FujiCast 166 Part 1 Interview With Marketing Manager Andreas Georghiades: Fujifilm X-H2 Coming With Next Generation Sensor and Processor, Japan vs China, Outdated Lenses, and More

Fujicast is back again with Manager Andreas Georghiades (1, 2, 3, 4). You can listen below or read my summary the podcast is 1h 22m long:

Ask Andreas Summary

• Will be split across two weeks
• X-E4, XF27mm f/2.8, XF70-30mm, and GFX100S was announced last week
• Fujifilm is trying to make the X-E line an interchangeable X100
• XF27mm f/2.8 now has an aperture ring which makes the focus ring smaller
• XF-70-300mm gives you the possibility to get extend your range up to 900mm with a teleconverter
• New firmware updates weren’t spoken about much
• GFX100S is about the size of a GFX50S without the hump on the back
• The GFX100S can either be viewed as an improved GFX50S or a shrunken down GFX100
• GFX100S is a huge deal for Fujifilm and should be available from March
• GF80mm f/1.7 is a stunning portrait lens for people that want the creamiest bokeh
• It took 4 years this month to go from GFX50S to GFX100S
• Fujifilm released some massive updates for the GFX100 and its good to see this camera come along because it reinvigorates the range
• Everyone wants everything as soon as they can have it and Fujifilm doesn’t hide things from customers and they confirmed a next-gen X-H2 is coming when there is a leap in technology.
• New X-H2 will come when a new sensor and processor come out if you read between the lines of what has been said, but he has no information about when it will come
• The 26MP sensor has been around a while so we might see a new sensor and processor soon
• X-T3 could be viewed as a stop-gap to the X-T4 so the next generation should have a new sensor and processor
• GF80mm f/1.7 is slightly smaller and slightly cheaper than the GF110mm f/2
• TCL and WCL for X100 have no known plans to be updated
• Accessories aren’t discussed much during product meetings and this is the first time he’s been asked if there is an update coming for the TCL and WCL
• Some put the TCL and WCL on the Fujifilm X70 but it was never designed for that
• Firmware updates are a commercial decision so firmware updates are not based on a schedule
• Fujifilm thinks about how many cameras are out there, how long will they be used for, and how long will they be sold for to decide what firmware updates to push out
• Firmware development happens between the development of cameras so it isn’t as simple as a copy-paste job
• Andreas Georghiades would love an X80 but no news to share
• When the X70 was launched in 2016 it didn’t sell well, but some people got it
• In 2016 Fujifilm also had to deal with the earthquake to prioritize what to put resources towards due to the sensor shortages
• This all makes it hard to justify making a camera like the X80 to the people that assign resources since the camera never did well
• Fujifilm doesn’t do IR conversions
• China and Japan both have the same quality controls for manufacturing
• Made in Japan isn’t really a big deal anymore and it hasn’t been in 20 years
• China makes some of the best stuff today
• You should take comfort in Fujifilm updating lenses like the XF10-24mm and XF27mm so they have already started updating dated lenses
• Fujifilm has opened their protocols for third parties, but can’t say what third parties are doing with them
• When cameras get popular more adapters are created and the GFX has a ton of smart adapters so third parties will likely make lenses for the GFX
• Lenses are most affordable to make when they can reuse the design on the bodies of 3-4 manufactures

Fujifilm X-E4: B&H Photo / Amazon / Moment / Adorama
Fujinon XF70-300mm f/4-5.6: B&H Photo / Amazon / Moment / Adorama
Fujinon XF27mm f/2.8 II: B&H Photo / Amazon / Moment / Adorama

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