Now the Thai youtube channel กล้องกล้วยกล้วย interviewed Fujifilm manager Mr. Makoto Oishi.
It’s a 49 minutes interview in Thai and constantly translated into English. Too cumbersome and no time? Don’t worry, it’s all summed up down below for you :)
It’s again an interesting one, that also becomes very technical when it comes to analyzing the autofocus system and lets imaging-resource conclude that Fujifilm’s PDAF technology is arguably the most advanced on the market.
Down below you can find the key points and some images of the interview. The complete one can be checked out at imaging-resource here.
Market Future & Canon Predictions
Fujifilm totally disagrees with Canon’s prediction, that ILC business is going to contract by half over the next two years
Market will depend on innovation that will come
Fujifilm believes there is room for further grow
Some markets will decline, but other markets have still potential to grow (Asian market)
Full Frame
Customers should have different options
Currently full frame has 1/3 of the market by value
2/3 of market is predominantly APS-C, Micro Four Thirds, and some medium-format
other manufacturers focus on full frame, this might open opportunities for Fujifilm as long as they keep up innovating APS-C and MF
mainly X-T3 and GFX 50R helped Fujifilm to grow by 10% total volume growth
APS-C vs FF is not just about sensor size, but also the lens size, lens weight, overall cost, or the speed, the 4K movies
people judge the system more on the overall package
Fujifilm X-T3 vs X-H line
sold better than expected
Fujifilm X-T3 sold 40% better than X-T2 if you compare to same period since launch
X-T3 and X-H1 have cannibalized each other
with the new lower X-H1 price tag, X-T3 and X-H1 sit nicely next to each other
H-series and T-series will coexist for the future, but we need to clearly differentiate the lineup without confusing customers
Lenses
XF200mmF2 is not only for sports, but also for portraits for very creamy bokeh and concerts for example
GFX System
Fujifilm GFX 50R sales are above expectation and factory is very busy
Fujifilm GFX 100 design is almost final, very early firmware, and IBIS still does not work
GFX 100 megapixel autofocus: same sensor structure as the X-T3
GFX 100 has almost zero competition, because FF is only at 50MP and other medium format cameras are very expensive
Fujifilm thinks at multi-shot high-res shooting mode for GFX100, but has not decided yet
designing IBIS is a real challenge for big MF sensor
Fujifilm is still improving image quality via firmware
GFX100 launch in first half 2019 for around $10,000
Fujifilm GFX 50S most popular lens is the GF 32-64mmF4
Fujifilm GFX 50R most popular lens is the GF 45mmF2.8
GFX 50S owners have more lenses than GFX 50R owners
GFX owners complaint about the lack of more fast lenses for the system and Fujifilm is taking into consideration their feedback
Fujifilm listens to customers and tries to make their wishes happen, but sometimes their wishes become reality is very difficult and challenging
As bright as possible, as small as possible, as affordable as possible…
same team works on GFX and X. One R&D budget and depending on needs they are flexible to shift their focus
Autofocus
X-T30 has improved algorithm which will come to X-T3
CMOS sensor is always reading by lines. So it isn’t very suitable for horizontal phase-difference […] technically we can make a cross-type system but normally, subjects are more… and horizontally-arranged PDAF pixels support them better
Fujifilm could do vertical AF correlation, but hasn’t felt the need to do it
8% of pixels are phase detection pixels (high density), good for low-light and high-frequency subjects
signal and phase pixel are read separately
we used to have like 60 regions within each AF point, but now 240
depending on the light level, the X-T3 can “bin” PDAF pixels together (basically just adding their contents) to get a better signal/noise ratio, and so be able to determine focus even in very dim lighting. Depending on how you do this, you’ll trade-off some ability to see the finest details, but it can really help in very low-light conditions
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
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.
XF16-80mm f/4XF33mm f/1.0XF33mm f/1.0 vs XF 35mm f/1.4Fujinon GF45-100GF50mm f/3.5GFX50R with GF50mm f/3.5GFX 100 MegapixelGFX 100 Megapixel
The Czech store Oehling has already added to their database the Fujinon XF33mm f/1.0 and the XF 16-80mm f/4.
It is not unusual that stores add upcoming lenses into their database. For example, the Dutch store Cameranu has both lenses listed since August 2018, hence just 1 month after Fujifilm added them to the official roadmap.
But where Cameranu just says “price not known yet”, the Czech store Oehling hazards a guess on the price:
Fujinon XF33mm f/1.0 = $3,100 (converted from czech crown)
Fujinon XF16-80mm f/4 = $1,100 (converted from czech crown)
But before you freak out and panic, I must tell you that, when stores don’t know the final price but want to place an item up already for people to see and get interest, they can add a random pricing to them.
We have covered such “price-holders” in the past here on FujiRumors, such as the Fujifilm X-M1 for $9,999. Although in today’s case it does look more like a “guessed” price than a completely random one, since both lenses have a very different price tag.
So let’s hope this Czech store will keep up making terribly wrong guesses, like they did with the brand new Fujinon XF16mm f/2.8, which in their not yet updated product page has a price tag of $887 (19,990 czech crown), when in truth it costs $399.
For us, this is a welcome opportunity to discuss if $3,000 would be an acceptable price tag for a radical fast autofocus lens like the Fujinon XF33mm f/1.0 and at which point you would call the price a deal breaker.
Fujifilm hold the first X summit at the GPP in Dubai, an event aimed to listen to customer feedback in the best Kaizen tradition and discuss about the Fujifilm future.
For example, Fujifilm asked people which X and GFX lenses they should make next and which firmware update should come next.
Sadly there was not much participation (hardly 50 comments), so let’s see what happens if I share the same polls here on FujiRumors, the only Fujifilm community that can collect several thousands of votes within a few hours ;).
You find Fujifilm’s future X and GF lens survey down below.
Big news: just as we rumored a few days ago, the Fujifilm X-T3 will get a major firmware update, centered on autofocus improvements. It will come in April. Fujifilm showed a video demo of the improvements, and it was fairly impressive. Better face and eye tracking.
Here is the entire 1 hour and 48 minutes video summed up in key points for you. You’re welcome :).
XF35mmF1.4 vs XF33mmF1.0: the XF 33/1 needs to be twice as big, since it needs to let in and correct twice the light
XF33mmF1 has more than twice lens elements than the XF35/1.4
to correct aberration on the XF33mm f/1.0 you need around 7-10 glass front elements
the XF35mmF1.4 has only 7 elements overall
the backside of the XF33mm f/1.0 has about 8 to 10 glass elements
overall the XF33mm f/1.0 has more than twice the lens elements
the 7 to 10 glass elements on the front of the 33/1 weight about 200 gram
challange is to move heavy lens elements precisely during autofocus
Toshi was not satisfied with the size of the lens, but he understands the challenges of developing it. However, he invites engineers to make it still as small and light as possible
XF16mm f/2.8 and XF 16-80mm f/4 working protoypes
XF16mmf/2.8 announcement soon
XF16-80mmf/4 will follow. Launch later this year. Lens feels really light
Future X and GF lenses
Fujifilm asks people which lenses Fujifilm should develop next – FujiRumors added the polls down below
Tilt shift lens is very likely to come next for G mount system
Zack Arias agrees with FujiRumors and he does not want a 35/1.4 MK II because he does not want the 35/1.4 magic to go lost
development costs of new lenses are very high
FUTURE GFX CONCEPTS and GFX CAMERAS – starts 59:39
GFX Concepts
Mirrorless should be free from all legacy
Fujifilm shows design mock-ups of GFX
they show a very small cubic and modular GFX, where you can attach a grip unit and viewfinder unit. So you can build the GFX according to your style (full video here and original full video here)
the modular GFX is just a mockup, but Fujifilm hopes it won’t take long to create such a small device
Medium format size can be reduced a lot, but there are challenges, for example a smaller shutter unit and better battery efficiency
with global shutter Fujifilm can make it smaller
The clear message here is: don’t worry, we are going to make the GFX system a whole lot smaller. So invest into GFX, and we will deliver you also a super-compact body one day.
GFX 100
Fujifilm shows a working prototype of GFX100 and they take a sample on stage, including pixel peeping
at 100MP the benefits of medium format shine, because it’s easier to design lenses that resolve 100MP for MF than for full frame or APS-C
hand-holdable medium format camera thanks to IBIS
GFX100 will cost around $10,000, but final decision has not yet been made
250+ total firmware updates made since the original X100 has been introduced
They show upcoming firmware of X-T3 with significant autofocus improvement. Better face detection, better tracking, better eye AF. Coming in April. Check it out in the video embedded above or on youtube at 1:28:35
Fujifilm also said they will give us the opportunity to switch between faces with the new firmware
survey about which firmware should come next
they official mention Kaizen as their philosophy
Q&A
Fujifilm is studying the rating system
Adobe X-Trans support: Adobe says that for them to get good results with X-Trans is difficult, it’s a lot of work. Fujifilm will support Adobe for better processing
People ask for complete Camera Remote App redesign
Fujifilm is working on improved camera remote app
There will be more X summits, and you can interact at slido here, and of course you will be the first to know, if you follow FujiRumors on Facebook, Instagram, RSS-feed and Twitter.
Modular GFX with Viewfinder and GripModular GFXModular GFX with GripGFX modularXF 33mm designValue of AngleValue of Angle ChartX-T3 April FirmwareFirmware Wishlist
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