Upcoming camera

Fujifilm X-T6 Announcement Postponed??

Posted on by Ritchie Roesch

Frontier Motel & Cafe – Truxton, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5 – Kodak Vericolor III 160

According to Fujirumors, Fujifilm is delaying the announcement of the upcoming X-T6; however, Fujifilm has not announced that they’re announcing any camera. How can something be postponed that hasn’t even been publicized?

Let me put it this way. Let’s say that you are the manager of some office somewhere, and you tell your secretary to pencil in some time and date for a meeting that will take place some months in the future. You tell the secretary not to tell anyone, only to pencil it in so that the time is blocked out and there won’t be any scheduling conflicts. The secretary later tells someone in confidence that there will be a meeting at the date and time that was penciled in, and that person blabs it to the whole office. Later, you realize that the initial date and time you picked for the meeting won’t work, so you instruct your secretary to block off a different day, which is still well in the future. Now your secretary once again tells their friend, who once again blabs it to the office, who are now bemoaning that the meeting has been postponed. But, since it was never announced, was it ever really delayed?

And that’s the problem with rumor sites. I enjoy getting a little sneak behind the curtain as much as the next person. The heads-up is exciting. Speculating on what will be can be fun. But there’s also a negative side to the coin. It slows sales of currently available models. It can give people false ideas or skewed expectations of upcoming products. It throws a curveball into a product launch that was carefully choreographed. I had a conversation about this topic with Ken Rockwell once, and he said, “There’s always something new coming out tomorrow, but you can’t take pictures with it today so it doesn’t matter.”

Abandoned Dream – Red Rock Lakes NWR, MT – Fujifilm X100V – The Rockwell

Can you pick up an X-T6 and photograph with it today? Tomorrow? Next week? Next month? Obviously the answer is no. Someday, yes—that time will get here before you know it. So be patient, and enjoy the gear that you can pick up and use today, which are the cameras and lenses you already own, or maybe that you will buy today at your local camera store.

Unfortunately, because the rumor of the supposed announcement was spread online, and now a new rumor has been published of a delay, people are creating all sorts of conspiracy theories—mostly by trolls, and most of which are not true. It might be simply that the penciled-in date was never all that solid to begin with. The large 7.1 magnitude earthquake that struck near a Fujifilm facility about 10 days ago is the most likely explanation. According to Digital Camera World, “Fujifilm’s Kyushu location in Kumamoto, Japan manufactures color filter components used in Fujifilm’s X-Trans camera sensors, as well as films that are used in manufacturing LCD screens and slurries or polishing materials used for semiconductor manufacturing.” This facility was evacuated after the earthquake, and may have been damaged.

When will the X-T6 be announced? Who knows. When Fujifilm is ready, they’ll announce an X Summit, and during the X Summit they’ll announce whatever it is they’re ready to release. Maybe it will be an X-T6, maybe it won’t. I’m looking forward to the next X Summit and gear announcement as much as anyone else, but let’s not forget that today we can create amazing pictures with the cameras that are already in our hands.

3 Questions about Fujifilm X-Trans VI

Posted on by Ritchie Roesch

The Tropics – Lincoln, IL – Fujifilm X-E5 – Vivid Velvia

After yesterday’s post, Thoughts on the Upcoming Fujifilm Camera, someone reached out to me on Instagram and proposed a question about the upcoming sixth-generation cameras: if I could ask Fujifilm three things about it, what would those questions be? It was an unusual message, but it did get some cogs turning in my brain. How might X-Trans VI look different than X-Trans V? While this seemingly should be pretty predictable, each X-series generation is actually unique in many ways. No two generations are alike, and so what will be different with the upcoming X-Trans VI cameras? Well, I came up with three questions, so let’s jump right in.

Will AF improve a little or a lot?

Space Guitar – White House, TN – Fujifilm X-T5 – Classic Amber

I’m one of those people who are completely satisfied with the autofocus performance of my Fujifilm cameras, going back all the way to X-Trans III. Even X-Trans I & II aren’t bad in daylight. Fujifilm’s current cameras are in the top 2% best autofocus cameras ever made (it’s very true, I did the math—feel free to double check it). Outside of some extreme use-cases, the cameras are very capable, and there seems to be a general lack of appreciation for just how good we have it today. Seriously, if the top 2% is not good enough for you, is it that you have some crazy unusual circumstances (which maybe you do), or is the issue something else? Of course, nobody wants to look in the mirror, but most of the AF woes on Fujifilm cameras are easily overcome if one really wishes to overcome them. The majority of the complaints are hyperbole, trolls, user-error, and things like that. With all of that said, Fujifilm has more room for improvement than any other major brand, as they’re clearly a step behind the Canikony brands (for logical reasons that I’ve talked about at length many times). There’s no doubt the sixth-generation will bring with it AF improvements, so will it be a small step forward, a large leap, or something in-between?

In my opinion, the best thing Fujifilm could do to improve autofocus has nothing to do with hardware, software, or algorithms. Fujifilm could do absolutely nothing to technically improve AF, but if they made it much more intuitive and automatic, it would be seen as a major improvement. Many people seem to be unaware that Fujifilm expects that their users will fine-tune the AF for their specific use-cases; even if they are aware, they may not know how to do it, or what a fine-tuned camera setting might look like for them. Fujifilm tried to offer some clarity on this a couple years ago, but instead of listening, people heavily mocked them for it online (sad). I cannot tell you how many times someone has complained to me how the AF on their X-series model “sucks” and how it’s totally not user-error, but then I suggest a settings change and (like magic) the AF is suddenly working well for them and it’s no longer garbage. Of course, what specific settings work well for you depends on how you use the camera and your subject and situation, so there’s no one quick fix. However, if on future models Fujifilm removed their fine-tuning expectation and just “made it work” no matter the user, that would go a long ways toward making people believe that their AF is actually good, because it’s currently much better than some people think, if only they dialed in the “right” settings for their individual situation. In other words, if user-error is the largest problem (and it is, even though nobody wants to hear or accept it), then Fujifilm should find a workaround for that, and the obvious answer is intuitiveness. If Fujifilm’s approach isn’t working well for a group of people because it expects more of them than they realize (and even if they do realize, they may not know what to do with it), then maybe it’s time adjust the approach.

What models will be included in the sixth generation?

Classic Design – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm GFX100S II – FRGMT B&W

Each generation has had its own set of X-series models—no two generations have had identical sets. I suspect that this trend will continue. But how will it look different? It’s hard to guess, but I believe it will include an X-Pro, it might not include two X-H models (only one), it could potentially have an X30-like pocketable zoom, and it’s possible that there will be only one successor to the X-T30 III and X-T50 (and not one for each). There could be an Eterna 28 (APS-C version of the Eterna 55). I would love to see an X70 successor. Maybe there will be an X half II? Perhaps the X100VII will have multiple focal-length versions? Could we finally get a monochrome-only camera? The only thing that’s certain is that it won’t be identical to the fifth generation, or any other previous generation. I would love to know the exact models that Fujifilm plans to produce for X-Trans VI, but perhaps they haven’t even thought that far in advance yet.

What new Film Simulations and/or JPEG options will come?

Buc-ees at Nighttime – Goodyear, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5 – Fluorescent Night

Over the years, Fujifilm has continuously sporadically added new Film Simulations and other JPEG options. For example, within the fourth-generation, Fujifilm added two new Film Simulations (Classic Negative and Eterna Bleach Bypass), Color Chrome Effect, Color Chrome FX Blue, Clarity, half-step Tone Curve adjustments, and a much more robust Monochromatic Color tool. It didn’t all come at once. In fact, fourth-gen can be divided into three groups (actually, more than that if you want to really parse things): X-T3 & X-T30, X-Pro3 & X100V, and X-T4, X-S10, X-E4, and X-T30 II. Fifth-generation saw two new Film Simulations (Nostalgic Neg. and Reala Ace, the latter retroactively given to previous models via firmware), but no other JPEG options. While it’s impossible to know what Fujifilm will do on future models, I think it’s safe to say that there will be some new features. And I cannot wait to find out what those will be.

Now it’s your turn! What questions would you like answered regarding the upcoming sixth-generation cameras? I would love to hear them in the comments below!

Thoughts on the Upcoming Fujifilm Camera

Posted on by Ritchie Roesch

Blue Swallow Motel – Tucumcari, NM – Fujifilm X-T5 – Vivid Velvia

Until this year, Fujifilm has always announced at least one new X or GFX series camera by the end of June. We’re in August, and nothing new has been announced. Some people are getting antsy, anxiously waiting for whatever is to come. Personally, I’m glad that there’s a little gap. In my opinion, camera companies introduce new versions of their lineup much too quickly. It made some sense in the earlier days of digital technology when improvements tended to be more drastic; nowadays, and for at least a decade but probably longer (closer to two decades), the advancements have been much more gradual. Each new iteration of each camera model is only a small improvement over the previous version. Because of this, it’s become a common axiom to skip a generation before upgrading.

For example, if you purchased an X-T1 when it was new, you’d have skipped the X-T2 and waited for the X-T3; later, you would have skipped the X-T4 and waited for the X-T5 (and you’ll skip the X-T6 whenever it comes). Likewise, if you purchased an X-T2 when it was new, you would have skipped the X-T3 and purchased an X-T4 instead; later, you skipped the X-T5 and are now waiting for the X-T6. By skipping a generation, you are allowing enough time to pass that the upgrade is more substantial. If camera makers waited longer before making successors, this gap generation rule-of-thumb would be unnecessary. If Fujifilm waited another two years before releasing the X-T6, I’d be perfectly ok with that, just so long as they continue to manufacture and sell the X-T5 during that time.

The rumors circulating the internet are that the next camera to come from Fujifilm will be the X-T6. Some people seem to think that I have inside information about future camera models, but I don’t. Only one time did Fujifilm share with me details on an upcoming model: about two weeks before the X-T50 was announced, they sent me a pre-production copy to try, and made me sign an NDA regarding it. That was the one and only time; otherwise, I find out the same way that everyone else does, which is largely Fujirumors. I watch the X Summit at the time of announcement to learn the details about the camera the same as you do. I read the initial day-one reviews by those who got a pre-production model. I honestly don’t know anything about whatever camera Fujifilm plans to release next.

Central Camera Co. – Chicago, IL – Fujifilm X-T5 – 1976 Kodak

Last year Fujifilm introduced the X-E5 on June 12th, and the B&H BILD expo was five days later on June 17th, which was the first opportunity most people had to touch-and-try the upcoming camera. Fujifilm had asked for my help at the event, just as someone who could answer questions about their cameras, particularly questions about Film Simulations and Recipes, to those visiting their booth. Funny enough, I was assigned to the X-E5 station (which was incredibly busy, as you might imagine!), but the morning of June 17th—maybe an hour before the event began—was my first time seeing the new camera in-person. I literally knew as much about it as anyone else, yet I was supposed to answer questions about the X-E5. My point in telling this story is to simply illustrate that I really don’t know anything about upcoming gear, Fujifilm doesn’t disclose that type of information to me—not even when I’m involved in an event about that gear.

With that said, I would describe myself as an X-series expert (an X-pert, if you will…). I know more about Fujifilm cameras than most, simply because I have so much experience (or is it X-perience?) using them. There’s certainly plenty that I don’t know. For example, I regularly learn new things from Pal2Tech’s YouTube videos. I have reached out to Fujifilm’s Tech Reps with questions several times. I’m constantly learning more, and I imagine that there’s a lot that I don’t know simply because there are features that I rarely or never use. Still, I think I’m well qualified to comment on Fujifilm cameras simply because I have a lot of knowledge about them and a lot of experience using them.

What I can’t comment on is what I don’t know. I’ve received a ton of questions lately asking for my opinion of the upcoming yet-to-be-announced Fujifilm X-T6. My guess? It will be a lot like the X-T5, just a little faster. Simply speculating, I think Fujifilm will introduce the sixth-generation (X-Trans VI) with the X-T6, and the main improvements that sixth-gen will bring are speed and efficiency. I don’t expect much in the way of IQ improvements; however, autofocus and video specs could see a notable upgrade. It might be somewhat like the X-T2 vs X-T3, if that makes any sense. I’m sure there will be a couple of cool surprises, and maybe a head-scratcher or two, but overall I will be completely shocked if the X-T6 isn’t 90% exactly the same as the X-T5, and mildly surprised if it isn’t 95% the same. Basically, I expect the X-T6 to be an X-T5 but with a boost. Whether or not that boost will be particularly beneficial to you will depend on how you use the camera. My guess is that for some people it will be a major improvement, but for most it will be minimal. Of course, this is all speculation, and I very well could be wrong (I’ve been wrong before plenty of times). In the meantime, I’m very happy to patiently wait, and use the Fujifilm gear I already own.

Teaser: New Camera Coming Soon

Posted on by Ritchie Roesch

One of my absolute favorite YouTube channels is simultaneously both incredible and weird. It’s by far the most original camera channel on YouTube, and Fujifilm is often (but far from always) the topic of conversation. Which channel is this? Some of you probably already guessed, but for those who haven’t, it’s GxAce, run by Casey Cavanaugh, and described as, “Your present, as the past, through the lens of the future.”

Casey just teased a new camera called GxPan. Almost no details were included in the initial tease, only a single image of the top plate. But, you can sign up to receive updates by email when Casey is ready to share more information. I signed up as soon as I saw it. You should, too.

Casey in Copenhagen – Copenhagen, Denmark – Fujifilm X-E5 – Copenhagen Negative

I know a lot more about the camera, because I’ve actually held it and even snapped a picture with it. When I was at Fujikina Copenhagen, Casey was there, too, and he showed it to me. I’m not sharing any information, so don’t even ask, but what I can say is that it’s super cool, and I can’t wait to buy it whenever it is released. I’ll definitely talk more about it once Casey provides more information publicly. Until then, you only get a tease.

I have no idea when the GxPan will become available, but whenever it is, it will be worth the wait. There aren’t too many cameras that I really want, but this is definitely one.

My Number 1 Request For Fujifilm X-Trans VI

Posted on by Ritchie Roesch

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.

Why the Upcoming Fujifilm X-T30 III is Genius, and makes the X-T30 legendary

Posted on by Ritchie Roesch

Fujifilm is about to announce the X-T30 III, the true successor to the X-T30 II. A lot of people assumed that the Fujifilm X-T50 was the X-T30 II’s successor, but it wasn’t—if you a Fuji X Weekly regular, you’ve known that for about a year-and-a-half now. Tomorrow at 10:00 PM Pacific Time, Fujifilm will unveil the new camera.

I don’t have any inside information, but I expect that the Fujifilm X-T30 III will be 95% the same as the X-T30 II, which was 98% the same as the X-T30. Fujifilm announced the original X-T30 in February of 2019. I remember it well because I preordered it, and later created many Film Simulation Recipes with that camera. The X-T30 II, which was basically a firmware update with a few minor changes, came in October of 2021. The ability to save WB Shift with each C1-C7 Custom Settings preset, as well as Classic Negative and other JPEG tools like Clarity, are the major improvements found on the Mark II version. Now, four years later, Fujifilm is about to release the latest iteration.

From all accounts, the X-T30 III will be the same as the X-T30 II, except with X-Processor 5 (which includes Nostalgic Neg. and Reala Ace), a Film Dial like what’s on the X-T50 and X-M5, and a Drive Button instead of a Drive Dial. Aside from that, it will be pretty much the same thing as the X-T30 II. I don’t expect any major changes. Overall, it will be a mild refresh.

Why, then, do I think this camera is genius? Because Fujifilm will quietly sell a whole lot of these. It’s not going to go viral like the X100VI. It’s not going to make major headlines. It’s not going to be a hot topic on Reddit or Facebook groups. But Fujifilm will sell a bunch of X-T30 III cameras, more than most other models offered by the brand.

Just four days ago, New York Magazine published in The Strategist section This Fujifilm Camera Gives Me Film Photos Without the Processing by Katherine Gillespie. It’s essentially a review of the Fujifilm X-T30 II. In that article, Katherine states, “Even just using the cheapest 15-45mm kit lens, the camera creates beautiful JPEG photos that require little to no editing to make the colors pop and can be wirelessly transferred to my phone via Fujifilm’s XApp. For me, this is a big sell. While some people seem to enjoy playing around with presets on Lightroom, as a procrastinator who also sort of hates computers, I can’t think of anything worse than shooting in RAW then having to go through and edit hundreds of photos after every social event or vacation. Especially as doing so would also require purchasing a pricey Adobe subscription.”

The article included a small and subtle shoutout to Fuji X Weekly, which was mind-blowing. This follows the New York Times mention in July. I never imagined getting noticed by such large and prestigious publications. But I digress; however, it is a good read, should you want to.

Statements like Katherine’s are why the X-T30 and X-T30 II sold so well, and why soon the X-T30 III will, too. It’s easy to get great-looking photos without the fuss. The cameras are small, lightweight, inexpensive, and straightforward-enough that they’re accessible to anyone and everyone. Even a child can use it and get great results. Robust enough that professionals can use it for serious work, but not so much that first-time hobbyists are in over their heads. That’s indeed a big sell.

No other Fujifilm camera has been given a Mark III iteration. The X-E2 had a second version called X-E2s. There’s the X-H2 and X-H2s, but that’s a slightly different story. There was an X-T3 WW, which was an X-T3 without an external battery charger included in the box. The X-T4 ES is an infrared version of the X-T4. Most models have their time, followed by a successor; the few with a second variation were not given a third. The X-T30 is unique, with a third iteration about to crest the horizon. That elevates the camera to legendary status in my books. There is no doubt in my mind that the X-T30 III will be a great success for Fujifilm, albeit without the fanfare that other models in the X-series often get.

My Sony RX1R III Opinions

Posted on by Ritchie Roesch

Sony surprised the photographic world with the announcement of the RX1R III, a full-frame fixed-lens compact camera. It’s a followup to the RX1R II, which was released 10 years ago. I wasn’t intending to write about it, but a couple people asked for my opinions, so I thought I’d chime in. If you’re interested to know what I think, read on.

Whenever I write these types of articles, invariably someone will get upset. If I criticize any aspect of any camera that’s not Fujifilm, people will say that I’m a hater. If I don’t criticize Fujifilm cameras enough, I’m accused of being a fanboy (meant negatively; I consider it positive). For some people—and they’re found all over the internet but very rarely in real life—I (and other Fujifilm bloggers) must speak only positively about other brands, but at least 50% negative about Fujifilm, or else the opinions expressed are to be disregarded as rubbish. It’s weird. So I think it’s important for me to state right up front where I’m coming from, and if your perspective is similar to mine, maybe you’ll appreciate this article; if not, take all of this with a very large grain of salt, and don’t let it bother you. I like retro-styled cameras (preferably with traditional exposure controls and not PASM) that are compact and lightweight, and that produce excellent straight-out-of-camera pictures that have an analog-like look to them and don’t need to be edited. Fujifilm cameras are by far my favorite, but I have used (and occasionally still use) other brands, including Sony (among others).

Above: Sony a7 IV and the FL “Film Look” profile

To begin with, I think it was smart for Sony to make this camera. It will sell quite well. I have no doubts that this camera will be a hit, and will be a money-maker for them. The specific questions I received about the RX1R III were: how will it impact Fujifilm? Will people leave Fujifilm for this model? Will it affect the sales of the X100VI and GFX100RF? I want to avoid getting into the spec sheet, or criticisms of the rear LCD or things like that—plenty of other people have already discussed those things at length. I’m going to focus more on answering the questions that I was asked.

I don’t think the RX1R III is a direct competitor to the Fujifilm X100VI, but the success of the X100VI certainly influenced Sony to make this camera. And there are enough similarities on paper that one might think they’re competition; however, simply looking at the cameras, it’s obvious they’re significantly divergent in philosophy and design, not to mention price. In my estimation, not many X100VI customers will be lured away by the RX1R III, and not many RX1R III customers will be lured away by the X100VI (probably more will be attracted to the X100VI simply due to cost). I can imagine that some photographers will even have both cameras, although that’s likely going to be a pretty small number. People on YouTube will make the comparison, I’m sure, but overall I don’t see these two models as major competitors.

The RX1R III will more directly compete with the GFX100RF, even though their focal lengths are different. Do you want the bigger, heavier GFX100RF with a larger, higher-resolution sensor and wider but slower lens, or the smaller, lighter RX1R III with a tighter focal length and larger f-stop? Do you want the traditional tactile controls of the Fujifilm, or the PASM and slightly more minimalistic approach of the Sony? Do you want Fujifilm’s renown colors and JPEG engine, or Sony’s better AF and video output? Do you want a striking retro-styled camera, or a more discrete design (to put it nicely)? Do you want to pay $5,100 for the RX1R III, or $4,900 for the GFX100RF? Both have their pluses and minuses, so it really comes down to personal preferences. I’d choose the GFX100RF (and I hope to someday when my budget allows), but that’s just me, and I can see this being a tough choice for some.

Above: Sony a7 IV and the FL “Film Look” profile

Of course, the Sony RX1R III is also competing against the Leica Q3 and Q3 43. I don’t see this camera taking people out of the Leica camp, but it could certainly convince some not to get into it. I can see this as a Leica alternative for those who can’t quite afford to buy a Leica. Mostly, though, the RX1R III is simply a fixed-lens camera for those who are already in the Sony ecosystem. It’s a pocketable-ish camera that’s great for everyday carry or travel due to its compact size, when you don’t want to lug around something like the Sony a7 IV.

I’m not against Sony or the RX1R III. It’s a camera that you’re likely going to shoot RAW with and not JPEG, although Sony has made some notable strides in that department. Most of Sony’s JPEG profiles are so-so, but FL (“Film Look”) is pretty good—kind of similar to the Negative Film effect on the Ricoh GR III and GR IIIx. Apparently there are now three FL options: the original one that’s now called FL1, a more subdued and vintage-looking one called FL2, and a more vibrant and contrasty option called FL3. While these can be customized into Recipes (if someone made them), and Sony does offer interesting customizations like Fade, there’s no faux grain, which is a bit of a bummer. Also, you cannot reprocess the RAW files in-camera, should you need to boost or reduce exposure or apply a different look altogether. From my experience, Sony’s JPEGs can be a bit prone to banding, especially in clear blue sky situations. Fujifilm is a long ways ahead of Sony in regards to camera-made JPEGs, which is one reason why I’m not personally interested in the RX1R III.

I don’t have strong positive or negative opinions about Sony’s new camera. If I was offered one to try, I certainly wouldn’t say no (I doubt that will happen, though). I’m saving up for the GFX100RF, which I’m sure I would like better; however, if I were in the market for a Sony camera, the RX1R III is the only one that I’d consider purchasing right now, and I do think I’d enjoy it, especially with the three FL profiles set to the 1, 2, & 3 positions on the top dial. And that’s my two pennies, for anyone who might be interested.