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Map Camera interviewed Mr. Takashi Ueno on Youtube, and the google translation of the video is a mess, so we have to go on what DC.Life posted about the “interesting parts” of the interview, which is also translated. You can see the untranslated text here and the translated DC.Life text below:
“X-T1” is a camera made by betting on the future of Fujifilm
Speaking of the first camera, the “X-Pro1” is impressive, but if you say one of them, it’s the “X-T1”. After releasing the “X-Pro1”, we released the “X-E1”, “X-A1”, and “X-M1”. The X-T1 was the camera that everyone worked together as one.
In that sense, the X-T1 was a camera that was made with the future of Fujifilm’s X mount at stake. Thanks to all of you, the “X-T1” has been very well received and sales have been strong, so we are where we are today. Without the X-T1, this interview might not have happened (laughs). That’s how much the X-T1 left an impression on me.
I deliberately didn’t choose full-frame
Around the time the X-T1 was released, the number of professionals and advanced amateurs using the X gradually increased, and the number of interchangeable lenses exceeded 10, making the system much more complete. Naturally, we received many requests for better image quality and larger image sensors.
Even the new APS-C format was a big challenge, but how do you get two mounts in less than five years after starting the X mount? When it comes to that, there are pros and cons within the company, and even if we deploy two mounts, our development resources will not be doubled, so resources will be halved and the (development) pace of the X series will slow down. ? Or is that going to be a minus? There were various opinions. What to do with the user’s request coming.
Up to a certain level, “X” can handle it, but beyond that, I have to say that you should use another company’s camera. This is not good for customers who say they like the color of Fujifilm or like the concept. After all, in order to meet this need, we thought that we should launch the next line, and as a result, it led to “GFX”.
At that time, there was a long discussion whether to do “full size” or “large format”.
As a film maker, we probably know more than anyone else about the appeal and versatility of 35mm film. However, I didn’t choose to go there. Since it is digital, there is no need to drag the concept of film. Based on the idea that there is no need to drag the concept of film even though it is a film maker, even with a format that is slightly smaller than that, the image quality that surpasses the 35mm film up to that point, and in the extreme, can surpass even the brownie film that is above it. I think that the current “X” standard was chosen because of the prospect of achieving , and the technical prospects being seen, which is why the best format for digital.
X-mount 10th Anniversary Message from Mr. Ueno
Thank you for your patronage and patronage of the X series for 10 years. It’s been 10 years since the launch of the X mount, and I’ve been in charge of product planning. I was able to tell you. I am very grateful.
The X series will continue to evolve. All camera products are the same, but the functions of cameras today are completely different from what they were 10 years ago, and I think the expectations people have for cameras are changing rapidly.
On the other hand, I don’t think it’s a good thing to stay the same without changing, and I want to keep the basics in mind, but I want to evolve by properly grasping the needs of users. We hope that you will continue to use the X Series to take photos, whether it be in our showrooms or at our events, and keep communicating with us. I look forward to working with you for the next 10 years. Come thank you.
The Fujifilm X-H2S was Map Camera’s top seller by a large margin in July. It is also good to read that the supply of Fujifilm X-H2S cameras was abundant at launch, with a steady supply p0st launch. It is also interesting that 4 of the top 5 selling cameras were APS-C. The full translated statement about the X-H2S and the rankings can be found below:
“FUJIFILM X-H2S”, which was released on July 14th, won the first place with a big gap to the second place and below.
Fujifilm’s first place win since X-S10 in November last year. FUJIFILM, which has been in a slump recently, has released a long-awaited new model for users.
No matter what you say, attention is its high-speed continuous shooting performance. Equipped with a newly developed sensor, the signal readout speed has been successfully increased to about four times that of the current model. Blackout-free continuous shooting at 40 frames per second is now possible.
Equipped with a large-capacity buffer memory, the number of continuous recordings during continuous shooting has increased significantly. In addition, the algorithm has been revamped to improve AF accuracy for tracking moving objects, etc., achieving the highest level of performance for shooting moving subjects such as sports and animals.
Its performance has become a big topic even before its release, and we have received many reservations. We were worried about the supply shortage of popular models, but the number of initial arrivals was abundant, and this time it was an overwhelming victory. Supply is still stable. It will be interesting to see if he will lead the revival of FUJIFILM.
CineD & Gerald Undone sat down to talk about lab testing and how they compare cameras. Below is a summary of the entire one-hour video:
Testing Methodology
Decided to explain it because people get very upset when their computer doesn’t get the score they expect, and why do different reviewers have different results when it comes to measurements like the dynamic range?
Testing was started to see if manufacturers’ claims are accurate and to satisfy readers asking questions.
Gerald uses DSC labs methodology because CineD and others do, but when he started, there wasn’t a lot of overlap.
Gerald used to get about half a stop better dynamic range in his tests due to different settings, but then they talked, and now the variability is about 1/10th of a stop difference.
There are processes in post that improve the performance of your camera so you really shouldn’t get too upset by raw numbers.
Many cameras use the same sensors, so results are pretty similar until you tweak it
Dynamic range is a range that tells what is the difference between the max and min luminance Acceptable noise at the limits varies quite a bit
They care more about if the manufacturers are telling the truth than who has the best numbers
The dynamic range is when you expose for the scene how many stops are there it is not how much you can push/pull the image or how much it might add.
There are many tests out there, but most are very flawed and can’t be compared
CineD does dynamic range/latitude/rolling shutter because they are the only consistent tests you can do on every camera.
Every generation of camera adds more trickery
It’s hard to review smartphones because they do so much processing that you cannot stop.
Semi-professional cameras are becoming more smartphone-like
Companies have threatened CineD about their results
Japanese camera makers are engineering-driven and the marketing department follows their lead
The Japanese accept results better than others
No one has canceled their advertising over bad results
If you own a camera and you are happy with it, don’t watch the review because it might upset you because reviews are for people looking to buy.
It shouldn’t matter what a reviewer has to say if you own a camera.
If Gerald had to rank features, dynamic range would be a big one for him, and CineD agrees with that statement.
Everyone feels differently about how a camera feels in hand and how the menus function.
Gerald feels latitude testing can be inaccurate and that as long as one stop can be recovered, it is fine.
It would be cool to design a scene with a broad dynamic range and then compare the camera’s ability to recover the scene with good skin tones.
CineD sees latitude testing as being a torture test
Sony’s are super popular today, but the camera does a lot of processing, so when you start pushing and pulling it around it is hard to tell what is causing issues in an image
If you hit exposure close to 1 stop, any camera will give you a great image today
Fujifilm X-H2S
Noise can have a quality about whether you like an image or not and noise reduction.
Gerald feels that the Fujifilm X-H2S has very pleasing noise production, and in resolve, the noise gets cleaned up pretty much perfectly.
Fine organic noise is pleasing and easy to clean up
If an image is too blocky, you can not save it
Gerald jokes that they were bought and sold by Fujifilm
The camera has great dynamic range
The Fujifilm X-H2S is a great B camera
Fujifilm X-H2S has great rolling shutter. Dynamic range is great, and it did great overall for CineD’s lab testing
The Fujifilm X-H2S is the best APS-C camera, but Gerald doesn’t like the user interface
If testing were all that mattered, Gerald would be shooting an X-H2S
CineD is launching a new database of their lab testing soon
