Fujifilm X-T3 and Fujifilm X-H1: Will the X-T3 Have IBIS? Advantages of Creating New X-H Line? Should Fujifilm Have Merged X-T3/H1 into One Camera?

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.

all the best,
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Fujifilm Releases Firmware Update for Fujifilm X-E3 (Auto-Geotagging) and Fujifilm X-Pro2 (Bug Fix)

Fujifilm X-E3 Firmware

Back in October, I told you that Fujifilm will release a new firmware update for real-time geotagging within 2017. Well I was wrong… it came 15 days later ;) . And just as we rumored here, the X-E3 firmware is twice as big as the X-T20 firmware.

1. Auto Geotagging and Date/Time synchronization by Bluetooth pairing
When connecting to Bluetooth, Geotagging and Date/Time information of a camera can be synchronized with the information of a smartphone. “SMARTPHONE SYNC. SETTING” is added in Bluetooth SETTING. *To use this function, the application software “FUJIFILM Camera Remote” needs to be upgrade to the latest version Ver.3.1.0.

2. The phenomenon is fixed that live view blinks on LCD and EVF with face detection and dynamic range 400% setting.

In order to make the X-E3 auto geotagging work properly, you also have to update your remote camera app. The latest version 3.1.0 has been released yesterday here. I have made a super quick intial test and it works. Here is my (ACROS+R) cat geotagged. :)

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X-Pro2 Bug Fix

Fujifilm has released the bug fix firmware for the issue we reported about here on FujiRumors.

You can download X-Pro2 firmware ver. 4.01 here.

1. A phenomenon of freeze is fixed. It will occur in case you try to shoot pictures when all the three settings below are set at the same time after the firmware has been upgraded to version 4.00.
1. IMAGE QUALITY : FINE+RAW or NORMAL + RAW
2. RAW RECORDING : LOSSLESS COMPRESSED
3. DRIVE : any of ADVANCED FILTER

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Fujifilm X-E3 L Brackets Available

Fujifilm X-E3 L Bracket

Finally companies are starting to produce and deliver accessories for Fujifilm newest camera, the Fujifilm X-E3.

We recently reported about:

Now First2savvv released the Quick Release L Plate Bracket LB-XE3 for Fujifilm X-E3. Also Kenro has [shoplink 66070 ebay]X-E3 L Brackets available[/shoplink], that you can find [shoplink 66070 ebay]at your local ebay[/shoplink].

First2savvv L Bracket for X-E3: AmazonUS, AmazonDE, AmazonUK, AmazonCA, AmazonIT
Kenro L Bracket for X-E3: [shoplink 66070 ebay]at your local ebay[/shoplink]

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FUJIFILM Sets Focus on Deal-Making after Surviving Fall of Film. $4 Billion for Acquisitions in the Next 3 Years – Wall Street Journal

Fujifilm Goes Shopping

Really many of you guys have sent me the recent Fujifilm related article at the Wall Street Journal.

And since it seems to be a topic you’d like to discuss, I’m going to share it here on FujiRumors with all of you.

Now, the original article can be found at the Wall Street Journal, but a super-quick summary can be found at finance.yahoo. It says:

“Xerox (XRX) is in talks with Japanese camera maker Fujifilm. According to the Wall Street Journal, Fujifilm would not fully takeover the copier company, but there would be leadership changes at Xerox. Activist investor Carl Icahn, who owns nearly 10% of Xerox, has said the company needs a shakeup in order to boost revenue and launch new products.”

But who is “Xerox”?

Xerox is a 112 year old US-company, that mainly makes printers and copiers. At the moment, Hewlett-Packard is strong market leader in this segment and Xerox has a hard time to compete with them.

Fujifilm is already cooperating with Xerox branches in the Asia-Pacific region, and you might remember the recent accounting irregularities found at Xerox Australia and New Zealand, which “caused a nearly 30% fall in profit at Fujifilm’s documents division in the six months ended September 2017“.

But despite the accounting irregularities, “Fujifilm’s documents division, which includes printers and copiers made by Fuji Xerox, made up 45% of the company’s sales and almost 40% of its operating profit in the six months ended September.”

Well, Fujifilm seems to be interested to further invest into Xerox, but would like to have more influence within Xerox and therefore requested a leadership change.

In another article (Xerox Should Look to Copy Fujifilm’s Success), the Wall Street Journal sees a good chance for Xerox in this deal, since Fujifilm has already survived the film fall by re-inventing its business (a great documentary about Fujifilm’s reinvention can be found here). The WSJ writes:

“Xerox printers and copiers are unlikely to be the future of either company in a world where offices are getting more work done digitally, rather than on paper. Fujifilm, which has survived the death of film photography while its rival Kodak floundered, may be able to provide a lesson in corporate reinvention.”

$4 billion for Acquisitions

And it seems that more investments by Fujifilm could follow. In fact the Wall Street Journal writes:

“Fujifilm has been an active deal maker for years, and it said in August it planned to spend more than $4 billion over the next three years for acquisitions.”

$4 billion over the next three years for acquisitions does not sound bad at all.

Personally, as Fujifilm camera/lens lover, I’d like to see some sort of investment into a sensor manufacturer that is not Sony, in oder to get “sensor independency” from Sony.

Until now, every new sensor Sony releases, can be purchased by Fujifilm only 6 months after Sony has already implemented it in their own cameras, which gives Sony a strategic advantage.

Moreover, Sony can also set the price to their pleasure, and especially the customized X-Trans sensor costs Fujifilm quite a bit.

To be clear: Sony makes fantastic sensors, and in many aspects they are superior to the sensors that Canon makes for example. So Fujifilm should never leave Sony, if the alternative is a worst sensor.

However, there are alternatives out there.

Lately there is a lot of talk about Tower Jazz. But also Samsung had a fantastic 28MP BSI APS-C ISO-invariant sensor with phase detection already 3 years ago for their amazing Samsung NX1, a know-how Fujifilm could decide to invest into for their own cameras, although, I know, it’s hard to see a Japanese and Korean company making any deal together.

And then, speaking of sensor independency from Sony, there is that mythical organic sensor that Fujifilm announced with Panasonic back in June 2013 and which due to some issues we reported here, never saw the light of the day so far (although it did take successfully pictures already). The latest update back in August 2017 here.

So guys, feel free to tell us, where you would recommend Fujifilm to go shopping in the next 3 years with those 4 billion dollar.

And don’t tell us “BEER”, because Fujifilm is already making beer tastier thanks to film technology, as we reported here. :)

have a fantastic weekend,
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Pete Souza, Obama’s White House Photographer, Uses Fujifilm X-Pro2 and XF23mmF1.4… and also Carlos Saura Shoots Fujifilm! – UPDATE

Pete Souza and Fujifilm

Pete Souza, one of the most famous and talented photographers of our times, not least because for 8 years he was the official White House photographer of former president Obama, has now been spotted with a Fujifilm X-Pro2 and XF23mmF1.4 at camerabits Instagram page.

“The Camera Bits Team had a lovely time today talking workflow with the talented photojournalist @petesouza! Here you can see Camera Bits founder and President Dennis Walker with Pete going through his Photo Mechanic workflow.”

For long term FujiRumors readers, this won’t really come surprising, as we already reported in this 2016 roundup about what’s inside Pete’s bag, and at that time he was carrying around a lovely Fujifilm X100S, along with a Canon 5D Mark III with Canon 135mm f/2.0 L, Canon 35mm f/1.4 L and Canon 24-70 F/2.8 L II.

And check out @petesouza Instagram to see more of his images (including X-Pro2 pics).

Now he seems to have added the X-Pro2 and 23mmF1.4 to his camera bag…. and there is also a Sony A9 I believe on the same table.

UPDATE: Also White House assistant director Chuck Kennedy used Fujifilm X-Pro2 to photograph Obama. Story here at samuel-zeller.

A Sign of Things to Come?

A superfamous photographer, a Sony and a Fujifilm, all on the same table. Maybe a symbol of what’s to come in the next 3/4 years: a massive exodus of professional photographers from DSLRs to mirrorless, with Fujifilm and Sony leading the market… or maybe not, time will tell :) .

Carlos Saura

But there is more :)

Carlos Saura (wikipedia), a highly awarded film director, writer and photographer, now uses also Fujifilm (X-T1 and X100). In this 4:41 minute video, he will show you his impressive collection of camera and give you a glance behind the scenes of the creation of his latest photography book.

Magnum

We already told you about this project back in October 2017 in this GFX roundup here, but since it fits with this article, I thought to give you guys a reminder.

15 Magnum Photographers will explore the theme of “HOME” for the project. All shot with Fujifilm GFX. Photo exhibitions to take in 7 cities worldwide starting from March. More at home-magnum.

The content is continously updated, so check back the link now and then. They also have a dedicated youtube channel for the project, so feel free to check that one out too.

Welcome to the Fuji X Club… to All of You :)

I doubt Peter Souza and Carlos Saura know of the existence of this little space on the web called FujiRumors, but either way, I would like to welcome these two impressive photographers to the Fuji X Club.

It’s an honour to have you guys on board of the Fujifilm journey :).

But I must also add… when a few months ago I was able to convince a good friend to switch to Fujifilm, I had the same joy that I feel when I see Beyoncé, Annie Leibovitz, Ara Güler or any other well-known person owning Fujifilm cameras. And when last summer I casually met a Fujifilm wedding photographer (and FR-reader) at work, it was one of my best “blogger moments” of 2017.

Famous or not, for me it’s an honour to serve every single one of you guys, who one day decided to try out the Fujifilm system and now chooses to stop here at FujiRumors and to be part of this amazing community. My heart and soul (and tons of time) goes into this blog, and I will always give my best to honour your partecipation as good as I can.

And if you are curious to know which other celebrities own Fujifilm gear, then check out this forum thread… you might be surprised :) .

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The Wall Street Journal Likes Fujifilm X100F, 4 Intuitive X100F Settings, Cheap X100F L-Bracket, How to Weather Seal your X100F & More

Fujifilm X100F

Weekend is roundup time on FujiRumors, and one of the roundups I’m always most happy to share, are the ones about the Fujifilm X100F.

So here is another little X100F zone, and in includes great feedback, as well as one negative one about the X100F joystick, which seems to suffer the same issue of my Fujfilm X-E3.

There is also a review about the very affordable L-bracket Fittest LB-X100F.

You will find everything down below… enjoy it, and feel free to join our X100 line camera group.

Fujifilm X100F: USA: BHphoto, Adorama, AmazonUS, Focuscamera EU: AmazonDE, AmazonUK, WexUK, PCH AUS: CameraPro

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Dear Fujifilm, Time for Some “Gold Badged” Fujinon Lenses… or a Love Letter to XF33mmF1.0

The eXodus to Fujifilm

*** Since my Love letter to the X-E3 back in 2016, along with your support, was successful to keep the X-E line alive, let’s try it again with the XF33mmF1.0 ;) ***

Recently, Tony Northrup said here:

“If you [Fujifilm] do that [F1.8 zooms] and give me a sensor stabilized camera, that would put you in the same league as Full Frame Canon, Nikon and Sony and we can see a lot of professional photographers switching over to your bodies.”

Now, there is a thing I agree with, and one I don’t agree.

I don’t agree with statement that “lot of professional photographers” will switch to Fujifilm, once they release fast F/1.8 zooms.

The eXodus from other systems to Fujifilm is already happening, and there are lots reports out there already about professional CaNikon shooters switching to Fujifilm. In fact, I guess that many of you guys reading this blog might have such a switch story to share, too.

I agree, however, that despite offering the vastest lens range in the mirrorless APS-C world, there are still some lacks to close, and there are some photographers, who still need THAT particular lens, before they can switch to Fujifilm completely…

… and Fujifilm now has to “attack” those niches… with niche glass.

The upcoming XF200mmF2 is one of these lenses. Tilt shift lenses are missing, too. And as Tony says, probably there are also some waiting for a fast F1.8 zoom lens before they feel comfortable to switch completely to Fujifilm.

With that said, I believe that for most professional photographers, the current lens lineup is big and various enough to switch 100% to Fujifilm.

But even those, who already switched 100% to Fujifilm, still have ideas and wishes for future lenses.

In fact we even launched a gigantic future lens poll, with about 1,000 lens wishes you guys shared and I condensed into a selection of 30 lenses you could vote on. The results can be found here.

Gold Badged Lenses

No matter if you agree with Tony Northrup or not, in any case he made a good thing to raise the question, what is needed to make the Fuji X system appealing also to those photographers, who still hesitate to switch to Fujifilm.

So I thought about it… and here is what I think Fujifilm needs above all else.

A few super fast “Gold Badged” lenses, such as the XF33mmF1.0, a lens that disappeard from Fujifilm’s internal roadmap, in favor of the smaller and cheaper F2 Fujicron lenses.

I know that inside Fujifilm, there are a few, who insist to make the XF33mmF1.0, but it’s hard to convince the decision-makers at Fujifilm to take “risks” with an expensive glass, when all those nice little and affordable F2 lenses bring so much money to Fujifilm.

But now that 2018 is here, it’s time to express some wishes, and I would love to see a new Fujinon line of gold badged lenses, so that Fuji’s lineup would be like this:

  • regular XF lenses
  • small weather sealed F2 XF Fujicron lenses
  • affordable XC lenses
  • red badged made in Japan weather sealed zoom lenses like the XF50-140 and XF16-55
  • gold badged ultra fast lenses like the XF33mmF1.0

And to be clear… Fujifilm is already offering many fast F1.2 and F1.4 lenses. And personally, for my needs, this is plenty of fast enough.

But having some even faster and “extreme” options never hurts.

And yes, even with an 33/1 lens, many of us would maybe end up using the smaller XF35mmF2 more often anyway, but we would know that, just in case, we’d have that ultra-speedy F1 lens option available anytime.

So, I know Fujifilm I am stressing and stalking you with this request… but in the name of many Fujifilm lovers out there, please, put that nice XF33mmF1.0 lens back on your roadmap for 2018/2019.

I guarantee you, that once it’s out, many of us will have one of those “Shut Up and Take my Money” moments :) .

with love
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Fujifilm 2017 Rewound: Top Highlights Month by Month

Fujifilm 2017 Rewinded

2017 was another exciting Fuji X year, and in order to cover it properly, I have shared almost 1,000 blog posts.

A lot of things happened, and maybe some of you might have missed something. So I have checked back all articles and selected some highlights for you. No FujiRumors rumors are included in this list.

It was not easy to pick out a few highlights… but below you can find the list month by month. Let us know what you consider the highlight of 2017.

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

MARK THIS DATE: Fujifilm X-H1 Announcement February 14

Fujifilm X-H1 Mock-ups based on accurate sketches of our Japanese Source
Fujifilm X-H1 Mock-ups based on accurate sketches of our Japanese Source

Fujifilm X-H1 Announcement

Fujifilm X-H Facebook Group

Wow…

Christmas is just over (I hope you had a good one), and I’m 100% back on track and motivated to make your (and my) time here on FujiRumors as fun as possible.

And it couldn’t be different, since right after the Christmas break, the first rumors are now landing into my Inbox.

Hence, after the EVF blackout less rumor here, I have another rumor for you…. and you better mark this date:

Fujifilm X-H1 will be announced on February 14, 2018.

I don’t expect last-minute changes by Fujifilm, but if there should be some, I will make sure to let you guys know.

Now go, fellow X-shooters, and spread the word… and don’t forget to quote/link to www.fujirumors.com. And just in case you find this rumor reposted without link to FR, feel free to kindly ask to quote FR.

On a personal note…

it seems that Fujifilm has an excellent timing when it comes to new gear announcements, since they will launch the Fujifilm X-H1 exactly during my winter holidays… another planed travel I have to cancel. D’OH!

But hey, I have shared Fujifilm X-H1 rumors since back in July 2017, and after 6+ months of constant rumors, with lots of breaking rumors and detailed specs leaked on FR (see below), I won’t miss the final appointment with the Fujifilm X-H1.

That’s why I am very excited, highly motivated and 100% focused on the big final launch party with the big live blogging on February 14 here on FujiRumors.

Stick around FujiRumors… we will have a lot of fun… promised ;) .

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SUPER X DEALS – Exp. Tomorrow

BHphoto has just launched their 2 days mega-deal zone here, where they offer again the best deals of the year. Lots of savings, here is a small selection. Big savings on X-T1 are back. Just like at the last B&H Deal Zone, until December 28, you can…

Full Report and more deals here.

Full Rumored X-H1 Specs

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

Fujifilm Confirms X-Pro2 Lock Ups with Firmware 4.00. Bug Fix Coming Soon

Firmware Bug

As we reported here on FujiRumors a few days ago, there is a little bug on the latest X-Pro2 firmware ver.4.00. The camera locks up when you shoot advanced filters at lossless compressed + JPEG.

Well, Fujifilm read about the bug you guys reported here on FujiRumors, checked the firmware, and now confirms here that firmware 4 has indeed this issue.

Notice for customers
We have confirmed that X-Pro2 with the upgraded firmware (ver.4.00) released on Dec 22 2017 stops working in certain settings.
We deeply apologize for your inconvenience this may cause. The symptom will happen only when all three conditions below are set at the same time.

1) IMAGE QUALITY : FINE+RAW or NORMAL + RAW
2) RAW RECORDING : LOSSLESS COMPRESSED
3) DRIVE : any of ADVANCED FILTER
* This is not factory setting. If the symptom happens, please remove the battery once for recovery. We are preparing a revised firmware as a solution and plan to release it as soon as possible.

Fujifilm will soon deliver a fix for the bug.

Thanks to the FR-reader for sharing this news with me via email.

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