- Fujifilmโs latest achievement involves distilling most of the film photography experience into its new X Half digital camera.
- From a frame advance lever, film canister window-inspired secondary LCD screen, and optical viewfinder, to the 13 โFilm Simulations,โ the X Half is a retro dream.
- The Fujifilm X Half is now available to pre-order in Australia for $1,349.
The photography world has long attempted to marry the analogue joys of film with all the 21st-century conveniences of digital (I personally recall backing the Holga Digitalโs Kickstarter a decade ago).
While many have successfully recreated the tactile experience, and the power of filters/editing can essentially deliver 90% of the visual results, none have truly come close to the real McCoy. Until now.
RELATED: Fujifilmโs GFX100RF Solves Large Format Photographyโs Biggest Problems
In exciting news for the creative, the nostalgic, and yes, weekend market posers, Fujifilm has introduced the new X Half compact digital camera, which โโ contrary to its name โโ actually functions as two cameras in one with a 32mm F2.8 (35mm equivalent) prime lens.
A delightful nod to half-frame cameras with a rear LCD monitor in line with the back-illuminated sensorโs orientation, the X Half is ideal for both vertical shooting and video recording at a 3:4 aspect ratio. The โ2-in-1โ feature allows you to easily combine two images or videos into a single composition by winding the charming frame advance lever.
What caught our eye is the secondary touch-sensitive LCD that resembles the film canister window of old school cameras.
Thereโs also an optical viewfinder along with Fujifilmโs popular โFilm Simulationsโ and โGrain Effect,โ which faithfully reproduces the unique grain texture of film snapshots; filters such as light leak, halation, even expired film stock; and a throwback date stamp option you can toggle.
The Fujifilm X Halfโs โFilm Camera Modeโ takes it even further nostalgic experience of film photography: By selecting one of the 13 film simulations and the number of shots at the start, you cannot review images until all shots are taken. Youโll even have to wind up the frame advance lever on the cameraโs top plate after each shot to enable the next shutter release.
RELATED: Turn Your iPhone Into A Leica With This $500 Grip
After that, the image data is transferred to the new dedicated X Half app to digitally develop, view, edit, and share the flicks you have taken.
The sole downside (if you can even really qualify it as such) is the Fujifilm X Halfโs rather basic tech spec. Its vertical-format 1-inch sensor only captures JPEGs up to 18MP, while video is apparently limited to vertical Full HD.
Still, itโs a whole lot of camera in a sexy lightweight (240g with battery and SD card, to be exact) package. And although the $1,349 price tag might sound steep, consider all the cash youโd save from not having to continuously buy film or get it developed across the cameraโs lifetime.
Pre-order yours below.
