Fujifilm X Summit at GPP Photo Week 2019: GFX Modular Concept, X-T3 Firmware Update Coming With Improved AF, New Lenses, Film Simulation, and More

• 5 years ago

Fujifilm released a video of their X Summit for GPP Photo Week 2019 and it’s full of interesting details about upcoming lenses and firmware update. We also get a rare look at prototype hardware and what the GFX could have been and might someday become. The modular Fujifilm GFX is pretty amazing looking and it is kind of the direction I always thought they might go in so that the system becomes more of an interchangeable back type camera. Everyone looked really into the modular prototype so let’s hope that someday soon Fujifilm will have the technology to make one.

Below you will find a recap of the broadcast that should be easier to read than watching the almost 2-hour video with filler. I also included relevant screen grabs below so you don’t have to go back and watch the full video.

1. Sensor and Mount 27:44

• All brands have gone mirrorless with a different lens, sensors, and mounts
• At the X Summit this week they have over 730 mount adapters
• Why not 35mm (Full Frame)?
  • The bigger the sensor the better
  • Not always true when new sensors come out
  • Full frame isn’t that much better than Full Frame, but the GFX is 2x their APS-C sensors
  • There have been increasingly compact Full Frame cameras, but Fujifilm is making compact medium format
  • Bigger sensors have higher resolution but need a lot more power for their camera
  • There is no perfect format everyone has pros and cons
  • Fujifilm is focused on APS-C
  • GFX is for people that want more pixels and dynamic range
  • Fujifilm believes X-Mount is the ideal mount
  • The sensors are becoming so good that light has to be delivered to them precisely and APS-C is perfect for that
  • Fujifilm has the best value angle of any mount!
  • The value angle is the edge of the mount going through the sensor
  • Their value angle lets them make their lenses more compact than others and allows them to locate the lens very close to the sensor.
  • On the chart above mount A, B, C are Full Frame mirrorless
  • APS-C lets you create a better value angle than Full Frame
  • The XF56mm f/1.2 is one of the best examples of what Fujifilm’s value angle can achieve
  • It’s very easy for them to deliver all of the light
  • Bigger lenses need more optical and digital correct
  • Real photographers love Fujifilm because their old lenses work the best on their Fujifilm cameras via an adapter
  • Don’t look at the size of a sensor only
  • Value angle is very important because it gives them flexibility for lens design
  • A good value angle allows for more light and less digital correction

2. Future Concept GFX and X Lens design 41:58

• Fujinon XF16 f/2.8 coming soon (next week)
• Fujinon XF16-80 f/4
• Fujinon XF33 f/1.0
• Fujinon XF35 f/1.4 “God Glass” because everyone loves this lens
• Why was it so hard to go from f/1.4 to f/1.0
  • Lens has to be twice as big to correct the light
  • The front element has to be very large and meet the back without disrupting the light
  • 7-10 elements in the front of the lens and 8-10 in the back of the lens to make the XF33 f/1.0 work
  • The XF35mm f/1.4 only needs 7 elements to work
  • The XF33mm f/1.0 needs 15-20 elements (sounds like they are still finalizing the design)
  • 200g in glass have to shift precisely to control autofocus
• First Fujinon XF16-80mm f/4 constant aperture demo
  • Very small and light
  • Their 16-80mm (effective 24mm-120mm) is about the size of Full Frame 24-70mm constant aperture
  • Should launch late this year
• Asked attendees to vote for which of 27 future lenses they would want Fujifilm to work on first (see above for the full list
  • Fujifilm will start the dev of new lenses at Fujinon XF33 f/1.0
  • Lots of mark 2 lenses on the list
  • Next week they might release a new roadmap with the lens they decide to develop (So new roadmap on the 14th?)
  • Tilt-shift is missing from Fujifilm’s lineup so one of the panelists requests it because it would be wisest to dev on GFX because you lose resolution, the field of view and detail when digitally straitening images.
  • It costs a lot of money to develop lenses, but a return on investment is important for them to consider
  • On stage one of the panelists wants a 150mm f/2.8 macro
  • Zak tries to shoot down the 35mm f/1.4 (which most want refreshed to focus faster and have weather sealing)

3. Future Concept, GFX Camera 59:42

• Fujifilm GFX 50R was recently released
• The Fujifilm X100 designer design the GFX and made hundreds of mockups
• Mirrorless should be free (Future Designs)
  • Free from old legacy
  • Brought some design mockups (see above)
  • Spent over 2 years working on the Fujifilm GFX50S
  • The first is an SLR style ( looks like a Canon)
  • The second no left side so a little smaller than SLR style
  • The third is rangefinder style and lead to the GFX50R
  • The fourth is a modular design concept that is quite innovative
    • Can attach a grip and a finder or use it as just a compact box
    • A grip and finder is called full option style
    • The best example of free
    • Zak points out it would be easy to fly on drones and it would be good for mounting on 4×5
    • Can’t realize this mockup yet due to technical limitations
    • Panelist Fujifilm makes the best mockups
    • Everyone on the panel seems to want this camera
  • GF50mm f/3.5 on stage
• Near Future
  • Fujifilm GFX100
    • SLR style with an integrated grip
    • Simple and sharp
    • First medium format IBIS
    • Working prototype on stage
    • 100MP is where medium format really shines
    • IBIS is very effective on the GFX100 and is very handholdable
    • Feels like a Nikon D5 or Canon 1DX
    • Panelists say it feels very much like their DSLR and the weight is very good
    • Under 10k
    • Before June

4. Colors and Image Quality 1:17:47

• Very few in the audience shoot JPEG
• Film simulations are made by measurement, calculation and final tuning
• Fujifilm’s simulations aren’t based on a color checker
• They did millions of calculations to get it right
• Showing a chart with a ? for future film simulation
• What should be the new film simulation in the digital age?
• Luminance and tonality are important
• New simulation coming

5. Firmware Upgrade 1:27:28

• 250+ firmware updates since they released X100
• Firmware never stops improving
• Technology advances day by day
• Fujifilm X-T3 Firmware 3.00
  • Better tracking for photos and video
  • Better Eye AF
  • Face select function
  • Quicker touch operation
  • Coming April
• Which firmware upgrade should the do next?
  • High dynamic range live view
  • Live preview long exposure (my favorite)
  • Multi-shot, for HDR
  • Focus bracketing functionality
  • Multiple exposures 2-9 images
  • Focus customization liner/nonlinear
  • In-camera time-lapse mode
  • 1080/240p high-speed video
  • Wi-Fi X Studio

Q&A

Would like to see the star ratings show up in Lightroom and add a star button – Fujifilm is studying solutions

Wireless EVF that you can detach, but is connected to the camera wirelessly – Fujifilm asks if it’s a good idea

Could you give Adobe the algorithm so that the images get to be super sharp – Fujifilm algorithm is confidential, but they will talk with Adobe

Camera App needs to be updated as frequently as firmware and the remote app needs to be redesigned – no real comment

Need way better geotagging that is simple and updates frequently – Bluetooth cameras paired with a phone will continue to pull from the phone, but Fujifilm is also working on something else

Someone asked about taking home the modular system – Zak taps on the plastic to show it’s just a mockup

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