New Fujifilm and Topaz Deals…. or Why Fujifilm Prefers Mail-In Rebates over Instant Rebates (like the new up to $500 GF Lens Deals)

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Topaz Deal

Topaz launched the new update on Gigapixel AI. It is also on sale until February 18.

🤖 Improved face refinement pipeline
Gigapixel AI will now do a much better job detecting human faces more often and delivering more realistic results. Tiny background faces especially should see a noticeable improvement in quality.

🖥️ Significant image quality improvements with Windows GPU
You’ll notice much better image quality across all models in Gigapixel AI when using GPU-powered Windows machines.

🧠 Reduced memory usage
We’ve streamlined how we cache and utilize image data through the entire editing pipeline, resulting in less memory usage and faster importing and exporting of image files.

⚙️ Lots of usability improvements and bug fixes
We’ve improved the post-processing resize algorithm, optimized how we compress JPG, PNG, and TIFF files when exporting, and squashed a bunch of annoying bugs.

Fujifilm Deals

Some FR-readers located in USA are a bit annoyed by the new trend of Fujifilm to offer cashback mail-in rebates instead of instant rebates (like the lastet GF lens deals with up to $500 savings).

Now, here in Europe cashback deals are the norm, but I can understand that for a customer getting the rebate instantly makes life a bit easier.

So why is Fujifilm USA following the steps of Europe?

Well, the reason is probably rather simple.

As you know, the Japanese fiscal year ends on March 31. Before that date, Fujifilm wants to show up in front of investors with the best sale figures possible.

One way to “improve” the numbers is to offer cashback deals, because:

  1. Fujifilm launches deals shortly before the fiscal year ends
  2. the deals boost sales
  3. customers initially pay full price for their gear
  4. Fujifilm will show up in front of investors with better sales numbers (it will result as if Fujifilm sold all their gear at full price)
  5. once the yearly financial report is out they will start to refund customers

This is probably also why Fujifilm writes that if you buy your discounted GF lens today, you will need up to 8 weeks to get your refund processed and delivered (hence you’ll get your money back in April, after the Japanese fiscal year is over).

Sure, then, in 2022, they will have to pay back the money and this will influence their next fiscal report. But that’s a problem for the following year. A problem that gear like the Fujifilm X-H2 will take care of, which hopefully for Fujifilm will sell very well. And if not, there is still the option for more cashback deals.

Look, if this helps Fujifilm, I am fine with it.

It’s really not that big of a deal to mail Fuji the invoice and the serial number and then wait a few weeks to get your money back. I literally just mailed them my latest purchase 3 days ago. Easy and smooth process.

Latest Deals per Category

GFX Gear

Buy within April 3 and submit your claim by May 3.

X Gear

Buy within March 27 and submit your claim by April 26.

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Sigma vs Viltrox X Mount AF Lens Specs and Price Comparison

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When we recently compared the upcoming Sigma X mount lenses to their Fujinon XF counterparts some people wrote me that the comparison is unfair, as the Sigma should be best compared to other third party AF lenses, mainly the Viltrox X mount counterparts.

So shall FujiRumors satisfy your desires.

Hence, once again I used the B&H Photo comparison tool to run over the specs and compare Viltrox to Sigma (I ignore the Tokina X mount trinity as those lenses are identical to the Viltrox lenses, just they cost more).

NOTE: This comparison is based on the rather reasonable assumption that Sigma will re-use the design of the current Sigma DC DN lenses and adapt its mount to Fuji X, rather than designing all new lenses with new optical design and ergonomics (hence add an aperture ring).

Sigma 16mm f/1.4 DC DN vs Viltrox 13mm f/1.4

  • the Sigma is 4,2% more affordable than the Viltrox lens
  • the Sigma is 3,5% lighter than the Viltrox
  • the Viltrox has better close focus distance capability (22cm vs 25cm)
  • the BHphoto Comparison Tool has not yet added the specs for the Viltrox 13mm f/1.4

At that wide range the difference between 16 and 13 is quite substantial, hence this could be called an unfair comparison.

Sigma 30mm f/1.4 DC DN vs Viltrox 33mm f/1.4

  • the Viltrox is 17,6% more affordable than the Sigma lens
  • the Sigma is just 1,8% lighter than the Viltrox
  • the Sigma has better close focus distance capability (30cm vs 40cm)
  • full specs comparison here (filter size, optical design etc)

Sigma 56mm f/1.4 DC DN vs Viltrox 56mm f/1.4

  • the Viltrox is 39% more affordable than the Sigma lens
  • the Sigma is 3,4% lighter than the Viltrox
  • the Sigma has better close focus distance capability (50cm vs 60cm)
  • full specs comparison here (filter size, optical design etc)

Gear Mentioned

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Dan Bailey’s X Journey is a Passionate Tribute to Fujifilm and Photography – Colors, Controls, X-Trans, Fun, Inspiration and More

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Dan Bailey is an official Fujifilm X photographer as well as author of several books such as:

Well, in order to celebrate the 10 years of Fujifilm X mount, Dan started sharing his personal X series journey, which started with the Fujifilm X10.

It is a very passionate, honest and captivating tale about how he stumbled on the X series and how his love for this system grew over time.

  • Video 1: Getting the X10, enjoying its power, its colors (and enjoying shooting JPEG instead of RAW) and travel/work with it
  • Video 2: Falling in love with X-Trans, its advantages, getting in touch with Fujifilm, why APS-C and first experience with the Fujifilm X-E1
  • Video 3: not yet online, but all indicates that he is going to cover one of Fuji’s most important camera of all times which made him sell all his Nikon gear

I feel that the passion in telling his journey encapsulates nicely what it means and how it feels to be an X shooter.

the journey of my son starts early, too

 

Sieh dir diesen Beitrag auf Instagram an

 

Ein Beitrag geteilt von Fuji_Rumors (@fuji_rumors)

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Fujinon XF23mm f/1.4 R LM WR Reviews, XF70-300 vs XF100-400, Hands-on with XF33mmF1.4 and XF27mmF2.8 R WR and More

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For this weekend I’ve prepared a little roundup covering some of the latest Fujinon lenses. Down below you will find:

Latest Gear:

The Roundup

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

C. Frost XF 18mmF1.4 Review: “This Lens Must Have Traveled Back in Time from Some Technological Advanced Future”

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image courtesy: FujiRumors ;) - background image taken with X-E3 at 18mm (using XF18-55) in Orvieto (Umbria- Italy)
image courtesy: FujiRumors ;) – background image taken with X-E3 at 18mm (using XF18-55) in Orvieto (Umbria- Italy)

Christopher Frost reviews the XF18mmF1.4 R LM WR and he seems to be moderately satisfied with the performance of this lens ;).

In short:

  • gorgeous built quality second to none
  • manual focus turn smoothly but responds jerky
  • fast autofocus and completely silent
  • very small lens for such a well built and fast lens
  • spectacular sharpness all over the frame from center to corner even at f/1.4
  • one of the sharpest APS-C lenses he has ever seen. What an achievement by Fujifilm
  • negligible distortion
  • at f/1.4 strong vignetting
  • close up image quality at f/1.4 is excellent
  • almost no coma smearing
  • bokeh looks lovely and smooth
  • even at f/1.4 no real chromatic aberration, Fuji performed some magic trick
  • he feels this lens fell from a space ship or has been transported back in time from some technological advanced future
  • it is virtually perfect
  • much better IQ than the XF16mmF1.4
  • stellar optic and highly recommended

Get Yours

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