Pure speculations: The G4433 - the digital exchangable lens folder

Do you remember this?

That is the GS645, Fuji's pocketable 6x4.5cm rangefinder from the mid 80s. Folding rangefinders are usually single lens cameras. The lenses are usually neither tele nor wide angle designs, but sits at the same distance from the film as their focal length. That way the lenses can be kept very small even if they are of the best possible quality, much like large format lenses. Up until now, digital folders and interchangeable folders have been scarce. It is very hard to create a rangefinder system that is reliable with different lenses. Every lens needs its own cam and they also need different infinity stops.

However, now we have EVF and phase detection pixels on digital sensors. We neither need a proper rangefinder nor a big mirror flapping around to focus. The implications are very interesting. One now could build a folder with swappable lenses or even with an extending telescopic tube like on pocket cameras or the ga645 cameras, only with a mount at the end where one could attach very light and small lenses. And we still could focus them just as well as with an x-t1 or x-e2.

The current rumours says Fujis next camera system will be a digital one with a large 50Mp sensor. That fits perfectly with the excellent dwarfed medium format sensor of the Pentax 645Z. (Dont worry, with its 44x33mm it's still almost twice the size of a full small frame sensor.  Put an xtrans filter on it and put it in a ga- or gs645 package and it will be an excellent sony a7 killer.

Ofcourse I could be totally wrong or the Fuji MF rumour could be nothing but a rumour, but a G4433 fits the specs well and it would be very very Fujiesque.

Resurrecting peel apart pack film

The facts

When polaroid went out of business, most of the options for peel apart pack film shooters was lost,. Among them the 665, the last pos+neg pack film. The only remaining producer was Fujifilm with colour and b&w positive only pack film. The emulsions were nothing but amazing with vivid colours and deep blacks in less than a minute of shooting.

Nevertheless, in the years since, sales were diverted to instax and one after another, they discontinued every emulsion and every size of pack film and as of this week, the production is stopped. Does this mean the era of peel apart pack film is over for ever?

Former approaches

When fp-3000b, the ultrafast b&w was discontinued the other year, approaches was made to buy the machinery to resume production. They were met with zero interest from Fuji. With all production ended they may not need their machines anymore and that may or may not change their minds. But we do not know whether they are useful at all without the Fuji emulsions. It could even be that they are broken and beyond affordable repair and that is why the production stopped.

Even if the machines work, Fujifilm may not want to sell them. Most of their photography business, instax in particular but digital as well and even some other branches like cosmetics rely heavily on Fujis know how in film production. Let's face it, there is no way they will ever let a third party know what their emulsions are made of and the same goes for coating if they have secrets to protect in that area as well. That is the core of their business.

What can be done

There is still a chance that some (or all) of the machinery could be sold without risking any trade secrets. Maybe they could be cleaned and modified to protect them. I do not know, but if someone want to give it a try, they have my support and that of many others. 

A word of advice though. Approach Fujifilm with both passion for the film and with great respect for both their right to protect their business and for their decision to discontinue peel apart pack film. They know they have ended an era and they did not do i lightly.