I’ve received feedback from a number of Fuji X Weekly App users with this suggestion: explain better the benefits of becoming a Patron. I’ve heard stories like, “I’ve had the app for awhile, but I didn’t realize how much better it was when you subscribe. I wish I’d known this months ago!” Let me lay out for you the benefits of becoming a Fuji X Weekly App Patron.
First, before I get too far into this, let me briefly explain what the App is and why you should go download it right now, if you don’t already have it on your phone. The Fuji X Weekly App is a mobile film simulation recipe library containing over 175 recipes for Fujifilm cameras. Film simulation recipes are JPEG settings that allow you to achieve various looks, many based on classic film stocks, straight-out-of-camera without the need to edit. These settings save you time, simplify the photographic process, and make capturing pictures even more enjoyable. If you own a Fujifilm camera, you should try these recipes and have the App on your phone. So take a moment right now to download the Fuji X Weekly App if you don’t already have it.
My film simulation recipes are completely free, and the Fuji X Weekly App is also free. There is absolutely no cost to you. It’s my gift to the Fujifilm community—it’s a real honor if you find it beneficial to your photography, as I’m happy to be helpful.
Within the App there is an option to become a Fuji X Weekly Patron (click the gear icon), which is $19.99 (USD + tax) for an annual subscription. Why should you subscribe? What benefits do Patrons get?
Becoming a Patron unlocks the best App experience.
This app does have some advanced features that can be unlocked by becoming a Fuji X Weekly Patron! These advanced features include filtering by sensor or camera, as well as by film simulation or color/B&W, and the ability to favorite recipes for quick access. Let’s take a closer look at the benefits of these features.
Filtering
If you are using the free version of the App, you have to look at each recipe individually to discover which cameras it is compatible with. For example, if you open the Agfa Optima 200 recipe on the App and scroll down a little, it lists all of the fully compatible cameras that this recipe will work on. If your camera is listed, you can use the recipe, and if your camera isn’t listed, you probably need to keep looking. Alternatively, you could cross-reference the recipes using this website, which are sorted by sensor, as a method for narrowing your search.
There is an easier way, if you are a Fuji X Weekly App Patron.
If your camera is, let’s say, a Fujifilm X-S10, you can Filter By Sensor, and select X-Trans IV, and you’ll find the Agfa Optima 200 recipe in the list, because that recipe is compatible with X-Trans IV cameras. If your camera is, let’s say, an X-E3, you can Filter By Sensor, and you’ll find the Agfa Optima 200 recipe in that list, too, because that recipe is also compatible with X-Trans III cameras. Another option is to Filter By Camera. You might think that the Agfa Optima 200 recipe would still show up—and it will for the X-E3—but it won’t show up for the X-S10. Why? Because that recipe isn’t fully compatible with all X-Trans IV cameras, and the X-S10 is one of those that the recipe won’t fully work with; however, it’s 99% compatible, so with one change you can use it. You see, newer X-Trans IV cameras have Grain Size (either Small or Large) that you must choose, a feature not found on older X-Trans IV and X-Trans III cameras, so that’s why it is only 99% compatible.
You have two options to narrow down the recipes that you can use—Sensor or Camera—and understanding these tools can help you find the recipe that you’re looking for. If you want a recipe that is 100% compatible with your camera, then Filter By Camera is what you want to use. Note that you can only choose one camera. If you want to find the most recipes that will work with your camera, but perhaps some aren’t 100% compatible (like Agfa Optima 200 on the X-S10) and you might have to make a choice on a setting (like Grain Size), or accept that it might produce a slightly different look (more on this in a moment), or you might even have to sort through some non-compatible recipes, then Filter By Sensor is what you want to use. Note that you can choose as many sensors as you’d like. If you have an X-S10 and if you Filter By Camera, you’ll find over 60 recipes that are 100% compatible with your camera. If you Filter By Sensor, choosing X-Trans III, X-Trans IV, and GFX, you’ll find over 140! Yes, you can use those 140+ recipes, but that’s a lot to go through.
Other cameras are in a similar situation. Bayer sensor cameras only have six recipes, but you can also use X-Trans I and X-Trans II recipes, although the results will be slightly different. You might like it, you might not, but you won’t know unless you try. If you Filter By Sensor and choose X-Trans I, X-Trans II, and Bayer, you’ll find nearly 40 recipes that will work on your Bayer camera. It’s a similar story if you have an X-Trans II camera. For GFX, many X-Trans IV recipes are compatible with GFX, but will render just slightly different. The bottom line is that you can Filter By Camera and get a limited list of fully compatible recipes that will look as intended on your camera, or you can Filter By Sensor (and even select multiple sensors) and potentially get a much bigger list of recipes that may or may not be good options for your camera model—you get to decide how adventurous you want to be.
In many cases, no matter if you Filter By Sensor or Filter By Camera, there’s still going to be a lot of recipes to choose from, and it can be overwhelming. That’s where Filter By Simulation or Filter By Color/BW comes in handy. If you know that you want a B&W recipe, you can remove all of the color recipes from the list, and if you know that you want a color recipe, you can remove all of the B&W recipes from the list. If you know that you want a Classic Chrome recipe, you can display only those that use Classic Chrome, or if you know that you want an Eterna recipe, you can display only those that use Eterna. These are great tools to really narrow down your search, which will save you time!
Fuji X Weekly App Patrons have a much easier time finding the recipes that they’re looking for. Yes, you could scroll through 175+ recipes individually to find the ones for your camera, or you can use the Filter options to quickly locate exactly what you want, and only Patrons can do that.
Favoriting
Another wonderful tool that is unlocked by becoming a Patron is the ability to Favorite recipes. Once you’ve narrowed down your list with the Filtering options, you can “Star” recipes, and they’ll show up at the top of the list. To Favorite a recipe, with the recipe open, tap the star in the upper-right corner. The Filtering options apply to Favorite recipes, which is demonstrated in the above screenshots. What’s great about this is that, if you have multiple generations of sensors, say X-Trans II and X-Trans III, you can Favorite recipes for both, and when you Filter for your X-Trans II camera, only X-Trans II recipes will show up, and the X-Trans III recipes that you put a Star on won’t display, and vice versa. You can use the Favorite tool to keep track of the recipes that you currently have programmed into your camera, or to list the ones that you want to someday try, or to note the ones that you’ve used and you really like.
Becoming a Patron unlocks early-access recipes.
Fuji X Weekly Patrons also get early access to some new film simulation recipes! There are currently 10 “early-access” film simulation recipes on the App (marked by an aperture symbol), that only Patrons can view. These recipes will eventually be free to everyone, but right now they’re only available to Patrons. As new early-access recipes are cycled into the App for Patrons, the others will be made available to all. My favorite Patron early-access recipes currently on the App are Vintage Color, Old Kodak, Pushed CineStill 800T, Kodacolor VR, and Vintage Negative. Getting early-access to some new film simulation recipes is a fun reward for your support.
Becoming a Patron supports Fuji X Weekly
Nothing is free. My film simulation recipes are free to you, both on this website and on the App, but that doesn’t mean that they’re free—it just means someone else is paying for it. As you can imagine, creating and maintaining an app isn’t cheap. Same for a website. Creating and sharing these recipes takes a lot of time and effort and sometimes even money. All of this is to say that Patrons support the App and website and future film simulation recipes and more! Their support leads to other great things, too, like the Community Recipes page, and even recipes for Ricoh cameras. Patrons partner with Fuji X Weekly for the benefit of the Fujifilm community and beyond, and without their support all of these great things, including the App, wouldn’t happen. Also, if you found film simulation recipes and the app useful to your photography, this is a great way to show your appreciation.
I want to give a big “thank you” to all of the Fuji X Weekly App Patrons! If you’re not already, consider becoming a Patron today.
To conclude, Fuji X Weekly Patrons unlock some great tools for the best app experience, plus they get early-access to some new recipes while supporting Fuji X Weekly for the benefit of the Fujifilm community and more. It’s a win-win!
I want to mention here at the very end of this article that we’re busy building a big App update that will add some great new functions and features. We’re working hard to get this update out before December, and with any luck it will happen. I think you’ll really appreciate these improvements, as they’ll make the Fuji X Weekly App even better!
Learn more about the Fuji X Weekly App here.