Fujifilm published a new episode of their secret development story.

This time they talk about Fujinon lenses, more precisely about AF motors, lens perfection vs lens character and also about optical image stabilization.

They also explain why they removed the OIS switch on some lenses, and that the notion that you should always turn it off when shooting on a tripod is no longer accurate.

This is something we already said in the past, but Fujifilm goes a bit more in depth about it today. However, this is all automatically Google translated by YouTube, so while I did my best to try to get it summarized for you guys (with my son trying to climb on me while I was reading and typing), if any FR-reader has some skills in Japanese and would like to sum it up better for us, feel free to do so and share your recap in the comments down below or via email at fujirumor@gmail.com.

• Red Badge lenses: great image quality and fast autofocus. Also weather resistant
• red badge lenses represent Fujifilm’s highest technical level, flagship lenses
• first red badge lenses where Fuji’s constant f/2.8 zooms
• then came the XF200mmF2, and extraordinarily amazing lens
• XF50mmF1.0 emphasis is on smooth bokeh rather than on ultimate resolution
• the new 18mmf/1.4, 23mmF1.4 and 33mmF1.4 focus on resolution
• Fujifilm tries to give lenses a different character, based on their purpose of use [and as the Sigma CEO said, making a perfect lens is way easier than making a lens with character. Which is why I LOVE my good old XF35mmF1.4 R – see it in action here in Barcelona]
• then Fujifilm explains what the various markings on the lens mean
• R for aperture ring, LM for linear motor, OIS for optical image stabilization and WR for weather resistance
• autofocus speed is getting faster and faster
• there are also other AF motors, like stepping motors, DC motors etc [Fuji Guy Billy elaborated them all very nicely here]
• you have to place the AF motor in a way that it won’t create shake in the lens
• linero motor is the smoothest and fastest AF motor option [and of course it has its downsides too, as Fuji Guy Billy explained here]
• some Fujinon lenses have lost the OIS switch (for example the XF70-300mmF4-5.6 and the the XF16-80mmF4)
• usually it is recommended to switch off OIS when shooting on a tripod
• but on some lenses Fujifilm now recommends to keep OIS turned ON when shooting on a tripod
• but honestly, the time when it’s better to keep OIS on or OFF when shooting on a tripod is not so easy to determinate and it’s actually quite complicated
• Fujifilm has developed a system where the camera will decide if it is better to keep optical image stabilization ON or OFF
• please let the camera decide how to deal with OIS
• Fujifilm did remove the physical OIS switch on the lens to make sure it is the camera to take the decisions [but you can always turn it off in the menu, if you want to have control over it]

You can see the full video down below.

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• Fujifilm GFX100 II – New
  BHphoto / Amazon / Adorama

Fujifilm has shared their Fujifilm GFX100 II centric X Lab episodes.

All Japanese. Google struggles to translate. It’s a pain…

A pain you don’t have to go through. It’s enough if I went through it and summed it up for you.

X Lab Episode 40

• after using the GFX100S (small and lightweight compared to the original GFX100), the developers knew they wanted also the new flagship GFX100II to be smaller and lighter
• usually flagship cameras have an integrated battery grip. Fujifilm wanted to make sure that it does not “lose its dignity” as flagship camera even if it has no integrated battery grip
• the original GFX100 being bigger also gave more design freedom
• Fujfiilm designed the optional grip in a way that, when attached, it sticks very rigidly to the body (it has a little hook on the border of the grip that snaps into the camera body for solid integration)
• main target are professionals
• when designing, 3 Fujifilm designer held a design competition to develop and 3D print several concepts
• they also interviewed photographers to ask about the various concepts
• 11 degree tilted top plate
• Bishamon-Tex texture with tradition Japanese pattern inspired by Bishamon tortoise shell
• people in the factory initially had problems to apply the new Bishamon texture to the camera
• coating that does not scratch
• larger top screen that displays differently if you are in video or stills. Especially the video display has been significantly revised

X Lab Episode 41

• 9.44mDot and 1.0x magnification EVF
• designed in a way that even if you move the eye away from viewfinder, the image will not get distorted. That’s not mentioned in the specs, but is something engineers have put lots of effort into creating
• if for users the EVF is too big, you can make the EVF image smaller in the settings. Might be useful for example for people who wear glasses
• initially they designed the GFX100II with fixed EVF to keep it more compact, but they listened to people and realized it was quite loved by photographers to have the tilt EVF option
• full size HDMI and Ethernet port
• Ethernet port has quite an impact on the internal design of the GFX100II. It would be complicated to implement it on the X-H cameras.
• The IBIS Unit had to be redesigned in order to fit in the Ethernet port
• they struggled until the end to decide where to put the headphone jack, at the end due to space constraints they decided to put it on the grip side
• grip is designed slightly more inwards towards the top
• they needed to redesign the tilt mechanism of the screen to make it compatible with the cooling fan
• created as a piece of equipment to be used by professionals
• refinements on the buttons, the mode dial etc.
• better placement of the MCS focus switch (easier to reach and operate with thumb and also with gloves)

X Lab Episode 42

• First Fujifilm GFX50S was a mid-range machine and it took long to arrive to that shape (admin note: remember the protruding back)
• they decided for medium format sensor (admin note: the true story on how they decided to go medium format instead of full frame can be read here)
• medium format cameras up until then were very expensive and for business use
• Fujifilm wanted to create a camera that can be used also by the general public
• biggest factor was size and weight of GFX50S
• Fujifilm wanted to make it as small as a full frame DSLR
• the most important thing about designing the GFX50S was how to make it easy to hold in the hands, so they spent a lot of time talking about the grip
• they argued also on how wide it should be to assure enough space between grip and a large lens, so that you can still handle it nicely without a large lens getting in the ways of your fingers
• so they cut the side of the GFX50S and inserted several thin plates to make it larger and saw how much wider it had to be (see image here)
• GFX100 there were a lot of challenges to overcome
• First GFX with IBIS (and X-H1 was first X series with IBIS)
• integrated battery grip allowed to put batteries on the bottom
• once the GFX100 was done, Fujifilm thought they needed a way to make it smaller, and to make the shutter mechanism smaller (admin note: that takes a lot of space in the camera)
• they created the GFX100S
• smaller motors (see GFX100S shutter vs GFX50R shutter in this image)
• smaller shutter allowed it to keep IBIS, a smaller IBIS unit
• they also used a smaller and yet powerful battery, the NP-W235
• smaller shutter, smaller IBIS and smaller battery made the GFX100S possible
• GFX100II is undoubtedly a flagship model
• optional battery grip allows for 3 batteries total
• Fujifilm wanted to offer a great photographic experience
• 3 function buttons placed conveniently behind the shutter release button
• top LCD has evolved to match the needs of photographers: larger, more pixels, changed shape to match the UI and just overall improved ease of use

X Lab Episode 43

• they talk about the design of the grip again across various GFX models
• they talk about the amazing resolution starting from the original GFX50S
• initially models didn’t like it, because too much resolution, but then Fujifilm added the Skin Smooth Effect

Get Yours

• Fujifilm GFX100 II – New
  BHphoto / Amazon / Adorama
• GF 55mm f/1.7 R WR – New
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• GF 30mm f/5.6 Tilt Shift – New
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• GF 110mm f/5.6 Tilt Shift – New
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Original Videos

Fujifilm X-H1 IBIS Development

The 7th epsiode of the Fujifilm X-H1 development story is a highly awaited one: the development of IBIS.

And right at the start they adress one of the big questions: how does it come that in 2016 Fujifilm managers said IBIS is not compatible with X-mount, and now we have the X-H1?

The question has already been answered by Billy in a fantastic TCSTV X-H1 live stream. And now fujifilm-x confirms:

“We said in the past that there will not be an IBIS for the X Mount. We’ve said that because back then having IBIS meant compromises on the image quality. But now we need to correct the statement. The X-H1 has IBIS. We now have developed one that works without compromising on the image quality.”

As Billy told us, in order not to lose image quality and to be super precise, the whole IBIS mechanism has to be bigger compared to the one of other camera manufacturers. Billy (as well as other managers), also said that the current IBIS can’t fit into smaller bodies, but in future, with further development of their IBIS tech, they might be able to put IBIS into smaller bodies.

For now, though, the Fujifilm X-T3 is rumored not to have IBIS.

Now back to the IBIS development story.

Fujifilm says:

The 6th epsiode of the Fujifilm X-H1 development story is now online.

This time they explain us how the AF team at the R&D department was able to improve the autofocus even further and the secrets behind the new AF algorithm.

“The focus point is divided into 5 blocks: top left, top right, bottom left, bottom right, and center. Some parts of the central block are overlapped with other 4 areas. The focus point is usually at the center, but not always. This division of focus points prevents the undesired font or rear focus and increases the AF accuracy.

The 5 blocks are then split into 4 lines. Each area are now split into even smaller pieces to further improve the AF accuracy. With this split, the algorithm, it can detect focus point on the subjects with flat texture.

Now, let’s count the number of phase detection pixels in the area. The area is divided into 5 block and then split into 4 lines. The total number of phase detection pixels is 20,000. 20,000÷5÷4=1,000. There are total of 1,000 phase detection pixels within the AF frame. 1,000 pixels provides enough information, but how is it used?

The information of the 1,000 pixels are measured in horizontal comparison, vertical comparison, and square comparison.

 

Everything You Always Wanted to Know About X, But Were Afraid to Ask

UPDATE: The workshop on June 14 is currently sold out, but there’s an active waiting list on Eventbrite. Please make use of it in order to be informed about free slots and additional dates. The next workshop will be in Heidelberg on June 28, with the possibility to do a second one on June 29. 

Since his first workshop on June 7 sold out in less than a day, our resident “X-Pert” Rico Pfirstinger is offering another Fuji X Secrets workshop in Nuremberg on June 14. Registration is now open, just click here. Once again, there’s a limit of seven delegates, so if you live in or around Germany, don’t waste too much time in order to avoid joining the waiting list.

Following the Reloaded workshop in Nuremberg, there are plans to bring Fuji X Secrets to Heidelberg. Rico has reached out to his German publisher dpunkt.verlag, who kindly offered their offices as a workshop location. We will get back to you once a firm date for this event has been fixed.

Since many of you don’t reside in Germany, there are also plans to offer a workshop in Santa Barbara, CA for our US based readers. Rico is in contact with his American publisher rocky nook. The US workshop is supposed to happen in early December.

We will keep you posted on any further developments. Speaking of: Rico has just finished the German manuscript of his new e-book “Die Fujifilm X-E2 – 100 Profitipps” and is about to start the English translation (“The Fujifilm X-E2 – Beyond the Manual”). He will also produce an e-book on the X-T1.