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So Fujifilm has announced the Fujifilm X summit for May 16.
We reported about it earlier today and in that article I also said that our sources told us the Fujifilm GFX100SII will be announced on that day.
Now the question came up if that’s the only gear Fujifilm will announce. So let me try to give you an answer.
First things first: so far I have only been told about the Fujifilm GFX100SII coming mid May.
However, we also know Fujifilm has other gear in the pipeline for the first half of 2024:
The questions are:
Well… don’t worry. We don’t share wrong rumors here. Everything will happen as we tell you it will.
But I will contact our sources and see what they have to say about it. And as soon as I can I will share an update here on FujiRumors.
And beyond that?
Well, the only gear Fujifilm has pre-announced, is the Fujinon GF500mmF5.6, but that one is listed on the official G mount roadmap as coming sometimes in 2024. So it could be on May 16, but also later on.
What’s not coming is definitely the Fujifilm X-Pro4 and also no Fujifilm GFX100R.
Hopes?
Well, I am growing increasingly frustrated by the lack of a new X mount roadmap. I keep asking for a new one since years and Fujifilm keeps ignoring our wishes. So at this point I have no expectations anymore.
Anyway… answers will come. Some of them on May 16, but many other answers will come well before that.
Stay tuned on FujiRumors ;).
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At the last CP+, the French Website Phototrend had the opportunity to talk to Japanese Fujifilm manager Jun Watanabe about the X series and to Japanese Fujifilm manager Makoto Oishi about the GFX series.
Down below you can find a quick summary. For the full French version check out the articles at Phototrend here (X series) and here (GFX series). Plus a little rant at the end.
X series
GFX series
Let me just say that I strongly, vehemently, vigorously and fervidly disagree with Fujifilm in regards to what they said why they stick with PSAM on their GFX lineup.
First: the GFX system is not know to be blazing fast and immensely popular among high end sports photographers. I actually feel the GFX system would be the ideal system to use a retro layout.
Second: maybe Fujifilm should watch my video so they learn how to operate their own cameras.
They will find out that one can operate their retro styled cameras exactly as any PSAM camera out there. It’s a marvellous and ingenious design that gives us photographer the best of both words: retro if I want to have fun shooting or want to actually operate the camera already before turning it on, and PSAM if one needs to make lots of adjustment all the time on the fly.
Retro Fujifilm cameras offer both options. PSAM cameras force you into one way to operate the camera.
And in my opinion not offering retro styled GFX cameras anymore is one of the all time biggest mistakes Fujifilm is doing.
C’mon Fujifilm, look at what is selling best in your X system. You’ll see that retro X cameras outsell PSAM cameras by very far. And Nikon had a colossal success with the Nikon Zf lately. It’s clear that in times where every camera is just so good, what people really look for is to have a different photographic experience thanks to dedicated vintage dials.
The joy of shooting sells better than any specs boost you can show off on paper.
An example?
The X100VI sells like hot cakes. The revolutionary global shutter ultra modern high speed blazing fast Sony A9III is selling way below Sony’s expectations (you could always find it in stock everywhere all the time because demand is not high… ask your local retailer).
Make sure to read/watch below:
Fujifilm has released the emergency firmware for the Fujinon XF16-55mm f/2.8 R LM WR that was promised to us a few days ago.
Fujinon XF16-55mm f/2.8 ver.1.31 – download here
The firmware update Ver.1.31 from Ver.1.30 incorporates the following issue:
We have found some malfunctions (Phenomenon in which the exposure of a captured image becomes abnormal in combination with a certain focal length and aperture value) in the firmware Ver. 1.30 released on 22 Jan 2024.
Customers who have updated to Ver.1.30 should update to Ver.1.31.
If you update to Ver.1.31, the functions will be the same as Ver.1.20 and the following functions (*) added in Ver.1.30 will no longer be available.
* Improved exposure tracking during zoom operation.
Now THAT was fast. Considering that I would love to update my Fujinon GF50mmF3.5 firmware, but that one is suspended since forever (same thing also for the GF35-70mmF4.5-5.6 WR). Dear Fujifilm, in case you don’t know, we also use your GFX gear. So we’d love a fix for that too.
A couple of days ago Fujifilm has released several (also major) firmware updates. And they also promised Kaizen firmware updates coming.
The news today is that the firmware update for the Fujinon XF16-55mm f/2.8 R LM WR was flawed and has now been suspended from the Fujifilm download page.
Fujifilm is preparing an emergency firmware and FujiRumors will let you know as soon as it goes online.
In Ver. 1.30 released on January 22, 2024, it was confirmed that the exposure of images taken with certain focal length and aperture value combinations became abnormal.
For this reason, the firmware download has been suspended.
We are preparing an emergency firmware for customers who have updated to Ver. 1.30, so please wait for it.
You can access the note about the removed firmware update here.
Hopefully it won’t end up forgotten and suspended forever like the GF50mmF3.5 firmware.
In November we have shared quite some rumors (as you can see here). And not only that! In our previous 2024 outlook, we forgot to add gear that Fujifilm has already pre-announced to come in 2024 as well as give you a look into rumored third party AF lenses.
That’s why we need to update our view into the Fujifilm year 2024.
All the X/GFX rumors come from our sources, whereas the speculations are often based on hints and comments that managers gave in interviews.
Remember, Fujifilm will launch 3 or more cameras in the first months of 2024. This means there are still more cameras we have to (and we will) leak here on FujiRumors.
X/GFX GEAR COMING FOR SURE
A long list of “rumored” Fujifilm gear “leaked” on the web and we reported here.
I instantly warned you about a lot of inaccuracies in that list. Wrong stuff that we started to correct.
The first one to be unveiled as wrong is the Fujifilm GFX25.
Anyway, there was another piece of gear on that list, that intrigued people: the Fujinon GF14-20mm.
So let me put it this way:
The best I can say about it for now, is that none of our sources is aware of such a lens.
I don’t call it a “wrong rumor” simply because there is a difference between our sources saying something is fake (GFX25) and our sources saying they are not aware of certain gear.
But the fact that already the GFX25 rumor is wrong (and more on that list will be proven wrong), could be an indication that pretty much anything “leaked” on that list has to be taken with a grain of salt and it’s probably just a compilation of guesses and speculations wrapped into a more tasty rumor package to give it more credibility. I am NOT saying E8M made it up, it is likely that somebody else made it up and passed it to E8M, who then shared it. That’s the way guys try to convince you to publish wrong info.
Anyway, I have to be accurate when I report what our sources say. And they tell me they have no information about such a lens.
For me, this means that I have zero hopes for an eventual GF14-20 to come in 2024 and I am also not overly optimistic to see one in 2025. And if it never comes, I would not be surprised either.
If you need to go wide, your best option for a long time will be the Fujinon GF20-35mm f/4.
What will come for sure though, is what is on the roadmap: the Fujinon GF500mmF5.6 and the GF Power Zoom lens.
GF Lens Patents
The Future of Fujifilm in Patents (X and GFX gear). Filtered below you find the GFX gear related patents.
DPReview met up with Yuji Igarashi, Professional Imaging Group Manager, and Makoto Oishi, Head of Product Planning in Stockholm for the launch of the Fujifilm GFX100 II.
Here is a recap and below the link to the full interview.
Kaizen & Customer Feedback
On Saturday, Fujifilm had one of its Italian Roadshow gear presentation in the lovely town of Trento just 30 minutes car drive away from my home.
Much to my surprise, they already had the Fujifilm GFX100II and the Fujinon GF55mm f/1.7 R WR there for testing. And I could test it for about 30 minutes only.
Now, initially I wrote an article that contained both, my GFX100II and my GF55mmF1.7 first impressions.
But I decided to split it up in two parts for one reason: the launch of the Fujifilm GFX100II has overshadowed what I believe is a true gem of a lens: the Fujinon GF55mm f/1.7.
So much so, that I believe Fujifilm should have given this lens a separate launch date.
But that’s how it is.
And that’s why FujiRumors wants to bring the GFX system world into the right balance again by giving the wonderful Fujinon GF55mmF1.7 the space it deserves.
So, here are my first impressions without GFX100II distraction.
INSANE!
I shot everything at f/1.7.
The reason?
It was so sharp wide open, that I was scared to stop down and to hurt my eyes with even sharper images (if that is even possible).
The good thing?
If you need to take a rest from all that sharpness, then just look at the background of the image and enjoy a massive relaxation for your eyes thanks to a wonderful, dreamy-creamy and buttery-smooth bokeh.
And the autofocus?
Surprisingly fast autofocus for a lens without linear motor in it. I mean, I used it initially on my Fujifilm GFX100S, and my first reaction was to read on the lens front element if there is really not “LM” (linear motor) written on it. I was very positively surprised. Having had experience with the GF80mmF1.7, I can say the GF55mmF1.7 is a significant step up compared to it.
Sure, Linear Motor lenses might still be faster. But shooting with the GF55mmF1.7 won’t be a frustrating experience in terms of autofocus. Actually quite a pleasing one it was for me.
I have also made a tracking test using the Fujifilm GFX100II and GF55mmF1.7. I will share the results in the second part of the review where I talk about the Fujifilm GFX100II, because I need to talk about settings, test conditions to put the results in proper context. So watch out for that one coming soon.
Two problems!
Overall Conclusion
Not the lightest lens on the world, but it is also not too big for an f/1.7 lens. Well balanced overall with my GFX100S.
At f/1.7 it is so sharp that, true story, my wife complaint when she saw the images because she could notice every single little imperfection of her skin.
They say Bokeh is subjective, but this one is objectively very good.
Fujifilm said during X Summit that they use the aspherical lens manufactured with ultra precision resulting in the reduction of axial chromatic aberration and onion ring effect. it is also their first GF lens with 11 aperture blades for near perfect circular aperture.
If you love the versatility of the 40mm-ish full frame equivalent focal length, then this is the one!
And look, I own the Fujinon GF50mm f/3.5 and love it for its fantastic portability. But versatility comes not only from size, but also from speed. And at f/1.7 the GF55mmF1.7 opens up other possibilities in terms of low light performance and subject separation that make it just more suitable and flexible for more use cases.
I can totally recommend this lens if all you want in your life is the humble need for optical perfection in your images :D.
That’s at least my impression after 30 minutes of use. I had no time to test chromatic aberration, focus breathing and what not. So if those are critically important things for you wait for further reviews. Although what I’ve read so far is that also chromatic aberration is well controlled and Fujifilm actually emphasised during launch at the X summit the “reduction of axial chromatic aberration” and “less color fringe“.
Samples
Down below I will share three samples. All taken at f/1.7 using the Fujifilm GFX100S.
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