The INSTAX cameras are a lot of fun. In any social gathering, the INSTAX camera and printer can capture great memories and you can physically keep the photos for these occasions and start a collection. There is only one issue, with most INSTAX cameras, there is no way for you to digitally store the photos. This is where INSTAX UP! app comes in.
It is not another camera app. You do not need another camera app on your smartphone, since most modern smartphones offer better than ever camera experiences today. But it still does rely on using your smartphone’s camera.
Instead of capturing the regular things like portrait or objects in street photography, it captures your INSTAX print outs. It can even recognize the type of print you are using including mini, SQUARE, and WIDE films. To ensure that the digital copy is free of all sorts of blemish, the app automatically reduces glare on the photos in challenging conditions. You can even adjust the contrast, brightness, and even colour vividness and temperature after capturing the photos. All that is then stored in your smartphone digitally so that you can reprint the image using an INSTAX printer if you want.
There are more you can do with your INSTAX photos now with the INSTAX UP! app. There is a new ‘photo in photo’ mode. You can take the print and put it against a backdrop of a scenery or other photos to be shared across social media directly from the app itself. You can even compile your favourite photos within the app. While compiling your collection, you can shake the app to mimic the INSTAX films being tossed around in a box. You can even share this collection with your friends directly from the app.
The app even allows you to choose how you want to view your INSTAX photos. You can keep it neat and organized in the ‘list view’ mode. Or, if you do not mind a little bit of chaos, there is the ‘box view’ mode that makes it look like you tossed your INSTAX films all into a box. You can also find a few ‘tips and tricks’ from the app itself in taking photos and portraits that will look good on and INSTAX films or even how to spice up your home and room with INSTAX products.
Source: FUJIFILM
Source: FUJIFILM
Source: FUJIFILM
Source: FUJIFILM
Source: FUJIFILM
Source: FUJIFILM
Source: FUJIFILM
Source: FUJIFILM
Source: FUJIFILM
The app is now available for free on Apple’s App Store and Google’s Play Store. The app, as mentioned, is compatible with any INSTAX film and photos that has been printed. Again, it is not a camera app. You can find out more about the INSTAX UP! and other products from their website.
When you think high-end cameras, you usually think full-frame sensors. In the case of a Fujifilm, full frame is not an option. You either go for the compact APS-C format, or medium format form factor.
To be fair, Fujifilm has been championing the APS-C form factor for a few reasons. While you get a smaller sensor, you are not losing that much from full-frame sensors in terms of image quality and detail. Of course, image quality and clarity are also affected by the lenses, so Fujifilm’s FUJINON lenses are made to the highest standards. The smaller sensor also allows Fujifilm to make their cameras more compact than regular full-frame sensor cameras. At the same time, APS-C sensors can naturally capture videos at super 35 format without odd crops.
In the modern era of photography as well, they make some of the world’s most advanced APS-C mirrorless cameras. With the Fujifilm X-H2, they have just redefined what a mirrorless APS-C can do. Yes, it is technically a more advanced camera even compared to the X-H2S.
The headline figure is impressive. There is 40.2-Megapixel on tap from a sensor smaller than anything you can get from Sony’s α7 series. While there are cameras out there with higher Megapixel count, you also want to keep in mind that APS-C sensors hardly fit more than 24-Megapixel. Having any more pixel on the sensors also means shrinking the pixels to sizes never seen. Then again, Sony crammed more than 50-Megapixel into their full frame sensor, something that was thought to be impossible.
Source: Fujifilm
The larger sensor comes with Fujifilm’s proven X-Processor 5, the same one found in their X-H2S flagship shooter. The X-Processor 5 is a potent processor not just for still imaging though. It is also a powerful processor for video recordings. It allows the X-H2 to fully take advantage of the higher pixel count in the form of 8K video recording at up to 30 fps. It is capable of recording at up to 4:2:2 10-bit colours at 8K resolution too for up to 160 minutes, making it an even more impressive piece of kit. All of this is done internally too, so there is no need to get an external capture device.
On top of ProRes 422 format at 10-bit colour, you can push the Fujifilm X-H2 to shoot videos at 12-bit RAW with compatible HDMI recording devices. With an Atomos and Blackmagic Design’s recorders, you can even record at Apple ProRes RAW and Blackmagic RAW formats at up to 8K and 30fps. For more dynamic range, the X-H2 can record videos at F-Log2 that offers up to 13+ stops for even more details in your videos.
In terms of shooting stills, you can get the camera to shoot from as low as ISO125 and at a maximum shutter speed of 1/180000 seconds with electronic shutters for great photos in ultra-bright conditions. With up to 20 frame per second in high-speed shutter mode, shooting action and sports under bright lights becomes a breeze with the Fujifilm X-H2.
Source: Fujifilm
If you think that this is just a regular camera for enthusiasts with no place in the studio, you might want ot think again. The X-H2 can function and capture high-resolution stills like a medium format camera with up to 160-Megapixel in its resulting image. They call is the Pixel Shift Multi-Shot function that works with the 5-axis built in stabilisation mechanism (IBIS) shifts the image sensor with high precision and shoots multiple images automatically to create a high-resolution image that can be used in a commercial context.
Fujifilm did not disclose the number of autofocus points featured on the X-H2. They claim that the new camera packs more autofocus points than before for more precise and faster autofocusing speeds in AF-S mode. In AF-C mode, the camera is supposed to ensure a more stable and accurate autofocus on the subject. At the same time, with Deep Learning technology that allows the camera to detect a wide range of subjects for photography, the camera accurately tracks different subjects to ensure that users have one less thing to worry about in their photographs.
A fast camera needs a fast storage system, especially when you are talking about taking 20 40.2-Megapixel in a single second. For that you have the option to go for a regular SDXC card with support for up to UHS-II or Video Speed Class V90 storage. You can also work with the current more widely accepted CFexpress Type B cards that allows a more seamless video workflow too at 8K resolutions.
Source: Fujifilm
Source: Fujifilm
Source: Fujifilm
Source: Fujifilm
Source: Fujifilm
Source: Fujifilm
Source: Fujifilm
The Fujifilm X-H2 is expected to be available late into September 2022. You might see it in Malaysia early in October 2022 instead though. There are no colour options here, just the regular black, as with any other high-end camera available in the market today. The camera body will set you back US$ 1,999 (MYR 9,086*) when it is available. For more information on the Fujifilm X-H2, you can refer to their website.
*Approximately based on exchange rate of US$ 1 = MYR 4.55 as of 19/09/2022 on xe.com
FUJIFILM’s cameras have been quite iconic and has been a go to for plenty of hobbyist and professionals alike. Their mirrorless APS-C flagships like the X-T2 and X-T3 proved to be some of the most popular platforms among photographers. There was a very minor issue with the X-T3 though, as modern cameras go. It does not have any sort of stabilisation built into the body of the camera itself.
Source: FUJIFILM
That is all about to change with the new X-T4 though. The new X-T4 comes with an in-body stabiliser this time bringing it in the classes of Sony’s α6000 series cameras. Do not get me wrong though, the X-T3 was a very good camera with superb image quality. Some say that the X-T3 was better than the α6000 series cameras. To a certain extent, that is true.
Enough about the older models though. This is the X-T4, the new flagship camera from FUJIFILM. It still has the 26.1-Megapixels packed into the APS-C X Trans CMOS 4 back illuminated sensor. The image processor is also still the brilliant X-Processor 4 which also shoots at high-speeds like the older X-T3.
Source: FUJIFILM
While it may not sound like FUJIFILM has fitted any more than just a stabiliser hardware, the improvements are more than you can see. The battery, for example, is now a bigger one. It now allows you to shoot about 500 shots per charge in normal mode. If you get the optional battery grip, you can bring the grand total frame captured to 1,700 shots. That could be worth a whole day of shooting.
The camera is faster too, the X-Processor 4 now has to keep up with 15 fps mechanical burst shots. It also has to respond faster with just 0.035 seconds in shutter lag. Somehow they made it quieter than the X-T3 too, 30% quieter to be exact.
Source: FUJIFILM
The FUJIFILM X-T4 also features a new “ETERNA Bleach Bypass” feature. It is technically a fancier digital filter. Except, that is is supposed to be better than just a filter. If you work with film cameras, you might know what Bleach Bypass is. It basically produces photos with low colour saturation but super high contrast; very unique and artistic.
You get more control on your photos now too. Your highlight and shadow tone adjustments can be done in halves instead of single stops. You even get to choose your priority for white balancing as well. To be fair, I do a fair bit of white balancing manually whenever I get the chance to.
Source: FUJIFILM
Of course you still get the brilliant EVF and vari-angle display for a more versatile shoot positioning. The EVF now features an eyecup with locking mechanisms though so you can keep using it without having to worry about misplacing the eye cup.
We have to talk about the in-body stabilisation for a short bit though. It is not the usual spring loaded stabiliser that we are used to. Instead, it is a magnetic stabiliser which also means that the whole mechanism is floating. The benefits are more than just sounding cool though. It takes up less space and therefore allows FUJIFILM to fit the same sensor in near identical body shape and size.
Source: FUJIFILM
Source: FUJIFILM
Source: FUJIFILM
Source: FUJIFILM
Source: FUJIFILM
Source: FUJIFILM
Source: FUJIFILM
Source: FUJIFILM
Source: FUJIFILM
Source: FUJIFILM
Source: FUJIFILM
The result is added stability in your photos. If you have built-in stabilisers in your lenses, the result is going to be even better. Super steady photos produce even better and clearer details; who would not want that? The improved stability also helps with videos.
You can now shoot Full HD videos at 240fps. That also means you can create super slow-motion videos. Beyond that, you may not need to bring your dolly or passive stabiliser out anymore to record videos thanks to the in-body stabilisation. Yes, it shoots at 4K 60fps too. Wedding videographers and film makers might really want to take advantage of this. Film makers will also now rejoice with an improved F-Log function to shoot low saturation, high contrast videos for better detailing.
Source: FUJIFILM
Source: FUJIFILM
Source: FUJIFILM
Source: FUJIFILM
Source: FUJIFILM
Source: FUJIFILM
Source: FUJIFILM
Source: FUJIFILM
Source: FUJIFILM
Source: FUJIFILM
Source: FUJIFILM
Source: FUJIFILM
Source: FUJIFILM
Source: FUJIFILM
Source: FUJIFILM
Source: FUJIFILM
Source: FUJIFILM
Source: FUJIFILM
Source: FUJIFILM
Source: FUJIFILM
Source: FUJIFILM
Source: FUJIFILM
Source: FUJIFILM
Source: FUJIFILM
Source: FUJIFILM
Source: FUJIFILM
The FUJIFILM X-T4 should be available soon. At least that is what is being reported else where. We can expect the X-T4 to arrive in Malaysia before Q2 2020 ends. The X-T4 (body only) is reported to start from US$ 1,700 (MYR 7,183) though, which is more expensive than the X-T3 at launch. Still, it is a flagship camera.
