Do you remember the rumor of September 2013, where I wrote: “Fuji will launch a cheaper and smaller X100S without viewfinder, smaller body and 23mm f/2.8 lens. The name could be X70.” ?
Well, I knew the rumor was right at the time of sharing, but Fujifilm has dropped plans on it later on.. and so I had to live with the usual S*itstorm on FR ;).
But we could have a comback now, at least according to our trusted Japanese source. The source said that this time Fujifilm decided to go ahead an make it. Our source did not specify the specs, but it did say that there will be a New Lens.
Looks like the X100 series is going to get a little sister… and the Ricoh GR a serious competitor!
If the Japanese source is (once again) correct, then it shows how rumors can be right at the time of sharing, then wrong, and then eventually right again, according to the continuously changing plans at the Fuji HQ. This drives me nuts… but that’s my problem 😉 .
That’s it… feel free to tell us your dream lens for this little camera… and there is a first poll about the X70, too.
[poll id=”95″]
111 Responses
I thought Fujifilm will focus their efforts on high-end product range. IMHO Fujifilm really know how to create camera for photographers (and a viewfinder is “a must”); so why insisting on this entry-level compact area, which is already doomed by smartphones and mid-level and high-end cameras?
APS-c compacts are a niche as is so. This will be for same market that x100t is for , just cheaper for people on budget. Absolutely necessary. But yeah, i tried A5000 and realized that VF is an absolute requirement.
I love my Fuji camera’s but it is hard to beat the Ricoh GR. The X70 should have at least an articulated screen.
Fixed zoom lens!? (APS-C sized version of the X30) Viewfinder is a must of course.
“23mm f2.8 lens” – I’m not interested in. Fast lens (f2.0) is really important. F2.8 is nothing special. X-M1 + 27 mm F2.8 is about the same and it is probably cheaper than x70, and I can change the lenses.
True.
If it has the same built quality as a X100, then a X-M1 is most definitely not the ‘same’.
Except that most people who are likely to buy a camera without a viewfinder tend to not subject it to as much (ab-)use as the semi-pros and professionals who buy an X100-type camera. Incidents involving sand, water and drinks aside of course, but the X100 series isn’t impervious to those either.
There is of course a difference between luxury built and professional built, the X100 is not the latter. And i was also referring to the unique aperture control, shutter speed dial, and who knows maybe even an iso dial too this time.
Strange strategic move and hard to call it “the little sister of X100 series” as IMHO the identity of this series is strongly optical viewfinder related, that gave it the range finder style association.
If Fuji wants to compete with the Ricoh GR shouldn’t it use a 28mm equivalent lens as Leica is doing with their new full frame fixed lens?
And note that Leica didn’t give up the viewfinder, after the previous X2 experience (APS-C with 36mm equivalent).
This getting nonsense.. What happen to fuji now? Next – entry level x-pro?
No viewfinder, no zoom, no interest…
That rumor certainly wasn’t correct in September 2013.
So is this the first time ever that Fuji is thinking to make an X70? .. At the Fuji HQ they did never talk about an X70 in 2013?
A rumor is always correct for the period of it being a rumor, but from the moment information stated in the rumor comes true it is no more rumor but fact. Thus a rumor can only exist in a state of being correct. ^.^
I’ve always been more interested in the opposite. Which could still be on the cards for the future perhaps, but I doubt it.
An X100 Pro.
I’ve got an X-Pro1 and the IQ is still much better than my X100T which was disappointing, but a lot of that has to do with the lens. I’m not really talking about the speed of the lens, it’s the quality.
I could be interested in an X100 with EVF only instead of the hybrid viewfinder, even if this is the old 1.44MP EVF to keep the cost down.
But a camera without viewfinder and with a slower lens is not very appealing.
No viewfinder is dead on arrival! Thought Fuji would have learnt this this with the XM and XA series… Also why would you buy this when you could get the XM1 or XA2 with the 27mm? Makes no sense sorry Fuji
I would never buy a camera without a viewfinder, that’s just ridiculous. Besides, you might just as well buy one of those entry-level X-A/X-M ones with a lens. And the part of the market that would be fine with no viewfinder will probably not be fine with no zoom. An EVF (at least an optional external one that does not block the flash hot shoe or at least leaves a PC sync port) might make for a more compelling camera, but again, I’d rather spend the money on a camera with interchangeable lenses.
Besides, calling the camera X70 just makes for a confusing naming scheme since it would imply that that camera is a model in the X10/20/30 series. Also, down the line, there can only be an X70, and X80 and an X90, and then they run out of numbers because X100 is obviously already taken (just like X1 was already in use by Leica, so they went for the kind of clumsy “X-Pro1”). Same issue with the X10 series, they would essentially only have three more models left until they bump into the X70.
Nikon made that same mistake, now we have no way in hell of understanding the model hierarchy for the lower-end models, and the high-end models are also extremely confusing (a D750 definitely isn’t a successor for the D700, nor is the D800 really, and the D600 is actually a lower-level camera than a D300 except for the sensor size, but so is the D750 in terms of ergonomics, and so on). I don’t think we need that kind of naming mess.
I would love to see an EVF-only X100 (smaller body, slower lens is fine for me personally).
no viewfinder and f/2.8?
hell no!
I dont need the Hybrid Viewfinder, but EVF is a must.
We want the X200 with bigger viewfinder and x-trans I.
EVF is a must even a cheaper one. I would like a 50mm FF equivalent and IBIS.
Oh, and make that an F2 lens : )
Make it f/2, and with an EVF, and I’m in.
They’ve still done. It’s named x100/s/t 🙂
small, EVF, f2 and weather sealed? I’m in but i guess that would be the x200 instead.
Weathered sealed and F2 and I am in. It would be hard to top the Ricoh Gr however for pure street photography.
35mm f/2 and some viewfinder (evf or ovf with overlay frame, doesn’t matter that much) would be nice. In case of 23mm f/2.8 and no VF it would need to be cheap, and I mean X-A1 kind of cheap. And still not for me.
I think it’ll be more along the lines of x-t1 and x-t10. So maybe a 2.8f lens 23mm with evf it’ll end up being $600-700 (Hopefully) or something. Without EVF it’ll have to be good $200 cheaper than that to even make sense.
This seems like a fairly pointless concept, the X100 needs a big brother with a bigger sensor or other major improvements like a faster lens, not a crippled younger sibling.
Yes!!!
Who said we have to choose ! 😉
Fuji should much rather make some budget lenses instead of making budget crappy cameras that cut costs in just the wrong places. I’d MUCH prefer to be able to buy a used X-E2/X-T10 and XC 23 f2 for the money that this will probably cost.
Yes more pancake lenses! xc grade would be fine
Has to be pocketable like the GR… If so, I’m in.
A lot of old rangefinders had lenses a little longer than 35…like 40-45. Give me a rangefinder style, fixed 27mm f2 or 2.8, simple OVF or EVF, and a tilt lcd….with better ergonomics and build quality than X-M1…
Still waiting for a X100 type camera with a full frame sensor, and a 35mm’ish F/1.8 lens.
You’re waiting for the RX1 with Classic Chrome ? 🙂
If the RX1 had a viewfinder….
Ah i see, assumed this was about X70. The add-on OVF’s from zeiss are considered among if not the best finders you can get though, bigger and brighter than the X100, if not a little expensive! But you can rest easy knowing they don’t ever expire ..
The RX1 was close, very close. I’m hoping Fuji nails it.
i would be in, too.
Pocketable + 28mm then yes
Then Ricoh GR II 🙂
Would do if I could get confirmation that dust/sensor issue was resolved
I don’t know about such a problem, though i think the chances of a known problem happening again in a successor are no bigger than any other random problem that is impossible to predict or test for. But I’m sure it has warranty. 🙂
This would interest me if the lens is more versatile, or at least it offers different shooting capacities than other APS-C fixed lens cameras (GR, Coolpix A, X100’s)… Why not a 21mm equivalent? It would be perfect for urban or landscape photography within a compact and light body…
Not sure if I’d want a smaller x100, definitely cheaper… Er, less expensive, yes.
Isn’t what makes a x100 an x100 both a fixed prime lens AND the hybrid viewfinder? I don’t see a point in removing the hybrid vf and.only.having an end… otherwise they should call it a cheaper and smaller x-e… Like an x-e20 or something.
I’m.interested in.what this new x100 could be, but personally I.think they.should just refine the x100t further… Start with finally making a new lens.. I’m ok with the base 23mm lens, but how about making it faster to 1.8, 1.4, or dare 1.2? .. I’d settle for an f1.4. And make it sharp wide open! If a different focal length, then I’d prefer a 35mm (50mm in 35mm equiv). It doesn’t have to stay a pancake form factor either.. I think if it were not a pancake, it may perform even faster. Clean up the evf noise in low light…it’s fast in optimum lighting conditions, but super noisy in dim situations, can’t see clearly enough with focus assist magnify and focus peaking is lost in the noisy mess. Particularly difficult, if not useless, to use with, electronic rangefinder mode since that tiny window is so small to begin with. .. and make that overlay window in erf a little larger to see better. I’d welcome face detection in af to work with erf mode, also.
Nope, not interested. I wanna see something really new, an x200 for christ sake! Not another x-e whatever!
What lens would it be? 24/28 mm equivalent?
My response would be a resounding “Meh.” If it’s smaller, doesn’t have a viewfinder and a downgraded lens, then I’d probably struggle to find a time I’d take it out rather than just…use my phone. I would be much more interested in a higher-end X100 than a lower end one.
X200: Full-frame sensor, 35mm F1.8, hybrid viewfinder, weather-sealed, new fancy X-T1/X-T10 AF system, good low-light performance, same size and general look as the X100.
$1999-ish and you’d have everyone that bought a RX1 or Leica Q re-evaluating their life decisions.
yep. I’d buy that one tomorrow.
This is what I’m waiting for.
If that new lens is a zoom lens, could that mean there will be no X40? Sounds like a logical business decision to me: Fujifilm has slim chances fighting RX100, LX100 and perhaps even G7X series and future incarnations. Better to stay with APS-C and make end-to-end offering on a standard sensor size. I only dislike the name, there is already Pentax X70. Better call it X200.
If so, reminds me of film days and SLRs and fixed lens and zoom compacts all using the same film 35mm film format. Why not the same concept with digital? Same sized sensor, mass orders at low(er) price per unit, and full range of cameras built around it? Although they tried with 110 format on film in those days, but it did not work quite well. Seems to be similar with digital, this time with APS-C vs. sub-1 inch sensor advanced compacts.
Agreed, but without a hybrid viewfinder, let alone no viewfinder at all, in all honesty it could never be named X200. Naming it X70 makes perfect sense imho. I don’t even know about any Pentax X70, and probably a million other things that are called X70, but none of them a Fuji. 🙂
The X200 name is of course reserved for when they run out of suffixes and it finally gets a new (or just different) lens, but keeps the HVF system and overall premium status.
Why? Why do they waste time with these smaller point and shoots? Probably because they know that how ever long it takes them to finally release the X-Pro 2, you people will sit and take it. Right now they can keep putting their old sensor into all kinds of different “new” bodies and sell them to you because no matter how many crappy point and shoots you buy, you will still purchase the X -Pro 1 successor. I’ve gotten tired of waiting month after month only to have them release these tiny cameras (XT-10) with the same old sensor as the x100s. So I’ve sold all my Fuji lenses and will switch to Sony.
It’s not “wasting time” if they’re profitable. To date, the only bodies Fuji makes which have actually been significantly profitable have been the X100 line and the X-T1. So, making cheaper versions of each—the X-T10 and perhaps this X70—makes perfect sense. Take your most popular items, scale them down and shift more units. Same reason Sony has released fifty versions of the A7 and Canon keeps using the 5D name for as many SKUs as they can get away with.
Now, not making cameras like this, doing nothing for a year while you develop a new sensor and then releasing it in a premium body which doesn’t sell well, that would be a waste of time.
The problem is an X100 without a viewfinder isn’t a scaled down X100.
I totally agree. Fuji has to penetrate other markets in Asia, too, i.e. Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia, etc where Fuji is less known, and even less price-competitive than in traditionally strong markets in the U.S., Europe or Japan.
Fuji squeezes out these lower-end cameras with exactly these new markets and customers in mind.
Sounds like you have the problem and wasting time not Fuji. Try being a better photographer first.
Been there, done that. thanks.
One thing first; you’re right. I have been wasting time waiting for Fuji to catch up with Sony. But saying that I should try and be a better photographer has nothing to do with it. I had been using an old Canon 20D for years and never felt the need to upgrade to “make myself a better photographer” I have done amazing work with that pitiful little camera while hacks like you were probably buying every successor Canon made, even if the new technology wasn’t worth mentioning.
I like my X-Pro 1 but it is pretty damn worn out. The hot shoe no longer works, the power switch is way to easy to switch on as well as the exposure comp dial way to easy to move out of position. The ever is slow, the autofocus is slow, and now the XF mount on the camera is stuck so it’s getting harder to switch out lenses without worrying I’ll rip the mount off the camera body. So, I want to replace it.
With your logic Michael Pen, the next time you upgrade your failing MacBook Pro, you won’t complain if what you are buying from your local Apple Store is the same laptop that Apple made four years ago, while everyone else is getting the next generation computers with 4k resolution, better battery life, faster processor etc for the same amount that your spending, because you will say “it’s fine, this old technology is good enough to get the job done!”
Yeah, well, good for you and you’re platitudinous quips. Maybe next time you’ll think of something less banal to say.
However, as a consumer, I have every right to want the most bang for my buck. Do I need 36, 42, or 50 megapixels? That’s for me to decide. I am a great photographer with nothing to prove, but even if I sucked like shit, what does it matter? as a consumer, living in America, I’m entitled to spend my money however I want, make choices and later change my mind and not give hacks like you an answer why.
Honestly, any body announcement that is not the X-Pro2 or X-T2 will feel like a disappointment to me. I’m waiting for a Fuji camera that can squeeze every last ounce of resolution out of the X lenses (24mp+), so I won’t feel bad about leaving my Nikon D800 behind on a big adventure. I’d love for a lightweight rig for landscape work when backpacking.
Ah, the hallmark of a bad photographer blaming his gear.
You are totally off, my friend. Both in your assumptions and your reading comprehension. I am a professional photographer and I make quite a good living selling my landscape prints. I don’t blame any of my gear for anything. I use the right tool for the right job.
My Nikon D800 does everything I could possibly need it to, except that it is big and heavy for long backpacking trips. I enjoy my X-T1 immensely, but I would love to have a Fuji X camera with higher resolution so in more situations, I would choose this lighter and more enjoyable camera over my big rig.
Now, why do you have a problem with that? Are you angry at every Fuji shooter who wants a higher res X-Pro2 or X-T2?
Couldn’t agree more. A bump in resolution and oversampling will provide more detail not only for enlargements, but also when pushing ISO.
IMO, Fuji needs these three things critically, in order to compete properly in the pro market:
1. A bump in megapixels (hopefully X-Pro 2 will resolve this)
2. Another stop of ISO/ dynamic range
3. Faster and more accurate autofocus (not sure 4.00 quite gets us there yet, though doubtless an improvement over what we have now).
jeeezas, ill be a sad sad boy if this is a 50mm equivalent x100.
i just bought a TCL yesterday.
Meanwhile at the 16MP X-Trans warehouse.
what… are these?
They’re reading books?
No No No No No!!!! Fuji, do you see all the pushback on this rumor? The X100 should be a range to meet the needs of the varied users. Maybe three segments, entry, travel, & advanced. Could argue all day on what each would have as features but I would like to see pricing from $995 to $1295 to $1795 with the top being a FF version, thats just me.
X100t bodies with a variety of lens suits people well too.
we have that already with the TLC etc… unless you are thinking interchangeable then we have the XT and XP line
I think x100 series have huge advantages in size. One x100t with 23mm and one with 56mm lens. This is a setup much easier to carry than interchangeable x-body with 2 primes and saves you time changing lens.
X pro2….please hurry
If this is just an X100T Lite, then I don’t really understand the market for it. If you’re willing to live with a prime lens, then you’re probably a camera enthusiast of some kind. And if you’re a camera enthusiast of some kind, are you going to be excited about a slower lens than the 23/2.0 on the X100T? Moreover, if you’re in the market for an X100T, but can’t quite afford it, there are lots of great-condition used X100’s and 100S’s available on the re-sale market.
But then again, if it is inexpensive to produce, it may be a money-maker for Fuji even with very low volume. And they are, after all, in the business of making money, and not simply fulfilling my camera dreams.
Always said, the X100 line is very nice, but they’re a touch expensive for what they are and a cheaper version is always going to sell better. Makes perfect sense to make this.
I know people always say this, but the X100 series has features to back up the price. Yeah, it’s definitely pricey for a fixed lens APS-C camera, but if you’re using all of the features you definitely get your money’s worth.
Worth is subjective. The X100 line has done well enough to show there are enough people who think they are worth the relatively high price tag, but they also haven’t set the world on fire enough to suggest that a cheaper alternative wouldn’t sell just as well, if not better.
Personally, I bought an X100S when it was the hottest thing on the market and I think it’s alright for the money, but it sure would have been a lot nicer if they’d have put it £100 lower, and there are enough things about it I never use—gimmicky filters, pointless video, etc—that I would gladly give up if it meant a slightly lower price. Since I have an X100S, T1 and T10 on the way, I’m not really in the market for yet another Fuji camera, but if I were, I know I’d be one of the many waiting on a cheaper X100.
I might pay the X 100T price, but I wouldn’t spend even much less for a baby sister, as well as the X T1 and the newer X T10… Just bought the X30, and looking for the X 100Z with fixed zoom lens. Does it make sense?
… Absolutely none of that made any sense at all. Good lord.
Thanks God, your common sense is not so common.
Thanks God your English is not so common.
Really? Is that your solid argument? I apologize for the waste of time.
Screw the X70. Just upgrade the X30 with an 1-inch sensor.
Or get a new X100Z with fixed ZOOM lens.
yesss pleeeeeze! 😉
or a micro four thirds sensor.
Maybe it might be equipped with a 24/28mm f2 lens (35mm FF equivalent) to compete with the Ricoh GR or even they go crazy to compete with the new Leica Q ?
I am afraid X-70 is going to be another Fuji mistake – as bulky X-30 with tiny sensor and X-T10 that has same EVF as X-30. Why to buy X-70 with f/2.8 lens when one can buy used X-100s with f2 lens, or why to buy clumsy X-T10 with not impressive EFV, cuted features and made in China, if you can buy used X-T1 with great EVF made in Japan?
It is not made in China.
What a bad naming. Why they are repeating the same errors as canikon?
They can do whatever they want… I just want an X-Pro 2 that handles like an X100T but at a similar size to the X-Pro 1. And in a matte-silver version.
That’s exactly what the x-pro2 is supposed to be: an x100t with interchangeable lenses. Plus a bigger sensor. I’m also looking forward to it.
I’d rather a medium format like GF670. Fuji should bring something special, breathtaking, ground breaking, different… As it used to be.
A stripped down X100s/t with a slower lens can be simply replaced with all those smaller and cheaper bodies like XA or XE series and pancake lenses. If they want to do a favor to the customer and attract more buyers with new offering, they better speed up the low-end lens development; let’s say for example 50mm f/2, 35mm f/2 (it’s already on the road map), 23mm f/2.0 pancake, maybe an update to their 18mm f/2 yet in pancake form…
This will guarantee them a lot of new purchases of existing bodies with many lenses… and it also creates potential buyers of high-end lenses.
It’s better to not enter the competition with smaller sensor size which is already crowded by many contenders (1″ and MFT). Full-frame competition is also hard to enter, with those variety of offerings from Sony as a mirror-less and too many well established DSLRs.
I guess a new pioneer fixed lens camera in medium format will be the best path for a new breed of success as the X100 served a few years back.
It worked in the 1960-70 with Konica C35, Konica auto S3, Yashica GX; they where very nice. Put a 23mm f1,7 in there or a 27mm f2. Maybe a 14mm f4? It might work again
I would like Fujifilm, we of an organic sensor with speed 1/8000, and if not disturbing 4k video.
Sounds like an X-M2 with a fixed lens. Not seeing much value there.
Probably in the minority here, but I would LOVE a camera like this. Basically a Ricoh GR with a 35mm equiv lens, with all that Fuji goodness baked in. I still love my X100s, but lately I’ve been using my Nikon Coolpix A more and more as that little extra compactness is really nice.
The sony cyber shot u20 is the camera for you to go. 🙂
No view finder no care.
Olympus is also rumored to be making a Ricoh GR competitor. I love my GR, it is always with me because it fits in my pocket. Front jeans pocket. But I wish it had the Fuji look and colors. The most important thing though is it needs to be thin enough to be pocketable. There are already many small cameras (Sony RX100’s, Pany GM5, etc.) but the lens always makes it too thick. The GR and Nikon A are borderline small enough. No tilty screen or viewfinder and F/2.8 if needed to make it thin enough please. It either fits in the pocket, or it doesn’t. If not I might as well grab an XE with zoom.
No HVF? Okay.
No EVF? No way.
US$500? Hooray!
If it is pocketable like the GR, I would buy it in a heartbeat.
The only reason why I ditched my X100T and bought a GR was the size. And the only thing I miss now is Fuji’s JPG engine and (sometimes) the 23mm field of view. I could even live without an integrated flash if that would make the body smaller.
f/2.8 lens – totally fine
no OVF – not fine
Perfect X70 for me: 18mm/2.8, OVF, pocketable, X100 quality
I would like 50mm f2 pocket cam no problem.
fuji,
fixed zoom lense? =)
A Fuji X70 with only optical (macro live view on LCD) and a compact 28mm f2.8 lens sharper than the WCL-X100 will get me to replace my X100 and WCL-X100 more than getting an X100T. If the WCL-X100 works with it to a 21mm FL then I can make do with that instead of an ILC with an 18mm or down to 15mm (in 35mm format) wide lens.
OK, my ideal X70 would have:
• Dials and buttons like other x cameras
• 35mm equivalent lens, f2 or bigger
• smaller than X100 series – jacket pocketable
• Weatherproof or better still waterproof (even to 1 metre)
• Decent EVF (I’m not fussed about OVF if it makes the camera bigger)
• X-trans sensor, 16Mpx is fine ( >16 is also fine as long as image noise is as good)