Fujifilm X-T3 or Fujifilm X-H1

The debate and the questions started after yesterday’s Fujifilm X-T3 rumor.

I thought to put some of the questions and speculations I could read in the comments and that I got via email in this article, and maybe add some thoughts to it.

Feel free to read and discuss it in the comments.

The Journey from Fujifilm X-T2S to Fujfiilm X-H1

As you know, the upcoming Fujifilm X-H1 was originally planed to be called X-T2s.

You might think: “Who cares, just a name change“.

Maybe… or maybe not.

The fact that Fujifilm decided to change name, and hence to create a new line of Fujifilm X series cameras, could be quite relevant.

It’s safe to assume that a new line of cameras means that this line will have some peculiarities that sets them apart from all other Fujifilm cameras.

No IBIS on Fujifilm X-T3?

What could be the features that set the Fujifilm X-H1 apart from any other Fujifilm X series camera, including the Fujifilm X-T3?

I am investigating this, but you guys already started to make speculations in the comments.

The most widly spread of your speculation in the comments is that IBIS will be a feature reserved for the Fujifilm X-H1, which means the Fujifilm X-T3 will not have IBIS.

If your speculations are right, then Fujifilm did well to change the name from X-T2S to X-H1. Two different camera lines, with some more or less significant differences, such as IBIS… but there are more of them.

Fujifilm X-H1 for Video and Fujifilm X-T3 for Stills

Let’s assume the speculations of many FR-readers are correct, and the Fujifilm X-T3 will not have IBIS.

In that case, unless you work on a rig/gimbal (where IBIS can actually become a problem, as we have shown here), the Fujifilm X-H1 will be the better video camera if you shoot handheld, not only because of IBIS, but also because the ergonomics, controls and features are more build around the needs of videographers.

The bigger camera and deeper grip of the Fujifilm X-H1 will definitely help overall stability and balance while filming, especially if you use the X-H1 with long Cine Lenses like the Fujinon MK 18-55 and MK 50-135.

I also doubt any videographer would really use the exposure compensation dial to adjust brightness while filming, since it would introduce lots of camera shakes. This is why Fujifilm got rid of it on the X-H1. You will control exposure compensation via command dial and check your value on a top LCD panel.

The bigger body might also allow better heat dissipation, allowing maybe longer (or even unlimited?) 4K video recording time.

The Fujifilm X-T line would remain mainly a stills camera, with a smaller body and more analog controls (exposure compensation dial).

And if the Fujifilm X-T3 really has no IBIS as you guys speculated, then, from a mere image quality point of view, this might have some advantages, too, since IBIS can introduce more vignetting and it can create issues with heat dissipation that lead to worst high ISO performance, as Panasonic ambassador and GH5S beta tester told us here. On the other hand, I can think of many other situations where IBIS is useful also for stills.

But I have written a detailed IBIS Pros and Cons article (also compared to OIS). Feel free to check it out.

Should Fujifilm Have Merged X-T3 and X-H1 into One Camera?

Should Fujifilm have merged the X-T3 and X-H1 into one camera?

And what’s the advantage of creating a new X-H Line?

I don’t know… but I’ll throw in some thoughts…

Making the X-T3 more “video friendly” would have ment changing the classic X-T controls and design by adding, for example, a deeper grip and overall size to the camera. And given how much loved the current design is amongst Fujifilm X-T shooters, I am not sure if such changes would have been appreciated.

By creating a new line with the Fujifilm X-H1, Fujifilm has much more freedom to make more radical ergonomic changes oriented towards the needs of videographers. And as you can see in our leaked X-H1 sketches, the X-H1 has some significant differences compared to the X-T2.

But the big question remains: will IBIS really be reserved to the X-H line? I will try to answer this question as soon as possible.

In the meantime, make sure to follow us on Facebook, RSS-feed and Twitter, and to click on the little bell icon on the bottom right of your browser, to get instant notification, as soon as I can answer this question.

• Fujifilm X-T User Group
• Fujifilm X-H (IBIS camera) Group
• Fujifilm X-Pro User Group
• Fujifilm X-E User Group
• Fujifilm GFX Group
• Fujifilm X100 line Group

all the best,
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Fujifilm X-T3

Ok guys…the following Fujifilm X-T3 rumor is a mix of information I got from trusted as well as new sources.

• Fujifilm X-T3 announcement around photokina 2018, which takes place at the end of September – TRUSTED SOURCE (probably shortly before photokina)
• New X Processor Pro – TRUSTED SOURCE
• New X Trans Sensor with more than 24MP but less than 30 MP – TRUSTED SOURCE
• Shipping in October/November, but more likely November – NEW SOURCE

Particularly interesting I find the information about the new X-Trans sensor having less than 30 Megapixel. I know some were expecting 32 or even 36 megapixel, but this will not happen, at least not with Fujfilm’s next X Trans sensor generation.

At the moment I have no idea how many megapixel it will have, but in any case it seems it won’t be really a huge jump from 24 MP.

I will try to find out more and let you know as soon as possible.

Fujifilm X-T30 II Discontinued? The Confusion Explained

For a short time, B&H Photo marked the Fujifilm X-T30 II as discontinued (it’s now back to showing “out of stock”).

Not only that—B&H even sent out an email to customers waiting for the X-T30 II, saying the camera had been discontinued and suggesting alternatives. (I have the screenshot if you’d like to see it 😉).

And usually, when a store marks something as discontinued, it’s because the manufacturer told them there won’t be any more unit coming so they should not offer it for sale on their store anymore.

At that point, it looked like a clear case: B&H had “officially discontinued” the X-T30 II, and we reported it as such.

But then Fujifilm stepped in. In comments given to Petapixel, Fujifilm stated:

• the X-T30 II is an “active part” of Fujifilm’s lineup and still being produced
• no hints to any X-T30 II successor have been given to Petapixel

Where We Stand

I run a rumor site. I don’t have the luxury of firing off emails to Fujifilm HQ and getting official statements on demand. I have to work with what’s in front of me. And in this case, we had:

• B&H marking the X-T30 II as discontinued
• B&H emailing customers confirming the discontinuation

So yes, in the article we wrote: “B&H Photo has now officially discontinued the X-T30 II.”

Petapixel later called our report a “false rumor” and “inaccurate.” Fair enough—they can confirm things directly with Fujifilm, while I can only report what retailers are showing. That makes them inherently better positioned to be “more accurate.”

But fact is: we never shared the X-T30 II discontinuation as a “rumor.” We simply reported what we saw listed on B&H Photo, backed up by the emails they themselves sent out.

Still, I’ll offer an apology—not because our reporting was wrong (B&H really did list and email the X-T30 II as discontinued), but because some readers misinterpreted it as an official Fujifilm announcement. We clearly showed the screenshot and explicitly wrote in the article that B&H had discontinued it, not Fujifilm. If that distinction was overlooked, then it’s not because the facts were inaccurate, but because the article was read in a way it was never written. And yes, I’ll take responsibility for making things clearer next time, even though also publishing screenshots and quoting B&H directly can be misunderstood.

The real problem was for readers who only saw the headline. I started it with “Fujifilm Clears the Way for X-T30 III”, which wasn’t a factual report but my editorial interpretation of why B&H removed the X-T30 II from their website. If someone stopped at the headline and didn’t check the screenshot or read the full article, it’s understandable how they could misunderstand. Once I realized this, I updated the headline to include “at B&H Photo”, making it clear in the headline what the article and screenshot already showed: the discontinuation refers to the retailer—not Fujifilm.

I will take this as a lesson for the future, and thanks to PetaPixel for pointing this out: it’s not enough to make a 100% accurate report. I also have to make clear that every type of reader, from the one who reads full articles to the ones who barely fly over the headline, get the correct message.

But Let’s Get Serious Now 😉

If the X-T30 II is truly such an “active” product, why has Fujifilm Japan de-listed nearly all models from their website, leaving only the silver kit—and that one is out of stock since a long time?

Why is it almost impossible to find in stock anywhere else?

Is the X-T30 II selling like hotcakes, matching the demand of the X100VI or X-E5? Or is Fujifilm quietly phasing it out?

From where I’m standing, that hardly looks like a thriving lineup.

And here’s the key point: the Fujifilm X-T30 III is coming in October. No matter how strongly Fujifilm denies it, our sources confirm it’s happening.

And what is Fujifilm actually doing right now? Are they using the remaining X-T30 II parts to produce as many units as possible before the X-T30 III launch—or have they already started X-T30 III production, repurposing parts that might otherwise have gone into the X-T30 II?

Fujifilm CONFIRMS X-T30 III possibility ;)

And take a close look at what Fujifilm actually said to Petapixel. They didn’t say, “The rumors about the X-T30 II are false because the X-T50 is its successor.” What they said was that they have no indication of an X-T30 II successor. In other words, for the first time, Fujifilm is essentially admitting that the X-T50 is not the X-T30 II’s successor—leaving the door wide open for a true replacement.

And that successor is coming soon.

• X-T30 III*
  BHphoto / Amazon / Adorama
  *announcement in October
• X-T30II
  BHphoto / AmazonUS / Adorama / BestBuy / Moment / Paul’s Photo

go to minute 5:53 of the video to hear the thoughts of Patrick about it

One of the critiques Fujifilm gets is that they have a confusing camera lineup with too many lines.

• Top 10 Attacks on Fujifilm (That Don’t Make Sense):
• Top 7 Critiques on Fujifilm that Are Absolutely Justified

The Fujifilm X-T30III or X-T40 just fueled again this criticism, but I think this time they don’t deserve it.

First things first: Fujifilm has indeed likely canceled 6 X series lines already (or even 7, if we consider X70 and XF10 not part of the same line):

• X-M1, X-M5
• X-A1, X-A2, X-A3, X-A5, X-A7 – discontinued line
• X-T100, X-T200 – discontinued line
• X-T10, X-T20, X-T30, X-T30 II
• X-T50
• X-S10, X-S20
• X-E1, X-E2, X-E2S, X-E3, X-E4, X-E5
• X-Pro1, X-Pro2, X-Pro3
• X-H1, X-H2, X-H2S
• X-T1, X-T2, X-T3, X-T4, X-T5
• X100, X100S, X100T, X100F, X100V, X100VI
• X10, X20, X30 – discontinued line
• XQ1, XQ2 – discontinued line
• XF1 – discontinued line
• X70 – future unknown, likely discontinued
• XF10 – future unknown, likely discontinued
• X half

So we have a total of possibly six canceled lines.

And how many lines has Fujifilm introduced?

Well, 2 new lines have been introduced recently: Fujifilm X half and the Fujifilm X-T50,

Yes, also the Fujifilm X-T50 is a “new line”, because as we told you in this rumor, it does not belong to the X-T10, X-T20, X-T30 line since Fujifilm will launch a dedicated successor for that line (X-T40/X-T30III) in 2025.

And actually there will also be a third totally new line soon, and that camera is already listed at BHphoto here.

In short: Fujifilm has axed more lines than it has created new ones.

With all that said, I think launching the Fujifilm X-T40/X-T30III makes totally sense.

Why?

Well, because Fujifilm’s entry level line has basically been axed (except X-M line) and their other lower-end to mid-range models got an overall specs upgrade with a consequantial significant price increase (X-E5 and X-T50).

At this point in time, Fujifilm has no true entry level camera with viewfinder and that’s a problem if you ask me.

But how could a Fujifilm X-T30III/X-T40 look like?

Speculations (NOT RUMOR)

• my realistic scenario: X-T30 II body with 5th generation processor and latest firmware
• my hope scenario: X-T30 II body but with X-T100 alike unique screen mechanism – we reported here
• my dream scenario: X-T50 body with 4th generation 26MP sensor

Since I think that price matters when it comes to the Fujifilm X-T40 or X-T30 III, I believe they’ll go for the first scenario I mentioned above.

But feel free to let us know in the comments what you think about all of this.