From a Fuji X perspective.

Fujifilm or more familiarly the "Fuji" shorter name has been part of my modest photographic universe for many years that can be retraced by the time I was using their 35mm film cartridges and medium format film rolls. Even during my motorsport illustration period, I have the joy to own a Fujica GS645 that has served for close-action pictures, a rarity in that time and on the field.

Later on, with the introduction of the digital cameras, some of my earliest experiences were done with Fujifilm Finepix compact camera models. At that point digital photography was a kind of curiosity but most of us were already aware of its future development that will eventually provoke a profound change of our photographic habits.

Fujifilm was very dedicated to the development of digital photography (at large) right from the start and try to design products that were not only interesting but also usable with an acceptable image quality. Digital photography during its infancy was a way behind the film-analog camera models in term of their technical performances. But they, along with other ingenious camera manufacturers, have succeeded by gradually upper the level of each new generation of products and fulfilled most the requirement of the photographers of this planet. Today almost everybody concedes that the actual digital camera models are mature devices fulfilling nicely their primary tasks.

During the recent few years Fujifilm has been very productive in introducing many new models within their different series (X-E excepted) and their line-up is impressive. As the same, the Fuji X-mount lens line-up is also very diversified. Compare to the three majors of the photo equipment industry (Canon, Nikon and Sony), Fujifilm has developed a whole camera eco-system that is modern but classic in its interface. The combination of image (captor) and optical (lens) qualities has convinced many photographers to get involved with the Fuji X-system, either personally, artistically and/or professionally.

Fujifilm is passionate of photography inside/out, from their designers to their engineers and product managers to their own customers. the insider interactions are working both ways and it is reflecting with the progression of the Fujifilm products. It creates a very special global involvement and prove to be a very effective dedication both by the company employees and the product users. For its relatively small presence on the market in view of its total of sell units, Fujifilm occupy a surprisingly large part of the (Web) public arena.

We won't argue about what is the better photographic system, which is a totally unproductive discussion from the real user perspective because, at the end, the power of the image must surpass its only technical premises. It is totally understandable that others excellent photographers will prefer to adopt other very good photo equipment systems. We won't be better picture takers by simply permuting between system without really mastering their abilities as the experience has demonstrated for most of us. But one interesting thing about Fuji X system is its hardware and software interface continuity and the apparent Fujifilm interest to update them time to time if possible. It is surely a testimony of their faith about their products.

It is symptomatic of our society to be concern about the future, especially about our own personal future! So, the sustainability of a product (or a line of products) can be intimately attached to our own lifespans (that we hope almost eternal!). We need to be reassured regarding this point of view. Historically no manufacturer is immune from the change of its fortune, even the larger ones, but in that perspective, we can only observe that the green had at least survive the yellow...for the moment! My modest impression is that the Fuji X-system prove to be a reliable, versatile and progressive photographic toolbox that encourage creativity and fulfill a true passion.

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