THE HARD BEGINNING

Just 3 years ago a lot of people were sceptical about the X-series’ future… and they had very good reasons for that. From it’s start on, the Fujifilm X series lost money. At the beginning, the best selling X-series camera was the Fujifilm X100 (sold 130,000 times). But hey, every beginning is hard. The system was new, it was not mature enough to meet the need of photographers, and it still had to find its place in the market.

FROM THE HOPE TO THE ENTRY LEVEL FLOP

Something changed with the arrival of the Fujfilm X-E1 and a couple of months later the Fujifilm X100S, which were not really a big success, but at least Fuji was able to sell a decent number of them… and I dare to say, the Fujifilm X100S could have sold MUCH better, if there wouldn’t have been those biblical shipping times… the DDR (or GDR) delivered their Trabants faster than Fujifilm their cameras :) .

But, for some reason, Fujifilm decided to attack also the entry-level market and launched the XF1, the XQ1, the X-M1, the X-A1… a debacle for Fujifilm. Lot’s of R&D resources put into a deep, black hole!

THE NAKED TRUTH

And in November 2013 the New York times published here the naked truth: Fujifilm sold, overall, just 700,000 X-series cameras! The X-series was a super-small niche with an uncertain future.

THE REBIRTH … or … THE FUJIFILM X-T1

However, Fujifilm reacted, stepped on the gas and released the Fujifilm X-E2 just one year after the Fujifilm X-E1. The camera sold pretty good for Fujifilm standards… but the real winner was and still is the Fujifilm X-T1. It sold so well, that, as Fuji says in their latest report, it saved the imaging division and kept it profitable (along with instant cameras & instax film)!

THE FUTURE

It seems that now Fujifilm is looking with more optimism at the future. In an interview at the photokina in September 2014 here, Fujifilm Senior Manager Mr. Toshihisa Iida said: “Over the past few months I’ve been getting more confident“.

And today Fujifilm published their Medium-Term Management Plan called “VISION 2016”, where they say that they will  “focus on high-end digital cameras “X Series” and expand sales of highly profitable interchangeable lenses“.

I just hope that the name “VISION 2016” does not refer in any way to the Fujifilm X-PRO2… we want it in 2015 ;).

Expire November 29

XF 56mm f/1.2 (save $150): BHphoto / AmazonUS / Adorama / Pictureline /
XF 23mm f/1.4 (save $200): BHphoto / AmazonUS / Adorama / Pictureline /
XF 14mm f/2.8 (save $200): BHphoto / AmazonUS / Adorama / Pictureline /
XF 35mm f/1.4 (save $100): BHphoto / AmazonUS / Adorama / Pictureline /
XF 60mm f/2.4 (save $150): BHphoto / AmazonUS / Adorama / Pictureline /
XF 10-24mm (save $200): BHphoto / AmazonUS / Adorama / Pictureline /
XF 55-200mm (save $150): BHphoto / AmazonUS / Adorama / Pictureline /
X-T1 body (save $100): BHphoto / AmazonUS / Adorama / Pictureline /
X-T1 + XF18-55 (save $100): BHphoto / AmazonUS / Adorama / Pictureline /
X100S (save $200): BHphoto / AmazonUS / Adorama /Pictureline X-PRO1 + 18mm (save $300):  Adorama / X-E1 + 18mm (save $300): Adorama / X-M1 + 18mm (save $300): Adorama / X-E2 + XF18-55: Adorama

Josiah Patterson: Fuji X-t1 18-55mm

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Here are the top liked X-shots shared over at the Fujirumors facebook photostream. Thanks to all who shared their shot and those who took their time to check them out and vote their favorite ones.

Keep it up, share and vote your absolute favorite X-shot… and here is how to do it:

1) SHARE: 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.

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Eric Anderson: Ala Archa National Park in Kyrgyzstan. X-E2, XF 14mm. www.ericandtaylor.com

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Adam J McKay‎: Just thought I would share an image I shot with the trusty X100s

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Kleber Steinbach‎: Hey guys. I did this shot with the X100S and a remote release, almost 200 shots until the lightning strike, I set for 1.6s exposure at f/11 and ISO 400 for the landscape, lock the remote and waited for the magic… I was hoping for any lightning and I got this amazing composition with a little cropping to do.This camera is so unbelievable, I printed the image on a 1×1,7m canvas, the quality is remarkable!!! I am waiting for the next version of the X-T1, with, maybe, a higher pixel count, to fill my bag with Fuji gear. Kleber Steinbach

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Greg Seaton‎: Here’s an image I made last week with my X-Pro1… — at BankWest Tower

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

Fujifilm X100T: USA: BHphoto / AmazonUS / Adorama / EUROPE: WexUK / WexDE / PCHstore / AUSTRALIA: CameraPro

In stock at Pictureline and at DigitalRev (free shipping, 1 year warranty, no additional duty/tax). BHphoto changed the expected availablity of the silver X100T to November 13 (same as AmazonUS). Adorama says “early November”.

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Reviewed.com tested the Fujifilm X100T including samples, lab results, and overall impressions.

“While it won’t replace a DSLR any time soon for action photography, the X100T might just be the quickest-focusing enthusiast compact. […] The Fujifilm X100T is the polar opposite. Its controls encourage you to stop, look around, and use both hands to grab what you’re envisioning. The camera reminds you to savor the process. Such a great shooting experience is rarely worth quantifying with a dollar amount (ask a Leica fan), but nevertheless, the X100T continues to be a singular camera. It’s premium photographic bliss, made in Japan.

More reviews: – Test at the French site focus-numerique (translation) / Samples at the whole ISO and Aperture range at dc.watch (translation) / First Impressions: The Fujifilm X-100T is a Subtle but Significant Upgrade at bigheadtaco / Short review with all the new Fujifilm gear (including X100T) launched in Photokina in Portuguese at ehnamour (translation) /

Fujifilm X100T

The Fujifilm X100T (black and silver) is right now in stock at US store Pictureline here. The X100T is in stock also at DigitalRev (free shipping, 1 year warranty, no additional duty/tax). BHphoto changed the expected availablity of the silver X100T to November 13 (same as AmazonUS). Adorama says “early November”.

Fujifilm X100T: USA: BHphoto  / AmazonUS / Adorama / EUROPE: WexUK / WexDE / PCHstore / AUSTRALIA: CameraPro

Graphite Fujifilm X-T1

The graphite Fujifilm X-T1 is shipping now in Netherlands via fotohanskeuzekamp here.

Graphite Silver X-T1: USA: BHphoto / AmazonUS / Adorama / EUROPE: WexUK / WexDE / PCHstore /  AUSTRALIA: CameraPro

Graphite X-T1 shipping at fotohanskeuzekamp