Flexispot sent us their Clamp-on Adjustable Keyboard Tray (KT3B). Can it upgrade your workspace?

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Note: Flexispot sent us the Clamp-on Adjustable Keyboard Tray. However, this is a completely independent review. All thoughts about this desk are our own.

Pros

• Easy assembly…and it comes with an included screwdriver!
• Classy appearance.
• Very sturdy.
• Spacious, offering enough room for a full-sized keyboard, mouse, and other items.
• Padded C-clamps are padded and solid and accommodates desks up to 2.1″ in thickness
• It’s tall enough to accommodate my taller Logitech MX Vertical Wireless Mouse.

Cons

• I find their included stick-on mouse pads offer a little too much resistance for mouse use. No matter, simply use your own mouse pad.
• When fully extended, it does not lock or offer resistance of any sort, making it easy to shift or slide.

Flexispot Clamp-on Adjustable Keyboard Tray — Technical Specifications

All of the technical specifications for the Flexispot Clamp-on Adjustable Keyboard Tray are from the Flexispot website.

• Length: 25″
• Width: 12″
• Thickness: 0.7″
• Maximum extended length: 8.5″
• Load: 15 lbs
• Color: Black
• Note: Please noted that it is not compatible with our ergo series and gaming series desktop.

Flexispot Clamp-on Adjustable Keyboard Tray — Assembly

The assembly is easy, consisting of screwing in four screws. Furthermore, it comes with a screwdriver, so you don’t even need tools of any kind. After that, simply clamp it on to the desktop and you’re set!

Flexispot Clamp-on Adjustable Keyboard Tray — Ergonomics and build quality

Ergonomics

The ergonomics are perfect. The keyboard tray is large and feels roomy for a full-sized keyboard and mouse. It fits under the desk well, sliding out when you need it.

Build quality

It seems like Flexispot does not build junk. Like their tables, this looks classy and is well-made. The keyboard tray slides in and out easily and smoothly. Furthermore, it feels solid. Certainly, its fifteen-pound capacity would seem to bear that out.

Flexispot Clamp-on Adjustable Keyboard Tray — In the field

When I use “in the field” to describe something like a keyboard tray, this makes it sound like I use it on safari, not in a tiny second bedroom where I process my photos and write Photofocus articles.

The keyboard tray looks beautiful underneath the bamboo surface of my Flexispot E7 Pro Height Adjustable Premium Standing Desk, and simply looks more professional as well as functional, always a good pairing.

I decided to use my own mouse pad instead of one of the two included stick-on mouse pads. I found their mouse pads to be too “grabby”, offering slightly too much resistance. I tend to like a smoother, quicker glide when using a mouse. I used another mouse pad I had lying around the house. This is a matter of personal taste, certainly, but that’s what I found. On the other hand, I love the Flexispot mouse pad (MP018), which I will review in another article.

I also found that the keyboard tray does not have a lock or offer any resistance. It can be easy to have it slide or shift, although in practice, this has not been an issue so far.

Super useful

I have two computers in my setup. Although I used to use an A/B switcher so I could share a mouse and keyboard between two computers, I quickly found that this caused some issues when switching back and forth. The older computer, which I use for running Pro Tools (I am also a recording engineer and musician and have written for EQ Magazine and others before) would sometimes cause the audio program to stop when I switched. It would also cause the RME ARC USB controller to lose connectivity.

In short, I needed separate keyboards and a separate mouse for my setup.

The Flexispot Clamp-on Adjustable Keyboard Tray provides the perfect solution while keeping my desktop clutter free. Well, it’s still cluttered, but not due to having a dual keyboard and mouse setup. However, even if you simply like to scoot your keyboard out of view when not using it, this is an excellent, sturdy option. Since it uses two padded C-clamps, you can easily install it and get straight to work.

And no, the clamps do not impede my work at all.

I use a Logitech MX Vertical Wireless Mouse, a considerably taller mouse, and it fits on the keyboard tray without hitting the desktop when sliding the tray back and forth.

Jess Hess of Wurmwood Photography in Dayton, Ohio experienced a photographer’s worst nightmare: someone broke into her studio (and home) — dubbed Castle Morningstar — and destroyed everything she owned, including her photography equipment. Scarier still, the culprit initially showed up at Hess’ home/studio in the early morning hours of February 29 in the hopes of killing her.

A Beautiful Renovated Church was Home and Studio for Photographer Jess Hess

“Myself, my roommate Brandon [Meadows], and my son Jaden all lived in the building,” Hess tells PetaPixel. “Brandon lives in the downstairs area and my son and I live in the upstairs portion with our three cats and dog. My studio and the chapel is also upstairs,” Hess explains.

The building is an old church Hess found for sale on Craigslist five years ago. She purchased it from the previous owner, a woman who had also lived there.

“It needed so much work, but it was such a beautiful property with a lot of charm, and had plenty of space for us to live and for me to set up a proper studio.”

In recent weeks, Jess, Jaden, and Brandon had been staying elsewhere and going back and forth to the building due to issues with heating. Some pipes had burst due to the cold weather, so they were chipping away at these repairs.

“My son and I were supposed to be there that night,” Hess says of the night of the destruction. “But I ended up being much too sleepy to drive, so we didn’t go… I’m very thankful for that!”

The Destruction Was the Culmination of Months of Odd Behavior, Terror, and Stalking

Based on surveillance videos, which PetaPixel has seen but will not share at Hess’ request, the assailant, Kurt Griggs, 44, first appeared on the property at around 3:30 AM. Hess woke around 7:30 that morning and saw the man live on her Ring app, so she knew that he had been actively destroying the property for about four hours.

Griggs allegedly admitted to police that he arrived at Hess’ property intending to kill her, her son, and Brandon. When he realized nobody was home, he settled for unbridled destruction instead.

Last September, Hess had reported Griggs to the police after he was caught on the church grounds trying to dig up his deceased grandmother. According to local court records in Ohio, Griggs had been charged with desecration of a grave.

His sentence was suspended on the condition that Griggs stay away from the cemetery, complete outpatient treatment, and commit no further crimes.

However, after the incident, Griggs began stalking Hess and her family for weeks, “perhaps even months.” Going through old Ring recordings, Hess has seen the man on her porch on multiple nights, spanning weeks. Groundskeeper statements and security evidence show that the person had been lurking for months. He also recently harassed and upset Hess’ son at a local park.

Unsurprisingly, Griggs is reportedly suffering from numerous issues with addiction and psychosis. PetaPixel has confirmed the man’s identity, lengthy criminal history, and problems with drug addiction.

PetaPixel has decided to include his name in this article because Griggs is accused of an exceptionally violent crime and is being held with bail, meaning he could be released back into the community before trial.

“His mother was married in this church and it seems like he has strong emotional ties to the property, so it had nothing to do with us specifically, just that we happened to be the ones here. I’m not entirely sure what was going through his mind or why he was watching us or what he was blaming us for, and I may never know. I just know that I’m happy we weren’t here,” Hess wrote on Facebook.

Jess and Brandon will be in court this week as Griggs faces a grand trial for burglary with intent to commit murder. A felony conviction for this offense carries a prison sentence of up to 11 years. However, aggravating factors — like Griggs’ lengthy criminal history dating back over a decade — can extend the punishment.

Without Insurance, the Future of Castle Morningstar is in Question

Unfortunately, the owners did not have insurance, as they could not find a company to insure the building before it was brought up to code, which Hess says they had been working on for years.

“Since owning it we’ve cleaned and repaired a whole lot. A new roof, built entire rooms, fixed plumbing and set up propane heat to the occupied parts of the building,” Hess explains.

Hess Lost So Much of Her Photography Equipment

As for her photography equipment, she has insurance through the Professional Photographers of America (PPA), but she is working on determining what that will ultimately cover.

“When it first happened, I was certain I’d lost everything, as the destruction was pretty insane,” the photographer tells PetaPixel. As she’s worked through cleaning up, she’s found that some gear is “at least repairable,” although most everything is “completely broken.”

“By some form of miracle, my camera and lenses were the least damaged of anything else,” Hess says, noting that she’s missing her batteries and chargers, lots of “random gear,” all her backdrop stands, backdrops, and wardrobe. She’s sure that more has been broken, but being at the crime scene is overwhelming, so the cataloging process is going bit by bit.

Griggs also destroyed dozens of prints, including large-framed photographs and her hard drives. While Hess had been traveling back and forth with working drives of her most recent images, the hard drives at her home included her entire library of work.

“I have a lot of original artwork and oddities decorating my home, and most of it is completely destroyed beyond repair. He stabbed the fridge, ripped the microwave to a billion pieces and filled it with silverware, pulled all my drawers out, and destroyed clothes, years of memories, gifts I’ve received, record collection, vintage camera collection, all in piles,” Hess says.

“He was using a ladder to get up high and pull things down. TVs, glassware, 125 year old stained glass windows… you name it. It was like a tornado had gone through.”

The offender went so far as to rip out entire window frames and destroy the church pulpit, which was an original artifact and more than a century old. He smashed 125-year-old stained-glass windows and decimated all eight of the original hanging stained-glass light fixtures in the chapel.

For Photographer Jess Hess, the Healing Will Take Time, but Many Are Already Trying to Help

Hess’ mother, Lori, has set up a GoFundMe for Jess, hoping to help her, Jaden, and Brandon begin the recovery process. As of writing, the campaign has just eclipsed the halfway point of its $20,000 goal.

While shocked and struggling to pick up the pieces of her life and work, Jess says many people have rushed to help her.

“I have never in my life been more devastated than I am now, and I have also never felt so loved and supported. I have genuinely teared up reading the beautiful words that you all have written. I didn’t know so many people would care this much. Yesterday I felt all alone, but that is not something I feel today,” Hess wrote on Facebook.

Image credits: All photos courtesy of Jess Hess (Wurmwood Photography)

He’s photographed 10 Meer residents thus far and has bookings through April, all of which he does at no cost.

When Ira Goldberg’s retirement from teaching was nearing, he started developing a photography business to pivot his energies once he finished working at Berkley High School. And then, right around the time of retirement, his mother-in-law, Janet Pont, was honored as part of Jewish Senior Life’s 8 Over 80 program.

“My mother-in-law’s mission was all about volunteering,” says Goldberg, a Farmington Hills resident and member of Congregation Beth Ahm. “She articulated that so well in the video at the 8 Over 80 luncheon. And I asked myself, ‘How can I use my skills to make somebody’s life a little better?’”

Because he was at JSL as these thoughts took shape, Goldberg wondered how he might create pieces of art to represent the beauty and uniqueness of Jewish seniors.

He connected with Tracey Proghovnick, a fellow Beth Ahm member and JSL’s director of residential marketing and community relations, and became involved in a book project photographing JSL residents. That has morphed into an ongoing personal crusade to connect with seniors and create portraits that portray their personalities and values.

Goldberg photographed 40 seniors for the book and has met with more than a dozen more. He’s photographed 10 Meer residents thus far and has bookings through April, all of which he does at no cost.

Before photographing seniors, Goldberg meets with them in their home to get to know them. They share stories about their lives, and he gains a sense of their values and interests, which inspire the photo session.

“It’s important to build a relationship,” he says. “I want them to feel comfortable in front of my camera. I want to hear their stories. I want to hear about their kids, where they grew up, all the special things in their past.”

He’s met with veterans from the Korean War and World War II. He’s met with seniors who are pillars of the Detroit Jewish community — like Ilene Rubin, a Meer resident and fellow Beth Ahm member who wanted her portrait taken in the synagogue, with the Torah.

“I am a bat cohain (daughter of a Cohain),” Rubin says. “I often have the first aliyah, and I said it would mean so much to me to have my picture taken in the synagogue.”

Goldberg made all the arrangements and even picked Rubin up at Meer and drove her to the synagogue, where Rabbi Steven Rubenstein was waiting for them.

Rubin sat in front of the Aron Kodesh, the Holy Ark, and Goldberg took pictures of her holding the Torah. They even invited the rabbi to join Rubin for a few images.

“I can’t begin to tell you how thrilled I was,” Rubin says.

Growing up in Detroit and attending United Hebrew Schools, she was not allowed to have a bat mitzvah. “I still can’t read the Torah, but I can follow along in synagogue, and I do read Hebrew,” Rubin says.

The youngest of four daughters, Rubin is now the mother of three, grandmother of two and great-grandmother of one. Many of the children at synagogue call her “Bubbie.”

She’s been a member of Beth Ahm since 1953, when it was called Beth Moses. “I feel I have a very charmed life,” she says.

“Ira is honoring people by spending time getting to know them and crafting a photograph that says something about them and for them,” says Rabbi Rubenstein. “We talk about the synagogue being a second home. For someone who’s been a member as long as Ilene has been, it’s great, not surprising and meaningful for her to take that photograph here.”

Being photographed with the Torah is so symbolic of who she is, he adds.

“As a bat cohain, Ilene has spent a good amount of time up on the center bimah,” he says. Cohanim and b’nei Cohanim are called for the first aliyah in a Torah reading. Taking her picture with the Torah is “appropriate because of her connection to the synagogue and her feelings about Jewish tradition,” the rabbi says.

“There is beauty within everyone,” Goldberg says. “Part of my job is to discover that beauty and convey it in the image I am creating.”

He hopes the seniors he works with will enjoy the portraits created of them, and that their families will cherish them for generations to come.

“I’ve been told it’s a really generous thing that I’ve done,” he says. “But the reality is, they’re enriching me more than I’m giving to them. It’s a phenomenal thing to be invited into someone’s life and have the privilege of hearing their story.”

All of the portrait sessions are free to the seniors, and Goldberg produces one print for them, also free-of-charge.

Lynne Golodner is the author of nine books (including the novel WOMAN OF VALOR) and a Huntington Woods resident.

Amazon Jewelry Photography For Miami Based Client

Gymwear Apparel on ghost mannequin on white background

Amazon Infographics showcases the product details assisting in a quick sale

Tailoring product photography techniques across various industries opens up endless possibilities for innovation to showcase products with a lasting impression.

DALLAS, TEXAS, USA, March 6, 2024 /EINPresswire.com/ — Mastering Product Photography: Tailoring Techniques for Different Industries Products

EtherArts Product Photography, a leading provider of professional product photography services, is excited to announce its latest endeavor in the world of product photography. With a keen focus on tailoring techniques to suit the specific needs and aesthetics of various industries, EtherArts Photography is poised to revolutionise the way products are photographed and marketed.

In today’s online competitive market landscape, effective product photography is more crucial than ever. Whether it’s clothing, fashion, food, cosmetics, jewelry or technology, each industry presents its own set of challenges and opportunities when it comes to capturing the essence of products. Recognising this, EtherArts Product Photography has equipped itself with the skills and knowledge to excel in diverse sectors.

Apparel Photography – Ghost Mannequin Photography:
For the apparel industry, EtherArts understands that style, elegance, and storytelling are paramount. They excel in creating captivating imagery that not only highlights the apparel but also conveys the brand’s narrative and aesthetic. With an eye for detail and a passion for creativity, they strive to elevate apparel photography to new heights. With their low cost ghost mannequin photography, businesses are now able to afford professional photography for their clothing.

Jewelry Photography:
Jewelry photography presents unique challenges due to the small size, intricate details, reflective surfaces, and the need to capture the sparkle and allure of each piece. Professional studios employ various techniques to tackle these difficulties and produce stunning images that showcase the beauty and craftsmanship of jewelry. EtherArts Product Photography employs a range of techniques to tackle these difficulties, including diffused lighting setups, focus stacking, color calibration, effective composition and styling, meticulous cleaning and maintenance, and advanced post-processing. By overcoming these challenges, they are able to produce stunning images that showcase the beauty and craftsmanship of jewelry and help clients stand out in a competitive market. Their jewelry photography techniques and results can be viewed at – https://www.etherartsus.com/jewelryphotography.html

Amazon Photography:
Being an officially approved Amazon Photographer since 2014, EtherArts Photography has offered Amazon listings for products from a simple glass set to large backyard play stations. Their skill set encompasses the ability to capture small and huge products with extreme details and functionalities. With a large Amazon customer base, EtherArts have tailored custom photography solutions to tackle the technical and creative challenges effectively while doing it all at a low cost.

Food Photography:
In the realm of food photography, EtherArts Photography knows that enticing visuals can make all the difference. Their professional photographer specialises in capturing the mouthwatering allure of dishes, using lighting, composition, and styling techniques to showcase food in its best light. From vibrant close-ups to carefully curated tablescapes, they bring flavors to life through imagery.

Cosmetics Photography – Skin Care Products:
When it comes to cosmetics, EtherArts understands the importance of showcasing beauty products in a captivating and alluring manner. Their photographers excel in capturing the intricate details and textures of cosmetics, using lighting and composition to highlight their elegance and sophistication. With a focus on clean, minimalist aesthetics, they create imagery that resonates with beauty enthusiasts.

Electronics Photography:
In the fast-paced world of technology, EtherArts knows that sleek, modern visuals are essential for capturing consumers’ attention. They specialise in showcasing the functionality and design of electronic devices, using crisp lighting and minimalist compositions to highlight their features. From product shots to lifestyle imagery, they create visuals that inspire and engage.

Serving nationwide clients, EtherArts Product Photography Tampa studio is equipped to handle large and extra large product photography for Amazon clients.

For businesses looking to elevate their product photography and make a lasting impression on customers, EtherArts Product Photography offers tailored photography services that cater to diverse needs and aesthetics. From concept development to final delivery, the team is dedicated to bringing the product vision to life and helping to achieve the marketing goals.

Aarti Rane
EtherArts Product Photography & Graphics
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If a camera company could make one lens, what would get your vote? It’s a question floated around on camera forums with all kinds of wild responses that put physics aside considering what is and isn’t possible. However, if rumors are true, Sony could soon announce the kind of lens that we’d put in the wishful thinking category – the world’s first 24-70mm f/2 full-frame lens. Mama mia. 

Let’s be clear, this is a rumor, but it’s also possible. Canon wowed us with the first full-frame zoom lens with constant f/2 aperture, its RF 28-70mm F2 L USM pro lens. However, the rumored Sony lens is tipped to go wider while also offering a constant f/2 aperture, being 24-70mm, and becoming one of the best Sony lenses ever. 

My one lens for wedding and event photography is a trusty 24-70mm f/2.8 (see below). It’s a classic pro lens that’s extremely versatile. However, there are plenty of occasions that I’d like a wider aperture, for instance; to gain a shallower depth of field portraits with the lens set somewhere between 50mm and 70mm, and for lowlight indoor spaces where events are often hosted. The rumored Sony lens – story courtesy of Sony Alpha Rumors – could be just the ticket. 

If it’s true, what can we expect?

A 24-70mm f/2 lens would do the job of several prime lenses, covering 24mm, 28mm, 35mm, 50mm, and 70mm, and could be the one lens you need, especially for landscape photography, portrait, events, and weddings. Sticking to a single lens rather than constantly swapping is a godsend for pressured photo and video jobs. However, such convenience will come at a cost in more ways than one.

If Canon’s cutting-edge 28-70mm f/2 lens is anything to go by, we can expect Sony’s lens to be hefty. It’ll surely be larger and heavier than the Sony FE 24-70mm F/2.8 GM II, which weighs 1.53lb / 695g. Rumors sensibly suggest it’ll have similar proportions to the gargantuan Canon RF 28-70mm which measures 4.08 x 5.5 in / 103.8 x 139.8mm and weighs a whopping 3.15lb / 1,430g. I’ve used that lens, and it is a beast.

We can also expect Sony’s rumored lens to cost more than the Sony FE 24-70mm F/2.8, and that one already retails for around $2,000 / £2,300. I’d expect a f/2 aperture version to go for at least $3,000 / £3,300. So it’ll be a heavier and pricier lens, but it’ll also be a pro ‘GM’ lens which means that image quality should be excellent throughout the entire zoom and aperture range.

I can see the appeal of such a lens because keeping a single lens attached to the camera all day during a shoot, even if it is heavier, is a dream for pros. And if the lens materializes, it’s the kind of design showboating that we love.

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In one image taken for Vogue, Song captures a women slicing through a watermelon in mid-air with a sword. For him, watermelon represents home. It’s the main export of FuLi, a tiny village in the HeiLongJiang province of northern China where he’s from. For as long as he can remember, his mom has worked in the watermelon market, dispatching the fruit across the country. At first, FuLi sounds idyllic; his childhood was spent playing MaJiang and jumping rope with the girls in his neighborhood. However, Song was bullied at school while simultaneously grappling with his queerness in a traditional environment. It wasn’t easy, but music TV became his escape. He spent hours entranced by Jolin Tsai, A-mei Chang, Karen Mok, Elva Hsiao and Ranie Yang, who all found liberation through their empowered feminine worlds.

Song didn’t have a conventional path into photography; his first encounter with the medium was during his advertising degree. He bought a camera, started making photographs of his friends, and has never looked back.

If you had to describe Scott Kelby’s career in one word, it would be prolific. He’s written over 100 books and is best known to many as the CEO of KelbyOne, one of the most comprehensive online training platforms for photography and image processing. And yet the qualities that stand out when speaking to Scott (or reading one of his books) are his warmth, humility, and sense of humor. 

To illustrate all of these qualities, Scott will be appearing at The Photography & Video Show in Birmingham, UK next week from March 16-19, with not one but 5 talks and several book signing sessions. But he hasn’t always been taking photos, as I recently found out.

During his twenties, Scott was making a living by playing keyboards full-time in bands and clubs, or as he puts it, “mostly fulfilling the dream of being a starving musician”. After a brief stint in the finance industry, Scott quit to start a graphic design business with his wife. This led to him starting a local newspaper for Macintosh enthusiasts, which over time grew into a national magazine available on bookstands. That got him into writing and eventually a book publishing deal, and helped him launch his first live Photoshop seminar.

“I would sound a lot more intelligent if I said it was all carefully planned”, says Scott, who believes that a lot of his career was luck, a door opening when he least expected it, or one thing leading to another. It’s easy to be carried along by his optimism and energy, and it feels like he’s been making much of his luck all along. Here, we find out what he makes of AI photo editing, what the success of having the world’s best-selling photography book means, and what to expect from his talk for Canon at The Photography & Video Show 2024.

Scott Kelby

Scott Kelby is a photographer, designer, podcast host, and the award-winning author of more than 100 books, including The Digital Photography Book series and The iPhone Photography Book. He lives in the US in the Tampa Bay Area of Florida with his wife, daughter, and three “awesome doggos”.

Scott was also the president and founder of the National Association of Photoshop Professionals (NAPP), which merged with Kelbytraining.com in 2008 to become KelbyOne, a huge online training platform for Adobe Photoshop, Photography, and Lightroom. He’s currently working on a new book called Crush The Composition that looks at photographic composition outside of the typical rules.

You can meet and greet Scott Kelby at The Photography Show & Video Show between 16-18 March, 2024. Find out more about his talks here.

As INFERNO approaches its ninth anniversary, we delve into the archives of five photographers who’ve documented Lewis G Burton’s beloved queer techno club night

You could say I’m somewhat of a camera nerd. After all, I did preorder the new Fufjifilm X100VI fixed-lens camera eight minutes into its February 20 unveiling. Unfortunately, that wasn’t quite quick enough to ensure access to the highly-coveted first rounds of cameras that went out late last week.

With preorder numbers reportedly exceeding 650,000 units in China alone, the Fujifilm X100VI is almost certainly the most preordered digital camera in history. 

Reddit users are collating X100VI order data

To track the status of orders, Reddit users have collated an enormous Google Sheet where fellow Fujifilm enthusiasts can share details about when they placed their order, from whom, and what their current order status is. Unsurprisingly, the vast majority are marked as “back-ordered.”  

Taking this data with a grain of salt since trolls are always lurking about, it ultimately paints a picture of a camera company wholly unprepared to meet the enormous, yet not terribly surprising, demand for a new product. 

To secure a camera in the first batch from B&H, the Reddit sheet seems to suggest that you would have had to order within the first three minutes of the camera’s announcement. In all my years nerding out about digital cameras, I’ve never witnessed anything like this.

Why is the X100VI so popular? 

So, what’s the deal? Why are people going nuts for a camera that doesn’t even have a zoom lens? 

The X100 series has long been a favorite of hardcore photography enthusiasts. The camera’s styling, controls and user interface all mimic that of a film camera. The built-in lens is a sharp, fast 35mm equivalent affair, perfect for street, travel and even portrait photography.

Plus, it’s reasonably lightweight and compact, with a sensor that’s significantly larger than anything you’ll find in today’s top smartphones. This makes it a great choice for lowlight photography as well. 

With Fujifilm’s legendary analog “film simulations” baked in, it’s easy to see why so many folks love this little camera. For years, it remained popular yet available. That changed with the fifth iteration. 

The X100V launched in February 2020. And for the first several years of its life cycle, finding one new didn’t take much effort. 

Then came the TikTokers.

At some point in 2023, the X100V began trending on TikTok — Gen Z seemingly discovered the camera overnight. And they were obsessed, so much so that for the majority of 2023 and into 2024, the X100V has remained out of stock and unavailable everywhere, with used copies consistently selling for more than MSRP on eBay. 

Fujifilm is leaving customers and shops in the dark

I’m all for new generations discovering and embracing traditional photography — s opposed to smartphone computational photography — and the overnight success of the X100V truly warms my heart, as does the interest in the X100VI. What irks me is that Fujifilm didn’t better anticipate demand. 

That said, the historic Japanese brand did move production of the camera to China to increase outflow. However, a recent Nikkei report puts monthly output numbers at around 15,000 units. With potentially a million or more worldwide preorders, it’s possible that folks, myself included, will be waiting months rather than weeks for our cameras to ship.

Did Fujifilm prepare any cameras before the launch? And which markets are most likely to receive the first several batches? We don’t know. 

What I do know is that Fujifilm isn’t doing a great job of keeping customers or shops informed regarding delivery estimates, which is leading to a lot of frustration. Camera shops both small and large are being overwhelmed with preorders and inquiries. 

I contacted my local shop to ask what the wait time might be for an order placed on March 1 and was told eight or more months. I’m hoping those estimates are conservative. But it sounds like folks who have yet to order an X100 VI may not be able to get their hands on one for a very long time. 

Fujifilm X100VI — the wait continues

Ultimately, I’m fine waiting — absence makes the heart grow stronger. Besides, I already own one of Fujifilm’s older models, the X-E4, which offers almost all the same film simulations. So while Fujifilm sorts out its less-than-ideal camera launch, I’ll be happily snapping away. 

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