There Will NEVER be a Fujifilm X-T40, because it Will be Called Fujifilm X-T50 ;)

Most people and all websites are calling the successor to the Fujifilm X-T30II the “Fujifilm X-T40“.

However, according to our sources, there will be no Fujifilm X-T40, because the X-T30II successor will be called Fujifilm X-T50.

That makes sense to me, because it belongs to the 5th generation Fujifilm cameras (with 5th generation processor, AF goodness etc).

And yes, I know. The X-H2, X-H2S and X-S20 are also part of the 5th generation Fujifilm lineup, and yet they don’t feature the numeral “5” in their names. However, transitioning directly from X-H1/X-S10 to X-H5/X-S50 would likely have been too big of jump. In this case, it makes sense to maintain the “2” designation, indicating the second generation of this series.

So, from now, shall we call it the Fujifilm X-T50.

The Fujifilm X-T50 will be the next APS-C camera that Fujifilm will launch.

5th Generation X Gear

5th Generation GFX Gear

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Fuji Guy Billy: “I Can See the Fujifilm X-Pro Moving into 5th Gen, but it Needs Something Special”, Talking X100VI, X-T40, Future Lenses & More

Vistek just hosted a Fujifilm X Summit After Show with Fuji Guy Billy.

They talk of course mainly about the Fujifilm X100VI, but also about other stuff, such as which lenses Fuji Guy Billy thinks Fujifilm should do in future, he talks a bit about the Fujinon XF16-50mmF2.8-4.8 (which thanks to our sources we have leaked here) and also talked about what he thinks about an eventual Fujifilm X-T30II successor (which we started leaking here) and the long awaited Fujifilm X-Pro4 (which we started leaking here).

Above you can see the whole 55 minutes video and below you get a summary:

** CLICK HERE to Read the Rest of the Article **

Fujifilm Firmware Updates for Several Cameras (X-T5 included), XF16-55, FT-XH and Promises More Firmware Love to Come in 2024

Fujifilm has released firmware updates for Fujifilm X-T5, X-T4, X-T3, X-H2, X-H2S, X-S20, X-S10 and XF16-55mmF2.8 as well as the Fujifilm FT-XH File transmitter grip.

It’s mainly (but not only) a video centric update and more lenses will get the same update in February (XF16-80mmF4 and XF18-120mmF4).

Moreover, in their recent official X Summit announcement, Fujifilm said they are “currently considering further enhancements“, which I hope will translate also on firmware love for those, who mainly use Fujifilm cameras for stills.

Firmware Details & Download Links

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Fujifilm X Summit Officially Announced for February 20

Fujifilm has officially announced the Fujifilm X Summit for February 20 at 5:30AM (GMT).

This is old news for FujiRumors readers, as thanks to our sources we gave you the date already last year (from yet another beautiful spot in the Dolomites btw).

In the video Fujifilm says this:

  • INTRO
    since GFX100 II was launched they see many professionals using this camera for stills and video
  • Fujifilm will continue to develop attractive cameras and lenses to help creators to express their vision
  • 90th Fujifilm anniversary
  • Fujifilm announces partnership with World Press Photo Foundation: workshops, seminars and exhibitions planed
  • FIRMWARE UPDATES:
  • smooth aperture operation during zooming, optimised for video shooting
    – 1 lens (XF16-55mmF2.8) and 7 cameras (X-H2, X-H2S, X-T5, X-T4, X-T3, X-S20, X-S10)
    – 2 lenses to get the update in firmware (XF16-80mm, XF18-120mm)
    peripheral luminance flickering and exposure fluctuation are suppressed
  • improved function of FT-XH file transmitter grip (shows 4 different split screens taken by 4 different cameras simultaneously on smartphone or tablet) and you can select clean image without any other information on display (already available in GFX100II and now also on X-H2 and X-H2S).
  • X-H2 and X-H2S can sync with ATOMOS AirGlue Accessory “UltraSync Blue“. Sync timecode up to maximum 6 different X-H2 and X-H2S cameras
  • Fujifilm is currently considering further enhancements
  • GFX Challenge Grand Program 2023 update
  • 15 winners have been selected
  • X SUMMIT
  • First X Summit of 2024 will be in Toyko on February 20
  • Fujifilm will participate to CP+

We asked you what’s on top of your wishlist for February 20 and you answered here.

The X Summit will be live streamed here on FujiRumors, where you’ll also get the live summary of the event plus a non stop live blog.

Just follow FujiRumors, and you won’t miss anything.

Cosina Voigtlander COLOR-SKOPAR 18mm F2.8 Aspherical Lens Announced – First Look and Samples

Cosina has just announced the Voigtlander COLOR-SKOPAR 18mm F2.8 Aspherical lens, which will be released in February exclusively for Fujifilm X mount. It comes with electronic contacts (but no AF). Full product page below.

Definitely in line in terms of looks and feel with the lovely Voigtländer ULTRON 27mm F2.

Usually the first to get new Voigtländer lenses for shipping is Voigtlander USA Distributor CameraQuest, which should list this lens for sale soon at their Amazon Storefront page.

There is already a first look with sample images available at fujifanboys here.

Full Product Page + Compatible Fujifilm Cameras

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The Rumors for 2024 (Ranked by Reliability) and the Ultimate 2023 Rumor Check

The Rumors of Past & Future

It’s time for our yearly rumor check, so that you guys can decide if FujiRumors was worth your time or not.

We will also give you an overview over all remaining rumors for 2024 ranked by reliability.

  • 75 rumors shared in 2023
  • 12 rumors still to be verified
  • 60 correct rumors out of 63 verifiable rumors
  • 2 wrong rumors (sort of… not really… but yeah…)
    NOTE: one rumor instantly corrected (just misunderstood the source)
    NOTE: another one is 99% correct, just a small detail is not accurate (how much faster the GFX100II sensor is compared to the GFX100 sensor). Still today this is not clear, but I am brutal to myself and move the entire stuff into the wrong section
  • 1 rumor out of ranking (for reasons I will explain below)
  • 96.7% correct rumors

Rumor Overview with Rating

** CLICK HERE to Read the Rest of the Article **

Fujifilm CEO Says Cameras Sell Well (if they Are Made), Increased R&D for More New Products and BLACK FRIDAY Sales Opportunity

Recently we shared the second quarter financial results of Fujifilm (in Japan the fiscal year starts in April and ends in March)

The numbers were actually good:

Imaging achievements. The sales of instant photo systems and digital cameras were strong, with revenue up 19.5% YoY to JPY219.2 billion and operating income up 85.5% to JPY49.4 billion.

But despite that, the growth was not as strong as Fujifilm hoped for.

Hence, in a Q&A session discussing the financial results, the Fujifilm CEO (Mr. Goto) and the Vice President (Mr. Higuchi) were asked about the reasons for that.

Shibano [Q]: I would like to ask President Goto about Imaging. Since President Goto took office, I believe you have often expressed your strong belief in the potentials of Imaging. In fact, the strong performance of H1 of the fiscal year indicates this, but the operating income for H1 was JPY49.4 billion, and even though Q4 is usually weak, there is Q3, so H2 of the fiscal year, which includes the sales season, is expected to see a 387% decrease, or even a 17% decrease YoY, which is a little questionable. I would like to ask again if there is any specific reason for such a decline, worse than the previous year, in H2. This is the point what I would like to reconfirm.

Higuchi [A]: Regarding H2 of last year, we closed our U.S. plant in H2 of last year, and there was a one-time profit. One reason is that we don’t have it in this term. Another is that we have increased development costs for new products in H2 in order to continue to introduce new products without interruption, and we have also increased marketing expenses and marketing investment.

Goto [A]: I will continue with my answer. Now, we are looking at Black Friday toward December, the biggest sales season in the U.S. at the end of November, and the purchasing situation, or rather the movement, is on par with the previous year, but the voice from the person in charge is that inflation in the U.S. is high. We have heard that it is not clear whether it will be as good as the previous year. However, in fact, given the tight demand for INSTAX film and the fact that cameras are selling well if they are made, I believe that there is room for a bounce upward, although we are taking a firm stance now. Is that all right?

Good thing first: one reason why the profit was not as strong as hoped, was that Fujifilm has allocated lots of resources to increase development and marketing expenses in order to assure “to continue to introduce new products without interruption“.

Of course the managers talk about R&D money for Instax as well as digital cameras. But it’s great to hear that overall they keep investing more money to push development.

Also worth to note is the comment of Fujifilm CEO Mr. Goto, who says that “cameras are selling well if they are made“. And this is probably Fujifilm’s biggest issue so far, with lots of cameras out of stock and in many cases even a complete suspension of camera sales in certain countries until who knows when.

The CEO says the hope is to “bounce back” thanks to Black Friday sales, although inflation is still high and it is not sure if the holiday season will run as good as last year.

And in this regard, here are the current deals you find on X/GFX gear that should help Fujifilm to show up with better figures by the end of the fiscal year.

GFX Gear

X Cameras

X Lenses

Fujifilm Q&A here

Fujifilm BLACK FRIDAY Starts NOW with Massive Rebates on X and GFX Cameras and Lenses

Before we start with the black Friday Fujifilm deals, maybe some of you will remember Michal Krause.

He is the fellow FR-reader who wrote one of the most successful and appreciated guest posts here on FujiRumors (with LOTS of great images!)

Well, Michal has launched the English version of his book: Capture One Effectively – The Complete Guide to Capture One Pro 23.

You can read more details about the ebook at this page here.

Black Friday

Fujifilm has currently a huge black Friday sale running in USA.

You can check out the full list of deals at B&H here.

The deals include rebates on the X-H2 and X-H2S and lots of lenses.

Probably on their lowest price ever the XF50mmF1.0, the XF150-600mm, the XF200mmF2 as well as other lenses.

X Cameras

BONUS OFFER: Purchase a qualifying X Series body (X-H2, X-H2S, X-S10) or kit product along with a LEXAR 2000X 256GB SD Card and receive $100 off the combined purchase price!

X Lenses

GFX Gear

Fujifilm Manager: The End of Entry Level (X-E line?), X100V Successor, APS-C and GFX Full Frame Alternative, Market Share and More

image courtesy: Phototrend
image courtesy: Phototrend

The French website Phototrend had the opportunity to interview Franck Bernard, Director of the imaging division at Fujifilm France. You can read the full interview here and the summary below.

  • Fujifilm GFX100II and the new GF lenses were well received
  • Fujifilm’s strategy is to grip full frame between their APS-C and Medium Format bodies
  • When asked if X-H2S is popular among sports photographers, the manager said that the road is long. It’s not only a question of having the best product, but also of having the entire ecosystem
  • Overall market share in France? As far as hybrid cameras goes (full frame excluded), Fujifilm is market leader with 26% over the last 12 months
  • X-T5 is the best seller followed by X-T30II and X-S20/X-S10
  • the photo market is sustainable and will always remain so
  • smartphones accelerate the demand for cameras because at some point people will want to use a real camera for better quality
  • it’s too early to talk about an X100V successor
  • It has now been 3 years since the X100V was released and Fujifilm does not have a fixed renewal cycle forcing them to change bodies every three years
  • the demand for X100V is still high
  • “If we have decided to stop entry-level products such as X-T200 or X-E4, it is because it is not promising as a market“
  • but Fujifilm wants to keep more affordable models in the lineup (see X-T30)
  • third party lenses can have negative effect on Fujinon lens sales, but Fujifilm thinks they have the quality to compete with Sigma, Tamron and Co
  • Fujifilm is neutral in regards to third party lenses. They don’t oppose nor push them and they respect them

I’d like to make some considerations.

Fujifilm X-E Line

The French manager hinted that they dropped the X-E line, but that pretty much does not fit with the hints recently a Japanese Fujifilm manager gave us here. And also Fuji Guy Billy mentioned here the X-E line as a line that would continue (unlike X-T***, X-A* lines, which btw were just Fujifilm branded Xacti cameras since a long time anyway, as we reported here).

Fujifilm X100V successor

No, it’s not too early to talk about it.

Third party Lenses

The French Fujifilm manager said they are neutral towards third party lenses. Although I remember Fujifilm managers inviting Sigma managers and talking about Sigma lenses for example here. So this gives me the impression Fujifilm is quite positive overall towards third party lenses.

The French manager said they think they have the quality to compete with third party lenses. This depends. The newest third party lenses from Viltrox & Co are quite phenomenal for the price. Maybe here and there they might not match the quality of the top of the line most modern Fujinon XF lenses, but there are quality options also from third parties.

The real and most important factors, for me, to use as much as possible native Fujinon lenses are two:

  • lots of third party lenses do not have an aperture ring
  • color consistency among Fujinon glass. And since a Film Simulation are a big deal for me, I like Velvia & Co to look consistent across the various lenses I use. There are for example third party lenses, like my manual focus Samyang 12mmF2, that are very lovely, but the colors they give me are not the ones I consistently get with my Fujinon lenses.

These are for me the two main reasons why I mostly stick with Fujinon XF and GF glass, although I own third party lenses for both systems, too.

My Personal Gear