It is certainly nto a surprise anymore but at leats now it is official. Fuji’s new interchangeable system will not become part of the Micro Four Thirds system This will be “premium” cameras! That is what the Fujiguys tweeted today (Click here / found via Noisycamera).
My guess is that the sensor is larger than APS-C but not as large as Fullframe sensors. But that’s just a guess for now…
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As opposed to the “Non-Premium” mu4/3 cameras?
I really hope they have optical viewfinders. Possibly a switch to choose focal lengths based on what lens is mounted, or even adjusted digitally. However they do it, I want an quality optical finder. You listening Fuji?
Honestly, all Fuji needs to do is slap a mount on the X100 and release a few primes like the 23mm f/2. I sincerely hope they don’t overthink the whole thing and f**k this up.
Haha, what a slap in the face of m43 users.
WHat are you talking about?
Yup, m4/3 sensor is a downgrade, not upgrade. They have to build from the X100 which is APS-C.
APS-H sensors?
M43 sensor = I would have bought one
Full-frame sensor = I should buy one
APS-C sensor (or APS-H or whatever) = I keep my money (and my Epson R-D1)
While Fujifilm will not join Micro Four Thirds, this will not rule out that Olympus & Panasonic will join forces with Fujifilm in launching a *Maxi Four Thirds* new mount. Sigma could join in as a lens maker, but Leica already left this sensor region with their interim M8. Leica needed the M9 for fully taking advantage of their large base of M lenses. Leica wouldn’t experiment again with other aspect ratios as 3:2, like they did 4:3 with their DIGILUX 3.
Alternative A:
How about a 1.44x crop sensor, still having an aspect ratio of 4:3 from a 24×18 mm area, using the pixel pitch from the GH2, making a total of 30 Megapixels.
I suppose Fuji need a larger sensor size than APS-C, in order to give the 24x36mm a good match. This leads me to believe APS-H is the target, since it’s the largest sensor chip area that is cheaper to process in the semiconductor fab.
Since I also expect Fuji to add their own color filter array, it’s not an off the shelf sensor they are going to use, so they might as well do the entire sensor chip design, like they have done with the say X10 sensor.
Alternative B:
Or Fujifilm could let Sony custom design their latest 24 Mpix APS-C sensor, adding the Fuji proprietary colour filters to it. They would still gain the economy of scale, while making their unique sensor performance, challenging the performance of 24x36mm.
Premium also sometimes just means “expensive”.
It probably will share the same sensor as the x100, or the x100 replacement sensor. Sort of like the new x-s1 has the x10 sensor. It is not just the sensor but all the hardware and software support that it needs. I would not count on it being a m mount or anything, I am sure Fuji wants to sell the glass for it, not have us use our old stuff.
“I am sure Fuji wants to sell the glass for it, not have us use our old stuff.” -flash
Then I am not sure if Fuji has been awake or aware of Sony’s success with the Nex. I mean how is a previously non-camera company having such success without having a line of lenses for them? I see so many users of the Nex not only use the kit lenses but also using adapted lenses; some Leica but a lot of others more so. If Fuji thinks it didn’t play a part of pushing the Nex up to the top sales spot, they may only sell a luke warm amount.
I just hope that they keep it all relatively simple. Like an X100 but with 3 or 4 high quality, relatively small prime lenses. No zooms Keep any IS in body as well as AF motor. Make the OVF adjustable for those 4 lenses (or swap out OVF’s that come with each lens.
What Matt said… And make sure it’s all black.