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Is Fuji getting out of the digital camera business?

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Bad_Dog

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Fuji has officially discontinued the 6900 and B&H at http://www.bhphotovideo.com claims the 4900 is discontinued also (today via phone call). Most companies would announce a replacement model at the same time as discontinuing an older model. Fuji is stonewalling. Are they pulling a Compaq Computer-like trick: Loading up their retailers with stock then instead of going into competition with them, getting completely out of the digital camera business?

Just thinking out loud.--Bad_Dog_2020
 
Bad_Dog said:
Fuji has officially discontinued the 6900 and B&H at
http://www.bhphotovideo.com claims the 4900 is discontinued also
(today via phone call). Most companies would announce a
replacement model at the same time as discontinuing an older model.
Fuji is stonewalling. Are they pulling a Compaq Computer-like
trick: Loading up their retailers with stock then instead of going
into competition with them, getting completely out of the digital
camera business?

Just thinking out loud.
--
Bad_Dog_2020
Click to expand...
IMO they need to jump ship on the APS fiasco. Minolta pulled the plug, and I expect it to die a silent death in the next year or so. Never saw the need for new format, only selling advantage was smaller cameras and few simpler things in regards to film(loading, info to processor, no negatives-contact sheets,). Some people liked and still do the adventure of taking pictures! Not knowing whether you got what you thought you got, is what all photographers speculated on before digital, especially pro sports photographers, who mainly shoot or use to shoot 35mm. Now if the manufacturers could just get the prices of their pro digital cameras in the $1000-$1500 range we all could have our cake and eat it too.
 
I tell you what all Digital camera makers need to do.... Lower the Fricken Priceing!!! I can't Bleave I need to spend $5,000 on a digital camera that has the same stuff on a $600 35mm Slr camera.. I don't care how much it cost to get the film delovoped...Lower Digtal camera Prices! I don't want to here that Same Bull about CCD's cost so much more to make.... Mass produce them more then!

Sorry I got carred away.. Just to have a 60 Sec Exp. I need to spend $600...And thats not good..
robby said:
Bad_Dog said:
Fuji has officially discontinued the 6900 and B&H at
http://www.bhphotovideo.com claims the 4900 is discontinued also
(today via phone call). Most companies would announce a
replacement model at the same time as discontinuing an older model.
Fuji is stonewalling. Are they pulling a Compaq Computer-like
trick: Loading up their retailers with stock then instead of going
into competition with them, getting completely out of the digital
camera business?

Just thinking out loud.
--
Bad_Dog_2020
Click to expand...
IMO they need to jump ship on the APS fiasco. Minolta pulled the
plug, and I expect it to die a silent death in the next year or so.
Never saw the need for new format, only selling advantage was
smaller cameras and few simpler things in regards to film(loading,
info to processor, no negatives-contact sheets,). Some people
liked and still do the adventure of taking pictures! Not knowing
whether you got what you thought you got, is what all photographers
speculated on before digital, especially pro sports photographers,
who mainly shoot or use to shoot 35mm. Now if the manufacturers
could just get the prices of their pro digital cameras in the
$1000-$1500 range we all could have our cake and eat it too.
Click to expand...
--Mike L. http://www.pbase.com/ferrari355/galleries
 
All new technology comes in costing an arm and a leg to those wishing to be first to try out the latest gadgetry. Does anyone remember how many times more VCRs DVDs or even colour TV's cost when first launched than they are now? Be patient if you begrudge todays high prices for digital cams which are already much cheaper than a couple of years ago.

I'll stick my neck out and say film cameras will be relegated to use by specialist photographers and senior citizens within 10 years. The rest of us can handle new ideas, this is relatively new technology. Film has over a hundred years of technology behind it, not surprising it takes 10 years to surpass is it?

Sorry but the stagecoach is not coming back as the new mode of transport. The world moves on for better or worse.
 
Sorry mate, Fuji has just king hit the opposition with a New honeycombe super CCd and 2 new cameras !
Bad_Dog said:
Fuji has officially discontinued the 6900 and B&H at
http://www.bhphotovideo.com claims the 4900 is discontinued also
(today via phone call). Most companies would announce a
replacement model at the same time as discontinuing an older model.
Fuji is stonewalling. Are they pulling a Compaq Computer-like
trick: Loading up their retailers with stock then instead of going
into competition with them, getting completely out of the digital
camera business?

Just thinking out loud.
--
Bad_Dog_2020
Click to expand...
 
We know about the CCD, so there probably be a camera to go with it, but are you sure about "2 new cameras"?

It is still very possible that they will only release a pro camera now, or only a prosumer, with other one following. Or even no prosumer at all, just pro, and some consumer cams (8800?) based on new CCD.

All guesses for now, at least for few more days (unless you have some inside info).

Rgrds, Moshe
eric noack said:
Bad_Dog said:
Fuji has officially discontinued the 6900 and B&H at
http://www.bhphotovideo.com claims the 4900 is discontinued also
(today via phone call). Most companies would announce a
replacement model at the same time as discontinuing an older model.
Fuji is stonewalling. Are they pulling a Compaq Computer-like
trick: Loading up their retailers with stock then instead of going
into competition with them, getting completely out of the digital
camera business?

Just thinking out loud.
--
Bad_Dog_2020
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
 
My lips are stitched together.
Moshe Vainer said:
It is still very possible that they will only release a pro camera
now, or only a prosumer, with other one following. Or even no
prosumer at all, just pro, and some consumer cams (8800?) based on
new CCD.

All guesses for now, at least for few more days (unless you have
some inside info).

Rgrds, Moshe
eric noack said:
Bad_Dog said:
Fuji has officially discontinued the 6900 and B&H at
http://www.bhphotovideo.com claims the 4900 is discontinued also
(today via phone call). Most companies would announce a
replacement model at the same time as discontinuing an older model.
Fuji is stonewalling. Are they pulling a Compaq Computer-like
trick: Loading up their retailers with stock then instead of going
into competition with them, getting completely out of the digital
camera business?

Just thinking out loud.
--
Bad_Dog_2020
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
 
Yes Moshe

It would be logical for a new CCD to go into the S2 wouldn't it? I can't imagine an S2 replacement and a 6900 replacement using the same CCD at the same time.

And if they vastly improve the 6900 then they are competing against the S1/2 aren't they? And don't they have problems with Nikon over the S2 body?

And I can't imagine it going into a point and shoot if it's higher res/better than the one in the S1.

We'll just have to wait. I couldn't imagine that the 6900 would disappear just before christmas either (for whatever reason).
regards
Ian
Moshe Vainer said:
It is still very possible that they will only release a pro camera
now, or only a prosumer, with other one following. Or even no
prosumer at all, just pro, and some consumer cams (8800?) based on
new CCD.

All guesses for now, at least for few more days (unless you have
some inside info).

Rgrds, Moshe
eric noack said:
Bad_Dog said:
Fuji has officially discontinued the 6900 and B&H at
http://www.bhphotovideo.com claims the 4900 is discontinued also
(today via phone call). Most companies would announce a
replacement model at the same time as discontinuing an older model.
Fuji is stonewalling. Are they pulling a Compaq Computer-like
trick: Loading up their retailers with stock then instead of going
into competition with them, getting completely out of the digital
camera business?

Just thinking out loud.
--
Bad_Dog_2020
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
 
The "mechanics" of the different camera's also determin the output quality. The S1,6900,6800 have the same res, but you get a lot different quality from each. I could easily see an S2 and 8900 getting released at the same time, and then the 8800 a little later.

They could put a faster processor, larger buffer, and a number of other things in the S2 to make it a lot different than the 8900. Not to mention the fact that you can change lenses on it. They aren't gonna be competing with each other, because they are two different levels of camera's.

Take the Canon D30 and G2 for example. D30 being their higher end camera that was released before the G2, but the G2 still is higher resolution.... two different levels of camera. If a person is wanting that flexibility to change their lenses, amongst other differences, then they'll gladly pay the additional for the quality of results that they are able to acheive.

With the disappearance of the 6900, I'm figuring that they made a choice to just switch over to production of the new camera rather than start another production cycle of the old camera.

If the rumor mills are true, we should see this new camera being available at the end of February.... something to do with contest info I believe.

I would suggest that they just release the 8900, get some feedback and actual consumer use from it to find any problems, and then release the S2 a little later after tweaking some of the problems. That would be a smarter thing to do, IMO, so they can perfect there pro camera a little further rather than the prosumer camera as with the S1 and 6900.

Hope my rambing is understandable.....
ianR said:
Moshe Vainer said:
It is still very possible that they will only release a pro camera
now, or only a prosumer, with other one following. Or even no
prosumer at all, just pro, and some consumer cams (8800?) based on
new CCD.

All guesses for now, at least for few more days (unless you have
some inside info).

Rgrds, Moshe
eric noack said:
Bad_Dog said:
Fuji has officially discontinued the 6900 and B&H at
http://www.bhphotovideo.com claims the 4900 is discontinued also
(today via phone call). Most companies would announce a
replacement model at the same time as discontinuing an older model.
Fuji is stonewalling. Are they pulling a Compaq Computer-like
trick: Loading up their retailers with stock then instead of going
into competition with them, getting completely out of the digital
camera business?

Just thinking out loud.
--
Bad_Dog_2020
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
--Thanks,BradlyFuji 6900 (69er) - Olympus D40 & C2100 (Uzi)Olympus B300 & C180 - ProOptics 2x HDDigital Wallet - Zio
 
Bradley, you're a chowderhead. They would NOT put the same sensor in the 8900 and the S2. That's just like the D30 doesn't have the same sensor as the G2 (nor does it for that matter take better pictures).
Bradly said:
The "mechanics" of the different camera's also determin the output
quality. The S1,6900,6800 have the same res, but you get a lot
different quality from each. I could easily see an S2 and 8900
getting released at the same time, and then the 8800 a little later.

They could put a faster processor, larger buffer, and a number of
other things in the S2 to make it a lot different than the 8900.
Not to mention the fact that you can change lenses on it. They
aren't gonna be competing with each other, because they are two
different levels of camera's.

Take the Canon D30 and G2 for example. D30 being their higher end
camera that was released before the G2, but the G2 still is higher
resolution.... two different levels of camera. If a person is
wanting that flexibility to change their lenses, amongst other
differences, then they'll gladly pay the additional for the quality
of results that they are able to acheive.

With the disappearance of the 6900, I'm figuring that they made a
choice to just switch over to production of the new camera rather
than start another production cycle of the old camera.

If the rumor mills are true, we should see this new camera being
available at the end of February.... something to do with contest
info I believe.

I would suggest that they just release the 8900, get some feedback
and actual consumer use from it to find any problems, and then
release the S2 a little later after tweaking some of the problems.
That would be a smarter thing to do, IMO, so they can perfect there
pro camera a little further rather than the prosumer camera as with
the S1 and 6900.

Hope my rambing is understandable.....
Click to expand...
 
The basic technologies and ccd megapixels may be the same for both cameras, but the S2 would have a considerably physically larger ccd, giving it the capabilities of producing less noise and cleaner high iso's.
Steve Strawn said:
Bradly said:
The "mechanics" of the different camera's also determin the output
quality. The S1,6900,6800 have the same res, but you get a lot
different quality from each. I could easily see an S2 and 8900
getting released at the same time, and then the 8800 a little later.

They could put a faster processor, larger buffer, and a number of
other things in the S2 to make it a lot different than the 8900.
Not to mention the fact that you can change lenses on it. They
aren't gonna be competing with each other, because they are two
different levels of camera's.

Take the Canon D30 and G2 for example. D30 being their higher end
camera that was released before the G2, but the G2 still is higher
resolution.... two different levels of camera. If a person is
wanting that flexibility to change their lenses, amongst other
differences, then they'll gladly pay the additional for the quality
of results that they are able to acheive.

With the disappearance of the 6900, I'm figuring that they made a
choice to just switch over to production of the new camera rather
than start another production cycle of the old camera.

If the rumor mills are true, we should see this new camera being
available at the end of February.... something to do with contest
info I believe.

I would suggest that they just release the 8900, get some feedback
and actual consumer use from it to find any problems, and then
release the S2 a little later after tweaking some of the problems.
That would be a smarter thing to do, IMO, so they can perfect there
pro camera a little further rather than the prosumer camera as with
the S1 and 6900.

Hope my rambing is understandable.....
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
 
Ron H said:
The basic technologies and ccd megapixels may be the same for both
cameras, but the S2 would have a considerably physically larger
ccd, giving it the capabilities of producing less noise and cleaner
high iso's.
Click to expand...
Not to forget S2 35mm sensor would be for full frame capture (and so less noise and so on) and 8900 would be 1/7-1/5" small progressive sensor(so as to produce real feedback,movie mode etc..)
Here is my finding and extrapolation about todays teasure flashes:

A Fuji Camera would be announced on 30th Jan loaded with IIIrd gen. SuperCCD which further improved mimicing 'EYE' and has a very high ISO, Better resolution/frame rate in video mode also better shutter speed/faster processing/less lag. I would guess, its a prosumer camera as these improvement make far more sense there)

So in a way its contradict the original notion that fuji is pulling out from prosumer end.
Member said:
Steve Strawn said:
Bradly said:
The "mechanics" of the different camera's also determin the output
quality. The S1,6900,6800 have the same res, but you get a lot
different quality from each. I could easily see an S2 and 8900
getting released at the same time, and then the 8800 a little later.

They could put a faster processor, larger buffer, and a number of
other things in the S2 to make it a lot different than the 8900.
Not to mention the fact that you can change lenses on it. They
aren't gonna be competing with each other, because they are two
different levels of camera's.

Take the Canon D30 and G2 for example. D30 being their higher end
camera that was released before the G2, but the G2 still is higher
resolution.... two different levels of camera. If a person is
wanting that flexibility to change their lenses, amongst other
differences, then they'll gladly pay the additional for the quality
of results that they are able to acheive.

With the disappearance of the 6900, I'm figuring that they made a
choice to just switch over to production of the new camera rather
than start another production cycle of the old camera.

If the rumor mills are true, we should see this new camera being
available at the end of February.... something to do with contest
info I believe.

I would suggest that they just release the 8900, get some feedback
and actual consumer use from it to find any problems, and then
release the S2 a little later after tweaking some of the problems.
That would be a smarter thing to do, IMO, so they can perfect there
pro camera a little further rather than the prosumer camera as with
the S1 and 6900.

Hope my rambing is understandable.....
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
 
I see the level of the people has been on the decrease across the forums.

I'll shut my clam.......
Steve Strawn said:
Bradley, you're a chowderhead. --Thanks,BradlyFuji 6900 (69er) - Olympus D40 & C2100 (Uzi)Olympus B300 & C180 - ProOptics 2x HDDigital Wallet - Zio
Click to expand...
 
Technology is moving really fast in this field. Fuji obviously listen to what is being said on forums like this one, and considering that most of us own their top prosumer camera the 6900z, they are likely to head down the prosumer road in the future. The market for pro cameras is very small as not too many people want to spend serious money on a 5mp camera with interchangable lens'when a 3.3mp camera is pretty much overkill for their needs. I see no reason to buy a 5mp camera at the moment and I wont get one until the price comes down to a sensible level. (you can bet you bottom dollar they will).

Fuji arent pulling out, they're taking stock of the market place and creating some hype by making us all wait to see what is coming next. Fuji are innovative so the next Fuji offering is likely to blow you away, for now anyway.

I envisage an S2 with 5 or 6mp interpolated up to 10+megapixels and an 8900 (whatever) with 4mp interpolated up to 8 or 9megapixels.
The s2 could support CF, SM and microdrive etc.
I could be wrong though!!!!!

Charles
 
Use a spellchekcer ... sheesh! ;-)
Michael Lewis said:
Sorry I got carred away.. Just to have a 60 Sec Exp. I need to
spend $600...And thats not good..
robby said:
Bad_Dog said:
Fuji has officially discontinued the 6900 and B&H at
http://www.bhphotovideo.com claims the 4900 is discontinued also
(today via phone call). Most companies would announce a
replacement model at the same time as discontinuing an older model.
Fuji is stonewalling. Are they pulling a Compaq Computer-like
trick: Loading up their retailers with stock then instead of going
into competition with them, getting completely out of the digital
camera business?

Just thinking out loud.
--
Bad_Dog_2020
Click to expand...
IMO they need to jump ship on the APS fiasco. Minolta pulled the
plug, and I expect it to die a silent death in the next year or so.
Never saw the need for new format, only selling advantage was
smaller cameras and few simpler things in regards to film(loading,
info to processor, no negatives-contact sheets,). Some people
liked and still do the adventure of taking pictures! Not knowing
whether you got what you thought you got, is what all photographers
speculated on before digital, especially pro sports photographers,
who mainly shoot or use to shoot 35mm. Now if the manufacturers
could just get the prices of their pro digital cameras in the
$1000-$1500 range we all could have our cake and eat it too.
Click to expand...
--
Mike L.

http://www.pbase.com/ferrari355/galleries
Click to expand...
 
me too! :-)
David Steinman said:
Michael Lewis said:
Sorry I got carred away.. Just to have a 60 Sec Exp. I need to
spend $600...And thats not good..
robby said:
Bad_Dog said:
Fuji has officially discontinued the 6900 and B&H at
http://www.bhphotovideo.com claims the 4900 is discontinued also
(today via phone call). Most companies would announce a
replacement model at the same time as discontinuing an older model.
Fuji is stonewalling. Are they pulling a Compaq Computer-like
trick: Loading up their retailers with stock then instead of going
into competition with them, getting completely out of the digital
camera business?

Just thinking out loud.
--
Bad_Dog_2020
Click to expand...
IMO they need to jump ship on the APS fiasco. Minolta pulled the
plug, and I expect it to die a silent death in the next year or so.
Never saw the need for new format, only selling advantage was
smaller cameras and few simpler things in regards to film(loading,
info to processor, no negatives-contact sheets,). Some people
liked and still do the adventure of taking pictures! Not knowing
whether you got what you thought you got, is what all photographers
speculated on before digital, especially pro sports photographers,
who mainly shoot or use to shoot 35mm. Now if the manufacturers
could just get the prices of their pro digital cameras in the
$1000-$1500 range we all could have our cake and eat it too.
Click to expand...
--
Mike L.

http://www.pbase.com/ferrari355/galleries
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
 
Just back from 17 days in the Caribbean during which my 6900z shot over 1000 pics (I'll post some samples in the next few days).

Having spent a week in Marigot, St Martin and visited Philipsburg, St Maarten I was able to get some first hand knowledge of what is happening re the 6900z in an area depending on imports via "third party" countries.

First, the geography. St Martin/St Maarten is a small island in the Windward chain split between France (of which it is a Department Outre Mer) and the Netherlands Antilles.

The French side has a small number of camera shops which source cameras BOTH in France and the USA (the former for home population and European visitors, the latter for US visitors).

I spoke to the managers of two shops in Marigot (both were Indians). They have been, and still are, unable to source the 6900z from Fuji USA. Fuji France has been able to supply on a weekly basis (by the daily Air France flight).

To source NTSC cameras they have had to go direct to Fuji Japan, which costs more than buying through the USA and they have not been able to obtain more than a handful since mid November.

On the Netherlands Antilles side they have had exactly the same problem - but more so - as they normally only sell NTSC cameras. Three shops I tried had no 6900z in stock but expected new shipments sometime in early February. They were selling and still regularly getting stock of the 4900z!!

Doesn't add much to our overall ideas of what is/maybe happening I suppose, but gives a view from another region
Ron H said:
Steve Strawn said:
Bradly said:
The "mechanics" of the different camera's also determin the output
quality. The S1,6900,6800 have the same res, but you get a lot
different quality from each. I could easily see an S2 and 8900
getting released at the same time, and then the 8800 a little later.

They could put a faster processor, larger buffer, and a number of
other things in the S2 to make it a lot different than the 8900.
Not to mention the fact that you can change lenses on it. They
aren't gonna be competing with each other, because they are two
different levels of camera's.

Take the Canon D30 and G2 for example. D30 being their higher end
camera that was released before the G2, but the G2 still is higher
resolution.... two different levels of camera. If a person is
wanting that flexibility to change their lenses, amongst other
differences, then they'll gladly pay the additional for the quality
of results that they are able to acheive.

With the disappearance of the 6900, I'm figuring that they made a
choice to just switch over to production of the new camera rather
than start another production cycle of the old camera.

If the rumor mills are true, we should see this new camera being
available at the end of February.... something to do with contest
info I believe.

I would suggest that they just release the 8900, get some feedback
and actual consumer use from it to find any problems, and then
release the S2 a little later after tweaking some of the problems.
That would be a smarter thing to do, IMO, so they can perfect there
pro camera a little further rather than the prosumer camera as with
the S1 and 6900.

Hope my rambing is understandable.....
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
--PhilB
 
Lol they need a spell checker here
David Steinman said:
David Steinman said:
Michael Lewis said:
Sorry I got carred away.. Just to have a 60 Sec Exp. I need to
spend $600...And thats not good..
robby said:
Bad_Dog said:
Fuji has officially discontinued the 6900 and B&H at
http://www.bhphotovideo.com claims the 4900 is discontinued also
(today via phone call). Most companies would announce a
replacement model at the same time as discontinuing an older model.
Fuji is stonewalling. Are they pulling a Compaq Computer-like
trick: Loading up their retailers with stock then instead of going
into competition with them, getting completely out of the digital
camera business?

Just thinking out loud.
--
Bad_Dog_2020
Click to expand...
IMO they need to jump ship on the APS fiasco. Minolta pulled the
plug, and I expect it to die a silent death in the next year or so.
Never saw the need for new format, only selling advantage was
smaller cameras and few simpler things in regards to film(loading,
info to processor, no negatives-contact sheets,). Some people
liked and still do the adventure of taking pictures! Not knowing
whether you got what you thought you got, is what all photographers
speculated on before digital, especially pro sports photographers,
who mainly shoot or use to shoot 35mm. Now if the manufacturers
could just get the prices of their pro digital cameras in the
$1000-$1500 range we all could have our cake and eat it too.
Click to expand...
--
Mike L.

http://www.pbase.com/ferrari355/galleries
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
--Mike L. http://www.pbase.com/ferrari355/galleries
 
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