Fujifilm will announce three upcoming cameras in the first part of 2024. Fujirumors is reporting what the second upcoming Fujifilm camera will be. We already know what the first one will be, so now the first two are known. There will be a third camera announced, which we don’t know anything about, and we’ll get to that in a moment.
The first upcoming camera will be the X100V successor, which has been rumored for some time now. Not much is known about it, other than it will have a new lens. A lot of people think that Fujifilm will name it X100R (a.k.a. X100Roku), but I think they’ll steer clear of any association with the video streaming service, and name it X100Z instead.
The “new lens” part of the upcoming X100-series model is curious, because the X100V, which was the fifth iteration of the series, was the first with a new lens. So why will the X100Z (or whatever Fujifilm names it) have a new lens? The leading theories are:
- The current lens cannot fully resolve 40mp, and the new camera will have the 40mp X-Trans V sensor, so a new lens is necessary to take full advantage of the high-resolution sensor. In my opinion, this makes the most sense, although (if it is the reason) I would be slightly surprised that the current lens cannot resolve 40mp.
- Fujifilm will increase the maximum aperture to f/1.8 or f/1.7 to better compete against the Leica Q3.
- The new camera will have IBIS, and a lens redesign is necessary to accommodate.
- Fujifilm has improved the leaf shutter, which requires a redesign of the lens.
- Fujifilm will eliminate the IR hotspot on the lens, and in turn will sell a full-spectrum version.
There could be some other reasons, but those are the ones I have heard. I highly doubt it will be the last one, although it would be cool if it was. Most likely it is to resolve more resolution, but nobody knows at this point, so it could be anything.
The second upcoming camera will be the GFX100S II. Wait, what? Seriously?!
So, yeah, the GFX lineup will have the 100 II and 100S II. I’m not sure what will be different about the two models, other than the 100S II will be less expensive than the 100 II, so perhaps a little less feature-rich and slightly smaller. Honestly, I couldn’t be less excited about this, but it’s probably because I’m not in the GFX system.
I’m not entirely shocked that the upcoming camera will be the GFX100S II, but it is still a head-scratcher. First, once released, it will mean that 8 out of the last 12 Fujifilm cameras will have been PASM models (2/3rds of them). The only four non-PASM cameras will have been the X-E4 (which has been discontinued and is selling for ridiculous prices), the X-T30 II (which was basically just a firmware update and has been discontinued, although you can still find it if you search hard enough for it), the X-T5, and the X100Z (or whatever Fujifilm calls it). It will also mean that 4 out of the last 11 Fujifilm releases will have been GFX models; however, the GFX50S II has already been discontinued, and presumably the GFX100S will be discontinued very soon. I do think that the GFX system needs a divergent option, as it would seem like the GFX100 II and GFX100S II will be pretty similar to each other. A GFX100R, which would be the successor to the long-discontinued GFX50R, seems like the most obvious choice, but I don’t think Fujifilm plans to release another GFX camera with traditional tactile controls.
My best guess is that the third camera will be the X-Pro4, and that it will be announced sometime in May. I have no inside information (I never do, I get it from Fujirumors like everyone else…), but based on past releases, this makes the most sense to me. I hope that I’m right, because there’s a lot of pent-up demand and eagerness for this camera. If it’s not an X-Pro4, a lot of people will be disappointed.
So where does that leave the X-T40 (or X-T30 III or X-T50 or whatever Fujifilm will name it)? It could and should still happen, but I think Fujifilm is trying to move out of that market segment. They’re focusing more on premium products, and less on lower-tier, as they believe the bottom of the market is continuously drying up. Either Fujifilm makes that series more premium (and in turn more expensive)—kind of like what they did with the X-S20—or they do a very modest update, and it might be the last model in the series. Or it could be that the X-T30 II was the last one. My hunch is that there will be at least one more, perhaps released sometime in the second half of 2024. It certainly could be the third camera and not the X-Pro4—I think a lot of people would be shocked (in a negative way) if that were the case.
Where does this leave the X-E5? I think this line is done. The X-E4 was the last. I truly hope I’m wrong about this, though, because I love the X-E cameras. If one does come, most likely it will be in 2025 and not 2024. Since there’s so much demand for the X-E4 and not much supply, it would make a lot of sense to expedite a successor, but I don’t think that Fujifilm is currently doing so.
What about the X80? The Fujifilm X70 was discontinued in December of 2016, and there has been demand for a successor ever since. I’ve noticed that the demand for an X80 has been building recently, growing larger and more vocal. Certainly the recent sales success of the Ricoh GR III should cause Fujifilm to consider it. I don’t, however, believe that Fujifilm has any current plans to release an X80. If they did, I’d be first in line to buy one!
Could care less about the GFX line.
I feel similarly, although if a GFX50R successor was ever released, I’d be tempted. I probably couldn’t afford it, but I’d be tempted nonetheless.
I would be the 2nd in line for an X80!
Is it me or are they showering the market with GFX needlessly instead of actually putting out what has demand?
Also, why launch an X-S20 with minor improvements when the X-S10 was selling well?
Couldn’t have pumped out more X-E4s instead.
I think Fujifilm’s vision for their camera brand is a bit divergent from what many of their long-time loyal fans would most like.
As a landscape photographer I don’t have a problem with GFXs, I have the 50IIs, but there are some good points here particularly when it comes to the X-E4. When a product exhausts itself by demand, that should tell one something! I think Fujifilm is the best thing going in photography, it has reignited many a photographers creative imagination but there are some funny things going on in lineup decisions.
I would be more interested in GFX if they had the tactile controls (like the first two, especially the 50R). But, mostly, they’re outside of my budget…
I think Fujifilm X cameras are the greatest thing to happen to digital photography, in my opinion. I hope that Fujifilm doesn’t/hasn’t lose/lost sight of that.
Thanks for the input!
I’m not one of those guys threatening to leave Fuji as I love the camera shooting experience, the colors, the jpg shooting, etc., but I don’t know where to go from my X-T30. I really want to upgrade to get the newest film simulations so that I can shoot more great recipes, but I don’t want to drop ~$2K on an X-T5 or an X-Pro body. You’re killing me, Fuji.
An X-T40 would be most ideal. I hope it comes in 2024.
This is why I will continue to hold onto my “old” XE-3.
Yeah, definitely will be an excellent camera for years to come.
It speaks to my obvious personal bias, but my sense is there is in fact a real hunger and a ready-made market for a compact fixed-lens prime that’s wider than the current 23/35-mm availability. I’m certain a newer non-PASM X70 or X80 at 18/28-mm (14/21 with the WCL) would rush into a lot of happy hands.
There definitely is! I truly hope it someday soon happens.
Je ne conprend pas cette soif constante de nouveau , matériels….! Ce que nous avons et toujours ce qu’il y a de meilleurs, et pourtant nous souhaitons toujours encore mieux !!! Mais ou sonts réellement les photos de qualités ? Qualité artistique… je ne vois rien de bien depuis plus de 30 ans !et portant nous avons toujour cette indécence constante a acheter a des prix exuberant du nouveaux matériels….. bien ! Parfais ! Conssomons , depenssons , onts verra bien la suite !…
Les caméras des gens s’usent. Ou bien ils souhaitent un modèle de niveau supérieur pour leurs besoins. Ou de nouvelles personnes se lancent dans la photographie. Mais, la plupart du temps, les gens mettent à niveau leur équipement trop souvent et les fabricants d’appareils photo mettent de nouveaux modèles sur le marché trop rapidement. Je ne suis pas d’accord avec votre point de vue concernant l’absence de superbes photographies. Je pense que tant de superbes photos ont été capturées au cours de la dernière décennie que nous en sommes surstimulés et nous ne les reconnaissons même plus comme spéciales.
Contrary to the currents, I believe X80 should have a 40mm equivalent focal length to be more versatile. A little bit of everything. One lens to rule them all, mainly for people that cannot afford more than one Fujifilm camera…
But Fujifilm is right, the bottom of the market is drying-up and the process will only accelerate. Just look around. I bet even Black Fridays do less sales than before. And when this happens, first things that people put aside for better times are the hobbies.
An interesting hypothetical I sometimes think about …
Would I want a Ricoh GR to be a bit more like a Fuji, or the other way around?
I think Fujifilm should embrace what’s special about Fujifilm. I wouldn’t want an X80 to be “more like” a Ricoh GR, I’d want it to be a true Fujifilm through-and-through. As far as the Ricoh, I’m probably in the minority here, but I’d like it to be more Fujifilm-like; however, that’s just my personal preferences.
I personally would like to see an X100 variant with a longer focal length (maybe between 30mm and 35mm focal length lens, instead of 23mm). Sigma made various focal length versions of its DP cameras… Fujifilm could do that, too.
Honestly, I had no courage to say 35mm/1.4 😛 but now that you have said it, I hide behind you!
😀
I wonder if Fujifilm would ever produce a non-interchangeable lens camera with a zoom lens, either as an X70 or X100 variant or as new X series.
They did … X-10, 20 and 30. That market is likely dead.
Yeah, I think that market is largely gone. I do wonder if they did make it how well it might sell, but I think it would have to be a one-and-done kind of thing, and there’d have to be some aspect to it that could make it potentially trendy. I highly doubt it will happen, though.
Xf20 or x80 with 40mm lens were two wishes by me.
You never know, Fujifilm could do anything. I hope they surprise us with something great.
Why not a gfx with fixed lens like the ge645 filmcamera?
Great idea, I hope they do.