Description and Specifications

Riffing on the half-frame concept from the film world, the X half features an appropriately sleek 1″ sensor, which is vertically oriented, that produces 18MP 3:4 stills and videos. This sensor works alongside the Film Simulation modes to produce filmic and expressive images and is benefitted by a +/-3 EV exposure compensation dial and manual exposure control settings that are adjustable via the lens’s aperture ring and from the rear touchscreen.

Another nod to the film world, the X half can be configured to record in Film Camera Mode: a shooting style that requires you to choose one specific Film Simulation setting and a 36, 54, or 72-shot “roll” of film, with the results only visible after you’ve finished the roll and digitally “developed” your shots using the FUJIFILM app or transferred the files to your computer. Also, after finishing your roll, the camera will automatically produce an additional contact sheet image, fit with film strip borders, to review all of your shots at a glance.

When working in this mode, the rear LCD will only display a frame counter, an AF/MF toggle, an option to imprint a timestamp onto the images (a la a point-and-shoot film camera), and a zone focusing scale if working with manual focus—image previews and reviews are disabled. You’ll need to use the built-in Frame Advance Lever to advance frames, and this shooting method requires you to frame your compositions solely using the optical window viewfinder and use either autofocus with no confirmation or zone focus manually.

A common method of sharing half-frame film photos is to show two sequential frames next to each other as a diptych; since two half frames comprise a single full frame, this method makes it easier for film trimming, printing, and sharing. Mimicking this, the X half has a 2-in-1 function to automatically create in-camera diptychs from two sequential exposures—either photo or video. After shooting the first frame, use the Frame Advance Lever to activate this mode and then the second subsequent frame will form the finished diptych, resulting in a single file. Custom settings allow you to adjust the background color, border width, and border style of the diptych composition.

While clearly paying homage to a film photography camera, this camera can also be used to record video that’s perfectly formatted for sharing straight to social media, thanks to its vertical orientation and small file size. The unique sensor records 1080 x 1440 at 24 fps, there are dedicated slow-motion settings up to 200%, and there’s a built-in stereo mic on top of the camera.