PRE-ORDERS (and support FR)
Today you can support my work here on Fujirumors. If you choose to pre-order it using one of the shoplinks (AmazonUS, BHphoto, Adorama, wexDE, wexUK & Co) in this post, FR will get a small commission on it. It won’t cost you a single penny extra on your gear. Thanks in advance to those who decide to support this blog… your support will keep this blog running.
PRE-ORDERS
XF 18-135 pre-orders: USA: BHphoto / AmazonUS / Adorama – EUROPE: wexUK / wexDE / PCHstore
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First Look: XF18-135mmF3.5-5.6 R LM OIS WR
Talk to Rico (open forum for questions & feedback)
Fuji X Secrets Workshops – Rico’s Flickr sets
Mastering the Fujifilm X-E1 and X-Pro1 – The Fujifilm X-E2 – Beyond the Manual
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After postponing the date at least twice, Fujifilm is finally announcing its highly-anticipated 18-135mm weather resistant zoom lens for the X-T1 and other X-Mount system cameras, promising very good image quality and world record breaking 5 stops OIS performance at a reasonable price (799 EUR incl. VAT here in Germany). All this in a more compact package than its Canikon competition (EF-S 18-135mmF3.5-5.6 IS STM and Nikkor 18-140mmF3.5-5.6 G ED VR).
I was able to shoot with a prototype and an early pre-production sample of the lens in May and June, also testing it at two recent Fuji X Secrets workshops south of Nuremberg. Since all my current workshop offerings are sold out except for one remaining slot for our workshop in Berlin on 20JUL, I have decided to offer another workshop in the Nuremberg area on 9AUG. Registration is now open.
As you know, the X-T1 features a weather resistant body, making the XF18-135mmF3.5-5.6 R LM OIS WR a fitting companion. “WR” means Weather Resistant, and according to Fuji, the lens features a dust-proof and waterproof structure with weather resistant sealing applied to more than 20 different areas.
Most of this sealing technology goes on inside the lens. At first glance, it’s hard to spot or feel any differences between this new WR zoom and conventional XF zooms like the 18-55mmF2.8-4.0. This is a good thing, as the weather sealing of the X-T1 resulted in buttons and switches becoming somewhat less accessible and responsive than in conventional models like the X-E2. Not so with this weather resistant zoom.
The new lens comes with a plastic hood and a 67 mm filter thread. It features the usual switches for OIS on/off and aperture mode on the barrel, and there’s also an unmarked aperture ring, a zoom ring and a manual focus ring.
Size-wise, the new zoom is positioned between Fuji’s XF10-24mmF4 wide-angle zoom and the XF55-200mmF3.5-4.8 telephoto zoom. As usual, it looks heavier than it actually is: The lens weighs 490 grams, making it just as heavy (or light) as its before-mentioned (and less compact) competitors from Canikon.
Looking at the optics, the new 18-135mm zoom appears to play in a different league, though. With four aspherical lenses (Canikon: one) and two ED glass lenses (Canikon: one), Fuji’s WR zoom easily wins bragging rights in the 18-135mm APS-C lens construction department.
As with most modern zoom lenses, there’s some minor optical distortion which is digitally corrected in-camera and in external RAW converters that support RAW metadata correction, such as Lightroom/ACR, Capture One, Silkypix, Iridient Developer or Apple Aperture (the latter lacking automatic vignetting correction).
Distortion changes from barrel to pincushion type somewhere between 20 and 30 mm focal length. The overall amount of optical distortion is very moderate and surprisingly low for a lens of this reach. I can provide examples with and without digital distortion correction as soon as production samples of the lens become available.
The autofocus of the lens is based on an inner focus system and works very fast, with a CIPA tested maximum AF speed of 0.10 seconds. This is faster than the CIPA numbers for the Canikon competition, which clock in at 0.13 seconds (Canon) and 0.39 seconds (Nikon).
In my practical tests with a yet unfinished pre-production sample using beta firmware on an X-T1 and X-E2, I found the lens to focus quicker and with a better AF-C tracking hit rate than Fuji’s current 18-55mm and 55-200mm XF zooms.
By the way: I made the above “product shots” with an X-M1 and a XF27mm pancake lens. Click here to see the set on Flickr. Initially dismissed as an inferior product, the pancake lens seems to become more popular by the hour.
New 5 Stops OIS
One genuine highlight of the new XF18-135mm zoom is its improved optical image stabilizer (OIS): Fujifilm in promising five stops of additional headroom in the slow shutter speed department. This claim has of course been confirmed by CIPA, making the XF18-135mmF3.5-5.6 the first (and currently only) existing lens featuring a five stops OIS.
My initial tests with a pre-production sample support these assertions. According to Fuji, the world record OIS performance is possible thanks to two newly developed high-precision gyro sensors and a unique algorithm that also works at very slow shutter speeds like 1/4s.
Fujifilm is very confident about its improved OIS technology and has even released a video that is directly comparing the OIS of the new XF18-135mm zoom with a [shoplink 25819]Canon EF-S 18-135mm lens[/shoplink]. Click here to watch the video in case you have missed it elsewhere.
Weather Sealing
Fuji says that in order to protect the lens construction from water and dust, joint parts have been sealed with more than 20 rubber rings. A ventilator has been installed in the lower part of lens barrel to realize air circulation while preventing water and dust from entering. When production samples become available next month, I’m sure it won’t take long till a reviewer takes a shower with it.
Shooting Experience and Sample Images
I found shooting with this new zoom pretty enjoyable. The key word here is versatility. Covering the full-frame equivalent of 27-206mm, the XF18-135mm is designed to be the only lens you may need during a trip or vacation.
With a minimum focus distance of 45 cm at all focal lengths, it even qualifies as a light tele macro lens.
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Sadly, I can’t show you any full-size samples, yet, as both the hardware and the software of my lens and camera weren’t final. Yes, you read correctly: Your camera will need another firmware upgrade in order to fully support the 18-135mm zoom.
I will open a sample gallery after I have received a final or close-to-final copy of the lens.
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Regarding ergonomics, I found it best to use the lens on an X-T1 with a vertical grip or an additional hand grip. Fuji is now offering three different Arca Swiss compatible hand grip sizes, with the medium sized grip being the most popular.
Control ring operation is quite smooth, and the lens is almost silent thanks to its built-in linear motor technology.
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Specifications
|
Name |
Fujinon Lens XF18-135mm F3.5-5.6 R LM OIS WR |
|
Lens configuration |
16 elements in 12 groups (4 aspherical elements and 2 ED lenses) |
|
Focal length |
f=18-135mm (35mm format equivalent: 27-206mm) |
|
Angle of view |
76.5°- 12° |
|
Maximum aperture |
F3.5-5.6 |
|
Minimum aperture |
F22 |
|
Number of aperture blades: Step size: |
7 (rounded diaphragm opening) 1/3 step (17 steps) |
|
Focus range |
Normal: 0.6m～∞ Macro: 0.45m～∞ |
|
Maximum magnification |
0.27x |
| External dimensions:Maximum diameter x length (approx.)(distance from tip to standard mount flange) |
φ75.7mm x 97.8mm (Wide-angle) / 158mm (Tele) |
|
Weight (approx.) (excluding lens cap and hood) |
490g |
|
Filter size |
φ67mm |
For your convenience, here’s a TOC with links to my previous X-PERT CORNER articles:
- X-E2: Behind Firmware 2.00
- First Look: Fujifilm TCL-X100 Teleconverter for X100(S) Cameras
- First Look: Fujinon XF10-24mmF4 R OIS
- First Look: Fujifilm X-T1
- First Look: Fujinon XF56mmF1.2 R
- Exposing Right
- Using Auto-ISO
- Using Face Detection
- First Look: Fujifilm XQ1
- PDAF & LMO Lens Firmware Updates Coming in November
- First Look: Fujifilm X-E2
- How Fuji could save the X-M1
- X-A1 vs. X-M1: Photo Ninja Edition
- X-A1 vs. X-M1: the Shootout
- Using the Fujifilm X-A1 [& X-M1]
- First Look: Fujinon XF23mmF1.4 R
- RAW Converter Shootout Results
- Ultimate RAW Converter Shootout
- First Look: X-M1 with New Kit Zoom and Pancake Lens
- Zeiss Touit vs. Fujinon XF
- Remote Shutter Control for X Series Cameras
- Apple Camera RAW, X-Trans and EXR
- First Look: XF55-200mmF3.5-4.8 R LM OIS
- Studio X
- Using the X100S
- Using the X20
- X100S vs. X100
- X20 vs. X10
- RAW, JPEG, Silkypix and “Fuji Colors”
- Adapting Third-Party Lenses (updated with Speed Booster)
- RAW for JPEG Shooters…
- Tips for Updating your Firmware
- How to Clean the X-Trans Sensor
- Using the XF14mmF2.8 R
- Decoding XF18-55mmF2.8-4 R LM OIS
- Comparing RAW converters: JPEG vs. Lightroom, Capture One, Silkypix & RPP
- XF14mmF2.8 R appears to be almost distortion free
- How to Expand Dynamic Range
- How to Use Extended ISO
- EXR, anyone?
- Capture One – When the Going Gets Tough…
- Using Shooting Profiles and the Quick Menu
Rico Pfirstinger studied communications and has been working as journalist, publicist, and photographer since the mid-80s. He has written a number of books on topics as diverse as Adobe PageMaker and sled dogs, and produced a beautiful book of photographs titled Huskies in Action (German version). He has spent time working as the head of a department with the German Burda-Publishing Company and served as chief editor for a winter sports website. After eight years as a freelance film critic and entertainment writer in Los Angeles, Rico now lives in Germany and devotes his time to digital photography and compact camera systems. His book “Mastering the FUJIFILM X-Pro1” (Kindle Edition) (Apple iBook Store) (German version) is available on Amazon and offers a plethora of tips, secrets and background information on successfully using Fuji’s X-Pro1 and X-E1 system cameras, lenses and key accessories.
89 Responses
Lookin’ good
Thanks for the overview. Looks like a good lens, will have to consider it.
slowly but surely, filling out the Fujifilm range. would be great as a bundle.
Any word on whether this will this be available as a kit with the x-t1?
Of course it will, that’s the whole point (with the WR and all).
Any info on the price for the kit? Thanks.
Just this Belgian shop, priced €200 above the 18-55:
http://www.artencraft.be/nl/foto-en-toebehoren/digitale-systeem-camera/fuji2/xt
Over here, I would expect a kit to be in the 1699 EUR (incl. 19% VAT) area later in the year.
Thank you, Rico. While I like X-T1+18-135, they are as heavy as D5300+18-140, which is about 700 EUR cheaper. I want a good zoom for travel, so FZ1000 and RX10 are also on my list. I’ve been waiting for X-S2 from Fuji, but I guess it won’t come in a very long time.
D7100 with the 18-140 Nikkor is 35% heavier than the X-T1 kit. AF of the lens is much slower, too, and no weather sealing.
D5300 + 18-140 = 530g + 490g = 1020g
X-T1 + 18-135 = 440g + 490g = 930g
SL1 + 18-135 = 407g + 480g = 887g
The difference really is minimal. Unfortunately, I wouldn’t be able to save any weight by getting the Fuji.
You may not save much weight. Question is whether this new lens brings enough to the table on its own so that weight isn’t the only defining characteristic.
Never thought i could be excited about a ‘superzoom’ or even a zoom at all, but this is looking great. Not just the samples, but features too.
Yes small sample images can tell you a lot, and FYI they’re actually 1024px large if you right click it and ‘view image’ or download. 🙂
Having read the full details of this lens the rumoured specs of the 120-400 zoom now make sense. That too will now almost certainly have the same high number. or more, exotic glass elements, weather sealing and 5 stop OIS; which will provide a twin lens combination covering a 27-600 mm FX equivalent range in a far lighter system than Canikon.
Don’t expect it to come as a double lens kit though, something like the 120-400mm (with Fuji’s standards) might very well cost more than the X-T1 and 18-135 combined.
Sorry my poor terminology. I didn’t mean as a two lens kit, but as two lenses bought separately, but used as a two lens combination. My other hobby is merchant shipping and when travelling the XT-1 and these two lenses would make an excellent, and much lighter, substitute for my present D700 based Nikon outfit.
Definitely could be. Your terminology is fine, just putting it into context for whomever is reading. 😉
It’s still APSC though, so while it would be smaller than FF, being mirrorless won’t make it smaller than a crop-DSLR super tele would be. Though i don’t think a natively apsc 400mm tele even exist yet for any apsc system does it? But surely the most efficient option altogether in any case, which is the point isn’t it. 🙂
If it’s good quality, I expect it to be priced like the Nikon 80-400. So I expect around $2500. It won’t be any smaller than the Nikon one, either. You’re limited by the size of the front element. The only way to get the size/weight down will be to make it slower.
This Fuji 18-135mm lens is the same size and weight as the Canon 18-135mm STM. It’s not lighter at all. The 120-400mm would be about the same size as the DSLR version too, just because telephoto lenses tend to be that way.
check out the dragonfly in the official samples on http://www.fujifilm.com… quite nice details for a superzoom!
Just did as you suggested and wow : 1600 ISO, 135mm 1/40th – pretty impressive amount of details I must say
This bodes well for the forthcoming 16-55mm f/2.8 and 50-140mm f/2.8 zoom lenses, particularly if they also offer 5 stops of stabilization.
I wonder: does this stabilization work on all 5 axis’?
I think it only stabilizes two axes (rotation). But that should be enough unless you want to walk while shooting, which is a bad idea in the first place.
wow 900 dollars for a zoom lens 18-135mm f3.5 to f5.6? Fujifilm is really good at marketing because this is a very expensive lens for what it really is. some people complain about price on nikon 18-300mm at 900 dollars, which in my opinion is really sharp. I just don’t see how this lens is worth 900 dollars. anyway, that’s just my opinion. 🙂
You could happily live with the 18-55mm kit and cheap 50-230mm.
This offering gives you weather sealing and 5-stop IOS…. so there are reasons behind the price.
Hi Pablo,
A comparable lens would be the 18-140 Nikkor that comes in at $500. Yeah, much cheaper, but Fuji does have a consistent pricing matching the quality you get. Check the data sheets, and you’ll see what $300-400 extra will get you – extra aspherical element, extra ED glass, weather sealing, better optical stabilization, and the extra you pay starts to make sense.
To be perfectly honest, I expected this lens to be somewhere in the range of $700-800, so I do agree it’s a bit pricey, but it’s still within reason 😉 Earlier there was a rumour that this lens will cost around $1100 – now that would be insane 😉
I have to agree with you Pablo. It’s rather pricey for a slower lens (f/3.5-5.6). For the price, I would expect a faster lens. I suppose they justify it because of the image stabilization.
Canon 15-85mm f/3.5-5.6 IS is asking for $800 these days. so let us see if the performance justify the price.
Priced high so the kit with X-T1 looks like a bargain.
Kit lenses have economies of scale. This is by design, at almost every company.
Light and compact;-)
I hope now that the 18-135mm will be sold beginning of July as a kit with the new X-T1P!
I very much doubt this. Fuji expects demand to exceed availability, so a kit offer will certainly be in the cards, but not initially.
Just a minor correction, the Nikkor 70-200 F/4 was the first lens to offer 5 stop stabilization. Of course, these are all marketing talk, you could probably achieve it only in special circumstances.
Still, that lens is a different beast – it’s full frame, different focal length. The new Fuji is the first lens with 5 stop stabilization designed for the APS-C format.
CIPA lists this lens with 4 stops OIS.
Nikon claims 5 stops.
Interesting. Nikon claims 3 stops for VR I, 4 for VR II and 5 for VR III. Of course, these numbers are hardly verifiable. In testing, most reviews agreed that VR performs really well, and that’s the usual blurb you get for all brands regarding IS/OIS/VR/VC/etc. I’m sure you’ll get the same when major test sites will review this new Fuji lens.
When the 70-200 F/4 was launched, the headline feature was 5 stops VR, just like with this Fuji 😉 This was never disproved or challenged (it did seem to perform better than VR II implementations). But honestly, these are just marketing numbers – I’m sure this Fuji lens will be a top performer regarding optical image stabilization, and that’s what matters.
https://www.google.com.vn/search?q=5+stops+VR&gws_rd=ssl
Rico, how many stops OIS does Fuji claim the 18-55 to have (and is it CIPA certified)? Just curious. Thanks!
3.5 in the CIPA list.
And 3.0 for each of the XC zooms.
2.5 for the XF10-24.
4.5 for the 55-200.
though this sounds nice…the stabilization system is good in low light…but I need a lens with more light gathering capabilities…i think I will wait for the 50-140 2.8…yeah that may be a while…but I got time
Agree…waiting for this lens and the 16-55 2.8, then I’ll be good for shooting jobs on the go. Can’t wait to hear what improvements the Fuji has coming for X-Pro body?
Any word on the release date now that’s it’s announced
mid July I think
The fastest will at end of July or early August due to this lens were so hard to build.
39mm, 52mm, 58mm, 62mm, 72mm and now 67mm filter thread..
The fuji lenses are great but I think 39mm, 52mm, 62mm and 72mm would have been enough.
Pretty much all the camera makers just use whatever filter threads they want/need. The days of standardizing on things like 55, 62, and 77 are long gone. That’s what step up rings are for.
Hum , samsung is smart enough too provide their 4 prime lenses all in the same 43mm filter size : 16mm 2.4, 20mm 2.8, 30mm F2, 45mm 1.8 .
Let’s see what happens when those lenses get longer and they do zooms…
Not in my experience. At least for the lenses I use – my primary travel/scouting lens (24-120 F/4) is 77, so is my UWA 16-35, and of course the F/2.8 pro zooms are also 77. 67 is also fairly common (28mm F/1.8, 85mm F/1.8, 70-200 F/4, a host of DX lenses). The new 35mm F/1.8 FX is 58, just like the popular 50mm F/1.8 G.
I think arhmatic is right, the 39mm should have been 52 or 58 if possible, 62 could have been 67 just like this new lens. Even if what you say was true nwcs, it’s still a pain in the ass. Step-up/down rings are not exactly ideal.
I agree. 39->58, 52->58, 62->67 and 72->77 would indeed have made sense in a way, since it would have given only three filter sizes (58, 67 and 77) instead of seven. I guess the reason for all filter sizes (except the 39 that could have been 52) is that Fuji did not want to make the lenses bigger than necessary, which I believe is a smart choice, even if it means that we have to use step up rings or carry more filters.
39mm should have easily been 52mm. I own the lens, it’s short but the diameter is well over 52mm overall.
Pretty dumb fuji this time.
I hope at least they stick to the 67mm for the upcoming F/2.8 lenses (or perhaps 77 for the 40-150). These are pretty common across brands, would make switching easier for owners of expensive filters.
It looks on the dummy lenses we have seen so far as if the 16-55/2.8 will have a 77 mm filter thread and the 50-140/2.8 a 67 mm one. Good choices compared to existing lenses in other systems IMO too.
Yeah, just checked, great news!
I have already spoken to my local London Camera Exchange Store to pre-order the lens. They have been told that the RRP is £750 but expect to sell it for £700, just need the Fuji £250 off voucher before it is available next month.
Hmmmm a tempting sweetener from Fuji
Dear Amida
Thank you for registering your Fujifilm X-T1 with us. Please remember to retain your original receipt as it will be required in the event of a warranty claim.
As a thank you for registering your camera purchase, we will be offering you a £250 discount off the weather-resistant XF18-135mm WR lens once it is available.
We’ll be emailing you once the lens is in stock with how to claim your discount. Offer ends 31st August 2014.
I like what I’ve read about the lens but I won’t be in the market. I’m really interested to hear about the firmware updates. I hope it’s more than just Instax printing support. While the Instax direct printing is a good idea most of us won’t ever get the printer so other firmware updates would be more valuable.
I find it a bit odd that they have put so much effort into introducing a boring lens (a slow, variable aperture, zoom lens) as the first weather-sealed lens for the X-T1, and I have thought that since they introduced it on the lens road map.
Although I am not into zooms, except for telephoto, I think it would have been smarter to release the 16-55mm f/2.8 and the 55-140mm f/2.8 as the first weather-sealed lenses for the X-T1, as they will more likely suit X-T1 users. And, I would have rather they skipped this lens and instead scheduled to release the 120-400mm in early autumn, which will cover focal lengths that are, for the most part, not already covered in the X-Series system.
For marketing purposes, it is essential to target the so-called consumer market in addition to the enthusiast and pro market. However, at $900 for a consumer-like lens (a slow, variable aperture, zoom lens), it may miss its target users: to expensive for most low-end consumers; and not bright enough nor likely optically good enough for most enthusiasts. The only real selling points for this lens are that it is weather-sealed and, perhaps, that it is image stabilized.
Hopefully, Fuji is not all over the place with its focus on designing the X-Pro 2, as it must meet the needs of enthusiasts as well as some pros. It must have better image quality, particularly higher dynamic range (the current sensor only has good dynamic range when using the auto dynamic range feature: at base ISO, the dynamic range is not great) and artifact-free, highresolution (my DP Merrill out resolves my X-Pro 1 by far). In addition, it must have a higher maximum shutter speed (1/8000th), a brighter, larger EVF and OVF (the OVF is necessary in bright sunlight), and a higher flash sync speed.
As I have said many times before, to keep me as a customer, Fuji needs to provide its own bare-bones raw converter or at least provide the ability to convert the raw files to 16-bit TIFF in-camera, so we can avoid the sub-par external raw converters for the conversion, which are all subject to compromises (unsurprizingly, the in-camera raw converter produces the best results, but is sadly and shockingly limited to saving as lossy jpegs). They could easily provide the ability to convert files to 16-bit TIFF in-camera in a future firmware update. So, hopefully they do so, and stop sleeping on it, as output is the only remaining issue, in my opinion.
another review http://www.aboutrc.com
Very good review. Nice to see the Kelby people doing something with Fuji. May inspire me to renew my K1 in August when it runs out… Maybe.
Great. A whole lot of awesome shots, and at 2000px. =)
Direct link to the article: http://www.aboutrc.com/2014/06/16/real-world-images-w-fuji-xf-18-135-3-5-5-6-ois-weather-resistant-lens/
Is that it? Thats all the new gear?
Same as their last few announcements. Just one thing at a time. That’s a common marketing tactic of the camera companies. Stretches the amount of time that people pay attention to them. Canon, Nikon, etc. all do some variation of it.
Same with photographers… only post one photo at a time on social medias…
Seems a great (versatile) lens ! How does it compare to 18-55 and 55-200 IQ wise ? Rico, did you notice any lenscreep walking with neckstrap ?
I think lenscreep is a thing of the past these days, especially should be for a lens of this class. But good question. And i’d guess the 18-55 and 55-200 should be a bit better optically since you can often stop-down a bit where you’d mostly have to shoot wide-open with the 18-135.
I regularly go hiking and mountaineering with my X-series camera. I have noticed lenscreep with both the XF 18-55 and the XF 55-200 when walking with neckstrap or when attaching the camera to the strap of my backback. Its not a big issue for me, though. I periodically move the lens back to its retracted position.
No lens creep here.
That OIS looks very impressive.. Wish they would of put that on the 56mm.. But my thoughts are that the new 35mm MK2 (if rumors are true) will have this OIS
I don’t think or hope Fuji will introduce OIS in short, fast and amazingly sharp primes.
OIS increases size, weight, price, and/or can reduce optical quality. Not worth it for fast primes imho, but necessary for this kind of zoom.
I have to admit that I’ve been a bit spoiled by Nikon’s internal focusing lenses (i.e. no extended bits when zooming). I’m going to stick with the 10-24mm and the 35mm – been playing around with a Novoflex and the Nikon 60mm 2.8 and the Nikon 105mm 2.8 and like the results if I need more reach. No AF of course …
Thank you for the first impressions. Do we know what the maximum apertures are at the various focal lengths?
This will be be the deciding factor for me in deciding between this and the 16-50 as a travel lens. Would rather have the 18-135 as my only zoom.
3.5/18, 4/23, 4.5/35, 4.7/55, 5.3/70, 5.6/100.
Have to say I was hoping 35mm would still be f4. Still, thank you for the information Rico.
You say the continuous(C) focus is better on this lens but could it be the new firmware you are using? Probably just being overly optimistic 🙂
Why would better firmware only improve the AF of one lens and not the AF of the other lenses, too?
Hi Rico,thanks for the reply. Could be a combination of the lens firmware (newer on this lens one would assume) and the camera firmware perhaps? Don’t know, not super likely but I can still hope 🙂 I could flip your question around and ask why the new lens would make a difference when the nice new 56mm 1.2 still has significant issues with continuous AF (in my experience at least). If Fuji makes the AF more predictable I’ll be able to use it for more situations or at minimum move up the keep rate with the stuff I’m shooting currently.
Interesting observation you made though- would love to hear from Fuji on this to understand what improved AF-C.
PS when is your X-T1 book coming out? 🙂 Can’t wait
I have no issues with the XF56mm in AF-C.
You have no issues with anything Fuji, funnily enough because they put cash in your pocket!!!!!!!!!!
Oh dear, the “Truth” has spoken! Now I’m a tad worried, as you must either be delusional or a troll with serious character deficits. As everybody knows, I haven’t received a dime from Fujifilm for anything I blog or write. I even turned down an offer to become an “X Photographer” last year. I also prefer to keep it that way.
It’s no secret that I lose a five digits amount of dollars with each book I write, but at least the workshops make some profit if viewed independently. Then again, I am privately funding a short trip to Istanbul this weekend to shoot samples for the X-T1 book everybody seems to want. Of course, “everybody” is still a tiny niche of users.
It’s a labor of love, because it’s fun and interesting, but you wouldn’t know anything about this, would you? If you agree to fund my Fuji deficits (I hope your pockets are as deep as mine were before I started my Fuji adventure), I’ll happily give you access to my bank statements and book contracts. Prepare to weep, though. 🙂
Why do you write books if you lose a 5 digits amount of dollars with each book you write? 🙂
Why do people take pictures without getting paid to do so?
Just getting back to this thread. I’ll retest with my 56 but last time I tried the continuous focus tended to hunt around a lot. As a result you wouldn’t know when focus would be locked so when you hit the shutter button it could take the pic right away or wait for a second or two. I’d like to use C mode for taking single shots of moving people. I see people have some good results with high speed drive mode (8fps) but that spray and pray mode isn’t what I’d like to use, I have enough images to go through and store already for starters 🙂
AF-C is supposed to hunt, that’s how the CDAF can track moving subjects. The higher pumping amplitude of the X-T1 leads to a higher tracking performance and allows for higher object speeds. There’s an internal document outlining the different object speeds supported the X-E2 and X-T1, but those numbers are confidential, so I can’t discuss them here. CDAF tracking is pretty much the only area where the X-T1 AF is superior to the X-E2 AF. There’s no need to “see” the focus lock, just press the shutter and trust the camera, which is basically performing a series of “AF trick” or “shutter mash” operations (as outlined in my books).
Maybe I should have more faith :). I’ll give it another try but seems to take a bit for it to find the focus. I’m used to hitting the shutter and not having a delay while the stupid thing tries to focus. I’m waiting for your X-E2 book but maybe I should just get the older one.
This lens will sell very well with the X-T1 as a kit because of the weather sealing and the good focal length/zoom range. Most people use variable aperture lenses (3.5-5.6 in most cases) so this is not a real drawback. The future 2.8 lenses will be for pro’s or advanced amateurs that have more money to spend.
http://photobyandrei.wordpress.com/
I bet the upgraded X-T1b or whatever will have this as a kit lens.
Rico,
Thank you for your review – I always appreciate them!
I have a few more specific questions about the build quality.
1. Does the inner lens tube wobble at full extension? I’ve used a few 18-55mm lenses – some wobbled up/down and left/right a few mm, and some were tight. I’m curious how this was on your sample of the 18-135mm lens.
2. How does the aperture ring feel? Is it any more firm than on previous lenses?
Thanks again!