Fujifilm X200 may be getting ready to make an appearance soon

It appears that the time for a refresh is drawing near. Last year, Fujifilm unveiled the X100 in India, and it was the world’s first camera with a hybrid viewfinder. With it being nearly two years since the camera was first announced, it appears that the brand is preparing to refresh this model by unveiling a successor to it in the form of the X200.

As per a report by Photorumors, the website states that the Fujifilm X100 has been discontinued and is not available for purchase on an online retailer. This would mean that Fujifilm may be preparing to unveil the X200 at Photokina in September 2012.

X100's successor coming by September?

As of now, there is no word on what the X200 will feature but we should expect the model to feature a major upgrade over the current generation X100. In a related report by Photorumors, which was posted last year, the website has extracted information from a DPReview thread, where a forum member states, “Have had my X100 for a week now ... puts any of the 4/3 compacts out there to shame. Pretty sure they have a winner here...and Fuji has confirmed an X300 next year that will have interchangeable lenses. I'm in the pro photo supply biz...this is from Fuji. They have decided to pursue what they call the serious prosumer market. The plans are that in the fall they will release an X200...a simplified 'p&s' version of the x100. If these cameras do well they plan on the interchangeable lens version sometime next year.” This gives us a glimpse into what we can expect to see in the next model if it launches by September of this year.

If you are in the dark regarding what the Fujifilm X100 is about and want to snag yourself a model before the stocks get taken off the shelves, then this bit of information will be useful for you. The X100 features a hybrid viewfinder. It allows you to see real time image data such as shutter speed, aperture, white balance, and ISO settings as an overlay on the optical viewfinder. This means you get the perfect frame for your picture, thanks to the optical viewfinder, while receiving real time image data while you shoot. On the specification side, the X100 packs in a 12.3 MP sensor with a 23 mm Fujinon lens. Their customized APS-C CMOS sensor and the new EXR image processor ensure good quality pictures. The camera comes with a 2.8-inch display, supports 720p video recording (24fps), HDMI-mini out and is powered by a Li-ion battery.

As of now, the Fujifilm X100 is still available in India through online retailer Flipkart for Rs. 74,999. This model may be on the pricier side, but designed for those who are enthusiast-level photographers, and do not mind spending a big buck on a mirrorless camera.

Photokina is considered to be the world’s largest trade fair for photography and many manufacturers take the opportunity to showcase their products at this event. So with the X100 being unveiled year before last at the event, there is a high possibility that Fujifilm will take the stage once more to release the successor to this model.