That is a huge surprise! Zeiss (Click here) just announced the development of three new prime lenses for the Fuji X system! They will launch the 12mm f/2.8, 32mm f/1.8 and 50mm f/2.8 in mid 2013 for a price around 1.000 Euro. And these are autofocus lenses with support for all camera functions!
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how insanely cool is that. I want the 12mm oh my golly I want that lens.
seriously. this is huge news for photographers, as well as the XF platform. what better way to ensure a platform succeeds in this digital age than have Zeiss start making lenses for it. This is absolutely the best thing that has come out of Photokina announcements this week.
For what I’ve read, the Fujinon lenses are already upper-class, can there be much more gain by going with Zeiss (except that they look really good – aesthetically)? And they clearly don’t seem to cheaper.
I shoot with Zeiss lenses on my XP1 already via an adapter and the Zeiss lenses tend to have more micro contrast and give a bit more three dimensional feel than the XF glass, that’s not to say I don’t like my XF glass, far from it but more options are always welcome and the fit and finish on Zeiss lenses typically give a pleasing experience when shooting.
Hi, are you using Zeiss ZM lenses or Contax G lenses?
Yes, Fuji lenses are good, except for example the 18mm which has a strong barrel distorsion in raw. Most of the time, Zeiss lenses (or Schneider lenses as they will do in MFT) don’t need firmware correction of distorsion. IMO, that’s a great news for X platform to have these Zeiss Lenses. And, I really hope the Schneider ones will be available too, not just in MFT.
@hexx ZF.2 actually. The 25mm f/2.0 and 100mm f/2.0. They weigh more than the camera so I don’t use them too often on the XP1 but when I do they are eye poping. I’ll probably stop using the 25mm on the XP1 once the Fuji 23mm comes out the 100mm though gives me the ability to also use extension tubes for better than 1:2 life size.
Does it mean the not-officially-anounced mirrorless Hasselblad will be a X-mount apsc camera ??
😉
That would be awesome! At least an aps-c Hasselblad will be slightly more within budget than a bigger-than-fullframe Hasselblad
Ok; I just saw the press release of the Hasselblad Lunar. Nevermind…..
nope, it’s re-branded NEX-7 with some wood and leather and €5000 price tag – LOOOOOOL!!!!
The only concern I have is, it is mentioned that they will not be as hefty as slr zeiss glass I hope we dont see and plastic as I would then stay with fujinon glass as I like that build quality
the new Blad seems to have a nex-7 base instead… too bad…
Great news!
Choice is always good, but slower and more expensive than their fuji counterparts? I dont get it.
This is great news. Been tempted by this system for a while, and now it’s even more attractive. Used (and still use) a Contax G1 with CZ lenses and always dreamed of a digital equivalent. Looks like this is now it!
No manual focus on the X-Mount. I just lost my interest in these.
Huh? Whatddya mean no manual focus? Of course they have manual focus!
I’m seeing 2 rings, the one closest to the camera body looks to be the aperture ring so I can only conclude that the other one is for manual focus. I have to admit, it’s worded poorly, but I do think they’ll still have manual focus:
“The new family of lenses will consist of autofocus lenses with support for all camera functions. The E-mount lenses for NEX cameras can also be focused manually. In addition to that, the lenses for the X-bayonet will come with a manual aperture setting.”
Will it be mechanical focus ring? Or sensor driven?
How much will it cost? Around $1,000 ?
Two years from now, everyone (most of ) migrated to full frame, what you do with this useless system?
Remember, more full frame sensor is poping up, the cost of it will go down enough in two years.
They may or may not. Read the article here: http://blogs.zeiss.com/photo/en/?p=2864
Quote: “Will they be manual focus lenses like most other SLR lenses made by Carl Zeiss?
The new family of lenses will consist of autofocus lenses with support for all camera functions. The E-mount lenses for NEX cameras can also be focused manually. In addition to that, the lenses for the X-bayonet will come with a manual aperture setting.”
That could be interpreted as “on the x-mount, there will be a manual aperture ring as well as the manual focus ring” OR it could be interpreted as “E mount will be focused manually. Instead of manual focus on the x mount, we have included the manual aperture ring”. It really depends on whether or not Zeiss wants to limit the size of the lenses, because adding the aperture ring is going to increase the size of the lens if they keep the manual focus ring on it.
Re-read the article. It’s clear : AF + MF on all lenses, and Aperture ring im X-mount lenses.
To JC:
So what?
The FF CSC will unlikely be as cheap as today’s X-Pro1 or X-E1 in two years. And APSC will continue to exist and be useful for a few years, let’s say at least 5 years. That’s enough for FF fanatics to switch.
Jc, go buy a full frame system then, plenty to choose from. Who’s to say these lenses won’t be usable on any future full frames anyway. Aren’t Nikon cropp lenses usable on their full frame bodies.
Both models of lens will support manual focus. X-mount adds a manual aperture ring as well. NEX E-mount does not support aperture rings. Look at all of the E-mount lenses on the Sony site – no aperture rings.
I’ve never shot with a lens as wide as the 12mm (19mm equivalent). Do lenses this wide produce convergence on vertical lines or other distortions? I’m excited that Zeiss lenses will be available, but am questioning why they chose to start with a 12mm as opposed to an 18 or 23mm which seem more generally useful.