Why Fujifilm GFX Medium Format System is Future Proof and Tony Northrup’s GFX Pessimism is Unjustified

The Future of GFX

And then it became clear to me: Fujifilm medium format has a glorious future ahead. :)

Just two thing before we start:

  • Tony Northrup shared a video (see below), where he didn’t sound very confident about the GFX future. I thought about it, and the result is the article below
  • This article is based on the assumption, that in future only higher end cameras are 100% safe from the smartphone attack, since professional photographers won’t ever switch to smartphones for their Pro work

2 minutes reading time (or just 15 seconds if you jump directly to the conclusions ;) )

  • Fujifilm 2016 – The Statment

In 2016, Fujifilm Managers Makoto Oishi and Fuji Guy Billy said in this interesting interview:

When the global shutter sensor comes to be, it will be a big change just to the whole camera industry, taking away all the limitations of current electronic shutters. […]

If the GFX has global shutter, so we can imagine something new. A smaller body.

So let’s talk about it.

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Review of the 4k FUJIFIlM GFX 100 for Filmmakers

Fujifilm GFX100

The vast majority of people, who are going to get a Fujifilm GFX100, will get it for its photographic virtues.

However, the Fuji GFX100 is also the first medium format mirrorless camera that can fight an honorable battle with full frame and APS-C in the video department.

4K@30p, 4:2:0, 10 bit internal… not bad at all!

This is why I decided to highlight this review by Muse Storytelling, which focuses on the Fujifilm GFX100 for filmmakers. He says:

  • the whole demo video you see has been shot handheld with Fujifilm GFX100
  • 10 bit gives you lots more colors over 8 bit and allows for more post processing
  • understanding Fujifilm film simulation allows you to create amazing images in camera
  • Velvia is great for scenes that look bright, happy and energetic
  • Classic Chrome more subtle and subdude look is great for interviews and moments with a serious or sad tone
  • external recorder for 4:2:2 10 bit image allows for simultaneous F-Log and film simulation recording
  • using film simulation you got to get it right in camera, less flexibility in post compared to F-Log
  • when using the LCD screen in bright daylight and shooting F-Log, it becomes a bit difficult to evaluate exposure and focus on the LCD screen, but it’s totally fine if you use film simulation
  • very customizable
  • changing settings takes a bit longer than on dedicated film cameras like the RED camera they use, but you can set custom buttons to speed up your workflow
  • they say in most cases, for film you better use manual focus. But the AF system on Fujifilm GFX100 is great, and for interviews with people moving back and forth, the eye AF worked better than they could have done by manually focussing
  • sweet spot for exposure seems to be 1 stop over: gets all the shadows properly exposed and away from the toe of the curve
  • when using F-log or Eterna, the GFX100 holds highlights very well
  • he is impressed with image quality, handling and features for such a compact camera with such a massive sensor
  • they will use the GFX100 a lot more in future for their video work

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Fujifilm X-T30 Firmware 1.10 Released

The Fujifilm X-T30 firmware 1.1o has been released, just as promised to us back in April.

The firmware update Ver.1.10  – download here

  1. Improvement of Q (quick menu) button operability
    To avoid accidentally pressing the Q (quick) menu, the button has changed to one of Fn(function) buttons. This will allow customers to disable the Q button function and also to allocate the Q (quick) menu to a different Fn button.
  2. Fix of slight defects.

Also, as reported here, Fujifilm has updated all its Fujinon GF lenses to support phase detection AF on Fujifilm GFX100.

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Fujifilm GFX 100 Pixel Shift Multishot Just a Matter of Time, says Trusted Source

Fujifilm GFX100 Pixel Shift

Back in October 2018, I told you the Fujifilm GFX100 will have pixel shift multishot. However, in March 2019 here, I got an update from a source, that pixel shift multishot won’t be ready for launch.

I have asked sources about this feature again, and they told me it is high on Fuji’s To Do list, but it will be only released once working perfectly.

I asked for a time frame, but the source could not give it to me. All it said is that it’s “just a matter of time“.

Pixel shift multishot is easier to achieve with Bayer CFA than with X-Trans CFA, which is why the Fujifilm X-H1 still does not have it, and I would not be surprised to see it coming first to the Fujifilm GFX100.

FYI: Another advantage of Bayer, is that also the electronic image stabilization (available in Fujifilm X-T100) is easier to achieve than with Bayer.

On the other hand, the recently awarded X-Trans sensor, has other advantages. We have written about the Pros and Cons of Bayer vs X-Trans here.

A bit out of topic, but Google just shared a white paper and video explaining their multi-frame super resolution feature that is what powers the Pixels’s night mode for example.
A good reminder that technology is not waiting and will always continue, and that Fujifilm should take note of it!

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Inside the Fujifilm Factory, Eye AF Demo and a Confusing Fujifilm GFX 100S Rendering

Fujifilm Factory

The Straits Times posted a short video, with clips from inside the Fujifilm factory in Sendai.

Interestingly, at some point they display a rendering of the Fujifilm GFX100S, basically a Fuji GFX50S marked as 100S. I don’t know if they were confused and just made an incredible error, or if they just wanted to hint something to us :)

Anyway, here are some facts we hear in the video:

  • 227,000 sqm
  • 2,000 workers
  • 18,000 cameras manufactured each month
  • 30,000 to 50,000 lenses manufactured each month
  • the first room they visit is a room, where the “image sensor is produced“, as well as some of the lenses assembled
  • the IBIS of the GFX100 consists of 110 pieces. It takes surprisingly little space around the image sensor
  • the camera is assembled from close ot 900 pieces [to be precise, 860 pieces, as we reported here]

When he says about “image sensor being produced” he probably means “assembled on the GFX“, since it is produced by Sony.

FUJINON Premista PL Mount Cine Lenses Cover Fujifilm GFX sensor

Michael Bulbenko from Fujifilm said in an interview (video below) that the recently introduced PL-mount (and super expensive) Fujinon Premista 28-100mm T2.9 and Fujinon Premista 80-250mm T2.9-3.5 cover the Fujifilm GFX100 sensor.

Hence, you can use them with a PL to G mount adapter.

The Fujifilm manager also said, that they do not plan to release a G mount version of their Fujinon Premista lenses.

While talking about the Fujifilm GFX100 color reproduction, Michael says: “as weired as it sounds, we are a film company, so we know how to get colors right“. I like that!

FujiRumors already told you that the same guy, who developed the Velvia film, has been involved also in the Velvia digital film simulation development.

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Fujifilm X-Pro3, X-H2, X100V, Panasonic Full Frame Fiasco, XF33mm F1.0, GFX 100 – Breaking May FR-Rumors and Top 15 Articles

Top of the Posts

May was an extremely busy month, with 79 articles written in 31 days, the GFX100 live blogging and… my marriage (no, can’t buy any new gear for a while with what that cost ;).)

In May, FujiRumors has also delivered several breaking rumors about the following Fujifilm cameras:

  • Fujifilm X-Pro3
  • Fujifilm X-H2
  • Fujifilm X100V (or X200)

I consider all rumors 100% accurate.

It’s not our style to mislead and clickbait people with fake made up rumors, sadly a practice that is going strong these days. FR is well fueld with reliable rumors, we do not need to go down the desperate fake rumor road.

And I tell you more…

I now slow down a few days to recover, but then  I’ll be back with rumors, especially with one that might surprise you positively. You can dream now and I’ll tell you later, once I have green light from the source :).

Back to us, and to the very busy month of May.

So many things happened, that I thought to list the top 15 read articles for May down below, so you can catch up in case you missed them.

TOP 15 Articles

  1. Fujifilm X100V / X200 coming in 2020
  2. Fujifilm X100V (or X200) Coming with New Lens
  3. Did the Panasonic S1/R Fiasco Prove FUJIFILM Did Well to Skip Full Frame?
  4. Fujifilm X-Pro3 Announcement Within October
  5. The Ultimate Fujifilm NP-W126S vs Third Party Batteries Battle
  6. Fujifilm X-T30 Gets Gold Award at DPReview and Compared to Sony a6400
  7. 2020: A Fuji Odyssey Ends with the Fujinon XF33mm f/1.0, but Do We Really Need it?
  8. Mission Impossible: Official “Fallout” Photos Taken with Fujifilm X and GFX Gear
  9. Fujifilm X-Pro3 Ideas, Wish Lists and Hopes
  10. Fujifilm X100V (X200) with New Lens, but still 23mm
  11. Adobe Lightroom 8.3 New Texture Slider Explained and How Well does it Work with Fujifilm X-Trans files?
  12. Fujifilm X-H2 may NOT Even Come in 2020
  13. These Guys Switched from Full Frame to Fujifilm APS-C and Are Happy About it
  14. Fujifilm GFX100 Lab Test Images vs Phase One XF IQ3, Sony A7rIII, GFX50S, Nikon D850
  15. Dear $9,995 Fujifilm GFX100 Coming May 23, Try to Beat these Fujifilm GFX 50 Images – GFX Image Roundup

LAST DAY FUJI X/GFX DEALS

You can see all USA Fujifilm Spring deals here. You can see all the EU Fujifilm deals here.

GFX 50R

G Mount Lenses

X Cameras

X mount Prime lenses – save up to $250

X mount Zoom lenses – save up to $200

All Fujifilm Camera Deals

All Fujinon Lens Deals

Third Party & Used Gear Deals

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Viltrox 23mm, 33mm and 56mm f/1.4 Autofocus Lenses Coming for Fujifilm X Mount

Viltrox AF Lenses

Viltrox recently launched the first reverse-engineered Fujifilm X autofocus lens, the Viltrox 85mm f/1.8 AF.

Now fellow FR-reader Michael (instagram, twitter, youtube) informed me that more lenses will come. In fact, Viltrox said:

“We will have more choices on focal length like 23mm/33mm/56mmf1.4. Maybe some of them can come out in October this year.“

It looks like competition is coming for the (currently discounted) Fujinon XF23mm f/1.4, XF 35mm f/1.4 and XF 56mm f/1.2.

As we reported here, the Viltrox 85mm f/1.8 is on and about to become the best-selling third-party lens for Fujifilm X here on FujiRumors. So there is space for third-party glass in Fuji X shooters’ bags, and I wish Sigma, Tamron and Tokina would join the X mount, too.

The issue? Fujifilm does not open their protocols (except for Zeiss and the Zeiss Touit X mount trinity), hence companies have to laboriously reverse-engineer the lens firmware to make it work on X mount.

Sigma has flirted with X series customers, saying that they would love to provide lenses for us, if Fujifilm discloses their protocols. However, Fujifilm replied that this won’t happen.

  • fujirumors.com – Sigma CEO: “Fujifilm customers would be our ideal customer, but Fujifilm does not disclose their protocols”
  • fujirumors.com – Fuji CEO: “Fujifilm does need to share X mount protocols with third-parties, since we offer already lots of glass. But if third-parties reverse-engineer AF lenses for X mount, that’s good from a customers’ point of view“

Fujifilm makes more money with lenses, than with camera bodies, so it is understandable that they are reluctant to open their mount to third parties.

On the other hand, I believe that with an open X mount, Fujifilm would grow its customer base faster than it is currently happening.

Last but not least, some rumors we shared last year:

  • read here: SIGMA Will Make FUJIFILM X Mount lenses if X series Camera Sales Increase by 20%
  • read here: SIGMA Needs Bigger Fujifilm Market Share, TOKINA Designed X Glass Already but Stopped by Royalties, TAMRON is Vague

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KIPON Releases LPL-GFX Pro Adapter to Use Arri LPL Mount Cine Lenses on FUJIFILM GFX 100

Kipon LPL-GFX Pro Adapter

KIPON has announced an LPL-GFX Pro adapter, which will allow you to use Arri LPL mount large format cine lenses on the latest 100 MP FUJIFILM GFX100 camera.

BHphoto offers a bundle of 6 Arri LPL cine lenses for the price of 15 times the value of my car or 25 years of rent for my apartment. Check it out here.

For more affordable LPL mount solutions you have to look at Tokina’s offering here.

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via kipon