Fujifilm’s X Half is here, and it’s a delightful oddball in a world obsessed with smartphone cameras. It’s not trying to outmuscle your iPhone; instead, it’s a pocket-sized companion for those who want something different—a camera that’s as much about the experience as the images it captures.
At just 105.8 x 64.3mm, the X Half is tiny, slipping easily into a jacket pocket. Its retro-inspired design, available in sleek black or shimmering silver, screams Fujifilm’s signature aesthetic—think manual dials and a circular viewfinder that could’ve been plucked from a 1960s film camera. The star of the show is its 18MP 1-inch Sony sensor, paired with a fixed 10.8mm f/2.8 prime lens (roughly a 32mm equivalent on a full-frame camera). This setup delivers sharp, vibrant shots with Fujifilm’s beloved film simulations, like Provia, which bathe your photos in rich, cinematic tones.
- Hybrid instant film camera
- 10 Lens x 10 Film Effect Options = 100 Ways of Expression
- Built-in selfie mirror so you’re perfectly framed for a selfie, Dual shutter buttons – portrait and landscape
What sets the X Half apart is its half-frame format, a digital twist on a classic film technique. Each shot captures a vertical frame, effectively doubling the number of photos you can take before “rewinding” the digital roll. Fujifilm markets this as “Half the Size, Twice the Story,” and it’s a clever pitch. The vertical sensor orientation, paired with a vertically aligned LCD screen, encourages a fresh perspective—think Instagram Stories but with the soul of analog photography. There’s also a mysterious winder lever, which early leaks suggest ties into a unique diptych feature, letting you pair two vertical shots for a storytelling effect.
Fujifilm’s “film roll mode” is where the magic happens. It shuts off the LCD screen, pushing you to lean on the optical viewfinder like you’re wielding a classic rangefinder. You won’t peek at your photos until you’re finished, capturing the nail-biting thrill of waiting for a film roll to develop.
Why get this camera instead of just using a smartphone? Well, Fujifilm’s X Half is basically a clever nudge to slow down and make every shot count. At $849.99 USD, it’s not a budget grab but slides in below the X100VI while carving its own path. Hitting stores in late June 2025, the X Half is a creative kick for anyone bored with flat smartphone snaps.
X half is special because it rekindles our love for the compact camera and blends it with the modern sensibilities that make it easy to make a part of our everyday lives. This aligns perfectly with the growing trend of users, especially among Gen Z, who want dedicated devices to use alongside their smart devices as they try to find the balance between minimizing distractions, while documenting and sharing their lives online,” said Victor Ha, vice president, Electronic Imaging and Optical Devices Divisions, FUJIFILM North America Corporation.
