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Using FujiFilm SDK on a Camera Voids Its Warranty

fujifilm-x.com

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Re: Using FujiFilm SDK on a Camera Voids Its Warranty

#21

Post by rosndo »

hexo wrote: post #18
Manuel_D wrote: post #10

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I think it's totally valid to void warranty when customers modify product software. If users do things like disable temperature limits and mess up their camera, then I see no reason why the company (and be extension, other customers) should foot the bill. Giving away the SDK, regardless of warranty revocation, is a step ahead of most camera manufacturers.

No, it's not valid. At all. I think it is illegal in some countries and should be illegal everywhere. It was enough of these "practices".

Not illegal, just not binding.

Re: Using FujiFilm SDK on a Camera Voids Its Warranty

#22

Post by Melatonic »

ciprian_craciun wrote: post #11

I am an amateur photographer, and I can't understand why the major camera brands (Canon, Nikon, Sony, Fuji, etc.) aren't open at least to the concept of SDK's to control their cameras (let alone opening the lens mount specifications)... It would make their cameras much more flexible and useful, thus perhaps gaining some users that currently use smartphones where it seems there is greater control over and integration…

The Sony mirrorless cameras used to have some third party "apps" that were pretty cool but apparently are now all discontinued. And what the Magic Lantern team did for Canon cameras (especially the 5DmkIII) was absolutely amazing. I still miss features to this day.

If you are looking for a new camera also definitely checkout the new Panasonic Lumix line of full frame cameras - they are damn amazing. Extremely intuitive UI, tons of features you do not find in other cameras, amazing video (especially with an external recorder - you can do 6K raw video) and built like a tank. And they all use L-Mount which is shared among multiple camera manufacturers with tons of lenses available from Sigma and others. The Panasonic lenses are pricey but also extremely high quality (probably because they also design super high end cinema glass)

Re: Using FujiFilm SDK on a Camera Voids Its Warranty

#23

Post by ceeg »

opencl wrote: post #13
Manuel_D wrote: post #10

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I think it's totally valid to void warranty when customers modify product software. If users do things like disable temperature limits and mess up their camera, then I see no reason why the company (and be extension, other customers) should foot the bill. Giving away the SDK, regardless of warranty revocation, is a step ahead of most camera manufacturers.

The SDK basically gives remote shutter control and file transfer. There is nothing in it that could plausibly damage anything.

wouldnt shutter control give the possibility of the image sensor overheating from extended exposures? I could absolutely be talking out of my ass but I thought I remembered that being a risk when I flashed ML to my Canon for star photos.

Re: Using FujiFilm SDK on a Camera Voids Its Warranty

#24

Post by judge2020 »

spaetzleesser wrote: post #5
ISL wrote: post #4

Kind of surprising to see Fujifilm do this. On the flip side, it suggests that there are probably some interesting things that are possible with the SDK.

Not so sure about that. I bet it was just some lawyers adding the clause.

Here are the header files for the main api (i imagine) and the X-S10[0]. There's a lot of stuff you can do in there.

0: https://gist.github.com/judge2020/6ed181c1367979333baec9484e...

Re: Using FujiFilm SDK on a Camera Voids Its Warranty

#25

Post by EMIRELADERO »

> Subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, Fujifilm hereby grants to you a limited, non-exclusive, non-transferable, and royalty-free license to;

(a) use, modify and make a limited number of copies of the SDK solely for the purpose of the Development;

Later in the same agreement...

> 3.5 You shall not (and shall not permit others), to reverse engineer, reverse compile, or disassemble the SDK in any way(in whole or in part); and you shall not (and shall not permit others) to use any method to trace, decompile, or disassemble the SDK.

So, which one is it?

Re: Using FujiFilm SDK on a Camera Voids Its Warranty

#26

Post by ciprian_craciun »

ska wrote: post #19
ciprian_craciun wrote: post #11

I am an amateur photographer, and I can't understand why the major camera brands (Canon, Nikon, Sony, Fuji, etc.) aren't open at least to the concept of SDK's to control their cameras (let alone opening the lens mount specifications)... It would make their cameras much more flexible and useful, thus perhaps gaining some users that currently use smartphones where it seems there is greater control over and integration…

> I am an amateur photographer, and I can't understand why the major camera brands (Canon, Nikon, Sony, Fuji, etc.) aren't open ... How much are you willing to pay for this? I suspect they've all looked at it, and decided the ROI wasn't worth it.

Well, the camera is already ~1.5-2K EUR (without lens), thus I think the price already covers it... But if I must put a price on it, I would say ~100-200 EUR, but then it should come with at least 5 years of updates, and it should work on Linux. :)

Also, just supporting some basic features, like shutter and all the exposure settings, shouldn't be that hard... I bet all of these are already implemented, because many cameras have smartphone applications that do allow to control all of these.

Thus, the largest cost would be mostly documentation, packaging and support for the various OS. Which, although might end up being quite a non trivial amount, it could be seen as money well invested in brand building, especially since now, in 2022, only professionals or invested amateurs are buying these dedicated cameras...

Re: Using FujiFilm SDK on a Camera Voids Its Warranty

#27

Post by hadlock »

ciprian_craciun wrote: post #11

I am an amateur photographer, and I can't understand why the major camera brands (Canon, Nikon, Sony, Fuji, etc.) aren't open at least to the concept of SDK's to control their cameras (let alone opening the lens mount specifications)... It would make their cameras much more flexible and useful, thus perhaps gaining some users that currently use smartphones where it seems there is greater control over and integration…

Gating features allows them to wait for a future model to release them there and drive sales. There's not much blood left to wring from the digital camera stone.

Re: Using FujiFilm SDK on a Camera Voids Its Warranty

#28

Post by Manuel_D »

hexo wrote: post #18
Manuel_D wrote: post #10

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I think it's totally valid to void warranty when customers modify product software. If users do things like disable temperature limits and mess up their camera, then I see no reason why the company (and be extension, other customers) should foot the bill. Giving away the SDK, regardless of warranty revocation, is a step ahead of most camera manufacturers.

No, it's not valid. At all. I think it is illegal in some countries and should be illegal everywhere. It was enough of these "practices".

If I swap out my car's engine with a more powerful one and screw up the drivetrain will warranty cover it? If I load broken firmware onto my device that screws it up, why should the company be on the hook? Replacing firmware is no different than replacing any other component.

What countries force companies to provide warranty when users load faulty firmware onto devices?

Re: Using FujiFilm SDK on a Camera Voids Its Warranty

#29

Post by pdpi »

ska wrote: post #19
ciprian_craciun wrote: post #11

I am an amateur photographer, and I can't understand why the major camera brands (Canon, Nikon, Sony, Fuji, etc.) aren't open at least to the concept of SDK's to control their cameras (let alone opening the lens mount specifications)... It would make their cameras much more flexible and useful, thus perhaps gaining some users that currently use smartphones where it seems there is greater control over and integration…

> I am an amateur photographer, and I can't understand why the major camera brands (Canon, Nikon, Sony, Fuji, etc.) aren't open ... How much are you willing to pay for this? I suspect they've all looked at it, and decided the ROI wasn't worth it.

I'm not sure they have looked at it, and I'm not sure they'd even examine this from an ROI point of view.

Camera makers (even camera divisions in more "high-tech" companies like Sony) are very much traditional hardware-first companies, I'm fairly certain he idea of opening up the cameras is just alien to them.

Re: Using FujiFilm SDK on a Camera Voids Its Warranty

#30

Post by muhehe »

ceeg wrote: post #23
opencl wrote: post #13

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The SDK basically gives remote shutter control and file transfer. There is nothing in it that could plausibly damage anything.

wouldnt shutter control give the possibility of the image sensor overheating from extended exposures? I could absolutely be talking out of my ass but I thought I remembered that being a risk when I flashed ML to my Canon for star photos.

Basically every camera I have had has a "bulb", which is pretty much as-long-as-you-want exposure. Never heard of sensor overheating even after hours of exposure.
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