Showing posts with label Fuji X100. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Fuji X100. Show all posts
Friday, 14 December 2012
Fuji X100 replacement may have X-Trans sensor
According to this rumor, Fuji X100 successor will have X-Trans sensor. In some camera shops Fuji X100 is already listed as discontinued since November.
If true, Fujifilm is putting all bets on X-Trans sensor. If the hypothetical "X200" will be even half as popular as Fuji X100, than the third party software manufacturers will put more efforts in proper support of "X-Trans" RAW data. Obviously, the camera will get better autofocus, probably something similar to Fuji X-E1. No word about the viewfinder on the new camera. The hybrid viewfinder does make sense on fixed focal length cameras such as X100.
The main advantage of cameras with fixed length is a small size.
It also would be interesting to see how "X200" will compete with the full-frame Sony RX1. The new Fuji will be significantly cheaper than the RX1, even without expensive external viewfinders. The first generation of X-Trans sensor from Fuji has very low noise. On other hand, Sony RX1 has an advantage of standard Bayer mask/sensor: broad support of RAW data conversion by third party software manufactures.
Unless I win a lottery I would not even think about buying RX1 :)
The cameras such as Fuji X100 or Sony RX1 or Sigma DP2M all have fairly good lenses that can last longer that the electronics. I am curious if it would be possible in the future to re-fit the sensor and "processor" in such cameras.
Tuesday, 20 November 2012
Fujifilm X100: discontinued
I just came across this notice on respectable Australian camera shop:
It is somewhat surprised because the limited black edition of Fuji X100 is not marked as discontinued. Maybe just typo...
Even for that price the camera is a bargain considering the quality of the lens and the hybrid viewfinder. As a "grey import" the X100 can be found for about $750 (in Kogan). The lenses for the X mount are priced in this range, and none of the three available primes are compact. On top of it Fuji X100 does not have problems with regular patterns and color bleeding of X-trans sensor. Heck, Fuji X10 is still priced at about $600 in major camera shops in Australia.
If it is true, does it mean that Fujifilm will stop the X100 model line? Hopefully the company will change the sensor, hybrid viewfinder (increase the refresh rate), improve the body, update the electronics and release it as the X200.
It is somewhat surprised because the limited black edition of Fuji X100 is not marked as discontinued. Maybe just typo...
Even for that price the camera is a bargain considering the quality of the lens and the hybrid viewfinder. As a "grey import" the X100 can be found for about $750 (in Kogan). The lenses for the X mount are priced in this range, and none of the three available primes are compact. On top of it Fuji X100 does not have problems with regular patterns and color bleeding of X-trans sensor. Heck, Fuji X10 is still priced at about $600 in major camera shops in Australia.
If it is true, does it mean that Fujifilm will stop the X100 model line? Hopefully the company will change the sensor, hybrid viewfinder (increase the refresh rate), improve the body, update the electronics and release it as the X200.
Monday, 5 November 2012
Fujifilm X10 for ~400AUD
Kogan now sells Fujifilm cameras. Fuji X10 is offered for 389AUD plus shipping (19 dollars to Brisbane), and the famous Fuji X100 is listed for 779 dollars. It is Kogan, so both are grey import. The lowest X100 Australian price I know is 998 dollars in CameraPro. Kogan also has very low prices for Nikon DSLRs, with D3200 body for 438 dollars (this is a 24MP DSLR!), and Nikon D5100 with 18-55mm lens for 439 dollars. Granted, D5100 will be replaced with new model very soon but this camera has one of the best APS-C sensors.
Personally I buy cameras in local shops in Brisbane. I know people who bought cameras from the Kogan shop. They were happy with the purchase. Because it is a parallel import, most products have "back to the shop" guaranty. I don't know if Fuji X10 is now shipping with the new sensor or not, and it is unclear if the company will replace the sensor in "grey" cameras. Early production runs of Fuji X100 were prone to SAB (sticky aperture blades). While I never had issues with any digital camera during warranty I do prefer peace of mind.
Unfortunately, both Nikon and Canon cameras and lenses cost more in Australia than in the US, and the difference cannot be explained just by GST (local sales tax). From what I learnt the australian camera retailers are essentially hostages of the prices set up by the companies, and cannot do much. It is probably not just that factor, no doubt high wages and rent also contribute to the final price.
Personally I buy cameras in local shops in Brisbane. I know people who bought cameras from the Kogan shop. They were happy with the purchase. Because it is a parallel import, most products have "back to the shop" guaranty. I don't know if Fuji X10 is now shipping with the new sensor or not, and it is unclear if the company will replace the sensor in "grey" cameras. Early production runs of Fuji X100 were prone to SAB (sticky aperture blades). While I never had issues with any digital camera during warranty I do prefer peace of mind.
Unfortunately, both Nikon and Canon cameras and lenses cost more in Australia than in the US, and the difference cannot be explained just by GST (local sales tax). From what I learnt the australian camera retailers are essentially hostages of the prices set up by the companies, and cannot do much. It is probably not just that factor, no doubt high wages and rent also contribute to the final price.
Monday, 10 September 2012
Sony will do it: RX1
It is all over the web. I mean rumours about the first compact camera with full-frame sensor, Sony RX1. According to rumours the camera will have 24MP full-frame sensor behind fixed Carl Zeiss 35mm F2.0 lens for just 3,000$ (viewfinder is optional). I suspect Sony at least partially was inspired by success of Fuji X100.
Fuji X100 has similar lens (35mm eqv, F2.0) at fraction of the Sony RX1 price. The RX1 has twice more pixels and slightly better DoF control (we are talking here about 35mm focal length). It is widely anticipated that Fuji will replace X100 with a new model "X200" build around 16MP "random" Trans-XXX sensor, so the difference in pixels will be smaller. If Fuji splits their "compact came" line into two models, X200 with hybrid viewfinder, and cheaper camera with EVF, the difference in price will be even more significant. Sony may have some advantage in noise/dynamic range/high iso but Fuji is very good in these areas but the samples from the RX1 are apparently not available on the web. Video will be miles better on Sony camera but frankly both cameras have 35mm fixed lens, and I have not seen a consumer camcorder with fixed focal length.
While it is a milestone camera (first truly compact camera with a full frame sensor and bright lens) I doubt it will be as popular as Fuji X100. People will talk and fight about it but the price probably will be a limiting factor for mass market. For the money it is possible to buy any mirrorless camera (except these marked with L) with a "portrait" lens and get better control for depth of field.
To sum up: it looks like a very good / interesting hi-res camera with bright Zeiss-branded lens for people willing to pay 3,000+. The only option to have a truly compact camera with 24MP full frame sensor and 35mm F2.0 lens.
Fuji X100 has similar lens (35mm eqv, F2.0) at fraction of the Sony RX1 price. The RX1 has twice more pixels and slightly better DoF control (we are talking here about 35mm focal length). It is widely anticipated that Fuji will replace X100 with a new model "X200" build around 16MP "random" Trans-XXX sensor, so the difference in pixels will be smaller. If Fuji splits their "compact came" line into two models, X200 with hybrid viewfinder, and cheaper camera with EVF, the difference in price will be even more significant. Sony may have some advantage in noise/dynamic range/high iso but Fuji is very good in these areas but the samples from the RX1 are apparently not available on the web. Video will be miles better on Sony camera but frankly both cameras have 35mm fixed lens, and I have not seen a consumer camcorder with fixed focal length.
While it is a milestone camera (first truly compact camera with a full frame sensor and bright lens) I doubt it will be as popular as Fuji X100. People will talk and fight about it but the price probably will be a limiting factor for mass market. For the money it is possible to buy any mirrorless camera (except these marked with L) with a "portrait" lens and get better control for depth of field.
To sum up: it looks like a very good / interesting hi-res camera with bright Zeiss-branded lens for people willing to pay 3,000+. The only option to have a truly compact camera with 24MP full frame sensor and 35mm F2.0 lens.
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