



The Fujifilm X-H1 camera, which literally just came out, has a new film simulation called Eterna, which is based on Fujifilm’s discontinued motion picture line of films of the same name. You’ve likely seen real Eterna film before while watching movies and just didn’t know it. The Eterna Film Simulation is only available on the X-H1.

You might be wondering how I made an Eterna Film Simulation recipe for the X100F if the only camera that has Eterna is the just released X-H1. Well, I created it using existing settings. It took a little playing around, but it wasn’t that tough to create. What helped tremendously was that Fujifilm published two articles (here and here) on how they made it. I also studied some Eterna photos that have made their way online over the last several days.

I cannot vouch for how accurate my recipe is to the real Eterna Film Simulation on the X-H1 (because I’ve never used that camera) or to the motion picture film, but I believe that I got pretty darn close, or at least close enough to call it Eterna. I’m sure, compared side-by-side, there’d be some minor differences. It seems quite accurate to my eyes, and, perhaps more importantly, I’m pleased with the results.

The characteristics of this film simulation are flat tones and low color saturation. It’s like the antithesis of Velvia. Finding situations where it works well can be tough. It requires lots of contrast and colors that look better when muted. When it works it looks incredible! When it doesn’t work, and it usually doesn’t, it looks very bland and boring. It definitely has a cinematic feel, and to accentuate that I used a 16:9 aspect ratio.

I don’t think Fujifilm will include Eterna in a future X100F firmware update, although it is certainly possible. My guess is that some of their cameras capable of 4K video will get it, but none of the other cameras will. The next X100 series camera, which might be named X100V, will likely have it. The next best thing for the X100F could be this Eterna recipe, if Eterna is something you think you would like to try.

PRO Neg. Std

Dynamic Range: DR400

Highlight: -2

Shadows: -1

Color: -4

Noise-Reduction: -4

Sharpening: +1

Grain Effect: Weak

White Balance: Auto, +2 Red & +2 Blue

ISO: Auto up to ISO 6400

Exposure Compensation: +1 (typically)

Example photos, all straight-out-of-camera JPEGs captured using my Eterna Film Simulation recipe:

See also:

My Fujifilm X100F Vintage Kodachrome Film Simulation Recipe

My Fujifilm X100F Fujicolor Superia 800 Film Simulation Recipe

Help Fuji X Weekly Nobody pays me to write the content found on fujixweekly.com. There's a real cost to operating and maintaining this site, not to mention all the time that I pour into it. If you appreciated this article, please consider making a one-time gift contribution. Thank you! $2.00