That is going to be a tuff competitor for Sony! The first Fuji X pictures surfaced at Xitek. Like the NEX-7 it has a built-in viewfinder but Fuji is using the same optical and electronic hybrid viewfinder they use on the [shoplink 6075 ebay]Fuji X100 (Click here to see that cam)[/shoplink]. I expect the Fuji X to cost much more than the NEX-7 but I admit that the viewfinder technology is a real hit. I have no info about the sensor size yet but I guess it’s APS-C. Anyway, I think Sony has a much more advanced sensor and OLED viewfinder technology (compared to the Fuji X100). And I don’t think the Fuji X will be good at video.
Maybe it’s just me, but I would like a NEX-7 version with hybrid viewfinder. And you?
[poll id=”83″]
76 Responses
Cool and promising indeed!
I wish we had some idea of the lenses… but I guess that would be too much 😉
Actually I know that! 🙂
18mm/2.0 pancake, 35mm/1.4 and a 60mm lens.
What?! Are you sure???
Keep on dreaming! In fact it will be 18-55 3,5 5,6 lens! 🙂
The first two lenses are almost 90% sure. The thrid lens 50%. It’s form the same sources that leaked the images.
Thanks for that! That sounds like an excellent start if true. I would have preferred wider than 18mm, but if it’s f2 it would always have a place. 35/1.4 would be a winner. Not so fussed about 60mm, but at around 85mm equiv it could be the candid lens I’d want with it. Sounds amazing!
For me I guess the only question would be operational speed (AF, writing times, general interface) as you just know the build quality and sensor will be more than enough (well atleast for me).
Best get saving I guess. Perhaps next x-mas?
Well, it sounds a lot like the Contax G2. That’s a very similar group of lenses (28, 35, 45, 90 — a few others available, but those were the ones that worked with the built in finder (though the 35 1.4 is faster than any of the Contax lenses). Keeping a very limited set of lenses like that is probably the only reasonable way to make the non-ttl optical viewfinder work. I imagine you could just make it continuously zoomable, too, but you would have to limit the range it could zoom.
Sounds good. I have an X100 and love/hate it. The manual controls, lens, and IQ are fantastic. The speed, focus, and ergonomics of the electronic interface are awful. If they can get more of the former and less of the latter with this camera, it will be a huge hit.
I will say, though, if it really is APS-C and not FF, that will be a disappointment. Not a dealbreaker, but a bit of a bummer.
that is fantastic news,
According to previous rumors its going to be APS-H sensor (1.3 crop)
which means the lens correspond to 242, 451.4 and 80mm lens!
but we never know.
24/2, 45/1.4 & 80mm
Don’t tease, I would love that. It somehow seems like it would be too much to ask in honesty.
APS-H!!! Full Frame Junior!!!
17 or 18mm/2 and 35mm/1.4 pancake would be great for nex 🙂 if that appear i will buy nex and that lens along with my zeiss a mount 🙂
Acceptance of non SLR-camera’s will increase by this cam, so it’s good news, even for the Nex 😉
I can’t see why would it cost much more than the NEX-7??? I think it will be in the same price range or even cheaper. Something like the X100 without the lens. With an APS-C sensor and the retro look it will be a huge hit, especially if Fuji will come out with some good lenses by the time of the launch.
competition is allways good, atleast for us 🙂 i`ll stick to the Nex 7 though
What mount does it have?
Its own mount.
How does the viewfinder work with the change in focal length between lenses?
I guess they will overlay crop marks on the optical image to indicate the actual FOV. Of course that would mean that the optical viewfinder is only usable with a limited range of focal lengths – if the lens is too long, the cropped area in the viewfinder will be too small, if it’s too short, the entire image will not fit in the viewfinder. You could still use the EVF in those cases though.
I don’t understand what’s the rush about this?
Hybrid viewfinder??? That’s a huge disadvantage… Technologically trash…
It’s image quality result… that might be a threat!
Is it about “IQ”? I think this is aimed at more advance users, who know that almost all slr sensors on the market today are good enough for their needs. After that you have size, ergonomics, speed… how it makes you feel. TBH the sensor is the last thing I’m concerned about here, I know Fuji can make good ones, as long as it’s not some scatty thing like in that Nikon 1 that seems to be pushed in my face every 5 minutes of late 😉
Trash? Funny post! Am I missing something here?
It depends on who use the camera. For me hybrid viewfinder is the way.
Hybrid viewfinder is not trash. The X100 viewfinder is huge and bright with 0 lag 🙂
0 Lag???
What camera are you using? Ever try focusing on a moving subject with the X100 EVF? Complete lockup for a second or two while the camera tries to attain focus. By the time the EVF goes live again your subject has likely moved out of frame.There is even a slight shutter lag with the OVF when used in bright light, this has been documented in many forums and I witness it on my own X100.
Fuji needs to tighten up their viewfinder implementation with this new X camera and improve the overall responsiveness. If they can, I will be first in line as I have great faith in the Fuji lenses and if this is truly an APS-H, then that is fantastic.
Umm yes zero lag as most users of the X100 use the Optical Viewfinder not the EVF like common peasants like yourself
I WISH… IF IT ONLY HAD IBIS ;{
So do I, but I’ve come to accept Fuji don’t seem to see this way. For me, higher ISO and lack of mirror (less vibration) and fast primes would just about be enough, even if one couldn’t use it in the same way you would with IBIS. An annoyance, but not quite a deal breaker for me.
If this is what Fuji is bringing out, then Sony has nothing to be concerned about.
Camera makers have to move away from designs of the past—the needs of today’s photographer has changed. Mirrorless is more about hybrid funtionality—stills and video. Cams of the future will have a generous blend of both. You Can’t do that with a hybrid viewfinder.
I think Fuji’s success with the X100 was more about timing. Once Sony has established a moderate assortment of high quality lenses, there won’t be room for a X100.
I think your analysis is flawed to say the least..
I think quite the opposite. Do you see the size of those bright lenses? Stack them together, and they’re still smaller than the Zeiss E 24mm. Sony has a huge lens problem that may never get solved. In their attempt to make the camera body smaller, they may have screwed the entire system. I admit the NEX 7 is the most desireable NEX, but the lens selection is making me consider canceling my preorder as soon as this Fuji is announced. The photos of those lenses just confirms to me that Fuji is the only company listening to customers and simply giving them what they desire. Big sensor, great jpegs, great built-in viewfinder, good looks, and great small lenses. It really is not that hard to figure out the mirrorless market. We’ve just been watching 3 hapless companies try and try without listening to customers. Now we have one that is at least listening to the needs of those like me.
How did they screw up the entire system by making the camera small ?
I think it’s better to add 1cm in lens length rather than 1cm in body width.
And yet the lenses are massive. Explain.
I think Fuji is trying to play in a different league than NEX and m43. The latter seems to focus on making smaller and thinner cameras. That probably appeal to the mass market. Fuji is focusing on the system as a whole with strong concentration on image quality and lenses. They’re definitely targeting the enthusiast and pro DSLR crowd. The NEX and m43 could never shake the DSLR marketshare because they were mainly getting upgraders from P&S and low hanging fruits from DSLR who probably shouldn’t have bought a DSLR in the first place. The Fuji is a halo product that will appeal to enthusiasts.
Why is it better to add to lenses instead of body. if you had say a 3 lens kit, that’s an extra 3cm total in your kit bag…
The only way to play in a different league is with a larger sensor—even H size would do it.
I would seriously consider it—even if Fuji introduced it with just one outstanding lens.
I already have plenty of glass to hang on it! And as a bonus, it takes all my closer to its intended field of view. This is the beauty of mirrorless: legacy glass.
Where Fuji could fail is in the execution. Like no swivel LCD. A poor user-interface, poor video functionality.
If the sensor is C, then my money is on Sony.
Last month Fuji also said it would have lower noise and higher resolution than any existing FF sensor. So either the sensor is larger the APS-C and/or they are introducting some new sensor technology (Organic?).
“They” say many things – and everybody knows what we get at the end!!!
I own a number of Canon FD lenses, Olympus OM Lens, Nikkor Ais and I won’t cancel my preorder—and I own the 5n.
I agree that each of makers of mirrorless have come to market with products that have not hit the mark. M4/3 series (I own 2 of them) suffer mostly from poor sensor performance (that isn’t to say it can’t get the job done in some of the conditions), Nikon, well what a disappointment!
The EVF is central to success in the future. There are many who continue to cling to the old ways—and this holding on to the past is not exclusive to photography, people in general don’t like change.
I think Sony has to fix three shortcomings with future NEX models: put sensor-based IS, make the built-in EVF swivel and provide better video quality. Then they will have built a hybrid for today’s photographer.
As to size, originally, I thought that Sony had gone too far with reduction, but after using the 5n for the past month, whatever glass I mount on (and I’ve got a good collection of Canon L), it’s comfortable to use—I don’t care what it looks like and that there’s disproportion.
The small lenses will come in time.
I may be one of the few here but I hope it has a mic jack and a decent video format. Those are the key things drawing me to the nex7.
I wish I could have my hands on the nex7…
Fuji have said the sensor in this camera will out perform current FF sensors in noise and resolution, so my guess is that the next generation Fuji organic sensor is ready. I expect it to be an APS-C sensor with the 3 initial lenses being 18mm, 35mm & 60mm. I use Fuji lenses in LF and with my medium format 680,so I expect these lenses to be very very good.
I think this camera is going to big a big hit and I may end up buying one.
Don’t know about IQ or specs but look-wise, the NEX-7 blows this one out of the water.
Here’s to hoping Fuji’s improved the user friendliness of their interface!
It’s hard to say from this prototype, but I got to agree, this feels ugly compared to the sexy NEX-7.
Still, I think I’m going to cancel my NEX-7 pre-order and wait and see for a bit what comes out (including Leica and maybe even Canon one day). But, compared to NEX, this initial selection of lenses sounds promising.
P.S. Nice to see another One Piece fan 😉
It looks to be large in comparison to the lens mount – especially if it is an APS C or H sensor. The controls on the back do not look as appealing at the NEX-7. Have not used the 7, but the controls looked great compared to other small cameras I have used/seen – this does not. Maybe a bit over Retro too. I am probably sticking with the NEX line. Call me ‘not a REAL Photographer’, but I like my zoom lenses. Fast primes are great (have a few), but honestly most my shooting is with a 24-70mm f2.8L.
Mark
The body will be called the LX and go for $1400. The price is in direct competition with the NEX-7.
http://photorumors.com/2011/11/15/fuji-mirrorless-camera-leaked/#more-15512
With this kind of aesthetics Sony has nothing to worry about 🙂 This camera is uber-ugly. I own5n and it is such a polished and sophisticated piece of electronics. I can only imagine how nex7 will look. Fuji needs to improve the interface and speed of operation a lot. X100 is a disaster to use and it is even worse when you know how good it could have been with such a nice optics and great iq.
Wait with the judgement until you see the final version. If Fuji follows the design of the X100 & X10 and comes out with some good lenses it can be a big hit.
I own a 5N and hardly waiting to get rid of it and have a camera that feels real in my hands. With two more customizable buttons the 5N would be good but I dislike its menu system.
How people can talk about ugliness here with a camera that is under contruction an such a bad pictures. It’s incredible!
lens mount and contacts seems quite similar to nex don’t they?
http://sonyalphalab.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/110804_098-nex-c3.jpg
The lens mount seems awfully small for a supposedly larger-sensor mirrorless camera. Hopefully it just looked that way because of how it was photographed.
If it does have a larger sensor, having a compact f1.4 sounds right up my alley.
Hard to say. In this photo, the camera looks really big judging by the hand that’s holding it: http://s1214.photobucket.com/albums/cc498/43rumors/?action=view¤t=fuji-mirrorless-camera2.jpg
Of course, it could be a small hand, too, but I can tell you that it already looks significantly larger than the X100. If that’s the case, the mount might be proportionally larger, as well.
Is it just me or is it actually ugly. I know some people love the vintage style but it looks ugly to me
I don’t know if this picture was taken with a webcam from 1998, but it looks like a cheap plastic toy camera. Not a good design at all. I love the retro look but this is just awful.
I agree, in fact, this camera looks *HUGE* just look at the dials and how much space they take yet don’t cover the whole top of the camera. It looks fat like the M9.
Welp, I canceled my NEX-7 pre-order. So I guess someone will get moved one spot up the list. If Fuji intentionally leaked this to prevent people from buying the NEX-7, then congrats to them; it at least worked for one sale.
I would bet its prototype, doesnt look finished.
I abstained from the poll because I would not want a hybrid viewfinder on a mirrorless camera (how is that supposed to work with interchangeable lenses after all?), but I would like a hybrid viewfinder SLR very much. Mirror down = OVF, mirror locked up = EVF.
Btw., I wanted an X100 badly last year when it was first announced, but Fuji lost me when I found out that the diopter adjustment of the viewfinder only goes down to -2 while I need -3. 🙁 NEX-7 has -4 to +4. 🙂
If I’m not mistaken, the viewfinder on Contax G cameras would change magnification depending on the lens.
So, I suppose it could work like that, but with a set of magnification factors and electronics to bring up the frame lines.
That would totally screw up non-Fuji X lenses, but we can’t have it all.
Hybrid vf will not work well with zooms and 3rd party lenses.
NEX7 ttl evf is good enough though far from ovf
I suspect Fuji will not be making a zoom for this, unless it is along the lines of a Leica Tri-Elmar, which really isn’t a zoom at all.
Great, we need more real nex competitors.
If those lens specs are true and they turn out to be sharp,
I am going to be jealous of that lens selection.
Comparing the design aesthetic of the nex7 and the fuji is similar to Apple and PC…and as L. Armstrong said ” If you’se gotta to ask..youse never gonna know”
What I want to know is where this mockup is from Admin? I haven’t seen this appear on the site, so presumably it is for an article you are or were going to run?
http://s1214.photobucket.com/albums/cc498/43rumors/?action=view¤t=fuji-mirrorless-camera2.jpg#!oZZ16QQcurrentZZhttp%3A%2F%2Fs1214.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fcc498%2F43rumors%2F%3Faction%3Dview%26current%3Dsony_30mm_2-0-1-1.jpg
Because what is in that picture is exactly what I want – plus add-on EVF 🙂
A manual shutter speed dial prevents setting 1/3 stop increments in manual exposure… unless it has 1/3 click stops.
If it’s anything like the X100 it does not have click stops and also you can’t set any shutter speed long than the dial manually (but the camera will do it if it is metering the shutter speed itself) which makes night time shooting incredibly difficult.
Basically, the X100 is the least ergonomic camera I’ve seen, despite the fanboyism, and if this camera works in the same manner, it’s going to be a pile of hurt. It probably will be a niche camera with expensive lenses. Like a cheaper Leica. Something people will undoubtedly rave about even though in actual use, it sucks in numerous ways.
But it’ll make pretty pictures! (after 40 tries).
Fujiis obviously going for a different direction, more of a rangefinder path with all the primes and hybrid viewfinder. Another niche camera i would say.
Looks clunky. Not a fan of this design… NEX7 is miles ahead.
Funny how dramatically different everyone’s opinions are. “It’s beautiful!” “It’s hideous!” “I love the retro thing!” “Get your head out of the past, Fuji!”
I’m definitely waiting to pass judgement on the aesthetics until we see an actual finished model. This one is clearly in various stages of undress, and NONE of them look close to the final product. And by the way, you can count me in the “I love the retro look and prefer it over the NEX-7’s ‘sleek’ modern styling” faction. Not that I hate the NEX-7…I just like this more.
Boom it looks ugly. I know it’s not every photographer’s concern. But i feel photography is an extension of my own self and my personal style. So Nex-7 ftw
Its clearly an early mock-up – so I would not pay any attention to the finer points of its physical design. It will look like the X100 which is certainly not a bad thing. Hopefully it comes in black as well.
I like cameras to look cool as much as the next guy, but the ‘bling’ factor (Yes, mister EP3) kind of goes against the small, low key and unobtrusive vibe of a RF style.
Instead of making it just look like a rangefinder how about making it an actual rangefinder. Otherwise it’s just another APS-C EVIL camera which has already been done. Just another mount to deal with….yawn.
That fuji mockup looks surprisingly like the X10 camera prototype.
Buttons all over it like a madman’s breakfast.
Correction! This is the Nex-7’s 2nd competitor. You have forgotten about the Samsung NX200.
i would go for Fuji if Fuji can match Sony’s price….