According to an interview at CP+ conducted with Focus Numerique (in French), Fujifilm are waiting until the release of the X-T2 to add 4K video – but it IS coming.
Here’s the quote from Fujifilm’s Shugo Kiryu and Shusuke Kozaki (Google Translated) – thanks to Pierre for the heads-up:
“We feel we have to distinguish each specificity of our devices. Each of our cameras has a character and somehow addresses a particular type of photographers for a type of use. The devices of the X-Pro range are primarily cameras. We asked users of the X-Pro 1 if they used it for video and 80% of them said no. On the other hand, of course, you can make high quality videos FHD with the X-Pro 2. But according to our studies users do not expect the 4K feature on the X-Pro 2. Technically, we could add this feature with a firmware update but we do not plan to do so in the future. We will integrate the 4K video in the next models of the T series.”
It’s quite unusual to see Fuji make a statement like this in an interview, because of course anyone remotely interested in the X-Pro 2 for video will now cancel their pre-orders. Why get the X-Pro 2 with 1080p now that the X-T2 with 4K is on the horizon?
I’d also like to comment on Fuji’s decision to cripple the X-Pro 2’s video capabilities based on asking their existing stills customers what they want…
If you’re trying to get to customers you don’t have yet, what is the logic in asking your existing customers what they want?
The existing Fuji customers will buy the X Pro 2 anyway. There’s a whole market out there that Fuji seem to be completely unaware of.
It’s a bit like if Canon just asked their stills customers what they wanted – another stills camera. They would never have developed Cinema EOS.
I’m expecting the X-T2 to be released later this year, no later than Photokina in September. Of course all this is shiny and nice – but will it be a unique proposition for video versus the Sony A6300 and forthcoming Panasonic GH5?
On the one-hand yes.
The very good EVF on the X-T1 can only get better with the X-T2. Fantastically large and very high resolution panel.
Of course then there are Fuji’s lenses – they’re very appealing, with a very individual look – although so few of them have stabilisation, the 18-55mm F2.8-4.0 with OIS works very well.
Then there’s the film simulation mode – I’d like to see Fuji’s grain simulation add a more filmic texture to video in 4K, just as is the case with their JPEGs. And I wouldn’t mind an MJPEG codec like the 1D C if it meant giving the camera ALL-I compression rather than the more common H.264.
On the other hand, the Panasonic GH5 is sure to have more features and the Sony A6300 will come out sooner for less money and already has pretty much the same sensor as the X-Pro 2 and what I am expecting to see in the X-T2. What’s more it has S-LOG and can make use of Canon IS and AF via adapters, something the Fuji cameras don’t do yet. The A6300 also has a unique selling point in that the AF system is very much optimised for video.
For me the A6300 makes a much more logical choice on paper but lets see how they compare on EOSHD later in 2016.
Clearly Fuji has the X Pro line in mind for the photographer who doesn’t care about video and the X-T range is for those that do.
If only a little bit.
