fuji firmware updates!

[JRG]

Well, I will be updating before the 19th with the X-E1, as I just bought an X-Pro 1!

I had the a7 and the Zeiss 35 in the cart not once, but twice today. I just didn't feel it, at least not like I do with the Fuji kit. To make sure, I took my Nex-5n out with the Sigma 30 this afternoon and though a brilliant combination, I felt like I was fiddling with my piePhone. I now have to decide if it is time to give up the Sony flag altogether (though I may keep the RX100 -wifey loves it) and invest solely in Fuji as my walkabout choice.

Oddly enough, I've got both an X-Pro 1 and an RX-100. I like them both, but for different situations/purposes I guess. I got the RX-100 at a great price when its original owner decided he didn't like it. I wasn't expecting too much, but it's found a home here.

 

[goamules]

... gear of recent vintage is, generally, not suitable for his business: It tends to be built with highly integrated, surface-mount components, many of which are entirely proprietary, and often designed/built for a company that may no longer exist.

Older gear, say stuff made in the 1970s/1980s, tends to be made of discrete components, most of those being pretty standard stuff...

I totally concur. When I was in the Navy in the 1980s, we were taught to troubleshoot down to the component level. I had one piece of gear (an ESM receiver) from 1948. Still worked, still needed tweaking to keep it running...40 years later. Flash forward 20 years to this week. I bought a Bolex 16mm camera, and it had an old GE light meter in the kit. I started playing with it last night. It still works fine and give the same readings as my modern Sekonic. It's a 1950 model. Looking at the manual, I find this at the back, "Your General Electric is warranted for the lifetime of the device..."

Of course it's very nice that Fuji brings new features to older cameras but I still don't understand what's the financial benefit for Fuji.... five colleagues who have digital cameras (DSLRs, m43, Sony Nex). None of them is active in a forum, just normal camera users....No company on this whole planet does something without evaluating the financial benefit. So why is Fuji doing something that is seen as a benefit by a minority of customers only?

Obviously, because a company wants repeat customers. If you got a lifetime warranty with any modern device, wouldn't you be more inclined to buy it, and buy again from that company? Or would you prefer to buy from the bulk of companies today that plan for their devices to be used about 1 year, break, and be thrown away? I'd say Fuji is doing something that will retrain and attract a lot of customers. Maybe your friends don't care, maybe most of the current generation don't remember a time when a company stood by it's products. Did you know that replacement car parts used to be available for all models, from the manufacturer, for years and decades after the model year came out? I.E. you could buy 1957 Ford parts in 1970 at any dealer.

 

[macjim]

I totally concur. When I was in the Navy in the 1980s, we were taught to troubleshoot down to the component level. I had one piece of gear (an ESM receiver) from 1948. Still worked, still needed tweaking to keep it running...40 years later. Flash forward 20 years to this week. I bought a Bolex 16mm camera, and it had an old GE light meter in the kit. I started playing with it last night. It still works fine and give the same readings as my modern Sekonic. It's a 1950 model. Looking at the manual, I find this at the back, "Your General Electric is warranted for the lifetime of the device..." Obviously, because a company wants repeat customers. If you got a lifetime warranty with any modern device, wouldn't you be more inclined to buy it, and buy again from that company? Or would you prefer to buy from the bulk of companies today that plan for their devices to be used about 1 year, break, and be thrown away? I'd say Fuji is doing something that will retrain and attract a lot of customers. Maybe your friends don't care, maybe most of the current generation don't remember a time when a company stood by it's products. Did you know that replacement car parts used to be available for all models, from the manufacturer, for years and decades after the model year came out? I.E. you could buy 1957 Ford parts in 1970 at any dealer.

Couldn't agree more. It's nice to have a company that looks after their customers and keeps the products working.

 

[burancap]

My X-Pro1 showed up yesterday. It is everything the X-E1 is and so much more with the brilliant VF zoom -which I was not aware of until the night before it showed up. I just love it! So much so, that I may just move the X-E1 down the road!

 

[jsrockit]

and so much more with the brilliant VF zoom -

I've been a Fuji user since day one... almost 3 year ago now. I didn't know of this feature until my friend did it on accident recently. Then I couldn't figure out how to do it. It is great, because the default frames for the 27mm are tiny. Holding the OVF/EVF switch for a moment gets me a full frame version of the 27mm framelines. Great.

 

[noimmunity]

My X-Pro1 showed up yesterday. It is everything the X-E1 is and so much more with the brilliant VF zoom -which I was not aware of until the night before it showed up. I just love it! So much so, that I may just move the X-E1 down the road!

The XP1 is a lovely camera. And the updates have pretty much addressed every concern users have had. I bet this camera will now enjoy something of a renaissance as used prices come way down, firmware goes up, and everybody realizes what we all saw from day one.
Congratulations and enjoy!