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”

Fujifilm GFX 50S Wood Grip-Base by JB camera designs

The new JB camera designs wood grip-base has just been announced.

The external dimensions are about 150 × 15 × 63 mm. Weight is about 77 g (including mounting screws)

You can check out all JBcameradesigns products at AmazonUS here and at their website jbcameradesigns.

GFX Workshops & Community

Product images

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

Nikon Manager Says: “Professional Photographers don’t use Fujifilm. Nikon FF Mirrorless, because Full Frame is the Trend”

Recently Nikon gave an interview to the Chinese site xitek (translation) – via mirrorlessrumors

There are few controversial statements, I would like to share here on FujiRumors, because some of their observations touch upon Fujifilm.

  • Nikon talks about their future mirrorless cameras and they say it will be full frame, because “FF is the trend“

I’m not sure we can speak of a trend.

The worldwide by far largest camera manufacturer, Canon, has introduced 3 times as many APS-C cameras in the last 2 years than FF cameras. And their mirrorless system is also APS-C.

Sony is pushing its FF system, true, but they are still releasing APS-C bodies too, which, by the way, at the AmazonUS best seller ranking sell usually better than the A7 series. So to me that’s not really a trend to full frame.

  • Nikon customer base is very broad, from novice to enthusiasts to prosumer to professional, that’s Nikon’s advantage

Sure, they have a large customer base, but this does not guarantee success. I mean, Nikon, do you remember what happened to Nokia?

I don’t think current Nikon shooters, who are right now considering to try a mirrorless system, will just sit and wait for the day that Nikon finally releases their full frame mirrorless. It’s the era of eBay… selling gear and switching systems has never been so easy.

In fact, in some countries (like USA and Germany) Sony has already surpassed Nikon in the full frame market (read here).

And despite their large customer base, Nikon had to completely drop the (already announced) DL line (read here). So the equation “large customer base = sure success” does not always work.

Moreover, Nikon had to cut 10% of its Japanese workforce (read here) and they reported “extraordinary losses [due to] sluggish and shrinking markets of digital cameras in the Imaging Products Business”.

On the other hand, Fujifilm’s imaging division is consistently making profits and growing.

  • Olympus, Sony, and Fujifilm can only cover a small part of that [market]. So far there is no professional using their products – translated by Petapixel

So, Pros don’t use Fujifilm X series cameras or the Fujifilm GFX medium format system? No comment…

Conclusion

To me, Nikon makes the best DSLRs on the market. And I always hoped for Nikon to make a serious mirrorless camera as soon as possible, because competition is a good thing for customers. The more, the merrier. So I’m looking forward to their mirrorless camera and I am sure it will be awesome.

But some statements in this interviews are, in my opinion, wrong… and maybe even a tiny bit arrogant.

If I was Nikon, I’d make my step into mirrorless with a more humble spirit, taking competition seriously and learning from lessons in the past, where giants (like Nokia) quickly lost their customer base because they did not keep up fast enough with the changing market.

It’s good that Nikon is so confident about their products and their future, but they better don’t underestimate other companies, like Sony and Fujifilm.

Godox XPro Transmitter for Fujifilm Coming by the End of 2017

Godox just announced it’s XPro transmitter.

You can find specs and price for the Canon version here at Adorama.

A Fujifilm version will come by the end of the year, as CheetahStand (who sells rebranded Godox equipment under the name “Cheetah”) said here on facebook:

“The Godox XPro will replace XT32.
XPro can do TTL and HSS…XT32 is HSS only.
XPro and XT32 do not have pass through hot shoe.
X1 has pass through hot shoe…so you can put other brand speed light on top the X1…also you can put other brand transmitter on the X1 hot shoe.
XPro Canon is in production now….Nikon Olympus,Panasonic,Sony and Fuji will soon introduce by the end of this year.
US price $69.”