Leaving Fujifilm for Sony A7III and Back to Fuji X-T3, Fuji Camera Release Timeline, X100V Delay – Top August Articles

As you can see, FujiRumors did not take a second of rest, not even during my “holiday” in August.

I wrote 71 articles in August, sometimes while I was drinking fresh beer, while hiking my stunning mountains or being out picking strawberries with my wife.

FujiRumors runs non stop for you guys :).

But maybe some of you might have missed something, so here are the top 10 articles for August.

  1. Release Timeline for Fujifilm X-T4, X-H2, X-T40, X-Pro3, X100V, X-E4, X-T200 and X-A6 Based on Fuji’s Previous Camera Releases
  2. This Guy left Fujifilm for Sony A7III and then Switched Back to Fujifilm X – Read Why Here
  3. Fujifilm & Adobe: New Way to Edit Fuji RAW files, How to Sharpen X-Trans files, Wormy Artifacts Evergreen and More
  4. 3½ Reasons Why Fujifilm is Waiting so Long to Release the Fujifilm X100V
  5. Fujifilm X-T3 vs Sony a7III, Buying Fujifilm on a Budget, Lenstip XF16mm f/2.8 review and Much More
  6. Guys, Photography Gear is Not Real Estate, or Why We Should not Complain that Fujifilm X-H1 costs $299
  7. Not Only Fujifilm X-Pro3: One more Fujifilm Camera Coming in 2019? FF190001 Registered
  8. Fujifilm X Mount Viltrox 23mm f/1.4, 33mm f/1.4 and 56mm f/1.4 Autofocus Lenses – First Specs and Images
  9. The Complete Fujifilm X Series Guide Updated: Now with Fujinon XF16-80mm f/4 and More
  10. NEW Images of Viltrox 23mm f/1.4, 33mm f/1.4 and 56mm f/1.4 Autofocus Lenses for Fujifilm X

And don’t forget to:

Fujifilm FY2020/3 Q1 Financial Results: Strong GFX100 and X-T30 Sales, but Severe Market Conditions Make Revenue Fall 15%

Fujifilm Financial Results

Fujifilm just published the results for the first quarter of fiscal year 2020 (April 1, 2019 – March 31, 2020).

Despite “strong sales” for Fujifilm GFX100 and X-T30, consolidated revenue was down 15.1% from the same period of the previous fiscal year.

Even Fujifilm’s cashcow Instax struggled this time.

Detailed Report:

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

DPRTV Fujifilm GFX100 Review for Video: No Dynamic Range/Low Light Benefits Over X-T3, but MF can Now do Pro Video Work

Fujifilm GFX100

While 99,99% of Fujifilm GFX100 owners will buy the camera for its photographic virtues (the new king of the DPReview lab tests), at the GFX100 launch Fujifilm also highlighted the video capabilities of the latest medium format GFX camera.

And sure, on paper, also the Fujifilm GFX100 video specs are impressive (10 bit internal, 400 mbps, no crop 4K, IBIS etc).

But how does it work in real life for video?

DPReview TV has tested the Fujifilm GFX100 for videos, and here are their findings:

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

8 Ways to Accessorize Your Fujifilm Kit, Haoge Metal Square Hood, Godox USB Charger, X-T30/X100F Eye Cup – Accessories Roundup

  • BHphoto – Make it Yours: 8 Ways to Accessorize Your Fujifilm Kit

Haoge LH-X13 Bayonet Square Metal Lens Hood for Fujifilm XF 14mm F2.8 R and XF 18-55mm F2.8-4.0 R LM. First feedback from FR-readers:

  • Very solid metal build
  • Cool styling that fits the classic Fujifilm look
  • Smaller
  • The ability to set your lens face down with or without camera attached (Important for pros).
  • Great protection

Godox has a USB charger for their flash batteries, making it easier and more compact for people to charge their gear while on the go, especially when used with a USB charger for Fuji batteries.

Yuen Co., Ltd. has launched three products: “I-Cup for FUJIFILM X100F” and “I-Cup for FUJIFILM X-T100” and “I-Cup for FUJIFILM X-T30 / T20 / T10”. Read more at dc.watch.

FUJIFILM GFX 50R and X-T30 crowned Winners at the 2019 TIPA World Awards

 

Tipa Awards 2019

We already questioned a few times, if these awards make sense, by disclosing how the award business works. But for some reason many Fujifilm X and GFX still rejoice when they read about Fujifilm winning an EISA, TIPA or whatever else award.

So I don’t want to be the spoilsport here, let’s just ignore it all and rejoice once again :).

Oh, and btw, don’t take any award seriously, that does not assign a price to the stellar FUJIFILM XF 200mm f/2 R LM OIS WR.

Here are all the winners:

Cameras

Lenses

Other Awards

The Fujifilm winners:

  • X-T30
  • GFX 50R

Press Release

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

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

DON’T FORGET TO FOLLOW and JOIN:

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 :)

X-T Rumors, News and Community

Fujifilm GFX50R Reviews: Portraits vs X-T3, GFX50R Survives 45 Minutes in Rain and More

image courtesy: josejeuland (review linked below)

Fujifilm GFX 50R

The Fujifilm GFX50R is falling into the hands of photographers, but sadly much slower than planed. The demand for the Fuji GFX50R surprised Fujifilm, and they are having a hard time to deliver it to customers.

Anyway, those, who already own it, are also part of our gigantic GFX group, and they share samples and impressions. Make sure to join.

Fujifilm GFX 50R: BHphoto, Adorama, AmazonUS

Follow FujiRumors: Facebook, RSS-feed, Instagram, Youtube and Twitter

For GFX Lovers

Videos

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