National Geographic Declares Fujifilm X-T2 Best Overall Compact Travel Camera 2017… Top 10 Ranking Includes X-T20 and X100F

The end of 2017 is approaching, so get ready for many “Top gear of the year” and similar articles appearing on the web. So let’s start, this time with National Geographic, who listed their Top 10 compact cameras for travels.

This year, there are 3 Fuji cameras in the ranking, the Fujifilm X-T2, the X100F and the X-T20 (in 2015 Nat Geo awarded 2 Fuji cameras, the X-T1 and X100T, as reported here).

Read the whole article “Top 10 Compact Cameras for Travelers” at nationalgeographic here and click on the product link in the list below for specs & price:

About the X-T2 they write:

“The X-T2 has everything one would want in a professional DSLR in a APS-C mirrorless camera. The combination of quality manual dials to control settings, speed of image processing, the amazing line lenses and the build quality make this camera such a pleasure to use that many professionals now use this camera as their main system. You simply cannot go wrong with the X-T2 as a high end travel camera; it’s an all-star, all-around team player that just won’t quit or let you down, no matter where your travels take you.”

However, in the features list of the X-T2 and X-T20 they mention the “five-axis image stabilization“. Now, Fujifilm has arguably the best optical lens image stabilization system on the market, but so far, IBIS is something that will come… in a not so distant future ;) .

Anyway, do you agree with this list?

Sure, the Fujifilm X-T2 has weather sealing, so definitely a nice to have feature on travels. On the other hand, nothing can beat the simplicity and lightness of travelling with the X100F. And coupled with the WCL-X100 and TCL-X100, the X100F is a wonderful mini-system with leaf shutter and build-in ND-filter, that makes it so much more versatile than “just” for street photography.

But let’s see what you think about it :)

The Best Fujifilm camera for Travels is...

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Last but not least, Fujifilm X-shooter Matteo had his work (taken with X-Pro2) published on National Geographic here.

X-T2 Body (save $100): BHphoto, AmazonUS, Adorama, Focuscamera
X-T20 body (save $100): BHphoto, Adorama, AmazonUS, FocusCamera
Fujifilm X100F: BHphoto, Adorama, AmazonUS, Focuscamera

Fujifilm X-T20 Vs. Olympus E-M10 III :: X-T20, X-T2 or X-E3 :: X-T20 Stuff.tv Camera of 2017 :: X-T20 Tekiac Eyecup

 

Fujifilm X-T20 Success

The launch of the (in many ways superior) Fujifilm X-E3 does not seem to have affected negatively the X-T20 sales. The X-T20 keeps up staying in the high positions of the AmazonUS ranking. In fact it is the best selling Fujifilm camera at AmazonUS at the moment.

X-T20 body or kit (save $100): BHphoto, Adorama, AmazonUS, FocusCamera
Fujifilm X-E3: BHphoto, Adorama, AmazonUS, FocusCamera

So let’s dedicate to the little and successful X-T20 an own roundup… enjoy it :)

Roundup

The mirrorlessons guys are back. This time they compare the Fujifilm X-T20 with the Olympus OM-D E-M10 III. Here are their final conclusions… and make sure to read it all at mirrorlesscomparison:

Choose the OM-D E-M10 mark III if you:

  • want a beginner-friendly interface with lots of extra features
  • want better image stabilisation for stills and video
  • want a wider selection of lenses
  • want to spend less

Choose the Fujifilm X-T20 if you:

  • prefer a camera with simple controls and more customisation
  • want better autofocus for action and video
  • want a little bit extra in terms of image quality (resolution, dynamic range and high ISOs)

And here is more X-T20 content for you guys :)

  • X-T20 – A practical comparison with the X-T2 at andymumford
  • Fujifilm X-T20 declared System Camera of the Year 2017 by stuff.tv
  • Fujifilm Comparison: X-T2 versus X-T20 at macfilos
  • Fujifilm X-E3 vs X-T20 – Which One Should You Get? at digitalrev
  • Tekiac Eyecup for X-T20. See it at instagram

Pentax 645Z Second Best Sensor Ever Tested after Hasselblad X1D… Fujifilm GFX 50S Test Coming Soon?

Pentax 645Z DxO Sensor Test

Back in October we reported that DxOmark said they will now test medium format cameras… and they kept their word.

The first camera they tested was the Hasselblad X1D, which immediatly jumped to the very top of the DxO Ranking, making it the best sensor they have ever tested (score 102). You can read their X1D report here.

Price and Specs: Pentax 645Z / Fujifilm GFX 50S / Hasselblad X1D

Now the full test of Pentax 645Z is also online and it confirms their preliminary results shared a few years ago. It gets a total score of 101. Check out the Pentax 645Z DxO sensor test here.

“It’s clear from our testing that the Pentax 645Z’s sensor is extremely capable, coming within a whisper of matching the performance of the Hasselblad X1D sensor (our highest-scoring sensor to date). The 645Z’s high dynamic range and color sensitivity make it ideally suited for capturing the types of scenes that are traditionally favored by medium-format photographers — landscapes, weddings, portraits, and still lifes (commercial). Medium-format shooters are interesting capturing images with lots of detail, low noise, and smooth tonal gradations.

In addition, the Pentax 645Z controls noise well, making it suitable for use in relatively low light, and perhaps expanding the range of conditions in which medium-format cameras are traditionally used.

It’s interesting to compare the Pentax 645Z sensor against the Nikon D850’s because although the former is about 1.7x larger, it’s also around three years older. While the 645Z beats the Nikon sensor in our tests, the Nikon comes closer than you might expect, given the size difference. If Sony made a medium-format sensor with the same design as the D850, it would beat the sensors in both the Pentax 645Z and the Hassleblad X1D-50c.”

Now only the Fujifilm GFX 50S is missing, and let’s hope the test follows soon.

Fuji’s Secret Test

As I reported here, before making the final decision to go Medium Format, Fujifilm made a secret test, using a Pentax 645Z file. The results of this test convinced them to go Medium Format. What exactly happened and what did they test? A trusted source told us everything here :)

Fujifilm X-E3: Impressive AF Tracking… Small, but Fujifilm Needs More “Fujicake” Pancake Lenses!

LivingVertical had a long Fujifilm X-E3 live stream Q&A (1:26 hours). Check out the video above.

But since I know that many of you might not have the time right now to watch it all, and I’m in bed on my 9th day of antibiotics anyway ;), I took my time and made summary of his main points below.

Overall he is seriously impressed with the camera, especially with the autofocus. Just two major complaints: the EVF eye piece does not protrude enough to block light properly and given the small size of the camera, he would like to have more pancake options from Fujifilm, besides the XF27mm and XF18mm, in order to make it really pocketable.

Do you agree? Would you like to have more “Fujicake” or “Fujimarit” options in the Fuji X lens line-up, in the addition to the F2 “Fujicron” and the fast F1.2 or F1.4 “Fujilux” lenses?

I certainly would love them. A nice 23 pancake prime and why not, maybe even a pancake zoom, something like the Panasonic 14-42mm OIS pancake (35mm equiv. to 28-84) that I owned in my early mirrorless life, before my love story with Fujifilm started.

So… here is the summary:

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

Instax Boom: Fujifilm Sold 6.6 Million Instax Cameras in 2016. Expected 7.5 Million Sales in 2017…. and Instax Square SP-3 Reviews

Instax Boom

The rise of Instax seems unstoppable.

Fujifilm keeps up fueling its imaging division with money coming from all possible kind of Instax camera, printer and film sales.

And a few weeks ago, during the presentation of the brand new Instax Share SP-3 square printer, Fujifilm disclosed some numbers (via dc.watch – translation):

“Cheki [Japanese name for Instax cameras] also expanded its lineup according to lifestyle, and from the release in 1998, the cumulative sales volume worldwide is 25 million units. Last year it sold 6.6 million units, the highest ever. In fiscal 2017 we aim for 7.5 million units.”

As we reported here, in 2004 Fujifilm sold 100,000 instax camera and in 2015 they sold 5 million instax cameras. Regarding digital cameras, Fujifilm expected to sell 1.4 million digital cameras in 2015.

There are Instax cameras and film for all tastes out there, from the Hello Kitty Instax camera to the Star Wars Instax Film, Comic Instax Film, Candy Pop, Rainbow and a lot more. And as a Fujifilm manager said in this dedicated Fujifilm reportage, the Instax factory can’t keep up with the demand.

Still very surprising, though, that Fujifilm has no Instax Share SP-W wide printer to offer, in addition to the popular Instax SP-2 and the brand new Instax SP-3. Probably their biggest gap in the Instax line-up, along with the film only Instax SQ, which we already leaked (images included) here on FujiRumors, but still has to hit the market.

Anyway, a big success… also considering that with every Instax camera/printer Fujifilm sells, they keep up making money afterwards thanks to the (not cheap) instant film customer have to keep up buying.

But Instax is fun, as we lately reported also here, it can be a cool idea to use at weddings (or any party), it makes beer tastier (not kidding) and I use it a lot on my travels, because it’s a perfect tool to help to create connection with the locals and get a nice picture of them :) . Check out our Instax for Travels forum thread.

Instax Share SP-3 Square Printer Reviews

Older links, shared already in the SP-3 Live blogging

NEW: Instax Share SP-3: AmazonUS, BHphoto, Adorama

Instax Square Film: AmazonUS, BHphoto, Adorama
Fujifilm Instax Square SQ10: BHphoto, Adorama, AmazonUS

Fujifilm Instax Share SP-2 Printer: BHphoto, AmazonUS, Adorama

Instax Wide Monochrome: BHphoto, Adorama
Instax Mini Monochrome: Adorama, BHphoto, AmazonUS

On my travel through Bali 2 years ago… kids loved to get a little print. :)

FujiRumors works 365 days a year, 24×7, to keep you guys updated non stop… even while backpacking through Bali :)