According to Fujirumors, Fujifilm will announce at least three new cameras in the “first months of” 2024. Let’s take a look at what that might mean.
First, thanks to Fujirumors, we already know what one of the cameras will be: the X100V successor. We’ve known this for awhile, but we don’t know anything about it other than it will have a new lens. We don’t even know what it will be named. But it will be the first of the upcoming three models, most likely announced at the end of January or the beginning of February.
Second, the rest is a mystery. We don’t know anything. And I certainly don’t have any inside information. Zero. I learn the same way that you do. I can only speculate. But looking at trends (both past and current) it’s not too difficult to make some reasonable guesses. Whether these guesses turn out to be correct is something that only time will tell. I’m wrong about these things often enough that whatever I speculate should be taken with a large grain of salt. This is just for fun.
I think it’s a very safe guess that one of the two remaining models will be the much-anticipated and much-hoped-for X-Pro4. When the X-H2s and the X-S20 were announced, it was at the end of May (of 2022 and 2023, respectively). Don’t be surprised if the X-Pro4 is announced next year in the second half of May. I know the phrase “first months of” makes it seem like it will be sooner than May, but I think it simply means first half of the year. While this is all speculation, I think it’s a fairly safe guess, as far as guesses go.
I don’t know what will be different on the X-Pro4 and what will be the same as the X-Pro3, but I do expect there will be one or two surprises. Fujifilm will do something that is both compelling and perhaps even controversial. I hope that it has the 40mp X-Trans V sensor, plus the XPan aspect ratio as an in-camera option. If Fujifilm were to really think outside the box, they’d throw a 50mp APS-H 4:3 aspect ratio sensor inside of it, which would allow for 25mp XPan pictures. I think most Fujinon lenses would cover APS-H, and Fujifilm could do an auto-crop to 40mp 3:2 for those lenses that can’t. I highly doubt they’ll do this, but it would certainly make headlines if they did.
A lot of people are speculating that the third camera will be an X-E5, but I don’t think it will be. Shockingly, the X-E4 was inexplicably discontinued when there was a lot of demand for it, and as a result the used market for that model has gone crazy. It would make a lot of sense for Fujifilm to rush a successor out ASAP, so as to capitalize on the demand. Still, Fujifilm has suggested that the X-E line might done, plus X-E successors typically doesn’t come out until the end of a sensor generation, which means that an X-E5 won’t likely happen until 2025 (if ever). So I would be pretty surprised if this is the third camera.
The most logical option in my opinion is the X-T30 II successor. This line has been a good seller for Fujifilm, and I think they desperately need a budget-friendly model in the lineup. If you look hard enough it is still possible to buy a brand-new X-T30 II, but it’s sold out at a lot of places, and has been for awhile. My guess is that the successor will be largely identical to the X-T30 II, with the same X-Trans IV sensor but with the X-Trans V processor (like the X-S20). It will have some autofocus and video spec improvements, but will be mostly the same exact camera as the X-T30 II. I bet they call it the X-T30 III, and not X-T40 or X-T50. I suspect it will be announced in late-March or early-April, and it doesn’t even get an X-Summit… or if it does, it’s not the headline product.
Since we don’t know for certain what the second and third upcoming cameras will be, what do you hope Fujifilm will announce next year? Really, at this point it could be anything. Let me know in the comments!
If a Xpro-4 were a tad smaller and if they squared off the top plate versus the slope version, I could see it causing the XE lines demise. I think a monochrome would get more play than a XPan. A new lens for the X100?
I don’t think the X-E’s (apparent) demise is due to the X-Pro, but due to Fujifilm’s belief that models in its class are a drying up due to cellphones. So Fujifilm wants to focus more on higher-end, and less on lower-end (where the X-E lives).
Didn’t Fuji execs already basically announce the end of xe cameras?
Yeah, basically. Jonas Rask, who is much more connected with Fujifilm than I, said that the Fuji exec was speaking out of turn, so maybe it’s not fully true. I have no idea. I don’t see an X-E4 coming in 2024. I wouldn’t be surprised if it never comes, which is unfortunate.
Had to look up what a APS-H sensor was…but what an interesting chance for a XPan ratio in a Pro 4.
As far as I know, Canon and Sigma are the only camera makers to use the APS-H size in digital models (APS-H is a film size produces briefly by Kodak in the late-1990’s and very early-2000’s). I think Fujifilm could use it to move closer to full-frame without jumping into full-frame, but it would be a very unconventional move if they did.
I’m still hoping for an X80; been a few years now.
Yeah, me too! I’d be first in line of they did that.
I just hope they actually have anything in stock and able to deliver. But yes, exciting, indeed. I’m interested in the P4 or a monochrome edition of something else (if they actually produce one).
(PS: have stopped going to FM this year. So many irritating things going on there, also it near crashes my powerful laptop every time!)
I’d buy a monochrome edition of any model if Fujifilm made it, but I think in an X-Pro body would make the most sense.
On your other note, I go less frequently than I used to. It’s not the same experience as it used to be….
This is completely off-the-wall but how about a GFX camera with X-T5 like controls, handling and styling? Or even more off-the-wall: another attempt at a rangefinder-style GFX, a sort of GFX-Pro if you see what I mean.
I’m very unlikely to buy either, at least not until I could get a used one for a reasonable price, but I’d like to live in a world where they exist.
I think that such a GFX camera is sorely and sadly missing from the lineup. I hope they do make one! Like you, GFX is out of my budget, but it seems like the camera should exist nonetheless.
My guess is the X100v replacement may have the better battery like the X-T5/X-S20 and possibly IBIs but that would raise the price a bit. I have all 3 of these cameras so I am happy so far. What Fuji really needs to do is upgrade some of their lenses for the 40mp sensor.
I was looking at my X100V, and I think if they move the SD Card slot, the new battery could potentially fit. So it very well might have it.
An X-T6 with a flippy screen! LOL
🤣 🤣 🤣
I think you’re right about the x-e coming later. For starters, for Fuji to market it with a straight face as a killer rangefinder shortly after the X-pro4 is released would be tricky. I’d put money on any x-e4 update being a late release in the cycle of the sensors, possibly spring 2025 at the earliest if the x-pro4 makes a spring 2024 appearance.
If the X-t40 gets the same treatment as the X-s20 of course it will be an X-t40 not an x-t30 III. And as a big seller of course it will get it’s own release. Not a chance it would be quietly updated with a touch up again and released on the quiet. I would expect it to share billing with the 18-55 MKII and be sold as a kit. And I would expect a late 2024 release, with the early 2024 releases focussing on rangefinder. It could even be used to innovate again with more a consumer orientated implementation of the touchscreen, it should get ibis of some kind and maybe even a micro SD as a secondary slot – the ZF showed that to be interesting option for an entry level. Or maybe some internal memory like with Ricoh.
X100R (it won’t be Z; VI or R) and X-pro4 seem the obvious choices.
A double header with an x80 (18 or 20mm) and x100R (27mm) would be a welcome release. It’s a combination that had worked very well for Ricoh. Give the x80 the function ring, flip up and forward screen that made the x70 such a great blueprint for a phone alternative that is genuinely pocketable. Even a rudimentary EVF would be welcome though. And with the x100R at 27mm we would have something a bit more suited for portrait. It could even put the x100v back into production as a MKII with the internals of the X-s20 or even as a black and white only model (less likely!).
But I have a feeling we might see a GFX-50R update.
I don’t think Fujifilm will name the new X100 “X100R” because “R” stands for Roku (which means 6 in Japanese), and Roku is already a huge brand name. I think it would be the butt of a lot of jokes (which could be fun, no doubt about it)… I just think Fujifilm will avoid it at all costs. But you never know. Maybe Fujifilm has a sense of humor and are looking forward to what Omar and others will come up with….
The X-T30 II was announced at an X Summit, but if it’s a X-T30 III, it might not get one. Not all releases have had one, especially lower-end models. If Fujifilm makes an X-T40 (or X-T50) with some feature upgrades and a price increase, an X Summit is more likely. I think Fujifilm is trying to move out of the tier where the X-T00 line (as well as the X-E line) are in (because Fujifilm believes it is dying), so either the line is in danger of being axed in the future, or it will be scaled up to be a little higher-end (like they did with the X-S line). And it could go either way. It will be interesting to see.
I’d love an X80, I’d be first in line to buy one.
I do think the GFX-50R II (or GFX-100R) is a possibility, but I’m not sure that traditional control models are in the plans for GFX. Most of those who buy GFX aren’t Fujifilm X shooters, so there’s not a lot of crossover between the two camps.
Bring on the X100V successor and take my money!
I think a lot of people feel similarly, lol!!
An X camera with the Reala Ace simulation
I hope so!
Would love to see a smaller bodied version of the XPro and/or a weather sealed X-T30
You never know. For the smaller X-Pro, the X-E line is probably the closest. I’m sure that’s not what you mean, though, as they’re two very different cameras.
The XF1 has an f/1.8 lens.
Why not the x100v successor?
Other wishlist items:
– 40 mp sensor,
– 2 card slots
– 90mm-ish digital zoom,
but keeping the compact form factor is the most important.
Keith
The XF1 had a much smaller sensor. The bigger the sensor, the more difficult the larger aperture is. But, you never know, could be an f/1.8 lens….
I do think that your wishlist is practical. I’d add one more: Grain that scales when using the digital teleconverter. Right now it doesn’t, which is a shame.
X70S, X70 mark II, X80, i just need an upgrade from X70, already try X100F, XE2, XM1, but always comeback to X70
I would LOVE an X80 (or whatever they would call it). I’d be first in line to buy it, personally.
I personally believe it is time to have an X-Pro camera with a very decent EVF now. Ever since X-T1, X-T2 and beyond … I could NEVER go back to squinting into the poverty spec EVF that X-E and X-Pro and X100 series cameras have had. I never use OVF and with every improvement over the brilliant X-T1 EVF, I have TOTALLY relied on using them for judging exposure, WB and focus. Having said that even my X-H2s is lacking slightly in the eyecup design. An option to slide on a bigger one, more recessed and thus excluding strong sunlight from the sides, would be very welcome in especially summer months.
It will be interesting to see what Fujifilm changes or improves on the X-Pro4. I would like to see a big splash, but also as little as possible messed with (that probably doesn’t make a lot of sense 🤣).
Japan economic has been experiencing slump over the last few years and corporate need to know where and how the R&D are to be spent. Profitability wise, Fujifilm will definitely go for X100 and XPro series since the hype train is there with very good ROI, plus saving the million of dollars for marketing and advertising cost…..the final jigsaw, I guess will be….the compact X80, targeting the youth and youtubers !!
I hope that it’s an X80! I’d be first in line to buy one.