Fuji Flash system roadmap

[Fuji Braz]

Well... this is my first post here, and don’t have a Fuji yet. I really like what I’m seeing, from the quality of Fuji’s lenses to the look and feel of Fuji cameras and, obviously, the photos they produce. But I waited and waited… and then came another new “lens roadmap / wishlist / poll” and all, but sincerely, there's no lens or camera or sensor that will truly make me commit to the Fuji X system. Also, looking at the posts about flash photography in this forum it becomes pretty evident that Fuji doesn’t offer a “complete” solution yet.

 

I think it's about time they announce “at least a roadmap” for a “solid” TTL flash system. They’re underestimating it too much. I waited for years now. If they really can't, why not trying to rebrand a system from another manufacturer?

 

Looking at the other options, I believe Nissin’s i40 is a better match for the Fuji system, based on it’s size, weight and design.

 

Personally, I would like a solution based on Cactus V6 as a transmitter and Nissin i40 on camera. For remote units, any flash would do, I guess.

 

The problem with these two products (at least for me) is that they’re kind of a rarity in Brazil. Actually, I’ve never seen an i40 personally. (I’ve tested some cactus V6 with Nikon speedlights and cameras and really liked them, even without remote TTL).

 

Don’t get me wrong. Fuji cameras and lenses are great. The lens roadmap looks promising, although I’ll probably never have more than three primes (23, 56, 90mm. Maybe a 14mm, but that’s it).

 

So… what about a Flash system roadmap? Does it even exist? There’s not even a vague rumor.

 

[Patrick FR]

the flash was scheduled for Spring 2015, but the Metz insolvency changed everything, and the flash has been delayed, probably to somewhere in 2016

 

In this case it was not Fuji's fault... just bad luck

 

http://www.fujirumors.com/rumor-fuji-x-flash-delayed-because-of-metz-insolvency-new-source/

[Fuji Braz]

the flash was scheduled for Spring 2015, but the Metz insolvency changed everything, and the flash has been delayed, probably to somewhere in 2016

 

In this case it was not Fuji's fault... just bad luck

 

http://www.fujirumors.com/rumor-fuji-x-flash-delayed-because-of-metz-insolvency-new-source/

 

Sure, I saw that post before. Bad news, really. And I just realized that although some camera makers usually show lens roadmaps (Sony, Fuji) I don't remember reading about any sort of flash system roadmap. Curious.

 

 

Anyway, I will just share my wishlist then, in hope that Fujifilm engineers read this forum one day:

 

Master flash: small, light and easy to configure. Analog interface, with independent controls and dials for each remote group. Radio triggering.

 

Remote flash: powerful, fast recycling. Lithium batteries. LED modeling lights inside the flash head. Radio. Analog interface. NO MENUS, please!

 

 

 

I guess one solution for a remote flash would be something like this:

 

A Godox V860 (powerful, fast charge and recycle, lithium battery) + Canon 320EX interface (simple, no menus) + LED modeling light inside flash head.

[pictoseb]

I believe it all depends on what you're looking for. Because on-camera flash kinda sucks, whatever the brand. I was with Canon before and I envied Nikon (just because they're a tad bit better than Canon on that side). For the sole purpose that, sometimes, you don't have a choice to slam the flash on the camera, I got myself the EF-42. With a Sto-Fen Omni-Bounce or a Gary Fong Lightsphere, it does the job pretty well. And even better than Canon, in my opinion.

 

I'm not sure I really yunderstand what you mean by "...there's no lens or camera or sensor that will truly make me commit to the Fuji X system." The lenses are f-ing great, the sensor is amazing - even the 1st generation in the X-Pro1 (wich I love more than my X-T1, btw), and the image quality is there. I even rarely shoot RAW anymore because most of the time, the JPGs coming out of the camera are better than the ones I do myself with the RAWs.

 

Did you spend a bit of time with a Fuji? For a least a couple of hundreds of images? If not, find a way to get one, and spend a reasonnable amount of time with it.

 

Oh! And by the way, you know you can order stuff online? Like the Nissin i40 you were talking about... Just order it online.

[Tony Seeley]

I shot with Nikon for a long time and they have an excellent flash story (albeit an expensive one).

 

I find it interesting that everyone measures flash success by the availability of TTL.  I know there are those out there who love it (Joe McNally for one) but for me I never managed to get reliable results.  I can see TTL flash being desirable for wedding photographers who don't have time to play with flash exposure and it's all about capturing the moment but that's not me.

 

For me I need a reliable, well built flash unit and a good triggering system (that doesn't fail) for me that's been the LumoPro LP180 (I have three of them) and pocket wizards.  I get just fantastic results with this and don't feel I'm missing out.

 

If I had a wish it would be that I could adjust the manual power from my camera (rather than have to walk up to the flash itself) but now LumoPro has the 180R that can be triggered by the Phottix Odin transmitter, so these are now on my wish list.  I need to do some investigations but I'm assuming the manual support will work on Fuji if I get the Canon transmitter, obviously no TTL just yet but I'm cool with that.

 

Then of course this week Metz announced their 44 AF-2 Flash for fuji which I *believe* supports TTL - I didn't read up on it as like I said above I'm not really interested.

 

So for me I think there is a story for fuji today that works and the horizon looks good for easier control - who knows your TTL may be here too.

[Tony Seeley]

So I've got an update on my last posting.  I'd done a little digging and found out that the Phottix Odin transmitter doesn't work on the Fuji bodies :-( - I'm really upset by this as this what I really wanted.  (I should say I haven't tested this myself - but found a posting stating that the transmitter doesn't work)

 

My only alternative is to go Yongnuo, who have the Canon version of the YN560-TX that works with the fuji bodies.  The downside is I've heard reports that the speed lights from Yongnuo aren't that reliable and don't last.  Even Zak Arias has said this :-(  This too is sad as these flashes are dirt cheap!  I guess you could argue I could buy two Yongnuo flashes for one LumoPro (which is true), but there is something else on the LumoPro that I would miss.

 

The LumoPro have the tripod thread on the side of the head.  This is GREAT when you shoot through umbrella's as the camera flash is in line with the umbrella shaft and gives a more even spread!

 

Oh well.

 

Come on Fuji, how about a decent flash roadmap...

[Tom H.]

Good manual flashes, have a look at Cactus. Nice compromise between price and quality I feel.