Fujifilm CEO Says Retro Cameras are Difficult to Mass-Produce, Gives Production Insights and Talks Brand Power

Recently Fujifilm published their (excellent) financial results for the imaging solution.

Now they have also published the Q&A sheet, where the Fujifilm CEO answers to a range of questions, including the production issues with Fujifilm cameras.

In short: there are the usual struggles with semiconductors, but in addition to that, he also explains that mass-producing retro-styled cameras is difficult, because the process of creating a classy design “is close to handmade“. Also, they misjudged the demand for Fujifilm X100VI. They doubled the production capacity, but that’s not enough. They are working to match the huge demand (as we already reported, production increase should be achieved by the end of this summer).

I find the part of the challenges with retro camera production particularly interesting. And I guess also why most brand either do not offer vintage styled cameras at all, or, if they do, they release them in significantly lower numbers compared to their more mainstream PSAM models.

And of course: what takes more time to produce is also more expensive to produce. So, from that point of view, it makes little sense for companies to release retro-styled cameras.

But what I love of Fujifilm is that not only they do offer them, but they offer quite a few of them.

In fact, as we could already see, Fujifilm offers more X series camera lines with Retro dials than with PSAM dials. The only problem is that some of them (X-E and X-Pro) do not get refreshed as often as the PSAM models, which therefore gives the impression that Fujifilm is offering more PSAM styled cameras.

But the Fujifilm X-E line will get a refresh, the Fujifilm X-E5 is coming next year. And you bet, there will also be a Fujifilm X-Pro4 at some point.

With that said, I leave you with the relevant transcript of the Q&A below.

Fuji’s Vintage Cameras

Q&A

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ArtraLab NONIKKOR 50mm f/1.2 Coming Soon

The Hong Kong based company ArtraLab is now teasing the new ArtraLab Nonikkor 50mm f/1.2 over at their Instagram page here.

ArtraLab lenss can be found at Amazon here and at the ArtraLab page here.

Here is a recap of the ArtraLab lenses for X mount:

  • ArtraLab OCULILUMEN 7.5mm f/2
  • ArtraLab OCULILUMEN 10mm f/5.6
  • ArtraLab LATALUMEN 12mm f/2
  • ArtraLab NONIKKOR 24mm f/1.7
  • ArtraLab NONIKKOR 35mm f/1.4
  • ArtraLab NONIKKOR 50mm f/1.2 (coming soon)
  • ArtraLab ARTOLUMEN  60mm f2.8 2X

Tamron Patents Big Zoom Lenses

The following patents for Tamron big zoom lenses have been spotted by asobinet:

  • Tamron 400-1000mm f/10-11.5
  • Tamron 250-700mm f/6.5-13

Asobinet does not specify if these are designed for FF or APS-C (but likely for FF).

The approach is similar to the one of Canon with the Canon RF200-800mm F6.3-9 IS USM: keep costs and size contained thanks to a slower aperture.

As far as long telephoto zooms goes, we Fujifilm shooters are currently covered by the Fujinon XF 150-600mm f/5.6-8 R LM.

Last but not least: if you look at Tamron lenses specifically designed for APS-C, then these are the current patents:

Down below the full details.

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This is the Lens of the Fixed Lens GFX Camera Coming in 2025

Today we have an update to a rumor we shared earlier this year.

So, we told you that Fujifilm is working on a fixed lens GFX camera.

Of course there are lots of questions we are investigating with our sources, and probably one of the biggest question is which lens it will use.

I told you a while back that I got conflicting reports regarding the lens it will use and that I want to give you an answer only once I am sure about it.

Well, guided by our sources (THANKS), we can now say with certainty that it will be a 28mm equivalent lens.

So the lens itself will give you a wider field of view than what you find for example in the lovely Fujifilm X100VI.

As far as the aperture goes, also here I do not have 100% solid confirmation. But I got contacted by a source, who was right in the past (message to source: yes, you used that nickname in the past, so keep using it in future if you decide to contact me again. Thanks!).

According to that source, it will be an f/3.2 lens. I guess the source ment f/3.2 on GFX, hence f/2.5 depth of field equivalent in full frame.

But again, this time I share the aperture without having it multiple confirmed by trusted sources. However, if the source is right, it will be elevated to the “trusted source” status. But until then, please take it with a grain of salt.

I’ll give you updates on the aperture as soon as I have them.

Another message to the source: I hear announcement will be in 2025. I will look again into it. If you want, you can also contact me 100% anonymously via Signal. I will also try to get the other info multiple checked as soon as possible. Thanks so much again for the help.

Fujinon XF Lens Roadmap Updated with Rumored Lenses

It remains a mystery to me why Fujifilm does not really update its lens roadmap anymore.

It’s an error they are doing as in my opinion sharing long terms XF lens plans can only bring them advantages.

But so be it: Fujifilm perists in this error.

So let me jump in for as much as possible and make up for Fujifilm’s errors by updating the lens roadmap here on FujiRumors with the rumored lenses.

Above you can see the two lenses I have added to the list.

Both with come in 2024.

Further specs are not yet known.

Not yet ;).

And if anyone can help to add a few more to the list, feel free to contact FujiRumors :).

Have a wonderful day!