The Fuji X interchangeable lens system is growing! According to Digicaminfo a new entry level X camera is going to be announced in July. I suspect the camera will have no viewfinder, be small and obviously less expensive than the current X-E1. The price is rumored to be around 70.000 Yen which is 540 Euro or 700 Dollars. The camera will ship in autumn.
Editor’s note: Two birds told me the rumor is 100% correct 🙂
P.S.: The pancake 27mm lens will be announced in June-July too.
18 Responses
This could be a smart move from fuji, granted that it had some sort of viewfinder attachable (preferably an EVF-slot with hinges). This is a straight up competition vs Panas GF-series and Olympus PEN with 20mm f1.7 attached, a setup that I have heard a lot of people are using. But for me personally, don’t make the body too small (thinner than X-E1 but not smaller) and don’t take away the shutter/EC-controls + make room for an optional EVF and OVF in the flash socket.
How fast will the AF be? Like X-E1 or like yhe new X-compacts?
Also, will it be possible to attach an external EVF?
As long as the combination of camera body plus viewfinder is cheaper and more compact than EX1, it could be a very interesting option. An articulated or tiltable high quality screen could also be an adequate substitute or complement for the viewfinder.
I just can’t like or live with back screen shooting with a serious camera. I had a brief honeymoon period with a GF1 but quickly decided that holding at camera a couple of feet from my face just wasn’t for me.
Good luck to those who like shooting like this… but I just can’t and I can’t see myself buying an anywhere near serious camera without a VF again.
I also like a good viewfinder, but what about waist level shooting with a tiltable screen? Only wait someone in the industry make a bright AMOLED type screen that can be placed OVER the camera. Then I wouldn´t miss a viewfinder anymore.
If they introduce it with the sensor and features in the X100s, it will likely sell well to those that would otherwise use a M4/3, as the larger sensor will be far better than any M4/3 sensor. If it has an optional EVF that is bright and not overly expensive, it may be a better choice than the X-E1 until the X-Pro 2/X-E2 are introduced.
I think Fuji would have been smarter to focus on the pro/enthusiast market and introduce the X-Pro 2/X-E2 at this time instead, as there are a lot of people, myself included, sitting on the fence waiting for a top notch interchangeable lens X-series camera before they buy in. Waiting until the end of the year, which means available next spring, is a big mistake in my opinion, as many people will lose interest and get something else by then. The only way they will capitalize on the delay is by providing us with an APS-H (1.2 crop factor) sized sensor X-Pro 2, which would be groundbreaking ~ nearly full frame, while retaining the size of the X-Pro 1 and making use of the current and soon to be released lenses (assuming those lenses can cover that size of sensor).
If they merely bring out an APS-C sized sensor camera in the X-Pro 2, it will not have the same impact and it will not be much of an advancement. Sure, the performance will be better with respect to AF and manual focus features, but they can give that to us now with the sensor and features in the X100s ~ just modify production with the new chip and sensor, similar to an update. That would have a huge positive impact on sales now, but I doubt it in a year, as there should be more competition by then, assuming other companies are smart…
It needs to have a built-in viewfinder as I see it. – Unless they are aiming at P/S upgraders in competition with Pana GX1 and Oly E-Px, Sony NEX3/5. (And the ne fixed lens Nikon, Ricoh.) That would be a no-buy for me, but perhaps many new customers to Fuji. Which in turn leads to strengthening the X-system development in general. That would be a good thing!
LOL FUJI HAS GONE CRAZY NOW:
http://translate.google.com/translate?sl=auto&tl=en&js=n&prev=_t&hl=en&ie=UTF-8&eotf=1&u=http%3A%2F%2Fdigicame-info.com%2F2013%2F04%2F3x.html
Isn’t X-E1 an entry level camera already? Plastic, non-weather-sealed, with fixed 2.8″ screen?
I hope they make many FUJI Models to strengthen & keep popular, the X Line of Cameras. I now have 3 X lenses and have the 55-200mm on order, so the more bodies the better. The current sized sensor should be the standard, no real reason to start another lens line. It would cut production costs if every camera gets the same sensor to make for inexpensive back-up bodies. I would not buy any mirrorless camera without a quality EVF built-in, not a contraption stuck in the hot shoe, what is this 2007? The only extras I would like to see to my XE-1 would be GPS built in and a fully articulating LCD or LED Panel that could be turned inward to protect the screen… that’s it – No more stuff or bells and whistles. I am amazed I am so satisfied with a digital camera!