Best-Selling Cameras at Mapcamera in FY2023

Mapcamera (one of the largest retailers in Japan) shared the list of the most sold 20 cameras during their fiscal year 2023 (April 1 2023 to March 31 2024).

Fujifilm is the second most represented brand with 4 cameras. First comes Sony with 6 cameras. Canon and Nikon have three cameras listed. Ricoh has two cameras and Leica and OM one only.

  1. Nikon Z8
  2. Nikon Z f
  3. Sony α7C II
  4. Canon EOS R6 Mark II
  5. Sony α7RV
  6. Sony α7IV
  7. Fujifilm X-T5
  8. Ricoh GR IIIx
  9. Sony α6700
  10. Canon EOS R8
  11. OM system OM-1
  12. Fujifilm X-H2
  13. Fujifilm X-T30 II
  14. Ricoh GR III
  15. Nikon Z fc
  16. Fujifilm X-S10
  17. Sony ZV-E10
  18. Leica Q3
  19. Canon EOS R10
  20. Sony ZV-E1

via Mapcamera

The Rumors for 2024 (Ranked by Reliability) and the Ultimate 2023 Rumor Check

The Rumors of Past & Future

It’s time for our yearly rumor check, so that you guys can decide if FujiRumors was worth your time or not.

We will also give you an overview over all remaining rumors for 2024 ranked by reliability.

  • 75 rumors shared in 2023
  • 12 rumors still to be verified
  • 60 correct rumors out of 63 verifiable rumors
  • 2 wrong rumors (sort of… not really… but yeah…)
    NOTE: one rumor instantly corrected (just misunderstood the source)
    NOTE: another one is 99% correct, just a small detail is not accurate (how much faster the GFX100II sensor is compared to the GFX100 sensor). Still today this is not clear, but I am brutal to myself and move the entire stuff into the wrong section
  • 1 rumor out of ranking (for reasons I will explain below)
  • 96.7% correct rumors

Rumor Overview with Rating

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It’s Over my Friends: No More X or GFX Related Announcements This Year

Yes I know.

I am aware that in the first half of 2023 Fujifilm has registered a camera with the code name FF230002.

And I am aware that never before Fujifilm needed more than 4/6 months to release a camera after its registration has been spotted.

This is why 99,9% of people out there are so sure there will be another Fujifilm announcement this year.

Maybe in November, as that’s a great month to launch new gear (Fuji’s most important camera has been launched November last year for example).

But this ain’t gonna happen, according to our sources.

In fact, we have been told (thanks!!!), that as far as 2023 goes, this was it. There is no new gear coming in 2023.

I mean, yes, the two GF tilt shift lenses still have to hit the market. But of course our sources mean that there won’t be any further announcements this year.

This means that we will also NOT get the next Fujinon XF lens that we already rumored a couple of weeks ago, in 2023.

So all we got (and will get) in 2023 is:

  • Fujifilm X-S20
  • Fujifilm GFX100II
  • Fujinon XF8mmF3.5
  • Fujinon GF55mmF1.7
  • Fujinon GF30mmF5.6 Tilt Shift
  • Fujinon GF110mmF5.6 Tilt Shift

Some great stuff dropped in 2023 for both systems, but certainly there was more to rejoice for GFX users rather than X series users this year.

But before the X series users start moaning, just a quick reminder on what we got in 2022:

  • Fujifilm X-T5
  • Fujifilm X-H2
  • Fujifilm X-H2s
  • Fujinon XF 30mmF2.8 Macro
  • Fujinon XF 56mm f/1.2 R WR
  • Fujinon XF 150-600mm f/5.6-8
  • Fujinon XF 18-120mm f/4

Sure, we always wish for more. But over the last 2 years I think we can agree that there has been quite some decent stuff for both systems.

And what about 2024?

Well, for that, my friends, you’ll have to follow FujiRumors.

Rumors, that will be shared exclusively for you here on FujiRumors.

Fujifilm Facebook Groups

Nikon Zf: Well Done Nikon, Retro is the “Innovation” that Will Boost Your Sales, but…

So, the Nikon Zf is out and originally I did not want to make any article about it.

But since the buzz is big and many headlines compare it to Fujifilm’s retro approach (like our Italian friends at Promirrolress here that gave it the headline: “the Nikon Zf makes Fujifilm tremble“), I thought to launch a dedicated article mainly so that you guys can discuss about it in the comments.

My comment?

In short: I love what Nikon did with the Nikon Zf, even though there are reasons I still consider Fujifilm the better pick.

What Nikon did right

The problem is this:

Pretty much all mid and higher end mirrorless cameras you can buy today are excellent.

At the same time, there is not much innovation anymore in terms of sensors. The last big jump was achieved with the stacked sensor. Since then, we are still waiting for the next big thing (global shutter?), but that “big thing” seems to be still far away.

So the question is: what could motivate people to buy a new camera, if what they have is already so good and the new gear does not really bring groundbreaking new specs to the table?

Is a 20% faster sensor readout or a 10% higher autofocus accuracy really a reason to upgrade gear?

I don’t think so.

But what could work as a much bigger motivation to upgrade than a slightly faster sensor readout is to offer a completely different photographic experience over the mainstream thanks to dedicated dials, retro look and feel, vintage manual controls.

Because even if the camera might be identical in terms of specs to many other cameras, it will still be able to offer something completely different thanks to the retro approach.

Also, in times where camera companies have to find ways to draw younger generations into their systems, the retro style could be paradoxically something that achieves exactly that goal, as we can see from the terrific success of the Fujifilm X100V.

That’s why I believe the Nikon Zf will become a terrific success. It is the one thing that sets it apart from all other Nikon Z cameras (except for the Nikon Zfc of course).

Nikon Zf or Fujifilm?

The Nikon Zf uses the same 24MP sensor of the Nikon Z6II. And we know from Photons to Photos dynamic range measurements data, that it is marginally better in terms of dynamic range over the 40MP Fujifilm X-H2 with X-Trans sensor (Z6II has a PDR of 11.26 vs X-H2 a PDR of 10.75).

But that’s actually not the point.

Other aspects are more relevant. The Nikon Zf has:

  • no joystick
  • no dual UHS-II card slot
  • no awesome film simulations
  • lenses without aperture ring
  • less megapixel than X-T5
  • more than 30% heavier than my X-T5 (plus the bigger full frame lenses, without aperture ring)
  • overall the X-T5 has better specs for stills and video (full specs comparison here)
  • fully articulating screen (I am not a fan of it)
  • more expensive than X-T5

Now these are just a few things that make the Nikon Zf not a temptation for me. But for many others these might not be an issue at all.

I am not bashing on the Nikon Zf. On the contrary, I applaud and welcome it, and it is the first camera from another brand that actually grabs my interest for more than just 5 minutes. ;).

I believe the Nikon Zf will become a terrific success. And I certainly wish it to Nikon. More vintage cameras on the market are always welcome and refreshing over the plethora of PSAM dial cameras out there.

Well done Nikon!

CP+ Images: Fujinon GF30mmF5.6 Tilt Shift and GF/XF Roadmap Lenses, Tamron 11-20mmF2.8, Voigtländer 35mmF0.9 and 27mmF2

Fujifilm Digesting 2022

CP+ started today.

Fujifilm has not announced anything, but I guess we still have to digest all the stuff they launched last year, which was:

It’s fair to give Fujifilm a little break, given how busy they were in 2022.

Fujifilm 2023 Teasers

GFX SYSTEM

What Fujifilm did for CP+, is to tease upcoming products for 2023.

They showcase a mock-up of the upcoming Fujinon GF30mm f/5.6 Tilt Shift lens, but not of the Fujinon GF110mmF5.6 Tilt Shift, which, according to the statements Fujifilm managers did during the September X summit, should also come in 2023.

They also show a silhouette of the Fujinon GF55mm f/1.7, which personally is the lens I am looking forward the most. We already shared hands-on images of the GF55mmF1.7 here.

X SYSTEM

For the X system, we get a silhouette of the Fujinon XF8mmF3.5.

The Fujinon XF8mmF3.5 became part of the Fujifilm X mount roadmap and during the X summit in May 2022.

Fujifilm did share technical sketches of the lens in May already, and we used them to compare the size of the Fujinon XF8mmF3.5 to other wide angle lenses such as the Fujinon XF14mmF2.8, the Zeiss Touit 12mmF2.8 and the Laowa 9mm f/2.8 (but the Laowa has no autofocus.

Third Party Lenses

But if Fujifilm did not launch anything at CP+, to make the beginning of 2023 interesting for Fujifilm shooters are third party lens manufacturers.

We have the lovely Tamron 11-20mm f/2.8, a couple of new Voigtländer lenses, the Samyang 75mm f/1.8 as well as Sigma 23mm f/1.4 coming soon and even a couple of new AF Yongnuo lenses.

Some of those lenses are at display at the CP+ in Japan right now and you can find the images below in this article.

I will share all images in this article and below you can find the link to the sources.

& More

Not only autofocus lenses. Also the recently announced Tokina SZ 300mm PRO Reflex F7.1 MF CF is displayed at CP+,.

Gallery

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When my Old XF23mmF1.4 Beat Sony Full Frame and other Wonderful Moments (but now Welcome my New XF23mmF1.4 R LM WR)

It’s Here

It’s never easy to let go gear you used and loved a lot. Gear like my good old Fujinon XF23mm f/1.4 R for example.

But now the time has come.

I’ve just received the new Fujinon XF23mm f/1.4 R LM WR and I’ve explained the reason why I bought it here already.

The Magic of Making Money by Buying Gear ;)

I bought the lens at Amazon IT here, as they had a better price than my local store and are also qualified for the Fujifilm cashback.

Convincing my wife of this investment went like this:

  1. I don’t need to pay for the lens, because I am paying it with the money I made from the X-T4 sale
  2. there is a sweet deal on the new XF23mmF1.4
  3. by buying the new XF23mmF1.4 I can get rid of the old XF23mm and make even more money
  4. I’ve booked a table for 2 for dinner at a fancy restaurant tomorrow. Yes, only for 2! It will be our first dinner without our son after 2+ years. Grandma is informed, she will watch after our son

This tells us one thing: photography is definitely an expensive hobby when you build up your system, but it gets much cheaper once you can fund new gear by selling old one.

Remember the Good

But I don’t let go my good old Fujinon XF23mm f/1.4 with a light heart, as I had many great moments with it. Let me name a few “episodes”.

Beating Sony ;)

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Fujinon XF150-600mm Factory Tour – See how This Lens is Made

CineD gives us a look inside the Fujifilm factory and shows us how the Fujinon XF 150-600mm f/5.6-8 R LM OIS WR is made.

It’s one of the first factory tours we get after a long time, as during the pandemic no media was allowed into the Sendai factory about 2.5 hours north of Toyko.

There is not much new to learn, except for the fact that it takes 480 parts in order to assemble a single lens. But it is always nice to take a look inside the factory and see how much work and also care goes into the manufacturing of our gear.

Here on FujiRumors the XF150-600mm was a huge hit making it in the top three positions of the best selling lenses of 2022.

Full List of List of Fujifilm Related Gear launched in 2022

DPReview New vs Old XF 56mm f/1.2 Studio Test – Not Sufficient Difference to Justify Switch to New 56 for Lab Test

When DPReview published their studio lab test of the Fujifilm X-H2, they used the old Fujinon XF56mm f/1.2 R for their test.

But as Fujifilm has openly said, the Fujinon XF56mm f/1.2 R is not capable of taking full advantage of all the 40MP edge to edge also at maximum aperture. Fujifilm writes:

The list specifies our selection of lenses that have high resolution performance from edge to edge at maximum aperture, allowing you to fully experience all that the 40MP sensor has to offer. Lenses not listed will also allow you to experience the improved resolution performance of the 40MP sensor.”

To be clear: all Fujinon lenses will experience a sharpness boost. But not all will be able to resolve all the 40MP even wide open across the entire frame.

Many rightfully asked DPR to re-test the studio lab scene using the new Fujinon XF56mm f/1.2 R WR, and so they did. Their conclusion:

Our interpretation is that there is a slight contrast benefit to the use of the new 56mm F1.2R WR vs. the non-WR lens; in the widget above we’ve tried to highlight the area of greatest difference. In our judgment the difference is not sufficient, at the aperture value the test scene is shot at, to justify breaking consistency with previous Fujifilm models tested in our setup.

This isn’t a comment on the new lens: we’d expect to see greater differences at wider apertures, and we’ve found the autofocus performance to be improved over the older version. But neither of these are pertinent to the selection of our standard Fujifilm test lens, so we’ll stick with the original 56mm F1.2R for now, to maintain perfect continuity in the studio comparison feature our site provides.

It shall be noted at this point that DPR used the lenses at f/5.6 on Fujifilm X-T5 and Fujifilm X-H2.

I find it a pity that they won’t change the lens. At f/5.6 the performance might be similar in the center, but as you can see from the screenshots I have shared above (or here and here), in RAW I see an sensible advantage for the new Fujinon XF56mm f/1.2 R WR. I think they could just simply use the new lens for testing going forward.

But we appreciate DPR going the extra mile and testing it on the new XF56mmF1.2 R WR. If you don’t shoot wide open a lot and don’t mind slightly softer corners, then the original Fujinon XF56mmF1.2 R is still a great option (especially now that it is super discounted).

You can access the DPR comparison studio lab test here.

The Curious Case of 2023 Rumors and the Big 2022 Rumor Check (97,6% Correct Rumors)

It’s time for our yearly rumor check, so that you guys can decide if FujiRumors was worth your time or not.

  • 88 rumors shared in 2022
  • 3 rumors still to be verified
  • 83 correct rumors out of 85 verifiable rumors
  • 2 wrong rumors out of 85 verifiable rumors (and I am extremely severe to myself, as you’ll see below)
  • 97,6% correct rumors

Rumor Overview – The Curious Case of 2023

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