According to Fujirumors.com, Fujifilm is releasing a new camera next year called X-H1. It’s basically an X-T2, but designed with video in mind. It will be the first Fujifilm X camera made specifically for videographers. Apparently Fujifilm will include a brand new film simulation with the X-H1 called Eterna.
Eterna is the name of Fujifilm’s defunct line of 16mm and 35mm motion picture film, discontinued in 2012, although apparently it could still be found in significant quantities up until a couple years ago. Lomography (and others) have at times sold (in very limited runs) 35mm Eterna film modified for still pictures.
Some movies filmed using Fujifilm Eterna (in no particular order) are The Avengers, American Hustle, The Hunger Games, J. Edgar, Captain Phillips, 3:10 To Yuma, Inglorious Basterds, The Hurt Locker, Slumdog Millionaire, The Awakening, A Good Day To Die Hard, Harry Potter And The Sorcerer’s Stone, Harry Potter And The Chamber of Secrets, Harry Potter And The Goblet of Fire, and many more. You might be surprised to learn that some blockbuster movies are shot on actual film, even in 2017; however, not enough (apparently) for Fujifilm to produce motion picture film anymore.
It’s hard to say how accurate the Eterna Film Simulation will be compared to actual Eterna film. Sometimes Fujifilm’s film simulations are more about a “look” than being technically spot-on. I personally welcome any new film simulations, even if it’s intended more for video than still pictures. The last two from Fujifilm, Classic Chrome and Acros, are both excellent.
The X-H1 will have the same sensor and processor as the X-T2 and the X100F (and some other cameras), and so it’s possible that Fujifilm will offer a firmware update for the X100F in 2018 that includes the Eterna Film Simulation. I definitely won’t say that they will do this, but simply that they might. It’s not unprecedented, as Classic Chrome was introduced on the X100T, and they made that Film Simulation available for the X-T1 and X-E2 through firmware updates.
I will keep my fingers crossed that the X100F will someday have the Eterna Film Simulation, but I’m not going to hold my breath. Chances are that the X100V (or whatever Fujifilm decides to call the next X100 camera) will have it and the X100F won’t. It will be a “reason to upgrade” I suppose.
Speaking of firmware updates, according to Fujirumors, expect an update for the X100F to be released later this month. Don’t expect anything jaw-dropping to be included, but it is good to keep everything updated.
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