated a small amount for it.

The Fujifilm X-T3 WW body-only is $100 off, now only $999.95! Amazon B&H
The Fujifilm X-T3 WW + 18-55mm kit is $200 off, now only $1,299.95! Amazon B&H

A few months back I published an article, Best Fujifilm Cameras Under $1,000, and the X-T3 WW was listed as “Best Value Just Above $1,000,” but now that it’s on sale it would be my best value recommendation for $1,000 or less. The X-T3 also made it to number three on my 10 Most Important Fujifilm X-Trans Cameras list.

Rumor: Classic Negative + Other X-Pro3 Updates Not Coming to X-T3 or X-T30 Anytime Soon

Fujifilm X-Pro3 Blog

Fujifilm announced that the X-T3 will receive a couple of firmware updates, one in December and one in January, which will improve the camera, but neither will include the new features of the X-Pro3. No Classic Negative. No clarity or curves or custom grain, etc., etc. No ability to save white balance shifts with each custom preset. There are a bunch of new tools that Fujifilm has included on the X-Pro3, but none of them will be in these upcoming firmware updates. That doesn’t mean they won’t make their way to the X-T3 and X-T30, it just means it’ll be in the spring at the earliest. And perhaps not all of the new features will ever be added to the X-T3 and X-T30. You might have to wait until the X-T5 and X-T50 (they’ll skip the number four because it’s unlucky in Japan), or buy the X-Pro3. I bet the upcoming X100V will have the same tools as the X-Pro3, so there’s that, too. I was hoping that Fujifilm would add the capabilities of the new camera right away to the two “old” models that share the same sensor and processor, but it looks like they’re delaying it for awhile. I just hope that they don’t delay it indefinitely.