ON1 Photo RAW 2017.0.2 Released :: Improved X-Trans Demosaicing and Compressed RAW Support

ON1 just officiall released Photo RAW 2017.0.2… and there is some potentially great news for Fuji Lovers, as already anitcipated here.

  • Added support for compressed Fujifilm® RAW photos
  • Improved processing quality for Fujifilm® X-Trans® sensors

A few reviews:

Fotodiox Launches Several G-Mount Adapters :: Fujifilm GFX Final Release Date February 28 (PRESS RELEASE)

GFX ADAPTER

Fuji Guy Billy is one of Fujifilm GFX members, and he shared the image above on the group. There are many adapters coming for the GFX, especially made by Fotodiox.

Here are some of them:

Overall, there is a lot happening in the world of adapters for the GFX. A short recap:

  • Fujifilm launched its own Hasselblad adapter for GFX, to allow you to use leaf shutter lenses on the GFX.
  • Images of more adapters for Leica M, Zeiss Otus, Mamiya, Schneider-Kreuznach started to appear on the web, and have been first shared on the amazing GFX facebook group here and FujiRumors here.
  • A rumor I got says that Fringer plans a G-mount / Contax 645 smart adapter (full auto)
  • I’ve also shared with you a Chinese test that includes images taken with many different adapters for GFX, such as Mamiya, Schneider-Kreuznach, Zeiss Otus and more at blog.sina translations – NOTE: on my computer, the images are visible only on the original Chinese version.
  • Some fellow X-shooters are already developing 3D printed adapters…. and they work just fine

GFX FINAL RELEASE DATE

There was a bit of confusion about when the GFX and lenses will be released. Now Japan issued a press release, where they say the Medium Format system will hit the market on February 28. AmazonUS also says they will start shipping on February 28. BHphoto says March 1 and Adorama February 24.

So everything more or less as originally planed. Seems that Fujifilm got it right this time… or that pre-orders are not high, and hence they have no problem to deliver to customers.

Medium size mirrorless digital camera “FUJIFILM GFX 50S” and interchangeable lens “Fujinon GF lens”
Release date decision announcement

FUJIFILM Corporation
Dear customers,

Thank you for your continued patronage of Fujifilm products.

In the meantime, we announced that it will be released late February, Heisei 30, “medium-format mirrorless digital camera” FUJIFILM GFX 50S “, interchangeable lens” FUJINON GF 63 mm F 2.8 R WR “,” FUJINON GF 32 – 64 mm F 4 R LM WR “,” FUJINON GF 120 mm F 4 R LM OIS WR Macro “has been decided, we will inform you below.

Release date Tuesday, February 28, Heisei 30 – via fujifilm.jp

Fujifilm GFX: USA BHphoto, Adorama, AmazonUS EU: AmazonDE, CalumetDE AmazonUK, WexUK, ParkCamerasUK, PCHstore AUS: CameraPro

Fujinon GF63mmF2.8: USA: BHphoto, Adorama, AmazonUS EU: AmazonDE, AmazonUK, WexUK, PCHstore AUS: CameraPro
Fujinon GF32-64mmF4: USA: BHphoto, Adorama, AmazonUS EU: AmazonDE, AmazonUK, WexUK, PCHstore AUS: CameraPro
Fujinon GF120mmF4 Macro: USA: BHphoto, Adorama, AmazonUS EU: AmazonDE, AmazonUK, WexUK, PCHstore AUS: CameraPro

Fujifilm GFX VG-GFX1 Vertical Battery Grip: BHphoto, Adorama, AmazonUS
Fujifilm GFX EVF-TL1 EVF Tilt Adapter: BHphoto, Adorama, AmazonUS
Fujifilm H Mount Adapter G for GFX: BHphoto, Adorama, AmazonUS

GFX Technologies #1 -The Secrets of the New Fujifilm GFX Sensor

Fujifilm just launched a new series about the Fujifilm GFX, the “GFX Technologies” series. Episode one is all about the GFX sensor, which is different compared to the other 44×33 MF sensor, because:

  • The sensor itself has the surface size of 43.8×32.9mm, but the shape of the sensor unit is different for the GFX 50S. Typically the sensor is mounted to the silicon circuit with terminals placed on both sides of the sensor. But in the case of GFX, the sensor is mounted to the silicon circuit with the terminals placed on the back side of the sensor. This allows not only the sensor unit, but also the silicon circuit to be smaller in size.
  • In order to effectively process the lights, the size of micro-lenses haven been reduced and more spaces have been created between each pixel. This is one reason why the images appear so sharp when taken by GFX even though the pixel counts are the same. You may wonder about the negative impact for sensitivity and S/N if the micro-lenses are smaller in size. There is no need for such concern. The pixel size is big enough to receive enough lights without making micro-lenses any bigger. This optimization is only possible for the medium format sensor.
  • The photic saturation point of the sensor is extended and wider dynamic range is realized as a result. The dynamic range becomes 1/3 step wider. This wider dynamic range is a result of extended photic saturation point, so the images are 1/3 tougher against over-exposure. This extended photic saturation becomes most effective when the sensitivity is set at ISO 100
  • The camera is not equipped with the phase-detection pixels, but the autofocus speed is quite fast for a medium format camera nonetheless. One of the reasons for this is the increased sensor readout speed from 130fps to 200fps. Our sensor is customized so that faster readout is realized during autofocus. The speed is slower than DSLRs with dedicated phase detection autofocus, but it is much more accurate than that of the DSLR.

Full story at fujifilm-x (thanks to the FR-reader for the link :) )

Fujifilm GFX: USA BHphoto, Adorama, AmazonUS EU: AmazonDE, CalumetDE AmazonUK, WexUK, ParkCamerasUK, PCHstore AUS: CameraPro

image courtesy: Jan Gonzales // GFX + 120mm – spotted at the Fujifilm GFX Facebook Group

Fujifilm Announces Development of World’s fastest Organic CMOS Circuit For Multi-bit flexible Temperature Sensor

Fujifilm just published a press-release about world’s fastest organic CMOS circuit. They say they made “great strides towards mass production for a wide range of applications“.

I’m not sure if “wide range of applications” includes also digital cameras. The press release says something about “smart devices” – “high-speed organic CMOS [that allows to] build sophisticated integrated circuits using more than a few thousand transistors and enable direct communication between the temperature management electronic tag and the smart device”.

It also says that “digital signal processing with a large amount of data becomes possible“.

Fujifilm also talks about “temperature management“, which eventually might indicate that they could have fixed the overheating issue (if this press-release is really about the mythical organic sensor).

The press release is google translated, so if there is any Japanese speaking FR-reader willing to help to translate it better, feel free to share it in the comments.

But before I share the press-release (you can see it below – click READ MORE), here is a short organic sensor recap:

  • June 2013: Fujifilm and Panasonic announced the organic sensor development
  • June 2013: X-guru Rico Pfirstinger expected “actual digital cameras to feature this sensor design within 18-24 months from now”
  • December 2014: Our sources told us here, that there is a crucial problem to be solved with the organic sensor: heat generation (and battery drain)
  • December 2014: Top Fujifilm Managers confirmed, that the organic sensor is “still well ahead of us.”
  • October 2015: 43rumors broke the rumor here, that it will still take a 2 or 3 years before the organic sensor will be ready for mass production.
  • February 2016: Panasonic announced that, along with Fujifilm, they are developing an organic sensor with global shutter and impressive 123dB (!!!) dynamic range.
  • February 2016: Fujifilm managment says: “We don’t have any specific plans of incorporating an organic sensor into our products at the moment, but yes we are observing the progress of this technology. As of today, there would be No benefits to using an organic sensor. Our X-Trans III sensor is superior to the currently available organic sensor.”
  • March 2016: a source told us in March 2016 here, that the Global Shutter should find its way in the first cameras in 2018. But note that the source only said something about the global shutter, and not about the organic sensor.
  • February 2017: Panasonic announces the world’s first organic CMOS image sensor with electrically controllable near-infrared light sensitivity. However, unlike in previous press-releases, this time Fujifilm isn’t mentioned.

Full Press Release (google translated) – Push READ MORE

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