Ok, for now it’s “just” a rumor… but a pretty exciting one ;) .

According to SonyAlphaRumors here, the Sony A7000 (and therefore maybe also the Fuji X-PRO2) could be the first mirrorless cameras of the world featuring a native “on sensor HDR”.

SAR says that “both, stills and video are capable of 15.5 stops of dynamic range!”

15.5 stops!!! That’s more than any Sony Full Frame A7 series camera! In fact, DxO calculates the following DR:

– Sony A7s: 13.2 f-stops
– Sony A7: 14.2 f-stops
– Sony A7r: 14.1 f-stops

– X-Trans 1 (X-Pro1/X-E1)  has about 9.5 f-stops – source
– X-Trans 2 (X-T1, X-E2 & Co) has about 13 f-stops according to measurments of Jordan (Admiringlight) and also imaging-resource, which puts it slightly ahead of the A6000.

If the rumor is right, then this feature would make the new APS-C sensor generation even more advanced than the latest Full Frame sensor of the brand new Sony A7rII.

And I’m curious to see if the special X-Trans CFA will give us even more than the rumored 15.5 f-stops of the A7000.

HOW DOES IT WORK?

According to SAR, a similar technology is already used in the Xperia Z smartphone for video recording. Sony describes it here:

HDR for VIDEO: To achieve true HDR video recording, the advanced Exmor RS camera sensor in Xperia Z changes the exposure every two lines of pixels. This creates a spatially varying exposure (SVE) array image, which is then used to make an image that is perfectly exposed in both dark and light areas. To simplify the concept, for each frame the camera shoots one picture with two different exposure levels at the same time, one light and one dark. Then, an intelligent software algorithm is used to combine (synthesize) the two shots into one picture, pixel by pixel. This allows you to see the details of both the dark and the bright parts of the picture.

And for Stills? Maybe it works as described in this Sony Patent here, that shows a sensor, where every pixel is exposed differently. So, the pixels in a dark area would become “long exposure pixels” and those in bright areas “short exposure pixels”. But the rumor published on SAR does not specify if it works this way.

In the past, Fuji used the EXR sensor (which can be found in the X-S1 and X10) to expand dynamic range. But in the battle between EXR and X-TRANS, Fuji went for the latter one.

Fuji currently offers the efficient DR expansion feature (DR200 = 1 stop underexposure / DR400 = 2 stops underexposure). The extra Dynamic Range is stored into the RAW files and allows you to recover a lot of highlight detail in post.

It’s time to update 2 of the 3 polls launched after my Sony A7000 sensor specs rumor of last week.

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Push the READ MORE button to read why any Sony A7000 sensor rumor is potentially interesting also for Fuji X-shooters

Here are the facts:

– 339 blog posts written (alone) so far in 2015
– 61 of them were rumors
– out of 45 verifiable Rumors, 39 were correct (87% hit rate – which actually would have been even higher, if… well, check out the list below)
– emails? I can’t count them… thousands?

Of course, I dream of a 100% hit rate, but I’m afraid that’s not possible. Over the years, hundreds of fake rumors have been send anonymously via rumor box. And no matter how much I work on it, an extremely small fraction of all the fake rumors will probably always make it on FR.

Moreover, here on FujiRumors I also share rumors about products that are still a long way off and Fuji can drop plans on those products (or change the release date) in any moment. So, a rumor that was actually right at the time of sharing, could become wrong, just because Fuji changed plans.

That’s a bit frustrating, and I sometimes think I should simply stop to post very early rumors. But overall I’m very satisfied with 87% correct rumors shared. Sure, the high hit rate won’t stop the permanent shitstorm on FR, but for sure not even a 100% hit rate would. Anyway, I got used to it after all these years ;).

Now, a part from the annoying bug fixes and occasional crashes of the site, the work on FR was mostly exciting (as the launch of the New Fuji X Forum and of the Fair Trade Fuji X Shirts – with over $2600 raised for charity) and I really had fun to dig up rumors about the X-series. I’ll try to keep it up and put my best into the rumors.

So let’s sum up all the rumors shared on FR so far this year (and also those shared in 2014 that still have to be verified), and categorize them according to their reliability.

Have a GREAT day,
Fuji X Forum, Facebook, Google+, RSS-feed and Twitter

HIGH RATING

– Fuji X-PRO2 will come only in to 2016 (shared on June 26 by the same source, who on Jan 13 said it will come late 2015)
– Fuji X-PRO2 will be 4K capable
– X-PRO2 will have new processor EXR III (shared on March 10)
– Fujifilm X-PRO2 will have 1/8000 mechanical shutter speed
– X-PRO2 with APS-C sensor
– No more X-PRO1S, all R&D placed into the X-PRO2
– The Fuji X-PRO2 will be weather sealed
– Fujifilm will launch the Fujifilm X70, little sister of the X100 series… with a NEW LENS!

MEDIUM RATING

– Fujifilm is forging a MEDIUM FORMAT CAMERA
– Fujifilm plans a Super Fast F/1.0 lens around 30mm
– Fujifilm plans a super fast XF 33mmF1.0 lens
– X-PRO2 Sync Speed faster than 1/180th
– X-PRO2 with 24MP
– Fuji Flash made with METZ, ABC grouping, off shoe TTL (I’ve got feedback that the Metz insolvency force Fuji to change plans and to look for other partners).
– Fujifilm X-T2 coming pretty soon after the Fujfilm X-PRO2
– Fujifilm X-E2 Firmware Update coming in about 6 months (shared in June 2015)
– Sony A7000 APS-C sensor with BSI and 24 or about 30 MP, 4K, Phase detection pixels covering the whole sensor area

LOW RATING

– Fujifilm X-PRO2 coming “late 2015“ (rumor shared on January 13 2014. Probably right at the time of sharing, but Fuji delayed the release to 2016)
– X-PRO2 version with bigger sensor ( ≈ 1.3x crop), compatible with existing lenses
– Fuji working on bigger sensor camera. Some XF lenses already able to cover bigger sensor
– X-PRO2: available around “this time next year” with more than 16MP (the rumor was shared in late August 2014 by an anonymous source with nick name)
– X-PRO2 priced about 20% to 30% more expensive than the X-T1
– X-PRO2 will feature a dual SD card slot.
– X-PRO2 with tilt screen
– Sigma is looking at the X-system, but they still have to decide which lenses produce and when to launch them (shared 1 DEZ 2014. I nothing comes within fall, I’ll move it into the wrong rumor section).

THE 2015 CHECK

CORRECT RUMORS IN 2015

1. XF 16-55mm f/2.8 WR to be announced on January 6th
2. XF 16-55 will cost about £900/1000 (price £949)
3. X-A2 with 180° tilt screen for selfies
4. Fujifilm X-A2 to be announced January 15th
5. Fujifilm XQ2 coming January 15th
6. Lensbaby lenses for X-Mount coming this Spring – rumor confirmed by lensbaby at the their forum
7. NEW ROADMAP to be released NEXT WEEK :: will include XF 120mmF2.8 1:1 Macro, 35mmF2, 1.4x teleconverter and 100-400
8. eXtended X-deals :: Save up to $200 on X-cameras and XF-lenses until March 28!
9. SUPER-DEAL on the XF 18-135 starting on April 12 (save $300)
10. XF 16mm to be announced this week: It will weigh 375g, have a filter size of 67mm, a Focus range from 0.15m to ∞ , 13 elements 11 groups, 9 (rounded diaphragm opening) 1/3EV (22 steps).
11. eXtended version: Fuji X-deals will run until May 30… save up to $400
12 New Firmware with Improved AutoFocus for X-T1 coming in May (probably 11^th of May –  rumor shared in April)
13 Fuji X-T1 Firmware ver. 4.0 to be announced in May but released in June!
14. A New X-camera will be Announced in May
15.Fujifilm X-T10 to be announced Mid-May
16.Fujifilm X-T10 coming late spring/early summer
17. X-T10 announcement May 18
18. Fujifilm X-T10: Body Price between 700 and 800. Kit with 16-50 or 18-55! No dedicated PASM dial.
19. ** FIRST FUJI X-T10 IMAGE LEAKED ** SEE NOW the Worldwide FIRST IMAGE of the Fujifilm X-T10!
20. X-T10: two small dials under the Drive and Shutter dial: One to enable flash, and one to switch to Full Auto Mode (with scene recognition)
21. Top Trusted Source Says: “Get ready for a NEW LENS on May 18th!!!”
22. XF 90mm: Weight 540g, 13 elements 8 groups with 3 extra low dispersion elements. Minimum focus distance of 0.6m. Size: 75mm x105mm.
23. Fujifilm X-T10 and XF90mm to be announced at 01:00 AM New York Time / 06:00 AM London Time
24. The mysterious new entry-level? A cheaper version of the Fujfilm X-T1 coming this year (shared 12 January 2015)
25. Downspec’d Fujifilm X-T1 to be called… Fujifilm X-T10
26. FUJIFILM X-T10 – No weather sealing & smaller EVF
27. Fujifilm X-T10: Some Design Changes over X-T1, SLR shape, Black and Silver version for the same price!
28. Fujifilm X-T10 will have great AF-performance [admin: the great AF performance should be implemented to the X-T1 via firmware udpate] 29. X-T10 no ISO dial, EVF size about the same of X-E2, build in flash, kit lens will be an XC lens
30. Fujifilm X-T10 will feature a Function Dial (CH, CL, BKT…) instead of ISO-Dial
31. XF 90mm will come in July [Correct, expected availablilty in July]
32. Fujifilm X-T1 Better AutoFocus coming in May with Firmware Ver. 4.0
33. X-T10 kit will cost CHF 849. Other EU-countries (not all) will sell body for €699 and kit for €799. [Note: The day before I said the Fuji X-T10 kit will cost €849, but it was an error of mine, because it said CHF and not €. So I corrected it the day after] 34. UK X-T10 & 90mm price: X-T10 body £499 / 16-50 kit £599 / 18-55 kit £799 / 90mm £699
36. Fuji X Flash delayed because of Metz insolvency (confirmed by insiders here)
37. The X-T1 Firmware 4.0 coming on June 25 (read the comments here and you will have it confirmed. The firmware has been delayed later on)
38. X-T1 Firmware 4.0 delayed from June 25 to June 29 [Fujifilm confirmed here release for June 29] 39. New X-deals Coming May 24: $150 price drop on X-T1 and 35mmF1.4 and more.

WRONG RUMORS IN 2015

1. Fujifilm should present a flash system for X series at the CES
2. Lightroom with X-T1 tethered support coming in February (shared 8 January 2015) – NOTE: a plug-in for Adobe tethered shooting was announced in February, but since I said a dedicated Adobe solution will be “released” in February, I consider this a wrong rumor.
3. Next Version of Lightroom will support X-T1 tethered shooting (shared 7 January 2015) – NOTE: a plug-in of Fujifilm was offcially announced on February 26th.
4. X-T1 Firmware 4.0 postponed form June 18 to June 22 (shared June 3) – [NOTE: this rumor has been confirmed on June 7th by a Fujifilm Manager here. But, at the end, what the Manager confirmed is also wrong, since the a trusted sources corrected the manager and said the date is the 25, then 29]
5. Fuji X-T1 Super-Firmware Ver. 4.0 to download on June 18th
6. Fujifilm Flash will come in spring 2015, guide no. 50 and wireless control (I’ve got feedback that the Metz insolvency forced Fuji to change plans, dealy the flash and to look for other partners).

Last week, SonyAlphaRumors reported that Sony decided to push back again the release of the Sony A7000 (probably to next fall).

So who cares?

Well, there are some speculations (plausible speculations, but no facts, not even rumors), that the Fuji X-PRO2 will sport the same new sensor that Sony is developing for the Sony A7000.

We also know that Fuji (and other companies) can use the latest generation of Sony sensors only 6 months after Sony itself implemented it in one of their cameras. Therefore, every delay of the Sony A7000 could mean that also Fuji has to push back the release of the X-PRO2.

Some fellow X-shooters, like FXF member Mark In Dallas here, think that Sony could have appositely postponed the A7000 to fall 2015, so that Fuji is forced to launch the X-PRO2 only after the important Christmas Holiday season. What do you think about it? Say it here.

In the last days I’ve tried to dig up something more. So I’ve contacted those sources that I think can have an insight into different brands. Well, one source, who was right in the past, answered and said:

A7000 & X-PRO2

1) Until now, it can NOT confirm that the X-PRO2 delay is related to the Sony A7000 delay.
2) The source did NOT confirm that the A7000 sensor will be the same of the X-PRO2.
3) It confirmed that Sony originally planed to launch the A7000 in May 2015 (with a newly designed 24MP sensor).

THE RUMORED SENSOR SPECS

The source also passed me these Sony A7000 sensor specs:

1) BSI (back-illuminated) Sensor
2) 4K capable
3) Sony is now investigating two possibilities: one with 24MP and one around 30 MP
4) Hybrid AF (PDAF + CDAF) covering the whole sensor area
5) XAVC-S recording format and 60p

FIRST THOUGHTS

ad 1) BSI? Yes please!
ad 2) 4K? I personally don’t need it, but it could be a deal breaker for some, so it’s better the X-PRO2 is 4K capable.
ad 3) from 24MP or up to about 30MP? Maybe Sony is thinking to put more MP into the A7000 to challenge the 28 MP of the Samsung NX1. NOTE: It’s rumored that Fuji will keep the X-TRANS CFA
ad 4) Phase Detection Pixels all over the sensor is a must have.
ad 5) XAVC-S recording format is Sony proprietary, so probably nothing for X-PRO2

And here are 3 quick polls… feel free to vote

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We are all waiting for the Fujifilm X-PRO2, but it seems we will still have to wait longer than expected.

In fact, according to our trusted Japanese source, the Fujifilm X-PRO2 will come only in 2016 (probably early 2016… but we are still investigating).

The reason for the delay? I don’t have enough hints to assume it’s due the organic sensor (made by Fuji/Pansonic). Maybe it’s more related to the continuous delay of the Sony A7000 which will sport a newly designed APS-C sensor that could later on be used by Fujifilm for the X-PRO2. But that just my personal speculation… and not only mine, as you can see in the comments of this post!

As you know thanks to SonyAlphaRumors since 2013, once Sony implemented a new sensor in one of their cameras, other companies have to wait at least 6 months before they have the permission to use it in their own cameras.

And the waiting continues…

Do you remember the rumor of September 2013, where I wrote: “Fuji will launch a cheaper and smaller X100S without viewfinder, smaller body and 23mm f/2.8 lens. The name could be X70.” ?

Well, I knew the rumor was right at the time of sharing, but Fujifilm has dropped plans on it later on.. and so I had to live with the usual S*itstorm on FR ;).

But we could have a comback now, at least according to our trusted Japanese source. The source said that this time Fujifilm decided to go ahead an make it. Our source did not specify the specs, but it did say that there will be a New Lens.

Looks like the X100 series is going to get a little sister… and the Ricoh GR a serious competitor!

If the Japanese source is (once again) correct, then it shows how rumors can be right at the time of sharing, then wrong, and then eventually right again, according to the continuously changing plans at the Fuji HQ. This drives me nuts… but that’s my problem ;-) .

That’s it… feel free to tell us your dream lens for this little camera… and there is a first poll about the X70, too.

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