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XF 56mm f/1.2 ($999): USA AmazonUS / BHphoto / Adorama – EUROPE: wexUK / PCHstore / DigitalRev
X100S black ($1299): USA AmazonUS / BHphoto / Adorama – EUROPE: wexUK / PCHstore
FinePix S1 ($499): USA: AmazonUS / BHphoto / Adorama – EUROPE:
AmazonUS list of all new Fuji gear launched by Fujfilm at the CES here
Samples
First sample image by Nathan Elson here. (thx for the link Tjeerd)
Press releases
X100S all-black
Fujifilm English press release / German press release /
XF56mm
Fujifilm English press release / Specs / German press release
FinePix cameras
S1 / FinePix S9400W and S9200 / FinePix S8600 / FinePix XP70
instax SHARE Smartphone Printer SP-1
New lens roadmap
XF 56press release
The XF56mmF1.2 R is less than half the size of an equivalent lens on a full-frame camera ** and offers fast, quiet autofocusing that ensures stress-free shooting for both the photographer and the model. It also delivers incredible resolving power for high quality results that are enhanced by the unique skin tone reproduction technology found in Fujifilm’s X-mount cameras. Using the XF56mm and selecting one of two PRO Negative modes from the Film Simulation menu on the camera body will ensure users can capture beautiful portraits with rich tonal gradations reminiscent of images from film cameras.
Like all other lenses in the XF line up, the XF56mmF1.2 R is designed with an impressive attention to detail. It has a design that sits comfortably in the hand and exterior features including a metal aperture ring for a premium quality feel.
Advanced optical design for professional portraits
The lens’ new optical design featuring 11 elements in 8 groups delivers impressive results. The design includes two ED (extra low-dispersion) elements and one double-sided aspherical element, plus four elements with a convex surface facing the subject, which combine to reduce spherical and chromatic aberrations. They also ensure the best possible image resolution, even when the lens is at its widest aperture of F1.2.
Image quality is further enhanced by Fujifilm’s proprietary HT-EBC coating that’s used on all lens surfaces to reduce ghosting and flare, while the seven-blade rounded diaphragm produces the creamy smooth bokeh effect that’s become synonymous with XF series lenses.
Attach the XF56mmF1.2 R lens to a body that supports the Lens Modulation Optimizer*** and picture quality leaps even higher thanks to the automatic correction of diffraction when shooting at smaller apertures.
Fast autofocus, silent operation
The XF56mmF1.2 R combines an inner focus mechanism*4 and a DC coreless motor for rapid autofocusing speeds, which are boosted further when used with a X-series camera body that supports phase detection AF. The structure and positioning of the focusing unit reduces sound and vibration for silent operation and with no lens barrel movement during focusing, the structure effectively prevents dust particles from getting into the lens and degrading picture quality.
Premium build quality
In keeping with the XF lens legacy, the 56mmF1.2 R features a durable, metal construction — including the aperture and focusing rings — to ensure a high quality feel. The aperture ring is designed to ensure it’s easy to detect ‘clicks’ between f-stops, while the focusing ring is both comfortable in use and has the perfect amount of torque so it’s simple to focus precisely.
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- * 35mm format equivalent
- ** According to Fujifilm data
- *** Fujifilm X-E2 as of January 2014
- *4 A mechanism that moves small elements in the middle or at the rear of the lens, while keeping the large, front elements stationery
187 Responses
Prices look good.
I’m ecstatic! So much awesomeness. A black X100S, a very nice roadmap, a decent price for the 56mm, i must say i had feared it could be $$$$, but it turned out okay.
Only one is still missing for me, a compact short tele like a 90mm F2 (135mm equiv), because one must have a longer lens but i don’t like these big zooms very much .. well i like ’em, but don’t like their size. The 50-140/2.8 obviously isn’t going to be any better in that aspect. 🙁
I’m guessing the black X100S is going to take a while to match up in price with the original chrome version. And i wonder if third parties will have a hard time to match the new black coating, because the original Fuji hoods etc are too expensive!
Oh and i am definitely curious what’s underneath the black coating. I’m guessing it’s not golden brass, so that’s a bummer, that would make it look awesome after heavy use.
Now i guess it will look like a heavily used Hasselblad X-Pan (no not a Lunar, back from before they sold out their name!) http://www.fredmiranda.com/forum/ufiles/94/474294.jpg
The 50-140 2.8 and the other super-telecom looks to be pretty heavy since they got tripod mounts.
Supertelezoom* damn autocorrect.
Price of the 56mm looks really good indeed! Well done Fuji! Can’t wait to see reviews of it (although I’m pretty sure I’ll preorder it before I can read them…!)
Second that. The price is a real bargain comparing to Canon 85mm 1/2 (cost twice :)). Cannot wait to see the actual reviews. Go Fuji!
I don’t think it’s fair to compare the price of a 56mm lens that only covers APS with a much longer lens from Canon that covers APS and full frame.
The Canon 50mm lenses are much closer in focal length.
yes compare a 56 1.2 apsC vs an 85 1.2 FF it result in a bargain.. 🙂
may be if you compare a 56 1.2 apsc to a 50 1.4 full frame situation it’s a little different.
but if you compare a 56 1.2 to a 85 1.8 FF (to have equal DOF and FOV) ??
Why don’t you compare it with a 50mm lens on an APS-C? Surely that makes more of a logical comparison as far as cost is concerned.
56mm is closer to 50mm than it is to 85mm.
I don’t understand why dpreview says available in February, while amazon preorder link (which I just used to preorder, thanks Patrick) shows April. I am going on vacation in mid-February, so February vs April makes a difference to me.
thx to you david
I just preordered the 56mm using your link. Thanks for your hard work Patrick!
great! thanks a lot RKS
I have got info: end of February
Patrik, dont forget about new instax-share
thx
The super telezoom looks like a 100-400 class lens to me. Guess I get to wait one more year. Still glad to see it on there, though. I’m usually more of a prime shooter, so I probably won’t go for the “pro” zooms, but, I could consider swaping out my 55-200 for the 50-140, depending on a few factors (price, size, performance improvements).
Looks like a good lineup for this year’s lenses. I hope they don’t get too far behind.
Listed my 55-200 today, will definitely be picking up the new zoom.
You know we’ll have to wait almost a year for the 50-140mm? Better wait, or we get angry comments out here every day again ‘fuji promised this and that, where is my bla bla bla’. What we’ve learned: don’t take a roadmap like a contract. 😉
Checked out the specs on Fuji’s site, and that weight of 405 http://www.fujifilm.com/products/digital_cameras/x/fujinon_lens_xf56mmf12_r/specifications/ grams definitely makes this the smallest and lightest 85/1.2 lens around. In fact it is lighter than any 85/1.4 lens around.
It roughly does have the same size as the Canon 1.8 85mm lens (in fact it is a little bit smaller and a little bit lighter).
So, it is not miracle small.
What I am wondering about: Why again a open, coreless DC-Motor und not the silent linear motor of the 18-55?
It will make the same sound as the 14mm and 23mm, which for sure is not very loud but also for sure not silent.
Overall still a very nice and tempting lens.
Except it’s not a 85/1.2 lens. Your comparison is misleading. My phone has a 28/2.2 lens that weights as much as a feather.
Maybe that’s because it’s a 56mm lens!
I think you should compare 56/1.2 with 85/1.8. Both have identical focal length and DOF. There are other lighter 85/1.8 lenses such as Nikon 85/1.8g (Approx 350g, $497)
They have similar field of view, not focal length.
Good one, and true.
1k. Not bad.
It would be a nice combo along with the 23mm.
It’s a little to close to the 35mm in fl and a little specialty to spend the 1k only on a portrait lens.
Bought it thru this site. Thanks Patrick! Really hope it comes in February or March from amazon…
thanks Ian! Thanks to everybody who decided to support this blog.
Hi Patrick,
Are they still announcing a weather sealed X series at CP+?
Thanks
Z
don’t worry “Z”… the weather sealed X will come later this month or at the CP+.
Thanks for the reply Patrick!
That’s probably the only thing holding me back from going forth with the X-E2.
back to my thumb twiddling and wait for January to pass by…
Z
Hi,
Any idea on what body that weather sealed model will be based?
Any chance it could be a X-Pro1s?
should be SLR syled, inspired by the FujicaST.
OK, thanks.
I guess it will be placed between the X-E2 and the X-Pro1 in the line-up… ? price and features-wise
Well, inspired by any of your favorite vintage SLR’s from the golden age really. The Fujica ST isn’t really any kind of memorable reference point for anything, aside from (not even the whole) Fuji logo up front if you ask me. 😉
Also it’s quite a large one compared to the alternatives. If it has to be Fujica there’s the Fujica AX series. 🙂
http://www.flickr.com/photos/zengtw/5662613072/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/res2000/4800778897/
http://image2.xitek.com/forum/200701/81/8193/8193_1168733600.jpg
http://www.peterbout.nl/wp-content/uploads/Fujica-AX-5.jpg
Patrick, put my money on X-S2 for weather sealed X. Good hunch from Fuji rep at Yodabashi. Maybe he blows smoke, but he steered me to X100 originally
Sadly, I have not heard anything about an X-S2 from my sources. So I think your money is save in you bank account if you wait for the X-S2 ;-). Does the rep also told you something about the upcoming weather sealed SLR-styled camera?
Feel free to contact me via email
for the sake of comparison, are the prices below the correct prices suggested by Fujifilm USA?
14mm – $899
23mm – $849
56mm – $999
What im missing is one prime – 24mm equiv -> xf 16mm f/2
Did you see the roadmap? High Speed Wide Angle lens !!!
Yes, but who know for sure? Maybe it will be 10mm prime
The roadmap has it sitting between the 14mm and the 18mm, therefore it is almost certainly a 16mm. Your wish may well come true…
Well the high speed wide angle lens is positioned between the 14 and the 18 on the roadmap so I’m guessing it might be a 16mm.
A 16 mm is right on my wishlist in either 2.0 or 1.4.
Yes, hope so… Why didnt they specified? 🙁
P.s. Image of that wide lend is the same as 23
“High speed wide-angle lens”
Since we already have 14/2.8, it may be XF 10/2.8.
Not sure I’d have a need for a new wide angle prime somewhat wider than the 14 2.8 and at the same f stop, especially if it costs appx. US$1000 or so.
In most (but not all) cases, I can just take a step or two back for the shot.
On the other hand, a 1.4 somewhere between 10 and 14 (15 to 21 equiv.) might be very useful for some of the photography I do, but I don’t know if that can be done optically and at a price below US$1,000.
By way of comparison, Nikon has a 24mm 1.4 (APS-C equiv. 16mm), but it’s FF and costs US$2,200!
16mm (24mm equiv) is a sweet spot for street photography. Guys – how crazy would it be to hope this is a F1.4 lens? Would the physics of it make this lens absurdly massive?
Nikkor 24/1.4 isnt too much big, so hope
Yes, but see just above re the cost!
This is what I hope for. Since, I do mostly street, I prefer 24mm over 28 or 35 equiv. I know guys swear by 35, but it feel too long for me. But elt see something crazy like f/1.2
wow, this is a great roadmap!
They really got things right to please almost every kind of photographer in there.
Can’t wait to get my X-E2 and a couple of primes: with a good jacket and a pair of photo gloves, I won’t be much home…
No super-long prime? I’d much prefer that to a super-long zoom…
16-55mm, f2,8 = YESS
HI Patrick,
Any more news/gossip about the SLR-like body?
Al
not until now
Any idea of the size and weight of the f2,8 zoom ?
I was expecting this lens to be more money than that. It’ll be a peach if the past lenses are anything to go by.
The 2.8 zooms will finally allow me to sell my 5D and 70-200 2.8 (which I only keep for the wedding meal and speeches!
Still waiting on the W/S X camera and dual card slots would make my 2014 a LOT easier as I have some weddings away (one in Mexico) and backing up would be taken care of…
Thanks for the preorder link!! Can’t wait to receive the lens in April!!!
Thanks Patrick, just pre-ordered the 56 1.2 through your Amazon link. Can’t wait for it to ship!!!
23mm f2 please Fuji w/clutch manual focus! I suppose I’ll have to get an X100s for sure now. Bummer too because I prefer my X-Pro 1 but f1.4 is too large and unneeded.
Unneeded?! Photography is all about light!
Looks like the 56mm has no focus clutch. Don’t like it on my 14mm, so I’m happy about that.
Any idea what the closest focus distance is on the 56mm?
Focus range: Normal 0.7m – ∞ – Macro 0.7m – 3m
Focus range
Normal
0.7m – ∞
Macro
0.7m – 3m
Excellent price for the 56mm f/1.2. Thank you Fuji!
Zooms clearly there to attract more uses to the system–makes sense. They do have to turn a profit after all. But I can’t help but feel another thing that would also bring more users–some compact affordable primes:
23mm f/2
35mm f/2
56mm f/1.8
Not to mention a 90mm f/2. Would’ve been nice to see some of these on the map, especially the 23mm and 35mm for 2014, instead of the 16mm f/2 (I’m guessing those are the specs of the fast wide angle).
Still, Fuji’s commitment to nice, quality lenses and a plentiful roadmap are good signs. I hope it helps grow the X System userbase over the coming year.
Wondering about the manual focusing of the 56mm f/1.2, is it the same wretched turn-speed-dependent system as the 35mm? I can’t say I love the clutch mechanism on the 23mm and 14mm, but I love that the focus plane movement depends only on how much I turn the focus ring, not how *fast* I turn it.
Any link to sample images? I’m just curious about bokeh quality of this lens! Thanks for the hard work patrick!
no, couldn’t find it samples until now
Keep an eye on this page, could be an hour, could be weeks. The 10-24mm page has been blank for very long as well, so don’t get your hopes up. 😉
http://www.fujifilm.com/products/digital_cameras/x/fujinon_lens_xf56mmf12_r/sample_images/
Not only has the 10-24mm sample images tab been blank, but the lens was, on the “new roadmap” subtly pushed out to the middle of the first half of 2014. They must be having problems with IQ.
Yep, Fuji wants better IQ, hence the delay. I have no problem waiting for a better lens, but maybe others have, who knows?
Are you revising your book to include XE2? Or will you issue a separate edition? The Fuji owner’s manuals leave much to be desired. 😉
Sure, I have already announced my upcoming X-E2 eBook here on FR and at other forums several times, and it’s also listed on Amazon and (of course) on my publisher’s website: http://www.rockynook.com/book/0/345/the-fujifim-x-e2.html
Wow, did not notice that. It’s way behind the 56mm even. 🙁
But Rico is right, once it’s out there it’s out there, they’re not going to change it after selling a thousand of them first (and get questionable reviews). Better to get it right, so don’t rush it. It’s just a small group op people behind that big company name after all isn’t it.
So the 56/1.2 is an f1.8 in FF dof?
Correct. 56/1.2 (APS-C) = 85/1.8 (FF)
Ugh. That means my 35/1.4 is only a 52.5/2.1 🙁
Yes, but f/1.4 as far as exposure is concerned.
Ok. that’s good to know
It a great lens don’t worry just shoot it. Im not a fast normal lens guy and it is so good I got one and thats saying a lot.
High speed wide angle yummy ! 16mm would directly end up in my bag 🙂
Ok, so the black X100s is not a limited edition. So no hood or case etc.. Not that 10,000 units was exactly “Limited”
+1
I’m facing very tough choice. I do like both 10-24 and 56/1.2. Oh man……
You can love them both, but they serve to entirely different purposes.
Given that a Nikon 50mm f/1.4G can be bought for a third of this price and an f/1.8 for even less, this 56mm is going to have to be outstandingly good to justify its price (apparently £999 in the UK).
56/1.2 will be made in Japan with highest Japanese QC and stanard. Fuji’s built quality will be much superior to Nikon 50/1.4g and 85/1.8g (Both made in China).
Nikon will sell 1000’s more then all the X cameras Fuji made so far is why.
That may be so, but as far as the end user is concerned, that doesn’t change the fact that it will still have to justify the high price.
Really? Come on, until yesterday we would have been happy wiht a 1.200 USD and now 1000 USD is too much? Just remember, the difference in price between Canon 50mm 1.4 and Canon 50mm 1.2 is 5x, and 1.2 for crop still lets in the same amount of light as 1.2 in FF, with only the DOF being greater.
I didn’t say anywhere that it was too much – we haven’t even seen one yet, let alone used it. Just saying that it will have to be outstandingly good at this price.
Bear in mind this is only an APS lens after all, so you would expect to pay more for full frame lenses.
it’s not quite the same for the UK and European buyers. The $1000 list price means that you’ll probably be able to get the lens for $800-$900 once a few promos and deals kick in? doesn’t sound too bad, but the price across the pond would be the equivalent of $1600-$1700 at list, and $1400-$1500 if and when there is a promo.
Admittedly the the EU price includes 20% tax, but most people earning an average wage will not be able to afford this kind of price easily. I understand completely that some will be disappointed at the price of the faster lenses.
Just to clarify: I’m from the EU and I buy all my stuff either from Switzerland or from the US – just immensly cheaper that way, and so much cheaper in fact that I’m ok with the risks involved – i.e. repairs under warranty and such.
Hi, I reckon the 56mm will be outstanding, however I will never buy a lens for a grand no matter how good. I wish fuji stuck to 1.8 or 1.4 and have made it similar price to the 35mm. I feel that I now being priced out of the x system and will possibly have to look to alternatives, the lack of longer primes is also very frustrating and by the look of the zooms they are going to be big which kind of goes against the reason as to why I bought the xpro. Cheers jon
You could buy the 60mm f2.4 which is an excellent allround macro-, portrait-, short telelens.
this is why i find it odd they havent talked about any XC lenses.
to my mind if they want to expand the market for the X system (to make profit) they need to have amateurs who cant afford the top end buying it then start to want more.
i started with a canon XXXD DSLR and kit lens. I then bought a better camera a XXD and while i liked the improvements I hankered for more so i bought an L lens and loved it. I didnt start with the top end camera and top lens.
Cheaper cameras exist in the X series but the cheaper lenses dont. odd. im at the stage where i wouldnt buy them (not that i cant afford this ill be after a 60 when the price drops!) but i think a lot would and it would bring in new users.
These mirrorless camera makers aren’t interested in making cheaper product, and it’s easy to see why. Compact camera sales are falling so fast they’ll be almost obsolete in a couple years. DSLR makers are making the cheaper products now, and mirrorless is going more high-end.
To be fair, XF56/1.2, Nikon 50/1.4G, and 85/1.8g are all very nice lenses. However, Fuji is more expensive because of “the cost of built quality”. XF is made in Japan with metal construction. That’s why.
To say something is made in Japan and therefore a better build quality is just stupid. Just because China produces a lot of cheap stuff, does not make its manufacturing inherently worse – half the bits in aircraft are probably chinese made, you think they are “cheap and lower build quality?” Made in Japan is just a marketing gimmick
well… yes and no…
To say quality is better, is obviously a bit presomptuous, Every big company produce stuff in china, even high quality like product or premium product like apple.
However, it’s also true that labor cost ni japan is far more expensive than in china, thus, the price on the store shelves gets higher as well.
They have somehow to produce at least slightly better quality than if it were made in china. Nobody wants to pay more for the same quality (that’s why western countries became so dependent on china’s production ressources: they are cheap AND can produce high quality).
@Paul.
I think the point is that “Made-in-Japan” means that a product requires higher budget due to labor cost, facility cost, etc. Nikon can make cheaper 1.8g series by using their China or Thailand facility while Nikon also can control expected quality.
Fuji, on the other hand, doesn’t have any oversea facilities. They have only a factory in Japan as long as ones know.
In that case Henry, lets go and produce them to the same quality in China for less and pass those costs on to us 🙂
Yes, producing overseas is not only about deciding it… it’s also taking a risk as it’s much more difficult to control a production far away from your teams. Big companies can do it, others might reconsider…
Another point to consider is that China is progressively becoming pretty expensive too, as the inflation is extremely high. The projections in 3-5 years in outsourcing projects show only small savings compared to the same production in the cheapest areas of Japan. So now, a lot of companies are reviewing their strategy.
By the way, Fuji still produces the cheaper models abroad) like the M1 in Thailand), but I guess they need the most aggressive prices for the bottom of the line-up, while a 100$ difference might not be decisive for the high-end models.
What’s even stranger is that the low-end cameras don’t seem to be available at retail. I haven’t seen any Fuji X-series cameras anywhere except for Electric Avenue in Miami, the camera store I shop at, which is so esoteric in its inventory that it routinely stocks the Nikon D4.
Even if customers typically shop through the Internet nowadays, FujiFilm products have a quality feel that you have to see to appreciate. It was only by seeing and trying one out that I decided this funny mirrorless trend might be worth pursuing.
I think they at least need to put the XA1/XM1 into Best Buy stores and let customers take a look. Without mainstream outlets, I don’t see mainstream consumers buying.
One other thing that probably hurts them is the non-mainstream nature of their lenses. A lot of people seem to want lenses similar to the 18-105 or 18-200 or even 18-300. Fuji isn’t willing to make the optical quality sacrifices necessary to reach these numbers. Unfortunately I think that could be a significant business mistake …
David
Would love to see a limited edition. Considering to buy all the stuff…
Sweet the 56 came in a 100 less then I was thinking and Being a zoom guy I am happy camper!
As to the 56mm, think I will wait for the reviews before I make a comment. But the new roadmap is strange to me. It reminds me of people who move form the city to a small town, “getting away from it all”. The first two years everything is nice and peaceful. Then those same people want the big mega stores and before you know it . . . Five zooms already and they propose four more. Sorry just don’t get it. The form factor of the X series and big zooms.
They’re not profitable. They need to attract more users so they become. And in this day and age, people want zooms. I came to the X camera preceisely because Fuji introduced it with 3 primes and another philosophy (I’ve NEVER been interested in the nex series from sony because of the lenses).
But when I look around me, everyone is using zoom. In a group of 5-6 photo enthousiasts friends (with expensive canon L glass among them), I’m the ONLY one using exclusively primes. I think that shows pretty much my point. If you’re a camera manufacturer and want people to buy your stuff, you need high quality zoom.
Interesting response. Especially when I think of all of the reviews that I have read indicates that the biggest reason to move over to the X system from a DSLR is for the smaller size.
Many people today want zooms, I do not deny that. And of course companies do need to consider profits. However the idea of large zoom lenses on the X cameras seems to defeat the original purpose of the whole system. Much like my analogy.
The new roadmap shows one prime and four zooms, that seems out of proportion to me. Then again maybe I am just complaining over the lack of a mid tele prime, which I know I am not alone in my desire for one.
Don’t get me wrong, I totally agree with you on the fact that the balance is shifting on the “wrong” side if we consider that people coming into the X system want less bulk. And I too, wish they would focus on releasing high quality primes (135mm equivalent, 100mm 1:1 macro equivalent, etc.).
But reading comments here and there, I see a lot of people asking for zoom for the X. the 18-55 is highly regarded by many people, I’ve seen people selling their 35mm for the zoom (seriously, I don’t get it!).
If you think about it, it was more or less the same with the bodies, Fuji did a great job designing X-Pro1 and X-E1, and then, we’ve seen a wave of lower-end cameras. I don’t think X-E/Pro buyers are interested in this. I think Fuji released those cameras to reach a wider range of customers.
But hey, that’s just my opinion, I might be totally wrong ha ha !
Zooms are compact, because each can save you carrying 3 or 4 primes. 😉
that’s true Rico 😉
I’m curious to see how “small” can fuji make those F2.8 zoom. With FF image circle they tend to be sooo big!
BTW Jim,
Love your site and experiments with legacy lenses (if you indeed are that Jim Gamblin ;))
If there was no 18-55-200 option, I wouldn’t be interested in the X system at all. Of course primes have their benfits, but the zooms are much more versatile, convenient and less danger for the sensor (dust and so on).
You should be glad that Fuji is expanding the roadmap, even if not in your current direction. And I would personally also first build the 50-140 and then start to think of the primes covered by that. I don’t know, @Nate’s point of view is correct.
Cheers! 😉
I have a Nikon D4 with the 24-70 and 70-200 zoom lenses, both f/2.8.
Compared to that combination, my XE2 with its 18-55 (roughly 24-80 equivalent) and 55-200 (roughly 80-300) is as light as a feather. And of course stunningly cheaper – the whole Fuji XE2 system I bought (XE2, 18-55, 55-200) cost less than the Nikon 70-200 f/2.8 lens alone.
For my spontaneous style of photography, I really need fast-operating zooms. I will admit the 55-200 has been a bit of a disappointment due to flaky autofocus. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn’t.
Still, except for fast action photography, where the D4 reigns supreme, I’ve really enjoyed using my Fuji system. It’s beautifully designed and thought out – to be honest, I wish my D4 and its expensive lenses was as elegant a designer creation as an XE2.
D
For speed junkies looking for a “Noct-Fujilux” for super shallow FF-like DoF, there is the slr magic Hyperprime 35mm T0.95 😉
This 56mm is defintely premium quality for a lot less than FF lens like Canikon, so, kudos to Fuji for that move. 85 F1.8 equivalent is great for X users!
However, still 2 things bothers me now that we reach the over 1K€ price tag (even though I think it will be worth every penny!):
– no linear motor like AF-S or USM or even the Fuji XF Zooms !
– manual focus by wire (considering focus peaking now available on the bodies and the hunting due to CDAF, a mechanical gearing would be so great).
It’s funny to think that leica in its research for compactness is not using AF on its “mirrorless” M line (using RF of course), and Fuji on the other hand is removing mechanical gearing and use AF, for the exact same sake of compectness! ^^
Could Fuji propose body upgrades ? I’d be happy to pay few hundreds bucks for PDAF sensor and processor upgrade for my x-pro1 ! As far as I’m concerned, I’d be ready to pay 80% of the X-E2 price for a hardware upgrade of my dear X-Pro1. I don’t want to enter this “trashable” camera cycle and buy new stuff every year :p
don’t be fooled my friend you are paying for the metal construction. Canon/Nikons 85 1.8 go for about $300 more or less so that is not a good comparison.
when I compared the price I was refereing to Canikon’s high end 50mm or 85mm, not the cheapish F1.8. 😉
If you want premium primes lense from Nikon or Canon, you have to pay something between 1500€-2000€… Or even 4000€ if you take the new 58mm 1.4G…
Nikon & Canon’s higher end lenses, as well as their cheaper 50mm & 85mm lenses, are not APS – makes a big difference to cost.
By the way, the 58mm Nikon is well under 2000€.
Should add that i’m not moaning about or denigrating this lens – I believe that at this price it will probably be spectacular.
My mistake on the 58mm from Nikon (probably confusing it with the Otus from Zeiss).
Yes, the FF image circle requires more (expensive) glass for Canon and Nikon. That’s why I think aps-c is a good format for Fuji-X 😉
I wish people would stop comparing lenses size and weight like that.From a DoF perspective it may be “equivalent” to a 1.8 FF lens but from a light gathering perspective it’s still a 1.2 lens
Nice lens….I am happy for all those who can afford to spend 1000€ on a 56mm lens. For me, i will have to stay with my minolta rokkor mc 55mm f1.7 (adapted ofcourse).
I’ll probably stick with my $130 Nikkor 50mm f1.8 with adapter.
My $16 58mmF2 Helios ain’t bad, either: http://www.flickr.com/photos/25805910@N05/11733070713/
Lol….just ordered the helios 58mm f2 yesterday for 20€ …..nice pic Rico
Only trouble is- in Australia it’ll be $1500- that’s just the way we roll there…. and it should have been weather-sealed to bolt straight onto the new camera…
If the weather sealed x’s autofocus isn’t as good as we’ve been led to believe these 2.8 zooms will be useless.
I guess then it better be good.
Sorry I should have said telephoto zooms, though releasing 2.8 standard zooms is an obvious stab at the dslr market and most won’t switch unless the autofocus is up to par.
I’m glad that I decided to enroll in XF university!
Lots of great things ahead !
Again, why no sample pictures??
I guess the lens is not yet ready for showtime? I couldn’t secure a prototype, either.
Does anybody here miss the AF indicator scale on the camera when using clutch focus lenses like the 14mm and 23mm? I like the clutch focus feel but really miss being able to see a scale on my screen instead of taking the camera away from my eye and peering over the top for zone focusing. Rico, I’m not missing anything, right? No way to do that on those lenses? Makes me glad the 56mm doesn’t have it…
Yes, I miss that too.
I really can’t stand the clutch. It takes away switching MF focussing between clockwise and counterclockwise, there is no electronic DOF/distance scale in MF mode, Instant AF doesn’t work, the CoC on the lens scale is different from the CoC on the electronic scale, etc.
So yes, I am very happy. Not to mention that manual scales aren’t useful for portrait lenses with minimal DOF. This is no lens for “street photography”.
Why is it no lens for street? I really thought about buying it exactly for that, even knowing that 1.2 is a bit overdone for street and thus a bit too expensive overall. If i could wish for a prime thats missing, i would go for a 85mm f2.4 or something.
I think this can work for street… if you like to do street portraits or pull images out from a crowd. It would never be your only lens. I am going for this lens, the 10-24 and the 35 matched to the X-E2. Keeping the X100 as a backup. As for street, if you have a bag then three lenses is not an issue. Half the time I just stick an extra lens in the jacket pocket and batteries / cards in the other.
Hi Rico,
first I found the clutch is a really cool and helpful feature. But over the time I really don’t get the value add for me, and as you already mentioned there are too many drawbacks (e.g. instant AF) with it.
So I won’t be sad if Fuji skips that experiment for future lenses, especially when these lenses will be a bit cheaper without the clutch.
However, I still own the really superb Sigma 1.4 85 which I love to use with my mark III. It is tack sharp at 1.4, but of course quite a big piece of glas.
I sold my Zeiss 21, my Zeiss 35mm in favor of the Fuji lenses, but I think this time I’ll keep my FF lens and skip the Fuji offer.
Daniel
I will decide between this 56/1.2 and Pana’s Nocticron 42.5/1.2.
Come on , everyone wish fast primes, fast zoom and fuji Announced XF lens roadmap and is here
Stop complain again SMAIL and Pre-order now
I pre order mine 56mm f1.2 at 3/12/ 2013 from uk and i am very happy with the price
I am very happy with the way things are going, the roadmap looks great. I love primes and the only zoom that get me interested are the constant aperture telephoto zooms. Looking forward to that one! I have the 60mm which is fantastic quality so I’ll wait for reviews and stunning portrait examples before cpnsidering the 56mm.
First photo I’ve seen, made with the 56mm
http://instagram.com/p/i1KkIKGIYQ/
This is a beautiful photo (portrait) and the bokeh looks great. The photographer who has been shooting with it for the past two weeks is saying nothing but good things about it. I am excited and have placed my order.
As one writer already mentioned regarding the zoom roadmap… Isnt it somehow weird that people want smaller cameras like the x-system and then dont shoot with primes but with big zooms? I dont get it in my head… If i would love carrying heavy gear, i could also go for classic DSLR equipment, which i sold one year ago… just saving 300 grams on the body isnt really the big difference…. just my 2 cents.
Isn’t the XF 18-55 much lighter than an equivalent lens on DSLR? Or look at m43, their zooms are much lighter!
There are also other advantages to mirrorless:
– shorter flange –> smaller lenses (on the wider side)
– no mechanically moving mirror
– EVF
What people want and what they _actually_ do … needless to say that people using size/weight as the argument, with a big long lens shopping list, have fallen in love 😉
Yes, nice roadmap, but these are expensive lenses. A kit of at least 3 XF lenses is quite an investment. How long will they hold their value? How long will the X-mount be popular, and be supported by Fuji? We can assume at least 4-5 years, I’d guess, but beyond that, what do we know? Love Fuji X, but am just wondering about the investment value.
I know the feeling.
Honestly that’s what have been preventing me from buying the 14mm and te 23mm… I’m quite happy with the 18mm and the 35mm. Only need more erach for portraits. But the 14/23/56 are quite an investment. THe quality is there, but if Fuji were to stop its product line, no system would be able to re-use those lenses…
Also, I try to cure my GAS :p
So, when Fuji says 20 lenses, they are really counting the Zeiss Touit, but regardless, excellent roadmap.
Can’t wait for this lens to be available in an x-deal. Maybe over the summer?
I think this will be awesome kit:
XE-2, 14, 35, 56. X100s.
thank god, no pull to manual shit. i refuse to buy any lens with that pull to manual shit.
XF16-55 f2.8 is very appealing! I just hope they don’t sacrifice optical quality for the fast aperture.
And will be huge and heavy!
Fuji doesn’t really sacrifice those things, even the cheaper XC lenses have good optical quality, why would they do that in a premium zoom?
Patrick (or Rico), any indication whether some of the new lenses on the roadmap are to be weather sealed? And thank you for all your hard work!
It’s quite possible that the roadmap will receive further clarification in a month or so.
I agree with you on this, Rico.
The one “mainstream” lens that appears to be missing from the current lineup is a 16-80mm f/4 lens (24-120mm equiv.). I’m REALLY hoping a weather sealed version of this lens is announced with the new Fujica-style weather sealed X camera.
I can also see the new 2.8 zooms, and superzoom, being weather sealed.
I hardly think they have plans for that lens. they said that they were going to have a total of 20 lenses in this next year, which counts the Zeiss, so they are all there, maybe in 2015 then. I also thought they could offer a high quality zoom f/4, maybe a 18-85, 18-105 but it doesn’t look like that will happen this year.
The 20 lenses don’t count Zeiss. With Zeiss, there will be 24 native AF lenses.
Sorry, 23. OTOH, people want a fast 90mm prime, so assuming Fuji gives in to that pressure, it will be 24. 😉
Interesting, so there are still 3 lenses still to be revealed in the roadmap
Sure, maybe more, who knows? Like many others, I’d certainly like to see that 90mmF2 thingie.
I would love to see a 90mm f/2 as well. Hopefully they don’t sleep on this.
Interesting lens roadmap! Big and heavy zooms instead of primes and a rumored SLR-styled body instead of an X-Pro2. Looks like Fuji is taking the X-System to a new direction (again?) and is trying to attract typical DSLR users this time. I guess they might even discontinue the X-Pro1 line altogether. Not the X-System I’ve “fallen in love” with a few years ago but I understand that financial aspects rule and wish them success!
The zooms aren’t heavy. The X-Pro line will not be discontinued. Success may or may not come.
I really hope you are right! The X-Pro1 is a great camera and I think it deserves a successor. At least a refresh to bring it to the level of the X-E2 would be very welcomed.
There is no reason to discontinue the XPRO line up, it wouldn’t make sense.
Sure, as any company, Fuji wants to expand and this is in accordance to recent DSLR users going Fuji but within Fuji’s philosophy, there is no indication that they would ever consider dumping their flagship line up, it would be like a suicide to throw away your main base user in exchange for a model that some are abandoning in Fuji’s favor.
Fuji has shown how serious they are and they are getting attention from serious photographers, they will keep offering IQ and optical quality within smaller bodies, it doesn’t make sense to abandon that to be just like any DSLR, who wants DSLR has other options.
Hi All-
I have been lurking on this site for quite some time. I am looking to purchase the new Fuji X-E2 and the 16-55 f/2.8 later in the year and give up on my Nikon full-frame setup. I really do love my Nikon gear but it is getting way to heavy to lug around and what I do is mostly a hobby…not professional work. My genre is travel, street, and landscape photography so to have a nice, fast portraiture lens is not a requirement. I am a bit concerned that the Fuji lenses are not as razor sharp as Nikon. For any of you out there that has made the switch from Nikon to Fuji and could chime in as to which produces the sharpest results? Since I shoot mostly landscape 75% of the time, I need sharpness/clarity before speed…yes, I’m a pixel peeper =) I have seen plenty of examples on the web from results of the Fuji X systems, and I’m not sure if it has to do with post-processing, in-camera filter simulations, but the images I have seen appeared to be soft and lacking in sharpness. Any thoughts any of you could provide would be greatly appreciated!
“I am a bit concerned that the Fuji lenses are not as razor sharp as Nikon”
I don’t think you need yo worry about that. The 14mm is razor sharp, 60mm bordering on being perfect optically and the 23mm is excellent as well.
I love using long lenses for landscapes and the 55-200 made giving up the Canon 5dmkii, 17-40L and 100-400L very easy. The standard of lenses from Fuji is way better than the lenses I was using with Canon. I haven’t found a lens yet that I’ve been disappointed with. I have all apart from 18 & 27mm.
Thanks for your response Izel. I was just checking out your blog and you have some amazing landscape photos especially of the beach scenes. In looking at your blog you seem to have mention the Canon and your Sony NEX 7, which I was also considering for a mirrorless system. If you could compare, is the Sony a better setup than the Fuji? Also, are your landscape photos in your blog mostly taken with a mirrorless camera or the Canon 5D?
In 2013 there are 6 new lenses, but next 2 years will appear much less: 3 lenses in 2014 and 4 lenses in 2015. I was surprised why so long delay for these lenses planed in 2015. Could this be a sign that :
– they are silently developing some unpublished lenses e.g. for full frame? or
– 2013 was just extraordinary busy year and 3-4 lenses for a year is normal?
The roadmap has two columns for 2014, so there are 7 new lenses scheduled for 2014 (counting the Zeiss macro) and 1 for 2015 (super telephoto).
I hope that wink means something, Rico.
Still not really clear to me when the 56mm f/1.2 should be released on the market… By looking at the roadmap diagram, it would appear the release date should not be too far ahead in time, maybe late January / middle February? At the time the X-E2 or 23mm were announced, a release date was immediately disclosed… but that seems not to be the case with the 56mm. I’ve noted quite a few discrepancies in this regard on many online stores… grateful if someone could shed more light on this!
I would really have liked to see a very wide angle shift lens (or T/S). I know it is not going to sell a lot and it is not going to be small, but it would be a treat for an architect, and I would pay a lot for such a lens of XF quality. As of now, if I want to do this, I need to go for D800 or Sony A7 with Nikon or Canon T/S lens. I would have liked to use my X Pro 1.
look at samyang == there is a T/S lens for fuji x scheduled for release.
If it is as sharp as the XF14, totally rectilinear corrected, is constructed for APS-C mirrorless, has X-mount and a decent build quality, then it will be Samyang. Otherwise I will just consider to buy A7r+Canon T/S17 and T/S24. Not even that is actually OK, since those are DSLR lenses. And lots of money… A Fujinon would have been so much more convenient.
*Still* no X-S2?! Is it time to give up on it yet and switch to another brand?
there is NO XS-2. looks like you’re switching.
Hey Patrick! been checking out this site for a while now and was waiting to pull the trigger on the XE-2 to replace by old old Nikon D80 body.
Was waiting for the right wide to mid zoom to replace by 18-50 2.8 Sigma and the 16-55 2.8 looks really really good.
Just wanted to check .. any idea on the size .. the image in the roadmap seems to suggest it will be similar to the 18-55 .. but that just seems impossible …
Also any idea on the availbility …??
Sorry, I have no additional information about the 16-55.
Does anyone know what the hood looks like? Is it once more one of those preposterous petal hoods? And – does anyone know if there are 3rd party bayonet hoods for XF14 and XF23? I need hoods for those lenses that don’t spoil the beautiful design of X-pro! Someone might say that the design doesn’t matter, but I would strongly disagree – It’s one of the things that inspires me to keep shooting. I want to pick up the camera. It’s that simple. If I were a pro it would be different, perhaps, but I’m not. For reference, I really like the XF35 hood, it’s superb.
Is there any interesting product you could recommend?Thanks