According to Fujirumors, there will not be another X-series camera announced in 2023. Apparently, whatever camera was thought to be coming is not… at least not until sometime after New Years. The next Fujifilm camera to be released will, then, be the X100V successor, which will likely be announced in late-January or early-February.
The name most thrown around for the X100V successor is X100R, where “R” stands for Roku, which is six in Japan; however, I’d be surprised if Fujifilm did this just because Roku is such a recognizable brand name. Can you imagine the fun, though, that someone like Omar Gonzalez or Kai Wong could have with this? I can already see the gags about the X100Roku… plug it into your TV for streaming made easy! Catch the latest videos from your favorite YouTubers right on the X100Roku! I don’t know what Fujifilm will name it, but I propose X100Z, which makes the most sense to me.
Other than a new lens, not much is known about the X100V successor. I think it will have the 40mp X-Trans V sensor. Nothing else has leaked, as far as I’ve seen. We’ll just have to wait and see.
A lot of Fujifilm models have been discontinued, and we’re now in the last quarter of 2023, so I thought I would take this opportunity to briefly discuss what the X-series lineup currently looks like.
Fujifilm X100V
This, of course, is the one model that everyone wants but nobody can get. It’s the most in-demand camera that Fujifilm has ever made. With a backorder list that’s months-long, new orders are being placed for the X100V faster than Fujifilm can manufacture new copies. Hopefully, the X100Z (or whatever Fujifilm will call it) will help alleviate this issue, but it might just exacerbate it. I wonder if those who have been on backorder lists for months will be made first in line for the new model, or if they’ll have to jump into a whole new line? Fujifilm will have to be careful with how they handle the transition. The X100V is currently the only rangefinder-style model being offered by Fujifilm. Oh, and good luck finding one!
Fujifilm X-T5
The latest in the often-celebrated X-T line is the X-T5, which is truly a photographer’s camera. It is one of four fifth-generation X-series models, and one of only two with the 40mp X-Trans V sensor. It’s also the only SLR-styled camera with the traditional tactile controls being offered by Fujifilm at this time.
Fujifilm X-H2 / X-H2s
These two cameras are Fujifilm’s flagship models designed to competitively contend with some full-frame offerings by Canikony brands. They’re the most expensive in the lineup, offering the best-of-the-best features, but in a body dissimilar from most that Fujifilm has previously released for X cameras. They’re largely intended to bring photographers into the Fujifilm fold from other brands, and not necessarily satisfy the desires of those who have been with the brand for many years. The X-H2 is the 40mp high-resolution version, while the X-H2s is the 26mp performance option.
Fujifilm X-S20
The X-S20 is the more budget-friendly and compact version of the X-H2/X-H2s. It’s like their little brother. It’s also more intended to bring in folks from Canikony brands than to sell to long-time Fujifilm users. Despite having the old sensor, it’s Fujifilm’s newest X-series model.
Fujifilm X-S10
The X-S10 is the predecessor to the X-S20. Even though the new iteration has been out for several months, Fujifilm hasn’t discontinued the X-S10. I’m not sure if it’s because they still have a lot of copies sitting around, or if it’s just selling so well that they’ll keep it around awhile longer. Fujifilm did something similar with the X-T3—continued to manufacture it well after the X-T4 was released—because it was still doing well for them. The X-S10 is Fujifilm’s cheapest offering, and currently the best value in my opinion.
That’s it! That’s the full X-series lineup currently. It looks a lot different than it used to—boy, have times changed!
Cameras that have been discontinued that still might see a successor are the X-T30 II, X-E4, and X-Pro3. My guess is that an X-Pro4 will be announced in late-spring or early-summer, and will be the first to follow the upcoming X100-series model. I’m not certain if we’ll get an X-T40 (maybe they’ll call it X-T30 III or X-T50), but it would make a lot of sense to offer it, as that line has always done well for Fujifilm, and a budget-friendly camera with the traditional tactile controls is curiously and sadly missing. If Fujifilm does eventually make an X-E5, if past releases are any indication, it will be sometime in late-2024 or even in 2025, I think, just before X-Trans VI; however, the X-E4 had a lot of demand and a long backorder list before being suddenly discontinued, so it would make a lot of sense to release an X-E5 before then. I’m not convinced that Fujifilm will offer both an X-T00 and X-E model simultaneously, and it’s possible that one of those two lines is gone for good. We’ll see.
My guess is that we’ll see three X-series cameras in 2024. The first will be the X100Z, then the X-Pro4, then either the X-T40 or X-E5 later in the year. The X100V successor is the only one that’s for certain, the rest is speculation.
This post contains affiliate links, and if you make a purchase using my links I’ll be compensated a small amount for it.
Fujifilm X100V: Amazon B&H Moment
Fujifilm X-T5: Amazon B&H Moment
Fujifilm X-H2: Amazon B&H Moment
Fujifilm X-H2S: Amazon B&H Moment
Fujifilm X-S20: Amazon B&H Moment
Fujifilm X-S10: Amazon B&H Moment
What other camera manufacturers have discontinued models that have had months long back ordered customers?
I’ve never heard of it myself. It’s strange to say the least.
Great write-up. I think there is definitely a hole at the bottom of the lineup with no X-E4 or X-T30 successor. I want to upgrade to the X-T5, but it’s pretty pricey. Put it on sale or throw in a lens and I’ll buy one, Fuji. I know you’re reading this.
I share your feelings re’ the X-T5, at present using the T3 purchased in preference over the T4, at present waiting some refurbs or a drop in price to be available. I’ll keep the T3 probably converted to IR.
Moi je n’attend rien ! je suis tres heureux avec mon Xpro3 et mon x100V !….
pourquoi toujours cette courses et cette soif de nouveaux matériels ? Je ne vois pourtant toujours pas de meilleurs photos, dans le sens artistique …. C’est plutôt l’atente de nouveaux Artistes qui devient long a venir…..
Mon opinion est que les fabricants d’appareils photo devraient attendre beaucoup plus longtemps avant de mettre à jour leurs gammes de caméras. Un bon appareil photo doit être vendu neuf pendant au moins cinq ans. Une version mise à jour tous les deux à trois ans, c’est trop tôt.
sincerely hope there’ll be a successor to XT30 ii (hopefully it’s called xt-50; sounds more fashionable and up-to-date)
I hope so, too!
Fujifilm is unusual in that their older cameras are still very usable and desirable compared to those of a similar age and spec from other manufacturers. This means that people might prefer to buy, for example, a second hand X-T1/2/3/4 than a new low or mid range camera. (I am one of those people!)
That’s a double edged sword for Fujifilm. On the one hand it means any cheaper cameras they produce are competing with their own second hand high end cameras, but it also means people might be more willing to buy new expensive cameras because they know they’ll maintain a good resale value.
(btw, a while ago I heard someone on (I think) YouTube criticizing Fujifilm users for paying a lot of money for used cameras. I wasn’t going to risk get into an argument in the comments but it was a ridiculous and easily debunkable thing to say.)
Regarding the X-S10 I suspect they are just selling existing stock. It seems unlikely they are running production of both in parallel.
From a business point of view the problem any manufacturer has with fixed lens cameras is just that: fixed lens = no follow on lens sales. They are therefore going to have the lowest priority for production resources.
For Fujifilm, the X100-series is the biggest gateway into the system. For a fair amount of people, an X100 model was their first Fujifilm. So while they don’t get lens sales (except for, perhaps, the wide-angle and telephoto conversion lenses) from it, many will go on to buy an interchangeable-lens model, which will then generate lens sales.
The older models sell well because they’re still quite excellent and attractive (despite their age), but I also think because it’s been so darn difficult to find new ones in stock, and in some cases the model series has been completely discontinued. You can’t buy a brand-new X-T30 II, so you might choose a used X-T30 or X-T20 or even X-T10 instead. You can’t buy a brand-new X-E4, so you might choose a used X-E3 or X-E2s instead. It’s hard to find a brand new X-Pro3, so you might buy a used X-Pro3 or X-Pro2 instead. There was no X80, so a used X70 or XF10 are your only options.
I’ll just throw out there that Best Buy almost always has the X-T30 ii in stock the past few months.
Oh, interesting. I never think of Best Buy, haven’t shopped there in awhile. Maybe that’s why they still have some? Good tip!