p.1 #3 · Fujifilm to Make 4 Popular X Series Cameras in Japan Specifically for the US Market
The way Cheetolini changes his mind every week about the tariffs, they should probably wait this out. Doesn't make sense to ship all the materials back to motherland only for the tariffs to change again.
p.1 #4 · Fujifilm to Make 4 Popular X Series Cameras in Japan Specifically for the US Market
Joseph. wrote:
The way Cheetolini changes his mind every week about the tariffs, they should probably wait this out. Doesn't make sense to ship all the materials back to motherland only for the tariffs to change again.
I was thinking that too. Could be Fuji thinking long term knowing
Cheeto has a grudge against China and it's not worth it🤷♂️
p.1 #5 · Fujifilm to Make 4 Popular X Series Cameras in Japan Specifically for the US Market
I suspect that no components will change manufacturing location, just the final assembly moving. I seriously doubt they will move the plastic parts, sensor, circuit board, etc., to Japan. I would also be surprised of anyone will be able to detect any differences in "build quality". The air quotes are for the misuse of that term. Most people say build quality and aren't referring to how its screwed together but rather the design of the pieces or quality of materials.
p.1 #6 · Fujifilm to Make 4 Popular X Series Cameras in Japan Specifically for the US Market
Isn’t the law basically that the country that finishes the assembly gets to claim country of origin? If Fuji throws in the last few screws of a Chinese camera, will that do the trick or is there more to it?
p.1 #7 · Fujifilm to Make 4 Popular X Series Cameras in Japan Specifically for the US Market
All of them are now linked up on B&H. Sounds like they ship in 2 weeks. Very curious to hear reports on fit and finish, but I'm not hopeful much if anything will be different.
p.1 #8 · Fujifilm to Make 4 Popular X Series Cameras in Japan Specifically for the US Market
RoamingScott wrote:
Isn’t the law basically that the country that finishes the assembly gets to claim country of origin? If Fuji throws in the last few screws of a Chinese camera, will that do the trick or is there more to it?
There is more to it than that. There has to be some form of "transformation" but I'm not sure how that is evaluated.
p.1 #10 · Fujifilm to Make 4 Popular X Series Cameras in Japan Specifically for the US Market
RoamingScott wrote:
All of them are now linked up on B&H. Sounds like they ship in 2 weeks. Very curious to hear reports on fit and finish, but I'm not hopeful much if anything will be different.
Thank you for sharing, would be surprised if they actually ship in 1-2 weeks but I am certainly interested. I had an x100f in the past and mostly enjoyed it but felt let down by the AF. Even single point AF would mistakenly confirm focus for me frequently.
I am strongly considering trying this x100vi to complement my Zf as a take-everywhere family camera...
p.1 #12 · Fujifilm to Make 4 Popular X Series Cameras in Japan Specifically for the US Market
Adam Au wrote:
I wonder if the quality will be any different.
Probably the same parts, just Japanese fingers turning screws instead of Chinese. There is a long timeline and supply chain for parts and I can't see that changing overnight.
p.1 #13 · Fujifilm to Make 4 Popular X Series Cameras in Japan Specifically for the US Market
Adam Au wrote:
I wonder if the quality will be any different.
Given the fast change in production, along with the uncertainty surrounding the tariffs on China, I doubt it. A company like Fuji is going make every effort possible to produce the exact same camera regardless of country of manufacture, while (paradoxically) capitalizing on the "made in Japan" mythology.
Though I'm not an expert on this, I think Fuji (or any other company for that matter) has to demonstrate that the product underwent a "substantial transformation" in Japan for Japan to qualify as the country of origin under US (and international) law.
That is probably more than just tightening screws, although I don't know the ins-and-outs of it. I'm sure Fuji knows exactly what it's doing not to run afoul of international and domestic law prohibiting goods from being improperly declared.
p.1 #14 · Fujifilm to Make 4 Popular X Series Cameras in Japan Specifically for the US Market
I somehow doubt they’ll entirely change the materials, although with the transformation law I feel they would have to. And if they do such a thing it kind of leaves the people who bought the original model feeling disenfranchised. Compared to something like the X-Pro 2 I’d say the X100VI feels a bit less well built material wise. If that changes significantly it will be both pretty cool and a little sad.
Also if it’s only for the US market I feel like the end goal is to avoid tariffs and having a “better built” US only model would also not fare well for reputation. But who knows.
p.1 #15 · Fujifilm to Make 4 Popular X Series Cameras in Japan Specifically for the US Market
Ranchito wrote:
I somehow doubt they’ll entirely change the materials, although with the transformation law I feel they would have to. And if they do such a thing it kind of leaves the people who bought the original model feeling disenfranchised. Compared to something like the X-Pro 2 I’d say the X100VI feels a bit less well built material wise. If that changes significantly it will be both pretty cool and a little sad.
Also if it’s only for the US market I feel like the end goal is to avoid tariffs and having a “better built” US only model would also not fare well for reputation. But who knows....Show more →
There must be more than tariffs behind the decision of starting a production in Japan. As Petapixel notes, change in production will take time. Given current uncertainty in US politics nobody what is the tariff situation after one or two years from here.
My assumption is that Fujifilm, known for limited production capacity, is mostly looking for ways to increase it. Production is Japan is obviously more expensive than in China, but current tariffs made the decision economically viable as US is anyway seeing price hikes.
p.1 #16 · Fujifilm to Make 4 Popular X Series Cameras in Japan Specifically for the US Market
RoamingScott wrote:
All of them are now linked up on B&H. Sounds like they ship in 2 weeks. Very curious to hear reports on fit and finish, but I'm not hopeful much if anything will be different.
Today the link is only showing the FUJIFILM X-T50 ?
p.1 #19 · Fujifilm to Make 4 Popular X Series Cameras in Japan Specifically for the US Market
Sharona wrote:
I see this over and over, so: Someone please provide specific areas in which the X100VI is not as well built as the X100V. Thanks
There was a very vocal member who bought an early copy that had a wiggly side access door or connector cover. From that he deduced that Chinese assembly was inferior to Japanese. I have one and my door isn't wiggly. Remember, Chinese workers assemble the iPhones.
p.1 #20 · Fujifilm to Make 4 Popular X Series Cameras in Japan Specifically for the US Market
TENOG wrote:
Chinese workers assemble the iPhones.
Companies in every country in the world make trashy products, and there are certainly plenty of them coming out of certain places in China. But there are also companies in many o those places that make products of very high quality. And there’s plenty of evidence that the fact that a product is made in China doesn’t necessarily mean it isn’t made well.
I’d bet that if the X100vi is made (whatever that means) in Japan, that the materials, design, and construction will be indistinguishable from that of the versions made in China.
