Fuji X Half – A Few thoughts about a camera I’ve not even touched

I must be honest, and say I had talked myself out of publishing this post – I just didn’t know how much value it had alongside all of the other noise that was out there when this camera launched. It was only when David Hume got in touch to say he had tried one and would I like to publish something did I rethink. As you might have seen, I published David’s thoughts earlier today here, so decided I would share my thoughts to go alongside his. I hadn’t read his post before writing mine, and haven’t changed any of my words since, so I thought this might be interesting to share given his hands on experience and, well, my not-so-hands-on experience…

I should also say, I don’t really like Fuji digital cameras. I have tried loads of them, and just don’t get along with them. I love the theory, but in practice I we just don’t seem to be compatible. Though, I have tried to put those personal experiences to one side for the benefit of what I have written below.

So, onto the thoughts I very nearly shared on the day of the launch:

The Fuji X half – my gut reactions

I have been intrigued by the rumours about this camera since they first appeared, and now it’s released, I must admit I remain intrigued. Though, I must more specifically admit to a large chunk of cognitive dissonance. The fact is – somewhat ironically I suppose for a camera called ‘half’ – I am half love the idea of it, whilst the other half of me is rolling my eyes in disbelief at such a load of gimmicky weirdness. Let me give you some of my gut reactions to this release now we have all the details as to how the thing actually works.

First, I’m not going to repeat the news. If you haven’t already read about this camera, it would be worth having a look at the early impressions on DPReview here. The following is my jumble of both negative and positive responses to what I have read there.

Half frame…?

The Fuji X Half isn’t half frame. The closest thing in digital to half frame is APS-c. This camera isn’t APS-c, it has a 1 inch sensor which is a lot smaller than half frame. It’s called Half simply because like a half frame film camera it has a vertically oriented viewfinder and screen on the back with a vertically oriented sensor inside.

Of course, just because this hasn’t been done before doesn’t mean it shouldn’t be done now. Though, in a world where so many people use smartphones to take photos (and video) vertically, it’s perhaps surprising that more digital cameras with vertical sensors don’t exist… maybe… or is it just a weird idea when there is absolutely no reason or need at all to orient the sensor that way round when, like smartphones, cameras can be turned sideways. And without the restrictions that a roll of film imposes on the design, conceptually it just feels like it trespasses into being a gimmick to me.

It’s “different”

I don’t really like word different. It reminds me of conversations I had had with people where they have used the word as a way to define something they don’t really understand. “Oh yes, that’s, erm… different” – it makes me wince a little when people say that.

The Fuji X half is different though. Yes there are little influences maybe – it looks like a film camera of some sort. It has a film advance lever a little like the Epson RD-1. There’s also the fact that in certain modes it won’t show you an image on the screen on the back – but it’s not the first digital camera that either doesn’t have a screen or encourages you not to review your images instantly in some way. But really, there is nothing else at all out there that works like this camera. And just like when Fuji brought out the X-Pro 3 and I commended them for delivering a unique shooting experience, I feel the same here. It might not be for everyone, but in a world where the most common cameras are still do-everything camera-shaped cameras with every whizzy feature under the sun, cameras like this that are “different” are interesting to me.

A digital film camera – the fun bits

Fuji have been playing at making cameras that encroach into film photography in some way for a long while. If it’s not in how they look, it’s in the various film emulations that they build into the cameras. I’ve said my bit about film emulations before – they’re not really for me. I shoot RAW because I like to process my digital photos on the computer after.

With that said, this new camera feels like it takes the film emulation idea to another level. It only shoots jpg, which in itself encourages embracing in-camera processing. It also has an interface that displays the film type in a little “window” as if there’s a film in the camera. As such, it very much feels like when shooting it, you’re supposed to pick a film look/emulation and embrace the results it brings.

Then there’s the fact that you can put it into a film mode where you have to select the amount of photos you want to shoot, with the options being 35, 54 and 72. If you do so, the camera locks you into that, doesn’t let you see the photos on the back of the camera, and won’t let you see the complete set until they are “developed” after you have finished them. You also can’t change the film, mid-roll, so to speak.

Then there’s the diptychs it allows you to make as people so often do with “real” half frame film cameras. And the option for things like light leaks, and sprocket holes and a film-camera-like date stamp etc. There’s just quite a lot of film-like fun to be had here without the worry of the cost of film. I think given the opportunity to shoot one, I would enjoy playing with it. It is a bit gimmicky, but gimmicky can be fun.

Just shoot a bloody roll of film

With that said, this is where the cognitive dissonance really kicks in for me. Really, if I wanted any of that stuff; film look out of camera, diptychs, sprocket holes etc… would I really chose a camera that fakes it, or would I just pick up a bloody film camera and shoot a roll of the real stuff. It’s this reality that makes me feel like this camera would have novelty value for someone like me, but that the novelty would probably wear thin pretty quickly. Though, of course, for some who don’t have – or even wish to have a film camera – this might be a halfway house that suits them. And like I said when I wrote this piece for DPR a few years back, “…there is no one true path! In fact, one of the most beautiful things about photography is in the wealth of choices it provides us with.” So why shouldn’t some people enjoy a totally digital, yes highly film-inspired experience…?

The price

I don’t like talking about price on this website, especially in an opinionated way about how I think the price of a camera (or whatever) relates to its actual value. One person’s good value is another person’s out of financial reach. It is subjective. Becuase of the nature of this post, I am going to bend my rule and share my highly subjective thoughts on the price. For me, the Fuji X half seems like it would feel like a toy to me; something designed for novelty and fun. If it were cheaper, I could see it appealing to me more. As it is, it’s out of reach for me… I would like to have a play with one someday though!

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