Fujifilm Managers “a Bit Scared” by Stacked Sensor GFX, X100VI Production, Fixed Lens GFX and if Skipping Full Frame was Key for Fuji’s Success

image courtesy: Phototrend

The French website photorend interviewed several Fujifilm managers at CP+:

In short:

  • Phototrend asks: “was skipping full frame the key to Fujifilm’s success“?
  • the managers answer: “I think the current trend has nothing to do with whether or not we avoid full format. The key factor to our success is that we launch attractive products and services that meet the expectations of our customers.”
  • among the younger generations and women, the sales volume of Fujifilm products is increasing. They want to capture images that stand out from those taken with a smartphone
  • The key to our success lies in the attractiveness of our products.
  • China is the engine of Fujifilm’s sales and is at the top of all the countries where we market our products
  • Demand for X100VI continues to grow. Fujifilm is making progress in matching demand
  • a large format version of the X100 would be very different from the X100
  • “even if we had to develop such a product, I don’t know how much bigger or heavier it would be compared to the X100 series.”
  • Fujifilm believes that the cinema market is growing strongly, that’s why they make GFX Eterna. This market is therefore just as important to Fujifilm as photography.
  • GFX Eterna minimal rolling shutter is 50 ms in full format 4K 16:9. NOTE: Fujifilm managers told CineD that readout speed is 15ms. Probably phototrend made an error with the transcription
  • when making MK II lenses like the XF16-55mmF2.8 II, the goal Nr.1 is to improve image quality and resolution, followed by reducing size and weight, and then optiomize autofocus and ergonomics.
  • the goal is to maximize the benefits of the APS-C system with compact optics.
  • Fujifilm does not consider the Fujifilm X-M5 an entry level camera. It is essential for Fujifilm to attract new users.
  • As far as GFX for sports goes, currently Fujifilm is working on increasing bursts rates and optimizing autofocus to make sports photography more accessible to GFX shooters
  • the Fujifilm manager says he would love to see stacked sensor technology arrive to GFX. But he doesn’t know how much it would cost… “it scares me a little“!
  • Fujinon GF/XF 500mmF5.6: sharing the design is a brilliant idea (except for rear optical parts of the lens, where design is different due to different sensor size).
  • For fixed-focal length telephoto lenses, the size is determined by the aperture and focal length, not by the size of the sensor.
  • AI can be used for image quality, autofocus, stabilization, video, automatic white balance, exposure, distortion compensation, subject detection and more
  • For Fujifilm it is important to have direct communication with its customers
  • At the X-Summit in Tokyo, Fujifilm asked participants to vote on lenses Fujifilm should develop. “Direct communication with customers is a fundamental principle for us. We really want to understand what lenses are interesting for photographers“.
  • “Of course, we cannot meet all market demands—we also have to take commercial considerations into account—but we prioritize our customers’ expectations.”

Sigma CEO Dreams of Making Lenses for GFX, but Currently Not Planed (Maybe in Distant Future)

image courtesy: phototrend

Sigma CEO Kazuto Yamaki has expressed his wish to make medium format lenses in the past already.

Now in an interview with the French website phototrend, he reiterated his wish by saying:

  • We don’t have a project that goes in this direction (making GFX glass) at the moment
  • But, to be honest, it’s one of my dreams to make a lens for medium format, because there are so many passionate photographers in this field
  • So it’s in my wish list. But for now, we don’t have a plan for that, maybe in the distant future

Of course, the main focus is on the Sigma BF, but they also discuss the new lenses, including the Sigma 16-300mm f/3.5-6.7, about which the Sigma CEO shares his thoughts:

  • To be completely honest, I’m not a big user of all-in-one versatile zooms. But the demand is huge. If you go to Kyoto, you will see that many people use this type of lens. So we decided to produce it, because our customers were waiting for it.

That’s it as far as the Fujifilm related part goes.

I guess ultimately it is a matter of market share: if the GFX system will grow strong enough (and Fujifilm allows it), Sigma will deliver, just as they did with the X mount system.

Make sure to check out the article at phototrend for the full and very interesting interview.

Fujifilm Managers talk GFX Eterna, New Fujifilm Made Monitor and More: “The GFX Eterna Will Enhance also Other Models”

CineD interviewed top Japanese Fujifilm managers about the upcoming Fujifilm GFX Eterna, which is already listed at BHphoto here.

  • GFX Eterna is Fujifilm’s first dedicated filmmaking camera
  • GFX Eterna coming still this year
  • Price wise, the goal is to make it available not only for rental houses, but that people can actually own it – Price Rumor here
  • supports 4:3 open gate. Resolution better than 4K
  • rolling shutter depends on mode you are filming
  • also on GFX100II depending on what mode you select
  • “we are making sure that the camera has no rolling shutter issue when you are shooting with the camera”
  • 15ms is minimum rolling shutter (4K 16:9)
  • F-Log 2C was developed for the GFX Eterna, but since GFX100II already on the market, they added it there too
  • what is applied to GFX Eterna, will actually enhance also other models
  • Fujifilm developed a monitor that will be included in the package for the GFX Eterna
  • it’s not another brand making the monitor, but it is made by Fujifilm
  • 5 inch monitor with touch screen
  • Fujifilm has received a lot of requests for a viewfinder, so Fujifilm is considering how to respond to that
  • around NAB in April Fujifilm will be disclosing more specs, but probably not yet all about it, but the main specs
  • Fujifilm wants to make sure this camera is well accepted in the market, otherwise there is no second or third camera
  • dual base ISO, ISO800 and ISO3200
  • Johnnie from CineD says that the Fujifilm team is relatively small and the small team is working on multiple projects
  • the Japanese manager confirms, “you are right, we don’t have a big team, but our platform is the same, we have the 5th generation processor and sensor and so it’s quite efficient. Although we have a small team working on different categories and different products, but the team knows what’s going on for the other camera projects and that could be implemented between each other. We are doing our best with our small team“
  • Developing a camera takes about 2 years. Fujifilm tries to adjust to the market needs as much as possible, so if Fujifilm thinks it’s necessary, they would even stop the development of a camera and change to something else. But that does not happen so often
  • Fortunately our digital cameras have been very well accepted, but of course the market will change

You can see the fill video above.