The X Half is concerning the pleasure of taking pictures, not the specs. However when the X Half was introduced, I needed to ask: why can’t a digital camera be each a pleasure to make use of and a formidable piece of expertise? I hope the reply lies contained in the Fujifilm X-Pro4.
Fujifilm introduced the GFX100RF, the X Half, and the X-E5 earlier than 2025 was even midway by. However I’m nonetheless eagerly awaiting the announcement for the successor to the X-Pro3, which logically can be dubbed the X-Pro4. (Then once more, Fujifilm went from the X-T30 II to the X-T50 to be able to match the numbers on the X-T5, so I wouldn’t be shocked if the X-Pro4 was skipped solely for the X-Pro5.)
Fujifilm has already confirmed that it hasn’t deserted the X-Professional line, regardless of the X-Pro3 nearing its sixth birthday and new-in-box inventory laborious to search out. The corporate even gave a motive for the size of time that it appears to be taking: Fujifilm desires the X-Pro4 to be good, and simply updating to the most recent sensor is “boring.”
However what would make an X-Pro4 greater than only a marginal replace? I hope Fujifilm could take some inspiration from the brand new X-E5 and X Half’s film-like options.
Out of all of the Fujifilm mirrorless cameras that I’ve used, the growing older X-Pro3 felt essentially the most like a retro analog digital camera. That’s due largely to the X-Pro3’s hybrid viewfinder in an period the place few new cameras have something however an digital viewfinder (or none in any respect). The bizarre hybrid viewfinder design, which the X-Professional sequence shares with the X100 line, isn’t a one hundred pc correct illustration of what the lens sees, however makes use of an overlay to mark the boundary of what the mounted lens sees. The bizarre viewfinder and an LCD display that’s simple to cover slowed me down – however digital pictures at a slower tempo is what feels most like movie pictures to me.
The brand new X Half has apparent retro inspiration – and I feel a few of these options may really feel proper at residence on a successor to the X-Pro3.
The Fujifilm X Half has a movie advance lever, a devoted window to swap coloration modes, and a “movie mode” that doesn’t let customers view the photographs or change the movie simulation till after ending a “roll.” These are all film-like options.
The issue? The X Half lacks options that many critical photographers contemplate to be must-haves – there aren’t any RAW recordsdata and no burst mode, for starters. The X Half can also be extra reasonably priced than the X-Professional sequence, and that comes with a much less spectacular construct high quality.
The X-E5 arguably has a greater mix between the retro expertise and tech specs, as a mirrorless digital camera that has quite a bit in widespread with the X100VI sequence. The X-E5 doesn’t have the hybrid viewfinder or the hidden LCD display of the X-Pro3, nonetheless. However, when I attempted the X-E5 on the B&H Bild Expo, I fell in love with the movie simulation dial that enables me to entry the totally different coloration profiles that prompted me to choose up a Fujifilm digital camera within the first place.
The Fujifilm X-Pro4 must maintain its hybrid viewfinder, hidden LCD display, retro dials, and sturdy construct – however I wouldn’t thoughts seeing the successor borrow just a few options from the X Half and the X-E5. For starters, I might like to see a movie simulation shortcut, both with a dial like on the X-E5 or like how the X Half makes use of a secondary vertical display to swipe by the totally different choices. I’d additionally like to see the X Half’s gentle leaks and movie grain make an look. I wouldn’t complain a few “movie” advance lever both, so long as it doesn’t impression weather-sealing or make the digital camera terribly giant.
However the true motive that I would like the X-Pro4 to take some inspiration from the X Half? The X Half prioritizes the enjoyment of taking pictures over tech specs. I feel a digital camera can have each high-end specs like a 40MP sensor and be a nostalgic pleasure to make use of – and I feel the digital camera in Fujifilm’s lineup that’s most definitely to expertly mix specs with the enjoyment of taking pictures is the X-Professional sequence.
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