No April Fool’s Trick :: Fujifilm X-PRO2 will come in September / October (sources: Tom Grill & SLRClub)!

photo ddda_zps0312o52k.png

Earlier today I posted an April’s fool Trick about a leaked image of a prototype X-PRO2. The guys behind this funny joke told me yesterday that they’d appreciate the support of FujiHumors… and I didn’t want to be the spoilsport ;).

But now let’s go back to FujiRumors… and this time it’s about the X-PRO2 release. We now have 2 more confirmations that the X-PRO2 will probably come in late 2015 (September or October).

SEPTEMBER: According to Tom Grill (aboutphotography-tomgrill) the X-PRO2 could be released in September. In an article written on March 23, he says:

“The impetus for this post came because I heard last week that the X-Pro1 would be replaced by a newer X-Pro2, probably in September of this year.”

A part from the rumor, it’s overall a good read. Check it out at aboutphotography-tomgrill (found via macfilos).

OCTOBER: DicaHub spotted (on March 31) a slightly different release date. It was shared by SLRClub user Daniel SON. Here is the translated text:

“I’m not a user of Fujifilm digital camera. I have a job related photography and am working in U.S.A. For this time when I visited WPPI at Las Vegas, I heard this from Fujifilm booth. Because I was considering to use Fujifilm cameras for shooting, I had tested X-Pro1 and X-T1 at Fujifilm booth and talked with Fujjifilm rep. He said X-T1, recently launched, might be better than X-Pro1 in overall performance and new model in X-Pro1 line is ready to be launced about Oct. of this year. Because he is staff of Fujifilm, might his words be sure? I bring this information because I think there might be someone to get information.”

There is light at the end of the tunnel… and I can see the contours of the Fujifilm X-PRO2… under my X-mas tree … let’s hope …  ;)

 

 

Is this the first image of a prototype X-PRO2, shared by Fuji X photographer Max de Martino?

photo unnamed_zps7v8dbjjl.jpg

UDPATE: THE TRUTH: It’s an April’s fool Trick. The guys behind this funny joke told me yesterday that they’d appreciate the support of FujiHumors… and I hate to be the spoilsport ;) .

X-PRO2 Leaked?

I share it as I’ve received it via twitter here… the image was shared by Max De Martino, an official Fuji X Photographer over at his website maxdemartino.com. It shows a (pretty blurred) image of what could be the Fujifilm X-PRO2. We can read:

“A friend of mine (we will call him Mr. Ma Ni), from Japan, sent me this stolen picture of the new Fuji X-Pro2. The quality is not good, but it looks to be a working prototype.

Some specifications he say could be true, he received from a man at Fujifilm:

  • 4k Video
  • Sensor 10% bigger than the previous one, so that you can use the “old” lenses, with a crop factor of 1.2x
  • Processor EXR IV
  • Dual Sd
  • 27 Mpx
  • Magnesium and anticorodal alloy
  • Hibryd viewfinder (as X100T, but with X-T1 dimensions)
  • LCD that twist & tilt
  • Radio TTL control of Fuji, Profoto and Nicephoto flash
  • Radio (manual) control of Nikon and Canon speedlights, with an optional adapter
  • Customizable versions they called “Sakana” with lizard, iguana and shark skin.
  • Chanel Limited Edition: shark skin white colored with black details, in a limited edition of 31 pieces, as the first Chanel boutique, in Paris, Rue Cambon 31.

SAMYANG will soon launch a New 100mm F2.8 Macro Lens for Fuji-X

photo asdasd_zpsoawtrhws.jpg

Mirrorlessrumors spotted a this teaser at the Samyang Facebook Page.

“With immense focus and unparalleled features, #Samyangoptics will introduce the latest product. Stay tuned“

According to Mirrorlessrumors it will be a 100mm Macro Lens, available for all mirrorless system cameras, including Fuji X. [UPDATE: a source told me it will be F2.8]

At the moment, Fujifilm is offering one Macro lens, the XF60mmF2.4 (discounted until March 31 at BHphoto (Best Price), AmazonUS  and Adorama). In future (2016) Fujifilm will launch the XF 120mmF2.8 1:1 Macro. It should have OIS, focus limiter and probably be weather sealed.

INTERVIEWS: X-PRO2: “We need more New Technologies!” X100S: “No More FW Updates!” 2x converter “Could come!”

photo chall_zps60k38jog.jpg

Time for another series of interviews with Fujifilm Managers… let’s start with the main points in the one imaging-resource had with Makoto Oishi from the Sales & Marketing Division, Optical Device & Electronic Imaging Products Division.

4K:”Currently, our X-Trans CMOS II [sensor] cannot realize 4K videos because it has a smaller number of pixels, like 16-megapixel. Also, if we [want to] realize 4K video, the sensor itself should have much faster reading speed.”

I remind you that our trusted Japanese source confirmed a few weeks ago, that Fuji’s plans are to make the X-PRO2 4K capable.

X100S firmware: “While we have provided firmware upgrades for the X100S many times, now we have the X100T, we’re finished, no firmware upgrades [for the X100S] anymore.”

Frankly disappointing, if true. I can understand that they hold on with the FW release, since the X100T is relatively new, and a new X100S firmware would probably influence negatively the sales… but on the long term Fuji must update the X100S. X100S owners are a VERY important part for Fuji’s success, so they deserve an update. At least Classic Chrome… David Hobby himself said here to have used it on his X100S… so why not all the other X-shooters too?

X-PRO2: “But if we launched an X-Pro, we’d need more new technologies, and we’re still developing and investigating. Especially the new devices like the processor or sensor, we’re still preparing.”

There is more to read at imaging-resource, for example about the gyro sensor used for the OIS in the 50-140. A technology missing in the 16-55… and in another interview at fujifilm-blog another manager (Mr Soga, the man responsible for the lens roadmap) explains the true reason for the lack of OIS: it’s not about size, it’s not about costs… it’s about IQ at the wide end (16mm)! He says:

“OIS needs to move the lens inside to compensate for camera shake and as a result can cause loss of resolution in the edges of the image. In long zoom lens such as the XF50-140mmF2.8, the angle of view is narrow enough to not show this negative effect of OIS in the edges. However, the angle of view of the XF16-55mm, when set to the widest setting, is large enough for OIS to affect resolution at the edge of the image. Considering this trade-off, because we wanted this zoom lens to start wide at 16mm and F2.8, and we wanted to best edge-to-edge quality throughout the entire zoom range, we decided to not employ OIS.”

Mr. Soga also confirms that teh XF 35mmF2 will have faster focussing and “we may create a 2x converter in the future although this has not been confirmed.”

Read more at imaging-resource and fujifilm-blog.