Fujirumors posted a poll asking which future sixth-generation camera would excite you the most. As I looked at the list, I had to ask myself: what would make me buy that camera? For example, I have an X-T5 that I’m very happy with, what feature upgrade would make me buy an X-T6? I did that with the X100VII, X-E6, etc., and each time I had trouble answering the question. What would make me buy an X-Trans VI camera when I’m very happy with X-Trans V?
The obvious pick from the poll, which is the current frontrunner (by far), is the X-Pro4, and that’s because the X-Pro3 was discontinued several years back, and now there’s a significant hole in the lineup left by its absence. Over 40% of people who voted are “most excited” for this camera, but I highly doubt that the next X-Pro will account for anywhere close to 40% of sixth-generation camera sales. That model would simply fill an obvious hole, and that’s why so many voted for it.
One potential camera left off the list is an X70 successor. That’s a notable hole, and it might have even received more votes than the X-Pro4 had Fujirumors included it in the survey (I understand why they didn’t). The GFX100RF is essentially a medium-format X70, and it is apparently doing quite well for Fujifilm. I hope they can see that the market is ripe for an X-series version. If there’s a sixth-generation camera that I’m most excited for, this is it, if only Fujifilm would make it.
But let’s move away from specific models for moment. My original question was: what would make me buy an X-T6 when I already own an X-T5? The obvious answer is that I shouldn’t. It is generally good advice to skip a generation, and this is because successors come too quickly. I’ve advocated for longer gaps between new models for awhile now, but you can do this yourself by simply skipping every other version. For example, if you purchased an X-T1 twelve years ago, you would have skipped the X-T2 and bought an X-T3 six years ago, then you would have skipped the X-T4 and gone for the X-T5 instead, and you will pass on the X-T6 and wait for the X-T7, whenever that eventually comes.
Let’s just say, though, that some feature will be included on the next generation of X-series cameras that will entice you to buy. What would that be? The top answer you are likely to find on the internet, of course, is autofocus, but the AF is already plenty good enough for most people, and those who do complain, most of them could fix their AF woes themselves if they wanted to (how else do you explain those using the same exact gear in the same situations and aren’t having trouble?). I’ve already talked too much about AF, so I’m not going to go deeply into it, other than Fujifilm will improve it on the next generation of cameras; however, if they don’t make it more intuitive and work well straight-out-of-the-box without requiring the user to adjust settings in the menu, then the complainers are still going to complain. The issue isn’t so much the AF itself; however (and specifically), a lot of people don’t realize that they’re expected to do some work in order to get the most out of it, and even if they do realize, they may not know how. Solve that, and you largely solve AF, without any other improvements. For myself and the majority of customers, AF improvements are nice, but that alone isn’t enough to justify an upgrade; however, for some, an intuitiveness improvement might just do the trick.
Fujifilm Recipes sell Fujifilm cameras. I cannot tell you how many people have told me that the top reason they purchased a Fujifilm model was to use Recipes. Over the last two years, doing photowalks from coast-to-coast, to my surprise many of the sales people at various cameras stores (including some very big ones) told me that the top tool they use to sell Fujifilm cameras is the Fuji X Weekly App. They pull out their phone and show potential buyers what’s possible straight-out-of-camera, and that seals the deal (it would be nice if I got a little kickback…[insert winking emoji]). New Film Simulations and JPEG options will convince some—including myself—to buy a new camera. There are those who purchased an X-Pro3 simply for Classic Negative, when it was the only camera available with it for about four months. I would hope that Fujifilm fully realizes this, and it’s a part of their X-Trans VI plans.
The number one thing, though, that would make me purchase a sixth-generation model when I already own a fifth-generation iteration of that camera is fixing the Clarity pause. Clarity, which is a micro-contrast adjustment, is a great tool. Using plus-Clarity makes an image appear more crisp, kind of like using a Summicron lens, or like shooting with a sharp slide film such as Kodachrome. Using minus-Clarity is like a built-in diffusion filter, which makes an image appear more soft, and often more negative-film-like. It’s one of my favorite JPEG tools; however, it has an annoying side effect. Whenever Clarity is set to anything other than 0, it causes a short storing pause. It’s about the same amount of time as advancing to the next frame on a film camera. Things that slow you down can be good sometimes; however, if Fujifilm could reduce or even eliminate the Clarity pause, that would be awesome. I would consider upgrading for this alone.
Fifth-generation X-series cameras are excellent, and it’s hard to imagine improvements that are so dramatic that it would convince me to upgrade. Yes, there’s certainly room for improvement—no camera is perfect. But a new Film Simulation (maybe based on Fujicolor Pro 400H that turns pastel with overexposure), a new JPEG option (such as Light Leak from the Fujifilm X half), and especially a long-overdue fix to the Clarity pause, would go a long ways towards convincing me that I should.
“The number one thing, though, that would make me purchase a sixth-generation model when I already own a fifth-generation iteration of that camera is fixing the Clarity pause.”
Amen!
I clicked just to see it the storing lag was mentioned. So, bravo!
Incredibly lame in this day and age that such a rookie processing bottleneck exists.
It’s the ONLY thing I dislike about my X-T5!
I’m really surprised that they didn’t address it years ago.
I’d simply like a little Kaizan for my XT5 in the form of the Surround View found in the XE5. I really don’t need anything more.
Can’t agree more, a nice and loved Jaizen update on Gen V after the coming of the X-T6 would more than great.
All depends on R&D team bandwidth, the marketing team of course and what is possible software wise to implement on Gen V from Gen VI.
One need to remember Fujifilm stated many times that could do it, but like Clarity setting could slow down pretty much a camera if they did (processing power with the new algorithms).
So they were not doing it so not to impact user experience.
Very true but also with a grain of salt as of course it will impact sales too.
But look at the X100 story and other, it did not impact sells on the contrary. Giving on fact more attachments to the brand.
So I would appreciate like you, that as promised in last announcements about Kaizen updates to, come more often, that Fujifilm will do a huge Kaizen update campaign after the X-T6 and X-Pro4 are out, and at least for some core Gen V cameras (X-T5, X-E5, X100VI, RF, GFX 100 II for example)🤞
Fujifilm did say that they are working on Kaizen for X-Trans V, so it is certainly a possibility. I would be a little surprised because I think the idea behind it is a bit of a faux rangefinder OVF-like experience; since the X-T5 is SLR-styled, it makes less sense. In any event, unless you are using 1:1 aspect ratio, it’s not a major benefit. Now the retro minimal EVF display found in the X-E5 would be a nice addition to the X-T5, I could see them potentially doing that, and I hope they do.
Great post Ritchie.
I’ve since the announcement of the Gen VI cameras, exactly the same questionning.
Specificaly for the coming X-T6 and X-Pro4.
And being more than very please about Gen V, which I own several models (!), my questionning to update to whatever Gen VI is even more deep.
Along having a MUCH better and improved AF, having back on the X-T6 the dial for light metering + no pause on Clarity + extra settings (-5/+5) and extra banks like on the X-E5 to store more recipes along a brand new film simulation + improved EVF resolution, smaller body and higher battery longitivity (last Gen V tends to consume battery power extra quickly compared to previous models), well with all those points (I consider with that list might be the Holy Grail for a X-T6), I might consider the upgrade to a X-T6…
Might. As I will be forced this time to make a big long list of pros & cons…
On the X-Pro4, I love my X-Pro3 (which the Dura Dilver one) and it’s rear screen. Now turned as my ‘Noir’ B&W camera.
Unless the X-Pro4 brings exceptional things, I will certainly not update.
That saying said, if and hope Fujifilm will at last do it, IF an X80 or X40 go out, then they will instant buys for sure.
But would the X80 be a Trans-VI ?? Already after the X70 when the XF10 came out, Fujifilm said the small format of the X70 was preventing to go to Gen IV with the issue of the processor, heat dispertion, battery consumption.
Technology evolved drastically, for sure, see IBIS evolution, and finally we get a X-M5. Let’s see how it goes. It will be if done more than excellent surprise after a very very long wait.
Nevertheless, if for me I might pass on Gen VI cameras, I’m welcoming them, be very happy to test them, and be glad for Fujifilm users who will upgrade to them or first buyers.
Yeah, I think that’s a healthy outlook. If Fujifilm surprises with a long list of improvements and new features (or an X80), it might make sense to splurge. Outside of that, it’s probably a good idea to pass, but still be happy for whoever it is that does buy/upgrade. Thanks for the input!
I totally agree on all fronts: a less fidgety AF system, a new film simulation, and instant Clarity are all features that would make me consider upgrading.
Beyond that I’d also love a brighter and higher resolution EVF for critical focusing and harsh daylight situations (esp. eyeglass wearers who can’t always seal out the stray light), a couple more Custom Setting slots for additional recipes, and lastly, a return to the more robust knobs and levers with “solid” detents, as I enjoyed on my XT3.
I think a C1-C10 would be nice, or, for cameras with the Film Dial, have every single slot be customizable to a Recipe, and not just FS1-FS3 (such as on the X-E5 and X-T30 III).
I think the equation is different for people that have different bodies.
I upgraded from an X-M5 to an X-E5 and absolutely love it. The only thing that would get me to upgrade would be weather sealing, which I’ve been led to believe from everything I’ve read would only come to the rangefinder form factor on an X-Pro 4. All the other features that the X-Pro line offers, like improved EVF/Viewfinder, etc., would sweeten the deal even more.
For people that have a second body, especially on the XT and XS lines, then that’s probably not a priority (or people that are invested in another camera system like a lot of X100 owners).
I also don’t get why people don’t see the X100 line as the successor to the X70? Other than size, what am I missing? And the size argument kind of answers itself: people asked for IBIS, better AF, weather sealing, and a bigger EVF, and Fuji delivered all of that in the X100 line. That’s the same tradeoff you wrote about with the GFX100RF, where adding IBIS alone would have nearly doubled the size. It’s hard to add all those features and keep the same footprint.
I think if Fuji launches a rangefinder that bridges the gap between the X-E5 and the X-Pro 3, be it the X-Pro 4 or the X-E6, they’d have a massive hit on their hands.
The X100 line is completely different from the X70. The X100 was the very first X-series camera, announced in late-2010. The X100VI is the sixth iteration. These cameras have a 35mm-equivalent f/2 lens. The X70, which has a 28mm-equivalent f/2.8 lens, was released in 2016, and there was only ever one (no successor). Unfortunately, Sony discontinued the 16mp APS-C sensor that the X70 used, and that spurred its sudden discontinuation. The camera has been a cult classic ever since.
Fujifilm’s most compact APS-C cameras ever made are the X70 and XF10 (a lower-tier, lower-budget, identically-sized followup that Fujifilm claimed is not the X70’s successor). These two cameras are the closest competitors to Ricoh GR. You can slip one in your pocket, and carry it everywhere. An X80 would be a huge hit, and would compete very well against the massively popular GR IV. The point of the camera is not to have all the features (as you mentioned, the X100-line does that quite well); like the GFX100RF, the point is to have some great features in the smallest and lightest package, which also means excluding some things in order to accomplish that goal. I hope that all makes sense.
For me the number one feature to buy a new camera would be the separation of IQ settings and custom settings. In this case I could choose a custom setting for the genre (street, portrait, wild life etc.) with all the settings for focus, drive mode etc. and independently I could choose a recipe.
This should be easily implementable on a X-H2 body by replacing the mode dial by two buttons. When I press the “custom settings button” I can see the name in the LCD and choose the one I like with a dial (front dial or back dial). When I press the “recipe button” I can see the recipe name in the LCD and choose the one I like with a dial.
In 1986 I bought the Canon T90 which had this kind of user interface (of course with other functions) and I loved it. I used this camera for 15 years and never wanted a newer camera, even though the T90 did not have auto focus.
I know that the so-called classic dials can be fun, but 1986 is quite “classic”, right? I also own a X-T2 and yes it is nice. But the X-H2 body feels much better in my hand.
I have a GFX100S II, which has similar functionality to the X-H2, and it drives me nuts. I dislike it tremendously. I would sell it in a heartbeat if Fujifilm made a GFX100R, a successor to the 50R.
This probably doesn’t apply to the X-H2, but this is a potential solution for Fujifilm to consider for many of their other models:
https://fujixweekly.com/2024/12/15/fujifilm-please-read-a-firmware-update-idea-for-fujifilm-fixing-c1-c7-on-newer-cameras/
I never had a T90, but I did have a T70 for a short time (it had a sticky shutter). I think the T70 was much less feature-rich than the T90, if I remember correctly.
Clarity, indeed!
my no. 1, 2 and 3 wish for the next generation
I hope they listen 😀