Fujifilm teases upcoming SLR-style X system camera

Each to their own. I used to lug around huge Contax outfit and tripod. All that brass and glass, backbreaking!

I sold the lot and brought a D40 and two plastic lenses and started enjoying the hobby a lot more. Moved on from there but the kit is getting heavy again which is why I nearly brought a XE-2 but prefered the flip screen of the XM-1. If only they had a camera with EVF and flippy screen I thought. And here it is, thank you Fuji.

basically retro means rubbish.
there are reasons we abandoned retro and chose modern,
though rubbish can be beautiful to some eyes,
and sometimes we do trash valuable things.

anyone looking for the state of art design
should look at 1DX and D4 first.

Instead of thinking along the lines of "They made this camera for me, but they got it all wrong", why not try to think: "It's cool that they made a camera for people with other preferences than mine"?

Fuji x-t1 and matching lenses will cut the weight of my Canon camera kit by 50% or more. Fuji lenses are all top quality.

The only issue is the 1/180 flash sync speed, I would have liked 1/250 or 1/500.

"basically retro means rubbish.
there are reasons we abandoned retro and chose modern,
though rubbish can be beautiful to some eyes,
and sometimes we do trash valuable things.

anyone looking for the state of art design
should look at 1DX and D4 first."

Yes because aside from being an excellent lens engineer, physicist, electronics engineer, genius, playboy, philanthropist and an international man of mystery, you are also an excellent industrial designer.

@fakuryu..you left out bon vivant, raconteur and the most important...wordsmith ;-)

Camera makers tried "futuristic"... see the Ricoh Mirai. 'Nuff said.

How can they be low cost premium price?

"How can they be low cost premium price?"

Anything is possible in yabokkie's world

low cost to the maker,
premium price to the user.

How do you know the cost to the maker? Simple, you dont. And clearly you have little or no experience with Fuji lenses. Have you heard /read what pros say? Or are you smarter than them? Based on your wild mis-assumptions here the answer would be no. In fact when this camera is released pros and enthusiasts will be taking awesome pics with it , as they have done with the X series since inception. The only people who wont will be those who pathologically hate Fuji (i.e. you), or think you need NASA technology in order to take a half decent picture. That's if you take pictures at all. It's all about the photographer. Now be a good boy and go have a chat with the nice folks on a Phase One forum...before the men in white coats arrive.

You're the only "person" who describes Fuji's X series as low performance. No user, reviewer or pro has said this in print. What do you use again? You know, to take actual photos with? Anything?

Hmm yabokkie. He's like a dog on your trouser leg. I say 'he' because no woman would post such moronic comments.

a fake SLR and genuine mirrorless.

It's only a fake SLR to those who don't understand, that the purpose of the "hump" is to house a large EVF, not a pentaprism. Not everyone prefers to have the EVF placed in the corner.

knize10:

How will an electronic representation ever end up in the landfill?

I think you're on the wrong site. Did you mean to navigate to stopwaste.org?

Are you still using a Leica 111?

This is why my kids are only allowed to play with sticks and pine cones. I refuse to buy them a Playstation that will end up destroying the environment. It's bad enough that I got one for myself.

what I mean is, if fuji had video as good as their stills they would have a ton more customers... not everyone has the budget to buy several cameras

it doesn't worth 800 as a camera,
it worths more than 1800 for those who don't know camera,
targeted customers of m4/3" and Df, too.

How you what worths is it? You opinions bizarre and troll worths not very much. use camera ever you? You words crazy like English mashup haha. Like you crack smoke?Me think so under troll bridge belong you

Absolutely right Ranford.

marike6:

ACR 8 is pretty darn good with raws from these Fuji bodies.

I have none of those problems with my X Pro and I´m not undemanding. RAW conversion has been much improved, even with Lightroom. And I ONLY shoot RAW and most of the time I use ACR.

marike6, we are in January , 2014 ...wake up, read recent articles...also about the Fuji cameras. Do not base your opinion on some old post from 2012 year.....
There are some new converters available too

Is it essential to go from none to 5 models of Interchangeable lens cameras in 2 years? Lately Fuji is looking more and more like Samsung, "Let cover the world with every possible price point camera and see if we get more market-share"

Well first of all I don´t live in the USA so thats not really very relevant to me. Out and about I see plenty of cameras that people on DPR are always telling me are "obscure" like Olympus or Pentax or Fuji, so I can only assume that what´s obscure in one place isn´t in others.

Secondly considering Fujifilm were pretty famous for their films, particularly slide films like Provia and Velvia which were used by most of my photographic heroes and some cases still are, you´d have to know very little about the history of photography to consider Fuji "obscure". And I´m in my mid thirties and younger than most people on this site it seems so I´m not nostalgically harking back to some distant era either. I´m talking about 10 years ago.

Thirdly, my X Pro is a niche product. I bought it because it was a niche I was interested in. A niche product is always going to be less popular. So what? Does it make it less useful or mean my photos self destruct after a few weeks or something?

The AF question could be confused, but having owned an EM5, I think you are asking about Continuous Tracking Autofocus, which in my experience trying to shoot sports with the EM5, is a problem, as it is with all CDAF systems regardless of how fast they claim to be. We shall see. Importantly we need to see how it tracks with the longer focal lengths, not sub 35mm

"m4/3" and Fuji X have a long long way to go to improve their
glasses, from scratch"

Because yabokkie says so.

Yabookie aka irrational_leica_hater never has anything sensible to add to these discussions.

Like I said troll yab you are irrational.

Yabokkie's just a troll… over 3000's comments and not a single "like" :)

Forums are where people like this go to express an opinion without being physically laughed out of the room. His words are childish and poorly constructed suggesting English isn't his first language. Not his fault naturally, but his opinions are and it would be more appropriate if he wrote them down in crayon and stuck them to his bedroom wall where he can look upon them and marvel. In solitude. Sad in some way when you think that this is the only way he can get attention, albeit making a complete fool of himself.

This is true. While I love Fuji's external controls, i.e. aperture rings, there's nothing that can't be changed just as easily on my 5D by pressing the appropriate button on the top plate and moving my index finger. In fact, I can change more on the 5D by a long shot.

That said, the simplicity of aperture ring, shutter speed and exposure comp as found on, say, the X100 is wonderful to work with if you don't need easy access to additional things like metering modes and drive modes. The tactile feedback is nicer than on a DSLR.... just not necessarily any better.

Indeed this new Fuji reminded me instantly of the Minolta 7D. I like this control layout!

You do a different type of photography with the X series cameras and lenses. It's not about speed. It's about deliberation and creating a photo, not taking a shot. If I want a snapshot, I use my iPhone, if I want to shoot action, I use my Canon 1D series bodies. If I want to compose a shot that will reflect what I am thinking and seeing as an artists, then I use my X-E1. The dials are not about speed. It's about the process of crafting the photo with a tool that invites you to slow down and be creative and deliberative. By bringing me back to my film days with my Pentax K1000, LX, and 67, the Fuji cameras allow me to experience the photo making process all over again. A joy I had forgotten that I was missing.

@Jim in Hudson: I am not sure I get your question. If you shoot in manual mode, you just manipulate the aperture ring and the speed and ISO dials; in theory, there should be an indication on the back screen (and the EVF) whether the picture is over or under exposed and how much (or you can look at the histogram). In the film days, advanced cameras, such as my old beloved FE2, had two needles, moving over a table with speed values, on the right side of the viewfinder (there was also a small window at the bottom of the viewfinder, where you could see the aperture); when the needles aligned, you knew you had the correct exposure. And instead of exposure compensation, you could misalign them slightly. Nothing quicker or more intuitive than that. It's the click-and switch-and click-and search into the menus that is totally counter-intuitive, slow, and frustrating. For me, this works only for settings that I only change rarely (eg white balance).

@Jim. It is quite easy. Just put all dials, shutter aperture and ISO on A for full auto. To make an exposure compensation, use the exposure compensation. If you want to fix one or two or all three of aperture, time and IS0, do so. Full flexibility with a super logical interface.

Most other cameras tries to hide this simplicity behind strange modes, called Tax or something, and still do not have as much flexibility.

The only modes that do more than this simple approach, that I know of, is the Pentax hyper modes. They are brilliant.

Caerolle: Indeed, you can be deliberate with any camera, but the 1D bodies don't put you in the mood to slow down. Let me put it this way: The Fuji bodies make it feel like I am more in control. It's like driving a manual instead of an automatic. There is no doubt that the automatics these days are far better than manuals at many things, but there is nothing that connects you to the car and the road like a manual transmission. Of course, I still get to the destination, but it is WAY more fun to use a manual transmission to get there. Not always convenient, but fun. This is how I feel about the X series. I feel more connected, I do slow down more, and my images are better. I could do this with my Canons, but those rigs don't encourage me to do so like my X-E1. Ahh...maybe it's all horse poop...

Sure, but Fujifilm will quickly find out you need "affordable" primes also in order to gain more traction among the enthusiast market.

HowaboutRAW .. less problematic is not an advantage specially when you don't have a unique selling point. There is already better or equal APSC mirrorless available ..

Fuji on the other hand got its sensor and retro styling, that please some folks .. now here if they are building lens catalog .. than that really counts ..

Because the 56mm f1.2 isn't fast enough for you?
Or the 23mm f1.4, or the 35mm f1.4?

Those cameras are not classics though, in fact they were quite unreliable and did not have the greatest build quality. The last thing Fuji would want to do is remind people of those cameras, including reviewers. They were also a bit of a sales flop.

No that is not correct yabokkie. Pens were reliable and so were the vast majority of OM. The one that did have a bit of a reputation was the OM10. Quite a few of them did go wrong but they sold in huge numbers in the first place so the overall percentage was not too bad. With the Fuji SLR's it was different. They sold in small numbers and quite a high percentage use to go wrong especially the automatic exposure ones. Build quality was also below that of the OM10.

I use to sell all of them and was used to sending them back for repair. When someone brought a camera in to part exchange it was always the Fuji's that you would worry about as use to offer a 6 month guarantee on the camera when sold secondhand. It was a case of keeping your fingers crossed for six months.

Of all the nonsense...Olympus OM cameras were top quality (except for the cheap OM-10) but made to be lightweight which of course meant they couldn't be bricks like FT-QLs or Nikkormats. Then, as now, it wasn't cool to have anything except Nikon but that didn't have anything to do with taking pictures.

Some OM lenses are still sought after because they were better performers than Nikon or Canon and their small size makes sense for small digital cameras. You could say they were ahead of their time with small & lightweight.

I'm not sure why anyone cares but as a fashion statement I think it's obvious this new Fuji is less lumpy than the Df. Unless it's got a wooden base plate.

I am guessing Canikon won't be jealous of their af either.

Canon dual-pixel AF... which really did nothing by the way

From this camera?

We keep hearing about the "end of DSLRs", but DSLRs seem to be the ONLY large sensor cameras that are selling in any numbers at all.

All of the mirrorless vendors are in deep trouble financially and there is nothing about a niche camera from Fujifilm that will change this fact at all.

What will bring the end of DSLR is cost, it is cheaper to make mirrorless cameras, and as long as they can make attractive and well specified models like this X-T1, makers can get higher margins on them, it is win-win.

> What will bring the end of DSLR is cost

This X-T1 is going to cost near $1200, so you are talking near $2000 with the 18-55 f/2.8 or 35 f/1.4. Not exactly a frugal purchase.

Considering you can get a D610 FF for that near that price or a K-3 / D7100 for considerably less I don't see anything here that is going to change DSLR users over to the X system.

And the fact that none of the mirrorless vendors have any mindshare whatsoever with professionals, I can't imagine why anyone would assume these ILCs will mean anything at all for DSLR sales, which are still absolutely creaming mirrorless camera sales.

> don't image that's true for Samsung. Or Leica.

Samsung's camera division is close to last place in mirrorless camera sales, and Leica makes rangefinders, not mirrorless cameras (besides, Leica has but a tiny percentage of the camera market).

In the USA it's Fuwho? Their obscure products are no threat to Canon and Nikon DSLRs.

I think Marike6 may be yabookie's wife...

> I think Marike6 may be yabookie's wife...

Don't know who you or Yabookie is, but I do know that I already have a wife. And I also know that none of these pricey mirrorless niche cameras are a threat to DSLRs at all.

You people have been saying that for what, 5 years now? Meanwhile Canon and Nikon continue to rack up sales and profits with DSLRs, while the mirrorless brigade hangs by a thread over insolvency.

"Unfortunately", it's an APS-C sized sensor.

LOL

Based on Fuji Rumors:

*Body only: €1200
*Body + 18-55mm: €1600
*Body + 18-135mm: €1800

The 18-135mm will likely be the f3.5-5.6 variety.

Fujifilm has already said that the 18-135mm will be F3.5-5.6, in the latest lens roadmap

You can wait 6 days can't you?

We didn't criticise the Df purely because the dials have locking buttons. We criticised it for the fact that the ISO and exposure compensation dials require a change of grip and the lock buttons to be pushed down every time you want to change them, which is awkward with the camera to your eye, especially with large lenses.

We also specifically highlighted the difference with Fujifilm's existing X-system cameras, on which the EC dial is better placed for operation by your right thumb, and doesn't lock. This camera is clearly going to work in the same way.

But hey, you knew that anyway, didn't you?

They placed the hump there for a LARGER viewfinder. It isn't just an cosmetic thing. They CAN NOT place a viewfinder this size UNDER the top plate. It simply makes the camera the same height across the whole width.

Why whining about no fullframe again. Fujfilm makes Apsc lenses. they need an entire new line-up. And for what the X-trans is already producing stunning results and allows smaller lenses. Isn't that the point of mirrorless an smaller total package.

Fujifilm still makes poor mans leica camera's just pick the Xpro or XE-1/2 if your interested in that.

I agree with Andy. For example, exposure comp is a feature that many of us use quite regularly, and therefore we need easy and unencumbered access to it. Fuji did it correctly by putting it within easy access of your right thumb, unlocked, requiring hardly any change in hand position. Nikon did the complete opposite: they put it on the left side, not within easy reach, requiring considerable change in hand position, and they locked it. In a word: encumbered [definition: restrict or burden (someone or something) in such a way that free action or movement is difficult.] Talk about a head scratcher.

So copying SLR styling is pointless, if there is no actual mirror in the camera, but copying rangefinder styling, without having an actual rangefinder mechanism in the camera, isn't?

The fact is, that by placing the new, larger EVF in the middle, Fuji have allowed the camera to be smaller overall, by making it taller only in the middle, rather than along its entire length.

Also, many of us just think that a camera handles (and looks) better if it's designed that way. As I wrote further down this thread, the SLR design may originally have been dictated by the technology inside, but it's an ergonomically valid design in and of itself, even without a mirror and pentaprism. And the same can be said about the rangefinder design. It's very much a matter of personal taste.

Edit: And as usual, people manage to post much better replies while I'm writing. :)

I hope that Fujifilm make something like this with wireless TTL Flash.

Through this...interesting...forum I have learned that it is not possible to take a decent photograph (hey, remember them?) without a FF. At least for some. Damn.

"Locking exposure dials a la the Nikon Df?": unfortunately no lock on that dial it seems. On XE1/X100, EC dial is way too sensitive to unintentional manipulation (rubbing against clothing while carrying or just by holding camera in hand). Kept ruining opportunities. With Df, EC only happens when you want it to. The dial locks are features I truly love with the Df. For the rest, this new X sure looks nice. With the new 58mm f1.2 and Fuji's xtrans processing, this will be a killer portrait machine !

The main thing with the absence of a mirror isn´t the taking away of the "hump"!

It´s the quiite notable reduction of the depth of the camera body, which makes it easier to make it compact. A "hump" also will make it possible to make the body´s width a bit less, and its height except for the hump itself can be a bit less too.

Many have already stated much of this, but I found noone mentioned the depth reduction as a reason for the basic mirrorless design.

@Andy Westlake

> We criticised it for the fact that the ISO and exposure compensation dials require a change of grip

You guys seem to be the ONLY ones who had difficulty with the changing ISO on the Df. This video shows it to be quite easy to unlock and rotate the ISO without altering your grip. Push with thumb, spin with forefinger.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MgVGSBGAC0A

You guys did a subpar effort with your Nikon Df Preview and Review. You were negative and unprofessional from day one with "the Nikon Df is silly" nonsense. And now that you are going to most assuredly characterize this new Fujifilm wannabe DSLR as some game changing retro done right camera when it has the exact same locking dials and maximum 1/4000 shutter as the Nikon Df that you criticized even before you reviewed it?

I have an X-E1 and the EV Comp dial gets inadvertently moved all the time. Like the original X100, the dial is poorly implemented. But you knew that already.

@marike6: Do you really spend all your time shooting with your left hand on the top plate, not supporting the lens as it should be?

In the movie you're referencing as a demonstration of your opinion, it's notable that a) the photographer isn't shooting with the camera, and b) changes their hold for each of the three dials. You seem to be wilfully misunderstanding the point we're making.