Fujifilm just announced a pair of new cameras at the company's X Summit Sydney event. There's the medium format GFX100S II, which is frankly out of my range of interest (and my budget). The more common of the two is the X-T50, which follows – but not a replacement for the X-T30 II, which will remain in the Fujifilm lineup going forward.
The X-T50 is a mix of new and old technologies from the camera maker. Let's start with the new one. The body has a fresh, more rounded shape that's unlike anything else in the X-Series line, and there's a film simulation dial right at the top, a first for any Fujifilm camera. You have several preset movie simulations to choose from and can choose your own for the three customizable slots – even if you can't set them to custom movie recipes. Still, the dial shows just how much of a core part of Fujifilm's appeal these simulations have become over the years.
The X-T50 features the same 40-megapixel sensor as the X-T5 and in autofocus compared to the X-T30 II. And it also benefits from a 7-stop built-in image stabilization system; the much cheaper X-T30 II has no IBIS at all. Continuous shooting is limited to 8fps with the mechanical shutter, while the X-T5 and X-H2 can both reach 15fps. For storage, there is a single UHS-II SD card slot. Video performance has also been significantly improved:
But this camera still features some older hardware. On the one hand, you're stuck with the latest generation battery that isn't as durable. And unfortunately, the electronic viewfinder is also unchanged from the X-T30 II. You at least get the same 3-inch, 1.84 million-dot rear LCD with two-way tilt as on the X-T5.
The X-T50 is in a curious situation when it comes to pricing. If you buy the body alone, it costs $1,399.99, which is $500 more than the X-T30 II. But again, Fujifilm doesn't consider this a replacement for this camera. It gets its own unique place in the lineup, which now looks like this:
Some of the improvements in moving to the X-T5 include water resistance, a nicer EVF, dual SD slots, better continuous shooting performance, and a newer battery with higher endurance.
Fujifilm's kit lens also gets a notable overhaul. The company's popular 18-55mm glass is replaced with a new, lighter 16-50mm f/2.8 – 4.8 lens, now water resistant. (The X-T50 itself has no official water resistance.) Fujifilm believes this lens resolves that 40MP sensor better compared to the older 18-55mm. It's also a constant length, so all the zooming now happens internally without the lens needing to extend. Sold alone, the new 16-50mm lens costs $699. The X-T50 combo kit costs $1,799.99, so you're only paying $400 for the lens in this scenario.