From TheCameraStore to DigitalRev… most X-T2 reviewers so far seems to be impressed by the new Fuji AF-speed, especially in continous shooting mode. So the question is: how was it possible to achieve such a significant improvement? There are two main reasons, as Fujifilm explains here:
Reason 1 for better AF-Tracking
“The new technology has been developed to allow increased number of AF search between the frames. There used to be only one AF search between the frames, but this is now increased up to 10. This will allow better tracking on the moving subject between the frames. […] longer live-view means that AF search can be conducted for longer period of time.”
Reason 2 for better AF-Tracking
“The AF search can now be processed in parallel. The breakdown of AF search is “Exposure”, “Read”, and then “Process”. The new algorithm allows so that each step can be conducted simultaneously. It means that while the first AF search is being “processed”, the second AF search starts to “read”, and the third AF search starts the “exposure”. By doing so, multiple AF search is now possible in the short interval.“
NOTE: The X-Pro2 will get the new AF-algorithm via Firmware Update in October 2016. However, the AF-C Custom Settings, introduced with the X-T2, will not be part of the Firmware udpate. If you don’t know what the X-T2 AF-C Custom Settings are, check out this Review.
Emmanuel Pampuri shared an X-T2 4K F-Log Video on Vimeo here. You can also download the file (full size 3840 × 2160 – 2,664GB) – thanks to the FR-reader for the link
The X-T2 may be Fujifilm’s most important product launch since the introduction of the X-Series. Building on the best features of the X-T1 and X-Pro2, can this richly featured workhorse convince enthusiasts and pros to consider the X-Mount as a universal go-to system for all their photographic needs? Let’s find out in this first impressions review.
Getting serious: The X-T2 is Fujifilm’s high-powered successor to the X-T1.
Please note:This carefully researched and ridiculously comprehensive First Look Review of the Fujifilm X-T2 and Vertical Power Booster Grip is based on three different X-T2 pre-production models and more than ten different (and continuously evolving) beta firmware generations. The final hardware and firmware are expected to ship in the first half of September 2016.
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Fuji X Secrets Ultimate workshops in Phuket, Thailand From Nov. 12 – Nov. 19 and from Nov. 19 – Nov. 26, I am going to entertain a unique Fuji X Secrets workshop experience in Phuket, Thailand. We have rented one of Thailand’s most stunning villas as our base for an exclusive group of X-afficionadoes. The first week on offer will be for English speaking participants, and the second week for German speaking delegates. This exclusive event is designed for only seven participants per workshop week. However, each delegate is invited bring along a non-participating friend or loved one to share this wonderful experience and location. With daily photo excursions and the full curriculum of our popular multi-day Fuji X Secrets Weekend and Fuji X Secrets RAW workshops, this will be an unforgettable week of living and breathing the Fujifilm X spirit in a collaborative group of like-minded enthusiasts. Once you get there, everything will be taken care of—welcome to X-Paradise! The information and registration site is now open. Click here for the English and here for the German workshop weeks.
The Fujifilm X-Pro2: 115 X-Pert Tips is available Please click here to order the printed edition or your ebook copy in three different DRM-free formats (all for the price of one), including a 40% discount if you use coupon code XPERT40. German readers can click here to order the German edition.
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In September 2016, the X-T2 will be available in black (and eventually perhaps also in silver).
In any case, a matching camera-powered EF-X8 mini flashgun is included.
About two and a half years after the introduction of the successful X-T1, Fujifilm is getting serious with taking the X-series into “we can do everything” territory. At first glance, the X-T2 looks very much like its predecessor—why change a concept that stood behind Fujifilm’s (so far) most successful X-series camera? However, it’s a different story on the inside. At several global launch events, Fujifilm has made it very clear that the X-T2 is supposed to address all photographic needs, including sports and action shooting. It’s supposed to be a “complete mirrorless camera”.
Compared to the X-T1, the X-T2 features dozens of changes and improvements. Here’s an overview in 40 bullet points:
24.3 MP X-Trans CMOS III sensor (Sony-built with 14 bit readout) with no anti-aliasing filter
X-Processor Pro is four times as fast as the EXR II processor used in the X-T1 and offers improved image quality, better noise response and higher dynamic range
improved ISO performance (about 1 stop better than the previous generation) with native ISO covering 200 to 12800, and extended ISO settings of 100, 25600 and 51200 (all with full RAW support)
100% faster sensor readout, resulting in improved AF tracking performance, a dramatically reduced minimum blackout time of only 114 ms, and a high 100 fps EVF refresh rate
0.005s display lag, 0.06s max. AF speed, 0.17s shooting interval, 0.045s shutter lag
configurable AF-C modes to adapt the AF system to different sports and action shooting scenarios
up to 11 fps burst speed in boost mode (14 fps when using the electronic shutter) with AF tracking
3, 4 or 5 fps slow burst mode (CL) with full live-view and CDAF support
improved user interface and a new menu structure, including a custom My Menu with up to 16 entries
DSLR-style “AF-ON” option and new settings to individually engage/disengage focus and exposure lock when the shutter button is half-pressed
more tactile dials and buttons and a new push-button lock mechanism for top-plate dials
better grip and improved standard eyecup
convenient focus stick to quickly move the autofocus frame or zone (with up to 325 AF frames to choose from)
articulated rear screen works in landscape and portrait orientation
new Vertical Power Booster Grip with two additional battery slots for extended shooting (1000+ images) and duplicate controls
weather sealing with protection against rain, dust and freezing
improved 0.77x electronic viewfinder with better image quality and twice the brightness of the previous model, now also featuring an auto brightness mode
low-vibration 1/8000s mechanical shutter with 1/250s flash sync (supplemented by an electronic shutter with 1/32000s), rated for 150,000 shots
new flash system offers high-speed sync, wireless TTL and multi-frame shooting (in concert with compatible flash units such as the new EF-X500)
dual SD card slots (both support the ultra-fast UHS-II standard)
improved hybrid autofocus system with pro-level subject tracking, a larger phase-detection area and more focus points (7 x 13 or 13 x 25 focus points, including either 7 x 7 or 13 x 13 phase detection points)
automatic pixel mapping (to map out dead pixels)
improved JPEG quality and new ACROS film simulation with ISO-controlled film grain and noise shaping
expanded JPEG settings with additional options for contrast, noise reduction, sharpness, color saturation and film grain simulation
broader ±2 EV bracketing and ±5 EV exposure compensation (along with expanded Push/Pull options in the camera’s built-in RAW converter)
lossless RAW compression cuts RAW file size in half
improved battery life indicator for up to three batteries at once (including a 1% accuracy display)
enhanced electronic depth-of-field and distance scale with either pixel-based or film-based precision
new center-weighted metering option
WYSIWYG simulation of fixed dynamic range settings (DR200%, DR400%) in the live view and live histogram of the EVF and LCD, and enhanced highlight DR in Natural Live View mode
dedicated video mode on DRIVE dial replaces video record button
high-quality 4K video and HD video with 100 Mbit/s and oversampling (to minimize moiré and artifacts)
vastly improved video focussing
HDMI output to mirror EVF and LCD displays on monitors and HD beamers, or to record the live view with an HD frame grabber
uncompressed 4:2:2 HD and 4K HDMI output to external recording devices, including “F-Log” flat gamma 4K recording with expanded dynamic range
threaded cable release option, fast USB 3.0 interface, 3.5mm mic input, 2.5mm remote control input, 3.5mm sound/headphone output (in the Vertical Power Booster Grip)
USB charging for the in-body battery
Vertical Power Booster Grip includes an external power input to power the camera and charge batteries inside the grip (2 hours charging time for two batteries)
new NP-W126S battery with reduced heat dissemination (old batteries remain fully compatible)
USB and wireless tethering options (after a future firmware update) with new and improved plug-ins for Adobe Lightroom
Camera Bag manufacturer Lowepro strongly believes in the long term Fujinon 8mm rumor… they even listed it on their website, coupled with the X-Pro2. See their “bagfinder feature” (X-series cameras are listed under “DSRLs”.
thanks to the FR-reader for the link
Comparing Full Frame (Canon 1DsIII) to APS-C (X-Pro2) Landscapes at aevansphoto
+
Canon 1DsIII vs Fuji X-Pro 2 Colour (for skin) at aevansphoto +
Comparing Full Frame to APS-C (tripod test) at aevansphoto
Fuji X-T1 Infrared Fujifilm youtube series: Video One / Two / Three / Four / Five
A X-Pro1 Lust/Hate/Love Affair at adambonn + The X-Pro1: The Mirrorless Camera of my Dreams? at adambonn + X-Pro1 – Comparing the Fuji Look to the Fuji Look at adambonn / Macro with X-T1 at sidewaysglance / X-T1: Haute Route Rockies 2016, showreel at thesoftsaddle / Walking the streets of Rio with the XF35 F2 & X-T1 at caveiraphotography / X70 In Cornwall at saywellhq /
X100/S/T + X70
X100S Inside The Camera Bag Of White House Photographer Pete Souza at popsci / Ready to go guide for Street Photography with Fujifilm X100-S-T at alexcoghe / Fuji X100T: What’s the future now for the X100 series? at macfilos / Fuji X100T at colinnichollsphotography / X100s, the best camera for street photography at streetberlin /
Lightroom and X-Pro2 RAW (why I’m no longer shooting RAW+Jpeg) at aevansphoto / The ISO-less Power of the X-Series: A Monochrome Film-Look straight out of Camera at markusrack / Adobe Improves X-Trans Support? Fuji X-Trans RAW Conversions With Lightroom at thewanderinglensman / Preliminary Settings for Using X-Pro 2 Raw Files in Capture One at thomasfitzgeraldphotography / Dynamic Range of X-Trans III at mirrorlessons / Fuji’s X-Trans sensor at ipcloud (NSFW) /
Bolt VS-570F Wireless TTL Flash for Fujifilm Cameras shipping at BHphoto / Instax SP-1 Vs. SP2 in French at lemondedelaphoto (translation) /
12 Essential Techniques for Night Photography
& a Bit of Everything
Night Photography – 12 Essential Techniques at sebastianboatca / Fuji OIS Oddity? at ipcloud / Why Fujifilm Mirrorless? at gdanmitchell / Interview with X-photographer Palle Schultz at fiftythreemm / This Weekend… at xshooters / Shooting motorsports with the Fuji X series at mirrorlessons /
I tell you… if you thought you had an exciting time in the first half of 2016 (X-Pro2 and X-T2) and this year can’t get better anymore, then just wait and see what will happen next :-)
The second half of 2016 promises to be at least as exciting as the first half. Why? Just check out the rumors below, all ordered according to their reliability.
And yes, that’s how it goes in the rumor world: no time to rest after the X-T2 announcement. Because Fuji keeps up working on new awesome stuff and I’ll give my best to keep you informed, so that you can make better buying decision, give Fujifilm some Feedback on future products they are planing and overall share the excitement of being part of the Fuji X world.
At this point, my deepest gratitude goes to ALL sources. You are reaching a level of accuracy I could have never dreamed of! You Really Rock… Awesome!!!
And now back to the rumors.
High time for the second annual rumor overview. But first some facts:
80 rumors shared in 2016
16 rumors still to be verified
58 correct rumors (+1 one more correct, but not in ranking. Read why at the bottom of this post)
5 wrong rumors (but actually 3 of them were right at the time of sharing. It’s just Fuji that changed plans)
92% correct rumors shared so far in 2016 (and it would be 96%, if Fuji wouldn’t have changed plans on some long term rumors)
HIGH RATING*
* 75% to 99% correct
– FUJIFILM Medium Format Camera “Definitely More Affordable” than Hasselblad X1D (shared June 28, 2016)
– Medium Format Fuji :: To Be Launched along with 3 Lenses! (shared June 24)
– XF23mmF2 to be announced in September + 1 more F2 lens coming (shared 17 May 2016)
– Trusted Japanese Source says: “No Fujifilm X40 on the horizon”. Is the Fuji X30 the last of the line? (shared 26 April 2016)
– Fujifilm Will Launch a Medium Format Camera (shared January 25)
MEDIUM HIGH RATING*
*50% to 74% correct
– Fujifilm will develop a XF 8-16mmF2.8 WR lens! (shared 26 May 2016)
– Fuji X100T Successor still with 23mm lens!
– No X-E3 in 2016 (shared February 2, 2016)
– Fujifilm working on a XF200mm… F2 (!) lens :-) (shared Feb.5 2016)
– Fujifilm Global Shutter Camera coming in 2018 (at the earliest) – (shared Mar 14, 2016)
– Fujifilm currently focusing on development of compact WR lenses instead of XF33mmF1.0! (shared 7 April 2016)
– Medium Format Fuji :: “50MP Sensor & Available 2017!” (shared March 2, 2016)
– Fujifilm X-T1 will get one more (and final?) Kaizen Firmware Update This Year! (shared 13 Mai 2016)
MEDIUM LOW RATING*
*25% to 49% correct
– Fuji X100T & Kaizen Love? High Chance of Firmware 2.00 for Fuji X100T (shared February 11)
LOW RATING*
*1% to 24% correct
– RUMOR :: Super-Fast Fujinon XF 33mmF1.0 to be announced at Photokina
– Fujifilm X200 coming 2nd half 2016, with tilt screen, 28mm lens, 24MP, better EVF refresh rate, maybe touch screen (but not sure) – (shared 12 February 2016)
They might be a bit too optimistic, but let’s hope they are right: BHphoto expects the Fujifilm X-T2 available for mid August.
A FR-reader also wrote to Adorama, asking when the X-T2 will be shipped, and they answered:
Thank you for your inquiry on the status of your backorder.
According to the manufacturer estimates we expect to fulfill your order for the following item(s)
SKU IFJXT2 by 2nd week of August
Please note these are estimated dates given to us by the manufacturer. They are generally accurate, but are subject to change at the discretion of manufacturer.”
There is a Video going quite viral right now, and I also get many emails about it: Fujifilm X-T2 Vs. Nikon D810 Sport Photography Comparison!
The video compares the Nikon D810 Vs. Fujifilm X-T2 for Sport Photography. The testers make some right observations and they have lots of good thing to say… but also a few bad things about the X-T2 (or the lenses for sports). Some of those bad things are absolutely spot on.
However, the testers, John & Jeong, might have been a tiny bit too over-hasty when making the overall conclusions (which are mostly positive anyway)… for these 2 reasons:
Unlike the Nikon D810, the Fujifilm X-T2 is a BETA camera, which means the Firmware is not final. And if there is one thing Fujifilm can (and will) improve from here to September (X-T2 release), then it’s the AF-performance. That’s why TheCameraStoreTV & Co didn’t mention AF-speed in their first looks: they know Fujifilm is right now tweaking it!
In the Video they say the X-T2 can keep up with the D810 (which is not really the Nr1 sports camera in the Nikon offering). These are acutally quite good results, for a Beta-Camera. I’m confindent that the final firmware will improve the AF even more.
The test was made without vertical Grip attached, which boosts the continuous AF performance of the Fujifilm X-T2. Consider also that, as umad said in the comments, “the camera has 100fps in boost mode. And the other boost mode on the vertical grip reduces blackout, improves AF and other thing“. And the blackout time was a major complaint in the video. The Grip might reduce the blackout.
I like the stuff John & Jeong are doing on their channel. However, in this case I think they were not 100% accurate. They should repeat it with final firmware and vertical grip attached. That would be fair… and that I’ll share here on FR again.
For now, with no final firmware available, it might be too early to jump to any conclusions.
*** UDPATE***: USB Charging Really works. It’s confirmed in the Riflessifotografici X-T2 review! Please Fuji, update your specs sheet and add this feature!
Ok… I’m done with the coffee… now I passed to beer to cover the rest of the X-T2 launch party :-)
One big question that remained open was: do you really can, as rumored, charge the Fuji X-T2 via USB? Well, Fuji Guys Marc & Dale confirm: YES!
So, the battery in camera can, according to the Fuji Guys, be charged via USB, while the 2 batteries in the grip can be charged via 9 volt Adapter.
I have no idea why Fujifilm didn’t include the USB-charging in their official specs sheet. And I don’t think the Fuji Guys are wrong… I mean, they will have tested the camera since months now, and I suppose that they might have really charged the battery via USB during this time.
But we should give proper space also the newly annoucned roadmap… and the first image of the 23mmF2, XF50mmF2 and 80mmMacro, which comes with will be compatible with both teleconverters and have OIS (maybe the huge shitstorm on FujiRumors convinced Fuji to implement OIS into it… We Have The Power :-) ) via dc.watch
Ok.. these are official images displayed by Fujifilm Japan at a press event, but that 23mm looks too big. On the official Fuji lens Roadmap (shared in the live blogging here), the XF23mmF2 looks definitely smaller.
I guess somebody is salivating right now ;)
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