Fujifilm X-Pro3 Stories #4: Love of Photography… Or Fuji’s Answer on Why the Hidden LCD Screen
Fujifilm published the fourth episode of its Fujifilm X-Pro3 stories series, called “Love of Photography“:
- Fujifilm X-Pro3 Stories #1: Fujifilm X-Pro3 Development Story: the Sub LCD
- Fujifilm X-Pro3 Stories #2: Classic Negative Film Simulation – Learning from Film
- Fujifilm X-Pro3 Stories #3: Aged or Damaged
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Fujifilm X-Pro3: BHphoto, AmazonUS, Adorama, FocusCamera
#4 – Love of Photography
It’s a question debated since the X-Pro3 was first announced: why is there no display on the back?
Most negative responses have been on the grounds that there is no reason for the display to be hidden. […]
The X-Photographers we polled on this question during development were certainly skeptical. […]
Naturally, this issue was also much debated within Fujifilm, and we frequently experienced pushback even from within the division. There was nevertheless a degree of confidence among the product planners, partly based on their passion for viewfinders and the views they offer. Where was the excitement we felt before smartphones—actually, make that before digital cameras—when photography was more of a specialized pursuit? […]
In the end, the doubts of the aforesaid X-Photographers were dispelled once they had experienced the final product. […] One photographer even mentioned they no longer felt compelled to check each and every photograph right after shooting.
While comments like these certainly made an impression, I was even more impressed by the joy in their voices. The sentiments they expressed arose not from mere philosophical questions concerning the orthodoxy or correctness of framing photographs in the viewfinder, but a were rooted in the joy they felt in taking photographs.
What I took from this debate was a keen sense that combining a hybrid viewfinder with a hidden monitor might in its way be a test of faith and that what was being tested was one’s passion for photography. This is not something that can be calculated in terms of efficiency, practicality, or convenience, nor does it make sense when considered intellectually. But these considerations are rejected by the heart. I believe that there are those who, while they may value a good success rate or good returns, do not feel these to be goals in and of themselves. Such people may be a minority, but I think it is they who love photographs and photography the most. […]
Cameras can serve as recording devices or as a way of giving our impulses free rein—it doesn’t matter which. “Pure sports” cars are not the only cars in the world. What I can promise you beyond any doubt is that taking pictures with the X-Pro3 is both fun and cool.
Read the full story at fujifilm-x.
- Fujifilm X-Pro3 Black: BHphoto, AmazonUS, Adorama, FocusCamera
- Fujifilm X-Pro3 DURA Black: BHphoto, AmazonUS, Adorama, FocusCamera
- Fujifilm X-Pro3 DURA Silver: BHphoto, AmazonUS, Adorama, FocusCamera
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