The Fujifilm X-Pro 4 Can’t be “Just Another Camera”

Jul 26

When I got my Fujifilm X-Pro 3 a couple of years ago, it was immediately clear to me that it was a camera unlike anything I’d used before. At the time, I had not yet ventured into the world of film, so it was my first real experience with a tool designed solely for capturing still images.

No boasts about hybrid video capabilities, and no gimmicks. Just a camera.

To this day, it’s the best digital camera I’ve ever owned. I have faster autofocus and more resolution on my T5, but it’s never been the same feeling.

The “Pro” difference isn’t very “Pro” at all (at least for me)

The days when I reach for the X-Pro 3 usually end up being my favorites.

They’re days I know I’ll enjoy the process of taking photos. Where I don't need the latest and greatest technology. Days when I’ll take it a little slower, and be a little more present.

It's a camera that evokes some of the same feelings as film photography. That is, if you’re like me and a film photo feels like a deliberate act–the process of capturing an image as important as the final result.

Finding a bit of this spirit in a digital camera is refreshing. It feels like a bridge between two worlds that gives me everything I need and nothing that I don’t.

As conveniently digital as it is refreshingly tactile.

Fujifilm X-Pro 4 specifications… Do they really matter?

I’ve often found myself theorizing about the upcoming X-Pro 4, speculating on new features and technological advancements alongside other Fuji enthusiasts in forum threads and comment sections.

But after I published this recent video breaking down my wishlist features, I sparked a number of conversations with viewers and fellow photographers which made me realize something crucial…

We don't need another camera trying to be everything to everyone.

The Pro line has always felt as special to Fujifilm as it does to us.

But at the end of the day, there will be pressure to put bigger numbers in the marketing materials, and target as wide an audience as possible. Fuji is, despite all the rabidity of its fans (and considerable marketing efforts), a company driven by profit and financial goals.

Long story short, I don’t know what to expect from this camera beyond what’s been rumored as the ‘likely’ specifications a potential new addition to the line could carry. I touch on those numbers in this blog if you’re interested.

Where do we go from here?

Though I’m well aware that my reach and influence are not enough to truly make a difference in the final decisions Fuji will have already made by now, I’m inspired by all the conversations I’ve had lately about this camera.

Hearing about why it’s so special to the people I’ve talked to, and having my own sentimentality echoed by so many other photography lovers. No one, anecdotally at least, seems to be sprinting for their credit cards over megapixels and autofocus specs. Not for this camera or this line.

I hope we don’t see the Fujifilm X-Pro 4 become another hybrid camera. And to be clear, I’m not necessarily asking for fewer features, or for the brand to intentionally make it worse.

I just hope that the upgrades that are made drive the camera, and the entire line, forward while reinforcing what already makes it so special.

The Pro 3 feels like a love letter to the art of photography. Many people seem to feel it reminds them of why we all fell in love with this craft in the first place. Here’s hoping the X-Pro 4 maintains that legacy and has a few surprises in store for us beyond those simple tech updates we all expect to see.