Full article at khaleejtimes
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It seems that, after the big success of the Fujifilm X-T1, the company is starting to look very optimistic into the future. At least if we listen at Yuta Kawamura (Marketing Boss at Fujifilm Middle East).
In fact, this year he expects a 100% grow of market share in Middle East (from 8% in 2014 up to 15% in 2015).
Fuji ME-Marketing-Boss Yuta Kawamura also says that the biggest market for Fujifilm is Japan, followed by USA, China and Europe. Middle East and Africa close the ranking. The goal of Fujifilm Middle East is to sell 25,000 cameras in 2015!
He also says that, in the ME-region, Fujifilm is ranked 3rd after Sony and Samsung (in the Pro-camera segment).
So how will they achieve this 100% growth in just one year? Kawamura says:
“We will continue to concentrate on high-end models as they are more profitable compared to compact cameras. […] Fujifilm will soon launch another good quality professional camera in 2015“
In other words: Fujifilm X-PRO2 😉
Thanks to the anonymous reader for the link he spotted at fujifilmME facebook via khaleejtimes
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51 Responses
Looking forward to the X-Pro 2. If they improve the dynamic range and resolution, provide base ISO 100, 1/8000 sec SS (mechanical), and a brighter, larger OVF/EVF, it will complement Fuji’s high-quality lenses very well. If it turns out to have the organic sensor, as it seems it may (check out m43 rumours – new Panasonic camera), Fuji will likely gain a lot of success in the future. The only thing that is holding them back right now is the recycled 3-year-old sensor (which is good, but should be replaced soon).
I don’t think Dynamic Range will ever be improved beyond minuscule indiscernible increments unless there’s a groundbreaking discovery in sensor technology. All the major sensor makers have pretty much similar DR, they just seem to keep going the technology route of multi shot HDR.
whatever company is able to come up with a +10 DR increase (heck even +5 would be an improvement) will have a leg up for a couple of years in the market of pro/prosumer customers.
DR is mostly the same in all cameras because Sony makes the sensor in most cameras….
Anyway, the DR in modern digitals is pretty decent IMO.
I don’t think Sony makes sensors for sigma cameras, or fuji cameras, or Panasonic, and only just recently supplied the new sensors to canon who made their own for years, and even then, Sony only manufactured the design that canon put together for them just like they do for Nikon.
That’s sort of his point: the organic sensor is supposed to be a groundbreaking discovery.
I don’t think icreasing DR would increase sales (except among gearheads perhaps) because it doesn’t really solve any common user problem. If you’re a JPEG shooter DR doesn’t matter. For prints or digital display (8 bits) ditto.
DR is only useful if you’re doing really heavy post processing (shadow recovery, significant exposure changes, etc.). Or HDR, but how many good HDR photographers do you know? 99% of HDR you’ll find on flickr or elsewhere is crap.
Nikon had a 1-2 stop DR advantage for 5 years now, yet market share (vs Canon) didn’t budge. All sensors produced in the last 5 years have pertty decent DR. As I said, it doesn’t solve any current user problems.
forget… it hasn’t enough Know how..but in the next 5 years…yes.
Although I do not shoot with Fuji any more, I am glad that they are thriving. Good for them!
what he forgot to mention: Fuji expects a 10,000% market growth in the strategically important Papua New Guinea. They sold one camera in 2014, now their target is 100 units in 2015. It’s ambitious, but possible.
Fujifilm is dead last in market share globally. It’s good that they focus on areas like the Middle East or Papua New Guinea, where growth is more easily possible, but ultimately meaningless.
I still prefer these figures more than those shared at the end of 2013, when Fujfilm said that they sold All Time & Worldwide just 700,000 X-series cameras (including ME and Papua New Guinea) 😉
if sony fails..fuji can be what it wants to be.
What a poorly written headline to this post.
I think the X-T1 has been a major step forward. Without it, the X-series would have been dead. But Fuji didn’t win the war yet – there is really the requirement of a full pro-oriented top model in this range. I don’t even consider the X-Pro2 as the right answer, it remains a very specialized camera that will never appeal a wide market. It will always be a kind of more affordable ‘mini-competitor’ of the Leica M Rangefinders. I’d rather believe in a kind of X-T1s/MkII/T2, keeping the same concept, but having a more advanced sensor, with a higher resolution and better dynamics/ISO. It sounds very trivial, I know, but they really shouldn’t wait to long for the next release. And in the sideline a more professional line of accessories including pro-flashes has also become a major requirement now.
I completely agree with you…the X-Pro is a very niche product and Fuji needs something more mainstream for their success. That said, I REALLY want to see an X-PRO2 come down the pipe soon as I personally have zero interest in the XT1 ‘slightly smaller than a DSLR’ concept.
I felt the same until I tried an X-T1 which is now in my bag. I really like how it handles. That said I understand that it is different for each one of us. The XPro2 is definitely coming towards the end of 2015, not long to wait 🙂
In a more recent interview of a Fuji manager it was explained that Fuji wants to slow down the speed / interval of new pro releases, referring to the Pro and XT line.
It was said that a model should not be replaced by a newer version in less than 3 years, if not 4 years, as we see it for the first time with the X-Pro1.
If that is true, then the cameras are build with the strategy in mind that the sensor isn’t the competitive edge over rival products.
Rather, it’s old-school quick access to the most important variables of photography, usability, unique design, sturdy build quality, paired with excellent lenses.
You’re absolutely right about the sensor – this is what so many here don’t understand. Fuji caters to photographers who understand that lenses are more important than camera bodies. No other APS-C brand has the quality, consistency and depth of the XF lens line-up.
And photographers working in situations where the design, weight and look of the body makes a big difference, especially coupled with the direct controls and good ergonomics of Fuji bodies.
There are gearheads citing DXO numbers religiously, thinking that technical IQ is what prevents them taking good photographs. IQ for them is about numbers and measurements in synthetic tests. Whenever I ask any of Fujirumours’ regular gearheads for a link to their photographs (flickr, portfolio, anything) – they remain silent.
IQ for me is the whole package, starting with the lens (colour tone, contrast, sharpness, flare rendering, OOF rendering) and including the whole imaging path (sensor capture -> tone-curves and colour palette applied through film simulation modes). And that’s where Fuji delivers in spades.
Technically, the X-Trans sensors are a generation behind. Basically, in terms of technical IQ, it’s d7000 level (16mpx SONY from 2010), with at least a stop lower DR at base iso. Boohoo.
I do think it’s about time for some improvements and expect the next X-Pro line to have a better sensor. I would definitely take any improvements. Just saying that technical IQ is not the primary reason to buy a Fuji.
Please note 100% growth is in Middle East and Africa with almost no previous sales, and nobody cares about this “market” anyway.
Oh wow. Ignorance is rife in your head.
I would suggest you look up events like Gulf Photo Plus which happens in 2-3 weeks time and attracts some of the biggest names in photography teaching today, such as David Hobby, Joe McNally, Gregory Heisler, and that #! guy Peter Hurley.
Don’t forget a lot of the richest people in the world are based in the middle east, where the flare to buy unique and expensive ‘one-ofs’ as well as having the latest and greatest technology is a must, and cost means nothing to them.
In a world where a numberplate that simply has ‘1’ on it, costs $10million and buying it is all about status, you can bet that Fuji and Sony have targetted the right market in the middle east where in photography today it’s a status to be a ‘hipster’ with fuji cameras.
I agree with peevee…..we are talking about a fairly insignificant market.
BadNewsMan – Do you honestly think that Hobby, McNally, Hurley etc are showing up to Gulf Photo Plus out of the goodness of their heart and a genuine interest in the region??? Or….do you think maybe they are being paid to be there:)
Well yes, they’re being paid, but I won’t pay someone to do something unless it benefits me, so it stands to reason that Fuji thinks they’ll benefit from their presence, so it means that the market is significant for them, as they see it as a source of revenue. BadNewsMan wasn’t arguing that the photogs are there because they’re nice and kind people, but that bringing them there, with a significant financial investment, shows the worth of the region, finance-wise, and a major increase in market share in a wealthy region is nothing to scoff at.
The rich Saudis buy Leicas and Hasselblads, it does not make sales of mass-market APS-C mirrorless any higher. And actual numbers from the article show that.
I’m getting old. I long for the day when an upgrade meant a new film or developer. A camera was an investment and the only way to get better photos was to be a better photographer. I can take my old cameras out, blow the dust off and replace the batteries and they’re like new. I love electronic toys, including cameras, and I feel the allure of new equipment. So what would it mean, now that cameras are becoming really clunky cellphones that don’t make calls, for a manufacturer to produce a digital camera that has a 10 or 15 year lifespan?
Well, I’m with you. I love my old SWC, M6 and Widelux.
I got 6 X-E1’s, I’m happy with them. If they come out with an organic 24mp or 28 mp I may move up. If not the X-E1’s produce fine as-is
I don’t like to chase gear, I prefer to chase photos. But without camera fondlers no cam company could stay in biz. Even if they just stuck with a couple cam models like they did in the film days, who would employ the engineers that keep getting churned out of school?
The problem with engineers is they ruin the tried and true perfection sometimes. They have to inject their ego into the mix. The 2 worst inventions to hit the cam market was the program dial that replaced the shutter speed dial and Fuji’s focus by wire.
Now, if Fuji would put their engineers to work to make an affordable Leica knockoff without ruining it with their ego…then they would have something.
I’m not suggesting anything, but…
Did Fuji invent focus by wire? Whoever came up with that should be punched in the face, I hate focus by wire SO much.
I have an Olympus EP1 that still works well. At ISO below 800 it produces great 12×18 prints and in black and white they’re downright impressive.
By all accounts, a 6 year old camera with an old generation sensor is still a very capable camera for those who print. And when you shoot film well, you always have to print.
My point being, the XE1 I have is downright spectacular compared to my EP1 when I compare on screen… But believe it or not, in print, that difference goes away at 12×18. All I get from the XE1 is the ability to blow up to maybe 24×36. And pixel peeping porn (that’s of course when the difference is obvious, on screen).
I still take my EP1 out for a spin every now and then, and the XE1 is not getting replaced for at least another 3 more years, regardless of what comes out. I’m on a 5 year cycle now and trying to push to 7.
These cameras people long for are here. You CAN keep your camera for 10 years, they’re that good when you print and significantly better than most 35mm film cameras at this point in terms of resolution and resolving power. We’re just too used to changing every year to see this.
I guess it would be the height of folly to point out that going from 8% to 15% is not, in fact 100% market share growth. It’s not even 90% market share growth.
Presumably, the market share is not exactly 8% but something between 7.5% and 8.5%. So an expected market share between 14.5% and 15.5% might even be more than 100% growth. But I assume predicting the future market share with more than 10% accuracy is very difficult.
I hope focusing on high-end wont mean they never release smaller cheaper lenses with lower aperture. The new 35mm is a great start, assuming the price is right.
Sony does make Fuji sensors, do your research. They also make sensors for Pentax, Nikon and to a small degree Canon. I won’t even get into cell phone cameras…
Sony is the biggest maker of sensors in the world (CMOS). Google it.
You’re so wrong you’re the mayor of Wrongville.
MAKES is very different than DESIGNS.
Many companies hire out others to use their manufacturing facility to pump out their design.
Just because Sony bolts it together, doesn’t mean they came up with the tech.
So actually, you’re both partially correct!
Yet another marketing guy from yet another camera company making yet another prediction of how their sales will soar, next time.
But before being too skeptical, let’s check Marketing-Boss Kawamura’s track record of successful predictions. What were his predictions last year, the year before, the year before, and how accurate have they been? Then we can judge if he really has something there.
Marketing is marketing anyway. This guy can’t predict Fuji 100% market share loss or it might happen. Who want to buy a camera to soon-to-disappear brand ?
Fuji should have a streamlined, very clear product line. I wrote about this at the x-T10 announcement.
Rangefinder mirrorless 2 bodies:
X-PRO line: wheater sealed, larger body and evf, hybrid viewfinder. X-E line: smaller body, not weather sealed, EVF only.
SLR style mirrorless 2 bodies:
X-T1 line: weather sealed, larger body & evf. X-T10 line: not weather sealed, smaller body and EVF (maybe the EVF of the x100 line).
Entry level non-viewfinder option:
X-A line – smallest, no viewfinder, no weather sealing.
X100 line – keeping it is a no brainer, truly unique camera.
X30 – maybe, but not at this price point/feature set. If Fuji wants to keep the current price, it shold upgrade something (faster lens or bigger sensor). Or, it should reduce the price.
This would present pretty simple choices to the users, with a clear upgrade path.
Sorry for the question but what’s is so different from their existing product line ?
Not much – looks like Fuji’s going this way, but you never know. There are no rumours about the new X-Pro being weather sealed, for example. Hope to have both rangefinder style and srl style weather sealed options with top-of-the line features, and non-weather sealed line with reasonable compromises, that’s all.
Nikon, Pentax, Fuji, Olympus, Panasonic, Leica and Sony itself use Sony Sensors in Interchangeable Lens Systems.
And Canon uses them in Premium Compacts.
Leica uses CMOSIS sensor for their M 240, Olympus a Panasonic sensor in the E-M1 and Panasonic obviously are using their own sensors for most of their cameras.
The only reliable information about Fuji sensors I have found is, that the X20 sensor, along with some other recent compact sensors are made by Toshiba.
Yeah I know about the new Ms. But I was talking about the X2/X-Vario. Possibly the T Series.
About Fuji: afaik the X-Trans is a IMX071 derivated sensor with custom CFA
Thinking is not knowing. 😉
Leica uses a IMX071 derivate for their APS-C cameras.
About Fuji: http://www.dpreview.com/forums/post/52182568
If just talking, Sony Canikon Managers all can talk, even more louder.
Without revolutionary update for high end, it remains as ‘talk’. Stop doing incremental release to fool the users for their upgrade.
Actually Fuji cannot be really suspected to try “to fool the users for their upgrade” as you put it; their history of firmware upgrades speaks for them in this regard.
I sense this talk is a nonsense. couple of month ago Fuji says they will not going organic sensor or FF. Now Fuji talk they will focus high end, what does mean “high end”? So Fuji now is worrying after seeing their market share conquered by rivals in 2015.
If marketing people say “high end” maybe they’ll finally bring out the 6×8″ sensor!
High end does not equate to FF. High end in their product line is X-T1 & XPro2; And I do not see any worry in this talk …
Fuji folks almost can get what they want soon XPro2 (high end). I can read this surely an incremental release as usual, maybe the FW update is unusual 🙂
However a lot of high ends are FF today. I recalled some people calling Fuji new Leica. Leica sells FF (or larger than apsc) sensor interchangeable lens camera in the beginning.
Just like Bose, a headphone brand targeted at Life-style instead of supreme audio quality, so it can sell to more people who would pay for stylish stuff. Not a lot of people are sensitive to specs. Most people look at functionality instead of quality. Quality is for geeks a lot of times.