Fujifilm X-Half Frame (Save $200):
B&H Photo / Amazon (Silver / Charcoal / Black) / ShopMoment / Adorama
The Fujifilm X Half has interested me since its launch, but I found the price to be a little high, which is why I couldn’t resist buying one when the holiday sale started. The Fujifilm X Half should have launched at $649 instead of $849 because the X Half isn’t going to replace a Fujifilm X camera. The Fujifilm X Half is an expensive experimental toy camera, and it is a joy to shoot when it is working correctly.
When the Fujifilm X Half is working correctly, it completely changes how you shoot because there is no ability to go back and see what you shot. You work your way through the roll cocking the shutter between shots in a style similar to a film Leica, and then pull out your smartphone to process your shots, which is a very rewarding experience that will make people gather around, when it works.
Connectivity is key for the Fujifilm X Half, and I have only been able to use it a few times over the past few days, but during that time, I have had to delete and repair the camera with my phone 3x to get access to what I shot, which can be nerve-racking when surrounded by people who expect the camera to just work. Normally, I would share some photos in my post, but most of my photos are from holiday parties, where the camera was a hit, and everyone loved what I took. The film simulations are all really top-notch, and I haven’t regretted picking one film type per roll yet, but I have been working with Fujifilm’s digital colors for over a decade now.
When the Fujifilm X Half works, it blows people’s minds and makes them take out their phones to order a camera for themselves, but when it doesn’t work, it can be a frustrating experience being surrounded by people impatiently waiting to see the “roll” of film that you took while you troubleshoot connectivity issues. I personally hope that the Fujifilm X Half experience gets better because I really do like the camera, and it fits in my pocket quite well, which I can’t say about any other Fujifilm camera at this time. It really was liberating to have to take a photo and move on, as I did back when I shot with my Leica M3.
