FYI - interview w/ Fuji exec - xe2 fw update on the way

[GaryLH]

http://www.dpreview.com/articles/5988185050/fujfilm-interview-the-only-way-is-to-keep-innovating

Pretty interesting interview from a Mr Lida about the Fuji x camera line. Talks about things like
- fw update for xe2 is in the pipeline
- the difference in customer wants in Asia vs Europe vs US
- some hints about ff

Gary

 

[FA Limited]

some pretty kickass quotes there such as

Yes. For example in asian counties we have more female customers, certainly in Japan, and they tend to take different pictures - more dreamlike, softer focus, lower contrast. That’s something that some western photographers don’t really understand. Asian customers also seem more keen on social networking and sharing their pictures.

girls can take pretty good photos too

Yes. For example we will release new firmware for the X-E2 soon which will improve the refresh rate of the EVF bringing it to the same level as the X-T1 and also add an interval shooting function.

cancel your pre-orders?

Not really - some people are asking for more, but overall there’s very little demand for 20MP or higher from our users. 16MP at the moment is the best combination of resolution and signal to noise ratio but obviously as time goes on the technology will develop and we’ll be able to offer higher resolutions with improved signal to noise ratio in the future.

i wuold assume 24 mp would be the next step seeing sony's 24 is relatively common at this time

Will X-Trans sensors get bigger, in the future?

At the moment we’re focusing on the APS-C format but in the longer term, after we’ve completed our lens lineup… I can’t deny the possibility.

x200?

 

[noimmunity]

The fate of APS-C systems can't help but be a little disconcerting these days. We'd like a little reassurance, please!

This talk about needing to "refresh" the lens lineup followed by the conclusion in which Ilda-san talks about turning to other sensor sizes once the lens lineup has "been completed" doesn't help very much. But it does sound like Fuji is very self-consciously committed to the customer base (read the comments about FW updates on discontinued models), and has every intention of following through.

 

[umcelinho]

a company saying that they cannot deny that in the future they will launch a more technologically advanced product? that is not a hint that it's coming soon, it's.... common sense.

 

[tomtofa]

A couple of things I noted: the XT-1 was referred to as Fuji's 'flagship' camera, and the XPro wasn't discussed . . . Sure would be nice to hear about advances to the OVF - another level of magnification for longer lenses, or an optical zoom function.

It was also said that sales would determine which of the lower-end Xs would survive, since there isn't a need for two. Wonder if the same is true for the top end?