Fujifilm X-T200 Discontinued After Just 9 Months at Some Stores – is This The End of Fujifilm’s Entry Level Line?

 

Fujifilm X-T200 Discontinued

The Fujifilm X-T200 was announced on January 23, 2020 and started shipping in February 2020.

Now, just about 9 month after its release, some stores marked it as discontinued (see image above for example – google translated)

To my knowledge, this is not happening because an X-T300 is on the way (at least I have not heard about it). The reason is probably very simple: it did not sell well at all.

The Fujifilm X-T200 is a very fine camera for its price, but it failed in its purpose: attack the best selling camera in this price segment, the rather old and yet still strong selling Sony A6000, which was released in 2014 and is still in top selling raking at AmazonUS (currently 22th).

In the entry level segment, the Sony A6*** line is apparently unbeatable, and Fujifilm was not able to break through with excellent products like the Fujifilm X-T200 or even the X-A7.

That’s unfortunate.

The Unbeatable Sony A6000

But what could be the reason for the failure of the X-T200 and the ongoing success of the Sony A6000?

Well, in part it could be quite simple: people in the market for such a camera are usually not big photography enthusiasts and have not a huge photographic culture. They mostly just buy a camera because they want to have something that takes better pictures than their smartphones.

Those people know the Sony brand very well from their TV’s, their PlayStation’s and other electronic products that they use in their daily lives already. It’s a brand they know and associate with quality electronic products, and they therefore grab a Sony A6*** rather than a Fujifilm, which is for them a rather unknown brand they can’t relate to at all.

The Future for Fuji’s Entry Leve Line

Is this the end of the entry level line-up of Fujifilm?

Well, as we discussed in an earlier article, that shows Fujifilm’s own 2020 Fujifilm camera range pyramid, I believe that sooner rather than later the whole entry level line of Fujifilm will be dropped. It’s not a rumor, to be clear, but just my evaluation after seeing how this segment has developed over the last few years.

The only entry level line that did sell strong for a while, was the X-A line. But it looks like also that one is suffering, forcing Fujifilm to discontinue the X-A7 just 11 months after its release.

I am very pessimistic about Fuji’s entry level line, which, as we also told you already back in 2017 here, is no longer developed by Fujifilm anymore, but by the Xacti corporation. This means that already in 2017 Fujifilm struggled to justify that line any longer, and outsourcing its development was a last move to try to safe the line.

With the Fujifilm X-T200 and X-A7 failing to meet their sales targets, I am just becoming even more pessimistic about the future of those lines.

It’s a pity, I have personally recommended the X-T200 to a few of my friends, and they are all happy with it. But the market is not rewarding the best cameras for the reasons we told you above.

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Top 5 Selling Fujifilm Winter Offers so Far on FujiRumors – Save up to $1,000

The Fujifilm Winter Offers are available since 1 week now.

There are some great deals on cameras and lenses, such as the first deal on the Fujifilm X-T4 and offers on the red badged f/2.8 zooms.

The best selling deals so far here on FujiRumors are:

  1. XF 55-200mmF3.5-4.8 OIS – save $200
  2. XF 16-55mmF2.8 – save $300
  3. X-T4 with Vertical Battery Grip – save $200
  4. XF 100-400mmF4.5-5.6 OIS WR – save $500
  5. XF 50-140mmF2.8 OIS WR – save $300

Here is the full list of deals.

XF Lens Deals

X Camera Deals

Also, if you purchase of Fujifilm X100V, you get a free DOMKE Medium Camera bag or DOMKE Camera Strap.

GFX Gear

Fujifilm Manager Talks Full Frame Market Shift (and Why Fuji Sticks with APS-C), WR Versions of Older Lenses, Market Situation & More

As we reported here, Toshihisa Iida has just been promoted to new President and Managing Director at Fujifilm Europe.

He is also the guy who said in the past that Fujifilm will NEVER go Full Frame.

Now he gave an interview to the amateurphotographer. Here are some excerpts:

COVID-19 affects on Fujifilm

  • Before the pandemic struck, there were more than 8,000 professional photography businesses operating in the UK alone
  • global demand for digital cameras has dropped by 40% since the start of April 2020 according to CIPA, but thanks to the performance of products like the X-T4 and X100V, Fujifilm is performing significantly better than that
  • Fujifilm also worked hard to supply medical imaging technologies to those on the front line, as well as working to realize the manufacture of COVID-19 vaccines and therapies at scale with pharmaceutical partners

Biggest Industry Future Challenges for Fuji: the drift towards full frame or the rise of smartphones?

  • biggest challenge is to ensure to keep innovating in R&D
  • Finding a real consumer demand’ is a key
  • provide a better experience of taking photos and videos
  • Customers don’t buy a sensor, but an experience
  • Fujifilm is not a company to simply follow the same path as others
  • Consumers demand more and are no longer wanting to invest in a product; they want a service and an experience.

The Market Differences over the Globe

  • X-T4, X-T3 and X-T30 are all popular around the world, and the X100V has been the bestselling high-end compact globally.
  • GFX is almost evenly split except in the Chinese market [admin note: I have been told the GFX100 sells extraordinary well in China]
  • piqued popularly of the X-A series in some Asian countries
  • Globally, instax is one of Fujifilm’s biggest consumer success stories

And Full Frame?

  • in the last two years the market shifted strongly towards full frame
  • for Fujifilm, APS-C is the best-balanced system
  • APS-C is the best answer for those downsizing due to the smaller, lighter lenses, as well as the camera body
  • GFX provides the best image quality without requiring a high level of investment.

Fujifilm X-S10

  • It was demand coming from customers used to DSLR cameras and from those who prefer to have more usability for video shooting
  • very rich features such as IBIS, 4K30p video with long recording time – but with a small weight of just 465g
  • X-S10 offers a very smooth transition for DSLR customers to enjoy the latest mirrorless technologies with the advantage of a smaller, handy size.

Weather Resistant Versions of older lenses?

  • WR versions of older lenses requires to completely re-design the inside structure, hence in some cases needs R&D from scratch

Should Fujifilm work closer with Sigma and Tamron?

  • I cannot be specific about our working relationships with other companies but we have received and understand our customers’ request.

You can read the full interview at amateurphotographer.

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Fringer Nikon F to Fujifilm X Smart AF Adapter Coming Soon and Autofocus Tracking Video Demo

Fringer has just uploaded a video showing the autofocus tracking performance of a prototype Nikon F to Fujifilm X Smart Adapter.

The gear used was the Nikon AF S200-500mm f/5.6 mounted on a Fujifilm X-T3 with latest firmware 4.00.

The results:

  • 90 images taken in 9 seconds (10fps)
  • 77% of images sharp (69 out of 90)

Fringer says the adapter will be released soon.

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Buy Fujifilm X-T4 and Get Vertical Battery Grip for Free – Save $329

Yesterday we reported about the latest Fujifilm X Winter Deals.

One of the deals was a $200 discount on Fujifilm X-T4 with Vertical Battery Grip.

Well, that’s indeed the official discount as listed at BHphoto here and also by Fujifilm on their website.

However, some FR-readers made me notice (thanks), that at BHphoto you actually can get the entire X-T4 vertical grip for free (worth $329).

Here is what you have to do:

Go the X-T4 body only page at BHphoto, then add the X-T4 to the cart, and once done that, you’ll see in your cart a free battery grip added.

That’s evidently an error at BHphoto, but if you grab one now, you can always hope they’ll honor it.

  • X-T4 with Free Vertical Grip (save $329): BHphoto

Fujifilm USA Deals

XF Lens Deals

X Camera Deals

GFX Gear

New Fujifilm Deals Launched in Europe with First X-T4 Deals and Much More

Fujifilm Europe has launched new cashback deals.

You can find the deals at AmazonUK, AmazonDE, AmazonIT, WexUK, ParkcamerasUK, CalumetDE, PCHstore and more official Fujifilm retailers.

The deals are similar in every country, but there might be slight differences. I will list down below the deals for Germany and UK.

IMPORTANT NOTE

AmazonUK, AmazonDE and AmazonIT are included in the official Fujifilm dealers list. However “only purchases directly from Amazon (with an Amazon invoice) are eligible for this promotion. Purchases from Amazon Marketplace are not eligible and will be rejected, unless the Marketplace Seller is also a Fujifilm Qualifying (Authorised) Retailer.”

Fujifilm Germany Deals

Deals available at:

To claim the cashback, after your purchase, go to fujifilm-connect.com, click „Jetzt Antrag stellen”. The maximum number of claims per customer is 5.

Cameras

  • Save €200 – Fujifilm X-T4 body or kit with Vertical Battery Grip
  • Save €200 – Fujifilm X-T3 body or kit options
  • Save €100 – Fujifilm X-T30 nody or kit options

Lenses

  • XF14mmF2.8 R – save 100 €
  • XF16mmF1.4 R WR – save 100 €
  • XF16mmF2.8 R WR – save 50 €
  • XF18mmF2 R – save 50 €
  • XF23mmF1.4 R – save 100 €
  • XF27mmF2.8 – save 50 €
  • XF35mmF1.4 R – save 50 €
  • XF56mmF1.2 R – save 100 €
  • XF56mmF1.2 R APD – save 100 €
  • XF60mmF2.4 R Macro – save 50 €
  • XF80mmF2.8 R LM OIS WR Macro – save 100 €
  • XF90mmF2 R LM WR – save 100 €
  • XF200mmF2 R LM OIS WR 1.4xTC – save 500 €
  • XF8-16mmF2.8 R LM WR – save 150 €
  • XF16-55mmF2.8 R LM WR – save 100 €
  • XF50-140mmF2.8 R LM OIS WR – save 150 €
  • XF50-140mmF2.8 R LM OIS WR + TC XF1.4x Set – save 150 €
  • XF18-135mmF3.5-5.6 R LM OIS WR – save 50 €
  • XF55-200mmF3.5-F4.8 R LM OIS – save 50 €
  • XF100-400mmF4.5-F5.6 R LM OIS WR – save 200 €
  • XF100-400mmF4.5-F5.6 R LM OIS WR + TC XF1.4x Set – save 200 €

Fujifilm UK Deals

Deals available at:

To claim the cashback, after your purchase, go to fujifilm-connect.com, click „Claim Now”. The maximum number of claims per customer is 5.

  • Fujifilm X-T4 – Get the vertical grip for half price + a battery for free
  • Fujfiilm GFX50S – save £900
  • Fujifilm X-S10 – Buy X-S10 and save £180 on XF55-200
  • XF14mmF2.8 R – save £50
  • XF16mmF1.4 R WR – save £50
  • XF16mmF2.8 R WR – save £50
  • XF18mmF2 R – save £50
  • XF23mmF1.4 R – save £50
  • XF27mmF2.8 – save £50
  • XF35mmF1.4 R – save £50
  • XF56mmF1.2 R – save £50
  • XF56mmF1.2 R APD – save £50
  • XF60mmF2.4 R Macro – save £50
  • XF80mmF2.8 R LM OIS WR Macro – save £50
  • XF90mmF2 R LM WR – save £50
  • XF200mmF2 R LM OIS WR 1.4xTC – save £250
  • XF8-16mmF2.8 R LM WR – save £75
  • XF16-55mmF2.8 R LM WR – save £75
  • XF50-140mmF2.8 R LM OIS WR – save £75
  • XF18-135mmF3.5-5.6 R LM OIS WR – save £50
  • XF100-400mmF4.5-F5.6 R LM OIS WR – save £100

Fujifilm USA Deals

XF Lens Deals

X Camera Deals

GFX Gear

Huge New Fujifilm Savings: X-T4 + Grip (save $200), XF 100-400 (save $500), XF 55-140/2.8 + XF 16-55/2.8 (save $300) and MORE

New Fujifilm Holiday Savings have just been launched. Check out the full list below.

We also see the first deal on the Fujifilm X-T4. Get it with the Vertical Battery grip and you’ll save $200.

Very nice also on the deals on the red badged f/2.8 zooms (save $300) as well as on the XF100-400mmF4.5-5.6 (save $500)

XF Lens Deals

X Camera Deals

Also, if you purchase of Fujifilm X100V, you get a free DOMKE Medium Camera bag or DOMKE Camera Strap.

GFX Gear

Top 10 October Posts: New Fujifilm GFX100 Rumors, New Firmware, Fujifilm X-E4 Rumors, X-S10 Attack on SONY, New Roadmap & More

So, here are the top 10 posts for October.

  1. Fujifilm X-S10 rumors (several posts with the top 3 being the leaked images, the layout explanation and the press release)
  2. New Firmware for Fujifilm X-T3 and X-H1 Released
  3. RUMOR: New Fujifilm X Lens Roadmap Coming Soon
  4. Next Fujinon X Mount Roadmap to Include Fujinon XF 18mmF1.4 WR
  5. Fujifilm X-E4 Coming in First Quarter 2021
  6. Fujifilm X-S10: Attack on SONY (& Co), Why it is NOT an X-T40/X-H10
  7. Fujifilm Digital Camera Range: Making Sense of the Line-Up, What Should be Dropped, What Should Stay… and Where is the X-H Line?
  8. Next Fujifilm GFX with 102 Megapixel (not Monochrome) and Much Smaller than Fujifilm GFX100
  9. IBIS COMPARISON: Fujifilm X-S10 vs X-H1 vs X-T4 – Smarter Wiring, 30% Smaller Side by Side with Older IBIS Units
  10. New Fujifilm Camera FF200003 Registered: Fujifilm X-E4, New Fujifilm GFX or Surprise Camera X-T40 or X80?

Bonus Posts You Should not Have missed:

  1. Fujinon XF70-300mmF4-5.6 vs XF55-200mmF3.5-4.8 vs XF100-400mmF4.5-5.6 vs XC50-230mmF4.5-6.7
  2. SIZE COMPARISON: Fujinon XF18mmF1.4 vs XF16mmF1.4 vs XF23mmF1.4
  3. Fujinon XF Wildlife Photography Lenses Needed, Base ISO 100, Firmware Wishes and More
  4. Good Bye, X-T1: I Sold my Fujifilm X-T1 Today – About Love for Dials and the Story Behind my Favorite X-T1 Image
  5. The X-Pan Rebirth of Fujifilm X-Pro1

Stay tuned for more fun coming in November ;).

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Fujifilm Digital Camera Range: Making Sense of the Line-Up, What Should be Dropped, What Should Stay… and Where is the X-H Line?

Fujifilm shared this Pyramid explaining their Current Camera Line-up
Fujifilm shared this Pyramid explaining their Current Camera Line-up

I already said it in my X-S10, Attack on Sony article: the Fujifilm X-S10 makes a whole lot of sense.

And yet, I do understand one of the critiques made to Fujifilm: their line-up is huge and potentially confusing.

There are indeed some lines, that in some occasions do not not differentiated themselves enough from each other.

But this is an issue Fujifilm realized and I feel that they are taking care of it, for example:

  • the Fujifilm X-Pro3 is a unique machine, with a concept, so far nowhere to find
  • Fujifilm is aware that the the Fujifilm X-H2 must differentiate stronger from the X-T* line in order to continue to evolve separately

Fujifilm understands the problem and is finding ways to separate the lines better.

And yet… there are some lines that should be dropped, in my opinion.

Let’s take a look it at, by using an official Fujifilm media sheet that has been sent to me, which shows a pyramid with all Fujifilm X series cameras listed and ordered by Fujifilm itself.

The Red Zone

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Gear Talk Detox Corner: Stunning Selection Images Taken of Fujifilm X Series Gear (Watch it if you LOVE Photography)

From time to time, we should be reminded that light, moment and inspiration matter more than megapixel, specs and AF speed.

I mean, I am the first to admit that I find it also enjoyable to talk about gear here on FujiRumors. It’s just fun, there is no way around it. :)

But the words we speak here, the chats we have, I don’t print them big, frame them, and put them on a wall. I don’t print and frame the specs sheet of the latest camera.

What I do print instead, are the images I am most happy with.

Images impregnated with precious memories, like the first travel I made with what would become my wife in France, or the first time we slept high up on a mountain hut, and we enjoyed the sunrise over the wonderful Dolomite peaks.

Or my first travel in South East Asia, and the all new (and crazy) photographic opportunities that opened up to me there, the encounters and the surprises, the landscape.

I sometimes just need the inspirational kick that stunning work of other fellow X shooters can give me… and if it can be an inspirational kick also for a small number of FujiRumors readers, too, then that’s fine for me, and reason enough to keep these articles coming.

With that said, give it a look down below… and after that, grab your gear and go out shooting… which is what I will do now.

My old dog, my wife, my X gear… a sunny hill nearby… autumn colors… and I might get back with a nice memory captured on my SD-card today, who knows.

So, I am off now… have a wonderful day and weekend.

Image Roundup

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