I got a surprise package in the mail from Fujifilm: the brand-new X half! I will write a review of the camera in a few weeks probably—I haven’t had it nearly long enough to provide any proper insights. It’s a fun little camera, with some positive and negative aspects. We’ll talk about all of that at some point in the future. Today I want to write about how Fujifilm could implement some features of this camera into future X-series models.
Specifically, I want to discuss a few of the new Filters. Filters are not Film Simulations (although some of them are based on Provia); on all other X-series models, these are known as Advanced Filters. The X half has the usual array: Toy Camera, Miniature Effect, Pop Color, High-Key, Low-Key, Dynamic Tone, Soft Focus, and Partial Color. There are also some new ones, that apparently are borrowed from the Instax Evo line: Canvas, Retro, Vignette, Blur, Fisheye, Color Shift, Mirror, Double Exposure, Light Leak, Halation, and Expired Film. Some of these are uninteresting, and probably should have been left off the camera so that one could navigate the menu faster. But some of these are great, and should be included in future X-series models—just maybe not in the same way.
My favorite is Light Leak. With this filter, the camera puts a random faux light leak on your images. You don’t know what you’re going to get, and that serendipity can be thrilling, especially when it just really works with the image. I would love Light Leak to become a JPEG option (like Color Chrome Effect and Grain) on all X-series cameras moving forward. You should have three choices: All (where every picture gets a light leak), Random (where some pictures get it, but most don’t), or Off (for those who don’t want it at all). This would be such a fun thing for Fujifilm to add, and it seems like it wouldn’t be very difficult to do.
Next up is Expired Film, which has three options: Green, Red, and Neutral. This should be a new Advanced Filter on future X-series cameras. On the X half, your Grain settings get applied to the Filters (at least some of them; I haven’t tested them all yet), and not just the Film Simulations; however, on the X-series, you can’t apply Grain to the Advanced Filters. So this is actually two suggestions for Fujifilm: add Expired Film to Advanced Filters, and allow Grain to be selected for Advanced Filters.
Third is Halation, which puts a red glow around bright highlights. This Filter should be a JPEG option that can be applied to any Film Simulation. I suggest three choices: Off, Weak, Strong. I would love to pair this effect with my CineStill 800T Recipe to more accurately mimic the film. The X half is not necessarily a great option for nighttime photography, so it’s almost a waste on this camera, but I definitely see potential for this effect on other X-series models.
I haven’t used Retro yet, but I’m sure it would be fine to join the Advanced Filter club. Vignette should probably be added as a JPEG option (like Color Chrome Effect and Grain). In my opinion, Fujifilm should graduate Pop Color to Film Simulation, and call it Fortia. In-camera diptychs are just a ton of fun, but I don’t see that coming to other cameras. The Film Camera Mode is pretty cool, and I’d like to see something similar be included in the next X-Pro or X100-series model (although maybe implemented slightly differently). The X half has plenty of unique features and functions, which is what makes it an interesting camera. In my opinion, some of these need to find their way into other models, and not remain solely on the X half.
I would like the X Half app to work with all Fujifilm cameras.
I agree with you Sean. The X-Half is very cool.
That’s a fun suggestion!
Extra cool Ritchie that Fujifilm sent you a X-Half. And the box is totaly appropriate for the camer and Fufi X Weelky. Very nice one.
So congrats and wishing you a lot of fun testing it, and looking to your review and see with me posted on a previous article. I will pick one when the price will go down (I hope quick enough and before the camera is put out of production). Also congrats that Fujifilm is begining to send you stuff.
Realy glad for you.
So I agree fully with you Ritchie about the features of the X-Half and also what is coming with Instax Wide Evo.
And we discussed it before in other of your articles. I’m huge fan of the Advanced Filters, and I’m wish since ages that they be on the GFX too (yeah I know, I can ear the outcry of many, but I do not care much).
The thing is that apport from the Pop, which I’m using A LOT + Dynamic also + miniature, the others are realy outdated as we discussed. And what are put in the X-Hafl + Instax Wide Evo are quite refreshing. I share you favourite filters on the X-Half.
And by the way I have still a Finepix XP120 (waterproof) and my mother a FinePix F900EXR (great compact camera). The range and number of filters vs what we have in the X system, is just amazing. And they are way more fun to use still.
Indeed a major firmware update should be done by Fujiflim. But I’m aleady glad they did a bit, like for going all the way on ISO, as on first gen they were limited (normal as the code for them were coming from their compact line, which add limited ISO capacities).
Also, as I said to Fujifilm management many time, and a couple days ago to Fujifilm Belgium and Europe (some representatives were there). Instax and X teams SHOULD work together. I include also the team(s) working on apps.
Why the X-S10 is the only camera to be able to print directly to a the Wide Link printer ???
Instax is waht runs the Imaging departement giving cash to X & GFX R&D. This is a nonsens to go via the smartphone. If the feature was not present on the X-S10, I would OK maybe, etc…But here the code is existaing. Why the … they are not puting on all the new cameras. I just failed to understand. Thay are losing a lot of potential, making the cross with Instax, ease the transition to Instax user to the X system, etc…
I hope what I said to the mgt during the Fujikina Brussels event will be eared and that many be they will deal with my suggestions and yours in this article. and next firmware updates we will have a pleasent surprise. Crossed-fingers.
I think if these departments and teams worked together a lot more, they could come up with some really cool and compelling ideas.
Glad to see Fuji finally including you in some pre-release reviews. This place is a big resource, and no doubt helps bring folks into the brand.
While I’m not convinced by Light Leaks, I do think Halation could be interesting to play with. There are a lot of Fuji cameras much better suited to low light shooting than the Xhalf, and getting some of that glow would be interesting with certain recipes. Cinestill, or Harmon Phoenix for example.
If there even is a Harmon Phoenix recipe. Might be a tough nut to crack, that one.
My research suggests that Harman Phoenix will indeed be a tough not to crack. I have a roll of it in front of me, waiting to be loaded into a camera, to hopefully help with that.
I was quite surprised by the X half. Totally unexpected. Can’t wait to run it through its proper paces so that I can report on it.