The Making of the XF35mmF2 :: “Designed for X-Pro2! Construction is more luxurious than XF35mmF1.4”

 

X-Pro2 + XF35mmF2 designed together

XF35mmF2 was announced and released prior to X-Pro2, but the product planning took place concurrently. The fact is, the product planner of X-Pro2 and XF35mmF2 is the same person. Furthermore, the product designer is also the same person.

[…] X-Pro2 and XF35mmF2 were planned and developed to be the best match for each other.

The Lens Design & Construction

First, XF35mmF2 is skinny. It’s not small, but skinny. It only measures 60mm in the largest diameter. If it is smaller than 60mm, then everything would fit within the body mount. It looks nice and clean when the lens is attached to the body and minimizes the vignetting in the OVF. Everyone would like the clear view.

XF35mmF2 is also quiet. […] If the lens is noisy, then it is pointless to have a quiet camera.

[…] If you look at the number of lens alone, XF35mmF2 comprises 9 elements in 6 groups (including two aspherical lenses). This construction is more luxurious than XF35F1.4. The aspherical lens is really effective for the compact optical length.

[…] In order to meet the requirement within the small lens barrel, metal barrel with high rigidity is used. We minimized the size by making each parts with multi-purpose. XF35F2 uses all metal parts for the exterior. […] In order to process the fast AF, actuator and micro computer are installed.

Other criteria had to be met to be in the XF lens lineup. To have 1/3 step aperture ring, new click mechanism was developed. Two balls are positioned, so that there will be an assuring click even though the rotation distance is short.

Do you guys own both, the XF35mmF2 and XF35mmF1.4? Feel free to share your feedback about these lenses in the comments.

XF35mmF2 WR: USA: AmazonUS / BHphoto / FocusCamera / Adorama / EU: PCHstore / AmazonUK / AmazonITA /
XF 35mmF1.4: AmazonUS / BHphoto / FocusCamera / Adorama / Pictureline – EUROPE: AmazonDE

[UDPATED] Fujifilm X70 wide angle adapter (WCL-X70) available for Pre-order!

WLCKSAH

Recently Fujifilm released a Firmware update for the Fujifilm X70. It added support for the WCL-X70, which will be available very soon.

Well, you can now pre-order the WLC-X70 at BHphoto, AmazonUS and Adorama.

UPDATE: For image samples check out Fuji’s official page.

The WCL-X70 is a dedicated wide conversion lens that multiples the fixed focal length by approx. 0.8x, converting it to 21mm (35mm format equivalent). Not only does this lens emphasize perspective, it is also perfect for capturing a broader view such as when shooting in tight spots or landscapes.

Sony Sensor Factory will Resume Operations at the End of May :: Will this delay affect the release of the Fuji X-T2?

There is a further press release regarding the Kumamoto Sony sensor production facility that was hit by the earthquake earlier this month (via SonyAlphaRumors).

Sony says they will resume operations at the End of May.

As you know, Sony makes the APS-C sensors for Fujifilm. For now I still believe the X-T2 will be announced in late June / early July. However, we can’t exclude that it will be available on the market later than orignially planed.

Status of Sony Group Manufacturing Operations Affected by 2016 Kumamoto Earthquakes (Third Update)

Due to the earthquake of April 14, 2016 and subsequent earthquakes in the Kumamoto region, operations at Sony Semiconductor Manufacturing Corporation’s Kumamoto Technology Center (located in Kikuchi Gun, Kumamoto Prefecture), which is the primary manufacturing site of image sensors for digital cameras and security cameras as well as micro-display devices, were halted and currently remain suspended. With aftershocks continuing and employee safety the foremost priority, inspections of the facility and the development of a recovery plan remain ongoing. The current status of operations for the Kumamoto Technology Center is as follows:
  • Damage to the building itself has been confirmed to be primarily to the upper layer of the building, and reinforcement work will be carried out in this area.
  • The clean rooms used for wafer processing and manufacturing equipment, both located on the lower layer of the building have not been significantly damaged, and preparations are now underway to resume production. Manufacturing operations are targeted to resume around the end of May 2016.
  • Regarding back-end processes, such as assembly and measurement, as well as processing operations for components such as camera modules, which are carried out on the upper layer of the building, Sony has confirmed that there is damage to the clean rooms, manufacturing equipment and other equipment. Further analysis of the extent of this damage is currently underway.
  • Damage to finished product inventory such as image sensors at Kumamoto Technology Center is limited, and shipments of these products have already resumed. The status of semi-finished and uncompleted products is currently being confirmed.

The impact of the earthquakes on Sony Corporation’s (“Sony”) consolidated results continues to be evaluated. In the Devices segment, there is expected to be direct physical damage to Kumamoto Technology Center. Sony expects to incur expenses primarily for recovery and reinforcement work in response to the physical damage to the relevant portion of the Kumamoto Technology Center. Sony may also incur large opportunity losses, mainly in the Devices and Imaging Products & Solutions segments due to suspension of production for a certain period of time.

In addition, due to the suspension of manufacturing operations at Kumamoto Technology Center and potential disruption to the supply of components to Sony from certain third-party suppliers that also have manufacturing facilities in the Kumamoto region, it is possible that business operations within the Mobile Communications, Game & Network Services and Home Entertainment & Sound segments also may be affected. This potential impact is currently being evaluated.

Fujifilm 2015 Financial Report: Imaging Solutions Significantly Increases Profitability thanks to Instax & X-series!

provs

reproa

The 2015 Fiscal Year Reports are now online (FYI, the Japanese Fiscal year 2015 ended on March 31, 2016)

Instax and X-series sell strong. A special mention goes to the X100T, X-T1, X-T10 and also X-Pro2… and of course to the Hello Kitty Instax (a limited edition version has been launched in 2016… sorry guys I missed to share rumors about that one ;) ).

“Strong sales of the FUJIFILM X100T premium compact digital camera […] FUJIFILM X-T1 premium interchangeable lens camera, interchangeable lenses, and other products […] Though the sales volume largely decreased due to the contraction of the product lineup of compact digital cameras, the sales of digital cameras X Series, centering on FUJIFILM X-Pro2, a flagship model launched in March 2016, were strong.”

Some excerpts from the reports (full reports here):

In the Imaging Solutions segment, consolidated revenue amounted to ¥353.3 billion, down 2.1% from the previous fiscal year, due to the decrease in sales of optical device and electronic imaging business, despite the increase in sales of photo imaging business.

Consolidated operating income amounted to ¥32.2 billion, up 55.5% from the previous fiscal year, reflecting an increase in gross profit by the growth in revenues of the photo imaging business.

In the photo imaging business, sales of instant photo systems such as the instax series and various designs of instax films increased especially in the United States and Europe. Fujifilm strengthened its lineup by offering a new instant camera with instax mini HELLO KITTY 2016 limited edition and new Hello Kitty patterned films, which were launched in March 2016. Sales also increased as a result of the expansion in the high-value-added printing business. Main contribution to this expansion were sales of the Year Album service, which can select good photographs and arrange them automatically, and the Shuffle Print service, which can summarize photo data and print it on a single sheet.

In the electronic imaging field of the optical device and electronic imaging business, sales volume of digital cameras decreased due to the contraction of product lineup, while the sales of X Series were strong. This was due to further shift to high-end models such as the mirrorless digital camera FUJIFILM X-T10, which realizes outstanding image quality and comfortable operability with a compact and lightweight body and FUJIFILM X-Pro2, a flagship model which realizes the best ever image quality and comfortable operability among X Series, and the sales expansion in Asian countries. In the optical device field, sales of camera modules for use in smartphones significantly decreased. Fujifilm tries to expand global market share in broadcast zoom lens, with such products as those for use with 4K cameras which were launched ahead of its competitors and highly appreciated in the aspects of imaing quality in the market.