SAMSUNG talks about ISOCELL Plus Next Sensor Generation in Cooperation with FUJIFILM

Fujifilm & Samsung

Back in 2018 Samsung and Fujifilm officially announced the development of a new CMOS image sensor technology for enhanced light sensitivity and color fidelity, called ISOCELL Plus sensor

The evolution of the first generation ISOCELL sensor was made possible by a special material developed by Fujifilm, which allowed it to remove the metal grid between single pixels, hence for more light to hit the sensor.

On July 1, 2019, Samsung published another article with additional details about ISOCELL Plus. You can read it summed up in practical bullet points below.

First you have to know about front-side illuminated (FSI) and back-side illuminated (BSI) sensors that:

  • FSI sensors block 20% to 70% of light from the photodiode
  • BSI sensors solved this problem, but there is the pixel crosstalk problem
  • Crosstalk happens when light ment for a specific pixel leaks into the neighboring photodiodes, causing noise in the final image

ISOCELL advantages over FSI and BSI sensors:

  • Thanks to a metal grid between pixels, ISOCELL sensors have 30% less pixel crosstalk compared to BSI sensors
  • increased full well capacity (FWC) by approximately 30%
  • higher color fidelity
  • tack-sharp images
  • greater dynamic range
  • wider chief ray angle (CRA) by capturing more oblique light, which ultimately allows for brighter lenses with wider aperture

ISOCELL Plus Advantages over ISOCELL

  • The metal grids in the ISOCELL sensors reduced crosstalk, but lead to some optical loss as they absorbed incoming light or reflected light to neighboring pixels
  • ISOCELL PLUS replaces the metal grid with an innovative Fujifilm material that minimizes optical loss and light reflection
  • ISOCELL Plus deliver higher color fidelity and up to a 15% enhancement in light sensitivity compared to first generation ISOCELL sensor
  • allows sensors to equip pixels of 0.8-micrometer (µm) or smaller without any performance loss, making it an optimal solution for developing high-resolution cameras
  • ISOCELL Plus will also bring performance enhancements for sensors with larger pixel designs

The technology is ment for smartphones, but it’s not forbidden for us to dream and hope that Fujifilm and Samsung will find agreements to make this sensor find its way into Fujifilm APS-C and MF cameras.

Especially the last sentence, where they say “ISOCELL Plus will also bring performance enhancements for sensors with larger pixel designs“, makes hope for that to happen one day.

Will there be a Samsung sensor in Fujifilm cameras?

If you want to know before anyone else, than just follow FujiRumors.

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Updated Fujifilm 2019/2020 Camera and Lens Release Timeline

Fujifilm Timeline

It’s high time to update our older Fujifilm 2019/2020 camera and lens release timeline.

This is just an approximate timeline and expect to see updates to this list over the next few weeks and months.

For now, this is mainly just an update to the list we shared back in January.

All rumors are as always exclusive FujiRumors.com information. When I just make some guess, I will highlight that for you in the notes.

  • IMPORTANT NOTE: We are talking about release timeline, not announcement timeline.

How Many Lenses a Year?

  • as we told you here, at the current pace and current resources, Fujifilm can release about 2/3 GF and 2/3 XF lenses a year
  • the list below contains 1 XF and 1 GF lens
  • hence we can expect to see 1/2 more XF and 1/2 more GF lenses to join the list
  • Fujifilm has given up options to vote which lenses should come next

Fall 2019

Coming 2020

Expect 1 or 2 more X as well as GF lenses. My guess:

  • GF 21mm F4 Tilt Shift
  • XF 10mm F2

Probably NOT Coming 2019/2020

* our sources say it will not be released in 2019, and probably not even in 2020. But Fujifilm managers confirmed here, that the X-H line will continue

Top Possible Bonus Gear in 2020

* based on this old rumor rumor
** wishful thinking based on XF10 disappointment
*** no rumors. but please, FUJI, PLEASE!!!
**** no rumor, just a mere wild guess

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Towerjazz Explains Why Sony’s Sensor Hegemony is a Problem, the 8K Downsides, the Dynamic Range Challenge and More

The Sensor Business

There was a time, when Fujifilm was making its own sensors.

However, at some point in time, Fujifilm sold its sensor business to Toshiba, which later on sold it to Sony.

As of today (and as far as I know) Fujifilm only makes the color filter array for sensors. Fujifilm also cooperates with Samsung on the ISOcell+ sensor development, which we reported about here.

In short: Sony dominates the sensor market, and most camera manufacturers buy all the sensors they need from Sony.

This gives Sony a huge advantage, as Fujifilm managers Toru Takahashi and Toshihisa Iida said back in 2016 here:

Sony has a big advantage, they make their own sensors. That is a very big advantage for them.

FujiRumors got information years ago, that Fujifilm had a contract with Sony, that allowed them to use the latest Sony sensor only 6 months after Sony used them on their own cameras, giving them a strategic time advantage (timing is crucial in business).

I don’t know if this contract has been changed in the meantime, but what I know is that Sony officially said once, that they will keep the best sensors for themselves, and not sell them to other camera manufacturers.

The Sony Problem

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TESTED: Capture One Pro 12 Improved Fujifilm X Trans Support

Capture One Pro 12.1 has promised us improved Fujifilm X Trans support. But how well does it really work?

Thomas Fitzgerald tested it and has written about it on his blog here. His conclusion:

The changes are very, very subtle to the naked eye.

The update fixes some issues that can occur when there is very fine repetitive detail such as tree branches, leaves, foliage and things like that.

It’s as if they have improved the anti-aliasing algorithms ever so slightly.

It’s something most people probably won’t notice, and they didn’t have to do this, but it pretty much eliminates most rendering artefacts from X-Trans files.

Capture One Pro 12 – save 50%

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Fujifilm Patent Shows Tilting Top LCD Screen

Fujifilm has patented a tilting top LCD screen.

Of course these are patents (hence concepts), that may or may not see the light of the day in future cameras.

But I thought it would be interesting to discuss this concept here on FujiRumors, and maybe give Fujifilm some feedback about what we think about it, if they should continue to develop this concept, or if we se no practical use for something like that.

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7Artisans Lenses for Fujifilm X now 10% Off

 

7Artisans Rebates

7Artisans lenses for Fujifilm X mount are now 10% off at BHphoto, AmazonUS and 1 lens also at Adorama.

At the time of this post, BHphoto has most lenses in offer.

For the convenience of all Fuji addicts out there, I have made a practical overview list down below ;).

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Fujifilm X-T30 Firmware 1.10 Released

The Fujifilm X-T30 firmware 1.1o has been released, just as promised to us back in April.

The firmware update Ver.1.10  – download here

  1. Improvement of Q (quick menu) button operability
    To avoid accidentally pressing the Q (quick) menu, the button has changed to one of Fn(function) buttons. This will allow customers to disable the Q button function and also to allocate the Q (quick) menu to a different Fn button.
  2. Fix of slight defects.

Also, as reported here, Fujifilm has updated all its Fujinon GF lenses to support phase detection AF on Fujifilm GFX100.

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Fringer EF-FX Pro II Available at BHphoto, AmazonUS and Adorama

The Fringer EF-FX ProII smart autofocus adapter for Fujifilm X mount is now available for pre-order at BHphoto, AmazonUS and Adorama.

At AmazonUS they will ship it within June 19.

Main improvements of the 2nd generation of EF-FX Pro include.

  • Redesigned aperture ring for more convenient operation
  • New MCU (more powerful, more resources for firmware update)
  • Better light absorbing design

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Fujifilm USA Deals Continue and Mega Fujifilm X-T2 Price Drop Now also In Europe

Fujifilm Summer Deals

Last week USA dropped the price of the Fujifilm X-T2 down to $799 (50% off).

Now Europe followed, for example you can find the the Fujifilm X-T2 for £799 in UK. For other EU countries, check out the Fujifilm EU Promo page.

You can see all USA Fujifilm Summer deals here.

Fujifilm X-T2 – Lowest Price Ever

Fujifilm GFX Deals

X Cameras

X mount Prime lenses – save up to $250

X mount Zoom lenses – save up to $200

All Fujifilm Deals

Used Fujifilm Gear

Official Fujifilm Recommended Accessories

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Power Banks

Software

FUJIFILM vs SONY Colors Compared: “If You don’t Want to Spent Time Color Grading, Fujifilm is Great”

Max Yuryev compares the Sony vs Fujifilm color science.

It’s a blind test, so you have to go through 10 frames, note on paper if you prefer camera A and B. Of course I did it, and it turns out I prefered Fujifilm in 80% of the cases.

The video frames from 1 to 4 are taken with standard picture profile, whereas from 5 to 10 he compares Eterna to a custom made picture profile.

Some general conclusions Max made, before we watch at the frames one by one:

  • in harsh daylight, with light bouncing, the Sony got some heavy tint, but Fuji’s smart color science got rid of it
  • Sony is usually more accurate, but you have to spend time to get rid of that tint
  • Fujifilm got it figured out, and you don’t have to worry about color tint
  • If you just want to shoot, and not spent time color grading, Fujifilm is great

We remind you that, as reported here, Fujifilm makes a distinction between metric color and memory color. Metric color is more realistic, whereas memory color is interpretation, it’s how your brain sees and remembers colors in a certain scene.

Certain Fujifilm film simulations are not ment to be accurate representation of real colors, but interpretations closer to how you remember those colors.

Other film simulations instead just have to give a unique vibe to the image, think at the vintage touch of the less saturated Classic Chrome for example, great for documentary photography, thanks to the “art of omission” that puts the story/content in the center, instead of colors.

Colors science is a crucial factor at Fujifilm, and we told you already that the engineer, who developed the original Velvia film, has also developed the digital Velvia film simulation.

And now back to the comparison:

1st frame

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