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Tom's Guide
19 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Tom's Guide
I tested the Fujifilm X half for two weeks — and some might think this one feature is a gimmick but it's my favorite
Do you like film photography? Me too. Do you enjoy populating your Instagram feed with film photos? Me too! There's something charming about analog photography, and in recent years, we've seen a rise in its popularity, a trend that's making a comeback (like oversized blazers and baggy jeans). It's then only natural that camera manufacturers get with the times and make modern film cameras. Fujifilm has done just that... but in a way none of us expected. I'm talking about the Fujifilm X half, a one-of-a-kind camera that's unlike any other in its current lineup, and it goes off the beaten track by combining digital and film photography. The Fujifilm X half is an interesting camera as it's nothing like any other camera in the brand's lineup. It's small and compact and it features a 17.7MP 1-inch sensor that actually takes lovely photos. You get access to Fuji's 13 most popular film simulation recipes and filters, and the camera has a dedicated Film Camera Mode which doesn't let you see photos until you connect it to your phone. Long battery life is the cherry on top of the cake. What do I mean by that, you ask? Well, the X half takes regular photos like any digital camera but it also has a dedicated Film Camera Mode which emulates the feeling of analog. When I spent a couple hours with the camera pre-launch, a couple Tom's Guide readers pointed out that this was gimmick. Now that I've reviewed the camera, I say: so what? It's fun, it's so much fun, and I'm here to tell you why. Toggling Film Camera Mode on the Fujifilm X half is a piece of cake. There are two touchscreen displays on the back: the rounded, vertical touchscreen let's you swap between 13 film simulation recipes and several filters, while the rectangular 4x3 screen gives you access to the camera's settings and gallery. To enable Film Camera Mode, simply swipe down on the rectangular screen and tap on it. You then select your roll (36 shots, for instance) and film simulation or filter, adjusting ISO and et voilà! The screen displays a shot counter and you'll need to use the lever on the right-hand side to advance the roll — as you would on a traditional film camera. Also, like other film cameras, you won't be able to see the photos you've taken until you exhaust the roll, connect the camera to your smartphone and use the X half app to 'develop' the film. And you know what? I had a lot of fun with this. Watching your 'film roll' load on your phone and the little animation that shows every photo 'developing' is throughly enjoyable. Analog photography's fundamentals apply here too. Some photos turn out great, some photos are unusable and some are imperfect, and I love that. The X half's photos turn out lovely with a film-life effects (thanks to the film sims), and you can increase the grain effect too. Get instant access to breaking news, the hottest reviews, great deals and helpful tips. I've loved testing the Fujifilm X half. I think it's a nifty little camera (literally, it's so small) for anyone who wants access to Fuji's fantastic film simulation recipes and filters, and wants to take a no-frills camera to a concert, festival or while traveling. But purists will have you believing it's a toy camera and it isn't worth the money. Look, I get it. It isn't really film photography. The X half isn't the cheapest either, retailing for $849 / £690. Its sensor takes only 17MP photos, and video is limited to FHD/48p. No, this isn't a stacked camera when it comes to pure imaging capabilities, but why does everything need to be? Fujifilm's ethos here is that specs aren't always everything, and I see that. It isn't always about how many megapixels you have at your disposal or whether the camera has in-body image stabilization. Sometimes, and this time especially, it's about a stripped back camera that even a child could use. The X half is pure fun, nothing more, nothing less.
Tom's Guide
3 days ago
- Tom's Guide
I tested the Fujifilm X half — and it proves that specs aren't as important as having fun
It isn't very often that I come across a camera that amuses me or tickles my fancy, but the Fujifilm X half has done just that. It's a very interesting camera, and it's unlike most other cameras in the brand's current lineup. It combines both digital and analog photography by introducing a Film Camera Mode that doesn't let you view your photos until you 'develop' them on your smartphone. Neat! Fuji's beautiful color science is on full display as you have access to the brand's most popular film simulation recipes, as well as an array of filters. Its twin displays are clever and well implemented, although I wish some features (like the dim monitor) were better. And while the camera takes good photos, it can't shoot in RAW. It doesn't come cheap either, given the above. Is it one of the best cameras for you? Read my full Fujifilm X half review to find out. Specs Fujifilm X half Price $849 / £690 Sensor 17.7MP 1-inch CMOS Processor Not specified Stabilization None AF system Contrast detection Focus modes Single AF, Continuous AF, Manual Focus Viewfinder OVF Display 2.4-inch Color LCD touchscreen, approx. 0.92 million dots ISO range 200-12,800 Max video resolution FHD/48p Ports USB-C, 1x SD/SDHC/SDXC UHS-I Wireless/Bluetooth Wi-Fi, Bluetooth Max shooting speed 1fps Max shutter speed 15m to 1/2000s (stills) | 1/24s to 1/2000s (video) Battery life (Stills, CIPA) 880 shots Battery life (Video, CIPA) 95 minutes (FHD/24p) | 85 minutes (FHD/48p) Size 4.16 x 2.53 x 1.8 inches Weight 6.73oz (body only) Announced in June 2025, the Fujifilm X half is unlike any other camera in the brand's lineup. It's a fixed-lens digital camera with a dedicated film photography mode that makes photography simple and intuitive, and the camera's all about having fun. It retails for $849 / £690, and is available in three colorways: Black, Charcoal and Silver. There aren't any other cameras like the X half as, like I said, it blends digital and analog photography. It takes vertical, half-frame photos so one may compare it to film cameras like the Pentax 17 ($499) and the Kodak Ektar H35 ($49). It's also nearly as expensive as an interchangeable lens camera like the Fujifilm X-M5 ($799). So why wouldn't you just buy the X-M5 instead? If you want a pocketable, compact camera that you can get past security at concerts; or a camera that doesn't require you to know the ins and outs of photography yet still takes good photos — you'd get the X half. The Fujifilm X half is a very small camera, and I think it looks great — although I do wish its body was made of metal rather than plastic. Still, it's cute and eye-catching. It's available in three colors: Black, Charcoal and Silver. I tested the Black model which looks great, but I also spent a couple hours with the other colorways, and the Charcoal is my favorite. The camera measures just 4.16 x 2.53 x 1.8 inches, so it's highly pocketable, and it weighs barely anything at 6.73oz. Carrying it in my jacket's pocket and even my jeans' back pocket was easy. In fact, it's a whole ounce lighter than my Google Pixel 7 Pro! It's a great camera to handle too. Given its compact size, I used it easily with just one hand to take photos and capture video footage. I have medium-sized hands and had no problems using the camera with both hands either. Unsurprisingly given the Fujifilm X half's size and purpose, its ports are minimal. There's a USB-C port on the left-hand edge for data transfer and charging. There's no 3.5mm input or output or micro HDMI support. The camera's bottom plate houses the battery pack and one SD/SDHC/SDXC UHS-I memory card, both of which are located behind a hatch. And that's about it. Like I said, it's a no-frills camera meant for beginners and casual photographers. The Fujifilm X half sports twin LCD touchscreens. The main monitor is a 2.4-inch Color LCD touchscreen with a resolution of approximately 0.92 million dots. In my testing, this touchscreen was highly responsive, but I wish it was a smidge brighter as I struggled to see it in direct sunlight. I also wish it was slightly bigger as it only takes up a third of the space on the back panel, but it's on purpose as it fills up with a half-frame 4:3 shot. The other vertical, rounded touchscreen is located next to the main monitor. It enables you to swap between film simulation recipes as well as advanced filters, such as fisheye, light leak, expired film, etc. Again, it proved very responsive and I didn't notice any lag between changing the settings — I thoroughly enjoyed using it. I primarily used the Fujifilm X half's monitor to take photos and didn't find myself naturally reaching for the viewfinder, as the camera's very small. The OVF is really basic and doesn't display any useful information — it feels redundant on this camera. The LED lamp next to the viewfinder is handy, though, as it switches between red and green depending on whether the camera is buffering and saving a video to the SD card and the like. At this price point, most cameras aren't weather-sealed. For instance, the Fujifilm X-M5 isn't weather-sealed and neither is the Fujifilm X half. I'd advise against using it in heavy rain or in very dusty or sandy conditions. It's a shame, as this camera is very easy to travel with, but it's always better to be safe than sorry. There aren't many physical controls on the Fujifilm X half as its touchscreen enables you to change every setting. I found it easy to use and quick to swap between different exposure and shutter speed settings via swipes and taps. Swiping down on the main touchscreen lets you pair the camera with a smartphone and enter Film Camera Mode. Tapping on the latter basically turns the X half into a film camera. You get to select the number of shots (36, 54, 72), toggle date stamp on or off, and choose the exposure mode. The main touchscreen will then show you a shot counter. And just like on a film camera, you won't be able to see the photos until you exhaust the roll and connect the camera to your phone and use the X half app to 'develop' the photos. The app itself is extremely easy to use with a clean interface, and there is some joy to be had in watching your photos come through on your phone. This isn't really film photography, as purists will rightly argue, but I still think it's a lot of fun! I liked not being able to see the photos I'd taken until I 'developed' the roll. Some photos came out imperfect, as is the nature of film, and I loved that. It quickly became my favorite feature. Located on the top plate is a lever that lets you take a second photo and stitches them into one composition, creating a diptych and letting you tell a two-part story — like a half-frame film camera. You also need to use this lever to advance the 'film roll' when in Film Camera Mode. Although this is fun, it's finicky because there were a few instances where I had to do it twice to advance the film. The Fujifilm X half's autofocus system utilizes contrast detection to focus on humans' eyes and faces. You can choose for the camera to prioritize the left, right or both eyes, or faces. There's no subject detection for animals, birds or vehicles. On humans, though, it works as intended, as you can see in the gallery above. Quick to focus, the X half promptly locked onto my colleague's face in the first photo, and the resulting photo is sharp. Similarly, it focuses well on my face in the selfie I took (even though I'm not in the centre of the frame). I was also impressed that the X half locked onto the two people on a river boat, as can be seen in the third photo. The Fujifilm X half features a 1-inch CMOS sensor that captures 17.7MP images. As with most other Fuji cameras, color reproduction is faithful and you get access to 13 film simulation recipes for extra creativity (while on Fuji's more premium cameras like the Fujifilm X-T50, you get access to 20+). Given its compact size and good image quality, the X half and its 32mm prime lens are best suited to travel, street and candid portraits. In bright conditions, the X half takes stunning photos with popping colors, even in the Provia Standard color profile. Shadows and highlights are balanced well, with a nice amount of contrast, as you can see in the photos in the gallery above. You can also see plenty of detail in the flowers and leaves which is very commendable for a camera of its size. As I mentioned up top, there are 13 film simulation recipes to choose from. The photos in the gallery above were shot in Nostalgic Neg, Acros and Velvia Vivid. I love Nostalgic Neg so I'm really pleased it has made an appearance on the X half. Fuji says that it has only added its most popular film sims to this camera, which includes Astia and the newest Reala Ace. Alongside film sims, you have access to several filters, such as Light Leak, Toy, Mini, Expired Film, Vignette, Mirror, Double Exposure and more. You can see a few examples above of Double Exposure, Mirror, Green Expired Film and Toy. You can't use these in conjunction with the film sims, though. Still, they allow you to get more creative and experiment with different styles. Double Exposure is a classic and still remains my favorite even after testing all of the others on the X half. One of the Fujifilm X half's drawbacks is that it cannot shoot RAW images, so once you click the shutter for a JPEG, that's it — your color profile is baked in and you'll have much les freedom in post production than with RAW files. When I test a camera's ISO performance, I compare the RAW file against the straight-out-of-camera (SOOC) JPEG as this lets us compare how well a camera's in-camera noise processing performs versus the unprocessed RAW file. As I didn't have that option with the X half, I'll just analyze how well the noise processing worked on JPEGs. The X half has an ISO range of 200-12,800. As is the nature of the camera, keeping in line with the film feel, the photos it takes are slightly grainy anyway, although noise naturally gets worse at high ISO values too. But are they sharp? The photos in the gallery above were shot at ISO6,400, 8,000, 10,000 and 12,800. The first two shots are fairly sharp as you can make out the boundaries of every sticker in the Lego F1 car. However, at ISO10,000 and 12,800, there is a loss in sharpness around the car's nose and in the driver's helmet — this is from the camera's processors smoothing out noise, sacrificing definition. It's important to remember that this camera is very small and has a 1-inch sensor. Such small sensors generally struggle at high ISO values. The Fujifilm X half is a hybrid camera as it can shoot FHD video at either 24p or 48p in 4:2:0 8-bit depth, which means the camera can capture a total of 16.77 million colors. You can see what sample video looks like above. Even video footage has a film-like feel to it which may appeal to a lot of people who want to maintain a certain social media aesthetic. What I love about the X half is that you can stitch two videos together, as you can with photos, creating a moving diptych. It follows the same procedure: take a video and then use the lever on the top plate to record another. What's even better is that you can do this with a photo and a video. There's a lot of potential in a feature like that. Of course, there's no in-body or electronic stabilization so you'll have to be very still to capture shake-free handheld footage, or use a tripod. The Fujifilm X half has a mahoosive battery life. It utilizes the NP-W126S Li-ion battery pack — the same as the one in the Fujifilm X100VI ($1,599) — and according to CIPA numbers, the X half can take 880 stills on a single charge. For video, when recording at FHD/24p, you can achieve 95 minutes and this drops to 85 minutes when shooting at 48p. Regardless, that's fantastic. CIPA ratings are derived under very strict testing conditions, and real-world results will always differ. I put the camera through a battery test where I kept taking photos indoors with the monitor, without changing film sims or filters, and I took nearly 950 photos before the camera died. That's a great number as you won't need to worry about running out of juice on a long road trip or at a festival. If you want a simple-to-use camera that's highly responsive and doesn't require you to know the ins and outs of photography, the Fujifilm X half is for you. It's extremely easy to use with its twin touchscreen displays, and I'm a big fan of the dedicated Film Camera Mode. If you want to feel like you're using a film camera, this setting basically doesn't let you see the photos you've taken until you 'develop' them on your smartphone — clever and fun. With long battery life and film simulation recipes and filters available at your fingertips, the X half lets you get creative while still remaining hassle-free. It's the perfect camera for concerts, festivals, candid portraits, and more… as long as you don't mind the steep price tag as it costs nearly as much as an interchangeable lens camera like the Fujifilm X-M5. Also, I wish the screen was a touch brighter and the camera shot RAW images. Regardless, if you can afford it and want a simple, cutesy camera to accompany your professional gear, the X half is a fantastic choice. It proves that specs aren't always everything — sometimes it's about having fun.
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Climate
- Yahoo
Typhoon Nari brings heavy rain to a town near Japan's Mount Fuji
STORY: :: July 15, 2025 :: Typhoon Nari brings heavy rain and traffic disruptions to a town near Japan's Mount Fuji :: Fuji, Japan In the 24 hours through 11 a.m. (0200 GMT) on Tuesday (July 15), Fuji city recorded almost 6 inches of precipitation, according to the Japan Meteorological Agency.
Top Gear
7 days ago
- Automotive
- Top Gear
Surprise! This is Lexus's incoming new V8 supercar: listen to it here
Surprise! This is Lexus's incoming new V8 supercar: listen to it here Lexus rolls out a couple of camo'd specials for Goodwood. Good noise, too Skip 1 photos in the image carousel and continue reading Turn on Javascript to see all the available pictures. Is it a bird? Is it a plane? Is it a camouflaged V8 supercar and its racing variant on a quiet demonstration run? Actually it's exactly that. Lexus – we think – rolled out a couple of surprises at last weekend's Goodwood Festival of Speed, and they are good, V8-based surprises. At least, we're fairly sure they've from Lexus. And V8s. No mistaking that noise. One of these cars looks like an evolution of the GT3 GR concept we first saw way back in 2022 – a racing car with a mighty big wing and big ambitions. Advertisement - Page continues below The other car? That's probably its road-going stablemate – which some are calling 'LFR' – and it certainly sounds like this so-called 'LFR' will run a mighty V8. Check out Goodwood's video below. Obviously, the race car is probably making the bigger noise here, and we're not sure whether the road-going version of it will run some form of hybrid assistance. It's a Lexus – we think – after all. But it'll be – we think – fairly mighty, because spy shots have seen this prototype doing the rounds at Fuji, Spa, and the Nürburgring. Reckon on something that'll go into battle against stuff like the Merc-AMG GT and Aston Martin Vantage. We'll update you as soon as we hear more. For now, why not hear it yourself below… Advertisement - Page continues below Top Gear Newsletter Thank you for subscribing to our newsletter. Look out for your regular round-up of news, reviews and offers in your inbox. Get all the latest news, reviews and exclusives, direct to your inbox. Success Your Email*
The Review Geek
13-07-2025
- Entertainment
- The Review Geek
With You and The Rain – Season 1 Episode 2 Recap & Review
Episode 2 Episode 2 of With You and the Rain begins with You, the dog, trying his best to get Fuji's attention, only to be told that she doesn't want to see him while she's working. Eventually, they head out to the park, but on the way, they run into Fuji's neighbor, Kii-chan. Kii-chan has brought her own dog, whom You initially assumes to be a cute and gentle female dog, but quickly grows terrified of her aggressive nature. At the park, while You stays huddled in fear of Kii-chan's dog, Fuji and Kii-chan talk. Fuji mentions she didn't want to be home that day because someone was supposed to visit. That someone turns out to be her father, hinting at some underlying tension between them. When he does arrive, he initially calls You a monster after reading You's cue cards. But he slowly warms up to him. Kii-chan subtly observes that it's not that Fuji dislikes her father—rather, she didn't want him to see her struggling or worry about her during a difficult time. After their outing, Fuji and Kii-chan return home with their dogs. Inside, Fuji receives a call from her mother asking her to send pictures of You, since all the ones her father had taken turned out blurry. Fuji tries to get a clear photo, but You is so excitable that every picture ends up blurred. When he finally falls asleep, she has the perfect chance to take one—but instead, she chooses not to disturb him, and the two quietly nap together in a cozy, heartwarming moment. That evening, Fuji's mother arrives, and unlike her father, she seems much harder to please. She tries to get You to perform tricks, which he naturally fails at. Later, when everyone is having tea cake, You desperately wants a bite. Fuji's mother tells him to do a trick to earn it. Instead, You jumps into the trash can and licks the piece of cake still stuck to the baking paper. Fuji pulls him out, and despite the chaos, both women smile at the sight of their dear little creature happily licking the paper from the trash. The Episode Review This episode is another warm, delightful showcase of You's quirky antics and charm—his expressions, movements, and unpredictability continue to be the emotional center of the show. He still doesn't have a name yet, but with each episode, we get the feeling that Fuji might name him soon and we'll finally understand the meaning behind 'You.' What stands out in this episode is the subtle character development for Fuji. Her decision to leave the house to avoid being seen by her father in a vulnerable state speaks volumes about her quiet, introverted nature. Even though she insists she isn't a sweet person, Kii-chan sees through that, and so do we. Fuji is empathetic, gentle, and deeply considerate, even when she struggles with expressing it openly. The show continues to unfold like a gentle breeze—nothing too dramatic, but full of soft, meaningful moments. If you're someone who enjoys slow-paced, reflective stories with a touch of whimsy, this episode (and the series) is a comfort to return to. Previous Episode Next Episode
