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Xerox calls off $6.1B sale to Fujifilm

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Re: Xerox calls off $6.1B sale to Fujifilm

#51
post #28

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The X-Pro2 is a beautiful little camera with a great personality, and the whole X series is just so .. classy, both the hardware and the results. I have an older x100 and people used to come up and ask me about it! One of the reasons I love the series so much is that they're so unassuming, almost looking like fashion accessories because compared to other ranges they just look so good. So people don't shy away from th…

Based on my experience with an F30 ages ago I'd expect that their sensors are very competitive. Unfortunately for many remaining uses of a DSLR, the X series isn't that competitive for most of the same reasons the other mirrorless systems aren't that competitive. The small size almost positions the X series as a modern day Leica rangefinder. It's perfect for vacation and street photography, even for more intimate thi…

I had to at least get a look at what you gentlemen appreciate so much. Thanks for writing it up.

https://mirrorlesscomparison.com/preview/fuji-x100f-vs-xpro2...

Re: Xerox calls off $6.1B sale to Fujifilm

#52
post #9

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Fujifilm also is not just electronics.

I even use their film still. Granted they are discontinuing most of their film lines this year but still a very relevant company, especially with their mirrorless cameras

Rumor repeated on r/analog is that they have discontinued producing any film about a decade ago. What we're still buying is the stockpile they froze when caught with pants down by demand dropping by two orders of magnitude. The rumor nicely explains why it's the films that gained popularity that get discontinued first.

Re: Xerox calls off $6.1B sale to Fujifilm

#53
post #28

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Not the GP, but I shoot with an X-Pro2 when I'm using digital, but I prefer working with film and I'm still pissed that Acros is being discontinued.

The X-Pro2 is a beautiful little camera with a great personality, and the whole X series is just so .. classy, both the hardware and the results. I have an older x100 and people used to come up and ask me about it! One of the reasons I love the series so much is that they're so unassuming, almost looking like fashion accessories because compared to other ranges they just look so good. So people don't shy away from th…

I'm a long time X100 (and Nikon DSLR) and now X100F user. I love this camera.

X100F fixes almost all the flaws in the X100 plus gives you a digital converter and more film simulations.

With the two physical converters that I already had for the old X100 I can now cover a range of 28mm-100mm eqv. which is perfect for travel.

I'm sure you already know the sorts of tricks the leaf shutter will let you do. Well on the X100F you can use the on board flash in manual mode now too.

Oh and as an added bonus you can stick an EF-X20 on the bottom and slave it off the on board flash for a tiny twin flash camera in a tiny package. It works perfectly in full sunlight (manual only though).

(In case anyone is wondering the twin flash thing is for flat on-axis fill similar to a ring light in bright sunlight. So flat light but with no shadows as you'd get from a single fill flash).

Lovely stuff.

Re: Xerox calls off $6.1B sale to Fujifilm

#54
I worked for Xerox in 1979. They were totally focused on copiers. The management structure in the field had no idea what to do with the new technology. Classic Innovator's Dilemma.

Branch staff found out about new Xerox products in the trade press, not from sources inside the company. Xerox withheld crucial technical information from its customers.

Every new hire was issued a copy of "The Billions Nobody Wanted", a great book that ironically warned against the very malady that Xerox succumbed to.

Re: Xerox calls off $6.1B sale to Fujifilm

#55
post #46
post #41

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The real medium format is based on actual standard film size. 120 and 220. They are clearly defines and medium format starts from 6x6 as a square shape, and then goes beyond. Its clearly not just "bigger than 35mm", while its what Fuji wants you to believe. as i mentioned there is a clear market for actual digital medium format using digital backs you can plug on old hasselblad or equivalent twin lenses models. So th…

That's not how depth of field works. DoF, simplistically, is governed by the usable angle of light at the back of the lens - the more obtuse, the more "DoF". Larger sensors (like your 6x7) might be useful if there are limits in sensor resolution, necessitating the sensor being placed further back so the light can shine over a larger area. But if the sensor is higher resolution (as I said the 645z is 50MP) then it can…

No. DoF is also a factor of sensor size/film surface area.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Depth_of_field#Relationship_of...

http://www.uscoles.com/depthoffield.html

Re: Xerox calls off $6.1B sale to Fujifilm

#57
post #47
post #15

Somewhat off topic, but If you're interested in the history of modern computing and not already familiar with the Xerox PARC [0] story, you should know that Xerox has a fascinating history of computer research innovation, and is often regarded as one of the real major driving forces behind the P.C. as we know it. An interesting account (as well as a great deal more about the rest of the history of modern computers) i…

Bitsavers is stuffed with all their research documents around Lisp, Smalltalk, Mesa and Mesa/Cedar. https://archive.org/details/bitsavers_xerox Graphical workstations, REPL, IDE like features with edit-and-continue capabilities, memory safe systems programming with GC, interactions between GUI components on the UI,... Many of the ideas that inspired research at ETHZ and DEC as well.

That archive/bitsavers link looks really interesting, thanks!

Re: Xerox calls off $6.1B sale to Fujifilm

#58
post #56

Surprised that Xerox hasn't gotten into Docusign, industrial 3D printing/scanning, PDF automation, general small manufacturing robotics ...

Hah. I figured Xerox was dead, but didn't know it yet back in 2011 when they outsourced their product engineering to HCL (https://www.marketwatch.com/story/xerox-explores-outsourcing...). You can't enter new markets if you don't own your own engineering.

Re: Xerox calls off $6.1B sale to Fujifilm

#59
post #12

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Disappointing, but unfortunately not surprising. They have been winding down their film production for a while now. First it was Astia and some of the oddball LF sizes, then it was FP100C in 4x5, then the 3x4, then FP3000B, and it just keeps rolling on. I've been expecting this for a while and have a good stash of film tucked away that will carry me for quite a while. I have about 150 rolls of various slide films in…

You may want to invest in a generator as well in case your power ever goes out (and an auto-start and automatic transfer switch to go with it). That would be a waste to lose and a lot harder to replace than a freezer full of food.

The other poster is correct that film isn't harmed by a brief defrosting as long as you don't get condensation on it (it's packaged in airtight plastic canisters or foil wrappers). As long as you don't let it get hot like sitting in a car or something...

But unrelated note, get an upright/freestanding/chest deep freezer. With a normal fridge/freezer, when you open the door all the cold falls out. The upright freezers form a "well" that keeps the cold in much better. They will hold a freeze for at least 24-48 hours if you don't open the lid, although much longer and you would probably want to be looking for a generator.

Re: Xerox calls off $6.1B sale to Fujifilm

#60
post #49

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Based on my experience with an F30 ages ago I'd expect that their sensors are very competitive. Unfortunately for many remaining uses of a DSLR, the X series isn't that competitive for most of the same reasons the other mirrorless systems aren't that competitive. The small size almost positions the X series as a modern day Leica rangefinder. It's perfect for vacation and street photography, even for more intimate thi…

I sort of agree with you. I have a full-frame Canon system and that's what I go to when I want the most capability/versatility and I don't care about size or weight. But my Fujifilm XE-3 is what I take with me the vast majority of the time if I'm not shooting action or long tele/very wide angle. And, yes, it's in part because it feels like a rangefinder in a lot of ways. (Never had a Leica but used a Kodak Retina for…

Sure. I've learned that I really dislike bringing my DSLR with me on vacation. Unfortunately, for me at least, the X series is too expensive to justify buying into as I've already sunk a bunch of money into the Nikon ecosystem.

And, yeah, there were plenty of rangefinders (even Nikon and Canon made them)... but I referenced Leica because Fuji is targeting an enthusiast market with the X series that Canikon are largely ignoring (counterpoint: the Nikon Df).

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