Chapter 3: Designers tell their X100 story
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monochromejrnl
Well-known
I'd much prefer it if Fuji chose to tell us very little about this new camera, perhaps even cryptic and allow early adopters to beta test their $1000 digital camera instead 😛
DougFord
on the good foot
It approaches parody.
Imparting Leica-esque mystique onto a piece of magnesium/glass/plastic designed in Japan is ironic.
Given the peeling vulcanite, freely spinning manual controls and the slow AF of the X1, it seems Fuji is not only redefining quality/price expectations but IMHO, also redefining the concept of the ‘digital rf’ for the 21st century.
Yeah it’s a lot of hype, how much is left to your imagination.
Time will soon enough reveal if Fuji has laid an egg or if they've taken a big stink’n dump on leica’s front lawn.
kermaier
Well-known
Ah, yes -- metonymy. I didn't know that word before, but it's the right one, I think. Thank you (really).
::Ari
Arjay
Time Traveller
That's how it's done
That's how it's done
Leica has been doing an exquisite job at selling their cameras as luxury and status objects. Fujifilm is doing the same, and with good reason.
Their copy might seem a little over the top in terms of 'lyricism' - but read some brochures of other luxury goods, like of BMW or Audi cars: They sound fairly similar, and they also provoke this 'must-have' feeling that is so important for selling status items.
That's how it's done.
That's how it's done
What do you expect? Fujifilm's marketing team is homing in on the Leica clientele, that's for sure.
Leica has been doing an exquisite job at selling their cameras as luxury and status objects. Fujifilm is doing the same, and with good reason.
Their copy might seem a little over the top in terms of 'lyricism' - but read some brochures of other luxury goods, like of BMW or Audi cars: They sound fairly similar, and they also provoke this 'must-have' feeling that is so important for selling status items.
That's how it's done.
David_Manning
Well-known
Am I the only one who noticed the change to a black camera body? Sweet!
David_Manning
Well-known
Never mind...wishful thinking got the best of me. It's just a dark image.
P
Peter Irwin
Guest
I don't want it as a luxury item - I want it as a camera.
Average 1970s Japanese camera fit and finish would suit me just fine. If stamped chrome plated brass would make it $100 cheaper, then I would much prefer the stamped brass over the magnesium casting with engraving.
Renzsu
Well-known
Hell I'm just really glad there's again a Fuji camera that is worth hyping.. not saying their film cameras aren't worth it, but look at the market and then think of when you were last impressed with a Fuji digital...
I'm glad they're paying some attention to their marketing for this, less of a chance of it just getting released without any notice.
I'm glad they're paying some attention to their marketing for this, less of a chance of it just getting released without any notice.
Pablito
coco frío
Renzsu
Well-known
Tell that to the consumer who is already starting to get used to unibody cnc'd computers and phones.. this is supposed to be a flagship product...
sojournerphoto
Veteran
My problem is that I don't care if they've designed it to remind me of the Leica my dad never had. I just want it to be nice to use, a better point and shoot if you like that's a bit like my Ikon or M9. When they go on about the design criteria suggesting this, that and the other then I want to throw up over the whole self aggrandising, luxury goods market (have they not seen Martin Parr's 'Luxury'?). But then I have to admi that I like things that work well, so that will be my criteria if I ever bother to try one when they get to the shops. Perhaps bizarrely, this latest piece makes me less likely to want one.
One interestng point is that they seem to suggest htat they want to sell 100,000 worldwide. Not that big a run, but much bigger than the M9 or Ikon I suspect
Mike
One interestng point is that they seem to suggest htat they want to sell 100,000 worldwide. Not that big a run, but much bigger than the M9 or Ikon I suspect
Mike
GSNfan
Well-known
After reading the above article and all the fluff about engraving and the leather case and so on, not to mention talk of pro photographers and their input in the design, I'm beginning to wonder that Fuji sensing the demand has gone the way of sexing up the X100 so they could justify a higher price. I think Fuji is going to charge more than $1000 as it was initially thought. Now its obvious that they're positioning X100 as a luxury camera.
We'll have to wait and see. In my case $1000 is my limit, I won't pay a penny more for a fixed lens digital camera no matter how sexy it is.
We'll have to wait and see. In my case $1000 is my limit, I won't pay a penny more for a fixed lens digital camera no matter how sexy it is.
Quash
Member
They need to be careful they don't start believing their own hype and raise the price. At the end of the day, this is:
1) Fixed lens
2) Two year-old lcd screen 420k dot screen
3) Two year-old 12mp / 720p Sony sensor a la D90
They designed this camera with two year-old technology to keep costs down.
As well, they have competition on the way. Nikon EVIL will likely be announced by time X100 is released (my guess, not confirmed), which will draw some away from the X100, especially if it is APS-C, viewfinder with interchangeable lens.
So, it doesn't serve Fuji's interests to lose sight of a long-term plan of using this to launch a new line of cameras just to make some extra cash on this first camera.
In terms of the prose. I, too, noticed it's getting a bit lush. I'm guessing Fuji UK are the marketing lead. It's over the top but it's no different than other marketing prose for similar luxury products.
I still like that Fuji are using this type of marketing approach prior to launch. Hyperbole aside, I like reading new information about the camera.
Now let's just hope that Fuji aren't so dopey in love with their own hype that they increase the price.
1) Fixed lens
2) Two year-old lcd screen 420k dot screen
3) Two year-old 12mp / 720p Sony sensor a la D90
They designed this camera with two year-old technology to keep costs down.
As well, they have competition on the way. Nikon EVIL will likely be announced by time X100 is released (my guess, not confirmed), which will draw some away from the X100, especially if it is APS-C, viewfinder with interchangeable lens.
So, it doesn't serve Fuji's interests to lose sight of a long-term plan of using this to launch a new line of cameras just to make some extra cash on this first camera.
In terms of the prose. I, too, noticed it's getting a bit lush. I'm guessing Fuji UK are the marketing lead. It's over the top but it's no different than other marketing prose for similar luxury products.
I still like that Fuji are using this type of marketing approach prior to launch. Hyperbole aside, I like reading new information about the camera.
Now let's just hope that Fuji aren't so dopey in love with their own hype that they increase the price.
DougFord
on the good foot
Yep. How about a beefed-up industrial looking Pro version that’s weather sealed?
Think there’d be any interest? 😀
Mister E
Well-known
All I care about is when the black paint version is coming out.
Thardy
Veteran
I just took a look at the ad.
Yep, they've definitely gone dopey.
Yep, they've definitely gone dopey.
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Rick Waldroup
Well-known
Maybe I have just missed it, but does anyone know if Fuji is going to offer any type of screw on auxillary lenses for the camera, such as a wide converter?
gavinlg
Veteran
Holy crap this thread is retarded. RFF has been the ground zero of constant crying and bitching for a modern cheap rangefinder style digital since the birth of the internet. Every single day I see a post on here lamenting that the Leica M digital is too expensive and that the cheaper point and shoots are too simple, or not good enough in IQ etc. There's been wishful pleading for a digital hexar, a digital bessa, a digital leica R for as long as I can remember.
Now we have one camera VERY close to the perfect affordable digital rangefinder coming very soon and suddenly everyone is sickened by it, because they're taking the effort to advertise it properly?
Is everyone on this forum the type of people who liked bands better before they got popular or something? WTF?
After reading the new pages a few things occur to me instantly:
- Fujifilm is rather proud that they've gone against the grain with the concept of the x100
- Fujifilm has spent considerable time listening to real photographers on what makes a good camera for real world use
- Fujifilm has taken a great deal of care to make the camera as tactile and enjoyable to use as possible.
- Fujifilm has given priority to their designers rather than their accountants or marketing people in the development of this camera. It's easy for me to see this is a camera designed by people who actually use cameras.
The marketing is an essential part of what's needed to actually sell this camera in enough numbers to make money. You can bet that if the camera is a great success, other companies will follow with well designed manual operation orientated and affordable rangefinder style cameras too. It can only get better from there.
Or would you guys prefer it to be like the epson RD-1.... a great camera with no marketing that 99.8% of the photography community doesn't even know exists. The RD-1 SHOULD have been a call for more affordable rangefinder style cameras like it, but hardly anyone knows it actually exists.
I for one am excited for the fujifilm x100, and I thoroughly enjoy reading the updates on it's site.
/rant.
Now we have one camera VERY close to the perfect affordable digital rangefinder coming very soon and suddenly everyone is sickened by it, because they're taking the effort to advertise it properly?
Is everyone on this forum the type of people who liked bands better before they got popular or something? WTF?
After reading the new pages a few things occur to me instantly:
- Fujifilm is rather proud that they've gone against the grain with the concept of the x100
- Fujifilm has spent considerable time listening to real photographers on what makes a good camera for real world use
- Fujifilm has taken a great deal of care to make the camera as tactile and enjoyable to use as possible.
- Fujifilm has given priority to their designers rather than their accountants or marketing people in the development of this camera. It's easy for me to see this is a camera designed by people who actually use cameras.
The marketing is an essential part of what's needed to actually sell this camera in enough numbers to make money. You can bet that if the camera is a great success, other companies will follow with well designed manual operation orientated and affordable rangefinder style cameras too. It can only get better from there.
Or would you guys prefer it to be like the epson RD-1.... a great camera with no marketing that 99.8% of the photography community doesn't even know exists. The RD-1 SHOULD have been a call for more affordable rangefinder style cameras like it, but hardly anyone knows it actually exists.
I for one am excited for the fujifilm x100, and I thoroughly enjoy reading the updates on it's site.
/rant.
Keith
The best camera is one that still works!
Hi Gav,
So how is your new job at Fujifilm going? (just joshin') 😀
I reckon there's more waffle on the Zeiss site about their lenses to be truthful. PR and advertising are a big part of anything we buy these days I guess so we just have to live with the hyperbole.
Like we say in Queensland ... "Come on in out of the sun for a shady deal!"
😛
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