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
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Fujifilm GFX 100 official and rumored specs

Fuji Guy Billy: No More Kaizen for X-T20, Fujifilm Works with Adobe, X-T30 Great Vlogging Camera, Autofocus Motors Compared and More

FujiLove Podcast

The second episode of the Fujilove podcast with Fuji Guy Billy just went online (episode 1 here).

It’s a one hour talk, and assuming not many of you have this time right now (you are once again reading FujiRumors at work, right? ;) ), I have summed it up all in practical and compact key points for you. Once you have more time, listen to it all here.

Adobe, Worms, X-Trans and Alternatives

  • Adobe’s new enhance detail feature addresses the worm effect, which appears especially in shadow areas zoomed in at 400%
  • worm effect is an Adobe X-Trans interpretation problem
  • other options are: free Fujifilm X RAW Studio, in camera RAW converter, free Capture One Express for Fujifilm
  • Fujifilm tries to work close with Adobe to try to provide best possible understanding of the X-Trans files

Necessary to upgrade from X-T20 to X-T30 for landscape photography?

  • X-T30 has latest technology
  • X-Processor 4 and X-Trans 4 BSI sensor much faster readout. That’s great for video (less rolling shutter for example)
  • on the photo site, X-T20 and X-T30 are comparable
  • if you are happy with X-T20 image quality, Billy does not recommend to upgrade for landscape photography
  • most improvements are for sports autofocus tracking and video
  • X-T20 is at its maximum potential, so you probably won’t see much updates to it anymore for better AF system etc.

by FujiRumors: let’s hope this does not mean the Fujifilm X-H1 is also at its maximum potential, since it uses the same sensor/processor of the X-T20

Should people get the wide aperture lenses f/1.2-f/1.4 or the f/2 series of lenses?

  • depends on needs
  • for low light, professional portraits and for shallower DOF, get the fast aperture lenses
  • f/2 are great for travels, compact and lightweight
  • Newer cameras like X-T3 improve autofocus also on the f/1.2 and f/1.4 lenses

Lenses for Video: Stepping vs Linear Autofocus Motor

  • Fujifilm made big steps in video department
  • when using AF in video, the f/2 lenses are better since they use quiet and fast AF stepping motors. AF moves smoothly
  • downside: stepping motors do not have the strength to move heavier glass fast enough. For faster glass you need the linear motor with higher torque capabilities
  • higher torque is great for stills, but you don’t want such fast AF movements during filming, where you want smooth and gradual focusing
  • Fujinon MKX lenses: manual focus only lenses, hence no focus breathing. They are sharper than XF16-55mmF2.8 and XF50-140mmF2.8
  • for family, friends, vlogging, Billy choses the f/2 lenses

Autofocus Motors Compared: Stepping vs. Linear vs. DC coreless vs ultrasonic

  • Billy says the 56mmf/1.2 is equivalent to 85mmf/1.2 in terms of 35mm field of view. It is very fast and hence has big glass elements the AF needs to move
  • autofocus motor options are:
    – stepping motors
    – linear motors
    – DC coreless motors
    – ultrasonic type of motors
  • Each of these 4 motors has Pros and Cons
  • XF56/1.2 has a DC coreless AF motor, because stepping motor is not strong enough to move big glass quickly, unless a much bigger stepping motor is designed, which would make lens very big
  • DC coreless motor allowed the XF56/1.2 to be smaller and still have enough power to move the glass elements
  • problem with DC coreless motors is that they do not move as smoothly and consistent as stepping motors
  • XF35/2 uses a stepping motor, because lens elements are small and light. Silent and smooth
  • linear motors are bigger than stepping motors, but silent and smooth like stepping motors, so great for video. Some Fujinon lenses have even 4 linear motors inside
  • AF motor choice depends on the prupose on the lens: is it mento for video or stills? Is it a fast aperture lens? Should it be compact?

Camera Corner – Fujifilm X-T30 and X-T3

  • Fujifilm X-T30 has lots of features of X-T3
  • X-T3 was best hybrid camera of 2018 according to many sites
  • X-T30 offers great value feature-wise and takes over lots of features of X-T3
  • 30 fps with no EVF blackout, great video functions like internal F-log
  • X-T30 is a fully featured camera
  • Fujifilm cameras look beautiful, and also design and controls is reason to buy a camera
  • in the Fujifilm system, you don’t sacrifice image quality if you buy a $1,200 or $1,800 camera. Strategy is to use same sensor/processor for same image quality

Lens Corner – XF16mm f/2.8

  • XF16mm f/2.8 falls into the f/2 compact lens lineup. Small, fast AF, weather sealed, excellent IQ with nice detail and a great minimum focus distance
  • 16/28 Is scary good in terms of quality for its price
  • XF16mm f/1.4 is different type of beast. More control over DOF and more flexible in low light, but Billy thinks Fujifilm will sell much more XF16/2.8 lenses than 16/1.4, because it’s great value
  • for small camera bodies like X-T30, the f/2 and f/2.8 lenses are great combo
  • 16/2.8 is also a good lens for vlogging, still some nice shallow DOF

Tip Corner – Movie silent control

  • movie silent control is found in X-H1, X-T3 and X-T30
  • movie silent control gives you independent control from your dials. Just tap on the back of the screen and from there use touch controls to change ISO, f/stop, Shutter Speed
  • even better than touch: use the joystick to change movie silent control settings
  • movie silent control allows for independent video/stills controls
  • on X-T30, you can set one of the function buttons to turn ON/OFF movie silent control

Will X-T and X-H get flip out screen in future? X-T30 for Vlogging?

  • Billy hoped for an X-T30 with flip-out screen and hopes for it to come to X-T/X-H line in future
  • X-T100 with selfie screen has different design, and it’s actually wider camera than X-T20/30, because there needed to be room for the selfie screen hinge
  • with HDMI output you can use external monitor to see yourself
  • It comes down to costs and design. Changing the design raises costs
  • Top concerns of vloggers:
    1 – Am I in the frame? With wide 16mm lens or XF18-55 you don’t have to worry about not being in the frame
    2 – Is the camera still recording? X-T30 has tally light
    3 – Am I in focus? Eye AF on X-T30 is huge improvement.
  • X-T30 is very good vlogging camera. It has also a low rolling shutter
  • Selfie screen can be distracting. Billy used X-T100 for vlogging, and he tends to look at the flip-out screen instead of looking at the lens

Accessories and Software

App Improvement

  • Updated App coming around X-T30 launch date [March 20]

That’s all folks, and don’t forget to follow FujiRumors on Facebook, Instagram, RSS-feed and Twitter :)

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SONY User Tries FUJIFILM for the First Time, Didn’t Read the Owners Manual and Why You Know Your Gear Better than “Pro” Reviewers

Sony vs Fujifilm

Manny Oritz (former Sony ambassador, who left the program to focus on his youtube channel and to be able to cover more products) tested his first Fujifilm camera, the Fujifilm X-T3 and he has lots of great things to say about it.

  • Very responsive
  • Great weather sealing
  • beautiful color science, much better than Sony A6500
  • XF56mmF1.2 is a fantastic lens
  • Lightroom RAW processing not optimal [FR-NOTE: after his video, Adobe just offered a solution with the “enhanced detail” feature.]
  • Eye-AF is good but it’s better on Sony [FR-NOTE: major eye-AF improvement is coming for X-T3 in April].
  • Definitely a camera he could add to his current Sony kit
  • X-T3 makes you want to go out and shoot
  • The Fujifilm X-T3 exceeded his expectations in the field

A fair and objective review… but there is one thing I want to highlight.

Owners Manual Anyone?

** CLICK HERE to Read the Rest of the Article **

Unconfirmed Speculations: Fujifilm Working on Ultimate Fujifilm X Sports Camera – Should Fujifilm Really Make it? (POLL)

The Ultimate Fujifilm X

Michael The Maven published his full Fujifilm XF200mm f/2 video review. He praises this lens a lot and says it’s a step above anything Fujifilm has ever made so far.

In fact, he says the XF200mmF2 is so spectacular, that it does not make sense mounted on any current Fujifilm camera.

This is why he speculates that Fujifilm will release a professional APS-C flagship sports camera in not so distant future aimed to compete with the Sony A9.

Déjà-vu anyone?

Back in early 2017 (rumors of March 3, March 14 and April 14), we told you how Fujifilm was planing “the ultimate Fujifilm X“, a feature packed APS-C hybrid stills/video camera with IBIS, that could cost around $3,000 (if not more).

However, Fujifilm hesitated if such a camera would be successful, hence vastly revised the project (rumors of July 12, July 17 and July 24).

The result was the Fujifilm X-H1, an ergonomically fantastic camera with IBIS and a new ninja-shutter, but with the core specs and battery of the Fujifilm X-T2.

Rumors and Poll

Let me say it clearly: I have no indication at the moment that would allow me to say with confidence that Fujifilm revived plans for the ultimate Fujifilm X. Hence I can in no way confirm Michael’s speculation.

All that is sure is that Fujifilm had such plans in the past (2017), and Fujifilm can put that same project on the “to-do” list anytime again, just like it happened with the Fujinon XF33mm f/1.0, another project Fujifilm froze in for a few years, and then revived later on (also thanks to the pressure the FujiRumors community made).

Coincidence wants that a few days ago FR-reader Nathan contacted me with a survey suggestion, that fits perfectly into today’s article. Nathan wrote:

“I would like to purpose a simple survey for your readership. Should Fujifilm create a Fujifilm X-T3Pro to compete with the Sony a7000“

IMHO, a Fujifilm X-H2 with latest technology and bigger battery below $2,000 (vertical grip included) would be more than enough to satisfy the needs of wildlife and sport photographers and there is more urgent need for something like the Fujinon XF400mm f/4 to attract more of them into the X system.

But let me know what you think in the comments down below and feel free to vote the survey on if you would you like (or not) Fujifilm to revive plans for the ultimate feature packed (and expensive) Fujifilm X.

Should Fujifilm make and expensive "ultimate Fujifilm X" hybrid stills/videos sports flagship camera

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Dear Fujifilm, We Decided: These are the X and G Lenses You should Make Next

Top Lenses Results

So, the jury is in and a record-breaking 14,000+ of you guys voted the lens future polls!

It was an exciting head to head battle and for the overall results check this article.

For the X system, I have picked the most voted prime and most voted zoom lens, since last time we launched a huge lens request poll, Fujifilm also picked our top prime and top zoom, and made our wishes become reality.

For the G system, the selection was smaller, so I picked only the most voted lens.

When it comes to firmware wish lists, the race is extremely tight. Check the winner down below.

Top X Mount Prime and Zoom

  • Fujinon XF 10mm F2
  • Fujinon XF 18-35mm F2

Top G Mount Lens

  • GF 21mm F4 Tilt Shift

Top Wanted Firmware

  • Focus Bracketing Function

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Fujifilm X Summit: Recap of A Unique Event and One More Reason to Fall in Love with Fujifilm!

Fujifilm X Summit

What crazy days we had, triggered by the wonderful Fujifilm X Summit.

Fujifilm managers, engineers and designers explained their work, gave interesting insights and answered live questions of their customers.

Fujifilm even publicly asked us which lenses and firmware we would like next, letting us vote on various options (with overwhelming response by the FujiRumors community).

The X Summit shows, that the way Fujifilm interacts, listens and follows to customer needs, is more unique than rare, and it’s one more reason to fall in love with Fujifilm!

In case you missed it, make sure to check out our compact Fujifilm X Summit summary.

Fujifilm did an amazing job, customers answered in the best way possible, and for what it’s worth, I’ve also tried to honour the event by working restlessly and publishing 14 articles over the last weekend.

However, it seems that not everybody was able to keep track of it all, since I start to get emails from readers notifying me about news I have already published.

So I thought a quick recap could help:

Fun fact: at the X Summit Fujifilm said they will cooperate with Adobe for better X-Trans support, and four days later came this news:

  • click here – First Looks at ADOBE’s New Enhance Details Feature for Sharper Fujifilm X-Trans files
  • click here – ADOBE Improves Detail Rendering for FUJIFILM X-Trans RAW Files in Camera RAW 11.2

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Fujifilm GFX100 New Images and More Specs: 4K/30p with H265 Codec and 400 Mbps, 5 fps Continuous Shooting

larger view of the single Fujifilm GFX100 images below
larger view of the single Fujifilm GFX100 images below

We already knew that the Fujifilm GFX100 will be the first medium format camera able to shoot 4K/30p, but now Italian Fujifilm X photographer Luca Bracali and Italian store NewOldCamera dropped a few more specs from the GPP event in Dubai here (Luca) and here (NOC).

Lucky me that Italian is one of the 3 languages I manage much better than English (and poor you, who have to live with all kind of English errors I make), so here is the translation of the main new specs unveiled by Luca and NOC.

  • 4K/30p with H265 codec and 400 mbps
  • shipping within the end June
  • price: €10,000
  • 5 fps continuous shooting (GFX50S and GFX50R shoot at 3fps)

Full rumored and officially announced Fujifilm GFX100 specs and larger view of the images below:

** CLICK HERE to Read the Rest of the Article **

Fujifilm Publicly Asks Which X and G Lenses to Make Next, Shows Video Demo of New Fujifilm X-T3 April Firmware, Modular Compact GFX Body and More – X Summit

Fujifilm X Summit

Fujifilm hold the first X summit at the GPP in Dubai, an event aimed to listen to customer feedback in the best Kaizen tradition and discuss about the Fujifilm future.

For example, Fujifilm asked people which X and GFX lenses they should make next and which firmware update should come next.

Sadly there was not much participation (hardly 50 comments), so let’s see what happens if I share the same polls here on FujiRumors, the only Fujifilm community that can collect several thousands of votes within a few hours ;).

You find Fujifilm’s future X and GF lens survey down below.

Big news: just as we rumored a few days ago, the Fujifilm X-T3 will get a major firmware update, centered on autofocus improvements. It will come in April. Fujifilm showed a video demo of the improvements, and it was fairly impressive. Better face and eye tracking.

Here is the entire 1 hour and 48 minutes video summed up in key points for you. You’re welcome :).

X and G Mount – starts 27:48

Why no Full Frame

  • All brands go to mirrorless, and to different mounts and sensor sizes
  • Medium Format makes it easier to design lenses for higher resolution. But also needs more power
  • Barney from DPReview says there is no perfect format. It depends on what the customers wants
  • Every format has Pros and Cons
  • Focus is APS-C size. Provides fast system and enough resolution
  • For higher resolution, go GFX
  • Fuji’s R&D challenge is to make APS-C quality better and GFX smaller

X mount

  • X-mount design: sensors are getting better and so sensitive, that they have to deliver light through the lens in a very precise way
  • More light, less digital correction
  • Value Angle: Long technical explanation. In short: the wider the value angle, the more precise and easier they can send light to the sensor
  • Fujifilm compares the value angle of X-mount to full frame, and they show that X-mount has much wider value angle (screenshot below)
  • Canon and Nikon full frame mirrorless have smaller value angle
  • The Value angle of Sony full frame is very narrow
  • Wider value angle gives more flexibility for lens design. Allows for more light and less digital correction

FUTURE CONCEPTS – starts 41:57

XF33mm f/1.0

  • XF35mmF1.4 vs XF33mmF1.0: the XF 33/1 needs to be twice as big, since it needs to let in and correct twice the light
  • XF33mmF1 has more than twice lens elements than the XF35/1.4
  • to correct aberration on the XF33mm f/1.0 you need around 7-10 glass front elements
  • the XF35mmF1.4 has only 7 elements overall
  • the backside of the XF33mm f/1.0 has about 8 to 10 glass elements
  • overall the XF33mm f/1.0 has more than twice the lens elements
  • the 7 to 10 glass elements on the front of the 33/1 weight about 200 gram
  • challange is to move heavy lens elements precisely during autofocus
  • Toshi was not satisfied with the size of the lens, but he understands the challenges of developing it. However, he invites engineers to make it still as small and light as possible

XF16mm f/2.8 and XF 16-80mm f/4 working protoypes

  • XF16mmf/2.8 announcement soon
  • XF16-80mmf/4 will follow. Launch later this year. Lens feels really light

Future X and GF lenses

  • Fujifilm asks people which lenses Fujifilm should develop next – FujiRumors added the polls down below
  • Tilt shift lens is very likely to come next for G mount system
  • Zack Arias agrees with FujiRumors and he does not want a 35/1.4 MK II because he does not want the 35/1.4 magic to go lost
  • development costs of new lenses are very high

FUTURE GFX CONCEPTS and GFX CAMERAS – starts 59:39

GFX Concepts

  • Mirrorless should be free from all legacy
  • Fujifilm shows design mock-ups of GFX
  • they show a very small cubic and modular GFX, where you can attach a grip unit and viewfinder unit. So you can build the GFX according to your style (full video here and original full video here)
  • the modular GFX is just a mockup, but Fujifilm hopes it won’t take long to create such a small device
  • Medium format size can be reduced a lot, but there are challenges, for example a smaller shutter unit and better battery efficiency
  • with global shutter Fujifilm can make it smaller

The clear message here is: don’t worry, we are going to make the GFX system a whole lot smaller. So invest into GFX, and we will deliver you also a super-compact body one day.

GFX 100

  • Fujifilm shows a working prototype of GFX100 and they take a sample on stage, including pixel peeping
  • at 100MP the benefits of medium format shine, because it’s easier to design lenses that resolve 100MP for MF than for full frame or APS-C
  • hand-holdable medium format camera thanks to IBIS
  • GFX100 will cost around $10,000, but final decision has not yet been made
  • Coming before June

COLORS and IMAGE QUALITY – starts 1:17:46

  • They explain their color science.
  • The steps are: signal, measure, calculate, tune, target color
  • there will be new film simulations and they asked people which should come next (FujiRumors has already expressed its opinion)

FIRMWARE – starts 1:27:25

  • 250+ total firmware updates made since the original X100 has been introduced
  • They show upcoming firmware of X-T3 with significant autofocus improvement. Better face detection, better tracking, better eye AF. Coming in April. Check it out in the video embedded above or on youtube at 1:28:35
  • Fujifilm also said they will give us the opportunity to switch between faces with the new firmware
  • survey about which firmware should come next
  • they official mention Kaizen as their philosophy

Q&A

  • Fujifilm is studying the rating system
  • Adobe X-Trans support: Adobe says that for them to get good results with X-Trans is difficult, it’s a lot of work. Fujifilm will support Adobe for better processing
  • People ask for complete Camera Remote App redesign
  • Fujifilm is working on improved camera remote app

There will be more X summits, and you can interact at slido here, and of course you will be the first to know, if you follow FujiRumors on Facebook, Instagram, RSS-feed and Twitter.

Which Fujinon XF Lens Should Fujifilm Make Next? - max. 2 selections

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Which Fujinon GF Lens Should Fujifilm Make Next? - max. 1 selections

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Firmware Wishlist - Pick 1

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