Vistek just hosted a Fujifilm X Summit After Show with Fuji Guy Billy.
They talk of course mainly about the Fujifilm X100VI, but also about other stuff, such as which lenses Fuji Guy Billy thinks Fujifilm should do in future, he talks a bit about the Fujinon XF16-50mmF2.8-4.8 (which thanks to our sources we have leaked here) and also talked about what he thinks about an eventual Fujifilm X-T30II successor (which we started leaking here) and the long awaited Fujifilm X-Pro4 (which we started leaking here).
As CP+ unfolded today, reports from the Japanese website dc.watch have unveiled an astonishing scene – a 30-minute queue forming just for enthusiasts to get their hands on the Fujifilm X100VI.
It’s downright unbelievable, especially considering this frenzy occurred on a regular workday (Thursday). One can only imagine the pandemonium expected over the weekend.
Having attended several photography fairs myself, including twice at the largest photography fair in the world, Photokina (2016 report here – 2018 report here), where manufacturers typically unveiled their top-tier offerings, I’ve toured booths from Canon, Nikon, Leica, Fujifilm, Sony, Hasselblad, and more. Never, in all my experiences, have I witnessed a 30-minute queue just to touch & try out a new camera.
The buzz surrounding the X100VI is nothing short of extraordinary. The anticipation and demand for this camera seem to have surpassed anything seen before.
But after I’ve shared the rumor, I have noticed some misunderstandings. So let me address those first, and then we’ll talk about each of the three cameras
But I didn’t mean to say that all we get in 2024 are these three cameras, and all of them will come in the first half of 2024 (as I see reported around on Forums etc).
I was referring to the fact that initially we told you that there will be “3 or more cameras” coming in first half 2024, and now we can be more specific and confirm that the number of cameras will be 3.
So to be clear I want to remark: I don’t know how many cameras will be launched in the entire year 2024. What I know so far is that there will be 3 cameras in the first half (the replacements of these models), and there will be potentially more cameras in the second half of 2024. But so far I have no rumors about it.
So there is still the second half of 2024 where Fujifilm could have potentially lots of time to please us with much more gear.
And I promise that after the imminent X100VI-centric X Summit I will try to find out more about it.
No, we will not hear anything about the Fujifilm X-Pro4 on February 20. Nothing.
And nothing also about the Fujifilm X-E5, or X-T40 or X-T300, or X80, or GFX100R.
The truth is this: the only camera to be announced on February 20 will be the Fujifilm X100VI.
I guess the Fujifilm X100VI is just too important for Fujifilm and it’s best that it does not get any distraction from other cameras on launch day.
Many of you guys might have seen it coming, due to the lack of rumors about other cameras.
But FujiRumors will make sure that the lack of rumors about other cameras will end soon ;).
Surprises?
But this does not mean we can’t get any surprises on February 20.
I still hope (no rumor) that Fujifilm will give us a new X mount roadmap, or makes major Kaizen firmware announcements, or they could even announce new lenses considering the fact that our sources said the X100VI is the only camera coming on February 20 (and we have leaked images of future XF lenses already months ago). But to be clear: as of now, I have not received information about other gear to come on February 20 (which does not mean it can’t come).
But they could also show us protoypes of gear to come.
As far as I can remember, at every X Summit something happened that I did not see coming, and I am confident that also this time we will get some surprises.
So definitely stay tuned on FujiRumors on February 20. We will cover it all, and you won’t miss anything.
It’s mainly (but not only) a video centric update and more lenses will get the same update in February (XF16-80mmF4 and XF18-120mmF4).
Moreover, in their recent official X Summit announcement, Fujifilm said they are “currently considering further enhancements“, which I hope will translate also on firmware love for those, who mainly use Fujifilm cameras for stills.
Fujifilm has officially announced the Fujifilm X Summit for February 20 at 5:30AM (GMT).
This is old news for FujiRumors readers, as thanks to our sources we gave you the date already last year (from yet another beautiful spot in the Dolomites btw).
In the video Fujifilm says this:
INTRO
since GFX100 II was launched they see many professionals using this camera for stills and video
Fujifilm will continue to develop attractive cameras and lenses to help creators to express their vision
Fujifilm announces partnership with World Press Photo Foundation: workshops, seminars and exhibitions planed
FIRMWARE UPDATES:
smooth aperture operation during zooming, optimised for video shooting
– 1 lens (XF16-55mmF2.8) and 7 cameras (X-H2, X-H2S, X-T5, X-T4, X-T3, X-S20, X-S10)
– 2 lenses to get the update in firmware (XF16-80mm, XF18-120mm)
peripheral luminance flickering and exposure fluctuation are suppressed
improved function of FT-XH file transmitter grip (shows 4 different split screens taken by 4 different cameras simultaneously on smartphone or tablet) and you can select clean image without any other information on display (already available in GFX100II and now also on X-H2 and X-H2S).
X-H2 and X-H2S can sync with ATOMOS AirGlue Accessory “UltraSync Blue“. Sync timecode up to maximum 6 different X-H2 and X-H2S cameras
Fujifilm is currently considering further enhancements
GFX Challenge Grand Program 2023 update
15 winners have been selected
X SUMMIT
First X Summit of 2024 will be in Toyko on February 20
Fujifilm will participate to CP+
We asked you what’s on top of your wishlist for February 20 and you answered here.
The X Summit will be live streamed here on FujiRumors, where you’ll also get the live summary of the event plus a non stop live blog.
Just follow FujiRumors, and you won’t miss anything.
Japanese stores are usually the first to mark items as discontinued or in general giving us indications on what’s happening with certain gear.
The X-T4, X-E4, GFX100, XF56/F1.2 and much more gear got first marked as discontinued in Japan before anywhere else on the world.
And today we get another significant hint: many stores in Japan have now completely delisted the Fujifilm X100V from their stores, such as Map Camera, Bic Camera, and Yodobashi Camera. Some stores mark it as “we finished sale“.
It looks like Fujifilm has at this point just given up delivering all those Fujifilm X100V people have still on order, at least in Japan.
But I guess it won’t take long at this point that also US stores will mark the Fujifilm X100V as discontinued.
A Bad Move?
The X100V is huge missed opportunity for Fujifilm. They could have made tons of money with it, but just were incapable of manufacturing enough sample to meet even a small fraction of its massive demand.
To me it looks like Fujifilm just gave up on shipping the X100V at this point.
My guess (not rumor) is that they decided to use all the parts they have still available for X100V and re-use whatever they can of those pieces for the manufacturing of the Fujifilm X100VI (for example the lens, which is the same on both cameras).
I am not sure this is a smart move: I mean, give up on lots of money you can make right now in the hope to make money with another model in future. The best solution would have been to just finally solve that chronic parts issue, which other manufacturers seem to have fixed but Fujifilm still struggles a lot with.
