New FujiFilm X-Pro1 mirrorless

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TrueIndigo

Well-known member
Just saw this info on Dpreview. An APS-C Fuji-designed sensor (with "random" pattern pixels) with a new X mount (hopefully, with adapters for your favourite old lenses in the near future since this has a short flange distance) and shooting 1080p and 720p video at 24 fps.
 
I like Fuji, unlike the other guys they are really up to new innovations when it comes to sensor design. This sensor is very interesting in many ways. No AA filter needed thus improved resolution. Plus it's approach for improved dynamic range - unique!
I'm really looking forward what this will mean for video mode, altough I'm afraid Fuji doesn't give too much attention to it in general.
 
Yes, no dedicated video record button (not the end of the world, and this is a stills camera), no detail about H.264 video datarate (though clip duration is stated as 29 minutes). Later in the article 30 fps is stated instead of 24 fps video speed, so it's still a bit fuzzy, but got to admire the unique sensor technology! Their pre-production camera included a "release without lens" menu option and the ability to manually enter lens focal lengths, which bodes well for support of other adapters for manual lenses.
 
Neat, can't wait to read more about their filter pattern. Apparently instead of a 2x2 design, it's a 6x6 design and every row/column has RGB in it.
 
No mic input or IS on this "pro"cam: epic fail. Why don't they call it a scenery-tripod-stills camera. At least it has some sort of 24p.
 
DrDave said:
No mic input or IS on this "pro"cam: epic fail. Why don't they call it a scenery-tripod-stills camera. At least it has some sort of 24p.
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Regardless of its usefulness as a video camera, which I don't think Fujifilm cares about, the sensor design could be revolutionary for other Digital Cinema cameras. If, in fact, the 6x6 design adds a randomness to capturing light and color in a way that is more like film, and also eliminates the need for an OLPF, that could be huge.
 
They aren't random to me, they are a 6x6 grid instead of 2x2. That said, it allows you to not recognize a pattern in the filter as easily since it's over such a further distance of repeating pattern.
 
Yes, previous Fuji sensors were even composed of non-square pixels and pixels of different sizes! I have a Fuji compact camera (several years old now) that I use as my "sketchpad" and I'm frequently impressed by the film-like look it has. This new sensor has square pixels but arranged in such a way as to create a more random appearance in the image (this seems to be a Fuji trademark), consequently not requiring a low pass optical filter as required by the standard Bayer pattern.
 
Rick Burnett said:
They aren't random to me, they are a 6x6 grid instead of 2x2. That said, it allows you to not recognize a pattern in the filter as easily since it's over such a further distance of repeating pattern.
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The color filter array (CFA) is randomized and not in a fixed pattern like a traditional bayer, but they are not completely random. These type of sensors are actually called pseudo-random bayer filters (PRBF).

The idea of PRBF have been bounced around for over a decade, but as you can image interpolation of a pseudo-random color filter array can be challenging. STMirco had a few concepts for a 8x8 PRBF sensor, but I'm not exactly sure if that ever materialized into a commercial product.

Either way, the benefits of this sensor type should be obvious. No OLPF, dramatically reduced moire or aliasing, and theoretically a more "filmic" representation of the image. This Fuji camera is obviously aimed at still photographers, but hopefully they can use this technology and expand further with this in terms of video. It definitely deserves some attention.

This is a good paper of this technology for folks who want to learn more:
http://dspace.lib.kanazawa-u.ac.jp/dspace/bitstream/2297/23907/1/TE-PR-AKITRA-J-367.pdf


Diagrams from Fuji's site:

2x2 Bayer:
pic_01.jpg



6x6 PRBF:
pic_03.jpg


The concept is that it replicates the random nature of silver halide in film to give it a more filmic quality:
pic_04.jpg


Sample images:
http://www.fujifilm.com/products/digital_cameras/x/fujifilm_x_pro1/sample_images/
 
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I don't see how they can call it random since it is still a pattern, just not a symmetric pattern. Nevertheless, I look forward to seeing what it looks like. I think it's a good idea. And yes, your diagrams are backwards! :)
 
wouldn't that require more processing, bandwidth and memory to calculate(for 444). maybe that design could push an engineer to improve the way data is processed and improve rolling shutter artifacts. maybe they can come up with an affordable parallel or gpu solution.

p.s there is more green and less red and blue than before, but if that removes the olpf...
 
The concept is intriguing, but why is the random pattern sensor still having 50% of the pixels green? Wouldn't it make more sense to have each of the three colors represented equally?
In a 6x6 pattern you could have for example 12 of the each red,green and blue pixels.
 
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kittykatro said:
The concept is intriguing, but why is the random pattern sensor still having 50% of the pixels green? Wouldn't it make more sense to have each of the three colors represented equally?
In a 6x6 pattern you could have for example 12 of the each red,green and blue pixels.
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Because of the human sensitivity to green. I can't remember where I saw the white papers on it, but having more green resolution looks better to the human eye.
 
Rick Burnett said:
Because of the human sensitivity to green. I can't remember where I saw the white papers on it, but having more green resolution looks better to the human eye.
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If humans are more sensitive to green, then shouldn't it be less green pixels?
Three chip cameras have an equal number of red,green and blue pixels and they are purported to have better image quality.
 
kittykatro said:
If humans are more sensitive to green, then shouldn't it be less green pixels?
Three chip cameras have an equal number of red,green and blue pixels and they are purported to have better image quality.
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No. Less green pixels would mean an image that is more alien to the human eye than current bayer cameras.
 
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