The Hidden Advantage Nobody Talks About – FUJIFILM 26MP vs 40MP

You all know I’m a big fan of Fujifilm’s 40MP sensor. In fact, when I put together my Fujifilm X-E5 wishlist, I said I’d happily pay more if it came with the 40MP over the 26MP.

But let’s be fair: the 26MP sensor paired with the X Processor 5 – as found in cameras like the Fujifilm X-S20 – is a terrific combination with its own clear advantages.

Advantages of the 26MP Sensor

  • faster sensor readout → and all the benefits that come with it, such as less rolling shutter
  • less battery drain
  • more affordable

For a full breakdown, we’ve already written a comprehensive 26MP vs 40MP Pros & Cons article here.

Today, though, I’d like to highlight something interesting from two articles by Alik Griffin, where he compared files from his Fujifilm X100V (26MP) and X100VI (40MP).

At first glance, you’d assume the main reason to prefer the X100VI would be the higher resolution. But Alik points out something else entirely that makes the 40MP sensor shine. Something that is hardly ever talked about.

Alik noticed:

Resolution

  • on a tripod, the X100VI shows a clear detail boost over the X100V, even at higher apertures—enough to justify an upgrade for tripod work.

The Grain (and Why It Matters More Than You Think)

What really impressed Alik wasn’t just the resolution, but the character of the grain. Here are some of his observations:

  • the X100VI’s smaller, tighter grain is far nicer to work with than the older models
  • the slight resolution boost, combined with the finer grain and better overall fidelity, makes the upgrade worth it
  • nicer grain with cleaner skin tones and clearer colors
  • the X100VI preserves shadow detail better and avoids the color smearing
  • everything looks better—not only at ISO 6400, but even at lower ISOs
  • the X100VI’s grain has a better shape, making it easier to clean up with noise reduction
  • beyond the added detail, the tighter pixel pitch and improved grain deliver noticeably superior image fidelity

Alik has covered the comparison in full with lots of samples at his blog at alikgriffin here and here.

One more thing… there is this myth that more pixels are worst in low light. Top industry insiders and professionals disagree with this statement:

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From Newcomer to Legend? Fujifilm X-E5 Skyrockets in FujiRumors Ownership Rankings

A while ago we tried to evaluate the success of the brand new Fujifilm X-E5 by launching a survey on which camera the FujiRumors community owns.

8,279 people dropped a total of 17,894 votes, and here are the results.

  1. X-T5 = 13%
  2. X100VI = 7%
  3. X-T3 = 7%
  4. X-T2 = 5%
  5. X-E5 = 5%
  6. X-T4 = 4%
  7. X-H2 = 4%
  8. X-Pro2 = 4%
  9. X-H2S = 4%
  10. X-T1 = 3%
  11. X-T30/X-T30II = 3%
  12. X-E3 = 3%
  13. X-Pro3 = 3%
  14. X100V = 3%
  15. X-E2/X-E2S = 3%
  16. X-H1 = 3%
  17. X-E1 = 2%
  18. X-T50 = 2%
  19. X-S20 = 2%
  20. X-E4 = 2%
  21. X-T20 = 2%
  22. X-S10 = 2%
  23. X-Pro1 = 2%
  24. X100F = 2%
  25. X-M5 = 1%
  26. X100 = 1%
  27. X70/XF10 = 1%
  28. X10/X20/X30 = 1%
  29. X100S = 1%
  30. X-T10 = 1%
  31. X100T = 1%
  32. X-M1 = 1%
  33. X half = 1%
  34. X-A1/A2/A3/A5/A7/A10/A20 = 1%
  35. X-T100 = 0%*
  36. XQ1/XQ2 = 0%*
  37. X-T200 = 0%*
  38. XF1 = 0%*
  39. X-S1 = 0%*
    *denotes 0,4% or less

So, in less than 1 month, the Fujifilm X-E5 has already surpassed legends like the Fujifilm X-T4 and caught up with one of Fujifilm’s most sold cameras ever, the Fujifilm X-T2. And right now it is just 2% points away from catching up with the Fujifilm X-T3 and X100VI.

If we were to group it in lines, these are the results.

  1. X-T* = 32.21%
  2. X100* = 15.20%
  3. X-E* = 14.61%
  4. X-H* = 9.98%
  5. X-Pro* = 8.56%
  6. X-T** = 8.41%
  7. X-S** = 4.18%
  8. X-M* = 2.25%
  9. X70 / XF10 = 1.24%
  10. X10/X20/X30 = 1.18%
  11. X half = 0.64%
  12. X-A* = 0.56%
  13. Other = 0.51%
  14. X-T100/200 = 0.47%

The Fujifilm X-E5 has pushed the X line close to the X100 line on the 3rd spot of the most owned Fujifilm camera lines by FR-readers.

Is this a success?

That’s too early to say. But it is a solid start, actually the best start of any X-E camera so far (and by far). And this makes me confident in the future of this camera line.

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Fujifilm X-E5 Gets Great Reviews… and Some Truly Bizarre 1/2-Star Ratings

The Fujifilm X-E5 has been shipping for a couple of weeks now, and customer reviews are starting to show up on major retailer sites:

Overall, the ratings are very positive. However, the average score is slightly dragged down by a handful of extremely negative reviews that, frankly, are hard to take seriously.

For example:

Well, I don’t really get them.

I mean, these are not really product flaws. You know in advance that the X-E5 has a single card slot—Fujifilm never claimed otherwise. Knocking stars off for something clearly stated in the specs feels unfair. The packaging issue is unfortunate, of course, but that’s more on shipping than on Fujifilm.

It’s like buying a compact car and then leaving a 1-star review because it doesn’t have seven seats.

On the flip side, some customers get it right. At Adorama, one reviewer awarded 5 stars but mentioned they would have preferred an ISO dial instead of the exposure compensation dial. That’s a thoughtful way to review: review the product for what it is, while adding a personal wish list on what would make the camera perfect for him.

In the end, customer reviews are a valuable tool, but it’s worth looking beyond the overall rating and reading individual experiences to get the full picture.
And of course, beyond retailer reviews, there are also in-depth write-ups and YouTube videos—which I’ll share below.

Get Yours


Fujifilm Just Brought Digital Compact Cameras Back From the Dead – And Yet A Very Important One is Still Missing

why no successor for this camera yet?
why no successor for this camera yet?

Do you know what the awesome Fujifilm X100VI and the new Fujifilm X half have in common?

Both cameras are fueling a surprising comeback for compact digital cameras.

In fact, according to Price.com data (via デジカメinfo), interest in this category is rising fast — with monthly visits now surpassing 400,000 after years of decline.

The big driver of this revival in compact camera interest is Fujifilm.

The launch of the X100VI in March 2024 and the X half in June 2025 boosted Fujifilm to the #1 spot in Price.com’s rankings.

But it’s not just Fujifilm.

Panasonic Lumix models, Nikon compacts, and even Kodak cameras have seen renewed attention, proving that stylish, easy-to-carry cameras still have a place in a smartphone-dominated world.

Mentioned by photo.com are:

For years the data told the same story: smartphones were killing the compact camera market, and most of us accepted it as inevitable. But Fujifilm has just proven us wrong.

But with all that talk about Fujifilm’s success as far as compact cameras goes, there is one camera that they refuse to update… and it would be their most awesome ultra-compact camera ever.

Camera Market Share 2024: Fujifilm Leads Mirrorless Growth — But Budget DSLRs Still Outsell Fujifilm (or Why We Need the X-T30 III)

Nikkei has published the global shipment numbers of digital cameras sold in 2024. The numbers are based on data from CIPA and JEITA and have been reported by the Japanese website dclife.

Here are the numbers:

Mirrorless + DSLR Camera Shipments

2024

  • Canon — 2.84M units (46.6%)
  • Sony — 1.63M units (26.8%)
  • Nikon — 830k units (13.6%)
  • Fujifilm — 490k units (8%)
  • Panasonic — 160k units (2.6%)
  • OM Digital — 130k units (2.1%)
  • Pentax — 10k untis (0.2%)

Note that the Canon DSLR cameras are still outselling Fujifilm mirrorless camera sales (790,000 vs 490,000 units). Most of those DSLR cameras are cheap Canon Rebel & Co cameras.

What this tells us: there are lots of people who still enter a camera/electronic store and want an “affordable camera that takes better pictures than my phone“.

Right now, Fujifilm is falling short in this segment: the X-E5 and X-T50 are priced too high, while the X-M5 lacks a viewfinder — a feature many still consider essential for a “serious” camera. The upcoming Fujiflm X-T30 III, however, could be exactly the model to fill that gap — provided Fujifilm keeps it in the true entry-level range, which will largely depend on the features they choose to include.

Mirrorless Cameras Shipments

Mirrorless is growing for all brands, but Fujifilm has experienced the strongest growth of all.

The chart here is probably for interchangable lens cameras, because dclife has a separate ranking for “compact cameras” like the Fujifilm X100VI and Ricoh GR series. But maybe it includes also the compact cameras, we don’t know that.

2024

  1. Canon — 2.05M units (37.5%, +4.6% vs 2023)
  2. Sony — 1.63M units (29.8%, +6.5% vs 2023)
  3. Nikon — 760k units (13.9%, +20.6% vs 2023)
  4. Fujifilm — 490k units (9.0%, +28.9% vs 2023)
  5. Panasonic — 160k units (2.9%, +14.3% vs 2023)
  6. OM Digital — 130k units (2.4%, +8.3% vs 2023)

2023

  1. Canon — 1.96 million units
  2. Sony — 1.53 million units
  3. Nikon — 630,000 units
  4. Fujifilm — 380,000 units
  5. Panasonic — 140,000 units
  6. OM Digital — 120,000 units

2022

  1. Canon — 1.54 million units
  2. Sony — 1.25 million units
  3. Nikon — 530,000 units
  4. Fujifilm — 360,000 units
  5. Panasonic — 140,000 units
  6. OM Digital — 140,000 units

2021

  1. Sony — 1.4 million units
  2. Canon — 1.17 million units
  3. Fujifilm — 400,000 units
  4. Nikon — 290,000 units
  5. OM Digital — 200,000 units
  6. Panasonic — 180,000 units

via dclife

Compact Cameras Shipments

Fujifilm has increased its shipments from 50,000 units to 130,000 units. And the number could have been significntly higher if cameras like the X100VI were not in short supply in 2024. It is not known if also Instax cameras are included in this data.

Only Ricoh and Fujifilm are able to grow in the compact camera segment.

2024

  1. Sony … 470,000 units
  2. Canon … 430,000 units
  3. Fujifilm … 130,000 units
  4. Ricoh … 60,000 units

2023

  1. Sony … 470,000 units
  2. Canon … 460,000 units
  3. Fujifilm … 50,000 units
  4. Ricoh … 50,000 units

via dc.life

Fujifilm’s 6th Generation Launch Timeline :: Sony A7CR Can’t Save X-E5 Rant :: Fujifilm X-T30 III Rumors – Top August Articles

Here are the top 10 articles for August.

  1. When Will Fujifilm Launch the 6th Generation Platform? A Data-Based Prediction
  2. Viltrox Discontinues Entire f/1.4 APS-C Lens Lineup- REPORT
  3. Viltrox 56mm f/1.2 Pro Images
  4. Fujifilm X-T30 III – More Than Just a Name Change?
  5. Fujifilm CEO FY2025 Q&A: “We Have Several New Products in the Pipeline – X100VI and X half are Doing Very Well”
  6. Fujifilm X-T30III: Finally Closing the Gap?
  7. The Fujifilm X-T30 II Successor Name Unveiled
  8. Wake Up, Fujifilm: Ricoh GR IV Pre-Orders Soar, Monochrome on the Way – Where’s the X80 and X-Pro Monochrome?
  9. Fujifilm X‑E5: When Specs Lie, Complaining Fails and Even the Sony A7CR Can’t Save the Rant
  10. Sigma 17-40mmF1.8 + Fujifilm X-T5 = Match Made in Heaven (Reviews Roundup)

Don’t Miss

Wake Up, Fujifilm: Ricoh GR IV Pre-Orders Soar, Monochrome on the Way – Where’s the X80 and X-Pro Monochrome?

Ricoh GR IV: The New and The Monochrome

Our sources told us already last year that the Ricoh GR IV would come in 2025. Well, technically we told you it would come earlier in 2025, and in fact the Ricoh GRIV was disclosed a couple months ago already. But it was only a development announcement. The full announcement just happened yesterday. So yes, I still regard this as a wrong rumor (development announcement is not a full announcement), but at the same time I trust the source.

Well, at this point we remind you that according to the same source, Ricoh is also planing to launch the Ricoh GR IV monochrome. It was originally planed for 2025, but I would not be surprised if there would be a delay due to the huge pre-orders the GRIV is getting right now.

Fujifilm – Wake Up

Yes, the Ricoh GR IV is now here and it enjoys absolutely stellar pre-orders.

At this time Fujifilm has not really a camera to compete with the Ricoh GR IV, because the Fujifilm X100VI might share the fixed lens concept with it, but for the rest I think it appeals to other people: those who appreciate a viewfinder, tactile controls, vintage aesthetic, whereas the Ricoh GR IV is all about being as portable as possible.

The true competitor would be the Fujifilm X80, but Fujifilm has so far never bothered to give the Fujifilm X70 a second chance (the Fujifilm XF10 is not the X70 successor). And in my view that’s an error. The Ricoh GRIV proves that pocketable and powerful fixed lens cameras are enjoying a revival, and Fujifilm is missing out on it.

So, dear Fujifilm, come out with the Fujifilm X80 as quickly as you can!

And while it’s true that the Ricoh GRIV pre-orders are great, I dare to predict that the Ricoh GRIV M (Monochrome) will match or even exceed those pre-orders.

Look, initially I was skeptical about a Monochrome Fujifilm. But after I have seen how even the Pentax K-3 III monochrome DLSR sold like hot cakes (so much so that they had to suspend pre-orders as we reported here), I concluded that the market for monochrome cameras is far from being saturated.

In short: I think Fujifilm should launch the Fujifilm X80 and a monochrome Fujifilm camera (possibly an X-Pro monochrome).

What do you think about it?

Fujifilm X-T40/X-T30III: Finally Closing the Gap?

go to minute 5:53 of the video to hear the thoughts of Patrick about it

One of the critiques Fujifilm gets is that they have a confusing camera lineup with too many lines.

The Fujifilm X-T30III or X-T40 just fueled again this criticism, but I think this time they don’t deserve it.

First things first: Fujifilm has indeed likely canceled 6 X series lines already (or even 7, if we consider X70 and XF10 not part of the same line):

So we have a total of possibly six canceled lines.

And how many lines has Fujifilm introduced?

Well, 2 new lines have been introduced recently: Fujifilm X half and the Fujifilm X-T50,

Yes, also the Fujifilm X-T50 is a “new line”, because as we told you in this rumor, it does not belong to the X-T10, X-T20, X-T30 line since Fujifilm will launch a dedicated successor for that line (X-T40/X-T30III) in 2025.

And actually there will also be a third totally new line soon, and that camera is already listed at BHphoto here.

In short: Fujifilm has axed more lines than it has created new ones.

With all that said, I think launching the Fujifilm X-T40/X-T30III makes totally sense.

Why?

Well, because Fujifilm’s entry level line has basically been axed (except X-M line) and their other lower-end to mid-range models got an overall specs upgrade with a consequantial significant price increase (X-E5 and X-T50).

At this point in time, Fujifilm has no true entry level camera with viewfinder and that’s a problem if you ask me.

But how could a Fujifilm X-T30III/X-T40 look like?

Speculations (NOT RUMOR)

  • my realistic scenario: X-T30 II body with 5th generation processor and latest firmware
  • my hope scenario: X-T30 II body but with X-T100 alike unique screen mechanism – we reported here
  • my dream scenario: X-T50 body with 4th generation 26MP sensor

Since I think that price matters when it comes to the Fujifilm X-T40 or X-T30 III, I believe they’ll go for the first scenario I mentioned above.

But feel free to let us know in the comments what you think about all of this.

Fujifilm X and GFX Sales Surge in Q1/2025 — Now Close to “Goldmine” Instax Revenue

The latest Fujifilm financial results are out (Q1/2025 – April to June 2025).

Interestingly, Fujifilm makes an estimate of the impact of U.S. tariffs for each segment, except for the imaging division

  • health care = – 4.0 billion yen
  • electronics = – 1.0 billion yen
  • business innovation = – 1.0 billion yen
  • imaging = no information

A positive mention (strong sales) goes to the Fujifilm X100VI, Fujifilm X-T50, Fujifilm GFX100SII and Fujifilm X-M5 and as far as Fujifilm GFX100RF and X half goes, they just say they “contributed” to the results. In the Instax world sales were strong for instax WIDE 400 and instax WIDE Evo.

Also interesting: professional imaging (mainly X and GFX) is growing much stronger than consumer imaging (mainly Instax).

In the latest report, consumer imaging sales (mainly Instax) reached ¥77.3 billion, while professional imaging sales (mainly X and GFX) brought in ¥68 billion.

It’s quite astonishing that X/GFX sales are now making Fujifilm almost as much money as Instax sales, which the Fujifilm CEO called their new goldmine. I guess that’s a promising trend for our beloved X/GFX series.

In short:

  • Strong demand for instant photo systems and digital cameras drove revenue by 11.2% year-over-year to JPY145.3 billion and operating income surged by 28.4% year-over-year to JPY41.8 billion.
  • In the Consumer Imaging business, consistent demand for instax™ instant photo systems contributed to higher revenue.
  • In the Professional Imaging business, revenue growth was supported by the strong performance of the X Series and GFX Series cameras.

Fujifilm’s imaging forecast remains the same as the one issued in May 2025, with no updates in the latest report.

Fujifilm Announces Financial Results for the First Quarter Ended June 30, 2025

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Fujifilm X‑E5: When Specs Lie, Complaining Fails and Even the Sony A7CR Can’t Save the Rant

Originally in this article I highlighted how many reviewers love the Fujifilm X-E5.

It’s such a great looking and well built camera, compact and yet packed with powerful features. A camera that is truly inspirational and “makes you want to shoot pictures“.

It’s sexy, it’s fun, and it comes with features like a film simulation dial, which turned into a favorite feature for some people, who previously didn’t care much about film simulations.

Inspiration… falling in love with photography… that’s what we hear in their reviews.

But you know what?

We are going to ignore all of that good stuff.

We are here to moan. And we’ll do that by focusing on those few specs that are a sheer disappointment and ruin our inner peace.

Let’s start with the lower resolution LCD and the EVF.

Here is what Luca Petralia has to say about it (full video below)

  • LCD, while lower resolution than other cameras, it is actually really good from a color and contrast perspective
  • zero issues using this LCD even under the bright summer sun in Sicily
  • if he had to chose between higher resolution or better usability under the sun, he’d go for the usability under the sun
  • example: he owns the Sony A7CR (which costs twice as much as X-E5), which has a higher resolution screen, but that Sony screen is much much worst under the sun to the point where it is almost unusable. X-E5 screen is better
  • it’s a great LCD when it comes to using it in real word
  • EVF is crisp, contrast is really good and even under difficult circumstances you can see through the viewfinder pretty well
  • the new vintage “classic display” view mode on the EVF may seem like a gimmick, but it cleans up the screen and simplifies the scene

Damn Luca, that was not what we planed.

We wanted to moan.

But hey, we can still moan about the lack of weather sealing, right?

And who can tell us better about how awesome weather sealing is than DPReview, who has tested hundreds of cameras in all possible conditions. They say here:

One luxury I’ve had as a DPReview editor is the opportunity to use many mid-range cameras in absolutely terrible, wet conditions, sometimes with water dripping off them for extended periods. Every single camera I’ve done this to kept working. I’m not suggesting carelessness, or that water will never cause a problem – just that gear may tolerate more than many imagine.

C’mon DPR, that also does not help our case here. We are trying to convince people that no weather sealing is a shame and that at the first water drops rain flows through the camera like water through a pasta strainer. A camera without weather sealing should cost 800 USD max!

Ok, I guess our attempt to moan about the Fujifilm X-E5 was not as successful as we hoped for.

So we are left with a camera that is not just a decent to excellent technical tool, but more importantly a creative enabler. A grab-and-create camera that focuses on experience, fun and inspiration. And that’s quite refreshing in a camera world that is often just battling for best specs on paper.

Fujifilm X-E5 Review Roundup

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