bhu

Summer Savings sale ending in a few days; Fujifilm will be considering whether they need to launch another sale before the end of the first half of the fiscal year to move more product or wait until the holidays. Keep your fingers crossed.

More exciting may be the application that uses the Bluetooth instead of Wi-fi.

I use a PC with Windows 10 and it has not glitched on me. Apple always charges more, often a lot more, for their products but they do put extra effort into software compatibility, security, and user interface. The software interface for your favorite applications is what you should be weighing more heavily than price. For many people, familiarity with the interfaces and work-flow are more important than hardware specifications. If, for example, you use Photoshop for Mac, can you get comfortable going through Windows to launch it, use the PC version of Photoshop, find your photo archive through the PC's Windows Explorer, and link to your NAS via PC? If so, then a switch should not be a problem. If not, perhaps keeping with your current system and saving up for for a new Mac is the way to go. PCs are generally cheaper than Macs so raw performance for the price often means a shorter replacement cycle than Mac users but Mac users generally care less about having latest hardware and more about a consistent and trouble-free user interface to get tasks done with minimal mental stress. It is kind of similar to people who buy, or lease, new cars every 2-3 years compared to those who buy used cars or build/mod their own.

A software-based IBIS is certainly possible. For video, this is "old" technology where a processor looks for edges (high luminance gradients) and ties to pixel-shift from one frame to the next to keep low-motion areas of the picture overlapping. To apply this technique in a photograph, the camera would "merely" have to snoop images before and after the shot, do a similar process as with video, and re-compose the image. There are difficulties, though, having to do with exposure time. The sensor exposure time is a limiting factor because, if the image is blurred during exposure, there is no good way to un-blur it. Sensor hardware may be able to drive past this limit by taking multiple, fractional exposures, processing the edge detection and alignment, then summing them for a properly-exposed image. This would be an image processing function for a very high speed electronic shutter. Another method might be to snoop live images and, after the shutter button is pressed, wait for when the focus area shows high luminance gradients and discard undesired previous images. The camera's processor might not need to examine image captures across the whole sensor if the region of interest were in the center or found through face-detection. Introducing a short (but varying) delay in image capture from when the button is pushed might be acceptable if the delay is tolerably short. Again, this requires a very fast sensor, processor, and everything in between. To make IS work on a body/lens without it, having a fast, sharp lens helps to ensure the sensor gets enough photons, quickly enough, for the two methods mentioned above. None of the non-mechanical IBIS methods I know of do not rely on a very fast sensor and software to simulate mechanical IBIS or lens-based OIS. Fujifilm could be relying on a sensor maker to make a software solution viable. If Sony does IBIS on a camera without mechanical motion compensation, then Fujifilm should be able to get that, too, though I suspect Fujifilm will be doing their own software.

Right now, Fujifilm is discounting obsolete models and specific accessories by attaching the deals to more attractive new models. End of September is the end of H1 for Fujifilm. Back that date up at least 30 days for accounting and add at least 30 days for a buying window and it may not be long at all to determine whether Fujifilm will offer a sale before the next opportunity; i.e., fall/winter shopping season (holidays). For the end of the fiscal year in March, which is a harder deadline, any sales should wrap up by the end of January. With the USD appreciating against the JPY since the Fed raised a key, short-term interest rate, there is a chance of a very small sale based upon increased USD valuation but I would not count on it. Sales, to me, seem to be driven by volume targets and Fujifilm has been increasing market share in ILC cameras. Lenses made in the Philippines may eventually see a price reduction, though there may be a delay while the Philippine factory raises efficiency after the work transfer from Japan.

OliverN, there is also the option of not purchasing anything more than you absolutely need right now and waiting until you are sure you have enough money to spare or are clearer on what your purchasing priorities are. There is no shame in waiting. Spend the time to explore your new camera with its kit lens and figure out what your highest priority is for the next purchase. Make sure, first off, you are comfortable spending on another lens or accessory right now. If you have any doubt about your finances, save your money for a rainy day.

Patrick's blog this morning about competition, survival of the fittest, and should also consider government and other social "interference" in pure price/performance competition. The United States' government brokered deals between GM, creditors, and labor to preserve jobs. US private banks had bad debt purchased by the government, too. This is the USA where competition is more free-market than a great many other countries. Japan's government has a long history of interfering when struggling companies are at risk of either adding to unemployment or losing world market share in a favored industry. The government will often aid in negotiating a merger, acquisition, or, if there is no other recourse, purchase the failing division from one or more companies and set up a government-run holding company. Preventing large lay-offs and losing market share to another country are not the only types of interference with natural selection. Also, do not think for a moment Japan is the only country actively supporting favored companies or industries. Every developed country does this. The USA is one of the least interfering governments in its economy so companies often do go out of business and people think the government is passive. Most other countries offer more support to prevent job loss. Similarly, countries often offer massive support to industries they want to protect. Tariffs on imports, land grants, infrastructure (utilities and transportation), and even direct investment. In fact, I seem to remember a recent example in China where the government paid 3/4 the cost of building a new multi-billion USD factory. Developing and protecting key industries, whether agricultural or electronic, for jobs, national trade strategy, or reduced dependency on other nations happens all over the world more frequently than most people imagine. Thus, a rumor that the Japanese government is investigating solutions to Nikon's problems, such as folding all, or part, of the company into Fujifilm, should be no surprise. Nikon is a large manufacturer with well-known branding and thousands of employees. If faced with insolvency, rather than face the horrors of closing multiple factories and offices, brokering merger into a well-performing peer may mean some jobs become redundant but that is better than losing all of them. I have even seen the government collect money-losing divisions from several companies under joint leadership. The divisions are all spun off from their parents and reorganized, much like the US government purchasing bad debt.

I am stubbornly sticking to an unfounded belief that Fujifilm will refresh their kit lens within a couple-three years. They will want it to be a compact zoom that does not compete with the 16-55, is much slower than the compact f/2.0 primes, yet still has enough attraction to convince people to replace the old kit lens. While my magic 8-ball says to ask again later, I think it probably means to say, "Fujifilm is planning faster focusing, more compact size, WR, lower material cost, better IS, and similar IQ." However, when I ask if it will be announced in 2017 or 2018, the answer is invariably, "Don't count on it."

Fujifilm has a history of biannual sales lining up ahead of closing the first and second half of the fiscal year; i.e., before the end of March and September. They also may have sales at other times of the year such as major holidays or when promoting new product releases. Because the fiscal year has just started (April), you might wait a few more months for a sale, if Fujifilm feels the need for one, or buy before any price increases. Price changes of any type are offered to meet internal goals like inventory management, bi-annual sales targets, or to adjust for exchange rate fluctuation's effect on profit or sales volume. I do not have insider information on upcoming sales, though, and caution you on any forward-looking statements I make.

I want the 80 1:1 macro right now. Fujifilm is probably agonizing over AF speed in low light.

To me, "Ultimate" means "moar bat'ry", bigger Evf, and uber SW. Personally, I struggle with this ultimate concept. What are they going to do, add a giant heat sink? My guess is gold plating the TX-2. T-X20 was cost-down. X-E3 will be further cost reduction. Adding 1k$ "value" to T-X2 is difficult without adding a lot of NRE; i.e., new sensor. Hope I am wrong and Fujifilm really does design a new sensor (50 Mpix).

Still waiting and it is spring, again.

With your lenses, consider the 18-135 as an all-purpose walk-around zoom. It is not a fast lens and is larger than all but your 55-200 but you might be able to leave the rest of your kit behind. Likewise, the 18-55 is a great lens because it is much smaller and faster than the 18-135. The 18 mk ii, 23 f/2, 35 f/2, and other prime lenses in that range might be good choices if you want to replace your current primes with something newer and more portable. The 23 f/2 is also a good all-purpose walk-around choice. I use my own primes for low light shots, portraits, and wide angle but for nature photography while out for a walk, the 18-135 is a convenient way to shoot landscapes and squirrels. I do not use it indoors, though.

Try holding the camera in the path of steam from a kettle but not so close that your fingers burn. If the heat is tolerable to your hand, it should be tolerable for the camera. Avoid the grip material, though. It may be glued on and react badly to too much moisture. If you have been rotating the knob, there is probably jello everywhere inside so making it humid and hoping the condensation dripping out carries a bit of gelatin with it is the only way i can think to clean it without actually taking the knob assembly off and soaking it. I have no idea how to take the knob off but you might find instructions on the internet or just send the camera in for service. Oil would just add another contaminant but might be a way to loosen the dial. I doubt it will actually remove any jello.

Steam Gelatin dissolves in warm water but be patient and work slowly. This could take hours. Too much heat could damage the camera and you may also find the steam just moves the jello around rather than getting it out. Tilt the camera so condensation from the steam can drip out. No promises, though. If your camera still works, you might not know if you really cleaned it after the gelatin cools and dries out, again.

Printer, please, or at least allow the SQ10 to teather to X cam's.

The big take-away, for me, is Fujifilm appears to be committing itself to long-term X-system video.

Faster focusing, quieter, weather resist, better IS, improved feel, lower cost (to build), improved IQ, replacing obsolete materials or components; these are all options for Fujifilm. If there are enough improvements, Mk II versions will sell themselves. It will happen even if a lens seems perfect as it is and building it requires no new design expense. When, is the big question. It could be 2 years or 20 years. Which lenses do you think need a refresh aside from the rumored 18 and the 60, which could simply go EoL sometime after release of the 80?

Other reasons might include reduced vignetting, sharp wide open (f/2 is probably de-rated to ensure high IQ), possibly reduced internal reflections, possible margin for anti-reflection coating control near lens periphery (one factor in sharpness wide open), more structural rigidity. These are just guesses, though.

There may be some active circuitry even when it looks "off". Try taking the batteries out of the grip for long-term storage and see if it extends the storage time.

Well, just because there is a rumor that the rumored 33 mm f/1 is off the development schedule does not mean it, or something like it, will never be produced. The lens could be back on the roadmap a year from now as Fujifilm finishes off some of the other lens projects. What if Fujifilm decided to make a f/1 video lens between 30 mm and 40 mm? There is also a possibility the old 35 mm f/1.4 could be refreshed and enlarged to a f/1 to better separate it from the 35 f/2's market. The f/2 WR lenses have a lot of attraction for those who do not have the older lenses so Fujifilm is likely wondering whether to retire the sub-f/2 lenses or rework them sometime in the future into lenses without so much overlap in use. Adding WR, increasing focus speed, and bulking them up with larger elements must surely have been discussed internally because the f/2s cannibalize new sales of the previous generation. Do not give up hope.

Prestige lenses are just one factor in Fujifilm's decision process. These are a few of the other factors. IQ brand reputation (Fujifilm will not wish to release an ultra-fast lens that cannot take great pictures without being stopped down.) Opportunity cost (What lens would the customers want to drop from the X and GFX roadmaps to devote staff to a 33 mm f/1? You have to expect the same staff is working all of the lenses from X to GFX, maybe even FinePix and Instax. The lens design group cannot just increase staff, temporarily, then lay them off afterward. Training staff for lens design is an expensive investment that takes years to pay off.) Return on investment (If Fujifilm decides to spend 500M yen on a new lens development, how long will it take to recoup the cost and how much potential profit is there in its sales afterward? Investment cost should be lower for refreshing the XF-18-55 versus designing a brand new, ultra-fast lens. Also, the GFX customers should be less price sensitive so a f/1 for medium format lens might represent a larger profit opportunity.)

My gut says the lens development group has these priorities. Lenses for the medium format GFX - New market potential Finishing development of the 80 mm macro - Smaller market, roadmap completion, semi-replacement for 60 mm Development of the fisheye constant aperture zoom - Small market, roadmap completion Video lenses for APS-C family - New market potential but market will be small-ish Refresh of early zoom lenses like the 18-55 - Large upgrade/replacement opportunity After all of that, I would be surprised if Fujifilm has much bandwidth left. Also, a 33 mm f/1.0 is a small market in a crowded area of the roadmap, which has had recent updates. Fujifilm may leave the ultra-fast lens development to other lens makers. A very fast lens will also be bigger, heavier, and more difficult (expensive) to meet Fujifilm's IQ goals. I can see how they may put off development indefinitely, though it may be back on the table as other tasks are completed.

http://asia.nikkei.com/Business/Companies/Nikon-to-cut-1-000-jobs-in-Japan This mostly affects semi-conductor and display equipment manufacturing but the shrinking P&S market may be another contributor. I rarely see much about image sensor manufacturing but expect China-based companies to be investing heavily.

I agree some of the older lenses could use a refresh. However, the 56 is still fairly new, the 35 just had a new version (f/2) released, the 14 is in a tight spot between 16, 18, 10-24, and the rumored 8-16, and the 60 may be discontinued and replaced by the upcoming 80. The remaining first-generation lens, the 18-55 kit zoom, looks more likely to gain a refresh. This lens is sold with many new bodies so production volume for a new version will be high for new body+kit shipments while the number of original kit zooms previously sold offers the largest upgrade market. The 55-200 may be refreshed, too, but it has been somewhat marginalized, like the 14, by the 90, 18-135, 50-230, 50-140, and 100-400 all covering part of the same range. Granted, the longer prime and zooms all target different uses but they also slice the revenue pie into smaller portions. Some people will buy all of the available lenses but others will compete them against each other. If the 55-200 gets refreshed, it may not be anytime soon. Then, again, I am often wrong.