[NOTE: As I told you here, the Xf56mm f/1.2 and black X100S coming tomorrow morning (London time). Stay tuned on FR.]
Dominik Fusina says via twitter: the X-W1 appeared on his website is a fake. He created it from his “own experience with mirrorless and vintage cameras and rumors about the next Fuji.”
According to the poll published here on FR, 92% of you where right: the image is not real. So this time you made a better guess than with the leaked blue X-A1 here, which was real but almost everybody said it’s a fake. You’re getting better ;).
Anyway, I don’t think that Dominik is too far-off from what we can expect the real X-W1 (or X-Whatever it’s called) to be. Therefore, would you like a camera with a similar look as the X-W1 created by Fusina? What would you change and what would you keep from his design?
52 Responses
Well for one, they separated the buttons AEL and AFL on XE2, so the image was clearly a fake, as it had a combined AEL/AFL button again as on older Fuji cameras. That was the simple clue that it was a fake. Why would Fuji go back to one button, on a camera, that is supposed to be above XE2? Does not make sense.
There are plenty of functional omissions, oddities or backsteps that would never have made it beyond the feedback panels, so yep, this study is an obvious fake. But the basic concept of an SLR-like MILC with a classic setup is quite intriguing, if it’s done right (aka NOT like Nikon).
I am quite excited to see how the real thing ends up, but the one important detail I’m not so sure about is the centred viewfinder. I don’t really know why this would be a choice of design as opposed to being born of necessity. Would it be too far fetched for the viewfinder to be positioned to the corner as per the rangefinder style? but then what would the fake pentaprism house? I suppose it could be very shallow to keep the overall bulk down.
You can’t achieve class-leading VF magnification in a small corner.
Why not? Does it have to be a small corner?
Surely a key advantage of all digital is that you can build the form in any way you prefer and put function and ergonomic at the fore e.g. why isn’t there a mirror image mirrorless for southpaws? Are there even any compact point and shoots with a viewport in the upper right corner?
If the screen is big they may have to put a prism on it that maybe nice and worth a big bump!
I don’t think prisms are required in an EVF…?
I think the camera could have a bump in the corner for the viewfinder. It would be ugly, but easier to use.
With a centered viewfinder you have to press your nose against the rear screen, tilt your head and bend forward. (By the way, the grip has to be triangular shaped, larger at the bottom than at the top, unlike on this picture.)
With a viewfinder in the corner you can stand straight.
Phew!!!!!…………….Thank goodness for that!!
🙂
IMHO a mirrorless camera shouldn’t have the looks of a DSLR. So skip the fake pentaprism and don’t copy the Olympus strategy. If the X-pro 2 is weather sealed and FF it would be the best camera money can buy.
since the OM-D E-M1 was launched, it is always in the top 3 (now 1st) positions of the Amazon CSC ranking. So, a mirrorless with SLR-style seems to be a real winner for Olympus. So why shouldn’t Fuji do a SLR-style MILC? Imaging division of Fuji has to find a way to write black figures again if they want to keep the X-series alive.
and if you don’t like it, do what I did, and get an X-E2 😉
X-E2 on the way for me Patrick
I tell you, you won’t regret your purchase! have fun with it
Coming from the xe1, I have no doubt about it! thks
I hope to get my XE-2 by the end of this week 😉
Hope for you, mine will normally arrive the week after.
Because Americans buy more consumer electronics than anyone else and Americans like SLR type cameras. Americans also have big hands and don’t like tiny cameras that they cannot handhold property. And Amazon numbers you point to I assume reflects Amazon US?
yep, AmazonUS ranking
I had an AX-5 30 years ago, and when Fuji decides to make a DSLR-like camera, that would be a good start.
I used to love Fuji films a few decades ago, with my argentic material. I came back to Fuji one year ago with their XE1 with which I remember me old ages with major pleasure
Absolutely agree. I just got X-E2 and really like it. I almost bought E-M1 but changed my mind later because of its boring DSLR look. The style of this camera reminds me of my old D3200.
But it is not going to be is it.
I was wondering why nobody bothered to ask himself , Is it real or fake? So i decided to throw it by myself!
it seems a bit irresponsible to not label it in the first place, at the very least misleading. internet fake publicity stunts are really starting to get annoying.
I do think it is stupid of people to believe whatever appears on the internet. Always take things with a grain of salt and wait for confirmation from other sources.
people really considered that this render was real or fake? I have to say that I don’t even understand why people discussed this as a possibility. It’s not even a good render. usually it just says a render from this guy and that’s all, iy didn’t even need to get into technicalities.
well.. nobody bothered to ask him whether it is real or fake….
As fugly as the Nikon….
@Patrick and Rico, this is unrelated to the post, but just wanna say this site is a joy to visit, more than any other rumor site. The work you both do keeps me coming back. I wish there was a more general photography site in the style of this one with more Rico style Expert Corner articles. I would subscribe to that and it wouldn’t matter that I carry a crappy off brand camera. :/
thanks Andy, very kind!
Thanks for that. Sadly (or luckily for us), Fuji cameras are too specific, you can’t just apply the X-Pert Corner articles to other cameras. Take the ISOless sensor: Other camera makers are using the same sensor, by they are only using a very limited portion of the possible DR expansion capability.
Fuji on the other hand has been delivering + 2 EV dynamic highlight range expansion for several years. Nikon, trying to be “bold”, just went to + 1.7 EV in their Df, but you have to set a special mode for that. Not even the D4 offers that kind of highlight DR expansion latitude. And Sony? Their DR mode don’t even expand highlight DR, it simply lifts the shadows with Apical’s adaptive lighting algorithm.
Your both welcome, and no doubt I fully understand what you say Rico, but I’ll keep on wishing that someone does it. I’m only sorry Fuji didn’t release the xe2 moments sooner when I gave up waiting and bought the off brand cam. Now it’ll be at least another year, probably 2 before I can justify a new purchase to another system. Fuji tech should be pretty spectacular then… In the mean time I’ll just keep on reading because I like what you do.
My money for a weather sealed dSLR style camera is on an X-S2 still. Same great styling as older camera, weather sealed lens without making new XF or XC lens. Fills hole from no bridge camera since X-S1 was discontinued last year
I’d be more than happy to see a SLR-like Fuji MILC – don’t see why we should ghetto-ise the X line-up to rangefinder ‘style’ only. My X-E1 is lovely though I prefer the ‘heft’ of the X-Pro1.
If (big speculation on my part) this new ‘un packs all the X-E2 new features plus tethered shooting, dual cards and a grip that takes 2 batteries as well – all in a X-Pro1 overall size or even Pentax ME Super/Olympus OM-1/2 dimensions then its kidney-selling time 🙂 Add in better flash TTL and Nikon Df and Sony A7R/A7R have real competition
And let’s not reprise the ‘FF’ debate please
Well, der.
Forget this rendered garbage! I predict the design of the new weather sealed X will be stunning and I hope very successful.
Fuji have the chops for making it look great – they’ve proved that consistently in their rigorous treatment of the look and feel of the whole package and their attention to detail in the little bits that make it up.
I love the rangefinder look like lots here – but a cracking EVF and improved focusing capabilities?! I’ll take a classic SLR look for that anyday – they are probably the only company that can pull it off it seems.
The promise of the new and existing lenses is going to make this a mouthwatering prospect. I’m betting it’s a blinder and I’ll be desperate for one. I’m trying to work out how I can afford it in advance in a year when I’ll be moving house – If the video is good I can get one through my work – PLEEEEEEEEEEEEEESE fuji – make it as good as the GH3!!!
I agree…if fuji has designed a sexy slr-like milc and it has faster AF and a brighter, larger evf, it could become very popular. Fuji is the only company that I could see doing it right; and if they have, I may get one as a second X-Series camera, as my X-Pro 1 is still an outstanding camera. Having two X-Series cameras would be great, as I wouldn’t have to change lenses very often: could walk around with two focal lengths at one time…
On the ideas of it being successful: I just wonder if the rangefinder style is something a lot of folks find hard to take seriously? Just a thought.
Maybe this is the camera that will help Fuji make proper inroads into wider markets?
The thing with mirror less cameras is that there is no form factor constraints, so its possible to make a Rangefinder style, an E1/E2 thing, a miniature model and something SLR like – all based of the same platform – its an exercise in packaging more or less. So why not copy another old camera, and eventually I guess they will pump out a modern DSLR looking thing.
Perhaps the only thing of real interest is if this new camera will be good enough to allow Fuji get away without continuing the XPro1. They could offer a x100s with a 35mm lens and a matched OVF, would be a better experience and possibly profitable. Perhaps even do something crazy and make it with a BW sensor. Worked for Leica.
I agree, the packaging perspective is important on a broader scale than just what makes a good camera.
The SLR package – form / shape / silhouette – has a powerful cultural connection that I feel may be working against the rangefinder style. Rangefinder is lovely and has definite advantages – one being exactly that people don’t relate it to a ‘proper’ camera. And they look cool as f**k.
But surely you can only sell cameras like that to a specialist audience. How many people beyond photography enthusiasts/pros of a certain age and art + design peeps can even relate to rangefinders? And lets face it, SLR’s USED to look cool as f**k too.
Lets see what Fuji can do if they step into the ring with the SLR boys. I love both styles – hell, I just love great cameras – I hope they rock it! Come on Fuji!
Well that may be great news, as I am sure Fuji will do a much better job at labelling the camera, and I hope the viewfinder is not two-toned. After seeing this and almost accepting it as real, if Fuji can design a much nicer dslr-like camera, it may turn out to have the best design and looks for a dslr-like milc.
If fuji can design a sexy dslr-like milc, why can’t people accept them having both rangefinder-like and dslr-like designs. If they design it right, and it has excellent performance, it should be popular. Look how many people were excited about the DF before it was released. This could be the camera those people were hoping for. The only thing it won’t have is a full frame sensor, which isn’t a deal breaker for most, as the X-Series cameras have excellent image quality.
Weather sealed body but no weather sealed lenses??? mmmm. May the black X100S will be a X100SW or they announce a X100 with EVF humb and fixed weather sealed zoom (16-55 2,8).
2 weather sealed lenses are coming- announced v.soon – constant aperture zooms – can’t remember specs offhand – rumored in previous posts.
I hope Fuji stays with three main dials on top. Shutter speed, EV compensation and ISO. Simple and straightforward design. On the back, have more Fn buttons so we can have a dedicated WB button.
Oh yeah, and a dedicated view button. I handled the XE-2 and immediately appreciated my X-Pro1’s view button. Regarding the SLR like design, it will sure be friendlier to left eye shooters unlike the rangefinder type design.
On another note, for the X-Pro1, if they’re not done with firmware updates, please make the AF/Trash button a Fn/Trash button with the option to turn it into a WB button. Another wish is on the playback/edit mode, when you crop a picture in camera, for the image to go back to the raw file, very much like the raw conversion function with the current FW.
So Dominik posted the images and didn’t bother to mention that they were fakes?
Irresponsible, if that’s the case.
Are we sure its going to have an SLR form factor? It might look like one of the Fujica rangefinders (the “Texas Leicas”!) or even one of the P&S square boxes.
SLR (fujica ST) form factor, according to my sources
Thanks
I am outraged by the behaviour of Dominik Fusina! First of all, on his blog post of the 31st of december where he released these images, the first sentence says the following: “Reçu ce matin par email. J’avoue être à la fois autant dubitatif que curieux.” which means that he received the images by e-mail the morning and that he’s doubtful and curious at the same time.
This is unacceptable! This was purposely to create a confusion and expect people would believe these images to be true. This is SO LAME and he should be ASHAMED.
It’s the internet, not a government press release.
My first intention wasn’t to make a fake, just an art work” – better luck next time!