Fujifilm DPR Interview – Not Just A Camera Company
DPR posted a very lengthy interview with managers from Fujifilm. Below is a summary of the lengthy interview or you can read the full thing here.
- Fujifilm GFX100S/GFX100/GFX100V?
- GFX100 is designed for professional photographers because it has an integrated battery grip and professional accessories like the tilting EVF
- GFX100S is designed for broader appeal including advanced amateurs coming from full-frame
- GFX100 always included the vertical grip in its design
- GFX100S was designed to be the size of full-frame cameras
- Everything in the GFX100S is redesigned
- The width of the shutter was a key part of keeping the camera smaller and the new battery layout
- GFX100 was designed for ultimate ruggedness and is able to better withstand external shock
- No vertical grip for GFX100S because we have GFX100
- GFX100 users universally love the image quality, but a lot wanted a smaller, lighter body, at a lower price
- GFX100S was designed for them and DSLR users which is why there is a mode dial too
- IBIS in future GFX will depend if they can fit it in the body, but it is necessary for 100MP
- Fujifilm GFX can cover from 23mm to 350mm
- GF customers want wider prime lenses, tilt/shift, and wide-angle zoom lenses
- Many landscape photographers want wider focal lengths and architects want tilt/shift so Fujifilm is studying it
- Fujifilm is still discussing which of those is a priority
- In the X section, Fujifilm jokes that some want a GFX 100V based on the X100V and yes we do that would be amazing
- Also from below GFX100 resolves 99% of detail so there is no moiré or false color so no need for X-Trans
- X-Series/Instax
- Fujifilm is still missing super-telephoto lenses since their max focal length now is 400mm and they need 500mm, 600mm, etc…
- Older lenses with slow AF that lack weather resistance also need to be refreshed
- X100V sales are almost the same as the previous model despite COVID-19, which Fujifilm attributes to an increase in demand for lifestyle-type shooting
- Fujifilm X-T4 has been a success in the market in almost every way, but some sports photographers want greater AF performance
- Fujifilm will continue to improve AF via Firmware updates
- Fujifilm has fast enough motors in the newer lenses, but they need to tweak the AF algorithm because some photographers prefer fast subject acquisition, while others prefer sticky AF
- X-T4 is designed for photographers first and if you want to chase video shooters then it would be a good idea to change the form factor
- Fujifilm has done research into better service videographers, but market size is an issue
- The X-T4 is a compromise for videographers
- Fujifilm will probably do some computational imaging in the future, but they haven’t decided how to integrate that technology into their cameras best to benefit customers
- Fujifilm makes Instax and has consumer-level cameras that computational imaging might make more sense for
- X-Trans is still useful and it prevents moiré and false color, but it isn’t needed for the GFX because the GFX can resolve 99% of the details so there is no moiré or false color
- COVID-19
- The business downturn due to COVID-19 was fairly temporary and never got as bad as they expected
- COVID-19 did shift consumer demand though because the demand for products under $1,000 went down while GFX and high-end camera demand went up quite a bit due to the pandemic which was the trend, but it accelerated
- Fujifilm is focused on high-end now
- People being home has increased the demand for better movie features
- Fujifilm is confident they are pursuing the right strategy
- 2021 and Beyond
- Development is always very challenging and they have been discussing IBIS and making Fujifilm camera interfaces easier to use
- Many are appreciating the advantages of large format now and more users than ever can get into large sensor cameras
- Fujifilm biggest point of differentiation is its color reproduction thanks to film simulation
- GFX100S should be very popular and easy to use
- Fujifilm has a lot of GFX100S preorders and it is a good sign that photographers are responding well to large format
- GFX opened the large format market to full-frame users
- Fujifilm will continue to try to push the price point of GFX down since it is a barrier
- It’s hard to match the price of full-frame completely because GFX is more demanding from an engineering perspective
- The IBIS, Sensor, shutter, etc… cost more in the GFX than in full-frame cameras
- GFX will probably always be a little more expensive than full frame
- Yamamoto-san
- Fujifilm’s camera division is a very important part of Fujifilm
- Photography and imaging is a core part of Fujifilm’s business
- Fujifilm products have been used to immortalize some of the most powerful moments in history
- Fujifilm wants to make camera systems that inspire photographers to create images to tell and share a story
- Fujifilm is not just a camera company they are an imaging company
- Smartphone photographers understand the value of a photograph, but Fujifilm needs to expand their understanding
- The X-S10 is a great camera for smartphone photographers to setup up to or even Instax
- Instax cameras reached 10 million sales annually in 2018, which is a big group of Fujifilm fans that might step up to Fujifilm’s X-series of cameras
- Fujifilm wants to reach everyone
Fujifilm GFX100S: B&H Photo / Amazon / Moment / Adorama
Fujifilm GFX100: B&H Photo / Amazon / Adorama
Fujinon GF80mm f/1.7: B&H Photo / Amazon / Moment / Adorama
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
Fujifilm X100V: B&H Photo / Amazon / Adorama
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