Fujifilm’s New X Half Camera Announced

credits: Fujifilm

Fujifilm officially announced the X half camera, a quirky, premium compact camera inspired by half-frame film shooters and it’s clearly made for film lovers who want a fun digital alternative. The camera’s big draw isn’t its specs (though it does have a solid 18MP Type 1 sensor and 10.8mm f/2.8 lens), but the experience. It mimics shooting on film with a tactile winding lever, limited “rolls” of digital film, and a dedicated Film Camera Mode that locks you into your chosen film simulation until the roll is done. You even “develop” your photos in a companion app that shows a contact sheet.

The camera embraces vertical shooting by default, thanks to a vertically-oriented screen and viewfinder that lean into that half-frame aesthetic. It also has a wild “2-in-1” mode that lets you stitch two vertical frames together — photo or video — by winding the lever, creating diptychs right in the app. On the back are two small touchscreens: one for your film sim and one for menus and framing. You don’t get RAW, just JPEGs, and that’s the point. Fujifilm leans hard into the idea that the look should come from the moment, not editing later.

Physically, the X half is tiny, about two-thirds the size of an X100VI, and super light at just 240 grams. It connects to your phone via Bluetooth or WiFi, has a cold shoe for accessories, and pairs directly with Instax printers. There’s a small LED flash up front, autofocus with manual override, and video support too (though only at a very non-standard 1440x1080 resolution). It drops in three colours this June for $849.99. A closer/detailed look at the camera will follow this Sunday in the big magazine issue ;)