Here is a little update regarding the Fujifilm TX-3… and in case you missed the previous episodes:

• Fujifilm TX-3 Digital X Pan Camera in 2028
• Fujifilm TX-3: Why Not Just Crop?
• Why Shoot Panoramas and a Special Digital Fujifilm XPan Camera is Needed
• Why a Digital XPan Fujifilm TX-3 Camera is NOT Needed

To be clear, I call it the Fujifilm TX-3 not because it will surely be called this way (I don’t know the name yet), but because it is basically the digital successor the XPan/TX- series, the Fujifilm TX-1and TX-2 65×24 panoramic film cameras.

Anyway, the update is this one:

The options for such a sensor are currently two: a cropped medium format Bayer sensor or a doubled X-Trans sensor.

Or, in other words, the decision would be between a Bayer sensor (cropped GFX) or an X-Trans sensor (doubled APS-C sensor).

Let us know which one you’d go for in the survey below.

And the image above is a rendering made by Pavel which we shared in a dedicated article here.

My personal preference? Both layouts have their Pros and Cons (as we elaborated here). But since this would be a camera for stills, I’d ultimately go for X-Trans if possible. Optimized processing speed is not so relevant for a camera that is not really intended to shoot video or sports/action photography.

• Fujifilm X-Trans Vs. Bayer: Pros and Cons of Going Bayer or Sticking with X-Trans Sensor

Last note: this is not a rumor in the sense that it gives you the final answer on Fujifilm’s decision. I can’t give answers to questions that not even Fujifilm Japan itself has yet answered. But I thought that this time I would anticipate this insight, not waiting for the final decision, but letting you know about the current state of Fujifilm’s decision making, because I am very interested in what you guys would want Fujifilm to use.

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The latest Fujifilm TX-3 digital panorama camera rumors have raised one question mainly: why buy a dedicated 65:24 camera if the Fujifilm GFX has already such a crop mode built into the camera?

Pavel already answered this question for us in a dedicated guest post (with lots of beautiful images). You can check it out here.

I just wanted to add my own thoughts to it.

So again, buy a dedicated 65:24 camera if the Fujifilm GFX has already such a crop mode built into the camera?

There are even adapters, such as the Kipon GFX-XPAN adapter, that allow you to mount Hasselblad XPAN Lenses on Fujifilm GFX cameras.

Well, first of all, none of the Fujinon GF lenses is specifically designed for the 65:24 format.

And if Fujifilm proceeds with its XPan plans, then they could also design specialized lenses optimized for panoramic photography. It could be a fixed lens (if the camera was a fixed lens camera) or a few lenses for panoramic photography (in case of an interchangeable lens camera).

Specialized lenses designed for  a specialized sensor will always give optically better results, with minimal distortion, best sharpness etc.

Also, shooting with a panoramic camera encourages photographers to think differently about composition. Instead of relying on cropping to achieve a desired composition, photographers must carefully frame their shots within the panoramic format, leading to more intentional and thoughtful compositions.

This also leads to a potential creative boost, as photographers will be “forced” to see the world in new ways (the “panoramic world”) and therefore might be more inclined to explore different perspectives and experiment with unconventional compositions.

So yes, you can simply crop a regular GFX image. But a dedicated panoramic camera provides a more authentic and immersive experience for photographers who appreciate the unique characteristics and creative possibilities of panoramic photography.

And look, for many this might not matter. But there is a niche out there who finds inspiration and joy in the process of shooting with a dedicated panoramic camera.

For them, owning such a camera is not just about capturing images; it’s about embracing a distinct style, exploring creative possibilities, and finding fulfillment in the art of panoramic photography.

And you know Fujifilm: they don’t see niche as a waste of money and time.

On the contrary: Fujifilm recognizes that niche photographers embody the genuine essence of photography and that they represent one of the purest form of photographic passion.

And given Fujifilm’s massive photography history, I consider Fujifilm at this point the only brand capable of nurturing this niche with a dedicated camera. I mean, technically also Hasselblad, but since they are now owned by DJI, the DNA of Hasselblad has deeply changed.

So we just told you that Fujifilm is currently considering to launch the digital successor to the XPan/T-X series.

The question now is: would this be a waste of R&D for Fujifilm, or do you think it’s a good idea and they should proceed with these plans?

So down below you can find a survey.

And I tell you my opinion right away: this is a GREAT idea and I hope Fujifilm will keep up developing it and release it in 2028.

The images above are courtesy of Pavel, who shared them with us in this article.

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Disclaimer

1. this is one of the longest term rumors I have ever shared. So take it with a grain of salt, simply because we are talking about a camera that could be released in 2028
2. discussions about this camera are very intense inside Fujifilm, but if I understood my source correctly, the final decision has not yet been taken

Fujifilm = Photography

Tell me…

Who could pull this off?

Sony? Canon? Nikon?

Nah, forget about them. They are busy fighting their Full Frame war with mainstream cameras.

No, we need a company that thinks different.

A company that does not think that niche products suck and are just a waste of R&D.

A company with such a massive photographic culture that it understands that cultivating a niche means cultivating the true passion for photography.

Anyone comes to mind?

Oh yes, this company is Fujifilm !

And that’s why, even though this rumor comes from a new source and has not yet been confirmed by trusted sources, I definitely trust that if any brand can make it happen, then it’s Fujifilm.

So, what’s the rumor?

Well, I had a chat with a new source, and this is what it told me.