Internet Declares the Top Gear 2020: Fujifilm X-T4 Top or Flop? Love for X100V, X-S10 and XF50mm1.0

‚

2020 Gear of the Year

It’s that time of the year, when blogs and youtube channels declare their best gear of the year.

We have already shared what DPReviewTV thinks is best here and what DPReview blog thinks is best.

Now it’s time for a roundup what all others consider their top and flop gear 2020.

The Fujifilm X-T4 is the best camera 2020 winner for CineD, Techradar, ePhotozine and also according to the German Stiftung Warentest, which is the go-to source for independent and competent reviews in Germany.

One prominent exception: Tony Northrup says the X-T4 the biggest disappointment of 2020. Why? You’ll find his video below. He might not like the X-T4, but he appreciates the X-S10, which Tony delcars the best camera below $1,000.

The Fujinon XF 50mm f/1.0 R WR is second best for Techradar and BH Explora.

BHphoto Explora

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

Fringer Nikon NF to Fujifilm FX Smart Autofocus Adapter Released

The Fringer NF-FX smart autofoucs adapter has been officially released.

It’s world’s first smart adapter that support Nikon F mount lenses working on Fujifilm X cameras while keeping all the auto functions.

Close to 100 lenses or lens & TC combinations have been tested and optimized. They all support fast and accurate phase detection AF on latest X cameras. Please see this list for detailed models. More lenses would be added to the list in the future through adapter firmware updates.

You can see an autofocus tracking demo video in this article.

You can pre-order the Fringer NF-FX smart adapter at AmazonUS here, the Fringer Store as well as eBay here and soon also at AmazonUS here, BHphoto here and Adorama here.

Full List of Supported Lenses and Cameras and Product Images

Supported lenses

Supported cameras

None X-Trans & X-Trans I CMOS (PDAF not working, Poor performance)

  • X-A1, X-A3, X-A5, X-A7
  • X-E1
  • X-Pro1
  • X-M1
  • X-T100
  • X-T200

X-Trans II CMOS (PDAF enabled)

  • X-E2
  • X-T1
  • X-T10

X-Trans III CMOS (PDAF, Good performance)

  • X-H1
  • X-T2
  • X-T20
  • X-Pro2
  • X-E3

X-Trans IV CMOS (full sensor covered PDAF. Better performance)

  • X-T3
  • X-T30
  • X-Pro3
  • X-T4
  • X-S10

Follow FujiRumors on Patreon, Facebook, Instagram, RSS-feed, Youtube, Flipboard and Twitter

Join Our Owners Groups

Join Our Facebook Pages

 

Wildlife Photography with Fujifilm Gear

Wildlife with Fujifilm gear

guest post by Michal Krause – website – @mkrause Instagram – Facebook

Some time ago, I read with interest the article in which photographers discussed what gear they miss for photographing wildlife in existing Fujifilm offer. They mostly mentioned various lenses of different focal lengths and apertures, which could give some people the impression that it is almost not possible to photograph wildlife with the Fujifilm X system. Therefore, I decided to summarize my almost five years of experience in this field. I hope to inspire and encourage some photographers who consider getting into wildlife photography with Fujifilm gear.

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

Fujifilm X-E4 still with 26 Megapixel X-Trans sensor (and Why I’m Happy with That)

Fujifilm X-E4

I noticed some speculation in the comments, on whether the Fujifilm X-E4 might introduce a new sensor generation.

But nope, it’s not going to happen. Fujifilm will put the 26 megapixel X-Trans sensor in the X-E4.

And quite frankly, despite it being 2.5 years old, it is still packed with Sony’s latest and greatest technology: phase detection pixels all over the sensor, back-side illuminated, copper wiring for even faster readout. It’s the best sensor Sony has to offer without going into more exotic (and expensive) terrain with stacked sensors (Sony A9 series), which allow even faster readout, but decrease dynamic range.

Yes, Sony has a 43 megapixel APS-C sensor in offer, but maybe that’s a bit of an overkill for APS-C. In my opinion the sweet spot for APS-C is somewhere around 32/35 Megapixel. It would allow for 8K video recording, be still supported by Fujinon glass and just offer a nice balance between file size, details, dynamic range, costs and just overall performance. For 50+ megapixel, it is probably better to go with the GFX system anyway.

As you can imagine, I am working on more details regarding the Fujifilm X-E4. If I have anything new, I’ll you know on FujiRumors soon.

Follow FujiRumors on Patreon, Facebook, Instagram, RSS-feed, Youtube, Flipboard and Twitter

Join Our Owners Groups

Join Our Facebook Pages

Fujifilm X-S10 First Look and Comparison with Sony A7C

Bigheadtaco posted his Fujifilm X-S10 first impressions and compares it to the Sony A7C, but also adds some comparison thoughts with the Fujifilm X-T30, Fujifilm X-H1 and X-T200.

Also, he shared an X-S10 shooting impression as well as a more detailed comparison of X-S10 vs Sony A7C for vlogging.

You’ll find the first video in summary format below, as well as all the videos.

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

Fujifilm Managers Talk Film Simulations: Origins, Evolutions, Goals, Misunderstandings, Bold Classic Negative and Much More

The Japanese site dc.watch interviewed Fujifilm manager Kosuke Irie and Shinya Fujiwara.

They talk about film simulations in a lengthy, very detailed and technical way.

All in Japanese, which means we are in the hands of google translate. And sadly this does not always work out well.

I will share a summary for you down below, often just taken as google delivered it.

It will get nerdy… happy reading down below :)

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

DPReview 2020 Gear Awards: Canon Dethrones Sony, Fujifilm X-S10 Triumph but did they Forget the GFX Lenses?

Best Gear 2020

DPReview awarded the best gear of 2020.

Lots of what they say makes sense, but I don’t really agree with everything. For example, the Fujifilm X-T4 is second in the mid-range ranking behind the Canon R6, which costs $800 more. For me, the Fujifilm X-T4 is so much better value for money.

Worth to notice, Canon grabs some of the most prestigious top spots, which in the past were usually in solid Sony hands.

And to me totally unsurprising: the little and affordable Fujifilm X-S10 is not only the best entry level camera, but it also grabs the second spot as overall top product 2020.

I am saying it since I’ve shared the first rumors: Fujifilm is doing lots of things right with the X-S10. If you don’t need weather sealing or 2 SD card slots, it’s by far the best value for money camera you can buy.

Last but not least the glorious Fujifilm X100V, frankly without any competition in the fixed lens compact camera segment.

What I do not get is the lack of any GFX lens. Not only the Fujinon GF30mm f/3.5 or Fujinon GF45-100mmF/4 have not been awarded, but they did not even enter the shortlist of candidates.

In my opinion the GF lenses would have highly deserved a top spot. But I guess the GFX system is not really on DPR’s radar due to rather limited market share, and it’s easier to award gear that is also a big hit at the box office.

Let’s go through the list.

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

Fujifilm X-H2, X80, GFX100V, X-Pan, Monochrome and More – FR-Readers Wishlist Corner

Here is another roundup of wishlist shared by the FR-community to me via email at fujirumor@gmail.com.

Previous Wishlist Episodes:

As opposed to the last episode, this time we focus on camera wishes instead of lens wishes.

In this roundup, one particular and recurrent wish finds me totally agreeing with: the need for a Fujifilm X80!

I do hope Fujifilm will understand that the Fujifilm XF10 was not the X70 successor we were waiting for and that they will finally give us an X80.

I mean, Fujifilm should have been able to overcome these X80 issues by now!!!

Follow FujiRumors: Patreon, Facebook, Instagram, RSS-feed, Youtube, Flipboard and Twitter

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

The Power of Fujifilm Colors: Why I LOVE Fuji Colors and See Them in Action at Our Film Simulations Group

I don’t know you, but when I look at an image, the first thing I notice is not how sharp it is at 400% magnification or how grainy it is at 12800 ISO.

Nope!

What first grabs my attention are subject/composition and colors. Those are the main “WOW” factors for me.

And while for the first one (subject/composition) no Fujifilm camera can help you and it’s totally up to the photographer to compose a pleasing image, when it comes to colors, Fujifilm cameras can be quite a good support for us photographers, and certainly they are for me.

Since I switched to Fujifilm (after a long journey searching for “my” system), I have quite radically changed (and speed-up) my editing-workflow thanks to Fuji’s film simulations.

I still shoot RAW+JPEG, I still adjust exposure, add sharpening here and there and make some other tweaks. But the more film simulations Fujifilm was releasing over the years, the less I found myself in the need to laboriously edit the color part of my images in order to set the right mood.

Not to talk of all those times, when the JPEG is just right out of the box, and I don’t adjust anything at all.

So yes, for me, Fujifilm film simulation make a whole lot of difference and are one of the main reasons why I love Fujifilm.

In order to celebrate Fujifilm colors, I recently launched the Fujifilm Film Simulation group, which has reached 10+K members in a very short time.

In this group, images can be edited in all their parts (sharpening, shadow/highlight recovery etc), except for colors. The colors must come purely out of your Fujifilm camera (or be applied in post in Capture One / Lightroom).

It is also allowed to share images that use custom presets, which means take a film simulation and fine tune its settings in-camera (increase contrast, add grain etc), creating your own receipts to store as custom profile inside your Fujifilm camera. Those are very fun to try out!

Now, since I am in total lockdown again (see me here chilling with my dog and cat at home), I have a bit more time this weekend and I decided to use it to go though the images at our Fujifilm Film Simulation group and pick out some of the most liked shots for you.

You’ll see images taken with all kind of film simulations, but you’ll notice that Classic Chrome and Classic Negative turn out to be the most shared and liked ones (or receipts derived from those film simulations).

But also ACROS, Velvia, Provia and one of my favorites, Astia, are also present down below.

Feel free to check out the images below and to join the group if you want.

NOTE: if you join the group and share images, do not forget to tell us which film simulation you used in the description of the image.

I wish you a fantastic weekend,
Patrick

Film Simulation Images Roundup

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

Fujifilm X-T200 Discontinued After Just 9 Months at Some Stores – is This The End of Fujifilm’s Entry Level Line?

 

Fujifilm X-T200 Discontinued

The Fujifilm X-T200 was announced on January 23, 2020 and started shipping in February 2020.

Now, just about 9 month after its release, some stores marked it as discontinued (see image above for example – google translated)

To my knowledge, this is not happening because an X-T300 is on the way (at least I have not heard about it). The reason is probably very simple: it did not sell well at all.

The Fujifilm X-T200 is a very fine camera for its price, but it failed in its purpose: attack the best selling camera in this price segment, the rather old and yet still strong selling Sony A6000, which was released in 2014 and is still in top selling raking at AmazonUS (currently 22th).

In the entry level segment, the Sony A6*** line is apparently unbeatable, and Fujifilm was not able to break through with excellent products like the Fujifilm X-T200 or even the X-A7.

That’s unfortunate.

The Unbeatable Sony A6000

But what could be the reason for the failure of the X-T200 and the ongoing success of the Sony A6000?

Well, in part it could be quite simple: people in the market for such a camera are usually not big photography enthusiasts and have not a huge photographic culture. They mostly just buy a camera because they want to have something that takes better pictures than their smartphones.

Those people know the Sony brand very well from their TV’s, their PlayStation’s and other electronic products that they use in their daily lives already. It’s a brand they know and associate with quality electronic products, and they therefore grab a Sony A6*** rather than a Fujifilm, which is for them a rather unknown brand they can’t relate to at all.

The Future for Fuji’s Entry Leve Line

Is this the end of the entry level line-up of Fujifilm?

Well, as we discussed in an earlier article, that shows Fujifilm’s own 2020 Fujifilm camera range pyramid, I believe that sooner rather than later the whole entry level line of Fujifilm will be dropped. It’s not a rumor, to be clear, but just my evaluation after seeing how this segment has developed over the last few years.

The only entry level line that did sell strong for a while, was the X-A line. But it looks like also that one is suffering, forcing Fujifilm to discontinue the X-A7 just 11 months after its release.

I am very pessimistic about Fuji’s entry level line, which, as we also told you already back in 2017 here, is no longer developed by Fujifilm anymore, but by the Xacti corporation. This means that already in 2017 Fujifilm struggled to justify that line any longer, and outsourcing its development was a last move to try to safe the line.

With the Fujifilm X-T200 and X-A7 failing to meet their sales targets, I am just becoming even more pessimistic about the future of those lines.

It’s a pity, I have personally recommended the X-T200 to a few of my friends, and they are all happy with it. But the market is not rewarding the best cameras for the reasons we told you above.

Follow FujiRumors on Patreon, Facebook, Instagram, RSS-feed, Youtube, Flipboard and Twitter

Join Our Owners Groups

Join Our Facebook Pages