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.

Simon Joinson of DPReview recently posted a list of "really interesting compacts we'd like to review as soon as possible." I was disappointed to find that the GRD II is not on the list and likely won't be reviewed given his statement regarding 2007 models. Here's Simon's post in situ:



Note: The R8 review is now available here.
Simon's post can be found here.