The X-series is more than “just” high quality lenses, great cameras & top-notch IQ. It’s, for many, a refreshing and liberating way to shoot… a way to (re)discover photography. Passion, Fun, Inspiration, Lightness and Freedom are an essential part of the X-shooter eXperience.

So it’s no surprise that we can find a growing number of huge Fuji X Fans out there, who want to show their love for the X-system to the world. It was passion that brought me to launch this blog back in times when there were just a handful of X-shooters out there. FujiRumors was my personal way to share my eXcitement for the new X-shooter eXperience, but…

… but there are some, who have way more original ways to express their passion! One of them is Brandon:

“I’ve been a fujifilm lover since my first fuji 4700  back in 2000. I have always had some fairly zany hair and not long after getting the camera, I took the opportunity to show off my love with my hairstyle. After the 4700, I moved on to a minolta dimage, then joined the canon family.  I added an X-E1 to my collection for travel, and once I got my hands on an X-E2, I sold all of my Canon gear (including my 5DMKIII) and have been exclusively fuji ever since.  Thanks for the great site and sharing so much information about our beloved platform.  The X-system cameras and lenses have been a boon for my travel photography and I can’t wait to get my hands on an X-Pro2! Have a great day! Clix // Brandon HomeSick.com“

Now, you don’t have to cut your hair like this too, to show your passion for the X-system. Maybe a nice T-shirt would be just enough, as Tatjana shared here and Wim here… and as you know, all the profits go to Charity in Cambodia. Learn more about the X-shirts here. Buy it here in USA and here in Europe & CO.

enjoy your Sunday and take some nice shots with your X today… and feel free to share your favorite X-shots at the X-shooter facebook zone,

Thanks a lot to X-shooter Evelyn for you birthday wishes… and for getting a Chartiy X-shirt :)
FUJI X-SHIRTS available here in USA and here in Europe & CO.

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At the moment, one of the most liked images at the X-shooter facebook zone
shot taken by Michael Steverson
check out more here

Keep up voting and sharing your absolute favorite X-shot… and here is how to do it:

1) SHARE & DESCRIBE: 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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XF 16mm F1.4

PRE-ORDER (and Support FR): USA: BHphoto / AmazonUS / Adorama / EUROPE: WexUK / PCHstore

And a MUST READ in these days is Rico’s FIRST LOOK at the XF 16mmF1.4 (German Version) / Picture samples and first thoughts at prophotonut / More samples by Ben Cherry’s at fujifilm-blog /

TUTORIALS

Live tutorial: Portrait photography with Bert Stephani

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Live tutorial: Street photography with Matt Harton youtube

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X100/S/T + TCL/WCL – X100S & CLASSIC CHROME

USA: BHphoto / AmazonUS / Adorama / EUROPE: WexUK / PCHstore / AUSTRALIA: CameraPro

Fujifilm X100S Classic Chrome Enabler at ishootyou

Time to Play: or:Hacking your x100s files to enable Classic Chrome at mickservodio / Dalia, Portraits with Fuji X100t and TCL-X100 teleconverter at alessandromichelazzi / The Fujifilm X100t Review at henrysmithscottage / How I Use Black Tape on My Fujifilm X100 for Street Photography at petapixel / My Fuji X100T and the NYC Easter Parade at icemanbaldy / Dalia, Portraits with Fuji X100T and TCL-X100 teleconverter at alessandromichelazzi / Fuji X100T: Ch-ch-changes (from the X100) at themachineplanet / X100T Fuji’s finest pix to date at nafisa / The Gear that I Use: The Fujifilm X100T at henrysmithscottage / Fuji X100T long(ish) term user report at tobinators / X100T Video Review at Ralfs Foto-Bude / Fuji X100T & iPhone Field Workflow at Geeks Life youtube / Fuji X100S First Impressions at russell-pritchard / The Oval with Fuji X100S at russellpritchard /

Fujifilm X-T1 + Graphite X-T1
[shopcountry 21553]

Exit Nikon, Hello Fuji at the French site photorectoverso (translation) / Head To Head – Fuji X-T1 And SONY A7 II at soundimageplus / 3rd video episode using the Fuji X-t1 for video and photo’s at Fujilicious Litrato Images / Embracing the Abstract. Creating images in the mind… at fujixsystem / FujiFilm X-T1 & X100s – Weddings, Portraits & Engagements with two mirrorless marvels at caveiraphotography / Chicago and the Fuji X-T1 at colinfindlay / New York Street Photography with the Leica M 240 & Fuji X-T1 at yorkplacestudios / A Foggy Easter Morning with the Sony A7 II & 16-35mm and Fujifilm X-T1 & Touit 12mm at mirrorlessons / Tomas converted from Nikon to Fuji (X-T1 + lenses). Check out his beautiful Morocco Gallery on his Flickr here / Fujifilm XT-1 Notebook at leighmiller and X-E2 Notebook here / Early morning with the Fuji X-T1 at paulmellingphotography / Living Museums: A journey back in time to the grimy, gritty life in the Black Country between the wars at macfilos / Fuji X-T1 Advanced function at imagemakers / X-T1 + 56mm: Colours of Silverstone at macleancomms / 12 Months With The Fujifilm X-T1 at macleancomms / Switzerland with the X-T1 with the 14, 23, 56 and 50-140 mm at jonasjacobsson / X-T1 Issue; Has Anyone Experienced This? at thewanderinglensman /

other X-series cameras

Should you still buy a Fuji X-Pro1? at daveyoungfotografia / Fujifilm X-A2 Review at ephotozine / Around the World with Fuji-X series (X-Pro & X-E1) at steveschwarz / Fujifilm X-A2 Digital Camera Review at cameras.reviewed / Fujifilm X-A2 at pcmag / Converting an X-E1 to Infra-Red at shuttercount / A Review of The Fujifilm X-M1 Camera at kisty / Fuji X-A2 review at techradar / Hà Nội Color, Exposure, Leica M9 & X Pro1 at thetravelphotographer /

lenses

X-mount lenses

Fuji XF 56mm F1.2 First Impressions at vopoku

16-55 Review at the Spanish site quesabesde (translation) / First thoughts on the Fujinon XF16-55mm F2.8 at Fujifilm Australia / XF16-55mm F2.8 R LM WR shooting report at yodobashi (translation) / Comparison Fuji XF35mm vs Canon EF50mm in Spanish at Kamandula (translation) / Fujinon 10-24mm Review at jorgefm / Fujifilm Fujinon XC 16-50mm F3.5-5.6 OIS II at pcmag / A Modern Classic – Fuji XF 23mm f/1.4 R Lens at mirrorlessminutes /

other lenses / Adapter / Extension Tubes

Canon FD to Fuji X mount adapter at dc.home (translation) / The Tale of Two Touits – Part I – Zeiss Touit 12mm Review at mirrorlessons /

Switch to the X

Shooting PRO with Mirrorless Cameras (from Canon to Nikon) on youtube

RAW-conversion

Iridient Developer vs Lightroom – A Detailed Comparison at alikgriffin / My final thoughts on Capture One Pro 8 and Fuji X-Trans Files at 13thfloorphotography

a bit of everything

Extensive Fuji X Motorsport Shooting Guide at chrisharrisonphotography / NEW BOOK: Outdoor Action and Adventure Photography (ots of stuff in there shot with my Fuji X ) here at AmazonUS / My Love Affair with Fuji – An Instax Believer at 13thfloorphotography / A discussion around one of the reasons I shoot Fuji X-Series cameras at Rediscover Film youtube channel &Fuji X-T1 firmware 3.10 always at Rediscover Film youtube channel / Interview with Marco Larousse, Street and Fine Art Photographer at photographio / 3 Dudes, 3 Bikes and 3 Fujis at danbaileyphoto / Xpert Advice: Overpowering the Sun Using a Leaf Shutter thephoblographer /

FEATURES / FIRMWARE WISHLIST

Mike: “Not a rumor, but a question to share. As I continue to use the X system as my only tools, I find that the main downfall to the X-T1 for fast motorsport work is the lag in the viewfinder when shooting CH, when you pause, you loose your target. What do your readers think of adapting some sort of Sport Finder to the shoe? This could eliminate the problem of loosing and regaining your target. This problem does not exist with the 100 series or the slower XPro1, as there was the ability to view a pass-thru in the viewfinder with those. What do you think? Worth passing on to your Fuji contacts?”

LeFred: “Hi Patrick! You made a poll about a monochrome sensor. There is another feature that would make an X-Pro2 or any other high-end camera stand out : Eye Controlled Focusing. From Wikipedia : “Through the tracking of eyeball movements, EOS cameras equipped with eye-controlled focusing (ECF) (some identifiable by the suffix E) were able to select the desired autofocus point in the scene, based on where the user was looking in the viewfinder frame. ECF was especially useful in sports photography where the subject may shift its position in the frame rapidly. EOS cameras equipped with ECF were the EOS A2E (U.S. model names are shown; see the table below for equivalents in other countries), EOS Elan IIE, EOS IXe, EOS-3, EOS Elan 7E, and EOS Elan 7NE. Canon did not continue its use of eye-controlled focusing in its digital SLRs. The EOS Elan 7NE was the last EOS camera to have this function.”

Lamartiny: “Hi Patrick, I have just read your Open Letter to Fujifilm about Kaizen e Firmware update. I sugest you to add another approach in your list, is a path that Canon made allowing the “parallel” firmware modification wiht MagicLantern (http://www.magiclantern.fm/about.html). Read a bit about it and you’ll figure out that it’s a good way where Fuji can avoid spend a lot of money to keep updated old cameras but still possible the community do this. Beside this the community can implement feature never imagined by Fuji. Things like this happened to Apple and Jailbrake, feature ware implemented by Apple after Jailbrake had already implemented. So, I hope you like and embrace this idea.”

Dear Fujifilm

Today I write you in the name of (probably) many X-shooters following FujiRumors, and especially those who own an X100S and would like a new firmware update. But first let me say this:

THE KAIZEN HISTORY
(or why we love Fuji)

When it comes to firmware udpates, we X-shooters are probably complaining at a level all other camera brand owners frankly envy us (and I know it from the guys at 43rumors, SonyAlphaRumors and CanonWatch in our regular meetings, that they are jealous about how Fujifilm listens to its customers and delivers amazing firmware updates).

Over the years you did an amazing job in keeping our cameras up to date with the latest features. That’s something no other brand offered with such a consistency and dedication (huge X100 update after 3 years, X-PRO1/E1 focus peaking, X-E2 EVF frame rate like X-T1, X-T1 Electronic Shutter… and there would be A LOT MORE to put into this list.)

So, Fujifilm, I don’t say it for captatio benevolentiae, but I really Thank You for all the effort you’ve put into all those new firmware updates.

THE KAIZEN LIGHT
(or why updating older X-cameras with New Features is NOT Good)

It is also clear to me that, with the rapidly growing number of X-cameras, the costs to keep them all updated with the latest new features would be unsustainable, unless you cut your resources destined to the development of new camera technology and redirect them to update the XQ1, X-A1, X-M1, X100, XF1, X-E1, X-PRO1, X20 and all the other X-series cameras with new features.

But given how fiercely contested the CSC market is, it’s wise to put most of your R&D into new camera technology for the Fujifilm X-PRO2, rather than spend your time, money and manpower in figuring out how to bring the electronic shutter on the X-M1.

Therefore I personally understand if you start to look forward and (apart bug fixes) stop introducing new firmware features to older cameras and focus on FW-updates for newer and successful ones… let’s call it a Kaizen Light approach ;) .

THE DAVID HOBBY FIRMWARE
(or why you should update the X100S)

That being said, there is one thing I really do not get, and it’s about a firmware for the X100S… a pretty successful X-camera that would still deserve a bit of Kaizen love.

Here is the thing: a new X100S firmware already exists and it was used by David Hobby to test Classic Chrome on his X100S. Hobby himself said: “I have played with the new Classic Chrome film simulation on an X100S that had been altered to include it.”

So I think it should not be that difficult anymore to release a firmware update that allows all X100S shooters to add this new film simulation to their camera… just as you did with the X-E2 and with David Hobby’s X100S.

I know the X100T is fresh on the market and you don’t want to endanger its sales. But the X100T offers so many other improvements over the X100S (30 improvements listed in Rico’s X100T first look, starting from the ERF & WiFi), that a simple Classic Chrome update would for sure not make the X100T sales collapse, since there would be still 29 improvements left… or 28, if you’d add to the firmware also the electronic shutter or the intervalometer ;) .

So, dear Fujfilm, it would be really great if you could make the “David Hobby-Firmware” available for download.

THE KAIZEN FUTURE
(or how you could possibly still update also older cameras)

And what about this: maybe you could work on a huge X100S firmware update (with Classic Chrome, Intervalometer, Customizable Quick Menu, Electronic Shutter, more reliable Battery Level Indicator, PDAF support in Instant-AF, Spot Metering AF frame coupling etc.), and make us pay a few bucks for the work? Please think about it. I’ll add a poll about it down below.

So, thank you Fujifilm for (hopefully) reading this letter. If you have any statement or reply to make on it, please don’t hesitate to contact me at fujirumor [at] gmail [dot] com. I’d be happy to post your answer here on FujiRumors.

Regards

At the end of February, dpreview published a very interesting interview with Fuji Manager T. Iida. One of the questions dpreview made to the Manager, was if Fuji plans to release a Monochrome X-series camera, since “the X-Trans sensor should be well-suited to native monochrome capture.”

The Fuji manager answered: “Technically of course it’s possible but it depends on the demand, and such a camera would probably match perfectly to some of our core customers. […] I think a monochrome model might represent a sales opportunity for Fujifilm. […] I am a big fan of monochrome photography.”

Now, a couple of days ago I received this anonymous message

“It might be interesting to see how many folks would spring for a Monochrome only B&W only 24 MP  sensor version of the Fuji X-Pro2. You might be surprised!  Seems like a no-brainer.”

Yep, I think it’s interesting to see what you guys think about it. And apparently I’m not the only one. Also the Spanish site Fujistas investigated the same question. So I decided to launch two polls. Feel free to vote them and drop your considerations in the comments.

And now tell us if you think that Fuji should an alternative to Leica’s Monochrome camera.

Read about the advantages of a monochrome sensor at maxmax (thanks hmmm). “An equivalent monochrome camera will always take a much sharper image than a color camera because resolution is dependent on the color content in the picture.”

Full article at khaleejtimes

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It seems that, after the big success of the Fujifilm X-T1, the company is starting to look very optimistic into the future. At least if we listen at Yuta Kawamura (Marketing Boss at Fujifilm Middle East).

In fact, this year he expects a 100% grow of market share in Middle East (from 8% in 2014 up to 15% in 2015).

Fuji ME-Marketing-Boss Yuta Kawamura also says that the biggest market for Fujifilm is Japan, followed by USA, China and Europe. Middle East and Africa close the ranking. The goal of Fujifilm Middle East is to sell 25,000 cameras in 2015!

He also says that, in the ME-region, Fujifilm is ranked 3rd after Sony and Samsung (in the Pro-camera segment).

So how will they achieve this 100% growth in just one year? Kawamura says:

“We will continue to concentrate on high-end models as they are more profitable compared to compact cameras. […] Fujifilm will soon launch another good quality professional camera in 2015“

In other words: Fujifilm X-PRO2 ;)

Thanks to the anonymous reader for the link he spotted at fujifilmME facebook via khaleejtimes

X-T1 BOOK DOWNLOAD … it works now

Just released: Rico’s new X-T1 book. You can buy it also at AmazonUS, but just for Kindle and with DRM.

Download your copy now here

 

PART 1

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Fujirumors’ window to CP+: DAY 4
Follow FR at facebook, google+, RSS-feed and twitter

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ValueTechTV shared 2 short video presentations of some unreleased lenses at (Part1 –  Part2).

For non-German speaking FR-readers, here are what I consider the most interesting things they say:

Part 1: The XF35mmF2 will come end of 2015. It’s smaller than the 35mmF1.4, which is very good if you look through the OVF, so the lens protrudes less into the viewfinder. [admin: the journalist probably just forgot to add: “ if you look through the OVF… of the X-PRO2” ;) ]

Part 2: ValueTechTV says that the XF 100-400 was delayed, because Fuji decided to change the aperture range at the wide end [mock-ups at photokina showed an aperture range from F4 to F5.6]. Always according to ValueTechTV, Fuji is still “experimenting”, but it will have more or less a range that goes from F5 to F5.6 in order to make it more compact.

PART 2

X-Mount Filter Lens video  mounted on a X-A2