Fujifilm Photography in Times of COVID-19 Quarantine, the FujiRumors Lockdown Diary and the Revival of the XF 55-200

I read somewhere, that about 4 billion people are forced to stay at home now to slow down and hopefully stop the spread of the COVID-19 Coronavirus.

In my country, the stunning Dolomites in Italy, we are locked in since over 1 month now. Of course I strictly follow the rules and never leave my apartment, except to buy food 1 or 2 times a week, and to quickly bring out my old dog in the fields just under my home.

Teaching Online

I continue to teach. Just online! With live streaming lessons, videos I upload on youtube [does this qualify me as a vlogger now??? ;) ], material I send to students via email and more. I try to do my best.

But the more I do it, the more I miss it to enter a classroom, write on a blackboard, smell the chalk, but most importantly, interact with my students.

But hey, these days there are people, who live far bigger challenges than me. So no complaint here. Just a wish that everything goes back to normal soon.

Lockdown Photography

The first weeks all went into figuring out how to do this online teaching. Trying different platforms for online live lessons, adapt my material to make it online teaching fit, figure out how to reach the various students best (some have only a smartphone, no computer, no printer, etc), and more practical issues to sort out.

But now that I have some sort of workflow, I can start thinking at my lockdown photography.

In my small rented apartment, I am running out of subjects rather quickly.

What I did now, is I started to take out my Fujinon XF55-200 lens, a lens I hardly use anymore since I own the Fujinon XF18-135mm (which never stops to surprise me, as you can see here).

The goal?

Get a decent shot of the little birds flying around my balcony, and the XF55-200 is the best lens in my arsenal for that. So it gets its revival now!

So far I have failed, though, not for the limits of the gear, but because of my lack of skills. But I have time to practice, improve, and I will upload an image on my instagram if I get a decent shot.

Inspiration

Another thing I like to do, is to check out all our facebook groups, and see how other fellow Fujifilm X and GFX shooters deal with these lockdown days and what they shoot.

I have picked out some images and shared them below. May them motivate you (and me) to stand up, and do the best out of this situation, also photographically speaking.

COVID-19 Image Roundup

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Meet the Dolomites, Home of FujiRumors

If you you think at Italy, my home, you probably think at Rome, Florence and Venice.

And in fact, probably 70% of the tourists coming to Italy, visit those three cities and leave.

But there are many more beautiful spots to visit here in Italy, and one of them is definitely my hometown, the Dolomites.

After I unveiled my location a couple of days ago here, I got a significant numbers of emails from readers, asking me information about the Dolomites. I tried to reply to everybody as good as I can.

One recurring question was: do I recommend visiting the Dolomites also to people, who are not so fit and used to mountains.

My answer is a very clear “absolutely yes!“.

There are tons of cable ways, that bring you everywhere. For example, you can reach the highest peak of the Dolomites, the Marmolada, at 3,300m (10,800 feet) without walking a single step and enjoy views like this.

And if you are more on the adventurous side, of course there are tons of tracks and hikes of all kind of difficulties.

Old or young, single of family, fit or lazy, there is a lot ot enjoy for everyone.

Needless to say, also photographically speaking you are in paradise here, as the images below show.

So, if you ever plan a trip to Italy, try to put the Dolomites on your “to do” list.

I can’t wait these days of lockdown and isolation to be over and get a beer on the Dolomites again.

Today I decided to go through our Fujifilm X-T and GFX group and pick a couple of images that members shared of the Dolomites, in the hope this article inspires you for you next photographic journey.

Stay safe, let’s go through these challenging times together, and done that, enjoy life again as never before!

stay strong, healthy and happy
Patrick

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Fujinon GF 80mmF1.7 and Fujinon GF 30mmF3.5 Size Comparisons

Fujinon G Mount Lenses – Size Comparison

The Fujifilm GFX community is salivating, looking at the latest G mount roadmap.

In fact, the new roadmap lists a stunning Fujinon GF 80mm f/1.7 lens, which in other sensor sizes is:

  • 63mm f/1.3 in full frame
  • 42mm f/0.9 in ASP-C, hence very close to Fuji’s new Fujinon XF50mm f/1.0

And to be clear: we apply the conversion to the f-stop, only to indicate the equivalent shallow depth of field, and not the light gathering capabilities of the lens itself, which remains the one mentioned on the lens (with the consequences we told you here).

We also find a lovely Fujinon GF 30mm f/3.5 lens, which Fujifilm says is meant for street and landscape photography, be very sharp and also focus fast.

At the recent Fujifilm X Summit, Fujifilm showed some mockups and also disclosed more details.

I thought we catch up on that, sum up all we know, and add a few size comparisons based on the technical sketches Fujfiilm delivered during the event.

Fujinon GF 80mm f/1.7

LEFT: GF110mm f/2 vs GF 80mm f/1.7 Size Comparison // RIGHT: GF 80mm f/1.7 mockup
LEFT: GF110mm f/2 vs GF 80mm f/1.7 Size Comparison // RIGHT: GF 80mm f/1.7 mockup

Let’s start with the Fujinon GF 80mm f/1.7.

Above you can see a size comparison provided by Fujifilm. The Fujinon GF 80mm f/1.7 is 20% smaller and will weight under 800g, as opposed to the GF110mm f/2, which weights 1010g.

The picture above also shows the GF80mm f/1.7 mounted on the Fujifilm GFX100.

Fujifilm gave us some indications on what the differences between both lenses are.

The Fujinon GF 80mm f/1.7 will have a very creamy and softer bokeh compared to the one on the Fujinon GF 110mm f/2. Different bokeh quality for different tastes.

Also, due to its more compact nature, the Fujinon GF80mm f/1.7 is good for outside and active shooting, whereas the GF110mm f/2 instead is better suited for studio.

I decided to compare the Fujinon GF80mm f/1.7 to its closes in terms of focal length, the Fujinon GF110mm f/2 and the GF63mm f/2.8.

GF110 - GF80 - GF63
GF110 – GF80 – GF63

Fujinon GF30mm f/3.5

Next in our list is the Fujinon GF 30mm f/3.5.

In this case, we are going to compare it with the Fujinon GF23mm f/4 vs Fujinon GF 45mm f/2.8.

Sadly camerasize does not have the GF45/2.8 in their database, so I added it manually to the Fujifilm GFX50R.

Down below you see that it is just a tiny bit shorter than the GF23mm f/4

GF23 / GF 30 / GF45
GF23 / GF 30 / GF45

Both lenses are fantastic additions to the Fujinon G mount lineup.

What we want know thought, are the other ones we saw in the internal secret roadmap… but not so secret anymore, thanks to this leak ;).

Fujifilm GFX 100: B&H Photo, AmazonUS, Adorama, Focuscamera, CalumetDE, ParkcamerasUK, JessopsUK, PCHstore

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The Era of Fujifilm X100V is Coming and the Fujifilm X100F Gets its Last Glorious Roundup!

Match Technical EP-2F Thumbs Up Grip for Fujifilm X100F

Here on FujiRumors we have always reserved a special place to what you guys voted the by far most sexy camera in the entire Fujifilm world, the Fujifilm X100 line.

In fact, the Fujifilm X100 lives in a world of its own… a world where specs do not really seem to mean a lot.

Just see our massive Fujifilm X100 group, which, among all our Fujifilm X/GFX groups, is the one with less gear talk of all.

This is a natural consequence of the philosophy behind this camera: keep it simple, focus on creating images.

One camera, one lens. Now go out and shoot.

And yet…

there is a rare time, when even X100 shooters focus a tiny bit more on gear. And that’s when a successor is about to come out. And that’s fully understandable.

FujiRumors already shared a couple of X100V rumors, but that’s not what we talk about today.

Today, just before the X100V hits the market, we dedicated an own article to the beautiful Fujifilm X100F, an extremely successful camera that sold far more than X100/S/T.

X100F (save $200): BHphoto, Adorama, AmazonUS, Focuscamera

Let’s start:

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DPReview TV: What Happened to Fujifilm’s Kaizen

Fujifilm built a reputation for bringing continuous improvements to its products, a process frequently referred to as ‘Kaizen’.

In 2019, however, we saw major firmware updates from almost every camera company except Fujifilm.

So now Chris and Jordan ask, “What happened to Kaizen?”

Especially now, that the Fujifilm X-Pro3 is out with many major improvements (and the same sensor/processor of X-T3), many hoped for a big firmware update that will bring the X-Pro3 goodness also to other cameras.

But Chris remembers, that delaying the firmware love for the Fujifilm X-T3 and X-T30, is also a way to protect Fujifilm X-Pro3 sales for a little bit longer.

And guys, honestly, Fujifilm is a company that at the end of the day has limited resources and has to make profits.

So I understand if they delay their firmware, and I am fine to wait a little bit longer to get my firmware love. It’s a compromise: Fuji makes more money, and I still get what I want, just a bit later.

And as a long time Fujifilm lover (and blogger), I remember this discussion popping up so many times already.

In fact, back in 2015 I wrote this article, where we discuss the future of Kaizen already, as already back then, people were worried that Fujifilm abonded their Kaizen philosophy. Of course all discussions ended, once Fujifilm released again several huge updates.

The point is, there can’t be updates all the time and non stop. Sometimes, it just takes a bit longer.

Sure, it was not a great 2019 Fujifilm Kaizen year, but I am confident that in 2020, we will be able to “download a new camera” again ;).

I mean, Fujifilm also publicly asked us Fujifilm users, which firmware we would like next, and 14,000+ of you voted on their new favorite firmware features.

This alone shows that they do care, and that improving their cameras via firmware is always a goal Fuji has in mind, but they can that only do when:

  • they have enough resources to develop it
  • the firmware is mature and ready
  • the “market-moment” is right, meaning for example a new firmware won’t affect sales of a brand new camera all too badly.

So, be patient, and Kaizen love will be back :).

Exclusive: Fujifilm X100V Release Month and Price Leaked – Read Now on FujiRumors!

Fujifilm X100V

As you can see from our Fujifilm camera release timeline, Fujifilm usually released a new X100 camera every two years, but this time, they waited unusually long, and we gave you 3½ reasons why Fujifilm is wating so long.

But at some point, it had to happen, and now I can tell you when.

The Fujifilm X100V will see the light of the day in February 2020.

Moreover, our sources tell us that the price should be around $1,500, but that’s just the current estimate. However, in terms of price, things can change from here until launch, but right now Fujifilm is gravitating towards this price tag.

Previous X100V rumors:

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

Don’t forget to:

Top Fujifilm X100 related articles you should check out.

How to Fine Tune Your Fujifilm Film Simulation to Get the Ultimate Vintage Look

Let’s Go Vintage

As lovely as Fujifilm’s film simulations come out of the box, there is always a way, to fine tune them to taste, simply by changing some settings quickly in the camera.

For example, so did Pete:

  • click here – This Guy Fine Tuned his Fujifilm Film Simulation Settings Inspired by the Work of Great Film Photographers. See “Chrome Eggleston” & More

Today I would like to share the film simulation receipts of FR-reader Ritchie Roesch, which I stumbled upon in the comments to this article here.

I will share only one here on FujiRumors. For the rest, check out the links I will provide below:

NOTE: Some profiles require newer Fujifilm cameras that have the Color Chrome effect or certain film simulations not available in older cameras

And:

Film Simulation Recipes

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3½ Reasons Why Fujifilm is Waiting so Long to Release the Fujifilm X100V

Fujifilm X100V

When I recently posted the huge Fujifilm camera release timeline, I made one single error, that thankfully you guys corrected in the comments.

I calculated, that the Fujifilm X100 series got a refresh every 2 years, which is absolutely correct. But then, based on that refresh cycle, I said that the X100V should come two years after the X100F (which was announced in January 2017).

But this would mean the Fujifilm X100V should have hit the market in January 2019, which evidently it has not. Our sources say it will come at some point in 2020.

Now, not to justify my error, but, well, I run FujiRumors 365 days a year non stop, and I wrote that particular article in a bar, drinking beer, while waiting for the rain to stop and finally go out shooting again with my X-E3, as you can see here. Well, at this point I’ll just say is that it rained a lot that day ;)

I apologize if I confused you guys, so I felt I need to address this in a dedicated article.

But also, this is a good opportunity to quickly discuss, why Fujifilm is waiting so long, to finally give us a successor to the Fujifilm X100F.

Down below 3½ reasons for that:

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Updated Fujifilm 2019/2020 Camera and Lens Release Timeline

Fujifilm Timeline

It’s high time to update our older Fujifilm 2019/2020 camera and lens release timeline.

This is just an approximate timeline and expect to see updates to this list over the next few weeks and months.

For now, this is mainly just an update to the list we shared back in January.

All rumors are as always exclusive FujiRumors.com information. When I just make some guess, I will highlight that for you in the notes.

  • IMPORTANT NOTE: We are talking about release timeline, not announcement timeline.

How Many Lenses a Year?

  • as we told you here, at the current pace and current resources, Fujifilm can release about 2/3 GF and 2/3 XF lenses a year
  • the list below contains 1 XF and 1 GF lens
  • hence we can expect to see 1/2 more XF and 1/2 more GF lenses to join the list
  • Fujifilm has given up options to vote which lenses should come next

Fall 2019

Coming 2020

Expect 1 or 2 more X as well as GF lenses. My guess:

  • GF 21mm F4 Tilt Shift
  • XF 10mm F2

Probably NOT Coming 2019/2020

* our sources say it will not be released in 2019, and probably not even in 2020. But Fujifilm managers confirmed here, that the X-H line will continue

Top Possible Bonus Gear in 2020

* based on this old rumor rumor
** wishful thinking based on XF10 disappointment
*** no rumors. but please, FUJI, PLEASE!!!
**** no rumor, just a mere wild guess

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