Manufacturing Fujifilm’s Best Retro Dial: Complicated, Irrational, Expensive but Pure Photographic Pleasure

The Brilliant Dial – a Complicated Joy

When yesterday we published the comments of Fujifilm CEO, who said that it is very difficult to mass-produce Fujifilm cameras with retro dials, there were some who said that making a retro dial is just as quick and easy as making a PSAM dial.

Is it true?

Well, the CEO was referring to the production struggles of the Fujifilm X100VI, which uses the combined ISO/Shutter dial first introduced on the Fujifilm X-Pro2.

So let’s look at that dial. Is it really as easy as making a PSAM dial? Here is what Fujifilm writes about it:

Realizing the [dial] mechanism and manufacturing process were not easy.

Firstly, […] there are 22 positions in total, quite a lot of number for an internal dial. […]

Secondly, the dial is electronically linked. The analog dial operation is converted digitally to know exactly what the setting is.

And Lastly, this mechanism has to be weather-resistant.

In order to meet the requirement, the Shutter speed / ISO dial required 38 parts for its composition. This number is the fourth largest after the finder, shutter unit, and mount.

This is not only about number of pieces, some parts required highly tech solution to manufacture the piece.

For example, in order to achieve the accurate 22 positions, the piece needed to be very precise and durable regardless of its complicated form. This piece is realized by a method called Metal Injection Molding (MIM). It is not cost friendly, but the this method realizes the metal part to be durable even in its complicated form.

Why do we spend so much time on this one dial?

Unfortunately there is no economic and rational answer to that question. But it was something that the developing team of X-Pro camera had always dreamed of achieving. And it was also something that the passionate X-Pro users strongly wished for.

So please, don’t go around saying that making a dial like the one on the Fujifilm X100VI is just the same as making one for any PSAM dialed camera.

There is no other digital vintage-looking camera out there that uses that dial. And the reason why is explained above: it’s complicated, it’s expensive, and it makes no sense from a manufacturing efficiency point of view.

But we are lucky that Fujifilm thinks differently.

Fujifilm does not think that niche products with niche ergonomic solutions are just a waste of R&D. Fujifilm has such a massive photographic culture that they understand that cultivating a niche means cultivating the true passion for photography.

That’s why we get cameras with such a unique (and expensive) dial, and why I believe it absolutely possible that there will be ultra-nice products like the Fujifilm TX-3 in 2028.

And that’s why, even if slower refresh times, Fujifilm will give us the Fujifilm X-E5 and Fujifilm X-Pro4.

And speaking of Fujifilm X-E5, personally I hope it will have such a dial too, although I have little hopes since it is so expensive to make, and I guess Fujifilm does not want that camera to become too expensive.

With that said, you can read the full article about the combined ISO/Shutter dial development here.

Fuji’s Vintage Cameras

DxO adds Fujifilm X100VI Support

DxO has added support for the Fujifilm X100VI.

New Cameras Supported

  • Fujifilm X100VI
  • Leica SL3

New Lenses Supported

  • Fujifilm X100VI Lens
  • Panasonic Lumix S 28-200mm F4.0-7.1 Macro
  • Sigma 17mm F4 DG DN (L mount)
  • Sigma 24mm F2 DG DN C (C021) (L mount)
  • Sony FE 300mm F2.8 GM OSS
  • Sony FE 300mm F2.8 GM OSS with SEL TC1.4x
  • Sony FE 300mm F2.8 GM OSS with SEL TC2x
  • Tamron 28-75mm F2.8 Di III VXD G2 (Nikon Z)
  • Viltrox AF 20mm F2.8 Z (Nikon Z)
  • Viltrox 23mm F1.4 ZX (Nikon Z DX)
  • Viltrox 33mm F1.4 ZX (Nikon Z DX)
  • Viltrox 56mm F1.4 ZX (Nikon Z DX)

A full list of DxO-supported cameras & lenses can be found on the DxO Supported Cameras & Lenses page.

X100VI Stock Check

After the Colossal Fujifilm X100VI Success: Fixed Lens Cameras to Storm the Market, but X100VI Will Rule Them All – and Here is Why!

The rumors about future fixed lens cameras from other brands are intensifying.

And I get it that other brands might be interested in launching their own fixed lens cameras considering that:

  • the Fujifilm X100VI is the best selling camera of the last 15 years at least
  • the Ricoh GRIII is so successful, that Ricoh decided to stop to take orders in a couple of countries
  • the Leica Q3 is enjoying great success too

Now, out of the three cameras mentioned above, the Fujifilm X100VI is the best selling camera by a very large margin.

But, if the rumors are accurate, there might soon me much more competition coming for the Fujifilm X100VI and certainly this motivated Fujifilm to rapidly increase production of the X100VI in order to sell as units as possible before more competition hits the market.

But as much as I welcome future competition, there are two crucial advantage that the Fujifilm X100VI has over other brands.

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Fujifilm X100VI – A Massive Roundup: 40MP Sharper than 26MP (Spoiler: YES!) and Much More!

Don’t Panic ! :)

A Hello Kitty Fujifilm X100VI?

Well, Fujifilm has given us Hello Kitty Fujifilm camera in the past. :)

But don’t panic. As far as I know Fujifilm has no plans to launch such a version. But maybe you can ask fellow FR-reader Christian about it, since he shared it in the comments on FR here. But until I don’t hold this Hello Kitty thing in my own hands, I will trust this is a rendering

The true undertaking by Fujifilm is not launching new X100VI special versions, but deliver the regular ones that are on order and people are waiting for.

And if you are waiting for your copy too, here is a roundup for you.

Lots is covered. From the comprehensive review made by Pal2Tech to the take of PetaPixel and the Northrups on the X100VI, an in-depth review of Gordon from Cameralabs and also some channels that are currently smaller, but do a great service to the Fujifilm community, such as the one of Luca Petralia.

In the first video shared below, The Hybrid Shooter looks at the resolving power of the 40MP X100VI over the 26MP X100V. His conclusion: there is definitely a sharpness boost and added crop capability. So if sharper images and more cropping power is what you want, then the X100VI will do the job.

Fujifilm X100VI Roundup

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Major Firmware Update for X-T5, X-H2, X-S20 and X100VI – New Features Guide Released and Where is Reala Ace?

Fujifilm has just released major firmware updates for the Fujifilm X-T5, X-H2, X-S20 and X100VI.

As usual, there were many disappointed that REALA ACE is not part of the update. I try to reply them all in the various posts I made on social media, but I thought at this point it is best to highlight it again in this article, in the hope the message comes through this time.

Fujifilm promised two major firmware updates: one coming in spring and one in summer. And it’s the one in summer that will bring Reala Ace to other 5th generation cameras.

What will come and when dedicated article here.

So, I hope this helps to mitigate the disappointment that Reala Ace did not come this time around. ;)

Nonetheless, what we got today is already a significant update, so much so that for all the cameras mentioned above (except for X-S20), Fujifilm has released new features guide so that you can learn how to properly use the new features

New Features Guide

Level Up!