Fuji Roadmap Rumours (and in body stabilisation)

[Felix11]

1) new X-M1 may come in April (this should be an entry level X camera
2) X-PRO 2 with new viewfinder in June
3) X-E2 in September.

Sounds theoretically possible

What I would like to see in the X-E2 and X-Pro2 is in body image stabilisation (like the OMD EM-5. (Of course, that's in addition to the new sensor and processor and split image focusing, focus peaking and contrast detect auto focus.)

What are the chances of that do you think?

 

[MrFresno]

So does time travel. I am anxious to see the X-Pro2, but I doubt we will see it or the X-E2 this year. I will be happy if they get a couple of lenses on the shelves.

What I would like to see in the X-E2 and X-Pro2 is in body image stabilisation (like the OMD EM-5. (Of course, that's in addition to the new sensor and processor and split image focusing, focus peaking and contrast detect auto focus.)

What are the chances of that do you think?

I don't think they will put IBIS in the X cameras. Once a manufacturer chooses between body or lens stabilization, they usually stick with that decision. It is a safe bet that the X-Pro2 will get the same upgrades that have already appeared in the X-E1 and X100s. I would like to see how the X-Trans CFA does with more megapixels (20 or 24).

 

[nawknai]

They could have IBIS and lens-based IS at the same time, and they wouldn't be the first to do it. Just ensure that the camera automatically turns off the IBIS when you have a lens with IS attached.




I can see an X-Pro 2 being announced, but am not so sure about an X-E1 upgrade already being planned, unless Fuji have hardware features that are ready to be implemented, and cannot be done via firmware update. It would be weird though, since the X-E1 has essentially been on the market for 3-4 months so far, and I haven't heard of any significant EVF or sensor improvements that could be made. Maybe phase detect AF is enough to warrant an update to a new model?

 

[mngsmt]

Felix11 wrote:

1) new X-M1 may come in April (this should be an entry level X camera)

Whatever.

2) X-PRO 2 with new viewfinder in June

Maybe.

3) X-E2 in September.

No way.

 

[mr moonlight]

If any updates to the Xpro1 or XE1 come this year, it will most likely be in the form of a "S" like the X100S. So an Xpro1s and XE1s with the new updates that the X100S has. I'd be surprised to see either by the end of this year, but next year I think it's possible to get an Xpro1s with some additional new features. I doubt IBIS will be one of them and I wouldn't want the extra added weight or size.

I'd be perfectly happy if they just upgraded to bring it to the same level as the X100s is at, or at least what I hope it's at. The only other features I wouldn't mind would be an increase in resolution and a user removable IR filter, the latter being a pipe dream.

 

[BrianBrianBrian]

Felix11 wrote:

2) X-PRO 2 with new viewfinder in June

An X-Pro1 successor is pretty much inevitable this year. Why else would Fujifilm "Osborne" themselves now by releasing the X100s with clearly better focusing and clearly better features? I think it's pretty clear that the X100 line is basically Fujifilm's commercialization of their body feature prototyping. (IIRC, last year they basically said as much about the X100.)

What I would like to see in the X-E2 and X-Pro2 is in body image stabilisation (like the OMD EM-5.

I doubt they would do in-body stabilization in the X-Pro2 first. That is definitely a risky feature, and one more suited toward mid-range cameras than higher-end cameras. With in-body stabilization, the physical flexibility of components, and the need for those components to move and be motorized, means that you risk running into problems where the sensor is mis-aligned even when stabilization is turned off. Plus, it's got to be expensive to implement. And, image stabilization is only helpful in limited circumstances. Improving high ISO performance with better sensors is a better tradeoff all-around as it improves performance in many more scenerios and it does so without compromising reliability.

I agree with the other poster about an X-Pro1s. Fujifilm would be very successful if they incrementally upgraded the X-Pro1 similarly to how they claim to have upgraded the X100 with the X100s. Even such an incremental upgrade will be very difficult for Fujifilm to pull off this year. I bet they feel they must make sure the X-Pro1 successor is the fastest focusing and most accurately focusing camera in their range. AFAICT, that means not only replacing the XPro-1 body, but also making the 23mm and 56mm lenses much faster focusing than any of the lenses to date.

Really, they should make a new version of the 35mm lens that focuses faster, but I suspect instead that they will release the X-Pro1s + fast-focusing 23mm + fast-focusing 56mm at the same time as the "we fixed the focusing" release this year. Then, in a couple of years they can release the faster-focusing "XF35mm II" APS-C lens or a faster-focusing 50mm full-frame lens.

 

[BillyInya]

If what you say turns out to be true then this would surprise me, especially about the X-E2 in September.

If true I just hope they aren't just "bells & whistles" upgrades. I know many here like that sort of stuff but for me a new version needs to be more about the actual image quality and less about how you get there. It needs to be a tangible step up.

Fuji have a real challenge on their hands then because the X-Trans is blowing the opposition away in many areas at the moment. So the challenge is getting the best better in my book, no easy task.


Only a handful of all my works in the last two months have needed the full 16MP of my X-E1 so 16MP is more than fine by me, however, any new camera version I would like to think will take the X-Trans up to something a tad more than 16MP.


We will have to wait and see.

 

[Gunston Gun]

Nothing fantastic

 

[jimmyca1219]

mr moonlight wrote:

If any updates to the Xpro1 or XE1 come this year, it will most likely be in the form of a "S" like the X100S. So an Xpro1s and XE1s with the new updates that the X100S has. I'd be surprised to see either by the end of this year, but next year I think it's possible to get an Xpro1s with some additional new features. I doubt IBIS will be one of them and I wouldn't want the extra added weight or size.

I'd be perfectly happy if they just upgraded to bring it to the same level as the X100s is at, or at least what I hope it's at. The only other features I wouldn't mind would be an increase in resolution and a user removable IR filter, the latter being a pipe dream.

It will be very interesting if Fuji follows apple's route.

Xpro1s- improved features but same body.

Xpro2 - New body design.

And then xpro2s, xpro3, xpro3s and so on.

 

[damoclesnz]

I am pretty confident we will see an X-Pro 2 (more likely X-Pro 1s) this year. I wouldn't expect to see an XE-2 so quickly.

Nobody disputes that the X-Pro 1 takes beautiful photos or that it has terrific handling but it does get panned in reviews for slow AF and a sub-par EVF etc.

If an updated X-Pro with fast AF, better EVF and manual focusing were to appear I think it would be a much more compelling option as a X system flag ship. If the X100s delivers the goods, I would preorder a similarly upgraded X-Pro2 in a heartbeat

 

[sgoldswo]

Felix11 wrote:

1) new X-M1 may come in April (this should be an entry level X camera
2) X-PRO 2 with new viewfinder in June
3) X-E2 in September.

Sounds theoretically possible

What I would like to see in the X-E2 and X-Pro2 is in body image stabilisation (like the OMD EM-5. (Of course, that's in addition to the new sensor and processor and split image focusing, focus peaking and contrast detect auto focus.)

What are the chances of that do you think?

As an E-M5/GH3 owner (as well as an X-Pro1 owner) I've come to the view IBIS is good for video, but in almost all other scenarios there are other solutions. It can also be a problem for image quality in certain situations.

--
http://sgoldswoblog.wordpress.com
http://www.flickr.com/photos/sgoldswo/

 

[tazmac]

Actually they were right about the nikon d7100.. So will see!

 

[Asylum Photo]

I'm not holding my breath, but it'd be awesome if the rumors were true.

 

[Rod McD]

I'm interested in the XE2. Now that they've added faster PDAF and focus peaking to the X100s, I've just deferred buying the XE1. I'm not short of cameras in the interim, and it will also give them time to get a few more lenses out and those that are already out to have some formal tests...... Six or seven months is nothing. I wonder how many people are thinking along the same lines.

As an aside, I'm hoping that they'll go to the length of providing environmental sealing (water and dust resistance) on future X models. IMO it's omission is a poor one on premium cameras.

Rod

 

[baobob]

Would prefer Fuji continue to lauch lenses according to their roadmap....

 

[jacketpotato]

Felix11 wrote:

1) new X-M1 may come in April (this should be an entry level X camera)

No EVF ? Shutter dial ? Exp Comp dial? Tilt swivel screen ?

Hope it doesnt resemble Nex-3/5, Nx 100/200/300.

 

[gumby2]

Rod McD wrote:

I'm interested in the XE2. Now that they've added faster PDAF and focus peaking to the X100s, I've just deferred buying the XE1. I'm not short of cameras in the interim, and it will also give them time to get a few more lenses out and those that are already out to have some formal tests...... Six or seven months is nothing. I wonder how many people are thinking along the same lines.

Same thinking line here...just returned an "open box" x-e1 and 35mm. The camera had 1500+ acuations and the lens was scuffed and smeared. (more USED than open box IMHO) So I returned them and then decided to just wait. But fighting GAS is so difficult...

 

[Chris Dodkin]

Firstly it goes against their current launch schedule - which is announce early in year at CES for availability Q2 onwards for the major camera purchasing season (Q2-Q3)

It also goes against their current refresh schedule for revised models - swapping out the X-Pro1 in under 2 years

I'm going to bet that the next Fuji camera announcement will be at CES 2014

The announcements through 2013 will be lens releases from the roadmap.

 

[mr moonlight]

BillyInya wrote:

If what you say turns out to be true then this would surprise me, especially about the X-E2 in September.

If true I just hope they aren't just "bells & whistles" upgrades. I know many here like that sort of stuff but for me a new version needs to be more about the actual image quality and less about how you get there. It needs to be a tangible step up.

Fuji have a real challenge on their hands then because the X-Trans is blowing the opposition away in many areas at the moment. So the challenge is getting the best better in my book, no easy task.

Only a handful of all my works in the last two months have needed the full 16MP of my X-E1 so 16MP is more than fine by me, however, any new camera version I would like to think will take the X-Trans up to something a tad more than 16MP.

We will have to wait and see.

It's not that I necessarily need more than 16MP, but the increase in resolution should help in the moire department. The X-trans is good at handling it, but I think that combined with a higher resolution sensor, we could get even better results.

 

[cptrios]

The NX100/200/300 wouldn't be the worst thing. They have the best manual controls of all of the EVF-less mirrorless bodies...two control wheels plus a mode dial on the body (already more than the E-PM, E-PL, E-P, NEX-3/5/6, GF, etc) then the benefit of most of their lenses having the iFn ring. They still have a long ways to go in some areas, but those Samsung cameras have a bunch of surprisingly nifty features.

As for IBIS...don't get your hopes up. There's always someone over on the Sony forum wondering out loud when the NEX bodies are going to get IBIS - and the answer is "never." Same goes for Fuji. Design concerns (just look at the size of the hump the OM-D needs to house its admittedly excellent IBIS system, and the rather loud noises most of the Oly m4/3 cameras make) and financial concerns ($450 for a 35/1.8 APS-C lens whose equivalents cost around $200, just because it has IS) will prevent that from happening. I can maybe see a future X100 model having it, as it's a closed ecosystem, but not an ILC.