Fujifilm X-E5 Wishes, Fujicaflex TLR GFX, X-M5 Hopes, X50 Revival, GFX 50S III Needs – FR-readers Wishlist Corner

FR-Readers Wishlist Corner

It’s time to dedicate some space here on FujiRumors to your wishes and ideas as far as future Fujifilm cameras goes.

Hence, down below are a few emails with Fujifilm camera wishes I have received.

And yes, I have also received lots of non-camera wishes, which I will share in another future FR-reader wishlist roundup.

As for the rumors… guys, don’t worry… there will be plenty of them. ;)

Oh… and the Fujifilm X-E5, Fujifilm X-M5 and Fujifilm X50 you see above are all just renderings I made. But if somebody out there has the real images (of any upcoming camera or lens) and wants to share the joy with the FR-community, feel free to drop me a message.

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Fujifilm Manager CineD Interview: Talking X100VI, the Need for Strong Competitors, In Camera Editing… and Internal Memory Storage?

Fujifilm US Manager Victor Ha had an interesting interview with CineD.

The interview is 1 hour and 20 minutes long. I strongly recommend you to watch it all. But if you are in a super hurry right now, here are the main takeaways:

X100VI Success

  • a lot of the X100VI success has to do with luck and timing
  • but also a lot of if has to do with the fact that the camera has gone through 5 generations
  • a lot of people want to make high quality images. Sometimes they are not really photographers, but artists in other areas, chefs, or a different profession or something that requires high quality imaging
  • in today’s world, no matter which you profession you are in, you do need a certain level of image quality that could exceed the phone
  • a large number of people who bought the X100VI are new to the Fujifilm brand
  • traditionally the X100 line always was also a camera that was grabbed by people who have other brands
  • customer base has expended a lot into first time buyers, first time users, first time camera owners
  • the X100VI is also a great product
  • all these things came together
  • Fujifilm has a great reputation in providing tools that are response to feedback of customers, and also balance it with what the market wants and what’s possible technologically
  • X100VI is special because it is a combination between esthetics, design, tactile feel
  • photographers (image makers) are moving towards the desire of having dedicated devices. You want to spend a certain amount of time engaging with a device where you can look through a viewfinder and there won’t be notifications popping up
  • the job of camera manufacturers is to create devices that offer the best image quality possible in different sensor sizes and from entry level to professional market
  • when asked about features like in-camera editing, Victor says the thought of it makes him sick. First, because the JPEG’s coming out of his camera are the best in the business. And there are some options in-camera like push and pull etc (admin note: via the internal RAW converter), so Fujifilm has at some degree on-device editing
  • Fujifilm wants to offer users different ways to get images off the camera, and that’s evolved in the last couple of years (Camera to Could, new XApp, etc)
  • but Fujifilm’s first mission is to provide the best image quality possible. For that you need a good lens, a sensor, processor, image science etc.
  • Fujifilm is very pleased in seeing how Camera to Cloud is being adopted and they see continuous growth and more users try the service
  • C2C is used by photographers and videographers
  • WiFi congestion interfere and create problems with Camera to Cloud
  • internal memory storage? Victor Ha says he would be reluctant to that. He was taught that it’s important to have physical backups. Also, in some cases taking a file from the card can be easier than getting it from the cloud. And taking the files through a cable when you do not have a reader is easier than pulling the card.
  • manufacturers must understand that they need to offer different ways to get files off from the camera, not just one
  • Victor is currently on a trip through Europe with his GFX100SII (+GF50mm and GF80mm) and shooting also street photography with it is very satisfying
  • he did not use GFX so much before, but during this trip he got in deep love for that camera
  • [when asked what if Hasselblad, now owned by DJI, comes out with an attractive MF camera] of course Fujifilm pays attention what other competitors are doing. Victor hopes that competitors come out with tools that challenge their tools.
  • he believes that Fujifilm’s tools will always win in the end because “we have great fans, we have great image science, great colors, great optics“
  • the industry needs to grow and make better tools. Fujifilm needs competition
  • Without a vibrant and strong industry, lots of things will go away and nobody wants that

There is more to the interview, so make sure to check it out in full.

Just a few quick comments:

As far as in camera editing goes, for me the internal RAW converter is one of the big reasons why I stick with Fujifilm (Sony for example does not offer it as far as I know). Because truth be spoken: for hard core editing nothing beats the RAW file and a proper editing software. But I am often around with busses and trains to do my day hikes, and one of the things I love is when, on my way back from a long day of shooting, I can sit in the train, go through the images and pass some time having fun editing the images with the internal RAW converter. By the time I am home, I might have already edited enough images to a point that I feel completely happy with it and I can upload them on my phone and share them… and of course without the need of edit them later on with an editing software.

In the interview they talk about having kind of Lightroom like controls directly in camera, like on the Zeiss ZX1, but personally I think that’s an overkill. I’ll just use my computer for more heavy editing. I prefer to have the simplicity and immediacy of the internal Fujifilm RAW converter to do quick adjustments.

As for the internal storage, I think that would be nice to have, if that would allow for even faster writing speeds over a CFexpress Card, but only if there would still be a memory card slot for a backup. I probably would be too scared to go on vacation with internal storage only, and maybe get my files corrupted 1 or 2 weeks into the holiday. So Victor Ha makes a great point when he talks about having a backup solution somehow.

Camera to Cloud on the other hand sounds like a great idea that faces some real life challenges when it comes to the transmission of those files. I don’t know if any of you uses it. If so, please let us know your experience with it.

EISA Awards Fujifilm X100VI as Best Compact Camera

You know what I think about these awards. And if you don’t know it, read this article.

In short: they are meaningless.

So meaningless, that usually I write sarcastic articles about them.

And the point now came in which I thought I should not even talk about these awards anymore here on FujiRumors.

However, I also noticed that every time I post about them, there are quite a few out there who in the comments on social media rejoice about Fujifilm winning an award.

And who am I to take away such an easy and genuine joy to people. It’s a messy world that needs more joy, not less.

So, let’s be happy and celebrate the fact that EISA declared the Fujifilm X100VI the best compact camera.

via EISA

What’s Hiding Behind Fujifilm’s “Minor Bug” Fixes?

Every time I report about a new firmware update, I get asked (such as here): what’s hiding behind the mysterious phrase “fix of minor bugs“?

That’s a legit question, also considering that, in rare occasions, updating the firmware can actually introduce new bugs (this happens with every brand, Sony, Nikon, Canon and Co. They all struggle with that).

So why update the firmware for a minor thing if your gear works just fine?

Well, unless your gear has a specific issue that the firmware update addresses, it’s generally a good idea to wait a bit before updating. Just to see if some issues come up with the new firmware.

I don’t do that, honestly. I update immediately. But I also don’t photograph weddings or do professional work with my gear (oh well, except for this wedding, but that one I shot for free).

And yet…

even if the firmware addresses a “minor bug”, I strongly recommend to update anyway sooner or later..

Why?

Well, because sometimes the bugs are not really “minor”.

For example: in 2020 Fujifilm released a firmware also for X-T4 and it gave us a “minor bug fix”. At that time I was in holiday in Southern Italy and I took some time to try to find out what it really fixed. Well, it turned out the minor bug fix was actually a major one, as it drastically reduced the exposure stepping in video.

This was a major complaint and a major bug fix, but Fujifilm did hide it behind the phrase “fix of minor bugs“.

Other times, the “minor bug” might be better called an “embarrassing bug fix”. In fact so embarrassing, that Fujifilm (but that’s valid also for other brands) doesn’t want you to know what it is, hence they don’t elaborate on that.

For example, I think it was the X-Pro1 that got a “minor bug” fixed, but what it really fixed was that the focus point worked “mirrored”, so if you moved the AF box to the bottom right of the frame, the camera would actually focus on the top left of the frame.

This is why ultimately I always recommend to update your gear, even if Fujifilm calls it just a smaller bug fix.

If you want, wait a couple of weeks and then see if there are reports here on FujiRumors or in Fuji Forums about problems with the firmware. And if there aren’t, update! What Fujifilm calls “minor” might not really be that minor in the end.

And in any case remember: if for some reason a firmware would break certain features of your camera, Fujifilm will release a free follow-up firmware fix and don’t charge you $700+ like Sony :D.

Fujifilm Q1 FY2024 Financial Results: Strong Professional Digital Camera Sales Boost Revenue (+33,8%)

The Rise of Fujifilm…

Fujifilm has announced the financial results for the first quarter of the fiscal year 2024 (April 1st, 2024 to June 30, 2024).

In short we can say the professional imaging division is growing strong with revenue up +33.8% compared to last year.

Always in terms of revenue, the professional imaging division (+33,8%) grew even stronger than the Instax division (+17.8%). Now the revenue difference between Instax and professional photography gear is of 18.5 billions of Yen (74.6 for Instax and 56.1 for X, GFX and Fujinon lenses) compared to the gap of 21.2 in 2023.

No wonder that the Fujifilm CEO called their photography business their new goldmine.

With all these great numbers, Fujifilm increased their imaging division financial forecast for 2024:

  • + 6.3% revenue (from 480 to 510 billions of Yen).
  • +12% operating income (from 100 to 112 billions of Yen).

Despite…

So all good and keep going like this, Fujifilm?

Well, not really. We will always find something to moan about. ;)

And particularly, it’s a pity to see that these wonderful data coming in despite Fujifilm having had much more trouble to ship their gear than any other brand.

I can only imagine how the numbers would have skyrocketed, if only Fujifilm would have been capable of matching the terrific demand there is for their cameras and lenses.

Dear Fujifilm:

you have to understand that meeting your sales targets is not enough. What you have to meet is the true demand for Fujifilm gear.

That’s why I can’t find huge joy in the numbers you’ve shared today: I keep thinking at the figures you could have achieved, if only you’d have been able to produce more gear with proper hard work and solid investments instead of trying out some creative solutions that brought no results.

The Report

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Godox AD600Pro II All-in-One Outdoor Flash Announced

Godox has just announced the new Godox AD600Pro II All-in-One Outdoor Flash.

A curiosity: anyone out there who has used both, Godox and Profoto speedlights? Because my impression is that the Godox gear is a no brainer, but maybe there are strong arguments in favor of Profoto gear.

One that comes to my mind is that it seems Fujifilm cooperates more closely with Profoto, because certain bugs happen only with Godox gear and not with Profoto gear.

Key Features

  • One-Tap Sync with Optional X3 Trigger
  • Compatible with Most TTL Systems
  • 600Ws, 1/512 to 1/1 Power Output
  • Up to 360 Full-Power Flashes
  • Flash Duration: 1/220 to 1/11,760 sec
  • 1/8000 sec High-Speed Sync
  • 0.01-0.9 sec Recycling Time
  • 40W Bi-Color LED Modeling Lamp
  • Upgraded TFT Screen for Onboard Control
  • Includes Battery & Charger

Godox AD600Pro II
BHphoto – Amazon – Adorama

Fujifilm GFX Zone: Reviews, Experience… and Dreams in a World Fuller than Full Frame!

Today I wanted to share a roundup dedicated to the Fujifilm GFX system.

The roundup will cover the latest and greatest, from the cameras like the flagship Fujifilm GFX100II and the brand new Fujifilm GFX100S II, to G mount lenses such as the (back-ordered) Fujinon GF20-35mmF4 and the new Fujinon GF30mmF5.6 Tilt Shift.

And we will include also “dreams” or “wishes” about a Fujifilm GFX180 and GFX250.

As you know I am a Fujifilm GFX shooter myself, and last year I made one of my best hikes in the Dolomites with it. You can read my experience below.

  • fujirumors.com – A Tale of a Hiking Fuller than Full Frame, a Sony Shooter Lusting after Fujifilm Colors

GFX Zone

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Fujifilm X-T4 Extended Spectrum Infrared Camera

Wait, a Fujifilm X-T4 infrared camera?

If that sounds new to you, here is recap:

Well, now the Fujifilm X-T4 IR Extended Spectrum is back at BHphoto, this time even more affordable than at its original listing (now $1,899 instead of $2,199).

I find dedicated IR version a great way to give “older” cameras a new life.

I just wish they were made available for the large public, since as of now sales restrictions apply that you can read at the dedicated BHphoto page (click “CONFIDENTIAL DOCUMENT”). Included in the list of people who can purchase it are “professional artists” and “professional qualified Buyers and videographers that intend to use the purchased Infrared and Extended Spectrum Products for the creation of fine art.”

Latest and Greatest vs. Oldie but Goldie: this Fujifilm Roundup Has it All

Mixed Zone

I guess it is a bit normal that we are drawn to the latest and greatest, the newest and most shiny stuff.

But truth is: there is PLENTY of wonderful gear out there that has its age, but still delivers wonderfully.

And look guys, I know what I talk about, because I did just photograph a family day trip on the mountains with my X-E3 today ;).

So I thought about making a roundup of a different kind: include all the latest and greatest stuff (the 5th generation cameras and the newest lenses), but also the older gear we hardly ever talk about now (4th gen. cameras or older and older lenses).

I hope there will be something among it that you’ll appreciate as much as I did.

Latest & Greatest

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Capture One Adds Reala Ace Support

Capture One has announced that REALA ACE support has been added in Capture One 16.4.4 for the following Fujifilm cameras: GFX100II, GFX100SII, X100VI, X-H2, X-H2s, X-S20, X-T5, X-T50.

You can download the latest Capture One 16.4.4 here and view the release notes here.

Of course I have the perpetual license, so no Reala Ace for me.

At the end I’ll have to give up on the idea to stick with perpetual licenses. I will start to rent my editing software. But I am not sure it will still be Capture One.