wow product | FUJI X WEEKLY

Revisiting 10 Fujifilm “Wow” Products

Posted on November 19, 2024 by Ritchie Roesch

*Photographing with Fujifilm* – New York City, NY – Fujifilm X-T4 ES – Aerochrome v2

A little over two years ago Fujifilm stated that they’re working on “wow” products, so I gave my Top 10 suggestions for that in an article entitled 10 “WOW” Products Fujifilm Should Be Making Right Now. I thought it would be fun to revisit the article. Did Fujifilm make any of those suggestions? What “wow” products have they released that didn’t make my list? Which ones should they still pursue?

To recap, my 10 ideas were:

10. Minimalist Model — no rear LCD or video mode
9. 135mm lens — really, any focal length prime in-between 90mm and 200mm
8. A new pancake lens — I suggested 15mm, 23mm, and 40mm as potential options
7. GFX 100R — 100mp successor to the GFX 50R
6. ISOCELL — bring the Fujifilm/Samsung joint technology to the X-series
5. Infrared — I suggested the X-T30 II as the model of choice
4. Digital XPan — a dedicated 65:24 aspect ratio camera
3. X200 — full-frame X100-like camera
2. X80 — successor to the X70
1. Acros-Edition — monochrome-only X100 or X-Pro camera

*Fujifilm Photowalk* – Ann Arbor, MI – Fujifilm X-T4 ES – Aerochrome v2

How does it look 27 months later? With nearly zero promotion, Fujifilm released the X-T4 ES (“Extended Spectrum”) infrared camera over the summer. It flew completely under the radar! While few own it, whenever I show my X-T4 ES to people, it always gets a strong “wow” reaction. As far as I’m aware, B&H is the only camera store currently selling it, and you have to order either in-person or over the phone—it’s not available online right now. So far, I’ve published two Recipes for the Fujifilm X-T4 ES: Aerochrome v1 and Aerochrome v2. If Fujifilm were to do even a little promotion for this camera and made it easier to buy, it would sell decently well, I’m certain of it. Of my 10 ideas, this is the only one so far that has come to pass.

There are “rumors” circling about potential upcoming gear. I’m not sure what may or may not come, but a few of the items (or similar) in my list have been floated on websites like Fujirumors. Even though only one has become reality, it’s possible that in a year or two more can be checked off (I’m sure that some probably won’t ever happen). My top choices would be a new pancake lens, digital XPan, X200 (perhaps GFX instead of full-frame), X80, and a monochrome-only X100 or X-Pro. It’s hard to know what the future holds, but I do believe several “wow” products are in the works right now (including the GFX Eterna cinema camera that Fujifilm recently teased).

*NY Photographer in IR* – New York City, NY – Fujifilm X-T4 ES – Aerochrome v2

Of course, the most obvious “wow” product released by Fujifilm is the X100VI, the most in-demand camera by any brand ever. Fujifilm is getting closer to fulfilling all of the preorders and backorders… word on the street is that if you don’t mind the black version, you might be able to get it real soon without much of a wait. Since demand is higher for the silver model, that one will likely require more patience. This camera has the potential to become the most-sold model ever. It will be interesting to see if demand remains high over the next few years—I think it certainly could.

Now it’s your turn. Let me know in the comments which wow product you’d like to see Fujifilm make next! I’m pretty excited for what’s coming down the pike, whatever it might be. I think there will be plenty of upcoming announcements over the next couple of years to get especially excited for.

This post contains affiliate links, and if you make a purchase using my links I’ll be compensated a small amount for it.

Fujifilm X100VI in black:
Amazon, B&H, Moment, Wex, Nuzira
Fujifilm X100VI in silver:
Amazon, B&H, Moment, Wex, Nuzira

What could a Fujifilm Digital XPan Camera look like and should they make it?

Posted on August 18, 2023 by Ritchie Roesch

In my Will there be a new Fujifilm X camera announced in September? article I mentioned that Fujifilm should include an XPan 65:24 aspect ratio as an option on the X-Pro4, whenever that camera comes out. GFX models already have this, but Fuji hasn’t given the XPan ratio to any X-series cameras. The X-Pro4 seems like a logical place to start, especially if it is given the 40-megapixel sensor, which has plenty of resolution to support the crop. But, should Fujifilm make a “real” XPan camera, and what would that look like?

XPan was a collaboration between Fujifilm and Hasselblad in the late-1990’s and early-2000’s. XPan cameras were 35mm interchangeable-lens rangefinders that produced panoramic pictures across two film frames—the pictures were twice as wide as normal 35mm images. The cameras were also capable of capturing regular 35mm frames, should the photographer not wish to create panoramic pictures. Two XPan cameras were made; Hasselblad called them XPan and XPan II while Fujifilm named them TX-1 and TX-2. The X100-series models have a striking resemblance to XPan cameras.

*XPan crop — Fujifilm X-T5 — CineStill 400D v1 Recipe*

I don’t think it would be all that difficult for Fujifilm to make a true XPan camera. It would require two APS-C sensors placed side-by-side, or—probably more preferably—one chip cut to the same size as two. The lens would be the big issue, since X-Series lenses wouldn’t offer enough coverage. Either Fujifilm would make it a fixed-lens camera (like the X100V, but with a different lens that has coverage), or they’d need lenses that would cover the wide frame. If they decided on the interchangeable-lens concept, GF-mount lenses from the GFX series would have enough coverage, so it would make sense to use them. In other words, the XPan camera would technically be GFX, but in an X-series body and with an X-Trans sensor.

Even though the TX-1 and TX-2 looked more similar to the X100V, I think using an X-Pro body would be a good option to build it on. Call it the TX-Pro4 or X-Pan1 or something like that. The hybrid viewfinder would need to be modified to accommodate the wider frame, but otherwise the camera wouldn’t need a whole lot of changes.

*XPan crop — Fujifilm X-T5 — Kodak Ektachrome E100VS v1 Recipe*

There are three different sensors that Fujifilm is currently using in the X-Trans V generation of cameras: 40-megapixel (X-H2, X-T5), 26-megapixel stacked (X-H2s), and 26-megapixel X-Trans IV (X-S20). Which would they put into the XPan camera?

If they chose the 40-megapixel option, which would actually be 80-megapixel, that would be the most marketable, since megapixels sell. On the 100-megapixel GFX cameras, the XPan aspect ratio reduces the resolution to 50mp, while the 50-megapixel models reduces the resolution to 25mp; 80mp would be much more than either! The disadvantage would be the processing power required and heat dispersion necessary, which would be a huge challenge for Fujifilm, so I don’t think this is a likely option.

*XPan crop — Fujifilm X-T5 — Fujicolor Superia 100 Recipe*

The other two are both 26-megapixel sensors, which would equal 52mp on an XPan model. This would be the same resolution as using the XPan aspect ratio on the 100mp GFX cameras. The new stacked sensor is great for speed but is much more expensive, while the older X-Trans IV sensor is still good yet affordable. Of the two, the stacked sensor is the most intriguing; however, it would likely raise the price of the camera by around $800-$1,000 over using the X-Trans IV option. As the X-S20 demonstrates, pairing the X-Trans IV sensor with the X-Trans V processor is a viable option, and probably what Fujifilm should choose.

Basically, I’m suggesting that Fujifilm modify the (eventual) upcoming X-Pro4 with two 26mp X-Trans IV sensors (instead of the presumably 40mp X-Trans V sensor that the regular X-Pro4 will have), utilizing X-Processor 5. This would give the camera 52mp of resolution when shooting the XPan aspect ratio, or 26mp when shooting in 3:2. The XPan camera would have over 2.5-times more resolution than shooting a 40mp sensor cropped to the XPan aspect ratio.

*XPan crop — Fujifilm X-T5 — Classic Slide Recipe*

Who would buy this camera? Wouldn’t it be super niche? It would indeed be niche, but it would also be a “wow” product that a lot of people would talk about. Where I think it would get a lot of unexpected attention is with cinematographers, since some of the ultra-wide aspect ratios (think Ultra Panavision) could be shot in 4K, 6K, and possibly even 8K. Also, it would provide a bridge between the X-series and GFX, since those with GFX models could use their existing lenses on this camera, and those not in the GFX system could eventually jump in after buying a couple lenses for their XPan model.

Will Fujifilm make this camera? Probably not. I’d be pretty shocked. Should they? I think so. I believe it would sell well enough that it would be worthwhile for Fujifilm. I’d definitely buy one! Would you?