Hyper Utility Software

[illegitimati]

I am planning on purchasing a Fuji S2 Pro however, I am finding out that some models donot have the Hyper Utility Software included with it. Do the USA/Canadian models have this utility included? Is this software known as something else?

If I purchased a USA/Canadian version from a Canadian vendor, will Fuji USA cover the camera?

Thanks for your help.

[Tim]

The US model comes bundled with the software, and an AC adaptor, while the Canadian models have neither. Canada also has it's own warranty center, so cameras are returned there for service.

Regards,


Tim

[Tom V]

There is no "USA/Canadian" version (package). The Canadian version (sometimes called a "North American Version") is not the same as the US version.

[jknights]

Why not buy a US version as it seems like a much better deal.

Is the warranty not transferable between US and Canada. ?

I bought mine in UK and quite frankly the UK service is pretty hopeless if you phone Tech Support about a technical question.

[MikePL]

And for those of us who do not have the Hyper-Utility included, where can we download the software? I've looked for it at fujifilm.com but with no positive result.

[Jacques Gratton]

Available at VISTEK (Toronto, Canada) : http://www.vistek.ca/details/detail_over.asp?eCode=207570&Specs=N&Box=N
Price in CAN$

[lightwrangler]

From a previous posting:

"... the camera and full kit (with the hyper utility software) either were, or still are, offered seperately here in the great white north. The AC adapter was not included in either. I paid $45 cdn for mine.

I don't know why Fuji Canada decided to split up the camera and the software, but they did. People, american or canadian, who didn't get the hyper utility software were NOT being ripped off and neither were those who did not get the AC adapter. It wasn't included in any package. While there may have been unscrupulous dealers, the ones that I dealt with when getting quotes here in Toronto were very clear about the difference."
(end quote)

The bottom line is that if you want the Hyper Utility software in Canada, you may purchase it with the camera, if you don't then you don't have to buy it. What seems to be confusing my American friends is the choice that Canadian purchasers have as opposed to the lack of choice available in the US.

BTW, for MikePC - you may not be able to find the software as a download since it is an item that has to be paid for in one way or another. I'm sure that Fuji will sell it to you.

[stevebri]

I bought my S2 in the UK and then paid over £100 pounds UK for the software...

It should be included in the RRP, whatever country and I think Fuji are not winning freinds by doing this.

SO... I have made my own LEGAL backup copy of this software and I am putting it up on KAZAA. A LEGAL peer to peer sharing site.

So if anybody wants to borrow my LEGAL, PAID FOR backup copy for evaluation purposes, then go there....

If the S2pro site moderators wish to condem me and ban me .. so be it...

Steve

[Jacques Gratton]

You do realise that by putting the software available on Kazaa you're stealing the creativity and the skills of the developers and of Fuji. Be responsible and remove it, please.

In Canada, I'm glad I had the choice to pay an extra or not for the hyperutility software. This way, you can buy a body with the full kit (3200 CAN$ in December 2002) - AND - buy a second body (2900 CAN$) without having to pay again for the software.

Makes sense? Think about it.

Jacques

[stevebri]

Fair point but how many people buy second bodies...? Especially when technology is moving so fast...?

If Converter LE was just a tad better and offered some manipulation then I would agree with you, however, I don't like buying half a product.

This camera is aimed at pro's, semi pro's and serious amateurs, so including EX or making LE better should have ben a priority.

My Canon G2 has better RAW software and produces great shots straight out of the box, and it's aimed at amateurs...

Also, do some maths... Fuji's biggest market and therefore biggest potential income for software development IS the USA, the only place they give it away.

I also didn't get an AC adapter so I cannot clean my chip... is that proper...?

I think you and I would hate to buy a car with an 'LE' gearbox say with just forward and no reverse, but had to pay more for one offering full control, yet over your border they are giving them away free.

I have thought about your point of view quite a bit before I replied and I think you have some valid points, however I don't think they outweigh mine. i feel strongly that a product should do what it says it can do for the price, not only if you buy the much needed extra's

If Fuji revamp LE and give users some degree of control then I'll take it off.

Point of fact, the Canon can with camera shooting software too, does anyone know if Nikon, Kodak, Canon or Contax make their clients pay extra for software..?

And finally....

I received some 'free' Photoshop software 'bundled' with my S2, this I don't need because it comes with every scanner,printer and consumer camera known to man. Pro's et al already have manipulation software so why not save money and not give this stuff away...?

Sorry to harp on.

Steve

[Tom V]

The software in the "USA Package" is not being thrown in for free. People who buy the USA package are paying more than if they bought a package without the software (Canadian Package).

Buying the Canadian Package (or any other regional package without the full software / AC Adapter) allows the purchaser to decide for themself if they want to buy software and/or adapter or not.

The cost of the US package vs. the cost of the Canadian package plus the cost of the software and adapter is approximately the same.

Distributing unauthorized duplicate software, is software piracy. It is unethical and illegal. It hurts anybody that makes their living creating and selling intellectual property (photographers, artists, software developers, authors, inventors, etc.)

The RAW FILE CONVERTER EX manual (PDF file) states on page 1 (in part):

"(1) Unauthorized transfer or duplication of all or any part of the enclosed software or User’s Guide is forbidden.

(2) The enclosed software and User's Guide can only be used with one device."

[Jacques Gratton]

I received some 'free' Photoshop software 'bundled' with my S2, this I don't need because it comes with every scanner,printer and consumer camera known to man. Pro's et al already have manipulation software so why not save money and not give this stuff away...?

Steve, are we not saying the same thing?

...

You have a very nice website, BTW.

Jacques

[stevebri]

I don't think so, no research or cost is involved just making LE a bit better ( their costs).

By putting it on Kazaa am I not doing what every US retailer is doing...?

Giving it away free.


Thanks about the site, it's about to be re vamped with pictures I feel are 'up a notch'.

hope you agree, first one (sunset) taken with Canon G2 second with S2 (max Jpeg).

Steve

[MikePL]

I have to agree. The hyper utility should be given together with the camera. If you buy the camera, you have some quite big possibilities. They remain hidden and useless until you pay quite a lot of money for software. This is the exact situation that was with Minolta cameras a decade or so ago. You bought a camera and all the cool functions were inside it, but you could not use them until you bought a special card to unlock them. Minolta had separate cards for multiple exposure, rear curtain sync, long exposure times etc... Complete rip off.
The guys at Fuji really created a wonderful camera, but the software issue is two thumbs down.

Another question is why a pro camera is bundled with the PS Elements sort of crap? I hate it when I think that I paid some extra cash because the Elements software was there. I would prefer to pay 50$ less and not have the software (the disc serves me as a frisbee anyway).

[Tom V]

Since all the Fuji packages that include the HyperUtility software cost more than the packages without - how can anyone say that Fuji is giving it away?

Camera = $$
Camera + Software = $$$$

If you think the US Fuji is giving it away - get an original disk for me!

I am sure Adobe charges a minimal fee ($10?) to Fuji for the privlege of being able to bundle a program that provides 95% of Photoshop's full power. If you already have Photoshop, Adobe has already made their money off you. If you don't already have Photoshop, maybe that $10 investment will interest you in buying Photoshop. I am glad that Fuji chose an Adobe product rather than some retarded --- imagine this: a Fuji Graphics Program.

[lightwrangler]

The software costs money, it isn't free. In Canada the camera without the software is less expensive than the camera with. The software by itself costs more if purchased alone. Even if it is by your estimation not worth the money, it is a copyrighted property. The fact that the creator is a large corporation, does not excuse the theft. The fact that you believe it should be provided with the camera purchase doesn't make the exchange of the software (for money or for free) any more legal or ethical.

As a creator, I license the use of images and restrict what can be done with them. I don't want people to take my images without paying for them, so why would I expect to have the right to steal another creator's property? By purchasing and using the software you agree not to provide copies for free or for a fee to another party. Bottom line: my reading of the license agreement is that posting the software is illegal.

[Jacques Gratton]

Galaxy Photo, in Ontario (Canada), offers the hyper utility software for 99U$ :
http://cgi.ebay.ca/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=2925652801&category=29996

[stevebri]

What have I stolen...?

I paid for it because I had to, in the UK it isn't bundles at a cheaper price, I had to buy it at a set price.

Through a LEGAL P2P site I am well within the law to let other P2P useers test my LEGAL 'back up' copy for themselves.

Also if you think people are stealing get real, this is a situation Fuji have created for themselves buy NOT giving the same product bundle to different markets. Imagine the uproar if it was free everywhere EXCEPT the US of A...?

Do you own a legal copy of Photoshop...? If you did was the first every copy of photoshop paid for by you without at least testing it...?


No trial software anywhere for RAW EX...?

When they do only half a job, it is then open to critisism ..err a bit like the dual battery on our trusty S2's, some like it most hate it.


Steve

I can see this is going to run and run...

[MikePL]

I guess that another option is to buy the Adobe Camera Raw plugin. It supports raw files from many digital cameras and has multiple options.

[lightwrangler]

There isn't much more that can be said about this and going on and on won't help, since you don't seem to want to understand the points being made. Do what you like, just don't expect me to agree with it.

[stevebri]

By making that statement you have just proved your true worth...

I fully understand the points made and why they were made and in 9.99 cases out of 10 I fully agree to such principles...

However, you seem not only to not accept my point of view (even if you don't agree with it). And then further accept that we all are different and sometimes we don't all agree on the same things, so I respectfully ask you to accept my point of view, as I do yours and also accept that it is valid (as is yours) but just from a different perspective.

Don't blame me blame Fuji

[lightwrangler]

Give me a break!

[illegitimati]

I have to agree with most of you regarding software piracy. If I created something, I would feel that I should be compensated for its benefits. Otherwise, why create anything if no benefit is forthcoming.

I've digressed from my original question. Thanks to this forum, I decided to purchase a US model with all the bells and whistles. I hope I will get results equal to or similar to those I see posted in this forum.


Thanks a bunch!!!

[Andre]

As far as I'm concerned, I bought the BMW of cameras. If my BMW only ran on 3 cylinders because they wanted to charge me more to fire up the other three, I'd be mighty ticked off.

This camera produces raw images that can make 16-bit TIFF files, but they do not supply me a way to make them unless I go pay them even more money. I thought the $3100 CDN I gave them would have been enough to get all the bells and whistles.

Kind of a rip-off if you ask me.

[MikePL]

I also think it's a rip off. Frankly speaking, I only work on jpegs, but maybe I would enjoy RAWs if there were a good tool for them.

[azaraphale]

There is an update of the software that you can open up using the i6comp utility - gives you the full version of the RAW software . Don't use it myself - I wish that i could get the Camera Control software seperate from the EX package as I would find that more useful for the stuff I do.

[longman]

Singapore package also come without Hyper Utility software....
I got mine (MAC) version from my friends...now looking for Win version...anyone can share out?:cool: