10 Years of Fujifilm X Mount
10 Years of Fujifilm X Mount
10 Years of Fujifilm X Mount - A Retrospect
Fujifilm’s latest social media campaign, #10YearsOfXmount, and the latest video from DP Review have prompted me to chime in with a quick retrospective celebrating Fujifilm's 10th anniversary with the Fujifilm X Mount.
After all, I was there from the beginning when I took a leap of faith and ordered the Fujifilm X-Pro1. But little did I know how this camera was about to change my priorities when it comes to camera gear, and I certainly could not have predicted that ten years later I would be running this camera/lens review site and travel blog, documenting my travels to 50 countries in 50 months using the Fujifilm X Series.
The Fujifilm X-Pro1 released in 2012. My first Fujifilm camera.
The Fujifilm X-Pro1 - The Start of It All
As mentioned above, it was a leap of faith for many of us to jump at the chance to pick up an X-Pro1 in early 2012. It was an entirely new system launched with only three lenses, and no one knew if it would take off.
Based loosely on the excellent sample images and the lure of the retro-styled camera, it was enough to sway me over. The three lenses at the launch were the XF 18mm f/2 R, XF 35mm f/1.4 R, and XF 60mm f/2.4 R Macro.
I started out with the XF 35mm f/1.4 R for the first couple of years and had a brief encounter with an X100S for a few months before I swapped this for an XF 23mm f/1.4 R when it became available.
Here is an excellent video from DP Review where Chris and Jordan take a look at the X-Pro1 ten years later. Read on below for my take and my continued journey with the Fujifilm X Series.
My sentiments toward the X-Pro1 are very similar to those expressed by Chris Nichols in the video above. Initially, I wanted to return my X-Pro1 because it arrived faulty.
Slowly but surely, through several firmware upgrades, it won me over, and although my X-Pro1 is aging and the electronics are beginning to show some erratic behavior, I still take it out from time to time.
You can read more about my X-Pro1 journey here:
My Fujifilm X-Pro2 has traveled far and wide and is my most used Fujifilm X mount camera to date
Fujifilm X-Pro2. My Most Used X-Mount Camera
By a healthy margin, the Fujifilm X-Pro2 has been my most-used camera and the one that has influenced my decision to stay in the Fuji camp for as long as I have. For over five years I used the X-Pro2 for corporate gigs, events, sports, weddings, portrait sessions, and landscape photography.
But the real reason I will never forget this camera when I am old and grey (I’m currently merely greying) is that it accompanied me on our 5050 travel project, where we traveled to 50 countries over 50 months after turning 50.
I did use an X-T1 for the first few months of travel but upgraded when I walked by a photography store in Paris that, to my surprise, had an X-Pro2 on display in the spring of 2016.
The X-Pro2 handled our extensive journey without a hitch. I should mention that my first X-Pro2 was stolen in Rome, but I replaced it shortly after with another X-Pro2.
Here is a link to my X-Pro2 review/journey.
The Fujifilm X-T4
The X-T and X-H Series
It would be a mistake not to mention the X-T and X-H series. While I only had the X-T1 for a few months and have always gravitated toward the X-Pro line, the X-T cameras could be the reason the X Series has survived for ten years.
The X-T1 was the first SLR-style body in the X Series, and later on, the X-T2, X-T3, and X-T4 have become bestsellers for Fujifilm. Especially photographers who enjoy shooting with larger lenses have the option to add a grip, and video shooters have enjoyed the addition of IBIS in-body image stabilization) in the latest X-T4.
Personally, I had the Fujifilm X-H1 for about a year and a half and used it mainly for corporate gigs, video projects, and travel. Rumblings on the interweb suggest we will see a new X-H2 in 2022.
The Fujifilm X-Pro3. My current Fujifilm X Mount “Go-To” camera.
Fujifilm X-Pro3 - My Current “Go-To” Camera
As much as I have enjoyed my X-Pro2 over the years, the Fujifilm X-Pro3 is an improvement in many ways. I will not get into all the details in this retrospective, but I will say it is a more refined, up-to-date camera with the latest processor, sensor, and choice of film simulations.
For a more detailed look at the X-Pro3, check my review:
One of the very first, if not the first, frame I shot with my Fujifilm X-Pro1. It happens to be a photo of my dad’s old Zeiss Ikon Ikoflex which I still have a use to this day.
Wrapping Up Ten Years and Looking Ahead
There are, of course, many other X-mount cameras, and I realize this retrospective has been much about the X-Pro cameras, which have been a favorite of mine.
There are many other camera brands out there, and, in truth, I would not mind using them and could probably adjust easily after a while. This past summer I dabbled with a few full-frame options, but in the end, I still have my feet planted in the Fuji APS-C camp when it comes to digital photography.
There is something special, a tactile feeling, when I use the X-Pro cameras that always reins me in. Combine this with the film-like experience from Fujifilm’s film simulations, and it is an excellent combination that has worked well for me for ten years now. I will never rule out other brands, and I also enjoy my Canon, Nikon, and Zeiss film cameras.
This photo was made on January 9th, 2022, on my latest street photography outing with the Fujifilm X-Pro3.
I am a stickler for the value proposition when it comes to gear, and in my opinion, prices for top-end gear are getting out of hand and out of reach for many photographers.
With Fujifilm X-mount cameras, you can usually strike a good balance between size, price, and performance. I think this is the real key to their success, and that we can celebrate the 10th anniversary of the Fujifilm X-mount this month.
Looking into my crystal ball, it is all pretty foggy these days. Shipping delays and supply chain issues seem to be the new normal, and the chip shortage will affect how often and when we will see new product announcements. Fujifilm is not exempt from this.
Typically, we would have seen new announcements at the beginning of the year, but we will have to wait for more news, as Fujifilm has announced its next X Summit event for May.
Until then, the days are getting longer, at least in the Northern Hemisphere, and we have plenty of cameras and lenses to choose from as it is.
Happy Shooting :)
Cheers,
Morten
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