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Fuji Guy Billy: “X-Pro2 is Over-Engineered. A Lot of Potential Not Harnessed yet! Firmware Improvements Coming”

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Billy of the Fuji Guys was interviewed by ArtoftheImage about the X-Pro2. There are a few of Billy’s statements I’d like to highlight.

If you don’t have time to watch the entire 27 minutes video, then here is the transcription I’ve made for you of the most important parts (you’re welcome ;) ).

  1. The X-Pro2 is overengineered
    Billy: “The processor allows us future expansion, when we need to do so. There is a lot of potential still in the X-Pro2 that has not been harnessed yet.”
    Interviewer: “In terms of how Fuji is constantly doing updates via firmware?”
    Billy: “That’s right. Whether it’s the controls or the AF-system”.
    Interviewer: “So you overengineered the X-Pro2, anticipating advancements you are going to offer in firmware down the road”.
    Billy: “That’s right, absolutely”
  2. AF speed
    Billy: “Faster contrast detection AF over previous models. Firmware has been fine tuned, but there is still room for growth based on combination of sensor and processor”
  3. Kaizen + EVF Refresh rate higher than 85fps? It’s possible!
    Interviewer: “That’s one of the neatest things about Fuji. You buy the camera, and it doesn’t end there. Like 2 years later you get a 50% better camera because you keep giving the consumer updates, whereas other camera manufacturers are like –ok, you bought your camera, we are done with that-”
    Billy: “Well, when you look at Fuji cameras, the design is timeless. The idea is to try to keep the camera as long as possible. Fuji obviously has to balance between how long you keep the camera to when you buy a new camera. Because, at the end of the day, when someone buys a Fuji camera, it really helps keep Fuji in business and gives us the ability to do things we want to do, which is to close the gap between this and a DSLR. We have done that with the Viewfinder [of the X-Pro2], offering extremely fast refresh rate. […] The human eye recognizes the difference in motion about 120 fps. We are actually at 85fps, so very very close. […] And the processing power is actually already there in this camera to eventually even reach 120fps!
    Interviewer: “So you might even tweak that?”
    Billy: “Absolutely! But as I said, it’s also a balance between performance and power. Make 80 shots and have incredible performance or make 200-300 shots and get decent enough performance.”
  4. Why no tilt screen?
    Billy: “When you develop a product, there is a path you have to go through. It’s also based on budgets. If you do this, you can’t do that. Or the cost of the product goes up. The idea is to keep the product at a certain price point and follow that.”
  5. 4K… why not? And will it come via Firmware Update?
    Billy: “The X-Pro2 is 4K capable. The processing power and sensor is there. The issue is heat. The required heat dissipation is not built into this camera. You can put 4K in, but after 30 seconds or something like that the camera is going to be super-hot and you can’t use it. […] Eventually I assume Fuji will get there [X-T2 anyone ;) ], but the X-Pro2 was designed with photography in mind.”
    Interviewer: “So we can’t expect 4K to come via Firmware update?”
    Billy: “Heat would be an issue. There would be battery issues, too. But you never know… I can’t say never.”

Fujifilm X-Pro2
USA
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Fujifilm X Lab Episode 2: The ACROS Magic, Fuji X-T3 Autofocus Regrets, Kaizen Updates and Looking Forward to X Series Future

Fujifilm just published the second episode of their X Lab series (you can see the first one here).

It’s again in Japanese, and google translate struggles, with cryptic translations.

Luckily also this time a fellow Japanese speaking FR-reader translated it for us (thanks!).

Fujifilm X Tech Talk Transcript

** CLICK HERE to Read the Rest of the Article **

About Kaizen, the (Disappointing) Fujifilm X-T20 Firmware… and the Sexiest Fujifilm Camera Ever Made, the X-E3

Fujifilm X-E3

So, Jordan gave FujiRumors a shout-out on the latest TheCameraStoreTV live stream, saying he thinks the X-E3 is the sexiest camera Fujifilm has ever designed and that I can publish this statement on Fujirumors. Well Jordan, just done :)

TCSTV starts talking about the X-E3 at minute 26:50 of this video.

Fujifilm X-E3: BHphoto, Adorama, AmazonUS

Fujifilm Firmware Updates

TheCameraStoreTV dedicated their latest live stream mainly to the topic “firmware updates”, and they mention also the firmware updates for Fujifilm cameras. They praise Fujifilm’s Kaizen philosophy, but Jordan also adds a consideration/specualtion, which I would like to highlight today here on FujiRumors.

Jordan was talking about the X-Pro2 (min. 9:00), and about how, at launch, it had no 4K video, despite being capable of it*, simply because Fujifilm did not consider video shooters to be the target of the X-Pro2. They also mention the lack of tethering, which will also come to the X-Pro2 with firmware ver. 4.00 in December 2017.

The question now is: why didn’t Fujifilm give us tethering and 4K on the X-Pro2 right at its launch?

At min 09:57 Jordan speculates:

My chief concern is that I would hate see companies hold back features at launch, so that they can make a big splash when they announce a big firmware update later, and give that camera a second life of marketing

So is Fujifilm doing this on purpose? Jordan and Chris clearly say “we don’t know“. It’s just a speculation they make.

X-T20 Firmware… Why not on Par with X-E3?

And speaking of firmware updates…

As you know, in November, the X-T20 will get a nice little firmware update, which will allow you to use the touch screen also in EVF mode.

But I wonder, why won’t the X-T20 get also the improved AF-system, the RGB color histogram and the live view highlight alert already present in the Fujifilm X-E3?

  • Maybe Fujifilm just wants to “help” X-E3 sales at its launch by giving it, for now, a little “firmware advantage” over the X-T20. And who knows, maybe, sometimes in 2018, when X-E3 sales slow down, they can give to the X-T20 a second marketing life with a Kaizen firmware update that brings it on the par with the X-E3.
  • Maybe it’s not so easy for Fujifilm to pack the X-E3 firmware into the X-T20 and Fujifilm has to do some extra coding work… hence, they need more time.
  • Maybe it’s not possible… for whatever reason

Anyway, I would like every Fujifilm camera to be always packed with everything possible as soon as possible. No camera should be “castrated” via software for market (or marketing) reasons. So if possible, whenever it’s ready (if that’s even possible), please Fujifilm, bring the X-T20 on par with the X-E3.

*Reminders:

  • Fuji Guy Billy said here that “the X-Pro2 is over-engineered and a lot of potential is not harnessed yet”, and he teased new firmware updates
  • Fuji Guy Billy said here that “4K in X-Pro2 is possible. I’m fighting with Japan for that”

New Fujifilm NP-W126 MK II Battery will Generate Less Heat (Trusted Source)

Fujifilm NP-W126

Fujifilm NP-W126 MK II

I’ve received the rumor (from trusted source) that the new Fujifilm NP-W126 batteries will handle heat better. Less heat generation allows us to shoot 4K and use the full power of the X-T2 (via “boost” function on the Vertical Grip).

I remind you that Fuji Guy Billy said here, the X-Pro2 can’t shoot 4K, because it can’t dissipate heat properly.

No word about higher capacity batteries.

End of the Rumor

As far as I know (but correct me if I’m wrong), the main sources of heat generation are:

  • Sensor
  • Processor
  • Batteries
  • Writing on SD-cards
  • Screen/EVF

Heat disspiation is a major problem with mirrorless cameras. Fujifilm could solve all problems, by making the X-T2 camera body significantly larger, but most of us love the compact size of the X-series mirroless cameras.

Also, if you want to maximize the power of the X-T2, you can’t really minimize the heat generated by the sensor, processor, EVF refresh rate or SD-card writing process. So the only thing left where Fujifilm could work on in order to solve the heat-issue are the batteries.

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TESTED: Third Party Fuji Batteries? “Inflated capacity values. Some batteries almost Fraud!”… and the Winner is…?

Fujifilm X-T2 Turbo Boost :: EVF with Amazing 100 fps (!!!) Refresh Rate !

Tilt Two

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RUMOR

Just 2 weeks ago, Fuji Guy Billy said here:

The human eye recognizes the difference in motion about 120 fps. We are actually at 85fps [X-Pro2], so very very close. […] And the processing power is actually already there in this camera to eventually even reach 120fps!

Read more at “X-Pro2 is Over-Engineered. A Lot of Potential Not Harnessed yet! Firmware Improvements Coming

Well, it seems that the Fujifilm X-T2 is the first step to get closer to that 120fps. In fact, according to a trusted source, the Fujifilm X-T2 will have the ability to boost the EVF refresh rate to 100fps!

Are you ready for the final rumor sprint? Then stay tuned on FujiRumors via Facebook and Twitter.

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