According to an anonymous source with nick-name (thanks), the XF100-400 will be announced on January 15 (along with the Fujifilm X-Pro2, with its combined ISO/Shutter dial a la Pentax Spotmatic).
Always according to this source, it should cost about $/€1,800… 100 more, 100 less 😉
Up to you to the the grain of salt or not 😉
The internal Fuji roadmap that you can see below, says that the XF100-400 will be available in March.
stay tuned,
Fuji X Forum, Facebook, RSS-feed and Twitter
69 Responses
$1905. US I’m ready for a hand canon!
The Canon 100-400L II? Or did you mean “cannon”? 😛
Yeah Cannon Just got up and brain was coffee starved!
Maybe still is a little bit ‘caus I don’t think regular cannons need a capital C.
Unless it is some Chinese replica brand. ;o)
Personally I don’t see the point of this lens for ME. Sure extra length is cool and all, but I see this lens as more a sports or perhaps birding/planes lens. The fuji system just doesn’t have the AF chops to pull it off.
I will skip it for a 100-400 from Canon or 150-600 from Sigma for my usage (for use with a Canon body for sports etc.).
YMMV.
all that crying about AF is so 2012…
gr8 b8 m8 I’d r8 8/8
With all due respect, I think you are being a little short sighted. The current Fuji line up may not have the AF capabilities of the current Canons, but seeing as they will be launching this lens at the same time as the X-Pro2, I feel it is highly likely we will be looking at more AF improvements. Even so, Fuji are improving their cameras via firmware all the time. New hardware should bring even more advancements. :0)
I don’t disagree which is why I said “for me”. My 1Dx does sports really well NOW. 😉
I do plan on replacing my Xpro1 with the Xpro2, so I’d welcome better AF with open arms. Heck I might even be tempted to sell off my Canon gear if Fuji could pull some miracles.
Well, that applies to Canon as well as Canon might soon release the next gen of bodies. I don’t think it’s a good idea to count the features “to come” when purchasing a camera. When it finally arrived you might found better choice.
Erm, I think you missed the point – sorry. The lens hasn’t been released either :0)
Stealthy Ninja pointed out that there isn’t currently a body that can keep up with this new lens (AF-wise). I pointed out that a new body is being released at the same time as the lens, so one would hope that they might match :0)
There are confusion. I refer to your statement of AF improvement with XPro2. The hope is it would be the same sensor with a6000, but that camera has issues as it goes down to 0eV low light focusing. On the other hand, lens motor has a role to play in AF speed. Only a few Fuji lens has fast linear motors, which doesn’t drive heavy elements well.
Not sure what you mean about the A6000. I don’t see why you would compare it to the X-Pro 2. As I understand it, the X-Pro2 will have a new sensor.
I would be very surprised indeed if Fuji didn’t improve the AF with the new camera. Wouldn’t you? The fact that they are releasing a new telephoto lens at the same time is a pretty sure sign that it is designed to work well with it. Nothing else would make sense. However, as neither you nor I have a crystal ball, we shall have to wait and see :0)
A new 24MP sensor, if provided by Sony there aren’t many other sensors which share similar spec. That’s the best Sony could offer in terms of focusing system.
As for AF, it could just remain the same. As far as my experience shows, it’s already fast enough with XF 1655. My D810 isn’t noticeably faster when neither hunts due to complex lighting or whatever. But other lens that has no linear motor won’t go faster. However linear motors provide weak torque, which means they won’t work very well with large and heavy elements. XF 16-55 uses 2 linear motor, XF 50-140 uses 3, and XF 90 has 4 of them. A little googling suggests these 3 lens have larger and larger moving element for focusing.
I’d wish I could stay with Fuji but current models suffer hugely from out-dated sensor. I find it difficult to tune pleasing color out of it in post-processing. I now settled with a Df. Hopefully X-pro 2 could bring Fuji back in game.
Interesting. That’s the first time I’ve heard someone say they don’t like Fuji colours.
Colour, or colour perception is very subjective.
As you mentioned, very subjective. In fact i favor something between provia and velvia. Fuji is just a good start to get it done with less effort. I can tune files from df to mimic fuji files, but it takes effort.
Indeed Fuji color is not bad but I’m not sure everybody would like it. Canon users (40% of total market) and Nikon users (30%) would definitely have disagreement in color rendering.
However, to me, I’d like to make colors in my photos unique that you can know it’s me at first glance. Default color is a no go for me.
the AF probably has a lot more to do with the software than the on-sensor hardware.
I suppose Fuji already worked out software they need. Hardware limits low-light capability, which could be a problem.
you don’t need linear motors for fast focusing. the 14mm (and many other) are proof for that. (Furthermore there are no linear motors in use for DSLR bodies ;))
You must also notice the 14/2.8 has very short hyper-focal distance and DOF wont be too shallow. XF90 is a very good example for another extreme.
I know. I just wanted to point out, that linear motors might not be the best decision (considering not only speed, but also size, weight and cost) for any lens. Especially wide angles seem to work great with the good old steppers.
I used the 90mm for some sport and playing dogs and to be honest: I don’t know how this lens performs so much faster/better in AF-C than it does in AF-S. Most shots were spot on (it’s good in AF-S too, but AF-C was incredible). Those 4 motors seem to work not only fast but also precise.
Where Fuji is at so far is that lens motors are limiting AF speed. Bodies are already quick enough determining focus.
Umm, no, not so. Long lenses are used for far more than BIF, which does require an AF system more along the lines what DSLRs offer. However, for more static targets at a distance, this lens will be a godsend and well worth the price (which, if true, is definitely lower than I expected). For example, I’ve used the 55-200 (which is somewhat short for this purpose) to shoot owls and waterfowl with great success. The only thing holding me back is reach… the AF on my X-T1 is more than sufficient for this purpose and my keeper rate has been excellent.
Not sure why people seem to assume that the only applications for super tele lenses requires top notch AF… simply isn’t true.
Umm, no, not so. For nature photography alone, long lenses are used for far more than BIF, which does require an AF system more along the lines what DSLRs offer. However, for more static targets, usually shot at a distance, this lens will be a godsend and well worth the price (which, if true, is definitely lower than I expected). For example, I’ve used the 55-200 (which is somewhat short for this purpose) to shoot owls and waterfowl with great success. The only thing holding me back is reach… the AF on my X-T1 is more than sufficient for this purpose and my keeper rate has been excellent.
Not sure why people seem to assume that the only applications for super tele lenses requires top notch AF… it simply isn’t true.
Can’t wait.
Looking at the roadmap, only the 120mm is missing now.
Any idea where Fuji is taking us in the future?
Will we see new focal lengths or will we see updated versions of current lenses?
Or maybe Fuji wants to put more efforts on something else (new cameras or ?) now that their lineup is pretty complete?
I guess it’s too early for updates to old lenses.
And there are still some lenses missing, that every system should have.
a fast ultrawide zoom (something like a 10-24mm f/2.8) to name one
And then there were the rumors about some ultra fast lenses (33mm f/1.0)
Personally I think, Fuji is looking, how some slower lenses (35mm f/2.0) sell – if it sells great, maybe we will finally see something like a 23mm f/2.0 or 56mm f/1.8
oh yeah I forgot about that 10-24 f/2.8! thanks!
That would complete the trinity along with the 16-55 and 50-140!
About those f/2.0 lenses, I’m not super excited about them (just a personal preference). Since we’re already on a crop sensor, I find the extra stop to be very useful. I can’t count the times where I was so glad to have that f/1.4 on my 35mm. Although the 35 f/2 focuses faster and seems better in many other ways, I’m not even considering it. I’ll wait for an updated 35 f/1.4 instead (if they ever make it).
That’s just a personal opinion but I’d rather have Fuji concentrate on faster primes (1.4 and faster) rather then slowing down.
I am with you on this one. Personally I have NO use for slow lenses. But it seems that some slow, cheap lenses (and the 35mm f/2 will be cheap once the first cashback “hits it”) are important for every system. Canon, Nikon and µFT have some. And Sony has them exclusively 😉
I’d jump on a 33mm f/1 in day one, but I guess overall those slow f/1.8 or f/2 lenses are at least as important
ähem, a f1.8 lens , a slow lens?
For sure some never had a Spotmatic with 35/3.5 or 24/3.5 Takumars… Ooh the horror back then 🙂
sure it’s fast overall, but compared to fujis f/1.2 and f/1.4 lenses (and possible upcoming f/1.0) a f/2 (or f/1.8) is slower. So it would be the slow prime within the Fuji lineup ^^
These are the words of someone who has never actually tried to hold focus with a very fast lens. The depth of focus of a 33mm f/1 wide open would be wafer thin. You are almost, but not quite, entirely a bit out of focus with a very fast prime.
I say this from someone who used to have a Noctilux on my Leica M6, and, aside from the whole ‘focused on nothing’ thing, preferred the acuity of the Summicron at almost every aperture (they were more or less identical at f/8) and ultimately switched back. The Noctilux was almost justifiable when ISO 800 was scarily high, but now we can get a better result from ISO 6400, I find super-fast lenses hard to justify except for really specialist uses (like surveillance).
would it? there are enough 50mm f/1.4 lenses, the Sigma I used myself. And the 85L is a beast too I can tell you.
Even manually focusing – I have not used a Nocti yet, but bot a 35mm as well as a 50mm Summilux.
I don’t really see the problem with focusing to be honest (since the contrast AF is precise too)
I would be happy if they sold a 23/2, 56/2
They probably should put some engineering into their flash system.
Wow that’s cheap actually.
It really is. If it delivers performance, like the last lenses did (outstanding), it’s a bargain!
Hmm, needs a bigger X-body soon.
Has any reliable info/speculation been offered as to whether this will have an “inner zooming mechanism”, as Fuji calls it (like the 50-140)?
At that price tag I’m guessing yes. Also, I would think Fuji will only make inner mechanism lenses from now on unless they want to make a budget lens.
no “inner zooming mechanism”
Would make it way too big
I hope the fuji 100-400 beats the Canon 100-400. With new AF coming, this could be great. Looking forward to the X-T2.
I wonder if it’ll use an advanced focusing system like the Olympus 40-140.
I don’t see, how this would make a big difference
Oly 40-150 is the only zoom to use two focusing motors internally. It’s really impressive in terms of operation. Fast focusing from.say infinity..and then something close up right out of the minimum focusing distance is achieved almost instantaneously. With the EM5 II the accuracy even with CAF has greatly improved.
Yeah well, Fuji’s 50-140mm uses 3 focusing motors:
http://fujifilm-x.com/xf-lens/en/drive_control/#3rdPage
I like where this is going….
🙂
Yeah, so fast, then brakes are needed to stop the glass. Awesome 🙂
Check the specs of the Oly and you’ll know what he means. That lens uses two separate focus groups, each with their own linear motor. By combining the two movements supposedly the AF is extremely fast. The Fuji uses three motors but all of them move the same group.
the improvement is mostly the close focus distance. I don’t really see the speed improvement (and since Fuji uses 4 motor on the 90mm let’s see how many it will be an the 100-400)
Thanks for the info.
16-55 twin linear motor
50-140 tripple linear motor
90mm quad linear motor
100-400 …. 😉
a 100-400mm shapable high refraction index translucent polymer lens pancake telezoom.. what else?
Nespresso ?
it uses two focusing groups (with each a linear motor).
However the improvement that I have found are not speed improvements but a better close focus distance (thus higher magnification). (The 50-140 isn’t really slower when the body is not limiting (enough light))
And to be honest: I would like the 100-400 to perform best with distances near infinity and not at 1m
So while it is a nice idea to implement dual focus groups, I don’t see the point for the 100-400
Latest Fuji lens have 2-4 linear motors. This one could have more.
More expensive than the Sigma, Tamron and Nikon equivalents?
Higher IQ, weather-sealed, made in Japan, etc….
Got any IQ samples to compare?
Also, the Tamron and Sigma are nearly half price when on sale. I never mentioned Canon but their 100-400 is in a different league,
I shoot sports with Nikon gear, but have used Canon bodies and lenses for some jobs for media with their own gear, and can state without hesitation that the Canon 100-400 is a superb performer under sufficient light. From focus speed and accuracy to image quality, it is a steal at around the same price as the 70-200 f2.8, and I’d get it if I shot Canon.
The street price of the Canon EF 100-400L II f/4.5-5.6 IS USM is around 2100 EUR here. Then 1800 is competitive I’d say.
Sorry off topic, we alll know Samsung is getting out the camera business, but tonight this rumor was published:
http://www.mirrorlessrumors.com/some-disruptive-samsung-rumor-coming-soon/
I haven’t the slightest idea what’s goinig on there at Samsung.
Samsung is selling their camerabusiness to Samesong (= Canon …) ?
You’re gonna need a bigger boat (camera) to handle that beast.
https://youtu.be/2I91DJZKRxs
would love the lens for wildlife photography, but if it is £1200-£1500, that is a lot of cash to drop on a lens especially if an X-S2 is released with similar reach (all be it with a 1″ sensor) at a similar price.
The advantage of a single lens system for trips (safaris for example) where you can move from ~20mm to 600mm when changing lenses is not easy in a dirty or dusty environment.
This lens gets you from 150 – 600mm without changing lenses.
However if an X-S2 is released at ~£800-1000 id be more inclined to spend the extra on a lens such as a 56 f/1.2 which I will use more often
Want this! With this lense my list will be complete. At an effective focal length of 600mm I will be able to do some decent wide field astrophotography.