Fujifilm has released new firmware updates for ten Fujifilm cameras.
Down below all the details and download links.
Rumors and Discussions
Maybe it’s just because I haven’t had a decent sleep for weeks. Maybe I am just overthinking it all (but don’t worry, I am recovering greatly now)
But when I re-watched the X Summit, I was confused by the statement the Japanese Fujifilm manager made in regards to the 5th generation 26MP stacked and 40MP non-stacked sensor.
His statement:
there is no other camera platform more suitable to have them both than the ‘X-H” Series
I wondered what he meant by that, and I concluded it could be either one of the 2 options mentioned below:
I’ve asked you guys in a survey what you think the manager meant, and here is the result of the survey.
SPECULATION (NOT RUMOR): In my eyes, it would make sense to put both sensor options in at least all of Fuji’s higher end models, as ordering the same Sony sensor in larger numbers, helps to push down the cost for each sensor.
But what Fujifilm will decide to do is unknown at this point. And maybe it is even unknown to Fujifilm itself.
And yet…
let’s assume for a moment that the interpretation the majority of you guys gave is correct. So let’s assume that only the X-H line will get both sensor options.
This would mean that in regards to all other lines, Fujifilm would have to make a decision on which sensor to pick for each camera.
And if that would be the case, I can already see lots of head scratching at the Fujifilm HQ trying to figure out which sensor is best for which line.
If that’s really the case, then I thought that the generous FujiRumors community will gladly invest a bit of its time to give Fujifilm its opinion on this matter by commenting on this article and by voting the surveys down below.
The French channel Les Guides Fujifilm has published a video about the Fujifilm X-H2S autofocus performance under many different scenarios.
It’s a 40 minutes video where he tests:
Lots of stuff, right?
You don’t have time right now to watch it all?
Well, for your convenience I’ve made a summary down below and I’ll also give you time stamps so that you can jump to the section that interests you most.
NOTE 1: when he scrolls very quickly through the images you see them unsharp. This happens because his computer is not rendering at full res. When he stops on an image it gets rendered and it becomes sharp.
NOTE 2: I speak four languages, but sadly French is not one of them (although I understand it a bit). In case any French FR-reader notices an error or wants to add something, feel free to let me know in the comments.
So far we know (and it has been well documented) that the Fujifilm X-H2S has a vastly improved dynamic range performance in video over the the previous generation sensor, with 14+ stops compared to the previous 12 stops).
But so far we don’t have any word about the dynamic range or ISO performance for stills. And that makes sense, as it is pre-production and we better wait for the final thing before we make any judgments.
With this disclaimer printed clearly on top of the article, I’d like to share a video overview of the X-H2s plus new lenses shared by Ringfoto.
It’s in German, so let me translate the part I’d like you to hear.
Martin at Ringfoto shows samples he took with the Fujinon XF150-600mmF5.6-8 of his cute dogs running around. He talks very positively about the autofocus.
Then he addresses the concern that f/8 at 600mm (900 equiv.) might be perceived as too slow by some, as you will have to shoot at higher ISO. But here is what he says:
Opposite to other X-Trans cameras, the X-H2S has four analogue-to-digital converters [admin note: X-T4 & Co have two A-D-C]
Thanks to the new sensor and new technology inside the camera and the four analogue-to-digital converters, my feeling with this pre-production X-H2S at this point is that ISO performance on X-H2S is 1.5 stops better than on the X-T4, which would be sensational.
I want to be careful for now, but it looks very promising.
So what is Ringfoto talking about when they mention the analog-to-digital converter (ADC)?
We know the Fujifilm X-T3 and X-T4 (and all other ISOless or ISO invariant Fuji cameras) have two analogue-to-digital converters. On the X-T3 it works like this: every image recorded under ISO 640 “travels” through one ADC, and every image above ISO 640 goes through another ADC. This helps to improve noise performance.
This can have the paradoxical effect that an image taken in camera at ISO500 can be more noisy than an image taken in camera at ISO800 or even ISO1200, because after ISO640 the other ADC kicks in to improve performance, as you can see at the photonstophotos technical chart here.
What the real life implications of this are has been explained by Rico in several articles, such as the GFX 50 Series is an ISO-less Classic
What’s important for us to know in this article, is that those analog-to-digital converters are a good thing when it comes to noise performance.
And now that we know thanks to Martin that the Fujifilm X-H2S has four AD-converters as opposed to two ADC in the previous X-Trans cameras, then this could indeed explain what Martin observed: a sensational improvement in ISO performance.
Now, to my knowledge Fujifilm has not made any public statement about the increased number of ADC or about the improved ISO performance in stills.
All we could observe until now is that in video the noise performance is shockingly good, as documented also by Gerald Undone and we reported here.
My final word?
Well, there is no final world.
I will wait for final production samples to be tested side by side with other Fujifilm cameras. And this is what also Martin at Ringfoto said, that he wants to validate (or not) his impression with a final production camera.
And once he did that, I will do my job, report and translate his findings for you.
This update to our previous story is mandatory.
I have investigated and I can now say with certainty that the reason DPReview removed all the ugly sample images taken with the XF150-600mmF5.6-8 is because they were taken using an X-T4, which still needs a firmware update in order to be able to properly communicate with the new lens.
And to be clear: DPR did receive the X-H2S and was warned not to use other cameras except for the X-H2S on the XF150-600mm, but for some reason they did not follow the instructions.
That’s quite an embarrassing error for a website that should have tons of experience with pre-production gear.
And maybe it is actually so embarrassing, that they are afraid it will hurt their reputation if they publicly apologize for it.
But I believe they should own it, not hide it.
Simply removing the sample gallery, without informing their loyal readers that what they saw were flawed samples, is not enough to bring back justice for the XF150-600mm.
Nope, it would be a nice touch towards their own readers and towards Fujifilm, if they’d apologize for sharing samples that mislead people to believe the lens is a horrible performer.
It can’t be a rumor site to set things right in this case. Dear DPR, you need to inform your readers.
Camerasize has uploaded the latest and greatest Fujifilm gear on their database.
Here are a couple of comparisons with other X series cameras and lenses.
Of course feel free to make your own comparisons at camerasize.
So, the specs have leaked, for the X-H2s, but also for the upcoming lenses.
I thought some of you might appreciate a specs comparison between the Fujifilm X-H2S and the X-T4 as well as its predecessor, the X-H1.
Just for fun, I did throw also the 40MP Fujifilm X-H2 in the comparison. We don’t know that much about, but a few things we know.
LIVE BLOG starts at 9AM New York Time – stay tuned on FujiRumors
This month the Fujifilm X/GFX USA “Create With Me” competition will focus on wedding photography. You have a chance to learn something new and also an opportunity to win a Fujifilm X-T4 Kit!
Learn More at the dedicated Create With Me page.
How Create With Me works
A hand-picked selection of FUJIFILM Creators will be sharing insight and secrets behind their distinctive photographic styles, then inviting you to create and submit images inspired by their advice. Send an image and you could win some incredible prizes, but you can also simply use each round as a new challenge for your photography – and maximize this fantastic opportunity to learn from the best!
The competition is split into twelve monthly rounds, with two FUJIFILM Creators setting a challenge each round. There’s something for everyone from portraits to landscapes, street to weddings. Sign up below to be informed when each round goes live.
There is this weird idea that keeps hammering my head.
It says: sell the X-T4 and X-E3 and get the Fujifilm X-E4.
Why?
Because the X-E4 would be the perfect fusion between the form factor I love (X-E3) and the power I sometimes need (X-T4). Plus it would have a two way tilt screen which I vastly prefer over the selfie screen on my X-T4 (even though in some radical composition necessities it can be very helpful).
So this weekend I will just make shameless private use of FujiRumors and ask what you think about this idea.
But let me be clear: this post is not to say the X-E3 is not a capable camera. I mean, I shot a wedding with it and it worked just fine. But the X-T4 is simply the more powerful tool and in some occasion this extra power can be useful.
So why am I still hesitating?
The reason is simple: I’d no longer have an X series camera with IBIS (only my GFX100S).
Now, I know some guys claim IBIS is for losers and it completely destroys the photographic purists experience. But trust me, when you hike for hours up a mountain (as I love to do), and maybe at some very narrow path you want to stop to grab a quick picture with a tired and shaking hand or you have your son on the your back moving around while you try to take a picture, then having the IBIS solution as an option is more then welcome. And if I don’t need it, I turn it off… easy ;).
So what should I do?
And yes, I know the 5th generation of Fujifilm cameras is coming. I will probably get one of those cameras, too. So maybe it would be better to wait and see what Fujifilm has to offer in 2022/early 2023, and based on that see which cameras sell, keep and buy.
I don’t know, I am confused. Maybe just sell everything and go for X-E4. Or wait a bit longer, see what the future brings, and then take decisions.
And since lately I am so absorbed by Fujifilm X-E4 reviews, trying to make up my mind, I will share a couple of reviews down below.
The Hybrid Shooter published its review of the Viltrox AF 13mm f/1.4 XF. You can see the video as well as read a summary down below.
