Here's a quick Tip for Nikon Users: Easy Firmware Updates with NX Studio.
Check out the related YouTube video for a visual step by step overview and other talk.
If you’re not already using NX Studio, which is available for anyone who owns a Nikon camera, you should check it out. One of its helpful features is the ability to easily find updates related to firmware. Don’t forget that lenses also have firmware, not just cameras! So, it's a good idea to check if you have the latest version.
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| The NX Studio website page. |
For example, I noticed recently that both the 40mm F2 and 28mm F2.8 lenses had firmware updates. With NX Studio, it’s pretty straightforward. It’s functional, and in my experience, it works well for this. Here’s how you do it:
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| The firmware list in NX Studio. |
Here's the main process in the current version of NX Studio:
- Go into the "Help" menu and select "Check for updates."
- It may take a little while for the window to show up. It will also mention if there are updates for NX Studio itself in this new pop-up window.
- From there, select the "Preferences" button and another window will show up allowing you to select types of devices like DSLRs, Mirrorless, or lenses. Pick what types of gear to show.
- The previous window will fill up with a list of equipment and their current firmware. To check cameras and lenses, attach the lens you want to check and then go into your cameras menu. On Nikon cameras it will likely be in the "Setup" tab under a firmware setting.
- The firmware information screen should show what the camera and lens are using.
The firmware screen on the Nikon Z5 camera.
Firmware updates always carry some risk. Make sure your battery is fully charged before starting, and follow the instructions carefully. In my case, the firmware for the 28mm F2.8 was last updated on 8/19/2024. The update was said to include custom settings for the focus ring’s rotation range, making it nonlinear. It wouldn't work on the Z5 but for the purpose of making the video and curiosity to see if the update makes focus more consistent, I wanted to update the lens.
To update the lens firmware on my Nikon Z5, I formatted a memory card in the camera first. You’ll want to follow Nikon’s instructions for that. After formatting, I downloaded the firmware file from Nikon’s website and placed it in the main folder of the memory card (not in any subfolders). Then, I safely ejected the card from Windows and popped it back into the camera. From there, I went into the camera’s setup menu and found the option to update the lens firmware. It was currently at version 1.0, and I was able to update it to version 1.10.
The process was pretty smooth. Once the update was done, I turned off the camera, powered it back on, and confirmed that the lens was now running firmware version 1.10.
I also checked the firmware on my 24-50mm F4-6.3 lens. Turns out there was an update for that one too, from version 1.0 to 1.01. The update fixed a bug related to the camera startup time when the lens was in the process of extending. It’s a small but worthwhile update, so I decided to go ahead and install it as well. The process was the same: download the file, reformat the card in the camera, put it on the memory card, insert the card into the camera, and update the firmware through the setup menu.
So far, everything seems to be working well. Firmware updates can be a bit risky, but Nikon’s process has been solid in my experience. Just be careful, follow the steps, and make sure your battery is fully charged before you start.
I hope you found this tip helpful!