Fujifilm GFX50S II No Longer in Production and Fujifilm’s Biggest GFX Error Exposed

The first stores in Japan have started to mark the Fujifilm GFX50S II as no longer in production, as reported by the Japanese website asobinet.

No longer in production does not mean you won’t find samples anymore around tomorrow. It is more likely that there will be still stable stock for quite some months ahead.

And yet, this news induces me to share some thoughts about the GFX50SII and the GFX system overall.

The GFX50SII was launched back in September 2021.

During these two years, it was often sold with a $800 discount (as right now), showing that the GFX50SII struggled to sell nearly as well as Fujifilm hoped.

The main drawback: the GFX50SII used the old non BSI sensor of the original GFX50S (and the even older Pentax 645Z)  in times when Fujifilm already offered the GFX100 and GFX100S with modern BSI sensor and 100MP. I guess most people decided to go for the more modern and higher resolution models.

In my opinion, the GFX50SII could have sold much better if only Fujifilm would have kept the retro dials layout of the original GFX50S. It would have differentiated it much more from the rest of the lineup.

And overall, the lack of a proper retro styled cameras in the GFX lineup is one of the big mysteries of our time. It’s Fujifilm’s biggest error and an enormous missed opportunity. Especially in times where there is no significant development on the sensor area, the one thing that can really boost sales for a new camera is offering a different shooting experience, which in the GFX world would mean to offer something different than the usual PSAM layout.

Make no mistake: my Fujifilm GFX100S is giving me great joy and it is extremely easy to operate. That’s not the issue. But if Fujifilm would make the camera with exactly the same GFX100S specs but with an X-T layout, I would sell it and go for the Fujifilm GFX100T (imaginary name).

I hope somebody at the higher ranks of the Fujifilm Japan HQ is reading these lines (and they do, they even use FujiRumors surveys for internal meetings).

I know, Fujifilm, you consider PSAM the “safe” approach, as it is more mainstream. But unless you drop a 150MP GFX or a 100MP stacked sensor GFX, you will keep struggling to sell GFX cameras (or be forced to give them huge rebates).

If you decide to stick with the current 100MP BSI sensor (no matter how much you optimise its circuits, AD converters, microlenses, etc), then the best thing to do to create a camera that sells like hot cakes is to offer a different photographic experience. And that camera is called Fujifilm GFX100T or alternatively also the GFX100R.

Trust me on this Fujifilm. Do it, and we will throw our money at you… and my money will be the first to fly to your bank account.

Shipping Struggles for GF30mmF5.6 Tilt Shift

The Fujinon GF30mmF5.6 TS was supposed to ship in late October. And in fact, over at our GFX facebook group here we can see some guys already enjoying their sample. So it looks like in some countries the lens started to ship, but it does not seem to run smoothly everywhere.

Adorama says here they are still expecting delivery from manufacturer, Amazon at the moment does not even take pre-orders on it and BHphoto does not give any indication expect for a vague “coming soon”.

In Europe the situation for the GF30mmF5.6 is not much better, with stores like Calumet Germany expect stock in 1 to 3 months.

No problems on the other hand as far as GFX100II and GF55mmF1.7 goes, at least if you live in North America and Europe, where it is easy to find in stock. In other countries, also that gear experiences long delays.

UPDATE: the GF110mmF5.6 TS is supposed to ship sometimes in November according to press releases.

Tilt Shift Lens Stock Check

Latest GFX Gear in Stock

Fujifilm BLACK FRIDAY Starts NOW with Massive Rebates on X and GFX Cameras and Lenses

Before we start with the black Friday Fujifilm deals, maybe some of you will remember Michal Krause.

He is the fellow FR-reader who wrote one of the most successful and appreciated guest posts here on FujiRumors (with LOTS of great images!)

Well, Michal has launched the English version of his book: Capture One Effectively – The Complete Guide to Capture One Pro 23.

You can read more details about the ebook at this page here.

Black Friday

Fujifilm has currently a huge black Friday sale running in USA.

You can check out the full list of deals at B&H here.

The deals include rebates on the X-H2 and X-H2S and lots of lenses.

Probably on their lowest price ever the XF50mmF1.0, the XF150-600mm, the XF200mmF2 as well as other lenses.

X Cameras

BONUS OFFER: Purchase a qualifying X Series body (X-H2, X-H2S, X-S10) or kit product along with a LEXAR 2000X 256GB SD Card and receive $100 off the combined purchase price!

X Lenses

GFX Gear

Fujifilm Digital Camera Sales Suspension Notice and Fujifilm Japan Apology

Fujifilm Japan has just issued a notice and apology regarding the supply of mirrorless digital cameras in Japan.

This time the affected cameras by the still ongoing shortage in Japan are the Fujifilm X-T5 and the Fujifilm X-S20.

The situation is so bad, that Fujifilm Japan now even decided to suspend orders.

Also the Fujifilm GFX100 II experiences long shipping delays in Asia, as we reported here.

In North America and Europe the situation looks much better, with all the cameras mentioned in this article easily to find in stock.

Official Press Release

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Fujifilm Manager: The End of Entry Level (X-E line?), X100V Successor, APS-C and GFX Full Frame Alternative, Market Share and More

image courtesy: Phototrend
image courtesy: Phototrend

The French website Phototrend had the opportunity to interview Franck Bernard, Director of the imaging division at Fujifilm France. You can read the full interview here and the summary below.

  • Fujifilm GFX100II and the new GF lenses were well received
  • Fujifilm’s strategy is to grip full frame between their APS-C and Medium Format bodies
  • When asked if X-H2S is popular among sports photographers, the manager said that the road is long. It’s not only a question of having the best product, but also of having the entire ecosystem
  • Overall market share in France? As far as hybrid cameras goes (full frame excluded), Fujifilm is market leader with 26% over the last 12 months
  • X-T5 is the best seller followed by X-T30II and X-S20/X-S10
  • the photo market is sustainable and will always remain so
  • smartphones accelerate the demand for cameras because at some point people will want to use a real camera for better quality
  • it’s too early to talk about an X100V successor
  • It has now been 3 years since the X100V was released and Fujifilm does not have a fixed renewal cycle forcing them to change bodies every three years
  • the demand for X100V is still high
  • “If we have decided to stop entry-level products such as X-T200 or X-E4, it is because it is not promising as a market“
  • but Fujifilm wants to keep more affordable models in the lineup (see X-T30)
  • third party lenses can have negative effect on Fujinon lens sales, but Fujifilm thinks they have the quality to compete with Sigma, Tamron and Co
  • Fujifilm is neutral in regards to third party lenses. They don’t oppose nor push them and they respect them

I’d like to make some considerations.

Fujifilm X-E Line

The French manager hinted that they dropped the X-E line, but that pretty much does not fit with the hints recently a Japanese Fujifilm manager gave us here. And also Fuji Guy Billy mentioned here the X-E line as a line that would continue (unlike X-T***, X-A* lines, which btw were just Fujifilm branded Xacti cameras since a long time anyway, as we reported here).

Fujifilm X100V successor

No, it’s not too early to talk about it.

Third party Lenses

The French Fujifilm manager said they are neutral towards third party lenses. Although I remember Fujifilm managers inviting Sigma managers and talking about Sigma lenses for example here. So this gives me the impression Fujifilm is quite positive overall towards third party lenses.

The French manager said they think they have the quality to compete with third party lenses. This depends. The newest third party lenses from Viltrox & Co are quite phenomenal for the price. Maybe here and there they might not match the quality of the top of the line most modern Fujinon XF lenses, but there are quality options also from third parties.

The real and most important factors, for me, to use as much as possible native Fujinon lenses are two:

  • lots of third party lenses do not have an aperture ring
  • color consistency among Fujinon glass. And since a Film Simulation are a big deal for me, I like Velvia & Co to look consistent across the various lenses I use. There are for example third party lenses, like my manual focus Samyang 12mmF2, that are very lovely, but the colors they give me are not the ones I consistently get with my Fujinon lenses.

These are for me the two main reasons why I mostly stick with Fujinon XF and GF glass, although I own third party lenses for both systems, too.

My Personal Gear

Fujifilm 2024: A Look Ahead Between Rumors and Speculations (X-Pro4, X100R, X-E5, X-T40, New XF Lenses, GFX Future)

2023 is Done

We just told you that there will be no more Fujifilm announcements in 2023.

And since in terms of new gear we are done for this year, lots of people started asking me what is coming in 2024.

Now, I am working on it, and we have shared already something.

For example we told you that the next XF lens to come is the replacement of this lens here.

More rumors will follow.

But as you know, on FujiRumors we will not make up a single rumor just to make traffic, nor share anonymous rumors we receive in which I don’t trust.

We prefer to share less rumors, generate less traffic, make less money, and value your time with less, but accurate rumors.

But until more rumors drop, I thought we could also make one single article where we talk about the current state of the rumors and also make speculation on what could or we would like to come in 2024.

2024 – A Look Into the Future

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DUNE Blockbuster Movie Images taken with Fujifilm X Series APS-C Gear

FR-reader Malcom was going through the book Dune Part 1 – The Photography, and he told me he noticed that lots of images in that book were taken by Chiabella James using Fujifilm X Series cameras.

Chiabella James was also part of the Depth of Field podcast at BHphoto, and in the video (video below starts at 9:54) she talks about the gear she uses.

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It’s Over my Friends: No More X or GFX Related Announcements This Year

Yes I know.

I am aware that in the first half of 2023 Fujifilm has registered a camera with the code name FF230002.

And I am aware that never before Fujifilm needed more than 4/6 months to release a camera after its registration has been spotted.

This is why 99,9% of people out there are so sure there will be another Fujifilm announcement this year.

Maybe in November, as that’s a great month to launch new gear (Fuji’s most important camera has been launched November last year for example).

But this ain’t gonna happen, according to our sources.

In fact, we have been told (thanks!!!), that as far as 2023 goes, this was it. There is no new gear coming in 2023.

I mean, yes, the two GF tilt shift lenses still have to hit the market. But of course our sources mean that there won’t be any further announcements this year.

This means that we will also NOT get the next Fujinon XF lens that we already rumored a couple of weeks ago, in 2023.

So all we got (and will get) in 2023 is:

  • Fujifilm X-S20
  • Fujifilm GFX100II
  • Fujinon XF8mmF3.5
  • Fujinon GF55mmF1.7
  • Fujinon GF30mmF5.6 Tilt Shift
  • Fujinon GF110mmF5.6 Tilt Shift

Some great stuff dropped in 2023 for both systems, but certainly there was more to rejoice for GFX users rather than X series users this year.

But before the X series users start moaning, just a quick reminder on what we got in 2022:

  • Fujifilm X-T5
  • Fujifilm X-H2
  • Fujifilm X-H2s
  • Fujinon XF 30mmF2.8 Macro
  • Fujinon XF 56mm f/1.2 R WR
  • Fujinon XF 150-600mm f/5.6-8
  • Fujinon XF 18-120mm f/4

Sure, we always wish for more. But over the last 2 years I think we can agree that there has been quite some decent stuff for both systems.

And what about 2024?

Well, for that, my friends, you’ll have to follow FujiRumors.

Rumors, that will be shared exclusively for you here on FujiRumors.

Fujifilm Facebook Groups

Sigma CEO:” Fujifilm GFX Users Would be Our Ideal Customers, but so far No Sigma GFX lenses Planed” and Sigma 10-18mmF2.8 DC DN

image courtesy: Phototrend
image courtesy: Phototrend

Sigma & Fujifilm

The French website Phototrend had the opportunity to interview Sigma CEO Kazuto Yamaki.

The Sigma CEO briefly talks about the new Sigma 10-18mm f/2.8 DC DN Contemporary and a mention also goes to the Fujifilm GFX system.

Here is a quick summary mainly of the Fujifilm related stuff:

  • for 2-3 years (during Covid), high-end lenses were very popular
  • recently, perhaps because of inflation, people have begun to look for the right balance between performance, quality and price
  • I think that this trend will be even more marked in the coming years.
  • if the new Sigma 10-18mm f/2.8 would have been designed as an ART lens, it would have been larger
  • but since it is a Contemporary lens, Sigma looked for the right balance between performance, weight and compactness
  • the 10-18 mm uses the camera corrections. This is one of the reasons why we were able to make it compact
  • in camera correction is very effective especially for distortion and vignetting. It is very difficult to see the difference [with an optical corrected lens] on a small image
  • if you print big, then the difference would be more noticable
  • If the lens has vignetting, the bokeh in the shape of a cat’s eye may be exaggerated
  • Thus, if customers are really concerned about the quality of the image, they should also care about the quality of the lens
  • currently no plans to offer lenses for the GFX system
  • GFX users would be ideal customers for Sigma, because they are professional or passionate photographers
  • But Sigma’s engineers are working hard on many projects, and Sigma’s resources are limited
  • making lenses for GFX is a possibility that the Sigma CEO would like to continue to explore
  • but so far no plans for GFX lenses from Sigma

The full interview, that covers much more, can be checked out in French at Phototrend here.

40 Fujifilm Products Win Good Design Award

40 Fujifilm products won the Good Design Award.

In terms of X and GFX photography gear, these are the winners.

40 products in a wide range of business areas win Good Design Award

– Mirrorless digital camera “FUJIFILM GFX100 II” and “Structural color inkjet technology” chosen as one of the Good Design Best 100

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