How 3 Dollar Saved my Fujifilm X-T5 and Re-Discovering Classic Negative in Vietnam

$3 that Saved my X-T5

If it wasn’t for this ultra cheap accessory, my first travel with my new Fujifilm X-T5 could have been ruined (from a photographic point of view).

Here is what happened.

Destination: visiting my wife’s family in Hanoi, Vietnam, during Christmas Holidays.

While waiting for our bags at the Hanoi airport (after a humble 25 hours travel in the cheapest economy class seats), I took out my X-T5 and started to take some images. Then I asked my wife to hold the X-T5 while I handle the bags and bring them to the taxi.

Once we were in the taxi, rather exhausted from the long flight, my wife put the X-T5 on her lap. Arrived at her parents home, she totally forgot she had the camera on her legs, opened the door, got out of the car and the X-T5 tumbled down on the street.

  • first thought: luckily I did not travel with the Fujifilm GFX100S
  • second thought: remember there are worst things in life
  • third thought: f***

When we collected the X-T5, we noticed major cracks on the screen.

But luckily I followed my own advice and did immediately apply a $3 touch sensitive screen protector on my X-T5 when I bought it.

This saved my X-T5 and once back home in Italy, I simply removed the broken screen protector using a dental floss and replaced it with a new one.

The X-T5 itself is still in perfect conditions and works like a champ. It’s a tough beast ;).

Lesson learned: don’t save on the wrong things. If you don’t have a self protecting fully articulating screen, then a screen protector is a must buy.

Re-Discovering Classic Negative

Now to the more pleasing part of the tale ;).

I didn’t get around a lot in Vietnam, as of course our main goal was to spend as much time as possible with her family and friends. So lots of the images I took are casual images capturing our daily life at home. Nothing of huge interest to share on FujiRumors, but for me personally the images that matter most.

But we did manage to squeeze in a 3 day trip to the nearby Ninh Binh province (to visit Tam Coc and Tràng An, where the movie “Kong: Skull Island” was filmed).

I traveled with the Fujifilm X-T5, the XF23mmF1.4 and my favorite travel zoom, the XF 18-135mmF3.5-5-6.

And I did put a little “challenge” on me: exit out of my film simulation “comfort zone” (mainly Classic Chrome and Astia) and try to use film simulations I haven’t used in a while.

This time around, I mostly used Classic Negative, mainly for street photography and cityscape, but also for some landscape images.

And I must say I really love the results and as a consequence I started to use it more often also once I got back home in Italy.

The lesson learned?

Well, I guess we all have film simulations we particularly love. And maybe in the past we used some film simulations that did not convince us and as a consequence started to ignore them.

But my tip would be to give that hardy used film simulation another try. You might find out you love it more than you initially thought.

Fujifilm X100V Stock in Fall 2023? The Bad (X100V, X-E4, X-Pro3), the Good (X-T5, X-H2S, GFX) and the Struggling (X-H2)

It’s true, the Fujifilm X100V is hard to find these days.

But it’s actually much worst than that.

I took a look at all Fujifilm camera lines (the ones that survived, not the ones axed by Fujifilm), and we can see that the X100V enjoys great company when it comes to long waiting times.

What’s easy to find in stock are the higher end high profit margin top tier mainstream cameras.

This gives us two options on what is going on:

  1. Fujifilm gear has suddenly become terribly popular, except for the X-T5 and X-H2s which don’t sell and hence are easy to find in stock
  2. Fujifilm is struggling with parts procurement and is prioritizing high profit margin cameras that sell well and are crucial for Fujifilm’s future

I don’t know you, but I’d go for Nr.2.

Now let’s look at the situation today.

The Bad

X100V silver is expected to be in stock in fall 2023 at BHphoto. No time indication for the black X100V. You find only overpriced marketplace X100V cameras on Amazon. Out of stock pretty much everywhere.

X-Pro3 dura silver is expected in 2 to 4 weeks. No time indication for all other colors. Given that the X-Pro3 is slowly being discontinued, I am not very opmtistic about its future stock status.

X-E4 black is expected to ship in 6 to 10 weeks at BHphoto. No time indication for the other colors and kit combinations. We remind you the X-E4 was launched in January 2021 and the last time I’ve noticed the X-E4 in stock was back in October 2021. Not even the X100V has such a bad shipping record as the X-E4.

The Good

The Fujifilm X-T5 (both colors) is expected in 7 to 14 days at BHphoto. You can find it in stock at Amazon US and Adorama. There is 1 to 2 weeks waiting at Moment only for the black version.

The Fujifilm X-H2s is easy to find in stock. And you even get Capture One 23 for free if you buy it at Adorama.

The Fujifilm X-S10 is easy to find in stock.

The Fujifilm X-T30II is in stock in silver and the black one is expected in 7 to 14 days at BHphoto. It is in stock in both colors at Adorama here. You can find it in stock also via third party sellers at Amazon, and if you buy sold by Amazon it will ship in late February.

The Struggling

The Fujifilm X-H2 is expected in 7 to 14 days at BHphoto. Out of stock with no time indication given at AmazonUS, Adorama and Moment. I guess the huge chunk of 40MP sensors Fujifilm has available are used for the Fujifilm X-T5, so this inevitably means that it prolongs the waiting for the Fujifilm X-H2.

The GFX

All good on the GFX front, with all cameras being easily available.

SURPRISE: Save 30% on Fujinon GF50mm f/3.5

At the time of this post, AmazonUS here and BHphoto here are offering the Fujinon GF50mm f/3.5 with a 30% rebate.

At BHphoto here, you also get a free UV filter on top of it.

This is not an official deal, so no idea how long it will remain available.

I own this lens and it makes the perfect everyday walkaround lens for the GFX100S, making your 100MP medium format system ridiculously compact and light. When I am out with my family and decide to take the GFX100S, then this is the lens I glue on it.

Fujifilm X and GFX Deals (or What Remains of Them)

Good News: Fujifilm has extended the deals on the Fujifilm X-T4 body and kit as well as the one on the original XF56mm f/1.2 R until March 5.

Bad News: all other deals expired (and there were tons of great deals). These were the best selling deals of the last round:

  1. Fujinon GF 35-70mmF4.5-5.6 WR
  2. Fujinon XF 56mmF1.2 R
  3. Fujinon GF 50mmF3.5 R LM WR
  4. Fujinon XF 16-55mmF2.8 R LM WR
  5. Fujinon GF 110mmF2 R LM WR

Good News: in most of Europe most of the deals still run until January 22. You can find the list below.

LAST DAY of Fujifilm X and GFX Deals – Save up to $1,000

This is the last day for the Fujifilm X and GFX deals in USA.

The GFX system has been as cheap as never before, with a first time ever deal on the GFX100S and a massive rebate on the GFX50SII. And some 100 megapixel resolving power GF lenses are now available for as little as $500 and $700 only.

There is a big rebate on the Fujifilm X-T4.

The best selling deals so far are:

  1. Fujinon GF 35-70mmF4.5-5.6 WR
  2. Fujinon XF 56mmF1.2 R
  3. Fujinon GF 50mmF3.5 R LM WR
  4. Fujinon XF 16-55mmF2.8 R LM WR
  5. Fujinon GF 110mmF2 R LM WR

USA DEALS

EUROPE

In Europe the deals run mostly until January 22.

New Year, Old Deals and One Week Left to Resist to GAS

Fujifilm X-T5 in Stock Check

Fujifilm X-T5
→ USA: BHphoto / AmazonUS / Adorama
→ Worldwide: AmazonCA / Amazon of Your Country
→ UK: AmazonUK / WexUK / ParkCameraUK
→ EU:AmazonDE / AmazonIT / AmazonFR / AmazonES  / CalumetDE / FotoErhardt / Fotokoch / PCHstore

Official Fujifilm X and GFX Deals
WorldWide Editioin

The deals run for one more week. Stay strong and keep up resisting to GAS. But if you fail to resist, then to the best out of it and enjoy shooting with your new gear ;)

USA DEALS

CANADIAN DEALS

EUROPE

The Curious Case of 2023 Rumors and the Big 2022 Rumor Check (97,6% Correct Rumors)

It’s time for our yearly rumor check, so that you guys can decide if FujiRumors was worth your time or not.

  • 88 rumors shared in 2022
  • 3 rumors still to be verified
  • 83 correct rumors out of 85 verifiable rumors
  • 2 wrong rumors out of 85 verifiable rumors (and I am extremely severe to myself, as you’ll see below)
  • 97,6% correct rumors

Rumor Overview – The Curious Case of 2023

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

Fujifilm 2023: Can it Beat the Amazing 2022? A Look at What’s Coming (for sure) and What we Hope for

Fujifilm was the most busy camera brand of all in 2022.

They have released three higher end cameras, four XF lenses and one GF lens. Plus some accessories, such as the legendary cooling fan and the TG-BT1 Tripod Grip.

Now the question is: can the Fujifilm year 2023 match the year 2022 in terms of product launches?

Well, let’s look at it.

LENSES in 2023

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

Eduardo Soteras Snaps UNICEF Photo of the Year 2022 with Fujifilm APS-C X Gear

© Eduardo Soteras, Argentina, AFP (Agence France Press)
© Eduardo Soteras, Argentina, AFP (Agence France Press)

Eduardo Soteras has just been awarded with the UNICEF Photo of the Year 2022 for the image you can see above. The story is this one:

Although destroyed, the library in this elementary school in Ethiopia’s Tigray region is where two children have taken refuge in books. This little moment of happiness shows in their smiles. It is a rare moment. Because of the armed conflict with the central government, 5.2 million people in this region in northern Ethiopia are suffering from violence, displacement, malnutrition and a shortage of drinking water.

[…] The desire to discover and learn new things is often so great in children that it makes them forget the threat of a situation.

That is the message of the Unicef ​​photo of the year 2022,” said Unicef ​​patron Elke Büdenbender, wife of Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier.

“The winning image challenges us to do everything we can to ensure that children can play and learn even under the most adverse circumstances.

Because this is the only way they can maintain their hope and confidence in times of war and other crises.

Given the importance of this image, little it matters that the EXIF data shows it has been taken with the Fujinon XF 16mm f/1.4 R WR.

Here on FujiRumors we just want to congratulate with fellow X shooter Eduardo Soteras for his important recognition and for making the best possible use of our beloved Fujifilm gear: encapsulating meaningful moments and important messages into a single powerful image.

You can read more about this image and Eduardo Soteras at the dedicated UNICEF page here.

Thanks to Daniel Stocker (instagram) for letting me know about it.

And in case you are being brainwashed by some YouTubers that you can only get real Pro work done with Full Frame gear, check out the articles below.

Not enough? Well, then know that photographers using Fujifilm cameras also…

  • won the world wildlife photography award (story here)
  • made the cover of the TIME magazine (story here)
  • won the World Photography Arts&Culture Award 2015 (story here)
  • won the First Prize of the World Press Photo Category “Stories (stroy here)
  • made the front page of the Wall Street Journal (story here)
  • were good enough for God’s work (story here)
  • captured America’s most hated man (story here)
  • distracted a French presidential candidate during his interview (story here)
** CLICK HERE to Read the Rest of the Article **

Fujifilm X/GFX Deals Holiday Savings Continue

DxO

If you buy a minimum of two DxO products you save 30% on everything!

Finding Your Creative Voice

Fellow Fujifilm shooter Andrew Gibson has just released his new course “Finding Your Creative Voice“. You can read more details about each of the 10 lessons and find out how it works at the dedicated website here. The price is of $19 only.

Fujifilm X-T5 in Stock Check

Official Fujifilm X and GFX Series Deals
for USA, CA and EUROPE

USA DEALS

CANADIAN DEALS

EUROPE