What's up at Fuji - PMA 2008

[Solinar]

There is a very short announcement of a medium format camera being introduced by Fuji at the 2008 PMA.

http://www.photographyblog.com/index...t_film_camera/

[Bryce]

Surely this is a joke... Guess we'll all see.
When is PMA?

[sooner]

Are you guys kidding, this is great news. Have you seen the prices for Fuji MF cameras "languishing" on Ebay lately? Or gold watches languishing at fine jewelers? You can barely get a GSW690 for under a grand. So if Fuji wants to bring out another line of MF cameras for half that, man, I'm on it.

[dazedgonebye]

I wonder what they'll come up with?

Can we turn this in to a wild speculation thread?

[chrish]

Originally Posted by dazedgonebye

Can we turn this in to a wild speculation thread?

Its compatible with any lens ever made by any company and makes them autofocus using supersonic vibrations.

[dazedgonebye]

6x4.5 rangefinder with interchangeable lenses.

[einolu]

hopefully it won't be a fuji gw670iv, because my iii model would then become obsolete ;-)

[NickTrop]

Originally Posted by sooner

Are you guys kidding, this is great news. Have you seen the prices for Fuji MF cameras "languishing" on Ebay lately? Or gold watches languishing at fine jewelers? You can barely get a GSW690 for under a grand. So if Fuji wants to bring out another line of MF cameras for half that, man, I'm on it.

Yes! This is great, great news! God bless Fuji. See Kodak? They support film - black and white and color. They support 35mm and medium format, and they make cameras - introducing a new MF film camera - which they engineer and manufacture...

... and they're big, big players in the digital arena.

They're whatchya call an "imaging" company. Seems they know that "imaging" is what they do - regardless of how the image is created - film or digital, and that you can do both and make a profit! And are catering to both ways of making images - no probs, no drama, no worries if product X will be thter tomorrow as far as the eye can see.

Get it Kodak???? Want answers? Look to the East. Shame your lame-azz CEOs weren't able to do what Fuji has done - seemingly "effortlessly". No need for any "transition", they meet the demands for both medium, and are still involved in design and manufacturer.
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[Solinar]

Kodak isn't listening. They lost their soul years ago. Fuji can - but will they?

[NickTrop]

From Fuji's Press Release:

"Even as the company innovates in digital imaging technology, Fujifilm remains true to its heritage and to the acknowledged superior image quality delivered by professional photographic film products.

(Note: Oh, digi-heads, with your futzy digitals who think that their pathetic pixelaltions produce images as good as film, come out, come out wherever your are


Fujifilm is committed to further expanding the world of imaging whether in digital or analog technologies."

(Taking notes thar Kodak???? You're "strategic management" over the last 15 years not only should be fired - without that precious and ridiculous "golden parachute", they should be tarred and feathered and banned from ever working anywhere other that at a fast food take-out window for the rest of their careers. I don't care what Ivy Leage school they got their MBA at or how many meaningless lame-azz "business cliches" they can rattle off their tongue per minute...)

[Bryce]

Hey, I didn't mean to sound like I'd be unhappy to see a new Fuji MF camera. Just shocked!
And as Sooner mentioned, Fuji's RF cameras still command a very good price on the used market.
So, I'd like to see a 6x6 model with a meter, aperture priority, and most importantly sales. Wouldn't that make waves?

[noimmunity]

great. i've been thinking about moving into MF for a while; now i can kick back a little and wait. maybe it will bring used prices down!!!

[sienarot]

And THIS is why I support Fuji!! In fact, I go out of the way not to purchase Kodak products.

[iamzip]

Well it's not just internet rumor / speculation - it's on Fuji's website, although with no more detail.

http://www.fujifilmusa.com/JSP/fuji/...8&CAT_ID=-1007

[NickTrop]

Oh Sitemistic, do - please, take not of the bold.

"Even as the company innovates in digital imaging technology, Fujifilm remains true to its heritage and to the acknowledged superior image quality delivered by professional photographic film products.

[goo0h]

Hmm... maybe the success of the Zeiss Ikon and CV have caught the notice of another, Fuji. Would be interesting if they put out an updated rangefinder of some sort. "Portable." Makes you wonder....

[kuzano]

And I don't doubt it may. While other companies have dropped out of the MF format film marketplace, Fuji has remained steadfast in continuing to provide a superior product in the market. The prices on Fuji's of all model designations has remained strong even though a lot of them are being placed up for sale. The light rangefinder 645's, the GA645Zi, The GX680, The 617, The 670's and 690's all bring strong prices no matter how many seem to show up, either on eBay or other markets.

If Fuji is expanding their film cameras, it surely comes as a statement about the return or expansion of medium format film. I would imagine that it is also a statement about Fuji's readiness for professionals who will soon tire of the disappointment with digital offerings and their return to film.

Yes Fujifilm... a progressive company taking advantage of the failings of other longstanding participants in what will end up being FUJI' marketplace.

Get a Fuji now, while you still can. My Fuji "Texas Leica" outshoots the little baby Leicas with ease.

[CK Dexter Haven]

They're introducing a PROTOTYPE, right? Something that may not actually come to production in our lifetimes, like the Sigma DP-1 and Pentax 645 Digital, both "announced" a couple of years ago....

I really hope this becomes reality. And, soon. But, what could it be? I'd love a rangefinder with fast glass that also focuses close —*but is that even possible?

[amateriat]

Well, for one thing, they'll have a breathtaking lack of competition...it would practically be their market to lose. And I'm sure they did the math on this (as well as track eBay auctions). They may be crazy, but they're not stupid.

This likely won't have me dipping a toe in the waters of MF again, but I'll be rooting for 'em all the same.


- Barrett

[jamning]

I'm very excited about this and will be looking to buy it if its a SLR Medium Format with good lenses.

[Solinar]

Originally Posted by palec

You've meant instruction manuals for them, haven't you?
I see dump of fashion studio SLRs and wedding TLRs there, that's right, but RFs are rare.

Yep, there currently seems to be a steady demand for medium format RF gear that extends beyond this forum. Let's see what this prototype from Fuji turns out to be.

I agree with Sitemistic the pros are out of the game with everyone in the business expecting a digital work flow. Pros studio photography burned through quite a bit of medium format film back in the day.

For myself, as an amateur that shoots film as well as digital, I might as well shoot with the better quality of medium format when I can.

Hence, my film gear is heavily weighted towards medium format and 6x9 in particular. I'm grateful to Fuji for over the year having supported 6x9 medium format photography - to the point of owning one of their cameras.

To digitally scan 6x9 film is time consuming and a memory hog on the PC, but if you have a darkroom enlarger, each frame prints in a few minutes. So, in effect I'm scanning onto photographic paper by using the enlarger.

[oftheherd]

Originally Posted by jamning

I'm very excited about this and will be looking to buy it if its a SLR Medium Format with good lenses.

If they are Fuji lenses, they will be good for sure.

I wonder if they are contemplating a medium format they can manufacture a digital back for? I sure also wonder what size MF. 645, 6x6, 6x7 or 6x9?

[dazedgonebye]

A modern 6x6 folder with 65mm f2.8?

[rxmd]

Why don't you guys just wait the four days or so?

[alecto]

I can't wait to see what they've come up with!

But even more importantly:

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