Fujifilm sells Film-factory in Europe + Graph shows how digital killed film and smartphones decimate digital cameras

MUST READ: First Look at the XF 16-55mmF2.8 WR

PRE-ORDER XF 16-55mmF2.8 WR: USA: BHphoto / AmazonUS / Adorama / EUROPE: wexUK / PCHstore /

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Hard times for Film aficionados.

Not only Fujifilm is discontinuing their popular films like last the Fujichrome Velvia 100F 120, but they also closed important film factories. The one in Tilburg (Netherlands) was closed several years ago, and its equipment is now on sale via auction (look inside the factory and check the auctions at troostwijkauctions).

There seems to be just one last bastion for Fuji’s film: the booming world of Instax! As I told you here, Instax cameras and instax film are stable at the very top of the OVERALL AmazonUS camera & photo ranking,

Instax are winners! That’s why Fujifilm continues to develop new models. The latest one is the new INSTAX WIDE 300 camera, launched along with the X100T and graphite Fujifilm X-T1. My personal favorite is still the Instax Mini Neoclassic 90, launched about a year ago. The success of the Instax cameras pushes, at the same time, the sales of Instax Film.

The earnings from the booming Instax Business are also used for developing the X-line.

But film means also Instax SHARE Smartphone Printer SP-1. Since Christmas I’m a proud owner this little device and I have to say I love it.

However, as said, Instax Film is probably the last bastion, where film is still selling well.

Look at that:

Here is a graph (via Mirrorlessrumors) that shows the inexorable decline of film caused by the arrival of digital photography, and the ongoing decline of digital cameras due to the smartphone-selfie-era. But the interesting part is also that little red bar… curious to see how it evolves in future ;) .

Howard Curtis Smith commented this graph on facebook here and said:

“There are a couple of interesting things in this chart. Camera production while down significantly from its peak, is still ahead of 1999 which was the zenith of film camera production. There was a large run up in sales as customers purchased digital cameras in huge numbers rapidly causing market saturation. Now that the market is saturated it needs to find a new level. Sales growth of three fold over a 10 year stretch was not sustainable. Add to that the point and shoot market has been decimated by the camera phone and probably will not recover as camera phone quality is good enough for most uses and is only getting better.

The high-end DSLR market is hurting less, but still hurting as the newspaper/magazine industry is in free fall and so not replacing older equipment. The rate of improvement in DSLRs has slowed causing a slow down in customers upgrading. Mirrorless systems stand to gain share from prosumer DSLR and high-end P/S cameras, but they are still building out their lens lineups and feature sets. I would not be surprised if sales halved again before stabilizing. 4K video will probably be the next driver in the upgrade cycle.”

via petapixel via Mirrorlessrumors

LIVE BLOGGING: Fujinon XF 16-55mmF2.8 WR lens (REFRESH THIS PAGE)

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OFFICIAL SAMPLES & PRODUCT PAGE

Fujifilm XF 16-55 Product Page / Official Fuji Samples / Specs /

FIRST LOOKS and SAMPLES

RICO’S FIRST LOOK HERE

– Shooting Jodi with the 16-55mm f2.8 Fuji at ideasandimages / The XF 16-55mm f2.8 – King of the Mid-Zooms at ideasandimages / FUJI XF16-55mm F2.8 WR, the new PRIME zoom? at ivanjoshualoh / First Look at the XF 16-55mmF2.8 at thedigitaltrekker / Fujinon XF16-55mm F2.8 lens at Zouk Singapore: My first impressions at flemmingbojensen / Promo Movie at charlenewinfred / First Look at bjornmoerman / preview at photomadd /

PRESS RELEASES

Fujifilm press release / Spanish Presentation at dslrmagazine /

Fujifilm launches the FUJINON XF16-55mmF2.8 R LM WR

January 6, 2015

FUJIFILM Corporation (President: Shigehiro Nakajima) is proud to announce that a new FUJINON XF16-55mmF2.8 R LM WR will be added to the X Series interchangeable lens line-up in February 2015.

A weather-resistant zoom lens with a constant aperture of F2.8 across the focal lengths equivalent to 24mm at wide-angle through to 84mm at medium-telephoto, the XF16-55mm delivers ultra-sharp images even at wide open apertures across the entire zoom range!

The “FUJINON XF16-55mm F2.8 R LM WR” is a flagship “XF standard zoom lens” with a focal length equivalent to 24mm – 84mm (in 35mm format equivalent), and a constant F2.8 aperture throughout the range. The advanced optical design controls various forms of aberration to achieve edge-to-edge sharpness across the entire zoom range. The use of a newly-developed Nano-GI* (Gradient Index) coating technology effectively inhibits ghosting and flare, producing clear images. This is a convenient standard zoom lens that covers a wide range of shooting scenes from the wide-angle 24mm equivalent suitable for landscape photography, to the medium-telephoto 84mm equivalent, ideal for portraiture.
The XF16-55mm lens is driven with a linear motor, allowing comfortable shooting with fast, quiet autofocusing. Featuring a weather resistant and dust-resistant finish that can work in temperatures as low as -10°C and can be paired with the “FUJIFILM X-T1” premium mirrorless camera to take advantage of the fully weather-resistant system.

  • * Technology for forming a nano-sized irregular surface structure on the lens to reduce its surface reflection
1. Main Features
(1) Optically designed to draw out the maximum image quality as a flagship standard zoom lens
  • In order to achieve the best-in-class image quality, the fast standard zoom lens with a constant aperture of F2.8 consists of 17 elements in 12 groups. This includes three aspherical lens elements to control spherical aberration and distortion, and three ED glass lens elements to reduce lateral chromatic aberration (wide-angle) and axial chromatic aberration (telephoto), thereby achieving edge-to-edge sharpness across the entire zoom range.
  • Applying Fujifilm’s unique HT-EBC (High Transmittance Electron Beam Coating) to the entire area of the lens surface ensures ghosting and flare are controlled for sharp, clear images. Also, using the newly developed Nano-GI coating technology, which alters the refractive index between glass and air, ghosting and flare are effectively reduced for diagonal incident light.
  • Nine rounded aperture blades create a smooth, circular bokeh. The suppression of spherical aberration to the ultimate extent contributes to produce beautiful bokeh at both the front and back.
  • By combining this lens with an X Series camera body** with Lens Modulation Optimiser*** (LMO) technology, the performance from the lens is improved even further. LMO corrects for diffraction*4 to produce images with edge-to-edge sharpness and create a realistic three-dimensional effect, even at small apertures.
  • ** Supported by the “FUJIFILM X-T1”, “FUJIFILM X-T1GS” and “FUJIFILM X-E2” as of January, 2015.
  • *** Fujifilm’s own image processing function that corrects the optical effects of diffraction, based on the optical performance of each lens.
  • *4 Phenomenon that occurs when the shooting with a narrow aperture in which fine images that should originally be sharp become blurred.
(2) High-speed, quiet auto focus thanks to the Linear Motor
  • An Inner Focusing System*5 is used for high-speed AF. By reducing the weight of the focus lens and mounting the Twin Linear Motor, high-speed, quiet AF is possible. The fastest AF speed of 0.06 seconds brings comfort to your photo-shoot when by combining this lens with an X Series camera body** offering Phase Detection AF. Combined with the near-silent shutter sound, photos can be taken unnoticed in quiet locations.
  • As AF operates using a signal from the imaging sensor, extremely high-precision focusing is possible.
  • *5 Method for moving the small lenses in the middle and rear sections of the lens, without moving the large lenses composing the front of the lens.
(3) Weather resistant, dust-resistant and -10°C low-temperature operation
  • With weather-sealing at 14 locations, the lens is weather-resistant, dust-resistant and -10°C low-temperature operation, making it the perfect companion for the X-T1, which has the same levels of protection.
(4) High build quality and comfortable operation
  • Both the focus and aperture rings are metal, plus metal is also used on the exterior of the lens body for a high-quality finish. Thanks to long-term experience and broaden knowhow for other top-end professional lens fields such as Broadcasting and Cinema Scope, the texture and torque on the rings makes for comfortable shooting even for delicate manual focusing. The lens mount is made from brass for improved strength.
  • Combined with a camera body, the lens is approximately 60% of the weight of a full-size system*6, considerably reducing the burden on the photographer for astonishing ease of use.
  • The AF+MF function enables seamless manual focusing. After pressing the shutter to autofocus on the subject, fine adjustments can then be made using the manual focus ring.*7
  • *6 Fujifilm research.
  • *7 A function allowing seamless manual focusing by rotating the focus ring while pressing the shutter halfway during AF lock. A firmware upgrade is required for the camera body in order to use this function.
    (Applicable models: X-Pro1 / X-E1 / X-E2 / X-T1 / X-T1GS)
2. Main Specification
Type FUJINON LENS XF16-55mmF2.8 R LM WR
Lens construction 17 elements 12 groups (includes 3 aspherical and 3 extra low dispersion elements)
Focal length (35mm format equivalent) f=16-55mm (24-84mm)
Angle of view 83.2°～29°
Max. aperture F2.8
Min. aperture F22
Aperture control Number of blades 9(rounded diaphragm opening)
1/3EV (19 steps)
Step size
Focus range Normal：0.6m～∞ (whole zoom position)
Macro： 30cm～10m(Wide), 40cm～10m (Telephoto)
Max. magnification 0.16× (Telephoto)
External dimensions: Diameter × Length (approx.)
(distance from camera lens mount flange)		 φ83.3mm × 106.0mm (Wide) / 129.5mm(Telephoto)
Weight (approx.)
(excluding caps and hoods)		 655g
Filter size φ77mm

DOUBLE X-PERT CORNER: XF 16-55mmF2.8 First Look Tomorrow (around midnight in NY) + 56 VS 56 APD very soon!

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I’m pleased to announce that Rico Pfirstinger is right now working on a 56mm vs 56mm APD comparison, that will go online as soon as Rico finished it.

And even more, he told me that he is working on a First Look that will go online tomorrow, January 6th. Now, given the fact that trusted sources told me that the XF 16-55mmF2.8 WR will be announced tomorrow, you can guess what the first look will be about.

The time? Usually Fuji announces new gear at around midnight NY-time. I know it exactly, because every time there is a new product launch, I change the schedule of lessons with my colleagues in order to have a bit more time to make the live blogging in the morning here in Europe… but this time I’m still on holiday ;)

Oh yes, the live blogging. I’ll be here, ready to start it as soon as the lens will be announced (around midnight in New York). I’ll provide you with everything that’s worth to be known about this lens by constantly updating the live blogging with fresh links and useful information about it… but I guess that, as usual, it’s here on Fujirumors that you’ll find the best overview/first look about this lens, thanks to Rico’s X-Pert Corner Special! So stay tuned.

“DSLRs REBOOTED” :: Wired.com declares Fujifilm X-T1 best new camera of 2014!

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Wired.com declared the Fujfilm X-T1 as their favorite and best camera 2014. Here is their motivation:

“Most mirrorless cameras are happy being smaller, beginner-friendly, somewhat less-capable alternatives to DSLRs. But the Fujifilm X-T1 has a different goal: to reboot the DSLR entirely. Its compact, weather-sealed body is topped by a bevy of manual controls. Inside, you get an APS-C sensor, super-fast autofocus, and an OLED electronic viewfinder. It won’t fit in your pocket, but for serious photogs, this is 2014’s best new camera.”

X-T1 body: BHphoto (save $100 + lots of freebies) / AmazonUS (save $100)
X-T1 + XF18-55: BHphoto (save $100 + lots of freebies) / AmazonUS (save $100)

CES 2015: Fujifilm will have two booths there… and why Fuji’s meeting room strategy gains them a few things!

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Just two days ago, I shared the news of dpr-moderator Chris – who’s heading to Las Vegas soon -, that there won’t be any Fujifilm booth at CES (from 6th to 9th January)… just rooms for business meetings.

Checking CES exhibitor list you see that Fuji is having two connected booths at CES 2015, North Hall Mtg Rms – N219 and North Hall Mtg Rms – N220. So, if Chris is well informed, these two booths will be the business meeting rooms.

But a FR-reader, who is intimately familiar with the layout of the show told me what follows about the “meeting rooms“:

“Fuji’s “meeting rooms” at CES aren’t what you and I think of as meeting rooms. They are larger than you might guess. Being connected, they could be “formed” into one large room, one that I would guess is as big if not bigger than the space they occupied last year on the show floor. The space they occupied last year, by the way, was PRIME real estate — the most sought after space at the show. (and certainly expensive)

Fuji’s meeting room strategy gains them a few things: One, it saves them a nice chunk of change in booth production, as they don’t have to compete for eyeballs on the over the top show floor. Two, it allows them to make their booth more private (totally private if they like) so they can focus on more on customers and less on “tire kickers”. Privacy can be important, as it keeps pesky competitors away from your prototypes and what not. Three, private booths require less manpower.

In the end, they may indeed have a display for average attendees to enjoy. Or, they might go “invitation only”, and only customers and select press will pass through the magic doors.”

And don’t forget, rumors say that the XF 16-55 f/2.8 could be announced on January 6th… so stay tuned on FR.

P.S.: I’ve contacted FujiUS via Twitter. I hope they will get back to us soon… will keep you posted.

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