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:

How I Learned To LOVE The Fujifilm X-Trans Sensor and Get the Most Out of It… and I Can’t Believe it’s Not Film [ X-Trans Roundup ]

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X-Trans Roundup

In our photographic journey, we start, we struggle, we learn, we advance, we re-consider, we get frustrated when things don’t work out and excited when we make a leap forward.

And yes, for us Fujifilm shooters, X-Trans is one of those things we had to learn to handle in our photographic journey.

And since we know that X-Trans is here to stay (the Fujifilm X-H2 will feature an X-Trans sensor – or at least one of the two X-H2’s coming), we better learn to make the most out of its strengths and be aware of possible limitations and how to work around those.

Now, you know what I think about the X-Trans sensor. If not, check out:

So yes, I love it! I love the fact that Fujifilm will keep the X-Trans sensor in their APS-C cameras. And judging from this survey, the vast majority of you guys is happy about this, too.

One of the X shooters happy with the X-Trans sensor is Edward Thomas, who, in the video linked below, explains how he learned to love the Fujifilm X-Trans sensor and what he likes about it. The key points of his video and the video itself can be found down below.

I will also share two additional videos, one about how to make the most out X-Trans files and another one with a Fujifilm film simulation recipe.

Last is a short video of me editing a heavily underexposed image taken with my X-E3 of my wife during our honeymoon in Andalusia (here is Cordoba), while were enjoying the sunset from the wonderful town of Ronda. It’s one of those pictures that should not be possible according to some, as it is only APS-C ;).

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

DxO PhotoLab 5 and FilmPack 6 Released with Support for Fujifilm X-Trans Sensor Cameras

DxO has just announced Beta support for Fujifilm cameras sporting an X-Trans sensor with the new DxO PhotoLab 5 and DxO FilmPack 6 (launch discount available).

Down below you’ll find the official press releases.

The supported Fujifilm X-Trans cameras so far are:

All DxO Software

Press Releases for DxO PhotoLab 5 and DxO FilmPack 6

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

LOVING X-TRANS: Landslide Victory for Fujifilm X-H2 with X-Trans V vs Bayer in Survey

Recently we reported that the Fujifilm X-E4 will be the last X series camera featuring an X-Trans IV sensor, and that the next camera to come will be the Fujifilm X-H2 in 2022.

However, at this point in time we can’t say if the Fujifilm X-H2 will feature an X-Trans sensor or an Bayer sensor.

To be honest, I have received an anonymous tip about it (thanks a lot!!!), but as usual here on FujiRumors we try to give it a quick double check first before sharing.

Until then, here are a few thoughts.

Personally I love the X-Trans sensor for its better performance at high ISO (better looking grain, less color noise), the sharpness boost it delivers and more.

But I am also not a blind fanboy and I am well aware that also the Bayer sensor has its significant strengths, such as 20 to 30%a lower power consumption which leads to less heat generation, meaning you can push the camera more in terms of recording times for example. Also with Bayer sensors, stuff like digital image stabilization and pixel shift is easier to achieve. And last but not least, Bayer is more affordable!

I have elaborated in depth the Pros and Cons of Bayer and X-Trans in this article.

So, while I am in the group of people, who hopes the Fujifilm X-H2 will get an X-Trans sensor, I would totally understand if Fujifilm would go Bayer instead.

The thing is this: reading the comments, I always thought I am in the minority when it comes to the X-Trans vs Bayer debate, meaning I read more comments of people who want to get rid of X-Trans than comments of those, who want to keep it.

But a recently survey I’ve launched here, shows it is completely the opposite.

Of the Fujifilm X shooters reading FujiRumors

  • 51% want a Fujifilm X-H2 with X-Trans
  • 24% want a Fujifilm X-H2 with Bayer

The rest of the readers are either fine with both options (18%) or have not yet formed a final opinion on this (7%).

That’s a landslide victory for Fujifilm X-Trans!

And while I am with you guys on this one, if Fujifilm decided to go Bayer, it would probably not be the biggest of all drama, if they were able to take the most out of the advantages it offers, not in terms of image quality, were X-Trans is superior, but in terms of implementing new features such as digital image stabilization, pixel shift and more.

Finding out which sensor it will be, is my top priority (thanks again for the anonymous tip at this point).

The answer, my friends, will be shared hopefully sooner rather than later here on FujiRumors.

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Fujifilm X-H2 with X-Trans or Not X-Trans, That is The Question! VOTE NOW if You Prefer X-Trans or Bayer for X-H2

Maybe it’s my bad English, maybe it’s the hurry with which some readers read the articles, maybe it’s a bit of both, but somehow over the last few days the idea spread over the web, that FujiRumors claimed that the Fujifilm X-E4 would be the last camera to feature an X-Trans sensor.

Well, that’s not really what I said (or wanted to say).

What I said is that the Fujifilm X-E4 will be the last X-Trans IV camera and that Fujifilm’s next camera, the Fujifilm X-H2, will have a new sensor. No more and no less than that.

Will it still be X-Trans? Or Bayer? Or anything else?

Well guys, keep trust that FujiRumors will let you know the answer at some point ;).

But until then, I’d love to hear from you guys, which one you consider better overall, Bayer or X-Trans.

If you need something to make up your mind about this very Fuji-centric dilemma, feel free to check out the article I wrote in 2018, where I explain the Pros and Cons of sticking with X-Trans or switching to Bayer.

Feel free to vote the survey down below.

I hope the Fujifilm X-H2 will have

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