Merry Christmas to you and your family! I hope that you are surrounded by love this holiday, and you create many warm memories …and photographs.
2024 has been an incredible year! It seems a bit surreal. I’ve told the story before, so forgive me for repeating it.
I started Fuji X Weekly in 2017, with the intention of writing one (or more) articles per week. Initially it was a journal or long-term review of the X100F, but it evolved into all things Fujifilm, with an emphasis on JPEG camera settings (Film Simulation Recipes). The website grew organically. In the early days I did literally nothing to promote it—people came by word of mouth, or they stumbled on it via Google. I’m always amazed how people found Fuji X Weekly back then.
Lightning Strikes Antelope Island – Fujifilm X100F – A photo from Day One of Fuji X Weekly
Eventually this website (and apps) became a full-time job, and I was faced with a decision: quit my day-job, or quit Fuji X Weekly. I could no longer do both. Even though I was not earning enough at that time to support my family with Fuji X Weekly profits, after much consideration and prayers, I took a leap of faith, and put in a two-week notice with my employer, leaving my job just before the holiday season, which was quite scary. That was three years ago.
I got a surprise phone call from Fujifilm back in January. They said that they wanted to work with me in 2024, but they didn’t yet know what that would mean exactly. I was super excited, but since people say all sorts of things, I didn’t count on it. I told my wife, “If it happens it happens, and if it doesn’t, that’s ok.”
NAB Photowalk Group 3– New York City, NY – Fujifilm X100VI – Nostalgic Americana
But very quickly things began to happen. First, they asked me to be a part of a film simulation project, which resulted in this webpage. Then they sent me a preproduction Fujifilm X-T50 to try prior to its announcement. I was invited to a Creator’s Retreat in the Catskill Mountains with a number of incredibly talented photographers and videographers, followed by a release event for the X-T50 on a rooftop in Manhattan. Fujifilm then asked me if I’d like to co-lead a series of photowalks over the summer, in Denver, San Diego, Nashville, and Philadelphia. They also asked me to co-lead two photowalks for their Create With Us event in Austin, and three at The NAB Show in New York. That was followed by a couple more photowalks: Ann Arbor, and back to Philadelphia. If someone had told me a year ago that all those things would happen in 2024, I would not have believed them.
I’m extremely grateful and honored that Fujifilm reached out to me, and brought me along for an incredible ride. Fuji X Weekly has been an amazing journey from the beginning, but 2024 was the best year yet. I’ve met hundred and hundreds of wonderful people (some of you reading this), and worked with unbelievably talented creators. Also, in October I launched a protective case for Fujifilm X100-series cameras in collaboration with Evergreen Cases. I don’t yet know what 2025 will bring—it could be even greater than 2024—but for right now, I’m appreciative for where I’m at on this journey. The view is good from right here, right now.
Thank you for being a part of all this! It’s because of you—the greatest community in all of photography—that any of these amazing things happened. You all are why Fuji X Weekly continues to exist. It’s truly an honor to be helpful in some way to your photography. I hope that you are having a very merry Christmas right now!
It’s the holiday season, and Christmas is right around the corner. Maybe you want to give a gift to your photographer friend or family member something that they will absolutely love. Perhaps your spouse, child, grandchild, or niece/nephew is interested in following in your footsteps, and are hoping to find their first “real” camera under the tree. If you are shopping for a fellow photographer or budding photographer, I’ve got some gift ideas for you!
For my 40th birthday, my wife got me a Fujifilm X100V, which was such an incredible gift! For her 40th birthday, I gave her a Fujifilm X-T4. While those were certainly wonderful presents, they were very unusual for us, as we don’t typically spend anywhere near that much for birthdays and Christmas, and probably a lot of you reading this don’t either. There are tons of great more affordable options and it’s easy to get overwhelmed, so for this article I’m going to narrow the premise, which hopefully will provide some of you with a little better clarity.
First off, I’m assuming that you don’t have a small fortune to spend, and so you don’t mind buying used gear, which is more affordable, and perhaps a bit more practical as a gift. MPB, the sponsor of this article (where all my suggested gift ideas can be purchased from), is the largest global platform where you can buy, sell, or trade used photo and video gear—each piece checked by hand before being MPB Approved. If you’re thinking about upgrading or gifting gear this holiday season, embracing used is a great way to keep costs down without compromising on quality. Secondly, this website is Fujifilm-centric, so all of my suggestions will be related to that brand of gear.
Let’s jump right in!
Fujifilm X-T1 — Best learning camera
For someone who wants their first “real” camera to learn photography on, the Fujifilm X-T1 is my top recommendation. First, it has manual tactile controls to learn the principles of photography with (such as the exposure triangle). Second, while it is “old” for digital technology (released in 2014, a full decade ago), it is still very capable. This was Fujifilm’s flagship model when it was introduced, and 10 years later it holds up pretty well. Interestingly, in 2021, Antonio Faccilongo won the World Press Photo Story of the Year with a photograph captured with this model. Third, the X-T1 is quite affordable, and can be purchased for less than $500. You will need a lens to go with it, and my top recommendation is the Fujinon 35mm f/2, which can be had for less than $300 used. Depending on the exact copies you pick, you can get a camera and lens combo for under $800, and even under $700 if you don’t mind a few scuffs.
Fujifilm X-S10 — Affordable hybrid for videography
While many cameras are great for photography, some don’t excel at both stills and video. My top recommendation for an affordable hybrid—a camera that’s good for both stills and video—is the Fujifilm X-S10, which has in-body-image-stabilization (IBIS), an important feature for videography. If you are buying for someone who has shown an interest in creating TikTok or YouTube videos, you’ll want to strongly consider the X-S10. It can be had for under $900, which makes it the most expensive camera in this list; however, I think it pairs well with the Fujinon 15-45mm f/3.5-5.6, which is one of the more affordable lenses at about $150.
Fujifilm X-A2 – Most affordable camera
I get asked somewhat frequently what is the cheapest way to get into Fujifilm, usually from those wanting to buy a camera for their child or grandchild. Is it possible to do so under $500? Well, it is possible, but just barely. The Fujifilm X-A2 can be had for under $350, and the Fujinon 15-45mm f/3.5-5.6 is about $150, which brings you in right around $500. The X-A line was Fujifilm’s most budget-friendly series. The X-A2 was released in 2015 and is approaching 10 years old; however, it is still surprisingly capable, with similar technical stats as the Fujifilm X-T1.
Fujifilm X30 — Fun for the one who has everything
For the photographer who has it all, the Fujifilm X30 is a fun little camera! There’s a pretty good chance that the photographer you are shopping for doesn’t have this model. It’s older, and doesn’t have particularly impressive stats, but what it lacks technically it more than makes up for in pure joy. Nobody is going to make a career out of this camera, but for fun snapshots that have a ton of character, the X30 is one to take a close look at. It’s not necessarily cheap at around $700, but at least you don’t have to buy a lens for it, since it is a fixed-lens camera.
Fujinon WCL-X100 II & TCL-X100 II — Conversion lenses for X100-series cameras
If you are searching for a holiday gift for the photographer or budding photographer in your life, I hope that this list provided you with some clarity. I always enjoy receiving camera-related clothes and coffee mugs and things like that as gifts, but if you really want to give a camera or lens, those do cost a lot of money, and I think that this list has some excellent suggestions; however, feel free to browse MPB’s current inventory, as you just never know what you might find.
A Fujifilm X100V captured with a Fujifilm X-T5 + Fujinon 90mm + Reala Ace Recipe
Fujifilm has never asked me what I’d like for Christmas, nor do I expect them to ever ask that question. I do believe there is a chance that they read this website occasionally, so I thought I would take a moment to share with them—on the off-chance that they find this article—some gear that they could “give” to me that would really make my holiday special. To be clear, I’m not suggesting that Fujifilm should send me free products (although, if they ever did, I wouldn’t say no…); instead, this is simply a list of gear that I’d love to see Fujifilm release, which would be the perfect Christmas gift for me, and probably a lot of you, too.
I don’t want to take up too much of your time, so let’s dive right into my Fujifilm Christmas Wish List! The order is least-to-most desired, but really I’d be happy with any of them.
#10 — Fujinon 135mm f/2.8
The longest prime lens that Fujifilm offers—aside from the really huge and extremely expensive 200mm f/2—is the Fujinon 90mm f/2, which is one of my absolute favorite lenses. I feel like there’s a massive gap that should be filled to some extent, and a 135mm option seems quite logical—after all, it used to be a very common focal length.
This theoretical 135mm Fujinon lens, which would be 202mm full-frame-equivalent, shouldn’t be too large or expensive. For example, I have a vintage Vivitar 135mm f/2.8 lens that is surprisingly compact. So the design team goals should be to keep it a similar size and weight to the Fujinon 90mm f/2, and with an MSRP no more than $1,200 (under $1,000 would be even better). Of course some compromises might be necessary, and one that I’m ok with is the maximum aperture; I’d prefer f/2.8, but f/3.5 would be fine if something’s got to give (the price should be a little less if it is f/3.5). I think such a lens would be appreciated by those who find the 90mm not-quite-long-enough sometimes, which would likely be a fairly sizable group. I could see it being used by some sports, wildlife, portrait and landscape photographers. Yes, there are several zooms that cover the longer focal lengths, but some of us (myself included) much prefer primes over zooms.
#9 — Fujifilm GFX100R
I’m not in the GFX system, but if Fujifilm ever made a GFX100R, I’d buy it. I cannot afford GFX gear, but I’d still buy it. Why? XPan. Such a camera would be the closest one could get to an XPan III, the digital version of the XPan II. The GFX100R would produce 50mp 65:24 aspect ratio images. A GFX50R II would be alright, too, but a GFX100R would be even more spectacular.
Yes, I know the GFX100 and the GFX100S and the GFX100 II (and even the upcoming GFX100S II) are capable of 50mp XPan-crop pictures, but none of them will provide an XPan-like experience. The only camera that’s close is the GFX50R, but that model is five years old now and missing the latest film sims and JPEG settings and such. Ideally, whether it is a GFX50R II or GFX100R, the body should be X-Pro like in design. One other option that Fujifilm could consider is a GFXPan, where the sensor is shaped in the 65:24 aspect ratio instead of 4:3 (basically, the current 100mp sensor, but half as tall). That would be incredible!
#8 — Fujifilm X-Pro4
This one is near the bottom of the list because 1) I suspect that it’s already well in the works and 2) I don’t know how they’ll make it better than the X-Pro3, aside from some things that could just be a firmware update. So what do I think Fujifilm could do to make the X-Pro4 different-enough from the X-Pro3 to justify it? One idea is an APS-H sized sensor with maybe 50-ish megapixels. That would not only garnish a lot of attention, but it would (more importantly) allow for an XPan crop with over 20mp, and perhaps as much as 25mp. Whether they do this or use the 40mp APS-C sensor of the X-H2 and X-T5, they should still include the XPan aspect ratio as an in-camera option. Another idea is IBIS. A lot of people would welcome that, and it’s probably expected from a camera of this price point, but Fujifilm needs to be careful with how it affects the size, weight, and cost. Most likely, aside from a bump in pixel-count, the biggest change will be a different rear screen. I don’t have any idea how they’ll change it, but I’m certain that they will do so in some way. I think the OVF should be made to be more like the one in the X-Pro2.
#7 — Fujifilm X-Pro3 Acros Edition
While we wait for the X-Pro4, Fujifilm could release a monochrome-only version of the X-Pro3. This camera would make some big headlines, and get a ton of attention. While such a model would surely be niche, Pentax proved that it could still be successful, and I think there’s been enough interest in the Fujifilm world for such a camera that it will sell out, however many copies Fujifilm decides to make. I’d certainly buy one if Fujifilm ever decided to produce it. Heck, I’d buy one almost no matter what body they decided to do it with, but the X-Pro makes the most sense to me, followed closely by the X100.
#6 — Fujifilm X100Z Variants
We’ve known for awhile now that the next Fujifilm camera will be the X100V successor. I don’t know what they’ll name it, but my guess is X100Z. The X100V successor is not in this list because we already know that it’s coming, and it will probably be announced next month, or early-February at the latest. What I would like to put on this wish-list are variants of the camera. For example, Sigma made three versions of the DP Merrill models, and four of the DP Quattro. They were all basically the same, except for the lens permanently attached to the front. I could see Fujifilm doing something similar, with maybe a 30mm-ish “standard” lens, another with a 50mm-ish portrait lens, and maybe a wide-angle version with a 14mm or 16mm lens, to go along with the main 23mm option. Fujifilm could sell multiple versions of the X100Z (or whatever they name it), just with different focal-length lenses. Not only would people be able to buy their preferred focal length option, but you’ll have some people buy all of them.
#5 — Another Fujinon Pancake Lens
A big advantage to APS-C over full-frame is the size and weight of the gear, so it is shocking to me that Fujifilm has only two pancake lenses: the 27mm f/2.8 and 18mm f/2. The 18mm model is only kind-of a pancake, and is in desperate need of an update. Fujifilm should have a series of pancake offerings. Maybe a 16mm f/3.5, the 18mm f/2 (but updated, please!), a 23mm f/2.8, the 27mm f/2.8, and maybe a 40mm-ish f/2.8. It would make my day if Fujifilm were to announce even one more pancake lens, and it would make so much sense if they did.
#4 — Fujifilm X-E5
I had to include this—and put it fairly high on this list—because Fujifilm has indicated that the X-E line might be finished. It would be a huge shame if that’s true. I love the X-E line, and the X-E4 is one of my favorite models. This line is especially great for travel, and is the perfect body to pair pancake lenses with. I don’t need a new X-E camera, but I don’t want this line to end, so I would consider buying an X-E5 just to show support for its continuation in the lineup. Hopefully this will encourage Fujifilm to produce an X-E5, perhaps in time for Christmas 2024.
#3 — Fujifilm Minimalist Model
I would love a rangefinder-styled camera without all the bells and whistles. Just the basic controls that you need. It should have a shutter knob with an ISO ring, a C1-C7 knob, and exposure compensation knob on the top. It must have an M/C/S switch somewhere. Otherwise, it should be kept clean and simple. No rear screen, only a box-top screen like on the X-Pro3, but it should have a hybrid viewfinder. No video mode or even the Advanced Filters and such. It should be a “pure photography” concept that delivers the most film-like experience of all the models. I don’t think Fujifilm would ever consider such a camera, but they absolutely should have a “digital-film” model. This concept would seem to fit Fujifilm’s profile perfectly! Maybe call it simply the X1.
#2 — Fujifilm X200
A lot of people have basically demanded that Fujifilm should jump into the full-frame market, but they’re not going to, and in my opinion it is a smart move. They’d go from being a big fish in a decent sized pond to a small fish in a large and overcrowded pond. One big problem is that they’d have to develop a whole new line of lenses, which, if they weren’t successful, could bankrupt the division. One way that Fujifilm could dip their toes into the full-frame market in a way that’s pretty much guaranteed to be successful and won’t require the new-lens-lineup investment—in other words, somewhat small risk and big reward—is to make a full-frame version of the X100-series. Call it the X200. Perhaps differentiate it from the X100 by giving it a 30mm (going slightly more wide-angle) or 40mm (slightly more telephoto) lens, and increase the maximum aperture to f/1.8. If full-frame is simply out of the question, perhaps go the fuller-than-full-frame route, and make a GFX200, which would be a GFX version of the X100. Personally, I would have a hard time saying no to such a camera.
#1 — Fujifilm X80
The Fujifilm X70 was such a great little camera! It had a much-too-short production run thanks to Sony’s sudden discontinuation of the sensor inside that model, and it’s a real shame that Fujifilm never made a successor. Especially considering how well the Ricoh GR III is selling right now, it would make a lot of sense for Fujifilm to produce a successor to the X70. From what I can tell, the demand for such a camera has been increasing. So many people have told me that they’d buy one. I know that I would be first in line! Come on, Fujifilm! Make an X80 already! Consider it your Christmas gift to me and all of your customers who have been dreaming of it for years.
It’s Christmas! I hope today brings you a moment of peace, and that you are embraced by love from those around you. May you be gifted with countless blessings throughout the coming year, while reflecting with gratitude the gifts of grace already received. And may your Christmas be exceedingly merry—one you’ll remember for many years to come!
It’s a true honor to have you as a part of the Fuji X Weekly community, and I’m blessed that I can share content that’s meaningful to you. It’s astonishing to me that this website (and App) and my film simulation recipes are having such a big impact on the Fujifilm and photographic community. It’s truly amazing!
Merry Christmas, everyone!
My wife, Amanda, captured these photographs of our family using her Fujifilm X-T4 and Fujinon 27mm f/2.8 (our favorite lens!).
This Christmas I thought that I would do something fun for you: the 12 Film Simulation Recipes of Christmas! I took the twelve most popular film simulation recipes this month (based on page views), and captured one picture with each. The subject of every image is the number the recipe ranks. It’s basically a parody of the classic holiday coral The Twelve Days of Christmas, but also an opportunity to share with you which recipes people are using this December.
The top twelve film simulation recipes this month (from most to least popular) are: Kodachrome 64, Kodak Portra 400, Kodak Portra 400, Vintage Kodachrome, Kodachrome II, Classic Chrome, Kodachrome 64, Kodak Portra 800, CineStill 800T, Cine Teal, Fujicolor Superia 800, and Classic Negative. There are some surprises, at least to me. First, no black-and-white recipes made this list; color recipes are more popular than monochrome for some reason. The top eight recipes all use the Classic Chrome film simulation; those named Kodachrome or Portra are widely used. The original Portra 400 is the most popular Portra recipe, despite its difficult white balance requirement. The second film simulation recipe ever published on this website, simply called Classic Chrome, made this list (oldie but goodie?). Only one recipe that uses the Classic Negative film simulation made the top twelve, and just barely; the most popular recipe with the Superia name (Classic Negative is based on Superia) uses PRO Neg. Std.
If you want to sing along, here are the lyrics:
On the 12 Days of Christmas, I snapped with recipes… 12 people limit, 11 with a seven, 10 pm closing, 9 fortune cookies, Ate holiday sweets, 7 metal boxes, 6 holds for swinging, 5 pots for plants, 4 times said no, 3 drink cans, 2 push to cross, And… a face mask with emojis!
12 People Limit – Farmington, UT – Fujifilm X100V – Classic Negative
