And all because of a new Bluetooth product registration…
Some smart detective work by nokishita has uncovered a Bluetooth registration application for a camera that appears to be alongside the Fujifilm X-T3 and X-T30 in the Fujifilm range, but isn’t either of them. The new camera, registered simply as ‘FF190002’ could be the long-rumored new X-Pro3 camera.
Actually, it would be no surprise at all for Fujifilm to launch this camera, as it’s a logical progression from all the Fujifilm cameras released so far. The key is the new 26.1-megapixel sensor, upgraded autofocus and processing system already seen in the Fujifilm X-T3 and X-T30. The X-Pro2 and X-H1 are the only two high-end Fujifilm cameras in the X-series range yet to get the new hardware, so surely it’s only a question of time?
The new model designation COULD be for a new professional X-H2 model to replace the X-H1, but we’re starting to worry that Fujifilm may have lost faith in its pro camera experiment, and that a new X-Pro 3 is more likely.
The Fujifilm X-Pro is a big rangefinder-style camera with a completely different feel to other Fujifilm X-mount cameras.
So what is the X-Pro2 and what would the X-Pro3 have?
The Fujifilm X-Pro1 is the camera that practically kickstarted Fujifilm’s interchangeable X-mount camera range. It’s styled like a traditional rangefinder camera rather than a DSLR, and has a unique hybrid optical/electronic viewfinder that offers the same bright, clear ‘direct vision’ viewing system of legendary rangefinder cameras like Leica’s (though with autofocus rather than manual rangefinder focusing).
The X-Pro2 is big, chunky, beautifully made and has the classic external exposure controls seen on other Fujifilm cameras. If you prefer a DSLR-style design, the X-T3 or smaller X-T30 will be more your thing, but the X-Pro has a big following amongst those who prefer rangefinder-style handling.
The current X-Pro2 has Fujifilm’s ‘old’ 24-megapixel X-Trans sensor, so it seems a no-brainer that any X-Pro3 will have Fujifilm’s newer 26-megapixel sensor. The 2-megapixel increase in resolution is a secondary factor – the main improvements will be to the autofocus system (more phase detection AF points, wider coverage), video and image processing performance.
We’re pretty sure the X-Pro3 is coming, and we expect the same enhancements we saw in the upgrade from the X-T2 to the X-T3, and from the X-T20 to the X-T30.
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Rod is an independent photography journalist and editor, and a long-standing Digital Camera World contributor, having previously worked as DCW's Group Reviews editor. Before that he has been technique editor on N-Photo, Head of Testing for the photography division and Camera Channel editor on TechRadar, as well as contributing to many other publications. He has been writing about photography technique, photo editing and digital cameras since they first appeared, and before that began his career writing about film photography. He has used and reviewed practically every interchangeable lens camera launched in the past 20 years, from entry-level DSLRs to medium format cameras, together with lenses, tripods, gimbals, light meters, camera bags and more. Rod has his own camera gear blog at fotovolo.com but also writes about photo-editing applications and techniques at lifeafterphotoshop.com
