Tag: Dave Etchells

Dave Etchells Interviews Fujifilm Execs in “Fujifilm Opens Up About AI, 8K Video, Entry-Level Cameras, and More” for PetaPixel

I’ve followed camera industry expert and Imaging Resource founder Dave Etchells for his deeply insightful interviews with camera company imaging division executives for Imaging Resource for many years and now he seems to have followed DPReview’s TV review team over to PetaPixel with this in-depth interview with the Fujifilm team responsible for some of our favourite hybrid cameras and lenses. 

“While attending the CP+ 2023 show in Yokohama earlier this year, I met with representatives of Fujifilm and had a chance to ask them about the reasons behind some camera features, the details of a recent firmware update, specifics about some of their future plans, and some more philosophical questions about 8K video and whether there’s still a place for “entry-level” models in the industry these days.

In the meeting, I spoke with Yujiro “Yuji” Igarashi (Divisional Manager, Professional Imaging Group, Imaging Solutions Division), Makoto Oishi (Manager, Product Planning Group, Professional Imaging Group, Imaging Solutions Division) and Jun Watanabe (Product Planning Manager, Product Planning Group, Professional Imaging Group, Imaging Solutions Division)….”

Fujifilm X-H2S, X-H2 & X-T5

Fujifilm X-H2S with VG-XH vertical battery grip and Fujinon XF 16-80mm f/4.0 R OIS WR zoom lens Image courtesy of Fujifilm Global.
Fujifilm X-H2 with VG-XH vertical battery grip and Fujinon XF 16-55mm f/2.8 R LM WR zoom lens. Image courtesy of Fujifilm Global.
Fujifilm X-T5 with Fujinon XF 56mm f/1.2 R WR prime lens. Image courtesy of B&H.

Links

Imaging Resource: Live from Fujifilm X Summit in New York City – Commentary

https://www.imaging-resource.com/news/2022/09/08/live-from-fujifilm-x-summit-in-new-york-city

“Fujifilm is hosting a live stream of the X Summit event on YouTube, which you can watch below. We will have a lot more to share soon, but for now, you can follow along live….

The reception to the X-H2S and XF 150-600mm lens have been excellent, so Fujifilm is quickly increasing its production capacity of these exciting new products….”

Fujifilm X-H2 with Fujinon XF 18mm f/1.4 R LM WR. Image courtesy of B&H.
Fujifilm Fujinon XF 56mm f/1.2 R WR. Image courtesy of B&H.
Fujifilm Fujinon GF 20-35mm f/4.0 R WR. Image courtesy of B&H.
Fujifilm X-H2S with Fujinon XF 18-120mm f/4.0 R LM PZ WR stills + video zoom lens. Image courtesy of Fujifilm Global.
Fujifilm X-H2S with Fujinon XF 150-600mm f/5.6-8.0 R LM OIS WR zoom lens. Image courtesy of Fujifilm Global.

Commentary

Imaging Resource was also top of our list of sites to visit whenever a camera and lens maker announced some major new products, for many years, at least until 2019 when the great Dave Etchells left later to become Editor Emeritus.

Imaging Resource has also made the most of this rare opportunity to attend Fujifilm X Summit NYC 2022 and no doubt Fujikina this weekend so we’ll keep eyes peeled for more Fujifilm content there and will link to it here.

Links

Imaging Resource: Fujifilm Q&A, July 2022: NO problem with punch-in focus, and a lot more! – Commentary

https://www.imaging-resource.com/news/2022/09/03/fujifilm-qa-july-2022-no-problem-with-punch-in-focus-and-a-lot-more

“I had a wide-ranging nearly 90-minute discussion with five Fujifilm managers and engineers, with topics ranging from market conditions and supply-line issues to details of the stacked-CMOS sensor in their new X-H2S camera, their new processor chip, autofocus development, how you make a zero-blackout live-view viewfinder system, plans for the GFX product line and at least a little info about new lenses….”

Fujifilm X-H2S with VG-XH vertical battery grip and Fujinon XF 16-80mm f/4.0 R OIS WR zoom lens Image courtesy of Fujifilm Global.
Fujifilm X-H2S with Fujinon XF 18-120mm f/4.0 R LM PZ WR stills + video zoom lens. Image courtesy of Fujifilm Global.
Fujinon XF 18-120mm f/4.0 LM PZ WR stills + video zoom lens with lens hood. Image courtesy of Fujifilm Global.
Fujinon XF 18-120mm f/4.0 LM PZ WR stills + video zoom lens. Image courtesy of Fujifilm Global.
Optics, Fujinon XF 18-120mm f/4.0 LM PZ WR stills + video zoom lens. Image courtesy of Fujifilm Global.
Parts of the lens, Fujinon XF 18-120mm f/4.0 LM PZ WR stills + video zoom lens on Fujifilm X-H2S. Image courtesy of Fujifilm Global.
Fujifilm X-H2S X-Trans CMOS stacked sensor 5 HS. Image courtesy of Fujifilm X Global.
Fujifilm X-H2S X-Trans CMOS stacked sensor 5 HS. Image courtesy of Fujifilm X Global.
Fujifilm X-H2S Zoom Focus aka “punch-in focus”: “Press up to two times more to zoom in further and a fourth time to cancel zoom.” Image courtesy of Fujifilm DSC.
Fujifilm X-H2S subject detection autofocus. Image courtesy of Fujifilm X Global.
Fujifilm X-H2S F-Log2 offers 14+ stops of dynamic range for video. Image courtesy of Fujifilm X Global.

Commentary

There seems to be a very different, possibly unique, culture forming at Fujifilm or at least in its Omiya and New York offices and it appears to be one very different from those we have experienced in the culture of another Japanese camera and lens maker.

That is quite a relief, and we look forward to seeing more of this creativity-oriented culture in forming at the upcoming Fujifilm X Summit 2022 online and Fujikina 2022 in New York City.

The Fujifilm X Summit in NYC will be broadcast online at 6pm GMT on September 8 2022 and regrettably we won’t be able to watch it live given that equates to 4am Sydney time on September 9 and we have certain unpaid carer responsibilities.

We will be going straight to the archived video of the live stream when we get up as well as our usual touch points, Fuji Rumors and DPReview, links below.

Add Imaging Resource to that, given Editor Emeritus Dave Etchells has been active again lately on that publication’s behalf with the first of what promises to be an excellent series of interviews in Japan with industry leaders there.

The article linked here, Fujifilm Q&A, July 2022: NO problem with punch-in focus, and a lot more!, is a must-read and I hope that Mr Etchells will be writing more about Fujifilm soon.

Meanwhile we’ll also be checking out whatever will be published online from Fujikina NYC 2022 on September 10, that is, Sydney September 11.

Links for both Fujifilm events to be staged in New York City are included in the list of links below.

Products to be announced and possibly to be expanded upon at both related events will include the Fujifilm X-H2 with 8K video and 40 megapixels sensor, the very exciting Fujinon XF 18-120mm f/4.0 LM PZ WR “stills+movie” zoom lens co-designed by Fujifilm’s cinema lens division and Fujifilm’s stills lens division, and other lenses listed in the roadmaps below.

We’re also hoping there will be some surprises that nobody has anticipated yet.

Fujifilm Fujinon XF lens roadmap, May 31 2022. Image courtesy of Fujifilm Global.
Fujifilm Fujinon G-mount lens roadmap, September 02 2021. Image courtesy of Fujifilm Global.

Links