Let’s have a weekend chat… and try to give an answer to a question I often get.
The story is this:
Back in March Fujifilm Spain displayed this camera roadmap, where they show two more cameras coming in 2023.
So the question I get often these days is: is this really all we will get in 2023? Two cameras and no more?
I can understand your skepticism, especially considering that even during the Covid pandemic Fujifilm has launched an average of 3 to 4 cameras a year, as we calculated in this article.
And if Fujifilm really was to launch two cameras only, then FujiRumors readers already know which ones these will be:
First off: it is not clear if the roadmap displayed by Fujifilm Spain refers to X series cameras only (hence APS-C cameras) or if it includes also GFX cameras.
If it was for X series only, then it we would get 2 X series cameras (one of them being the X-S20) and at least one GFX camera (as we rumored here).
The Spanish website Fujistas, who shared the roadmap and was present at the event, actually reported on them as being “two X series cameras“. So that would mean two APS-C cameras. So there is one I never rumored before that would still come in 2023.
But even if Fujifilm Spain’s roadmap would include the GFX cameras, than I’d not be 100% sure that all we get are really only 2 cameras.
Why?
Because internal roadmaps get regular updates and are often changed depending on the need of the moment. Fujifilm might postpone a camera launch, but can also anticipate its announcement. This depends on lots of things such as their own state in terms of development of new models, but Fuji can also look at what competitors are doing and in case step on the gas and work on releasing new gear faster.
Same happens with lens roadmaps, which are public. Fujifilm can announce and even show mockups of roadmap lens (remember the XF33mmF1.0?) and then cancel or change it. Other lenses get delayed, other never appeared on any roadmap, but suddenly hit the market (lots of the MKII lenses for example).
That’s why I personally would take any camera or lens roadmap with a grain of salt.
If it really was the most up to date roadmap and it would include also GFX cameras, then FujiRumors basically already told you which cameras will come in 2023.
But if’s only for X series or not the most up to date roadmap, then this means I have still some work to do to find out which other cameras could come in 2023.
In any case, stay tuned on FujiRumors. As soon as I can tell you something reliable, I will post updates here on the blog and on my YouTube channel.
When I shared my video (and partially rant) about the Fujifilm X-E4 being discontinued and what that could mean for the Fujifilm X-E line going forward, I quickly mentioned in that video that I believe one line Fujifilm will never drop is the Fujifilm X-Pro line.
Why?
Because the X-Pro line is a very prestigious line for Fujifilm. It was Fujifilm’s first mirrorless interchangeable lens camera and as such it is symbolically very important for Fujifilm.
Sure, Fujifilm won’t refresh it as often as they do with other lines, but it will continue (in my opinion).
But I said something else in the video.
I said that the Fujifilm X-Pro line will become a more “experimental” line for Fujifilm, and we can see that happening already now with the hidden LCD of the Fujifilm X-Pro3.
And you know what? I am good with it.
The Fujifilm X-Pro is a niche camera and I find it OK if the they try niche stuff with it.
So assuming Fujifilm will continue to experiment around with that line, what would you like to get with the Fujifilm X-Pro4?
An X-Pan X-Pro? Or maybe a monochrome X-Pro? Or why not get rid of the LCD entirely? Or keep the LCD, but put a stacked sensor in it and get rid of the mechanical shutter instead? Any other ideas?
Feel free to drop your wish in the comments. I might collect them in future and make a survey out it.
With the Fujifilm X-E4 now discontinued after 2 years only and hardly available at all over the last 2 years, it’s time to talk quickly about the future of the Fujifilm X-E line.
Is there any hope that the line will continue.
In the video above I will list you two reasons why we should be optimistic about a Fujifilm X-E5, but also mention a few points that could induce Fujifilm to cancel the line.
For us long time Fujifilm lovers, Fujifilm manager Toshihisa Iida (the manager who said Fujifilm will NEVER go Full Frame) was arguably the most representative face of the Fujiflm X/GFX series of the last 10 years.
Sadly for us (but congratulations to him), Toshi left the electronic imaging division once he got promoted to President and Managing Director at Fujifilm Europe back in 2020.
I must admit I was a bit worried when the Toshi left, as I felt that the Fujifilm X/GFX series was in safe hands as long as he was in charge.
He did run the business with huge dedication, passion and vision, as can also be seen in this in this brilliant documentary (MUST WATCH !!!), that gives an intimate look into his life and work as imaging director.
I honestly thought it would be hard to replace a manager like Toshihisa Iida.
In Japan, the first stores are marking the Fujifilm GFX100 as discontinued, as reported by the Japanese website asobinet.
The Fujifilm GFX100 was launched back in 2019 and it was definitely revolutionary for its time, with a backside illuminated 102 megapixel sensor and IBIS, giving medium format speed and flexibility unseen until then in the digital medium format world.
… Fujifilm launched the glorious Fujifilm GFX100S: much smaller, much cheaper, much better ergonomics (in my opinion) than the GFX100.
The GFX100S was pretty much superior under every aspect to the GFX100, so much so that Fujifilm USA launched arguably their all time best advertising about the GFX100S with the subtle admission that there is almost not point in buying the GFX100 anymore (in addition to give FujiRumors a shout-out ;))
Sales for the Fujifilm GFX100 plummeted after the GFX100S announcement and since 2+ years it hardly sells anymore.
Miraculously, though, Fujifilm still kept producing it (albeit in very limited numbers) and in fact you can find it still in stock pretty much everywhere in USA and Europe. But it seems that this is going to change soon, as Japanese stores are starting to inform their customers that there won’t be any new shipments for this camera.
But attention: while it is an X mount autofocus lens, it won’t work with all X series cameras.
Samyang says it is will work with X-Trans cameras, but not with Fuji’s Bayer cameras (X-T***, X-A*, X-A** lines).
But that’s not entirely correct, as not all X-Trans cameras are actually compatible. In fact, the X-Trans Fujifilm X-M1 is also not on the list of compatible cameras.
Maybe it would be more correct to say: all the cameras not made by Fujifilm (hence the ones outsourced to the Xacti Corporation), will not worked with the new Samyang.
