Capture One has announced that REALA ACE support has been added in Capture One 16.4.4 for the following Fujifilm cameras: GFX100II, GFX100SII, X100VI, X-H2, X-H2s, X-S20, X-T5, X-T50.

You can download the latest Capture One 16.4.4 here and view the release notes here.

Of course I have the perpetual license, so no Reala Ace for me.

At the end I’ll have to give up on the idea to stick with perpetual licenses. I will start to rent my editing software. But I am not sure it will still be Capture One.

The first stores in Japan are now marking the Fujifilm GFX50SII as discontinued, as reported by the Japanese website asobinet.

In the US we can see the kit version is out of stock at BHphoto (with the “request assistance” note) as well as unavailable at Adorama.

Given that it is now discontinued in Japan, I don’t have high hopes for at least the kit version to be back in stock anywhere else.

The Fujifilm GFX50SII was announced back in September 2021.

Fujifilm did lots of things right with the GFX50SII, but one thing wrong.

They did give us a nice and relatively compact body, with IBIS and 4th generation processor. The price was quite good back than in 2021. But the one thing they got wrong is the sensor. They used the identical 50MP sensor in use in the original Fujifilm GFX50S and also in the even older Pentax 645Z of 2014.

Make no mistake: the sensor itself delivers wonderful files. But the readout is slow. And you can put in the best processor in the world, but in terms of autofocus speed and rolling shutter performance there is only that much you can do when your true bottleneck is in the sensor (non-BSI and contrast detection AF only).

Now, I get it. For many GFX50SII shooters “autofocus speed” might not be the top priority. I think at all those who shoot landscape photography for example. But for many, like me, who also document family life with GFX, a decent autofocus is definitely welcome. That’s why I went for the GFX100S (with BSI and phase detection).

I get it that Fujifilm can only use Sony sensors, and that there is no 44×33 BSI 50MP sensor out there. So Fujifilm has to use what Sony offers. But at the end I think that the life-cycle of that ancient 50MP sensor should have ended with the GFX50R in 2018. Re-proposing it again in 2021 in the GFX50SII was just one iteration too much for that sensor.

Where do we go from here?

Well, I don’t know if this is the end of 50MP GFX. I still hope (not rumor) that somehow a 44x33mm 50MP BSI and Phase Detection sensor will appear one day. Or maybe something in between 50 and 100 megapixel. But that is more in the hands of Sony semiconductors rather than in Fujifilm.

• Top 7 Critiques on Fujifilm that Are Absolutely Justified

Supporting infrastructure inspection with a 102-megapixel camera and drone.

Developed a Linux SDK for remote control of the mirrorless digital camera “GFX100 Series” when mounted on a drone

FUJIFILM Corporation (Headquarters: Minato-ku, Tokyo; President and CEO: Yoshikazu Goto) has developed a Linux *2 software development kit (SDK) *3 for remote control of the mirrorless digital camera “GFX100 Series” with a 102-megapixel large format sensor *1 when mounted on a drone . Going forward, the company will begin providing this SDK to drone manufacturers who wish to mount the “GFX100 Series” on their drones *4 . As the first step, the company will collaborate with Autonomy Holdings Inc. (Headquarters: Chuo-ku, Tokyo; CEO: Kenzo Nonami), which develops drones with high flight accuracy equipped with an original autopilot (automatic control function), to begin research and development on high-precision infrastructure inspection by combining Autonomy’s new drone “Surveyor IV” with the “GFX100 Series” using this SDK.

As the deterioration of domestic infrastructure progresses, the importance of inspections for maintenance is increasing. Since there are safety issues when inspecting high places and places that are difficult for people to access, remote infrastructure inspection using a combination of drones and high-resolution digital cameras is attracting attention. However, infrastructure inspection requires high accuracy to clearly distinguish 0.1 mm cracks, and drone inspection requires capturing as wide an area as possible in one shot to shorten flight time. The
GFX100 series, equipped with a 102-megapixel large format sensor, can capture ultra-high resolution images when combined with a dedicated interchangeable lens. Since it can clearly capture cracks and other defects with a wide angle of view, it reduces the number of shots by about 40% compared to a camera equipped with a 61-megapixel 35mm image sensor, thereby shortening inspection time. In addition, the cameras generally installed on drones tend to be expensive because lightweight dedicated models are used. On the other hand, the latest model in the “GFX100 series,” the “FUJIFILM GFX100S II,” weighs a total of approximately 1,273g when combined with the “FUJINON Lens GF35-70mmF4.5-5.6 WR,” making it extremely light for a camera equipped with a large format sensor with over 100 million pixels, and therefore can be mounted on a drone as a consumer camera system. It offers overwhelming cost performance compared to drone-specific cameras equipped with the same sensor.

By using the Linux-compatible SDK that we have developed, drone manufacturers can develop camera control software that meets their own specifications, making it possible to remotely control Fujifilm’s ultra-high-resolution digital cameras from their own systems.

*1 An image sensor with a diagonal length of 55 mm (43.8 mm horizontal x 32.9 mm vertical), approximately 1.7 times the area of ​​a 35 mm format sensor.
*2 An OS widely used in industrial fields such as infrastructure inspection.
*3 Official name: “FUJIFILM X Series and GFX System Digital Camera Control Software Development Kit.” This is a library that enables software developers to develop application software that remotely controls Fujifilm’s digital cameras. It enables remote control of Fujifilm’s “X/GFX Series” digital cameras, including the “GFX100 Series.”
*4 The product will be provided to manufacturers in Japan before other companies. The timing and terms of provision will be discussed individually.

Marc Sadowski, host of the asweome FujiLove podcast, had a special guest on his show: Fujifilm USA manager Victor Ha.

They talk about all things Fujifilm, with the focus on the X100VI, film simulations, insights as to the growth of Fujifilm’s photography community, growth of new markets, etc.

Down below are just some excerpts. Make sure to listen to the whole podcast at FujiLove here.

• X100 line everyday carry camera
• always a successful line
• when a camera is announced, there is a spike in sales for that camera of course
• then, typically, a camera can last (in terms of sales) between 18 to 24 months
• but in 2020 there were lockdowns. People were a lot at home and had lots of time to pass on social media, needing to find things to spend time and pass the day. People looked into photography
• the X100VI started to gain traction because of what happened on social media
• social media, the revival of film photography and Covid had an impact on the success of the X100V. But social media had the biggest impact
• when X100VI was announced, nothing could have prepared Fujifilm for the sheer amount of request for that camera
• Fujifilm is doing its best to fulfill orders
• Fujifilm tried in several way (software, hand checking) to battle scalpers in regards to X100VI orders
• What Fujifilm noticed, is that the X100VI got very popular also among people who are primary creators in another field that is not photography (chef, hair stylist). Professional in another creative field and they use photography to show what they are creating to other people
• also popularity among younger generation, who use different media to express their creativity
• film simulations and getting JPEG out of camera have become more important

According to data from the research company Techno System Research, Fujifilm is the 4th best seller in terms of mirrorless cameras in 2023 behind Canon, Sony and Nikon.

• Canon 41,2%
• Sony 32.1%
• Nikon 13.2%
• Fujifilm 8%
• Other brands 5.5%

Let me just say with a bit of sarcasm that the 8% of Fujifilm could be 16% if only they were able to ship the gear that has been ordered.

I know Fujifilm sets its targets for each camera, and as long as they hit those targets, they are happy. So it is not artificially created shortage, but just sales target they set themselves and that they are happy with if they meet those targets.

But Fujifilm needs to think bigger (and produce more), if they want to climb the ranking.

via SonyAlphaRumors via Nikkei