2023 big year for Fuji?

gdanmitchell wrote:

John Gellings wrote:

mhasman wrote:

Definitely big year, most possible with X-Pro and X100 lines cancelation announcement comes first.

Two of their most important lines for users who have been using Fuji for 10+ years will be cancelled? Why would Fuji want to become just me too camera manufacturer?

Have you looked at X100V prices lately? Fuji is not going to drop that line… it’s a gateway drug.

"Have been using..." is a critical piece here. The important consideration is how many will be using...

When the XPro was the "flagship" camera — remember that? — it was _the_ high end object of desire in the line, and it was the most capable, full-featured camera. If you wanted the best camera that Fujifilm made, you got the XPro1 and, arguably, the XPro2 (though that changed before long).

Well, when the X-Pro1 was released, you had two choices... X100 or X-Pro1.  The X-Pro2 was the first of the 24mp models to be released.  The X-T model was considered better for some people when released.

But since that time a lot has changed. Many of us who used to be hesitant about putting all of our eggs in the EVF-only basket felt that the hybrid OVF was pretty important back then... but have now learned that EVF cameras work great.

The appeal of the OVF has diminished radically. In addition, the XPro line has been displaced as the flagship, originally by the XT models and now by the XH2 models. With both of those in the mix, there are even fewer potential buyers for the XPro.

There are still some people who prefer the shape, VF on the side, the design, the feel, etc.  AND some people really still like the OVF.  Fuji gets this or they would have never made the camera in the first place.  Fuji has stated that it is an important camera for them even if it isn't a big seller.

In other words, the market segment to which the XPro appeals has shrunk. A lot.

Maybe, maybe not. I would say Fuji's user base has grown allowing for more models... but the people who prefer the X-Pro series are still interested.

I'm a prime example. I still have the XPro2 that I used for half of my photography since that camera was introduced. But I recently moved from it to the XT5. The only thing I lost was the OVF option. Five years ago, that would have been an issue. Today it is not, and I'm absolutely fine with the EVF-only camera.

Well, yeah, until the X-Pro4 comes and you sell that X-T5.

Regarding the "X100 lines," there's a bit of ambiguity about what this refers to. If referring to the literal "X100" line, the writing on that one has been on the wall for some time — it is not going to continue.

Huh?

On the other hand, if were are referring to the X100[x} (where X is "v" or "f," for example), I do not think that is going away.

Ok.

Unlike the XPro3, the X100v remains a highly popular niche camera that doesn't compete directly against anything else in the Fujifilm line.

Every single camera Fuji makes competes with its other cameras.  That does not mean there will not be an X-Pro4.

YMMV,

Dan

Yes, my mileage does vary...