Rumors that Fujifilm is making an all-new camera with a new kind of sensor, tipped for 2025, have many fans excited. Details are sparse at best, and initial speculation is based on what makes the most sense according to Fujifilm’s current camera lineup, with the most plausible being that it ends up on a digital compact camera with a 1-inch sensor.
That logic would pit the future Fujifilm camera against the likes of the Sony RX100 VII, one of our favorite premium compact cameras. However, a surprising development has recently occurred that suggests that this new sensor could in fact be a unique vertical sensor rather than being positioned horizontally as with virtually every digital camera.
So you would hold this camera horizontally – which is the easiest way to hold a camera – and still take vertical photos and videos, like the natural way on your phone. In analog terms, this is the approach to half-frame, the format of the recent Pentax 17: it uses 35mm film, but takes two half-size vertical photos in the space of each individual frame on the film roll.
The difference here is that Fujifilm’s rumored camera is not analog, but supposedly digital. Is a digital half-frame camera a smart idea or a gimmick?
Is a digital ‘half-frame’ compact camera a gimmick?
If anyone can make a digital compact camera with a vertical sensor, presumably aimed at content creators, it’s Fujifilm. Fujifilm is a trending camera brand; the X100VI is one of the most popular and sought after cameras in recent history. Analogue photography is also popular, with the half-frame Pentax 17 proving to be one of this year’s hits. So bringing the two design concepts together into one: a retro digital compact with social-friendly vertical photos and videos – it should make sense.
Am I convinced? Yes and no. Let’s just say the rumor is true. On the one hand, I think a ‘half-frame’ digital compact will be an easy sell in 2024, especially with Fujifilm’s retro looks. But what would it be like to actually take photos and videos with this camera?
Let’s be clear: you can easily rotate a regular digital camera 90 degrees to record in vertical format and rotate those video clips with a video editor. Or you can sacrifice video resolution by cropping your horizontal videos to create a vertical video. These steps are tricky, though, and a camera optimized for vertical shooting makes a lot of sense in 2024 and beyond.
Most people view short video content and photos vertically on their phones, so why not make capturing in that format as easy as possible? Sure, shooting half-frame is counterintuitive at first. For vertical video, however, you get the full resolution of the sensor, rather than having to crop to a lower resolution, and you don’t have to spend unnecessary time editing. Since it is a dedicated camera, you also get a superior user experience over using your phone.
Half-frame makes even more sense for analog photography, where your photos are permanently exposed on a roll of film. For example, I like to think creatively in pairs, which is an extra layer of image management, and you double the number of shots on a film roll. In a sense, you don’t get the same practical benefits with digital and a memory card that can hold thousands of photos. As a side note, I wouldn’t be the only one hoping that Fujifilm follows in Pentax’s footsteps and develops an analog camera, especially since it is one of the leading producers of photographic film.
I see that a digital half-frame compact camera appeals to many people and is ridiculed by others. Personally, I’m all for brands trying new things and I hope this rumor turns out to be true. If the camera becomes a reality, it will certainly spark discussion and give creators a unique shooting experience to wrap their heads around.