Key Takeaways
1. The Fujifilm X-Half is set for a 2025 release, with new leaks highlighting its lens features and design.
2. A recent Ricoh patent reveals four lens designs likely aimed at the upcoming Ricoh GR IV compact camera, featuring improved aperture specifications.
3. The patent includes lenses with apertures around f/2.8 or lower, with one achieving f/2.39, indicating enhanced light-gathering capabilities.
4. The Fujifilm X-Half will feature a 10.5 mm lens with a maximum aperture of f/2.8, an automatic aperture function, and a built-in flash.
5. The camera design includes a single exposure compensation dial and an unclear control lever/button, suggesting a unique user interface.
The Fujifilm X-Half has made its way into the public eye ahead of its anticipated 2025 debut, with fresh leaks shedding light on the expected lens features of this upcoming compact camera. In addition to the latest image leak showcasing the camera’s logo, which raises more questions about this unusual device, a new patent may also provide insights into the competition that Fujifilm faces in the compact camera market.
Patent Revelations
Among the most intriguing information comes from a forum user named Mistral75 on Pentax Forums. They shared news about a recently published patent from Ricoh for a lens design that might be associated with the forthcoming Ricoh GR IV compact camera.
The new lens patent outlines four distinct lens designs, all of which have an image circle and back focus that appear to match what one would expect from an APS-C compact camera. This suggests that these lenses are likely aimed for the GR IV or a similar model. All four lenses are in a similar range to the existing 18.5 mm lens found on the Ricoh GR III (currently priced at $1,396.95 on Amazon), and all three feature an aperture of around f/2.8 or lower, with one lens achieving f/2.39—making it half an EV stop brighter than the current f/2.8 lens available on the GR III.
Detailed Specifications
The patent application lists eight numerical examples, all featuring a radius of 14.13mm for the image circle and a notably short back focus of 0.7mm. This implies that these lenses are designed for APS-C compact cameras with integrated lenses, specifically pointing towards a Ricoh GR.
– Examples 1 to 3 and 8: 18.35mm f/2.85 to f/2.89 lenses
– Example 4: 18.35mm f/2.39 lens
– Example 5: 15.7mm f/2.88 lens
– Example 6: 17mm f/2.78 lens
– Example 7: 16.41mm f/2.79 lens
Earlier reports indicated that a Ricoh ambassador hinted that the GR IV could arrive as early as late 2025 or early 2026, with other leaks suggesting a new sensor and lens pairing. This recent patent could lend further credence to those claims, as it seems to have been under development for nearly two years.
More Compact Camera Updates
Shifting focus to the 1-inch sensor category, a new image has surfaced showing the Fujifilm X-Half compact camera in full detail ahead of its expected release in late May. This image, shared by Fuji Rumors, displays the camera without any censorship, confirming several details, including its name, which is simply Xhalf, rather than the previously thought X-Half.
The image also reaffirms earlier leaked lens specifications, indicating a 10.5 mm lens with a maximum aperture of f/2.8. Additionally, it appears that the lens includes an automatic aperture function integrated into the aperture control ring. The photo reveals that there will be a built-in diffuse flash on the camera’s front, along with a hot shoe at the top for added accessories. Once again, the only control dial atop the Xhalf is the exposure compensation dial, while the function of the peculiar lever or button where the film advance lever would traditionally be on a film camera remains unclear.
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