Fujifilm Managers Interview

The French site Phototrend interviewed Fujifilm Managers Shinichiro Udono, Jun Watanabe and Takuya Noguchi at CP+ in Japan. Here are the key points of the interview. For the full interview check out phototrend (google translated).

Hybrid Market

• hybrid market had already reached 48% of annual sales (in value)
• in the second half of 2019, the hybrid market has already exceeded the 50% mark
• the managers think in 2020 year it we will be around 55 or 60%
• Fujifilm launched first hybrid in 2012
• now Fuji has already has 31 XF lenses + 10 GF lenses (roadmap lenses included), so the Fuji system is well established in relation to new entrants, both in terms of lenses and a very wide range of products

Why many lenses close or same in focal length (for example XF35mmF1.4, XF35mmF2 and XF33mmF1.0)

• we want to offer different options to photographers, not only in terms of focal length, but also according to the shooting style. That’s why we have many fixed focal lengths with different focal lengths and apertures. It’s our concept

XF Cine Lenses

• when Fuji launched X-Pro1 seven years ago, focus was on still images, hence lenses for stills
• Fujinon XF 16-55mm f/2.8 R LM WR and Fujinon XF 50-140mm f/2.8 R LM OIS WR zoom lenses are very good lenses for video
• maybe in the future Fujifilm will offer XF zoom and prime lenses with a mechanism optimized for video shooting
• The current Fujinon MKX lenses cover alreary most of the needs of professional videographers
• Fujifilm thinks of making XF lenses with better video performance, and not more MK lenses

Fujifilm X-H2, IBIS in Fujifilm X-T3

• with the XH series, Fujifilm targets professional users, while with the XT series they focus on enthusiasts
• IBIS: Fuji does not want to compromise on image quality so they need a bigger package for now to get excellent image quality and image stabilization
• IBIS is currently not possible in cameras of size of Fujifilm X-T3
• But in the future, Fujifilm believes that it is necessary to offer IBIS technology on more compact cameras (X-T line).
• Fuji X-H1 size is not only due to IBIS, but because Fujifilm wanted to create larger body with better grip and ergonomics for Pros. Even without IBIS, the X-H1 would have the same size/style

Full Frame Fujifilm?

• we do not really know what’s in our customers’ heads (laughs). But in our case, we also have the GFX medium format camera system
• we believe that the combination of medium format and APS-C is the best option
• Canon, Nikon or Sony offer great full format products
• Fujifilm had an internal discussion on the sensor format they had to use
• they did a lot of simulations with engineers. They decided not to go FF, because APS-C allows for a smaller system, also lenses are smaller and lighter
• Fujifilm is a photography company and they really want customers to take more photos. If the camera is bigger and heavier, they will not necessarily want to take it all the time with them and we do not want that
• we want our customers to take their camera everyday and enjoy photography. This is the concept of our APS-C system
• but Fujifilm knows that some customers want a system with a higher resolution and a larger sensor. For them, we have a system with a larger sensor than the full format and it’s the GFX

Fujifilm X-T30

• Fuji does not intend to stop X-T20 production. The X-T20 will be sold cheaper than the X-T30

Fujinon XF33mm f/1.0

• the goal is to deliver a lens with the most beautiful bokeh effect
• at f/1.0, the manual focus is very difficult and that’s why we made this lens with autofocus
• we already had this idea in mind, but we needed the technology to integrate an autofocus system on such a bright lens

Fujifilm GFX 100 Megapixel and GFX50R

• the GFX100 will have much faster autofocus than current GFX50S and GFX50R
• it will have IBIS
• Our development team is working very hard on IBIS, because the sensor is much larger and it is very difficult to control the movements of the sensor
• 4K 30p without cropping
• GFX100 target are professional photographers, especially in the world of fashion, advertising and portraiture. But since this camera is faster, we may be able to extend the audience
• Fujifilm GFX 50R sales are bigger than expected. Many advanced amateur photographers are buying the GFX 50r, especially for landscape or street photography

Modular GFX (Report & Images & Videos Here)

• The modular GFX body was of course only an idea, there was no technical research on how we could achieve this result
• For the moment, we have no plan to develop a modular GFX. But once we have the right technology to produce this type of device, maybe we will consider that option
• Fujifilm was surprised by the huge reaction there was about the modular GFX. Some customer misunderstood, and thought it’s an actual prototype and future product

Kaizen Firmware

• software technologies evolve on a daily basis, and new features are developed
• we are always looking for the benefit for the consumer, it’s our way of thinking
• when a new feature is developed for latest sensor/processor, it is very hard to bring it to cameras with older sensor/processor. It requires much more complex work. It’s not impossible, but it depends on situatuin and development resources

Market Trend

• SLR market, each year this market will shrink, by 10 to 20%
• Fujifilm is in the hybrid market for 6 to 7 years, it’s a good thing more manufacturers are coming up with more products because it creates a strong message for the hybrid with customers

A few product images from the interview below.