They compare the usability to that of the X-T2 but with a larger sensor. The camera boxes a 51.4mp Bayer sensor and not an X-Trans sensor like you will get in the X-Pro and X-T camera line-ups. It looks well-built, just like what you would get from Fujifilm, and it looks usable in many photographic environments, in studio or on location.
There Are 3 Lenses Ready for Release
The first lens is the 32-64mm f/4, which converts to being equivalent to 24-50mm in a 35mm size sensor. Secondly there will be a 120mm Macro f/4 lens, which will be similar to a 97mm lens in a 35mm sensor camera. Finally, the third lens is a 63mm lens which gives you the same as a 50mm lens would on a 35mm sensor.
This is a great stating line-up to release the camera with, and it looks like another three lenses are coming in 2017. So Fujifilm is really working hard to make this camera as usable as possible, in studio or on location with as many focal lengths as possible.
New Features
The camera has a customizable display on top of the camera, similar to that found on DSLRs. The camera also gives the photographer two ways of changing settings, either with the manual gears and knobs on the camera, or with the thumb-wheel, like you would on a DSLR. This makes the transition to this camera for the professionals as easy as possible, which is exactly what Fujifilm will want to do.
The camera has a TIFF engine which can export as TIFFs instead of raws. The Bayer sensor also makes it a little easier for third-party software to render and de-mosaic the file.
What Makes This Something To Consider
Digital medium-format cameras are expensive. If you look at a Hasselblad or Phase One it's a fraction of the cost, and you get the medium format dynamic range, file size, and the "look" only medium format can capture. The lenses that will be available on launch shows their determination to make it something photographers will use and trust to deliver. Fujifilm isn't playing anymore. They're one of the big guys now.
Check out the camera on B&H here.
[via B&H]
I'll be seriously interested when they release something in the 44mm f/2.8 and 170mm f/2.8 ranges. I had originally planned on getting a Pentax 645Z system by June, but pending real world reviews, I might be going with this instead.
Very interested to see how this system performs, but I want unbiased reviews. I'm a proud XT2 user here and the camera does 97% of what I need it to do. My main concern for this system is going to be tethering capabilities. If Fuji does not figure out a PROPER tethering solution, I can see many pro's passing on this option. Lightroom is NOT a tethering option for pros. Lightroom has proved to be SLOW! I'm hoping with the bayer sensor that there's room for third party options. I do not believe Capture One will be creating anything to compete with their own products directly (which definitely sucks).
As a portrait and food photographer, I'd love to see some REAL tethering options on the Fuji side because I've had XT1 and XT2 that do EVERYTHING but have proper tethering abilities. I'll be purchasing Canon for my studio work if Fuji falls short here, yet again.
I agree about tethering. I don't see Phase One supporting this camera any more than they support the Pentax. Phase One really have a fear of competing MF digital cameras. Adobe to date has the most miserable tethering options, which is really surprising considering their typical desire to destroy any competition. It's quite conspicuous in it's shortcomings. That leaves Fuji really to take up the slack and essentially make a full-blown capture and RAW processing software package that can handle both this and their X-Trans sensors, and can do it with speed and efficiency.
It's such a shame that Phase One refuses to support other MF systems. I get their reasoning to an extent, but it's not like these cameras pose any threat to their system. I know several photographers that have these lower end MF systems and use them on jobs where they'd typically use a DSLR, but they still rent Phase One systems for the big jobs.
I couldn't agree with you more that it's shocking how terrible the Adobe tethering options are. Fuji needs to create it's own software to handle the tethering issues. I'd even pay a good amount of money to have a capable system. I'm holding my hopes that it will get resolved, but if not I will be looking towards other systems that can handle tethered capture efficiently.
"medium format"
How are you supposed to achieve the "look" with a crop sensor??
Seems like every company now is producing an extra large CMOS sensor and calling it 'medium format' when it is barely bigger than a full frame DSLR. And for 2-3x the cost... And you lose focus technology, general compatibility, lenses are also 2-3x the price all for what?
How awesome would it be to have Joey L working with this baby and showing us some results?! That would be a strong move from Fujifilm! Bring one of the currently top medium format photographers to the fuji line up!
Nobody noticed how hideous it looks with a grip.
No leaf shutter no go, Pentax as solve this issue with Priolite strobe I know is only HSS better then nothing!!!
If you do studio only no problem but with outdoor big Problem. I don't like ND filters to dark to focus.
I think the real winner in that contest is the Hasselblad XD1 all lens with leaf shutter up to 1/2000 sec.