Fujifilm X30… the last of its kind, as reported also by our Japanese source

Fujifilm 1″ sensor

I still get many questions about if Fujifilm will release an X30 successor with 1″ sensor.

Fuji Guy Billy already answered this question in a great TCSTV Fujifilm-centric live stream (as I reported quickly here), but I think it’s better to dedicate it an own article, to make sure nobody misses it (and I don’t get questions anymore via email ;) )

Billy was only active in the comments to the TCSTV live stream, so we can’t read his statements now… but since I was one of those guys commenting on the live stream, I could read his chat.

When somebody in the comments asked about Fujifilm offering a 1″ sensor camera, Fuji Guy Billy answered that “the 1″ market is overcrowded“.

So that does not really give us much space for hope, although an X40 with 1” sensor would have been nice I think, and could have competed with all the Sony RX100’s out there.

The TCSTV Fujifilm live stream is very interesting and includes even topics like the XF33mmF1.0.

Oh, and btw, if you ever wondered how a Fuji Guys reacts, when he discovers FujiRumors is listening, then check out min 13:23 of the video ;)

via Mirrlessrumors via Richard Wong

As you know, back in February our sources expected the X80 to be announced by the end of 2017.

However, I started getting reports of delays, and our sources told us an X80 is no longer scheduled for 2017. Everything has been postponed to 2018 (for now).

So why the delay?

A possible answer comes from Gordon from Cameralabs, one of the most respected and professional reviewers out there, who often test pre-production gear and has some great insights into plans of camera manufacturers.

While talking about the possibility of having an X70 successor (the Fujifilm X80) with X-TransIII sensor and X Processor Pro, he said at dpreview here:

“As a professional journalist of over 25 years I have close access to camera designers and manufacturers and when I asked Fuji’s engineers if we would see X-Trans III in an X70 successor, they told me the sensor and processor are too power-hungry for the smaller battery and form factor of the X70.

My personal take on that then is that it would be possible, but the battery life would be too short to be useful. A shame as I’d have liked an ‘X80’ with X-Trans III.”

So what will Fuji do now?

• Fujifilm might have to think at other solutions such as making changes to the original X70 design to manage heat better and fit in a larger battery. However, that would go against the purpose of the X70 line, to have an ultra-compact APS-C camera.
• Fujifilm could completely drop the camera line, if they realize too much R&D would be required make X-TransIII and X-Processor work on a compact X80, especially considering that the Fujifilm X70, despite being a little great camera, was a failure for Fujifilm and they might no longer be motivated to keep the series alive.

Thanks a lot for the reader, who send me the link to this 1 month old comment… you guys are great… what I miss, you find it for me :) .

Fujifilm X70: BHphoto, AmazonUS, FocusCamera, Adorama

Dear readers, sorry to bother you with it, but I just got a message from an anonymous source. It came to me anonymously via rumor box, so I have no idea, who it is and how to contact it. My only way to contact the source is via FujiRumors. I hope you don’t mind.

To the Source

thanks a lot for sharing the rumor via rumor box a few minutes ago. If possible, I would like to discuss this with your further.

To discuss it further, you could use your private email (which, of course, I would keep 100% confidential). Some sources created a fake email account for this purpose. But also Direct Messages on Twitter and Facebook could be a way to talk to me.

If you decide to use the rumor box, that’s perfectly fine and I’m very grateful, but I won’t be able to interact with you. So just feel free to drop me some information in case you have more details. And to use a nick-name, if you want.

Again, thanks for sharing. I will work on the rumor and share it… and just in case, I’d be happy to talk with you further behind the scenes ;)

Rumor flash:

• I hear (thanks for sharing) that Jinbei also wants to add Fuji support to the TR-Q6. It should happen within the end of 2017 or first half of 2018. It looks like in USA Jinbei is rebranded with the name Orlit. You can check out the Orlit TR-Q6 at Adorama and AmazonUS.
• I hear (thanks for sharing) Hähnel (hahnel.ie) is planing to release their Modus flash also for Fujifilm in 2018.