According to the Japanese site nokishita, here is the full list of Fujifilm products to be announced “this week”. And thanks to FujiRumors sources, we know it will be April 19 :) Always according to FR-sources, Fujifilm will also announce the Instax Square camera.
Of course there will be a nice live blogging session here on FujiRumors. Everything you need to know about the new gear, you will find it here first ;)
I recently went on a trip to Canada and really got to put the Fujifilm X-T2 through it’s paces. I’ve played around with the video before but I feel like this trip was my first, real, intensive test of my X-T2’s video capabilities. Prior to this, I had a Panasonic GH3 (that I used exclusively for video work. I used an X-T1 for my photography), which I had sold when I got the X-T2. The following is a collection of thoughts I had regarding using the Fujifilm X-T2 for video work:
Note that I did not record to an external recorder. So everything was shot in 4K 23.97 4:2:0 with the Fujifilm XF18-55 f2.8-4 IS and XF50-140 f2.8 WR IS lenses.
In my opinion, the video files look fantastic. Especially when viewing in 4k on a 4k display.
Nearly every gripe I had while shooting this video was fixed with the new firmware 2.0, such as:
The ability to use single point AF while recording
The ability to change ISO while recording
Using the EVF/LCD while recording
I thought I wanted a firmware that added F-LOG internal recording. Now I don’t care as much. Sometimes it’s nice not worrying about having to grade too much. And if you record in a log profile in 4:2:0 I feel like you wouldn’t be able to push the image too much before you started getting banding and the image falls apart. Of course if they added it it’d be a nice option to have, but I don’t think it’s really necessary. But I’m no colorist, so maybe someone can correct me here.
Speaking of color, I barely touched the color of any of these files. The most I did was adjusting the color temperature in a few shots and add a bit of sharpening. That’s about it. I used the PRO Neg Standard color profile/film simulation.
Most of these shots were handheld. I did add warp stabilizer to a few shots in post.
The X-T2 weather sealing, in my experience, is pretty rugged. Exhibit A (disclaimer – your individual mileage may vary!):
I tried using one Tiffen 77mm variable ND filter for both the XF18-55 and XF50-140 lenses, using adapter rings to fit the filter on the lenses. This was a mistake that led to missed shots. I’d try to swap lenses to get a certain shot, but then I’d have to unscrew the filter and put it on the other lens. By the time I had it ready, usually the opportunity was missed. I ended up buying another variable ND from The Camera Store in Calgary.
I would buy a Fuji XF18-55 f4 WR IS if they made it. The 16-55 2.8 WR looks great, but the IS is very nice to have when I don’t have a shoulder rig, which is most of the time. I take too many photos to usually ever want to use a shoulder rig. I generally tend to find it too cumbersome for me. I would even accept a larger/heavier lens if they could make a XF 16-55 f2.8 WR IS. Basically, I want the best of the XF18-55 and XF16-55 and turn it into one super lens. Is that too much to ask, Fuji?!
I’m actually not sure where the internal mic is on the X-T2. But it feels like I cover it up with my hands whenever I’m recording, as almost all my audio sounds muffled. Or the X-T2 internal mics are just that garbage. That’s also a possibility.
I wish the mic jack had it’s own, independent cover. I hated exposing all those plugs to the elements when all I wanted to do was plug in my Rode Videomic Pro. This led me to not use it very often. It kind of defeats the purpose of weather sealing in that regard.
Be wary of your command dial. I shot all my video in 4k 23.97 and used a shutter speed of 1/50. But sometimes I’d inadvertently hit my command dial, shifting my shutter speed a third of a stop.
The crop when shooting 4k was both a blessing and a curse. It was nice having a little extra crop when I was trying to record something far away. But it sucked trying to get a wide shot and not getting everything fit into the frame. Not a dealbreaker, but worth noting.
I hate the fly by wire system of the Fuji lenses. It makes pulling focus/rack focus nearly impossible. Even the fly by wire focusing on my Panasonic 12-35 f2.8 seemed more bearable than this. I’ve heard the Fuji 23mm 1.4 and 16mm 1.4 both have pretty cool manual focus rings with hard stops (I don’t own these lenses, so I don’t know how well they work). That would be amazing if they could somehow incorporate it into all of their lenses. I know that likely won’t happen though.
Fuji shooters tend to naturally gravitate towards each other. A random guy walked up to me while in Capilano Suspension Bridge Park and asked if I was using a Fuji. Turns out he also had an X-T2 and we ended up talking shop for a few minutes. This would never happen when I had my Canon or even my Panasonic. Thinking back on it, I wish I got his name, seemed like a cool dude.
If anyone is wondering, the other cameras I used for this are the GoPro Hero 5 Black and DJI Mavic Pro. But probably 95% of the footage comes from my Fuji.
If you have any questions, feel free to shoot me a message! And if you’d like to check out my other work, you can visit me at www.albenosaki.com or @alben.osaki on Instagram!
Before we start, I will make clear that I’m not an expert in designing and developing cameras. So I don’t know if the solution recommended by FR-reader CUCKOO is realistic. I’ll just share it here so that we can think about it.
Also, remember that OIS/IBIS compensates only for the shakiness of your camera, but not for the “shakiness” of the world outside. The best OIS and IBIS on earth can not freeze the movement of people and animals around you or of branches and flowers dancing in the wind.
With that said, OIS/IBIS is still very handy feature, and I consider it a pity, that Fujifilm did not implement OIS in the XF 16-55mm F2.8 and the XF 90mm F2. If these two lenses would have OIS, I think the Fujifilm X system would not need IBIS, unless…
you shoot with adapted (and slower) glass
you shoot video
A Possible Solution for IBIS on X-cameras?
Did you know that there is already this Fujifilm camera with IBIS? Sure, the XP120 is not an X-series camera, but it’s interesting to know that other digital Fujifilm cameras already have optical sensor shift technology.
Now, Fujifilm said it clearly: X-mount is not compatible with IBIS, because IBIS moves the sensor, which means the amount of light at the corners is reduced when the sensor is shifted. You’ll basically get more vignetting that Fujifilm could correct digitally, but they do not want to do it because “we don’t want to compromise our image quality.”
Ok… so Fujifilm does not want to digitally correct vignetting created by IBIS. But what about the solution proposed by FR-reader CUCKOO in the comments to this post (especially thinking at video with X-gear)? I quote:
“[For video] Fujifilm must swallow their pride and construct a stabiliser solution. If there’s a will there’s a way. For stills I agree with them 100%. For video I disagree 100%.
I think most (all?) videographers today agree that a stabiliser is quite essential to shoot video in many cases, especially if you’re doing it all by yourself, like many artists, YouTubers, one man bands and small production teams are doing it.
The most obvious way to implement a stabiliser would be to crop the readout area a little bit when IBIS is turned on. Enough crop for the stabiliser to work within the image circle. It shouldn’t be too much crop needed actually. This would be invaluable to a lot of video shooters. Turn off the IBIS to have full sensor again.
I recently got a Panasonic GH5 out of necessity. Its yucky colours leaves a lot to be desired. IBIS and no recording time limit however is more important. Colours can be improved a lot afterwards.. Shaky footage is more painful to improve in post.. and it cannot improved as well.. love-hate relationship with ge GH5.
To me, this sounds like a relative simple workaround. But as said, I am no expert, and FR-reader CUCKOO and myself might miss something.
Feel free to drop your considerations in the comments.
Fujifilm is working on the ultimate X-series camera
It will indeed be Fujifilm’s most expensive camera in the APS-C line-up
X-Trans sensor
It will be Fujifilm’s best APS-C camera for video work
The camera is still under development, so the final price has not yet been set
It will be based on the X-T design
But here is the thing:
The very first rumor I got (and shared) about the “Ultimate X” camera came from a new source here. And after confirmations from trusted source, we can say it was very accurate and gave us many correct hints, except one: the price.
The new source said it would cost $5,000, but the trusted source today said, that the current estimated price for the “Ultimate X” is between $2,000 and $3,000 (depending on which features Fujifilm decides to implement or not).
Do you know what this means?
Since….
Fujifilm displays our polls to the press – read here
Your feedback can, in some cases, influence decisions of the managment regarding future products, such as the monochrome X-Pro – read here
Fujifilm took note of our big request for the X-E3 and said after our pressure that they “are aware of the many X-E3 requests” – read here
Top Fujifilm Managers read and “love” FujiRumors – read here
and since…
we are in an early development stage of the Ultimate X
… we all should do our homework now, and let Fujifilm know, how we would like the Ultimate X to be.
This is why I will launch a poll, which I will keep quite general for now. I will only ask you if you would like Fujifilm to put simply everything they can into the camera and charge us $3,000 for it, or maybe take out a some features and charge $2,000 for it.
And of course, feel free to elaborate in the comments, which specs exactly this camera should have for the price you would pay.
Needless to say, take such long term rumors always with a grain of salt and stay tuned for the latest updates with FujiRumors on Facebook, RSS-feedandTwitter
Fuji X Forum, Facebook, RSS-feed and Twitter
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