OPEN LETTER TO FUJIFILM: About the “Kaizen Light”, the X100S and the “David Hobby Firmware” with Classic Chrome

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Dear Fujifilm

Today I write you in the name of (probably) many X-shooters following FujiRumors, and especially those who own an X100S and would like a new firmware update. But first let me say this:

THE KAIZEN HISTORY
(or why we love Fuji)

When it comes to firmware udpates, we X-shooters are probably complaining at a level all other camera brand owners frankly envy us (and I know it from the guys at 43rumors, SonyAlphaRumors and CanonWatch in our regular meetings, that they are jealous about how Fujifilm listens to its customers and delivers amazing firmware updates).

Over the years you did an amazing job in keeping our cameras up to date with the latest features. That’s something no other brand offered with such a consistency and dedication (huge X100 update after 3 years, X-PRO1/E1 focus peaking, X-E2 EVF frame rate like X-T1, X-T1 Electronic Shutter… and there would be A LOT MORE to put into this list.)

So, Fujifilm, I don’t say it for captatio benevolentiae, but I really Thank You for all the effort you’ve put into all those new firmware updates.

THE KAIZEN LIGHT
(or why updating older X-cameras with New Features is NOT Good)

It is also clear to me that, with the rapidly growing number of X-cameras, the costs to keep them all updated with the latest new features would be unsustainable, unless you cut your resources destined to the development of new camera technology and redirect them to update the XQ1, X-A1, X-M1, X100, XF1, X-E1, X-PRO1, X20 and all the other X-series cameras with new features.

But given how fiercely contested the CSC market is, it’s wise to put most of your R&D into new camera technology for the Fujifilm X-PRO2, rather than spend your time, money and manpower in figuring out how to bring the electronic shutter on the X-M1.

Therefore I personally understand if you start to look forward and (apart bug fixes) stop introducing new firmware features to older cameras and focus on FW-updates for newer and successful ones… let’s call it a Kaizen Light approach ;) .

THE DAVID HOBBY FIRMWARE
(or why you should update the X100S)

That being said, there is one thing I really do not get, and it’s about a firmware for the X100S… a pretty successful X-camera that would still deserve a bit of Kaizen love.

Here is the thing: a new X100S firmware already exists and it was used by David Hobby to test Classic Chrome on his X100S. Hobby himself said: “I have played with the new Classic Chrome film simulation on an X100S that had been altered to include it.”

So I think it should not be that difficult anymore to release a firmware update that allows all X100S shooters to add this new film simulation to their camera… just as you did with the X-E2 and with David Hobby’s X100S.

I know the X100T is fresh on the market and you don’t want to endanger its sales. But the X100T offers so many other improvements over the X100S (30 improvements listed in Rico’s X100T first look, starting from the ERF & WiFi), that a simple Classic Chrome update would for sure not make the X100T sales collapse, since there would be still 29 improvements left… or 28, if you’d add to the firmware also the electronic shutter or the intervalometer ;) .

So, dear Fujfilm, it would be really great if you could make the “David Hobby-Firmware” available for download.

THE KAIZEN FUTURE
(or how you could possibly still update also older cameras)

And what about this: maybe you could work on a huge X100S firmware update (with Classic Chrome, Intervalometer, Customizable Quick Menu, Electronic Shutter, more reliable Battery Level Indicator, PDAF support in Instant-AF, Spot Metering AF frame coupling etc.), and make us pay a few bucks for the work? Please think about it. I’ll add a poll about it down below.

So, thank you Fujifilm for (hopefully) reading this letter. If you have any statement or reply to make on it, please don’t hesitate to contact me at fujirumor [at] gmail [dot] com. I’d be happy to post your answer here on FujiRumors.

Regards

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TOP OF THE SHOTS at the X-Shooter Facebook Zone!

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Holly Geeslin‎: Taken last week before sunrise on a foggy morning. X-E1, 18mm (18-55), f9, ISO 200, 30 seconds

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Here are the most liked images of the Fujirumors facebook photostream… and keep it up, share and vote your absolute favorite X-shot… and here is how to do it:

1) SHARE & DESCRIBE: go to the Fujirumors facebook timeline and submit your favorite X-shot (and a short description) in the timeline by selecting “Photo/Video” .
2) VOTE & COMMENT: All the images will be displayed at the Fujirumors facebook photostream. You can vote & comment the images there.

NOTE: The next selection will start from those images shared starting from March 16!

Enjoy the X-shots ;)

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Adam Holston‎: Winter camping in WV. Fuji XT1 Rokinon 8mm Fisheye. 30 sec, F4, ISO 200

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Dustin Scholl‎: The Big Dipper over Fajardo , Puerto Rico

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Yeap Chin Meng‎: Lost in our time. Shot on Fuji X-E1 with Fujinon 18-55. Check out more in http://mengyeap.blogspot.com

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Zurab Burduli

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Leigh Spigelman

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Wolfgang Spekner‎: Selfportrait on the way up to Zirbitzkogel in Austria. Fujifilm X-E1 with XF 18-55/2.8-4 OIS

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Jim McEachern: The Pack is hungry…. — in Mulgrave-et-Derry, Quebec.

Push the READ MORE button, to see more Top Liked images

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INTERVIEWS: X-PRO2: “We need more New Technologies!” X100S: “No More FW Updates!” 2x converter “Could come!”

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Time for another series of interviews with Fujifilm Managers… let’s start with the main points in the one imaging-resource had with Makoto Oishi from the Sales & Marketing Division, Optical Device & Electronic Imaging Products Division.

4K:”Currently, our X-Trans CMOS II [sensor] cannot realize 4K videos because it has a smaller number of pixels, like 16-megapixel. Also, if we [want to] realize 4K video, the sensor itself should have much faster reading speed.”

I remind you that our trusted Japanese source confirmed a few weeks ago, that Fuji’s plans are to make the X-PRO2 4K capable.

X100S firmware: “While we have provided firmware upgrades for the X100S many times, now we have the X100T, we’re finished, no firmware upgrades [for the X100S] anymore.”

Frankly disappointing, if true. I can understand that they hold on with the FW release, since the X100T is relatively new, and a new X100S firmware would probably influence negatively the sales… but on the long term Fuji must update the X100S. X100S owners are a VERY important part for Fuji’s success, so they deserve an update. At least Classic Chrome… David Hobby himself said here to have used it on his X100S… so why not all the other X-shooters too?

X-PRO2: “But if we launched an X-Pro, we’d need more new technologies, and we’re still developing and investigating. Especially the new devices like the processor or sensor, we’re still preparing.”

There is more to read at imaging-resource, for example about the gyro sensor used for the OIS in the 50-140. A technology missing in the 16-55… and in another interview at fujifilm-blog another manager (Mr Soga, the man responsible for the lens roadmap) explains the true reason for the lack of OIS: it’s not about size, it’s not about costs… it’s about IQ at the wide end (16mm)! He says:

“OIS needs to move the lens inside to compensate for camera shake and as a result can cause loss of resolution in the edges of the image. In long zoom lens such as the XF50-140mmF2.8, the angle of view is narrow enough to not show this negative effect of OIS in the edges. However, the angle of view of the XF16-55mm, when set to the widest setting, is large enough for OIS to affect resolution at the edge of the image. Considering this trade-off, because we wanted this zoom lens to start wide at 16mm and F2.8, and we wanted to best edge-to-edge quality throughout the entire zoom range, we decided to not employ OIS.”

Mr. Soga also confirms that teh XF 35mmF2 will have faster focussing and “we may create a 2x converter in the future although this has not been confirmed.”

Read more at imaging-resource and fujifilm-blog.

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CLASSIC CHROME or “The Art of Omission!” (Film Simulation World: Episode 2)

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Episode 2 of “The World of Film Simulation” has been published at FujifilmXworld. An excerpt:

“The saturation is the lowest among all film simulations. The saturation has been minimized to the limit. Photography is often called “Art of omission“. CLASSIC CHROME omits the element of color in order to stand for the story you want to tell to stand out. […] Minimized saturation and one of a kind tonality that make the subject stand out, this is all to tell the story as clear as possible. We would like the photographers that advocate for contents, to also use this film simulation.”

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