Recent launches and future of the X-Pro series

John Gellings wrote:

There is no way they aren’t rethinking the X-Pro3 screen. It’s been failing too often for them not to. It will also certainly have IBIS. It will be 2023 and Fuji is not Leica. They cannot get away with it again.

The issues with the screen cable is an engineering issue not a design issue.

As far has the OP.  The uniqueness of the XPro3 has nothing to do with the screen.  It is the only mirrorless ILC with an optical VF with the exception of course the Leica M.  That is the one feature that sets it apart from the rest of the top of the Fuji line.  Of course you pay for that OVF as the XPro3 was more expensive than the XT3, XT4 and is more expensive than the XT5.

I think the screen is the least of the design issues of the XPro4.  First is the battery.  They have to engineer a way to put the new batter which is significantly larger than the current XPro3 battery into the body without increasing size.  I was encouraged that Fuji could reduce the size and weight of the XT5 down to something comparable to the XT3 - smaller and lighter than the XT4.  I expect nothing less in a Pro4.  They also need to do that without adding a grotesque grip to the camera.

The second issue is IBIS.  There is not a lot of room in that camera. They are going to have to be clever to include IBIS.  In reality carving out an area for the display of the XT5 would suck up inside space and make the issue worse.  With a 40 MP sensor, Fuji will almost have to include IBIS in the Pro4.   Leica has commented that they had looked at IBIS in the M11but there was insufficient room.  The Q2 has IBIS - actually a very nice implementation of IBIS.  However, the Q2 is thicker than the M.  So Fuji will have its hands full keeping the Pro4 from growing when the XH2 is actually smaller than the XH1 and the XT5 smaller than the XT4 indicates they have heard the complaints that their cameras age getting too big.  Putting in IBIS will be a challenge.

My guess is the innards of the XT5 - sensor, processor, IBIS, SD cards, battery in a form factor that is no larger than the current XPro3.  As far as display - who knows.  Personally I don't care if didn't even have one.  I could live with no display and a good updated phone app.  What I can't live with is a display I cannot protect with the glass against the camera.

Most likely we are six months off before we hear anything.