Rumor has it that Fujifilm could soon introduce the X-Half, a half-frame digital camera that shoots the digital equivalent of the half-35mm analog photos of yore.
What that exactly means in a digital camera is still quite unclear. According to what has leaked so far, the X-Half will implement a vertically mounted 1” sensor, inviting users to make mostly vertical shots that could be turned into diptychs and triptychs.
The camera could become an interesting intersection between the nostalgic aesthetic of the half-frame and the contemporary familiarity of vertical, social network-ready pictures.
Whatever the concept behind it, the X-Half certainly won’t share the fundamental reason that pushed camera makers to bring half-frame cameras to the market.
These cameras were usually intended as budget-conscious solutions, allowing photographers to capture twice as many images on a standard roll of 35mm film. Over time, the format has evolved into a distinct artistic medium. The smaller, often vertical frame forces the photographer to reconsider composition, creating a unique aesthetic. Modern half-frame enthusiasts embrace these limitations and constraints as creative opportunities.
As we wait to see what Fujifilm has in store for the new X-Half, we put together 9 classic cameras into a gallery that explores the history of the half-frame format.