Most companies are locked into systems by lens mount and tradition. Fuji seems to be one that can march to their own designated drummer, doing interesting stuff—along with the same boring P&S cameras as the rest of the industry.
Years ago, while every other major company was sticking with the Beyer mosaic, Fuji arranged its photosites diagonally, and included a second set of less sensitive sensors to extend the dynamic range. They also produced pro-level cameras that shot IR and UV, specifically for law-enforcement and scientific use. They had a early form of LiveView that would show the actual effect on the monitor.
My first Fuji was the stereo W1, a camera I have much enjoyed. Since then they have brought out a second model. The stereo images can be viewed without glasses on their V1 viewframe. They are easily turned into anaglyphs for viewing with red/cyan or green/magenta glasses, either as images on the screen or as prints. I photographed a family's Christmas with it, and used Sony Vegas Movie Studio to create a DVD that played on their large screen HDTV. Though it required glasses, it was quite amazing. Perhaps the best way of viewing is the oldest. I have an antique 19th century Holmes Stereoscope, and cards are easily generated with any ink-jet photo printer. Viewing quality is outstanding, when the highest quality output is called for.
The X100 is the first digital camera of its kind—a direct descendant of the compact rangefinder cameras that most shooters carried when off the job. It is small enough that I can carry it in a pouch in good weather, and my jacket pocket in the cold. The lens is at least equal to the best Nikon primes I own. Brilliantly designed and a real pleasure to use. However, it is a camera that must be learned. It got a lot of negative reviews, because the reviewer simply did not 'get' it. It is a camera where going through the manual is mandatory for success. Once one is fluent, it is pure delight.
Again with the X10, there is a whole bunch of innovation. Standard, it is a 12MP P&S, though with the largest sensor in the category. However, it has two other modes, 6MP high dynamic range, using half the pixels at lowered sensitivity to capture highlight detail, or with pixel binning for high-quality/low light response.
Thom Hogan posted some details on the new interchangeable lens camera, via the mysteries of translation software. To the best of what he could decipher:
"(1) a new lens mount (i.e. not m4/3);
(2) a larger than APS/DX sensor, but not as big as full frame/FX;
(3) higher resolution and better noise handling than any existing FX sensor (which means more than 24mp and better than D3s); and
(4) non-Bayer in nature."
Clearly, Fuji going their own way again.
