Fujifilm X100V Orders Suspended at BHphoto, Blocked in Japan and What it Could Mean for the X100V Successor

X100V – A Success?

We know that the Fujifilm X100V has been an incredible success for Fujifilm.

A success that reflects also in the great feedback received from all over the web, for example:

Yep, you read it right: despite all the fantastic and super-hyped and hyper-popular gear Sony, Canon and Nikon have launched, the video that most people watched in all these years on DPRTV was the X100V review.

And not to talk of the great customer reviews it is getting all over the most popular stores:

But all this popularity and love came at a cost:

And, new today, even B&H Photo has given up at this point and has stopped to take any orders for the Fujifilm X100V.

On their website now, instead of an order button, you get a “Request Assistance” button and when you click on it it says:

Unfortunately, our supplier cannot provide an accurate timeframe so we have suspended backorders for this item.

X100V – A Failure?

Given the massive interest for the X100V and the inability for Fujifilm to deliver, the question that I now have is that this can be seen as a success or a failure for Fujifilm.

I mean, clearly Fujifilm can call it a success, as the demand is high. But they could have made so much more money, if only they were able to deliver the X100V.

And while to a certain degree it’s OK to have delays for a very popular camera, coming to a point where you totally block orders for over half a year with no outlook for the situation to improve, also signals a certain failure on Fujifilm’s side to demonstrate flexibility and creativity in adjusting plans and production properly.

Yes, they did try some curious solution like the use of Blockchain to optimize supply network of digital camera parts, but that was done 1 year ago and the results can’t be seen anywhere, with many Fujifilm cameras still not available or in some cases even discontinued, despite people having those cameras on order, as it was for example the case for the X-E4, a camera MANY of you guys ordered, but did not receive because Fujifilm stopped producing it.

And in fact, back in May, Fujifilm candidly admitted that they are still struggling with parts shortage.

So from this point of view we could see all this also as a failure, as Fujifilm can’t capitalize anywhere near to what they could have, if they’d have been able to organize a realiable parts supply for the X100V.

X100V Successor?

I know some will wonder what this means for the Fujifilm X100V successor (however they are going to call it).

I am working on the rumors and as soon as I have something reliable in my hands, I will let you know.

But imagine you are Fujifilm, you have an insanely popular camera in the house and all you have to do is to manufacture as many of them as possible to make lots of money.

If I was Fujifilm, then I would not be in any hurry to come out with a successor and just use every part I can get to make as many X100V as possible for as long as it will remain this popular. I mean, why keep aside parts for an eventual Fujifilm X200 or X100VI or however they are going to call it, if they can make great money with no need of further R&D investments today with the X100V already?

But again… that’s just my personal perception of this situation.

What matters is what our sources tell us in regards to the Fujifilm X100V successor. And for that, my friends, I invite you to stay tuned on FujiRumors.

The rumors… they will… drop… for sure.

Feeling Lucky?

“I feel lucky and will click the links to see if the X100V is in stock*” :)

*if you clicked, then really I’d love to have your kind of optimism

Do You Want the Fujifilm X-S20 AUTO Subject Detection also to Fujifilm X-T5, X-H2 and X-H2S via Firmware Update? VOTE NOW

The Dolomites with the X-T5

So I was hiking on the gorgeous Dolomites the other day.

If you want to know where exactly (and how it looks like) check out these two videos:

I was with my Fujifilm X-T5 and the XF18-135mm because I wanted to take landscape images, but also images of the marmots who just came out from their hibernation (as you can also see in this video).

The X-S20 Would Have Done Better (than X-T5)

So I set my X-T5 to animal tracking because of the marmots.

But then I notice an alpine chough on a rock nearby ready to jump into flight.

I wanted to track the “take-off”, but first I had to press an FN button, then scroll down to bird detection, press to confirm, go back in live view and then… the bird had already taken off.

My first thought?

“If only I’d have had the smartness of the (more affordable) Fujifilm X-S20, I would not have missed this shot“

Why?

Because the Fujifilm X-S20 recognizes and tracks all sorts of subjects automatically, without any need to press a single button and go into the menu and tell the camera what it has to track.

That’s a level of smartness my X-T5, but not even the X-H2 or X-H2S has.

I can hear some say: “but it’s just a few presses on the buttons to change subject“. And that’s true. In most cases, you will have enough time to change the settings. But in my case, it all happened quickly, faster than I could react.

It Works So Great, but with One Big Missed Opportunity

If you couldn’t care less about this feature, that’s great.

We are all different, and you are probably just seeing and reacting to things faster than I do.

But the point is that Fujifilm has this technology available. It’s there on the X-S20 and it works very well according to those who tested it such as Gordon from Cameralabs, who says:

Auto Subject Detection does a great job to automatically recognize subjects. You don’t need to manually select the type of subject anymore.

Although there is a limitation, which would be completely avoidable if Fujifilm would provide a firmware update for it. In fact, Gordon rightfully remarks*:
*the full review of Gordon can be found down below

Sadly Auto subject detect does not work, unless you are in the full AUTO mode, which is a missed opportunity. Workaround: switch quickly to AUTO if you want the camera to track automatically (but then you’ll also get Auto Dynamic Range, which can work well but sometimes give a too HDR like look.

This is a limitation that Fujifilm could fix with a quick firmware update by not linking auto detection to the full Auto mode.

Also, I do hope that Fujifilm will bring this feature (not the full AUTO feature, but the automatic subject tracking feature) also to the more expensive 5th generation Fujifilm X-T5, X-H2 and X-H2s.

And here on FujiRumors we have already suggested how Fujifilm could implement this feature on current 5th generation Fujifilm cameras.

Your Vote

But hey, maybe it’s only Gordon and me who find this feature nice to have.

Let’s see what you think about it, so feel free to vote the survey down below.

Do you want the Fully Automatic Subject Detection of the X-S20 also on X-T5, X-H2 and X-H2S via Firmware Update

View Results

Loading ... Loading ...

The 5th Generation Fujifilm Gear

My Personal Gear

Fujifilm X RAW Studio and X Acquire Software Updates

Fujifilm has released software updates for Fujifilm X RAW Studio and X Acquire. All details down below.

Fujifilm X RAW Studio:  ver.1.19.0 for Mac /  ver.1.19.0 for Windows
The software update Ver.1.19.0 incorporates the following issue:

  1. Applicable model for the “FUJIFILM X RAW STUDIO” is added.
    Applicable model : FUJIFILM X-S20

Fujifilm X Acquire: ver.1.27.0 for Mac / ver.1.25.0 for Windows
The software update Ver.1.25.0 incorporates the following issue:

  1. The compatibility of tethered shooting with FUJIFILM X-S20 is added.
    The additional function below can be used.
    Backup/restore of camera setting for tethered shooting.
    Tethered shooting via USB or Wi-Fi.
  2. Other minor bugs have been fixed [only for the Windows version]

Latest Gear

The 3 Biggest Fujifilm X Summit Disappointments

First let me say it clearly: the stuff that Fujifilm launched yesterday at the X Summit is actually quite remarkable.

Full Coverage

The Good

I agree with Johnnie from CineD, when he says that the X-S20 is the best camera you can get at this price. Fujifilm did pack lots of stuff in it, and even some stuff we don’t find on higher end Fujifilm cameras.

For example, the X-S20 can shoot 6K/30p 3:2 open gate (X-T5 and X-H2 can not). It has a headphone jack (my X-T5 has not). It has fully automatic subject detection mode (not even the high end X-H2S has that). It can be used as a webcam without the need of the Fujifilm X Webcam software and more.

There is lots to love about the X-S20.

And there is lots to love also about the Fujinon XF8mmF3.5, a wonderful little lens capable of resolving all the 40MP of the X-Trans V HR sensor.

Also the XApp is a nice fresh start for Fujifilm, it comes with some lovely new features like activity and timeline, which are kind of a diary of your photographic activity and I think this App is a great new start and I hope in that it will extended with new features in future (RAW transfer anyone)?

But all this goodness could not help me to get rid of that feeling of disappointment. And here are 3 reasons why.

The 3 Disappointments

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