According to Fujirumors, who is rarely wrong, the upcoming Fujifilm X100V successor will have a new lens. The camera is expected to be announced sometime in early 2024, most likely late-January or early-February. I think that Fujifilm will name it X100Z, but that’s just a guess.
What’s interesting about this is that the lens was redesigned not long ago for the Fujifilm X100V, but the four prior versions—X100, X100S, X100T, and X100F—all shared the original lens. While Fujifilm improved the lens, it wasn’t a huge change. The main thing that Fujifilm addressed was corner sharpness when using a large aperture. At f/2, the old lens was a bit soft (something some people liked and others didn’t), but the new one on the X100V doesn’t have that issue. Beyond that, the update was rather insignificant.
The question is, why will the next X100-series model have a different lens than the X100V? There are a few main ideas that I think could explain it. One is that the X100Z (or whatever Fujifilm will call it) is likely to have the 40mp sensor found in the X-T5 and X-H2, and perhaps the current lens isn’t sharp enough to take full advantage of the resolution. Another idea is that, since the lens isn’t fully weather-sealed without a filter across the front, maybe Fujifilm has figured out how to fully seal it. A third possibility is that Fujifilm will include IBIS, and the lens needs to be adjusted slightly to accommodate. A final idea is that the lens redesign is to simply accommodate an improved leaf shutter. It could be a combination of those reasons or perhaps others not considered.
There are also some wild ideas that are much less likely to be the case, but you never know. One is that Fujifilm will increase the maximum aperture to f/1.7 like the Leica Q3. Another is that Fujifilm will change the focal length to be more wide—perhaps 18mm (27mm-equivalent) or 20mm (30mm-equivalent)—or more telephoto—maybe 25mm (37.5mm-equivalent), 27mm (40.5mm-equivalent), 30mm (45mm-equivalent), or 33mm (50mm-equivalent). A third idea is that Fujifilm is working to make the next iteration more pocketable, and the lens will be slightly slimmer. The wildest idea might be that the X100Z will have a zoom lens instead of a prime (while some might like that, overall I think it would start a riot…). With how things have been going in Fuji-land, it could even be that the shutter dial and aperture ring will be removed in favor of a PASM dial. A final idea is that the redesign will remove the IR hotspot, and Fujifilm will offer a full-spectrum version. I don’t think any of these will be the case, but I’ve certainly been wrong before.
An interesting thought is that the X100V won’t actually be replaced, per se, especially since it is currently so popular, but that Fujifilm will simply introduce an alternative version with a different focal-length lens. In other words, Fujifilm could manufacture the X100V for another few years (and maybe introduce a firmware update to make it more fresh), and offer an 18mm or 20mm version that is otherwise identical. Sigma had [three or] four versions of their DP cameras, which were identical except for the focal-length of the lens: 14mm (21mm-equivalent), 19mm (28mm-equivalent), 30mm (45mm-equivalent), and 50mm (75mm-equivalent) options. Ricoh has two versions of the GR III: 18.3mm (27.5mm-equivalent) and 26mm (39mm-equivalent). Maybe Fujifilm could do something similar? Perhaps have two or three X100V options, each with a different focal-length lens? I highly doubt that Fujifilm will do this, but it would be intriguing if they did.
Time will tell what exactly the lens redesign is, but I don’t anticipate it being anything particularly revolutionary. I think it will be a mild refresh to what is already an excellent lens. Most likely it will be made a hair crisper so that it can fully resolve the 40mp sensor. At this point, though, anything is possible, so it’s fun to consider what it could be, no matter how unlikely.
27 1.7 would be dreamy
That would be outstanding!
You never know!
Please IBIS very much needed.
They might, anything is possible at this point, I think.
My guess is they will continue the X100V with the same 23mm f/2 and will introduce a X100Vx with a 16mm f/1.7 or wider aperture
That would be interesting. You never know, it could happen.
18mm, f2
33mm f2 or 18mm f2 would be nice
It would be interesting if Fujifilm made 18mm and 33mm versions along with the current 23mm. I would buy both, and keep my current X100V.
It’s a possibility at this point….
The X30 zoom lens is pretty compact until you turn it on.
Yeah, I just personally wouldn’t be interested in a zoom-lens X100-series camera. I know some people would love it, but I think most would be unhappy with such a change. But… you just don’t know at this point, the new lens could be anything, including a remake of the X30 zoom.
Personally, I would love Fuji to introduce a successor to the X30. I currently own a Canon G5X mark II as EDC camera for candid shooting/street/parties en general shooting “on the fly”. It’s got a good zoom range (24-120mm eq), it is fast (1.8-2.8) and it’s got both a flip screen and an EVF. I find it a lot more useable and pleasurable than the (admittedly better) Ricoh GRiii. Of course, the Canon’s got just a 1 inch sensor, the lens is decent but not spectacular and the jpeg output of Fuji (and also Ricoh) is, IMHO, nicer. So if Fuji would re-enter the compact zoom market with an APSC sensor and of course Fuji colour science, I’d buy it in a heartbeat. Won’t happen, of course, so this is just daydreaming :).
Unfortunately, the days of compact zooms are over. I would love a pocketable short-range zoom with say a 1″ sensor and Fujifilm’s current JPEG offerings. I know that Sony still makes the RX100 series (I used to own one many years ago, but didn’t like it all that much, though… didn’t even keep it a year), but I think its days are numbered, despite Sony marketing more for video use now. However, if Fujifilm made one with Classic Negative and such, I’d pick one up for sure! Thanks for the comment!
This certainly won’t happen, but I’d love if they released the next version as a full frame 35mm camera. Would definitely need a new lens for that!
Very true! Who knows? It could happen….
I keep daydreaming about a full frame 45 or 50mm f/1.7 compact along the lines of the x100 series. Leaf shutter and built in flash, with by far the shallowest DOF of any premium compact, and you’d have a street-portrait beast. It’d also have a lot of the same vibes as a lot of the classic integrated-lens film rangefinders, like a Yashica Electro or Konica Auto S2 or so forth.
I know wider angle compacts are often more versatile, considering how much room there is for cropping and digital teleconverters with the high MP counts of something like a Leica Q3, but I think leaning in on the shallow DOF of a lens with actual focal length no wider than 45mm would offer something really special.
If Fujifilm were to dip their feet into the full-frame market, a fixed-lens X100-like camera would be the way to do it. I hope they do someday, I think it would be a massive success.
Missing the whole point…IMHO…of the beauty of the X100 line. Simplicity at a basic level and good image quality (though covet the X100V, but not enough to change out the X100T yet)
Most of the ‘stuff’ mentioned is for my big camera, a D750 (which is also a mirror-less in ‘live’ mode).
Nits that might be of interest, but not enough to change at this time:
More dynamic range, better facial recog, faster focus, better battery
Made my own sling using purse leather strap. Long enough for the X100T to hang at hip by my hand. D-Ring tripod mount that the sling runs through and an Ear-Bud pouch on then sling holding 4 extra batteries
Close my hand and lift the X100T to eye level and shoot. ‘Drop’ it to let it slide back down to the hip/hand level
That sling necessitated a lens hood to keep the filter from getting banged
Ready to go in an instant.
I’m not sure I understand what point I missed? This isn’t any sort of wishlist, but simply speculation as to why Fujifilm is updating the lens on the upcoming model.
I’ll make a pitch for a 16mm lens, so that way if the x100z has a TX-1/XPan crop mode, it’ll have the same field-of-view as the 45mm lens on the TX-1.
It’ll basically never make sense to have a sensor that’s wider than the 3:2 aspect ratio–you just loose too many MP to smaller area for the same image circle. With the same pixels per mm and image circle, you could have 40mp 3:2 and 22mp TX-1 shots, or 28mp TX-1 and 16mp 3:2s. Not worth giving up 24mp on 3:2 to get 6 back for XPan format shots. But having a hybrid OVF which has something like a 2:1 aspect ratio would probably be welcome, and strike a good compromise between shooting modes.
If Fujifilm made a 16mm lens version of the X100-series camera, I’d definitely buy it, especially if it has the XPan aspect ratio. It could happen, you never know.
Hello. I’m new to the fuji world and have been reading your blog for some days. It’s really fantastic all the work you have put into this. I was wondering: I have got an old x100s. Have you ever done a tutorial on how to get a similar look to Classic Negative for cameras that don’t have it? Thanks
Unfortunately, there’s no substitute for Classic Negative. It has a unique color palette and a unique way that it handles over and under exposure. If your camera doesn’t have it, you’re out of luck, at least for SOOC JPEGs. I think there’s a way to trick Capture One into allowing you to apply their version of Classic Negative to the RAW files from older models, but I’m not certain how, it’s not something I’ve ever tried. I’m sorry that I’m not more helpful.
Hi Ritchie,
It’s simple. Just import a Fuji RAF file [From X-Trans4 sensor cameras namely the X-T3 and X-T30 (as the XT4 up have Classic neg already)]. And under Capture One’s Color TAB > Base Characteristics > ICC Profile, you will find the Fujifilm Color profiles with Classic Negative as one of the options.
The problem is that it doesn’t render the same Color Negative grade as the one in-camera from XTrans4 processors (from the XT4 up). This is the reason why I’m thinking of selling my XT3 for an XTrans4 body that has the Classic Neg film sim. BUT, maybe you can check it out and find ways how to produce the Fujifilm recipes with Classic Neg as the base such as the Fujicolor Reala 100 you had made and save them as presets. since that’s your field of expertise. And who knows? It may be beneficial to your website as well. This would give me all the reason to keep the XT3. 🙂 Just a thought.
Thank you.
Thanks for the tip!
The problem with presets is that it is very dependent on the camera make/model and especially the camera settings used at the time of capture. I could probably make a 98% accurate Capture One filter, but only when applied just right (right camera, right settings at time the file was captured); otherwise, it will be noticeably off. That variable drives me crazy, because it basically means that 1) many (most?) pictures will need further editing and 2) you’ll never be 100% sure when it is right or just a tad off.
I appreciate the comment!