Fujifilm X-Half Officially Announced

[eatstoomuchjam]

FujiFilm have officially announced the anticipated X-Half camera that rumors sites have been talking about since last year.  The technical specs are a bit below ho-hum and Fuji decided to go a bit far with film nostalgia, including requiring the user to crank a film advance lever between exposures and setting a limit of frames to match a roll of film.

Video specs are about 3/4 of full HD in normal mode at 1440x1080 at up to 24p (recorded in 3:2 format) and there's a "2in1" feature which will do 2880x1440 at 24p, but I don't understand what this is at all from CineD's write-up.

Photo resolution is about 12 megapixels (4:3) from the 18 megapixel 3:2 sensor.

Retail price will be $850.

I hope that there's some incredible... something from this camera once I get around to watching the reviews.  Otherwise, it seems to be pure fashion accessory.  Otherwise, the cheaper X-M5 and a panacake lens would seem to be a better and almost equally portable option.

https://www.cined.com/fujifilm-x-half-camera-announced-when-analog-heritage-and-digital-capabilities-merge-together/

 

[Andrew Reid]

I will look forward to picking one up for £350 in a few months.

[Marcio Kabke Pinheiro]

This camera is not made for us - is for the youngsters that are getting old P&S cameras to experiment something different. If fact, Fuji marketing strategy should be: reach the Tiktokers that created the X100 V and VI frenzy and drop a shitload of money to make this become viral.

Saw some reviews, there are some very lovely things there and a ton of likely mistakes - but as I said, we are not the target group.

- Video: forget, is crap. Less than FHD resolution, bad AF, 30 seconds max. A lost opportunity, goodish video with the film sims would be great.
- Camera is VERY cute and small, but at the same time could have some more "details", have some toyish vibe.
- The interface is very simplistic (kinda a cross of the digital Instax cameras and the current Fujifim menus). The use of the left display for the menu item and the bigger for the itens is intriguing.
- The diptych idea is very neat, but as some reviews said, easier to do in the app instead of doinf it in camera.
- The "film mode" is VERY gimmicky, but could have some traction. Again, the target group will have the veridict.

Biggest problems in my point of view:
- Flash photography is a VERY big use case of the youngsters getting old cameras. They love it. And this camera could NOT use any flash - the camera have a led instead of a flash, and a cold shoe without any connection. Huge mistake - if they don't want to put a proper integrated flash, at least could provide a center pin in the shoe to put an external manual flash. And since the camera is so bad for video and don't have a mic port, don't know how to use this dumb shoe for anything.
- The rear display is very small - and since the younger people probably will use it a lot, could be a problem. In fact, when the rumors started, I said that Fuji should go full Instax mode, making the camera to be designed "vertically". But this would not bring the retro vibes.
- OVF looks good, but have zero infos. Could have some displayed settings.

Biggest problem: the price. A camera with no EVF, very basic AF, with a very small main LCD, very few buttons, no integrated flash, a coldshoe, very basic video, for $850? You can just get a X100T or X100S used for the same price, and is a miles better camera.
I know that it is a "experience" and fun camera, but it should cost much less, around $600. The X-M5 with kit lens is just a tad more. Don't know if the "experience" with this price will get traction. Hope it does - at least is something different.

[eatstoomuchjam]

15 minutes ago, Marcio Kabke Pinheiro said:

Biggest problem: the price. A camera with no EVF, very basic AF, with a very small main LCD, very few buttons, no integrated flash, a coldshoe, very basic video, for $850? You can just get a X100T or X100S used for the same price, and is a miles better camera.

This is where I was going - if Fuji released this camera at $300, I'd totally get it.  Or even maybe $500.  But... at $850, that's why I say fashion accessory.

[BTM_Pix]

27 minutes ago, Marcio Kabke Pinheiro said:

The "film mode" is VERY gimmicky, but could have some traction. Again, the target group will have the veridict.

That’s honestly my favourite bit!

They need to have a proper hardcore mode where you can only “carry” four rolls of “film” with you and use the app like Pokémon Go where have to go and find a virtual chemist or photo store nearby to get another roll when you run out.

I’d make these virtual shops have opening hours as well !

Would be a big fan of the app making you have to load the “film” into the app in the dark and you then having to do all your “developing” in the app with the screen having a faint red glow across it.

You could even use the gyro sensors in the device to make you have to agitate the “film” to develop it.

I wouldn’t even be averse to you having to post off for a code when you’ve shot a roll of  “film” using a reversal simulation and then having to wait a week to get a code back that will unlock the roll and develop it with a non changeable preset process.

 

[Tim Sewell]

How about a mode to simulate when you get the bleach and the fix steps back to front because you're a bit drunk?

[Tim Sewell]

32 minutes ago, Tim Sewell said:

How about a mode to simulate when you get the bleach and the fix steps back to front because you're a bit drunk?

In 1988 I wasn't too displeased with the result, though...