See Fuji’s Future through the FujiRumors Crystal Ball: Huge 2015 Rumor Overview, Facts Check and Reliability Rating!

May 6, 2015
Rumors
23 Comments

Many of you asked me to introduce a FR1 to FR5 rating system like on all the other rumor sites, but I honestly don’t like rumor ratings. Here is why:

As you might know, in 2014 I’ve shared 74 correct rumors (82% hit rate). Many of them came from new or anonymous sources. So, just because a rumor comes from a new/anonymous source, it doesn’t mean it is wrong or has a low credibility.

Sure, I receive also plenty of fake rumors shared by people, who apparently do not like FujiRumors for some reason, but I was able to debunk almost all of them… so all those fake rumors luckily never went online (it would be a long, fun list to publish one day)!

Also, consider that many rumors have been shared several months (and even over a year) before the real product hit the market. For example, FR-sources shared already in July 2014, that the X-PRO2 will feature a 24MP sensor (and I’m confident that this rumor is correct).

Such Super Early Leaks can often be a problem for FR, because products that were really in Fuji’s plans at the moment when the rumor was shared, were dropped by Fuji later on (see X70, dual card slot for X-T1 and more). So it happens that correct rumors turn out to be wrong at the end… sh*t happens ;) .

That being said, I understand your need of a rating within this rumor jungle. Therefore, once or twice a year, I sum up all the rumors and try to order them according to their reliability. The list includes also rumors shared in 2014 which are still not verified.

This is also the occasion for me to say a BIG THANK YOU to all sources, who shared right rumors in the past years. I think 82% is an good hit rate for a rumor site, and it would not be possible without your amazing help…. we are all looking forward to hear more from you :) .

cheers,
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WHAT WILL HAPPEN

HIGH RATING

– Fujifilm X-PRO2 coming “late 2015“ (shared 13 January 2015)
– Fuji X-PRO2 will be 4K capable
– X-PRO2 will have new processor EXR III (shared on March 10)
– Fujifilm X-PRO2 will have 1/8000 mechanical shutter speed
– A New X-camera will be Announced in May
– X-PRO2 with APS-C sensor
– No more X-PRO1S, all R&D placed into the X-PRO2
– Fujifilm Flash will come in spring 2015, guide no. 50 and wireless control
– New Fuji flash with remote communication, HSS etc. available within late 2014 early 2015
– Fujifilm X-T10 to be announced Mid-May
– X-T10 announcement May 18
– The mysterious new entry-level? A cheaper version of the Fujfilm X-T1 coming this year (shared 12 January 2015)
– Downspec’d Fujifilm X-T1 to be called… Fujifilm X-T10
– Fujiiflm X-T10 – No weather sealing & smaller EVF
– Fujifilm X-T10 coming late spring/early summer
– Fujifilm X-T10: Some Design Changes over X-T1, SLR shape, Black and Silver version for the same price!
– Fujifilm X-T10 to be announced in May
– Fujifilm X-T10: Body Price between 700 and 800. Kit with 16-50 or 18-55! No dedicated PASM dial.
– ** FIRST FUJI X-T10 IMAGE LEAKED ** SEE NOW the Worldwide FIRST IMAGE of the Fujifilm X-T10!
– Two small dials under the X-T10 Drive and Shutter dial: One to enable flash, and one to switch to Full Auto Mode (with scene recognition)

MEDIUM RATING

– X-PRO2 Sync Speed faster than 1/180th
– X-PRO2 with 24MP
– New Firmware with Improved AutoFocus for X-T1 coming in May (probably 11^th of May)
– Fujifilm X-T1 Better AutoFocus coming in May with Firmware Ver. 4.0
– Fuji Flash made with METZ, ABC grouping, off shoe TTL
– X-T10 no ISO dial, EVF size about the same of X-E2, build in flash, kit lens will be an XC lens
– Fujifilm X-T10 will feature a Function Dial (CH, CL, BKT…) instead of ISO-Dial!
– Fuji X-T1 Firmware ver. 4.0 to be announced in May but released in June!

LOW RATING

– XF 90mm will come in July
– Fujifilm plans a Super Fast F/1.0 lens!
– X-PRO2 version with bigger sensor ( ≈ 1.3x crop), compatible with existing lenses
– Fuji working on bigger sensor camera. Some XF lenses already able to cover bigger sensor
– X-PRO2: available around “this time next year” with more than 16MP (the rumor was shared in late August 2014 by an anonymous source with nick name)
– X-PRO2 priced about 20% to 30% more expensive than the X-T1
– X-PRO2 will feature a dual SD card slot.
– X-PRO2 with tilt screen
– Sigma is looking at the X-system, but they still have to decide which lenses produce and when to launch them (shared 1 DEZ 2014).

THE FACT CHECK 2015

NOTE about the 2015 rumor Fact Check. I have made 2 lists. A “fair list” and an “unfair list“. The fair lists consist in all the rumors shared by different sources at different times, each of them could have been right or wrong. On the other hand, in the unfair list I put everything into the same pot. It’s not fair towards the work of my sources, but I share it out of a pre-emptive self-defense from those who want to put every into the same pot.

THE FAIR LIST

CORRECT RUMORS IN 2015
80% correct rumors

1. XF 16-55mm f/2.8 WR to be announced on January 6th
2. XF 16-55 will cost about £900/1000 (price £949)
3. X-A2 with 180° tilt screen for selfies
4. Fujifilm X-A2 to be announced January 15th
5. Fujifilm XQ2 coming January 15th
6. Lensbaby lenses for X-Mount coming this Spring – rumor confirmed by lensbaby at the their forum
7. NEW ROADMAP to be released NEXT WEEK :: will include XF 120mmF2.8 1:1 Macro, 35mmF2, 1.4x teleconverter and 100-400
8. eXtended X-deals :: Save up to $200 on X-cameras and XF-lenses until March 28!
9. SUPER-DEAL on the XF 18-135 starting on April 12 (save $300)
10. XF 16mm to be announced this week: It will weigh 375g, have a filter size of 67mm, a Focus range from 0.15m to ∞ , 13 elements 11 groups, 9 (rounded diaphragm opening) 1/3EV (22 steps).
11. eXtended version: Fuji X-deals will run until May 30 … Save up to $400!

WRONG RUMORS IN 2015
20% wrong rumors

1. Fujifilm should present a flash system for X series at the CES
2. Lightroom with X-T1 tethered support coming in February (shared 8 January 2014) – NOTE: a plug-in for Adobe tethered shooting was announced in February, but since I said a dedicated Adobe solution will be “released” in February, I consider this a wrong rumor.
3. Next Version of Lightroom will support X-T1 tethered shooting (shared 7 January 2014) – NOTE: a plug-in of Fujifilm was offcially announced on February 26th.

THE UNFAIR LIST

CORRECT RUMORS IN 2015
80% correct rumors

1. XF 16-55mm f/2.8 WR to be announced on January 6th + cost about £900/1000 (price £949)
2. X-A2 with 180° tilt screen for selfies and to be announced January 15th
3. Fujifilm XQ2 coming January 15th
4. Lensbaby lenses for X-Mount coming this Spring – rumor confirmed by lensbaby at the their forum
5. NEW ROADMAP to be released NEXT WEEK :: will include XF 120mmF2.8 1:1 Macro, 35mmF2, 1.4x teleconverter and 100-400
6. eXtended X-deals :: Save up to $200 on X-cameras and XF-lenses until March 28!
7. SUPER-DEAL on the XF 18-135 starting on April 12 (save $300)
8. XF 16mm to be announced this week: It will weigh 375g, have a filter size of 67mm, a Focus range from 0.15m to ∞ , 13 elements 11 groups, 9 (rounded diaphragm opening) 1/3EV (22 steps).
9. eXtended version: Fuji X-deals will run until May 30 … Save up to $400!

WRONG RUMORS IN 2015
20% wrong rumors

1. Fujifilm should present a flash system for X series at the CES
2. Lightroom with X-T1 tethered support coming in February (shared 8 January 2014) – NOTE: a plug-in for Adobe tethered shooting was announced in February, but since I said it will be “released” in February, I consider this a wrong rumor & Next Version of Lightroom will support X-T1 tethered shooting (shared 7 January 2014) – NOTE: a plug-in of Fujifilm was offcially announced on February 26th.

Push the READ MORE button for the updated 2014 rumor check

FAIR VERSION OF THE 2014 RUMOR CHECK

CORRECT RUMORS IN 2014
82% correct rumors

1. Super-Bokeh lens Fujinon XF 56mm f/1.2 R APD! (for about $1400/$1500)
2. Bokeh Lens: New XF lens with super-smooth bokeh coming? (dual aperture lens / STF)
3. New X-T1 firmware: shutter speed will increase from 1/4000 to 1/32000 – better movie capabilities – faster/better AF (including phase detection on instant AF) – some other minor improvements (like new film simulation modes). Firmware updates will be released in October and December
4. Silver X-T1 at photokina
5. Multiple Announcements next week & Price: XF56mm APD lens and XF50-140 ($1500-$1600) 2.8 (shared September 5)
6. X100T: USB-charging system (+ battery charger), 7 FN buttons, bigger LCD than the X100S (1.04 dot 3-inch LCD screen) and WiFi!
7. X-T1 Graphite Silver Edition: deluxe accessories, 1/32,000 shutter speed & will cost $200 more than black X-T1! (anonymous source)
8. Fujifilm X100T first X-camera with electronic shutter (up to 1/32,000)
9. X100T no tilt screen
10. X100T same lens
11. X100T HVF: Real-Time Parallax in OVF
12. X100T with electronic overlay in OVF
13. XF 56mm f/1.2 Super-Bokeh lens
14. X-T1 new firmware update is coming (posted August 15)
15. X100T will have 16mp
16. X100T successor of X100S
17. X100T announcement September 10
18. X30 with 2/3 sensor, 12 MP, X-TRANS 2
19. X30 with 6 function buttons and view mode button
20. X30 won’t have an OVF
21. X30 EVF magnification same as X-E2, same resolution of X-T1/X-E2
22. X30 Announcement 26^th of August. Quite different design compared to X20
23. X30 WiFi with remote control capability, +/-3 exposure compensation.
24. X30 with 3“ Tilt Screen
25. X30 Battery: more than 400 shots with one battery and USB-charging.
26. X30 Battery (part 2): Same battery of X100/S, the NP-95. (AS)
27. X30 lens: 28-112mm f/2-2.8 (same as X20)… but with dual ring!
28. X30 coming in summer (shared in Winter 2014)
29. “Classic Chrome“: Fuji’s new film simulation
30. XF lens deals coming tomorrow (August 10): discount on some XF lenses : : XF 27mm will drop from $449 to $299!
31. X-T1 bundle deal starting 3rd of August (with free vertical grip and spare battery)
32. XF 90mm f/2
33. XF16mm f/1.4
34. XF 18-135 coming June 16^th
35. X-E2 deal
36. X-E2 firmware update with X-T1 EVF refresh rate coming soon (correct, it came a few days later)
37. TCL-X100 will be out end of May (correct. It’s available since then in Japan, now also in Europe. Still out of stock in USA)
38. TCL-X100 will cost €250 and be a bit cheaper than the WCL (correct. AmazonDE sells the silver version for €249, while the discounted WCL still costs €269)
39. TCL-X100 will cost $350/400 (correct, it costs $350 at Bhphot & Co)
40. TCL-X100 coming second half of April (correct, announced April 22)
41. Lightroom 5.4 coming next week
42. February/March lens deals with confidential Fuji document
43. With the next update, Adobe will support X-Trans film simulation
44. X30 won’t come in February/March as rumored by digicame-info
45. Image and size comparison of the 10-24 with a protype 18-135 (real image)
46. XF 16-55 and 50-140 will be weather sealed
47. X-T1 announcement in January 28th at 4:30 AM London Time
48. Improved WiFi for the X-T1
49. UHS-II SD card slot, but no double SD-card slot + 8fps with AF tracking (Fuji originally planed a dual SD-card slot. When the first X-T1 image leaked here on FR, it even looked like a dual SD-card slot, but the Japanese source said it has just a single SD-card slot)
50. X-T1 will cost $1300 / €1200
51. First images of a prototype X-T1
52. Firmware update for Zeiss will add PDAF support
53. Tilt screen for the X-T1
54. The name of the weather sealed X will be X-T1
55. X-T1 will have the best EVF on the market
56. black X100S will have a retail price of about £1000, about the same as silver version (the final retail price in UK is RRP £1099.99 for the black and £1049 for the silver version, according to wexUK. But now both are sold cheaper).
57. XF56mm announcement at January 6th
58. black X100S will be the only “new” X-camera presented at CES
59. Nissin i40: first lot of flashes available early September (the actual availability date will be various between countries, so in some countries it could come a little later). NOTE: The rumor, shared back on July 4th, was correct. Nissin itself confirmed it in September. But there was a last minute delay. Read more about at dc.watch here (translation)
60. Button Upgrade for the early produced X-T1′s with mushy buttons. (correct, at least in Japan at the moment for $75)
61. X-E2: different body colours/textures (service launched in UK)
62. Fujifilm X-T1 firmware scheduled for mid-December
63. X-E2 firmware of late 2014 won’t birng electronic shutter
64. X-E2 firmware: camera remote control firmware udpate coming for Fujifilm X-E2
65. Nissin i40 for Fuji coming to late fall (rumor shared on SEP12 here)
66. Nissin i40 shipping starts next week, but probably first in Asia (shared on NOV 12 here). Correcte, started in Hong Kong.
67. EXTENDED: Amazing X-DEALS will expire 27th of December (instead of NOV29) + XF 18-135 will be $100 off, too!
68. Silver X-T1 and Fuji X100T to be shipped in November
69. Fujifilm will launch three non-interchangeable lens X-cameras within this winter (correct: X100T, X30, XQ2)
70. Another entry level X in early 2015! (correct: X-A2)
71. XF 16-55mm f/2.8 WR to be announced on January 6th
72. Fujifilm to launch a new PRO-photographer service in 2015 [On March 3rd 2015 Fuji announced a PRO photographer rentail & repair service] 73. ORGANIC SENSOR problems to solve: too much battery drain and too much heat being generated [admin: in an interview with bigheadtaco, a Fuji Guy said that the organic sensor is delayed due to some issues, but, once Fuji will fix them, they will launch the organic sensor. See this youtube video at minute 13:00]
74. XF 35mm MKII (Correct, Fuji will launch a WR 35mm lens)

WRONG RUMORS IN 2014
18% wrong rumors

1. X-T1P release with 4K viewfinder in July
2. XF 18-135 announcement on Memorial Day. NOTE: I excluded the rumor of an 18-135 f/3.5-4.8, as this was a typo by Fujifilm at the CP+ (see this image), and I just reported about it.
3. XF 18-135 will come in May
3. XF 18-135 in stores in February
4. X-PRO2 with FF sensor (wrong, and corrected a few weeks later by the top trusted Japanese source)
5. X200 with 24MP, tilt screen, improved AF and wider detection area (NOTE: The 24MP, tilt screen and new lens rumor, shared 7 months before the X100T announcement, have been corrected later on by the tursted Japanese source and by a source who was right in the past). The rest has been corrected a few weeks before announcement by other sources.
6. Medium Format Fuji
7. XF 120-400 (rumor shared 8 months before it was shown at photokina… it turned out to be a 140-400… pretty close, but still wrong)
8. Sigma X-mount coming at photokina
9. X-T1 hardware improvement. A limited edition X-T1 will be available with it pre-installed but existing models could be upgraded with the money worth of new parts. (maybe the source confused it with the premium edition “graphite X-T1”)
10. B&H should receive first batch of Fujifilm X100T cameras on November 18 (wrong, shipping started on the 13th.)
11. X-E2 firmware won’t bring Classic Chrome film simulation
12. X-E1 firmware coming by the end of the year 2014 with Classic Chrome (the firmware came, but it didn’t include Classic Chrome)
13. XF 50-140 f/2.8 WR & 56mm APD shipped in December (50-140 started shipping late November in USA/EU and 56 APD in early December in EU)
14. New flashes for Fuji X are on the way, coming “later this year“, probably presented at photokina (WRONG: flashes are coming, but in Spring)
15. Faster AF for the 35mm MKII (This rumor is separated from the first 35MKII rumor, as it comes from another source and was posted in another article)
16. 35mm MKII announcement early 2015

UNFAIR VERSION OF THE 2014 RUMOR CHECK

CORRECT RUMORS IN 2014
75,5% correct rumors

X100T (no tilt screen, 3” screen, same lens, real-time parallax OVF, electronic overlay in OVF, 16mp, announcements September 10, the name “X100T”, USB-charging system, 7FN buttons, electronic shutter.)
X30 (2/3 sensor, 12MP, 6 function buttons and view mode button, no OVF, same EVF of the X-E2, Announcement 26^th, quite a different design, Wifi, +/-3 Exp.Comp, 3” tilt screen, batter more than 400 shots, same battery of X100/S, USB-charging, same lens, control ring, coming in Summer and not in FEB/MAR as rumored by other rumor sites [this rumor has been shared in winter 2014].
Super-Bokeh lens coming, similar to Minolta’s dual aperture lens / STF + it will be the XF 56mm f/1.2 R APD! (for about $1400/$1500)
X-T1 firmware coming (will bring everything the X30 has and also 32,000 electronic shutter). Release in December
Silver graphite X-T1 deluxe edition will come and will cost $200 more than the classic black.
XF56mm APD lens and XF50-140F2.8, silver X-T1 and X100T to be announced September 10
XF50-140 price around $1500-$1600
New Film simulation Classic Chrome
XF lens deals coming tomorrow (August 10): discount on some XF lenses : : XF 27mm will drop from $449 to $299!
X-T1 bundle deal starting 3rd of August (with free vertical grip and spare battery)
XF 90mm f/2
XF16mm f/1.4
XF 18-135 coming June 16^th
X-E2 deal
X-E2 firmware update with X-T1 EVF refresh rate coming soon
TCL-X100 will be announced second half of April, out end of May, will cost €250 ($350/400), be a bit cheaper than the WCL (correct. AmazonDE sells the silver version for €249, while the discounted WCL still costs €269)
Lightroom 5.4 coming next week
With the next update, Adobe will support X-Trans film simulation
February/March lens deals with confidential Fuji document
Image and size comparison of the 10-24 with a prototype 18-135 (real image)
XF 16-55 and 50-140 will be weather sealed
X-T1 and the following information: announcement in January 28th at 4:30 AM London Time, improved WiFi, UHS-II SD card, no double SD-card slog, 8fps with AF tracking, price $1300, first leaked image, tilt screen, weather sealed, biggest and best EVF in the market (x0,77 magnification), the name “X-T1”
Firmware update for Zeiss will add PDAF support
Same price for the black X100S as the silver one (I remind you that, when the black X100 was launched, it cost more than the silver). The black version will be the only new camera presented at the CES
XF56mm announcement at January 6^th.
Nissin i40: first lot of flashes available early September (the actual availability date will be various between countries, so in some countries it could come a little later). NOTE: The rumor, shared back on July 4th, was correct. Nissin itself confirmed it in September. But there was a last minute delay. Read more about at dc.watch here (translation)
Button Upgrade for the early produced X-T1′s with mushy buttons. (correct, at least in Japan at the moment for $75)
X-E2: different body colours/textures (service launched in UK)
Fujifilm X-T1 firmware scheduled for mid-December / X-E2 firmware of late 2014 won’t birng electronic shutter / X-E2 firmware: camera remote control firmware udpate coming for Fujifilm X-E2
Nissin i40 for Fuji coming to late fall (rumor shared on SEP12 here). Nissin i40 shipping starts next week, but probably first in Asia (shared on NOV 12 here). Correcte, started in Hong Kong.
EXTENDED: Amazing X-DEALS will expire 27th of December (instead of NOV29) + XF 18-135 will be $100 off, too!
Silver X-T1 and Fuji X100T to be shipped in Novembe
Fujifilm will launch three non-interchangeable lens X-cameras within this winter (correct: X100T, X30, XQ2)
Another entry level X in early 2015! (correct: X-A2)
XF 16-55mm f/2.8 WR to be announced on January 6th
Fujifilm to launch a new PRO-photographer service in 2015 [On March 3rd 2015 Fuji announced a PRO photographer rentail & repair service]
ORGANIC SENSOR problems to solve: too much battery drain and too much heat being generated [admin: in an interview with bigheadtaco, a Fuji Guy said that the organic sensor is delayed due to some issues, but, once Fuji will fix them, they will launch the organic sensor. See this youtube video at minute 13:00]
XF 35mm MKII (Correct, Fuji will launch a WR 35mm lens)

WRONG RUMORS IN 2014
24,5% wrong rumors

X-T1P release with 4K viewfinder in July + X-T1 hardware improvement. A limited edition X-T1 will be available with it pre-installed but existing models could be upgraded with the money worth of new parts.
XF 18-135 release dates (announcement on Memorial Day / in May / in Febraury)
X-PRO2 with FF sensor (wrong, and corrected a few weeks later by the top trusted Japanese source)
X200 with 24MP, tilt screen, improved AF and wider detection area (NOTE: The 24MP, tilt screen and new lens rumor, shared 7 months before the X100T announcement, have been corrected later on by the tursted Japanese source and by a source who was right in the past). The rest has been corrected a few weeks before announcement by other sources.
Medium Format Fuji coming by the end of August
XF 120-400 (rumor shared 8 months before it was shown at photokina… it turned out to be a 140-400… pretty close, but still wrong)
Sigma X-mount coming at photokina
B&H should receive first batch of Fujifilm X100T cameras on November 18 (wrong, shipping started on the 13th.
X-E2 firmware won’t bring Classic Chrome film simulation / X-E1 firmware coming by the end of the year 2014 with Classic Chrome
XF 50-140 f/2.8 WR shipping in December & 56mm APD shipped in November (50-140 started shipping late November in USA/EU and 56 APD in early December in EU)
New flashes for Fuji X are on the way, coming “later this year“, probably presented at photokina (WRONG: flashes are coming, but in Spring)
15. Faster AF for the 35mm MKII. Announcement early 2015