Instax Boom: Fujifilm Sold 6.6 Million Instax Cameras in 2016. Expected 7.5 Million Sales in 2017…. and Instax Square SP-3 Reviews

Instax Boom

The rise of Instax seems unstoppable.

Fujifilm keeps up fueling its imaging division with money coming from all possible kind of Instax camera, printer and film sales.

And a few weeks ago, during the presentation of the brand new Instax Share SP-3 square printer, Fujifilm disclosed some numbers (via dc.watch – translation):

“Cheki [Japanese name for Instax cameras] also expanded its lineup according to lifestyle, and from the release in 1998, the cumulative sales volume worldwide is 25 million units. Last year it sold 6.6 million units, the highest ever. In fiscal 2017 we aim for 7.5 million units.”

As we reported here, in 2004 Fujifilm sold 100,000 instax camera and in 2015 they sold 5 million instax cameras. Regarding digital cameras, Fujifilm expected to sell 1.4 million digital cameras in 2015.

There are Instax cameras and film for all tastes out there, from the Hello Kitty Instax camera to the Star Wars Instax Film, Comic Instax Film, Candy Pop, Rainbow and a lot more. And as a Fujifilm manager said in this dedicated Fujifilm reportage, the Instax factory can’t keep up with the demand.

Still very surprising, though, that Fujifilm has no Instax Share SP-W wide printer to offer, in addition to the popular Instax SP-2 and the brand new Instax SP-3. Probably their biggest gap in the Instax line-up, along with the film only Instax SQ, which we already leaked (images included) here on FujiRumors, but still has to hit the market.

Anyway, a big success… also considering that with every Instax camera/printer Fujifilm sells, they keep up making money afterwards thanks to the (not cheap) instant film customer have to keep up buying.

But Instax is fun, as we lately reported also here, it can be a cool idea to use at weddings (or any party), it makes beer tastier (not kidding) and I use it a lot on my travels, because it’s a perfect tool to help to create connection with the locals and get a nice picture of them :) . Check out our Instax for Travels forum thread.

Instax Share SP-3 Square Printer Reviews

Older links, shared already in the SP-3 Live blogging

On my travel through Bali 2 years ago… kids loved to get a little print. :)

 

“Mr. Leica” Thorsten Overgaard Buys a Fujifilm X-Pro2… and he Likes it A Lot! (miXed zone)

Mr. Leica gets a Fuji

So, if even “Mr. Leica” Thorsten Overgaard decided to grab a Fuji (the X-Pro2), then we now have all the right to say that Fuji is indeed the new Leica :) . A full review of the camera will come after longer testings, but here are Thor’s first impressions.

  • he likes its simplicity (not many buttons) and it brings him back to when he started photography
  • in many ways it feels natural in the hands
  • big compliments to the Fuji manual :)
  • In natural light the skin tones look great and all colors look pretty precise
  • With artificial light in the evening the blue and orange colors are a little bit too strong, but you can get away from auto White balance, but that’s a problem for all cameras to get colors 100% right in such situations
  • he really likes the X-Pro2, and it’s from now on going to travel with with him in a bag with many other Leica gear

Fujifilm X-T2 & More

Workshops and Exhibitions

  • First Dedicated Fujifilm GFX Owners Workshops in 2018: Dates and Pricing here… with special discount for GFX facebook group members
  • FotoZA gallery 19.Nov – 23.Dec 2017, Washed ashore and Shaped by Nature (all images taken with X-T1 and 35/2). More at mworsdorfer

Accessories

Fujifilm Keeps On Booming: Fiscal Year 2018/3 2nd Quarter Report is Out… Revenue up 13.3%!

I know, after the Fuji Xerox scandals in New Zeland, some sites tried to create alarmistic clickbait headlines, saying that the issue might be so serious to really endanger Fujifilm’s existence. But here on FujiRumors we like to be a tiny bit more factual and to look at the real numbers when they are so easily available… and those numbers are, once again, positive.

Hence, no panic… as we always said here on FujiRumors, Fujifilm is healthy, and especially its imaging division is growing and growing, quarter after quarter… or as Fujifilm writes: “revenue up 13.3% from the same period of the previous fiscal year“.

We already reported that things seem to go quite well for Fujifilm. Some managers even dream of 50% market share, and Fujifilm’s declared goal is to become Nr.1 mirrorless premium camera manufacturer within 2019. Moreoever, at lensrentals, the rental of Fujifilm lenses saw a 96% increse in 2017.

One more interesting little quote to highlight is that Fujifilm says they are “leading the mirrorless digital camera market“.

Down below I have copied all passages that talk about Fuji’s imaging division. Enjoy :)

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Fujifilm Instax Share SP-3 Printer Announced – First Look and Top Features

Fujifilm just announced the Fujifilm Instax Share SP-3 square printer.

Pre-orders start soon and it will be available on November 17. As repored earlier today, Fujifilm also launched the Fujifilm Instax Wide Monochrome film, available at BestBuy (and soon also at BHphoto, Adorama and AmazonUS)

Instax Share SP-3: AmazonUS, BHphoto, Adorama
Instax Square Film: AmazonUS, BHphoto, Adorama

First Look Reviews

Full Press Release

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Fujinon Lens Rentals Skyrocketed Showing 96% Increase in 2017

Things seem to go quite well for Fujifilm.

Their imaging division is healthy and registers “substantial increase in income“, some managers dream of 50% market share, and Fujifilm’s declared goal is to become Nr.1 mirrorless premium camera manufacturer within 2019.

Considering that from 2011 to 2013 Fujifilm sold overall only 700,000 X-series cameras, I’d say the company has made quite some significant step forwards from 2014 to 2017. The camera that changed everything, was the Fujifilm X-T1, which is now discontinued, and I dedicated an emotial farewell in this article.

And now we have some more significant data, that show that more and more people are looking at the Fuji X system.

According to data send out by lensrentals from the their press contact and reported by fstoppers, the Fujifilm X-system has seen huge rental increase in 2017. Fstoppers writes:

“Fuji lenses skyrocketed, showing 96 percent more rentals. Sony lenses also increased 22 percent, while Canon and Nikon decreased 8 and 10 percent, respectively.”

Some more significant data:

Thanks to FR reader VatArt Photo for spotting the news and sharing with us :)

A lot of the Fujinon glass (and cameras) is right now in offer, as well as Fujifilm GFX gear. Check it out below.

Fujifilm Abandons ACROS Large Format Film & more

Over the last few years, we have seen Fujifilm discontinuing more and more of their good old film. And 2018 won’t be any different. Down below you can find the list of film they are going to discontinue in 2018.

In a very interesting Fujifilm documentary I have shared here, about how Fujifilm survived the digital age with an unexpected makeover, at min. 35:00 the Fujifilm boss is asked why they keep up producing photo film, even if it counts less than 1% of its profits. The Fuji boss answers:

“I had announced that we would protect the photograph culture. No matter how small it gets… we might downsize production, but we would keep the culture alive and protect it. The culture of photographs is one that mankind can’t do without… No matter what we will not get rid of photography.”

March 2018

Fujicolor Superia X-Tra 400, 24 exposure, 3 packs
Fujicolor Superia X-Tra 400, 36 exposure, 3 packs
Fujichrome Velvia 50, Professional, 36 exposure, 5 packs
Fujichrome Velvia 100, Professional, 36 exposure, 5 packs
Fujichrome Provia 100F, Professional, 36 exposure, 5 packs

May 2018

Fujicolor Natura 1600, 36 exposures, individual rolls
Fujicolor 1600 Single Use Cameras (39 and 27 exposures)
Neopan 100 Acros 4×5 (20 pieces)
Neopan 100 Acros 8×10 (20 pieces)

Fujifilm recommends other film instead

Future recommendations
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Rumor Chatter: Tamron Will Make Fujifilm X Mount lenses (via SAR)

Tamron Mirrorless Offerings on AmazonUS

Fuji X Mount Tamron

According to SonyAlphaRumors, Tamron will make Fuji X Mount lenses in future. SAR writes:

A SAR reader reported to me the unofficial talk he collected on the Digital Splash show. While this is just unofficial chatter it’s still interesting to know what managers are spilling out on those kind of events. […]

tamron have now ceased all future A mount lens development and instead are shifting focus to E mount and fuji mount, the price of A mount for some reason has shot up in recent times which paired with the shrinking A mount market share has led them the call it a day, all recent releases will be fullfilled up untill a certain point which wasn’t specified.

In the past, we had huge discussion here on FujiRumors about Sigma and Tamron Fuji X mount support. So here is a little recap:

Tamron

Back in November 2015, we shared the rumor that Tamron has “currently” no plans to release X-mount lenses. But the source also added that Tamron said they “may produce X-mount lenses in future“.

That was a cautios opening by Tamron, and if SAR is right (and they are usually a very accurate rumor site), maybe time will soon come, that Tamron will join the X side of life :) .

Let’s hope so… and you guys can start dreaming and let us know which Tamron lens you would like for your Fuji X camera.

Sigma

Back in October 2015, our sources told us that Sigma has no plans to make X-mount lenses, because the Fuji X market is too small and Sigma thinks Fujifilm made a big mistake by not adopting the M/43 mount. You can read the whole story here.

But I think that the real reason (and problem for Sigma) is that there is a lot of high quality Fujinon glass out there, that covers already many of our photographic needs, and Sigma is afraid they would end up like the Zeiss.

Fujinon Vs. Rest of the World

Yes, it’s hard to compete with Fujinon glass.

Zeiss tried to enter the Fuji X market with their Zeiss Touit Fuji X-mount Trinity, but completely failed. People simply prefered the cheaper and yet optically on par (or even superior) Fujinon X glass.

Sure, it’s tough to beat Fujinon glass, but we X-shooters are definitely open to other options, and willing to spend our money in third party glass, as long as the equation value for money is right.

Samyang, for example, found quite a big fellowship amongst X-shooters with lenses like the Samyang 8mm fisheye and their probably most successful X-mount lens, the Samyang 12mmF2, convinces with a very low price and good IQ.

Also the Mitakon 35/0.95 ver.II is falling in the hands of more and more Fujifilm X-Shooters. Jonas Rask wrote a review about it. FR-reader yukosteel compared the Mitakon 35/0.95 ver.I with the Fujinon XF35/1.4 here.

I’m sure that, with the right offering, the right price and the right quality, Sigma and Tamron could sell quite well in the X-shooter community.

Fuji X-shooters simply love good glass, no matter which brand it is from.

So, c’mon, Sigma and Tamron, be brave, release some of your best glass in X-mount… and take our money :) .

Complete Overview over the available and upcoming Fuji X-Mount lenses