Fujifilm could be making a quirky digital compact that shoots vertically like your phone – and it's a polarizing concept

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The difference here is that Fujifilm’s rumored camera isn’t analog but supposedly digital.

So, is a digital half-frame camera a smart idea or a gimmick?

A Fujifilm X-M1 camera resting on a folio

The Fujifilm X-M1 is one of Fujifilm’s smallest X-series cameras. Could a rumored half-frame digital compact look similar?

Is a digital ‘half-frame’ compact camera a gimmick?

Fujifilm is a trending camera brand itsX100VIis one of the most popular and sought-after cameras in recent memory.

Analog photography is also trending, with the half-framePentax 17proving to be one of the hits this year.

Pentax 17 compact film camera front-on, in the hand with boats in background

The Pentax 17 is a popular half-frame analog camera that shoots pictures in vertical format when held horizontally, like above.

Let’s say the rumor is true.

But what would it be like to actually take pictures and videos with said camera?

Or you might sacrifice video resolution by cropping into your horizontal videos to make a vertical one.

Sure, shooting half-frame is counter intuitive at first.

Being a dedicated camera, you would also get a superior user experience over using your phone instead.

Half-frame makes even more sense for analog photography, where your photos are permanently exposed onto a film roll.

I can see a digital half-frame compact resonating with many people, and being ridiculed by others.