Somebody Call Fujifilm

Somebody Call Fujifilm
Tuesday, April 29, 2008

Call them, and tell them what they have.

Have you seen the beatdown the Fuji S100fs handed the Canon G9 in this DPReview comparison? Sure the Fuji had a disappointing showing on low contrast detail, and no, those tests didn't use files converted from RAW. Quibbles aside, the S100fs walked all over the G9 from ISO 400 and up.

Unfortunately for Fuji, the market for large, heavy, expensive DSLR-like cameras seems to be shrinking as lower end DSLRs continue to fall in price. I personally have no interest in a such a megazoom camera, though I admire the folks at Fuji for continuing to bring out unique products. Certainly there are those who have been waiting for just such a camera, and I don't doubt that it will sell in its niche.

From where I stand, however, all Fuji has to do is get that S100fs sensor into a compact. If Sigma can get an APS-C (1.7x) sensor in a compact with a prime, then Fuji can get their eighth generation, Super CCD HR 2/3" sensor (less than 1/4th the size of the Sigma sensor) in a compact with a good 3-5x zoom lens. They could keep the F100fd as their ultracompact and incorporate the sensor from the S100fs into a midsized camera. It would be the acclaimed return of the Fuji E-series. A version with a 10mm (38mm equivalent) f/1.8 lens would be unreal. They could call it the Klasse D, and it could look just like this.

If anyone at Fujifilm is reading this, please do the right thing.

Posted by Amin Labels: DPReview, E series, F100fd, Fuji, Fujifilm, S100FS, Super CCD

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Serhan · 884 weeks ago

If they manufacture a smaller lens version of S100fs, it might be a real competition to DP1 and entry level DSLR's. It would be the sweet spot with a faster lens that cannot be managed with APS-C sensors, similar to Digilux 2 but with a better sensor. Also less noise reduction in low ISO's might help to retain more details. I checked the high ISO photos from S100fs and they look good.

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1 reply · active 884 weeks ago

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amin 67p · 884 weeks ago

That would be sweet, but I'd hope for a somewhat smaller body than the D2. Agree that the low ISO detail is probably reflecting NR.

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Bruce McL · 884 weeks ago

How about calling it Natura Digital? There are some awesome Fuji Natura film cameras.

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3 replies · active 884 weeks ago

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amin 67p · 884 weeks ago

Natura Digital sounds good, though digital isn't very natura =). Anything sounds better than another variation on the x100fx motif. I can't keep the S100fs and F100fd straight as it is!

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Bruce McL · 884 weeks ago

I agree, those two new models are very poorly named. Check out Fuji's Naturas on ebay or elsewhere, though. They are some serious compact cameras, One model has a fixed 24mm lens at ƒ 1.9, another has 28-56mm zoom. They are very compact.

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amin 67p · 884 weeks ago

Will do Bruce. I remember reading about the Naturas back when I was thinking about buying the Klasse S, with its 38mm f/2.8 lens. I wish Fuji would bring some of that anachronistic design into the compact digital space. A digital version of any of those cameras, done right, would be great. Would love to see a pocketable camera with the S100fs sensor and a 28-56mm (equivalent) zoom lens!

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Puplet · 884 weeks ago

Before the E-series was the F-series where it all started (the F-810 and the E-550 were identically spec'd) But the F810 - my first ever digital camera - was far, far nicer...

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Chuck · 884 weeks ago

I think Nikon, Canon, Fuji, and Leica are all paying attention to the DP-1 and similar "high end" point and shoots. There have been a lot of rumors about each of these companies coming out with an APS sized sensor, higher end point and shoot. Nikon could easily use there sensor from the D40/60, as could Canon with their Dig. Rebel XTi/Si and put it into a fixed lens or small zoom camera. If Canon took their G9 and put the Digital Rebel Sensor into it, it would sell like crazy. People in the Leica forums have been begging Leica for a digital CM type camera as well. The camera store where I work sells out of G9's on a regular basis because it the closest camera to the "glory day" designs of the serious 35mm point and shoot cameras made by Contax, Leica, Nikon, Ricoh, etc. All we need is for one of the 4 names above to take the plunge and make this kind of camera, and the others will follow. It just seems like they are playing chicken with each other. Photokina 2008 is coming soon, so maybe this will be the year, I guess we will have to wait and see. Leica is apparently expanding the product line this year and have sent letters to dealers (our store received one) saying that they are "very excited about their product line-up announcements" at Photokina 2008. They have even doubled the size of their booth this year. Maybe we will see a digital CM.........

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2 replies · active 884 weeks ago

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amin 67p · 884 weeks ago

Chuck, I hope that you're right about all this. Photokina should be exciting this year. However, I don't think technology is yet at the point where they can get an APS-C sensor into a G9-sized camera with a 6x zoom. I'd guess that a slow 2x zoom would be pushing it for a camera that size with a sensor that large. The great thing about the new Fuji sensor is that it is small enough to work within established design constraints, yet seems to have upped the ante in a significant way compared to the performance of current 1/1.7" sensors.

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Sonomichele · 884 weeks ago

Interesting thoughts about the competition. While Photokina should be interesting somehow I suspect we don't see anything seriously influenced by the DP1. The current product cycle was being developed while the DP1 was vaporware. I would put my money on next year. (Damn, more waiting). MIchael

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Bruce McL · 884 weeks ago

"...2/3" sensor in a compact with a good 3-5x zoom lens." Sounds like an excellent goal. Another data point in achieving this goal is the Nikon Coolpix 8400. Same sized sensor, significantly smaller in every dimension, and around half the weight of the S100fs. A nice 3.5x, 24-85 mm, ƒ 2.6-4.9 lens. All of this in a three and a half year old camera.