Fujifilm GFX100SII Announcement in Around 6 Weeks

I have received word by an anonymous source (thanks), that the Fujifilm GFX100SII will be announced in “around 6 weeks”.

Let’s do the math: the message has been sent to me on April 8, so 6 weeks later would mean the announcement should happen around May 20.

But since words matter: the source said “around” 6 weeks. So it could happen on May 20, but it could also happen a few days before or after that.

Thanks to the anonymous source for letting me know about it.

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  • I am receiving anonymous rumors these days that did not go online (yet):
    – some of the rumors I have received are wrong
    – with other rumors I have conflicting reports and I need a bit of time to verify who is right
    – some rumors are completely new to me and I’d like to take a bit of extra time to try to get them verified. If I won’t be able to verify them in a reasonable time, they will go online anyway, but with the disclaimer to take them with a grain of salt

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Japanese Fujifilm Managers: X-Pro and X-E line Not Stopped, X-Trans is Here to Stay, PSAM vs RETRO, GFX Sports Photography and More

image courtesy: Phototrend
image courtesy: Phototrend

At the last CP+, the French Website Phototrend had the opportunity to talk to Japanese Fujifilm manager Jun Watanabe about the X series and to Japanese Fujifilm manager Makoto Oishi about the GFX series.

Down below you can find a quick summary. For the full French version check out the articles at Phototrend here (X series) and here (GFX series). Plus a little rant at the end.

X series

  • Fujifilm can not confirm if X-Pro4 will arrive soon or not
  • X-Pro line is not stopped
  • X-T and X100 series do not satisfy all customers who want a “pure photography” experience
  • Fujifilm is studying different possibilities
  • feedback and expectations are high for the next X-Pro
  • X-E line is not stopped
  • sports photography is a difficult market
  • other brands are long established there and for Fujifilm it’s new terrain
  • Fujifilm can not confirm anything about eventual future lenses for sport photographers
  • Fujifilm has received great feedback about the latest autofocus system, but they will continue to improve
  • renewing older lenses is something that Fujifilm has in mind
  • XF16-50mmF2.8-4.8 [admin note: will replace the XF18-55mmF2.4.8]
  • Fujifilm is not considering any option other than X-Trans for their APS-C cameras
  • its unique matrix offers the advantage of combining high definition and suppression of moiré and chromatic aberrations
  • for X100VI, Fujifilm has developed the smallest and thinnest IBIS unit to date
  • the X100VI IBIS wiring has been moved to the side – see here
  • IBIS system uses data from the image in addition to the gyroscope (motion blur is analyzed from the live-view image)
  • the grip of the X100VI is a tenth of a millimeter deeper than X100V for a better grip

GFX series

  • GFX100II market return (sales) is very good, not only among professional photographers, but also filmmakers and directors
  • GFX100II sales exceed Fujifilm’s expectations
  • GFX100S is still very popular because Fujifilm has lowered its price
  • GFX100S still very popular in some markets like China
  • professionals go for GFX100II, enthusiasts for GFX100S
  • Fujifilm never looked at its market share in medium format segment
  • other manufacturers have no announced so many new products, so Fujifilm thinks they are Nr.1
  • some expect a faster 50MP GFX. But Fujifilm thinks high definition is more popular
  • there are lots of FF cameras offering 50/60 megapixel, so offering 50MP now has become almost banal
  • Fujifilm focuses on improving the 100MP sensor performance
  • for professionals ergonomics are very important
  • first GFX cameras had dedicated dials but now they switched to a easier to operate PSAM dial layout
  • Fujinon GF 500 mm f/5.6: it’s time for Fujifilm GFX to approach wildlife and sports photography
  • normally APS-C lenses are compact than FF and MF (hence also smaller AF motors)
  • but regarding telephoto lenses, size primarily depends on diameter and aperture. Regardless of whether it’s for APS-C, FF or MF, the fundamental construction of telephoto lenses, particularly on the front lens side, is the same
  • Fujifilm tries to make the GF500mm as small and light as possible to obtain faster autofocus
  • tilt-shift lenses are the most difficult to design
  • Fujifilm started to develop its GF tilt shift lenses back in 2019
  • why not retro? High end high speed cameras need to be operated quickly, hence PSAM. Also good for hybrid shooters for video

Let me just say that I strongly, vehemently, vigorously and fervidly disagree with Fujifilm in regards to what they said why they stick with PSAM on their GFX lineup.

First: the GFX system is not know to be blazing fast and immensely popular among high end sports photographers. I actually feel the GFX system would be the ideal system to use a retro layout.

Second: maybe Fujifilm should watch my video so they learn how to operate their own cameras.

They will find out that one can operate their retro styled cameras exactly as any PSAM camera out there. It’s a marvellous and ingenious design that gives us photographer the best of both words: retro if I want to have fun shooting or want to actually operate the camera already before turning it on, and PSAM if one needs to make lots of adjustment all the time on the fly.

Retro Fujifilm cameras offer both options. PSAM cameras force you into one way to operate the camera.

And in my opinion not offering retro styled GFX cameras anymore is one of the all time biggest mistakes Fujifilm is doing.

C’mon Fujifilm, look at what is selling best in your X system. You’ll see that retro X cameras outsell PSAM cameras by very far. And Nikon had a colossal success with the Nikon Zf lately. It’s clear that in times where every camera is just so good, what people really look for is to have a different photographic experience thanks to dedicated vintage dials.

The joy of shooting sells better than any specs boost you can show off on paper.

An example?

The X100VI sells like hot cakes. The revolutionary global shutter ultra modern high speed blazing fast Sony A9III is selling way below Sony’s expectations (you could always find it in stock everywhere all the time because demand is not high… ask your local retailer).

Make sure to read/watch below:

Fuji Guy Billy: “I Can See the Fujifilm X-Pro Moving into 5th Gen, but it Needs Something Special”, Talking X100VI, X-T40, Future Lenses & More

Vistek just hosted a Fujifilm X Summit After Show with Fuji Guy Billy.

They talk of course mainly about the Fujifilm X100VI, but also about other stuff, such as which lenses Fuji Guy Billy thinks Fujifilm should do in future, he talks a bit about the Fujinon XF16-50mmF2.8-4.8 (which thanks to our sources we have leaked here) and also talked about what he thinks about an eventual Fujifilm X-T30II successor (which we started leaking here) and the long awaited Fujifilm X-Pro4 (which we started leaking here).

Above you can see the whole 55 minutes video and below you get a summary:

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

These are the Three Cameras Fujifilm Will Launch in the First Half of 2024

click the image to see which 3 cameras will get replaced in first half 2024
click the image to see which 3 cameras will get replaced in first half 2024

The Trinity

We can now say with 100% certainty that

But after I’ve shared the rumor, I have noticed some misunderstandings. So let me address those first, and then we’ll talk about each of the three cameras

Is it All We’ll Get?

So, I told you that there will be three cameras, and that they will come in 2024.

But I didn’t mean to say that all we get in 2024 are these three cameras, and all of them will come in the first half of 2024 (as I see reported around on Forums etc).

I was referring to the fact that initially we told you that there will be “3 or more cameras” coming in first half 2024, and now we can be more specific and confirm that the number of cameras will be 3.

So to be clear I want to remark: I don’t know how many cameras will be launched in the entire year 2024. What I know so far is that there will be 3 cameras in the first half (the replacements of these models), and there will be potentially more cameras in the second half of 2024. But so far I have no rumors about it.

So there is still the second half of 2024 where Fujifilm could have potentially lots of time to please us with much more gear.

And I promise that after the imminent X100VI-centric X Summit I will try to find out more about it.

Anyway, let me quickly talk about each of the three cameras.

Camera 1

Fujifilm X100VI

The first one to come is of course the Fujifilm X100VI, which will see the light of the day tomorrow.

There is not much to guess around, as we have already leaked all the core specs here on FujiRumors.

Now all we have to do is to wait for the Fujifilm X Summit tomorrow and enjoy the launch, which will be covered non-stop here on FujiRumors.

So, all you have to do, is to sit down, relax, and just follow FujiRumors.

Camera 2

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Fujifilm to Launch Three Cameras within First Half 2024 – But the Biggest Release is Another One ;)

Best News First: the Biggest Release is…

Yes, we are going to talk about the three cameras. But first you need to know this.

There is one release in just a couple weeks that will overshadow everything else Fujifilm will launch.

Well, at least for me.

Because my second son will be “released” in the next couple of weeks, too :)

But don’t worry guys.

There shouldn’t be any schedule conflict with the X Summit on February 20 (unlike with my first sons’ birth, when Fujifilm made its mega announcement literally just hours after he was born and I had to live blog right after I came home sleepless after his birth).

So I am ready to cover it all non-stop here on FujiRumors.

* NOTE: if on Feb.20 you decide to pre-order the X100VI using our affiliate links, FujiRumors will invest the earnings in diapers :)

Big 2024 Start Confirmed

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