Back in September 2021, Fujifilm quietly introduced the Fujifilm X-T3 WW. The Fujifilm X-T3 “worldwide” version is an X-T3 sold without battery charger!
The X-T3 was a massive hit for Fujifilm, and even though it has been replaced by the Fujifilm X-T4 in February 2020, it was able to stay on the market until now.
It’s actually incredible how long it could “resist” and keep up selling on the market despite the X-T4 with IBIS being launched 2+ years ago.
However, now it’s time also for the Fujifilm X-T3 to retire. The Fujifilm X-T4 will keep the sales for the X-T series going, at least until we get the Fujifilm X-T5.
A limited number of Fujinon XF150-600mm f/5.6-8 lenses is now in stock at Amazon US here (at the moment also shipped and sold by Amazon).
When asked if the X-T4 and X-T3 will profit from the new autofocus algorithm of the Fujifilm X-H2, the service manager for Fujifilm Germany says:
First off we have to say clearly that the Fujifilm X-H2S uses a new stacked sensor and a new processor, who are largely responsible for the fast readout and autofocus speed and at the end allow the new algorithm to realize such an autofocus performance.
This means you can’t bring that kind of performance 1 to 1 to other models like the X-T3 and X-T4, who use an older sensor and processor.
But we are committed to bring new features as much as possible to older models via firmware update
This is not Google translated from German, but translated by myself for you in the most accurate way possible, in order to avoid misunderstandings.
Look, when my Fujifilm X-T4 sees faces in trees and branches, I am sure that this is not a limitation of the sensor and processor, but of the algorithm itself. And that’s true also for the real-time Sony alike autofocus tracking, which disappointed me a bit during the wedding I photographed and that could be significantly improved via firmware update also on older cameras.
That’s why I believe that the new algorithm alone would already give us a huge improvement on older cameras, at least for face and eye detection.
And if there would be also an improvement in zone/area tracking, I could also live without subject/animal tracking on my Fujifilm X-T4, which probably are more complex to implement and really require all the latest and greatest 5th gen stuff.
When I re-watched the X Summit, I was confused by the statement the Japanese Fujifilm manager made in regards to the 5th generation 26MP stacked and 40MP non-stacked sensor.
His statement:
there is no other camera platform more suitable to have them both than the ‘X-H” Series
I wondered what he meant by that, and I concluded it could be either one of the 2 options mentioned below:
only the X-H line will offer both sensor options
since the X-H line is the most suitable, it will be the first to feature both sensor options. Other less suitable lines might get both options too, but only later on as the priority is the X-H line
NEW ENTRY: some FR-reader said this is just marketing blah blah blah aimed to sell as many X-H cameras as possible and then both sensors will find its way in most camera lines anyway
SPECULATION (NOT RUMOR): In my eyes, it would make sense to put both sensor options in at least all of Fuji’s higher end models, as ordering the same Sony sensor in larger numbers, helps to push down the cost for each sensor.
But what Fujifilm will decide to do is unknown at this point. And maybe it is even unknown to Fujifilm itself.
This would mean that in regards to all other lines, Fujifilm would have to make a decision on which sensor to pick for each camera.
And if that would be the case, I can already see lots of head scratching at the Fujifilm HQ trying to figure out which sensor is best for which line.
If that’s really the case, then I thought that the generous FujiRumors community will gladly invest a bit of its time to give Fujifilm its opinion on this matter by commenting on this article and by voting the surveys down below.
Well, for your convenience I’ve made a summary down below and I’ll also give you time stamps so that you can jump to the section that interests you most.
NOTE 1: when he scrolls very quickly through the images you see them unsharp. This happens because his computer is not rendering at full res. When he stops on an image it gets rendered and it becomes sharp.
NOTE 2: I speak four languages, but sadly French is not one of them (although I understand it a bit). In case any French FR-reader notices an error or wants to add something, feel free to let me know in the comments.
So far we know (and it has been well documented) that the Fujifilm X-H2S has a vastly improved dynamic range performance in video over the the previous generation sensor, with 14+ stops compared to the previous 12 stops).
But so far we don’t have any word about the dynamic range or ISO performance for stills. And that makes sense, as it is pre-production and we better wait for the final thing before we make any judgments.
With this disclaimer printed clearly on top of the article, I’d like to share a video overview of the X-H2s plus new lenses shared by Ringfoto.
It’s in German, so let me translate the part I’d like you to hear.
Martin at Ringfoto shows samples he took with the Fujinon XF150-600mmF5.6-8 of his cute dogs running around. He talks very positively about the autofocus.
Then he addresses the concern that f/8 at 600mm (900 equiv.) might be perceived as too slow by some, as you will have to shoot at higher ISO. But here is what he says:
Opposite to other X-Trans cameras, the X-H2S has four analogue-to-digital converters [admin note: X-T4 & Co have two A-D-C]
Thanks to the new sensor and new technology inside the camera and the four analogue-to-digital converters, my feeling with this pre-production X-H2S at this point is that ISO performance on X-H2S is 1.5 stops better than on the X-T4, which would be sensational.
I want to be careful for now, but it looks very promising.
So what is Ringfoto talking about when they mention the analog-to-digital converter (ADC)?
We know the Fujifilm X-T3 and X-T4 (and all other ISOless or ISO invariant Fuji cameras) have two analogue-to-digital converters. On the X-T3 it works like this: every image recorded under ISO 640 “travels” through one ADC, and every image above ISO 640 goes through another ADC. This helps to improve noise performance.
This can have the paradoxical effect that an image taken in camera at ISO500 can be more noisy than an image taken in camera at ISO800 or even ISO1200, because after ISO640 the other ADC kicks in to improve performance, as you can see at the photonstophotos technical chart here.
What’s important for us to know in this article, is that those analog-to-digital converters are a good thing when it comes to noise performance.
And now that we know thanks to Martin that the Fujifilm X-H2S has four AD-converters as opposed to two ADC in the previous X-Trans cameras, then this could indeed explain what Martin observed: a sensational improvement in ISO performance.
Now, to my knowledge Fujifilm has not made any public statement about the increased number of ADC or about the improved ISO performance in stills.
All we could observe until now is that in video the noise performance is shockingly good, as documented also by Gerald Undone and we reported here.
My final word?
Well, there is no final world.
I will wait for final production samples to be tested side by side with other Fujifilm cameras. And this is what also Martin at Ringfoto said, that he wants to validate (or not) his impression with a final production camera.
And once he did that, I will do my job, report and translate his findings for you.
I have investigated and I can now say with certainty that the reason DPReview removed all the ugly sample images taken with the XF150-600mmF5.6-8 is because they were taken using an X-T4, which still needs a firmware update in order to be able to properly communicate with the new lens.
And to be clear: DPR did receive the X-H2S and was warned not to use other cameras except for the X-H2S on the XF150-600mm, but for some reason they did not follow the instructions.
That’s quite an embarrassing error for a website that should have tons of experience with pre-production gear.
And maybe it is actually so embarrassing, that they are afraid it will hurt their reputation if they publicly apologize for it.
But I believe they should own it, not hide it.
Simply removing the sample gallery, without informing their loyal readers that what they saw were flawed samples, is not enough to bring back justice for the XF150-600mm.
Nope, it would be a nice touch towards their own readers and towards Fujifilm, if they’d apologize for sharing samples that mislead people to believe the lens is a horrible performer.
It can’t be a rumor site to set things right in this case. Dear DPR, you need to inform your readers.
This month the Fujifilm X/GFX USA “Create With Me” competition will focus on wedding photography. You have a chance to learn something new and also an opportunity to win a Fujifilm X-T4 Kit!
A hand-picked selection of FUJIFILM Creators will be sharing insight and secrets behind their distinctive photographic styles, then inviting you to create and submit images inspired by their advice. Send an image and you could win some incredible prizes, but you can also simply use each round as a new challenge for your photography – and maximize this fantastic opportunity to learn from the best!
The competition is split into twelve monthly rounds, with two FUJIFILM Creators setting a challenge each round. There’s something for everyone from portraits to landscapes, street to weddings. Sign up below to be informed when each round goes live.
