DPReview Fujifilm Managers Interview: “No Need to Open X Mount, AI and Global Shutter are the Future, GFX100 Within End of June”

DPReview interviewed Toshi Iida, Makoto Oishi and Shin Udono. Here are the main points (full interview at dpreview here):

Medium Format

  • Full Frame and Medium Format will coexist
  • GFX 50R sales look very promising
  • FF is 1/3 of market in terms of value, slightly growing
  • MF was 1%, but doubled after GFX introduction
  • 70% of MF buyers were coming from other brands, mainly DSLR, and the GFX is their additional system
  • 20% of GFX users are professionals, 80% non-professionals (especially GFX 50R users)
  • Fujifilm wants to increase professional base, also thanks to Capture One support and with future GFX 100
  • Fujifilm GFX 100 should show the potential of medium format
  • FF can reach 70-80 Megapixel
  • GFX lenses designed for 100MP resolution
  • Fujifilm GFX100 will be available before the end of June
  • Fujifilm GFX100 target is commercial photographers, fashion, landscapes, but also more general purpos
  • GFX 100 will shoot at 16bit RAW. Benefit noticeable mostly at low ISO and deep shadow detail. 4 times the amount of data, 14 bit lets you shoot faster, which is appropriate for APS-C

APS-C vs Full Frame

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These Are the Top Selling Fujifilm X/GFX Deals on FujiRumors – Last Week to Save up to $1,000

Top Selling Fujifilm Deals

So, the huge Fujifilm X / GFX deals will expire very soon, and I have checked what was the favorite gear the FujiRumors community decided to buy.

And to be clear: the results below are only about Fujifilm gear bought by the FujiRumors community and do not represent the overall sales for Fujifilm.

If you want to see which gear won the best-selling ranking overall in 2018, check out this article.

Top Software

A true migration to Capture One Pro 12 is taking place thanks to a huge 50% discount, which will end in March.

Top 5 Lenses

  1. XF 35mm f/2 (save $300 if purchased with X-T30)
  2. XF 50mm f/2 (save $300 if purchased with X-T30)
  3. XF 16mm f/1.4 (save $250)
  4. XF 56mm f/1.2 (save $250)
  5. XF 16-55mm f/2.8 (save $300)

Fujifilm’s f/2 lens line keeps up being your favorite, and you can get them discounted if bundled with X-T30. But the f/2 lenses sell strong also if not included in the bundle.

When it comes to lens deals only, the XF 16mm f/1.4 wins comfortably, followed by Fuji’s currently fastest lens (until the XF33mmF1.0 hits the stores next year) and the XF16-55mmF2.8, which, in combination with the Fuji X-H1 IBIS, is a fantastic combo.

Top Third Party Lenses

  1. Mitakon 35mm f/0.95
  2. Kamlan 50mm f/1.1
  3. 7Artisans 55mm f/1.4

The recent 1-day-deal on the Mitakon 35mm f/0.95 helped to push sales of this lens on the top.

Top 3 Cameras

  1. Fujifilm X-H1 (new retail price and additional $467 savings if purchased with vertical grip)
  2. Fujifilm X-T3 (save up to $200)
  3. Fujifilm X-T30 (save $300 on bundles)

It’s a head to head race between X-H1 and X-T3, with the X-H1 winning by a very small margin. The new low retail price on Fuji X-H1 definitely helped to push sales, making this camera, in my opinion, best value for the money in the current Fuji lineup.

I guess also the recent rumor, that we will not see a Fujifilm X-H2 anytime soon, helped a bit to facilitated X-H1 sales (I confirm this rumor).

The X-T10/20/30 line is notoriously (and undeservedly) a very low selling line here on FujiRumors. It is far behind the X-T3 and X-H1, and in 2018, even the Fujifilm GFX 50R sold better than the Fujifilm X-T20.

However, the recent X-T30 mega-deal on AmazonUS and the current X-T30 bundle deals helped a bit to push it on the 3rd spot.

Top GFX Gear

  1. Fujinon GF100-200 (no deal)
  2. Fujifilm GFX 50R (save up to $1,000 bundle deal)
  3. Fujifilm GFX 50S (new retail price)

Despite the lower new retail price on Fujifilm GFX 50S, the Fujifilm GFX 50R keeps up selling better than the “S”. Fujifilm managers said they were surprised by the 50R demand.

Top Accessories

  1. SanDisk Extreme Pro 128 GB
  2. Anker PowerCore+ 26800 PD
  3. Western Digital 6TB Elements Hard Drive

I also just bought the Anker PowerCore+ 26800 PD to charge all my devices on the road, including my Fujifilm X-E3. I am very satisfied with it. If you want to know which other Fujifilm cameras you can charge with, check out this article.

Fujifilm also recommends the Anker PowerCore Speed 20000 PD.

Last Week Fuji X/GFX and Capture One Deals

Capture One Pro 12 Deal of the Year

50% savings on Capture One Pro 12 in the following versions:

Official Fujifilm Deals (save up to $1,000)

PRIME LENSES

ZOOM LENSES

X CAMERA DEALS

GFX BUNDLE DEALS

All Fujifilm Camera Deals

All Fujinon Lens Deals

Third Party & Used Gear Deals

Third Party Lens Deals for Fuji X

Used Fujifilm Gear

Official Fujifilm Recommended Accessories

SD-Cards

Power Banks

Accessories and Apple Deals

Software

Two Weeks Left to Save $1,000 on Fujifilm X/GFX and 50% on Capture One Pro 12

The Big Deals

I get asked this questions very often, so I will say it again now: the Fujifilm X/GFX deals (save up to $1,000) will end March 30. Only the Fujifilm X-T30 bundle deals (save $300) will run until April 22.

Also, the epic Capture One Pro 12 deal (save 50%) ends on March 30.

Capture One Pro 12 Deal of the Year

50% savings on Capture One Pro 12 in the following versions:

Official Fujifilm Deals (save up to $1,000)

PRIME LENSES

ZOOM LENSES

X CAMERA DEALS

GFX BUNDLE DEALS

All Fujifilm Camera Deals

All Fujinon Lens Deals

Third Party & Used Gear Deals

Third Party Lens Deals for Fuji X

Used Fujifilm Gear

Official Fujifilm Recommended Accessories

SD-Cards

Power Banks

Accessories and Apple Deals

Fujifilm Managers Q&A: Canon is Wrong, Full Frame only 1/3 of Market, X-T3 sold 40% Better than X-T2, Fast Lenses for GFX and More

Fujifilm Managers Interview

Just yesterday we shared a CP+ interview with Fujifilm managers here. Today it’s already time for another one, this time with Toshihisa Iida (the manager who said Fujifilm will never go full frame) and Makoto Oishi.

It’s again an interesting one, that also becomes very technical when it comes to analyzing the autofocus system and lets imaging-resource conclude that Fujifilm’s PDAF technology is arguably the most advanced on the market.

Down below you can find the key points and some images of the interview. The complete one can be checked out at imaging-resource here.

Market Future & Canon Predictions

  • Fujifilm totally disagrees with Canon’s prediction, that ILC business is going to contract by half over the next two years
  • Market will depend on innovation that will come
  • Fujifilm believes there is room for further grow
  • Some markets will decline, but other markets have still potential to grow (Asian market)

Full Frame

  • Customers should have different options
  • Currently full frame has 1/3 of the market by value
  • 2/3 of market is predominantly APS-C, Micro Four Thirds, and some medium-format
  • other manufacturers focus on full frame, this might open opportunities for Fujifilm as long as they keep up innovating APS-C and MF
  • mainly X-T3 and GFX 50R helped Fujifilm to grow by 10% total volume growth
  • APS-C vs FF is not just about sensor size, but also the lens size, lens weight, overall cost, or the speed, the 4K movies
  • people judge the system more on the overall package

Fujifilm X-T3 vs X-H line

  • sold better than expected
  • Fujifilm X-T3 sold 40% better than X-T2 if you compare to same period since launch
  • X-T3 and X-H1 have cannibalized each other
  • with the new lower X-H1 price tag, X-T3 and X-H1 sit nicely next to each other
  • H-series and T-series will coexist for the future, but we need to clearly differentiate the lineup without confusing customers

Lenses

  • XF200mmF2 is not only for sports, but also for portraits for very creamy bokeh and concerts for example

GFX System

  • Fujifilm GFX 50R sales are above expectation and factory is very busy
  • Fujifilm GFX 100 design is almost final, very early firmware, and IBIS still does not work
  • GFX 100 megapixel autofocus: same sensor structure as the X-T3
  • GFX 100 has almost zero competition, because FF is only at 50MP and other medium format cameras are very expensive
  • Fujifilm thinks at multi-shot high-res shooting mode for GFX100, but has not decided yet
  • designing IBIS is a real challenge for big MF sensor
  • Fujifilm has no idea about how many stops IBIS they will achieve [FujiRumors leaked internal press sheets that show they aim at 5 stops]
  • Fujifilm is still improving image quality via firmware
  • GFX100 launch in first half 2019 for around $10,000
  • Fujifilm GFX 50S most popular lens is the GF 32-64mmF4
  • Fujifilm GFX 50R most popular lens is the GF 45mmF2.8
  • GFX 50S owners have more lenses than GFX 50R owners
  • GFX owners complaint about the lack of more fast lenses for the system and Fujifilm is taking into consideration their feedback
  • Fujifilm listens to customers and tries to make their wishes happen, but sometimes their wishes become reality is very difficult and challenging
  • As bright as possible, as small as possible, as affordable as possible…
  • same team works on GFX and X. One R&D budget and depending on needs they are flexible to shift their focus

Autofocus

  • X-T30 has improved algorithm which will come to X-T3
  • CMOS sensor is always reading by lines. So it isn’t very suitable for horizontal phase-difference […] technically we can make a cross-type system but normally, subjects are more… and horizontally-arranged PDAF pixels support them better
  • Fujifilm could do vertical AF correlation, but hasn’t felt the need to do it
  • 8% of pixels are phase detection pixels (high density), good for low-light and high-frequency subjects
  • signal and phase pixel are read separately
  • we used to have like 60 regions within each AF point, but now 240
  • depending on the light level, the X-T3 can “bin” PDAF pixels together (basically just adding their contents) to get a better signal/noise ratio, and so be able to determine focus even in very dim lighting. Depending on how you do this, you’ll trade-off some ability to see the finest details, but it can really help in very low-light conditions

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Fujifilm GFX100 Pixel Shift Multishot not Available at Launch, but Coming Later via Firmware Update

Fujifilm GFX 100

The deadline is June. Since then, the Fujifilm GFX100 must hit the stores.

Currently Fujifilm is working hard on the firmware and I asked the source, who told us in October 2018, that Fujifilm wants to implement pixel shift multishot in the Fujifilm GFX100, at which stage the development of the pixel shift mutlishot is.

Here is what it told me:

  • sensor/pixel shift multishot is easier to achieve with Bayer sensors than with X-Trans
  • the Fujifilm GFX100 will probably not have pixel shift multishot at launch
  • pixel shift multishot should come later on via firmware update

With pixel shift multishot the camera shoots several images while shifting the image sensor and combines them to generate images with a higher resolution than is possible with regular shooting.

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RUMOR, NEWS and COMMUNITY
Fujifilm GFX facebook group
Fujifilm GFX facebook page

Fujifilm GFX 100 official and rumored specs

Mega March Deals: Save 50% on Capture One Pro and up to $1,000 on Fujifilm X/GFX

The Big Deals

February/March are probably the best time to hunt for deals in the Fujifilm world, since the Japanese fiscal year ends on March 31, and Fujifilm is trying hard to sell as much as possible to show up with the best possible numbers in front of investors.

This is why you can save up to $1,000 on Fujifilm cameras and lenses. Full list below and at BHphoto here.

But there is also an epic Capture One Pro 12 deal, which also runs in March only, and allows you to save 50% on Capture One Pro 12 in various combinations.

Capture One Pro 12 Deal of the Year

Mega Savings on Capture One Pro 12 in the following versions:

Official Fujifilm Deals (save up to $1,000)

PRIME LENSES

ZOOM LENSES

X CAMERA DEALS

GFX BUNDLE DEALS

All Fujifilm Camera Deals

All Fujinon Lens Deals

Third Party & Used Gear Deals

Third Party Lens Deals for Fuji X

Used Fujifilm Gear

Official Fujifilm Recommended Accessories

SD-Cards

Power Banks

Accessories and Apple Deals

B&H Photo WPPI Special Deals End Today and Save up to $1,150 on Fujifilm X/GFX Gear

Fujifilm Deals and More

BHphoto special WPPI deals end March 3. You can see the full list of savings here. Some discounts need to be unlocked with promo code BHWPPI19; apply at checkout.

Here are the WPPI savings listed by category:

Capture One Pro 12 Deal of the Year

You save 50% on Capture One Pro 12 for Fujifilm perpetual license. Use coupon code “ivy50” at checkout to get the deal.

This is a limited time deal valid only for Fujifilm or Sony standalone versions.

Official Fujifilm Deals + Gift Card Savings (save up to $1,150)

Official Fujifilm Deals (save up to $1,000)

PRIME LENSES

ZOOM LENSES

X CAMERA DEALS

GFX BUNDLE DEALS

All Fujifilm Camera Deals

All Fujinon Lens Deals

Third Party & Used Gear Deals

Third Party Lens Deals for Fuji X

Used Fujifilm Gear

Official Fujifilm Recommended Accessories

SD-Cards

Power Banks

Accessories and Apple Deals

Fujinon XF16-80mmF4 Fully Extended, Fujifilm GFX100 Controls, XF 33mmF1.0 vs XF 35mmF1.4 Size Comparison and More

CP+ 2019 Live Coverage

The CP+ 2019 live coverage continues. We have already covered:

Today we have:

  • close up shots of the Fujifilm GFX100
  • Fujifilm GFX50R + GF50mmF3.5 combo
  • images of the XF16-80mmF4 fully extended
  • images of the Fujinon XF33mmF1.0

That GFX50R with GF50mmF3.5 is a serious GAS trigger for me ;).

All the images shared below (and more) can be found at the Japanese sites dc.watch and sankei.

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BHphoto Adds up to $150 Gift Card to Official Fujifilm GFX and X Deals

Fujifilm GFX Deals

BHphoto has decided to add up to $150 gift cards to the current Fujifilm GFX and X deals. Also Adorama matched it and added some gift cards.

I have no idea who long the gift card will stay, so you better act fast, if there is something you want amongst the deals. Full list of deals below.

DO NOT FORGET you can save 50% on Capture One Pro 12 for Fujifilm for a limited time only – use code “ivy50” at checkout.

Fujifilm X

Fujifilm GFX cameras / lenses

Today Only Deals

Capture One 12 for Fujifilm perpetual license is 50% of code ivy50

 

 

Official Fujifilm Deals

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The Mirrorless Price War Begins, and Why We Should Not Complain that FUJIFILM X/GFX Gear is Now $1,000 off

Mirrorless Price War

The shrinking camera market is fiercely contended and all companies are now starting a price war on their products, to entice “DSLR to Mirrorless switchers” into their own systems.

This is fantastic for us customers, since we get more for less, and hence I can’t fully understand the complaints about the falling prices.

When I buy Fuji X gear, I am aware that, as soon as I leave my local store with my brand new gear and take the very first shot, it already loses 15% of its value just because it is now labeled as “second hand“.

This is why I never consider gear an “investment“, but I see it more as a “good” to use and enjoy. The return of investment is my fun in using it (and making money using it in case of professional photographers).

Sure, with these deals our gear loses value on the market, but if we were looking for an investment that keeps its value, maybe we should invest into real estate, rather than photography gear.

I see it this way: sometimes I am lucky get gear discounted, sometimes I pay full price. Peace! I can’t always get the best deal on everything. And whatever the value is the day I sell it, I take it with no complaints.

With that said, Fujfiilm is part of the mirrorless price war, and even brand new gear such as the Fujifilm X-T3, Fuji X-T30, XF8-16mmF2.8 and XF200mmF2 is now hugely discounted. Check out the full overview below.

*** NEW ENTRY ***

PRIME LENSES

BHphoto Exclusive – get $50 gift card with:

More Lens deals

ZOOM LENSES

X CAMERA DEALS

GFX BUNDLE DEALS

All Fujifilm Camera Deals

All Fujinon Lens Deals

Third Party Lens Deals for Fuji X

Used Fujifilm Gear

Official Fujifilm Recommended Accessories

SD-Cards

Power Banks

Accessories and Apple Deals