First Impressions of the Fujifilm X-Half. What is a half-frame camera?

Hot off the presses! Fujifilm have unveiled the exciting, all-new X-Half. This camera is exciting enough at first glance, resembling their classic X-series mirrorless range, or rather the exceptional X100 series of compact cameras, but coming in a significantly smaller stature. But it is a look at the key features that make this camera such a knockout. With its all-new 1-inch image sensor, the X-Half is what’s known as a half-frame camera, which were first made popular in the days of film. Read on the discover what exactly a half-frame camera is, and what else you can look forward to in your first play with the Fujifilm X-Half.

With the resurgence of film photography, it only makes sense that some of film’s more popular styles are making a comeback when designing new digital cameras. Half-frame film cameras effectively split the film in half, so that two images can be captured in a single frame of film - this means a standard roll of 36 exposure 35mm camera film can now capture a whopping 72 images.

This splitting of film makes half-frame film cameras more cost-effective and travel-friendly, as it means you have to carry fewer rolls of film with you and change film less. But how does half-frame translate to a digital world, where large memory cards make storage space much less of an issue?

When shooting with a half-frame camera, holding the camera in the standard orientation produces a vertical image, while turning it into “portrait orientation” is necessary to produce a standard horizontal image. Vertical images and videos are hugely popular in the age of social media, as they are much more compatible with smartphone screen viewing. This gives half-frame camera users a leg up when framing shots for online sharing, while they are also gifted with the unique opportunity of presenting two images side by side for a compelling storytelling experience - this is where the Fujifilm X-Half comes in.

The Fujifilm X-Half takes advantage of its natural vertical orientation by including an exciting “2-in-1” mode, which allows users to present two images of videos simultaneously, side by side. This exciting digital compact camera includes a vertical LCD screen at the rear, which gives a clear indication of what the sensor is capturing, and as we discussed above, half frame cameras like the X-Half capture vertical images when held horizontally, and horizontal images when held in the vertical orientation.

Is that a film advance lever that we see? Yes, and no. The X-Half is obviously a digital camera, but it does offer a brilliant film simulation mode, which gives users the opportunity to select a film simulation and number of shots available, just like loading a roll of film. Winding the frame advance lever takes you to the next shot, and like the film days of old, you won’t be able to see your results until your pre-determined number of shots are taken! When the “roll” is complete, it will be transferred to the new X-Half app, which acts just like a digital darkroom, where you can view, edit and share your images, and even create contact sheets!

The Fujifilm X-Half includes 13 of Fuji’s world-famous film simulations, which can quickly and easily be selected for each shot accordingly, using the second mini LCD screen at the rear - in a nice nod to the past, this looks just like a film reminder tab from an old film camera.

The Fujifilm X-Half is an ultra-portable digital camera, that is smaller in length than most smartphones and weighs in at a lightweight 240 grams. As well as the LCD screen that we discussed above, this camera also offers a classic optical viewfinder - shooting with this allows users to capture up to 880 images on a fully-charged battery.

This camera includes a 1-inch CMOS sensor and a versatile 32mm f2.8 fixed focal length, which is great for pointing and shooting, and is in fact the same focal length found on Fuji’s classic QuickSnap disposable cameras! If you like the hands-on approach to photography, there is a nice aperture ring around the front of the lens for making exposure and depth of field adjustments. There us a very handy LED light at the front of the X-Half, which is great for giving that much needed boost of light for both photo and video work.

We’ve talked about the film simulations on offer, but the X-Half is also jam packed with creative filters. There are range of these photography presets available, including three new filters - "Light Leak", "Halation", and "Expired Film", and eight on loan from the Fujifilm Instax range of Instant Cameras. This highlights the X-Half’s standing of a mid-point between point and shoot photography, and the more advanced style that Fuji’s X-Series range of cameras is designed for.

If you are seeking an authentic film photography look in your digital photography, the Fujifilm X-Half is a great option, thanks to its wonderful grain effect, which can add a select amount of grain to your photos and videos, mimicking the aesthetic textures of film photography. For the finishing touches, a date stamp can also be added to your images.