Happy Birthday: Fujifilm Turns 86 Years Old Today… and About How Fujifilm Survived the Digital Age

Fujifilm Birthday

FujiRumors had birthday just a few days ago.

Now it’s time to celebrate Fujifilm, as today they turn 86 years old!

In these 86 years, Fujifilm has proven to be an innovative and creative company, that was able to smartly maneuver around some serious crises and find new solutions in a rapidly changing market.

Also, Fujifilm was able to succeed, where other tech giants (Samsung) failed: enter the highly competitive camera market and experience a steady grow, that puts it in the third position of the global mirrorless camera sales ranking.

And while having a glorious history is nice and good, Fujifilm should not rest on its laurels. The camera market is shrinking, and it will require, once again, all the creative and technological energy inside Fujifilm, to remain competitive and profitable.

So, from all my heart, I wish happy birthday to Fujifilm, and I think the best way to celebrate its birthday, is the documentary I share below, about how Fujifilm was able to survive the digital age. Note how at minute 35, the manager says:

I had announced that we would protect the photograph culture. No matter how small it gets…we might downsize production, but we would keep the culture alive and protect it. The culture of photographs is one that mankind can do without…No matter what we will not get rid of photography.

You may say what you want about Fujifilm, but I think we can all agree, that Fujifilm has a massive photographic culture, that one can feel, even when he picks up a digital camera.

This happens, when the top manager responsible for digital cameras inside Fujifilm says he actually does not like digital cameras, but he loves film.

Or when the guy, who designed the original X100, tells the story about his father, his cameras, and how this inspired him to design the first Fujifilm X series camera.

Keep up being creative and inspired, Fujifilm!

All the best, from Patrick and from all other fellow Fujifilm lovers reading this blog.

Documentary: How Fujifilm Survived the Digital Age

video via video.toggle

Oh My Gosh: I Will Assist Photographing My First Wedding – Should I Panic, or Just Buy Fujifilm X-T4 and More Lenses?

Hey folks,

This morning I woke up, with a message from one of my best friends, who marries in June.

The message said:

Hey Pat. Would you mind take your camera gear at the wedding? We do have an official photographer, but it would be nice if you can take some images, too. Also, the photographer will stay only until dinner. So if you could grab images of the late night dance party…

And you bet, I accepted, because isn’t there a better excuse to buy new gear, than to help to photograph the wedding of your best friend? :D

Now, I want to do things right for one of the most important days in the life of my friend.

So here are a couple of things I need to do:

  • Don’t Annoy the Photographer

Never be in the way of the photographer. I don’t want to be one of those annoying guest jumping into his frame to get an image. We pay those guys, so that we can enjoy the moment, and later have some cool shots to remember forever.

But the photographer can’t be everywhere at all time, so I will try to be there, where he is not, and maybe I’ll get some nice shots ;).

But overall my philosphoy:

Whatever the official Photographer does, he will do it much better than me. So stay out of his way. My focus is on the night shots, when he is gone.

  • Get a Beer with the official Photographer

I am a man on a mission: convert people to Fujifilm. So you can bet I’ll grab the photographer in one of his rare moments of rest, and try to convert him to the Fuji side of life!

  • It’s GAS Time

And now comes the gear part. And for that, I will make shameless use of FujiRumors for private reasons, and ask all of you guys, what you recommend me to do.

Maybe I could go along with what I own already, but I believe I need a gear upgrade.

Here is what I am considering to do.

  • Upgrade my Camera

I could need a low light autofocus boost over my X-E3, hence I am either considering the Fujifilm X-T3, Fujifilm X-Pro3 or even the Fujifilm X-T4.

  • X-Pro3 – PROS: Looks awesome / CONS: tilt screen allows to shoot only from the hip, not from above, which might come in handy on the dacing floor
  • X-T3 – PROS: most affordable option (I can find deals or second hand offers) / CONS: Won’t probably have latest features and AF performance of X-T4
  • X-T4 – PROS: latest and greatest AF performance and features / CONS: pay full price

At the moment I am tending towards getting the Fujifilm X-T4.

  • More Lenses

My current fastest lens options with autofocus are the Fujinon XF 23mm f/1.4 and XF 35mm f/1.4. But I believe I need more.

I am considering to get two more lenses: the Fujinon XF16mm f/1.4 for some wide shots on the dancing floor, and the XF56mmf/1.2.

These four fast primes should cover my needs properly.

What do you think, am I good to go, or do I need something else? Maybe one of those nice f/2.8 zooms?

  • Settings Tips Anyone?

Once I have the new gear, I will go out and practice to shoot in similar low light dancing scenarios. I need to see what works and what not, as I am not very familiar with those kinds of shots, as you can see from my instagram.

But I know many of you are so much more experienced than me, so if somebody of you can give me tips on settings, feel free to drop them down below in the comments.

  • It ain’t free, so something has to go

To get all this new goodness, something probably has go.

Hence I could soon put my X-T1 on sale, the camera that took my favorite image, and which story I told you here (I got it after I destroyed my X-E2).

As far as lenses go, I think I’ll have to let go the Fujinon XF 18-55 and XF 55-200, and stay with my XF 18-135 only. Letting those lenses go isn’t easy. Selling that gear will help to mitigate internal discussions with my wife when I get the new one ;).

And if you want, and have the possibility, you are always free to make a micro-donation on Patreon. Even just $1 or $2 a month can help a lot, if many do it. Mostly it will allow me to cover the costs of the site… but if the support is big, well, then maybe also to get new gear ;).

  • You Vote…

Down below are a couple of surveys, where you can offer your camera and lens suggestions also in form of a vote.

Also, I will try to get permission from my friend to share some images on my instagram, so that I can share the results .´

In addition to the XF35mmf/1.4 and XF23mmf/1.4, FujiRumors should buy...

View Results

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In addition to the Fujifilm X-E3, FujiRumors Should buy

View Results

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Iridient Developer and Iridient X Transformer Software Updates

Iridient Developer 3.3.9 and X-Transformer 1.6.2 were released today!

Notable changes for Fujifilm include:

  • Final Adobe color metadata for the X-Pro3 now matches up with the
    latest Lightroom/ACR versions from Adobe DNG Converter 12.1.
  • MUCH faster loading of compressed Fujifilm RAF format.
  • X-Transformer specific bug fix for color tints in extremely clipped highlights when shooting in 16 bit/ch mode.
  • X-Transformer DNG images will now default to the embedded DNG camera profile in Lightroom/ACR CC 2018 or later versions which have now adopted “Adobe Color” as the default. New “Adobe Color” option added to the default camera profile options to optionally use “Adobe Color” if available.
  • Updated to newest Adobe DNG SDK version 1.5.

Download links:

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Venus Optics Laowa “Argus” f/0,95 lens for Mirrorless Systems Coming Soon

During a presentation in China Venus Optics announced a new f/0,95 lens series named “Argus“. Mirrorlessrumros expects this lens to be available for all different mirrorless mounts.

via mirrorlessrumros via CameraBeta