Venus Laowa 9 mm F2.8 Zero-D Hands On

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Laowa 9mm F2.8 on Fujifilm X-T10 © Albedo Media
Laowa 9mm F2.8 on Fujifilm X-T10 © Albedo Media

Laowa 9mm F2.8 Hands On

The Spanish site albedomedia made a quick hands on review on one of the third party lenses, that arises most curiosity in the Fuji X community: the Laowa 9mm F2.8.

I know for many of you guys, this lens is on the radar also for eventual astrophotography, but of course we are all still waiting to see how it performs, especially when it comes to coma.

But it seems that Laowa is actively promoting this lens also for astrophotography, since they display a couple of prints of the milky way taken with the Laowa 9mm F2.8.

With that said, here are some first impressions by albedomedia (google translated):

  • Zero-D stands for “zero distortion
  • The denomination Zero-D has already been used for lenses such as the Laowa 12mm F2,8 Zero-D or the Laowa 15mm F2 FE Zero-D . The new Laowa includes a complex optical scheme consisting of 15 lenses in 10 groups, with a combination of aspherical lenses and special glasses with low chromatic dispersion.
  • Manual Focus only
  • The focus ring, of correct dimensions, presents a suitable firmness, but its route is too short to our understanding
  • Its metal construction is of good quality, and conveys a sense of quality in its finishes
  • At shooting distances more typical of interior design, here at the stand of the CP + , the Laowa 9 mm f / 2.8 Zero-D seems to offer a reasonably rectilinear performance
  • On the positive side is its very compact size, the feeling of good finishes […]. On the other hand, in the least positive, it would be short of its route of the focus ring – a price to be paid in part for the compactness – and above all a level of distortion that we believe does not agree with the name of the presumptive one.

The Laowa 9mmF2.8 Zero-D has already been annouced here. Check it out for more specs and price.

Image taken with the X-T10 and Venus Laowa 9 mm f / 2.8 Zero-D af / 2.8 - 1/40 s - ISO 200 © Albedo Media
Image taken with the X-T10 and Venus Laowa 9 mm f / 2.8 Zero-D af / 2.8 – 1/40 s – ISO 200 © Albedo Media
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Yes, The EU Import Duty is THE Reason the Fujifilm X-H1 is Limited to 30 Minutes… but will it Change in 2018/2019

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After my article yesterday, about the EU regulation that says higher import taxes have to be paid in EU for still cameras that can record over 30 minutes, there was still scepticism if this was indeed correct. Some even went so far to say this is a fake news.

And guys, indeed this rule makes no sense, and it is hard to believe that such a thing exists in these days.

But as the biggest nerd-magazine in EU (which I regularly read ;) ) C’T writes, the rule has been set by the European Union back in 2007. At that time, there were only a few cameras able to be able to record over 30 minutes, so this wasn’t a big deal.

However, technology evolved, and today many cameras could easily break the 30 minutes mark (if the battery life allows it).

But will this limit be removed in future?

The best place research this, is the official site of the European Union itself, because it’s there, where such decisions are taken.

In April 2016, the European Parliament said here:

“[…] the European Union setting out criteria to distinguish between ‘still image cameras with a video camera function’ and ‘video camera recorders with a still image function’, the length of the single sequence of video being just one of them. Video camera recorders are subject to import duty of 4.9% or 14%, still image cameras are duty free.

Following recent technical developments, those criteria are currently being revised. While certain criteria may seem outdated, the combination of the quality of the video image and the length of the video (at least 30 minutes) are deemed to be objective and verifiable criteria which are applied in a uniform manner across Member States. The Commission is not aware of technical limitations to those devices developed by the industry to evade import duties. It is therefore intended to maintain those criteria.”

But in the same statement, the EU also says that, in discussions with the WTO, this limit will be removed for stills cameras:

“The Common Customs Tariff duties are fixed by the Council on proposals of the Commission. The Commission can in this context confirm that the product is part of the coverage of the revised WTO Information Technology Agreement, which has been negotiated by the Commission. This means that the customs duties for camcorder will be removed after the revised agreement enters into force and thus in extension benefit EU consumers.”

At this stage, the limit has NOT yet been removed for digital cameras, and this is the reason why the Fujifilm X-H1 and many other cameras still have the 30 minutes limit. So, whoever says that the X-H1 30 minutes limit is not because of EU legislation, is sharing wrong information.

However, this will change in future, as the EU says here:

The text commits 50 parties, including the EU’s 28 member states, to eliminate tariffs on IT products in four stages over a three-year period ending on 1 July 2019.

As also Sony itself confirmed to Max Yurvey here, Sony is waiting for the EU law to change to remove the 30 minutes record limit. According to Sony, it should happen in 2019.

But today, the 30 minute video record limit is still law, hence companies continue to limit their cameras to 30 minutes to save on import taxes, and make their cameras cheaper.

This will be removed, but given the burocratic monster the EU is, I believe it only when I see it :).

The one question now is, once this nonsense EU law will be removed, can the X-H1 get a FW update to raise the record limit?

Fujifilm X-H1: BHphoto, AmazonUS, Adorama, Focuscamera
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Fujifilm X-H1 Coverage: X-H1 facebook group + X-H1 facebook Page

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Fujifilm X-H1: Best New Video Features, Pros and Cons… and Unveiling the Secret about the 30 Minutes Video Record Limit :)

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Seth K. Hughes Youtube – Best New Video Features

Why 30 Minutes Video Record Limit?

Some of you wonder why the Fujifilm X-H1 has a 30 minutes video record limit. Where does this limit come from?

The answer is….

…. Legislation!

In 2007, the European Union decided to make European importers pay different import taxes on still digital cameras and camcorders, with the latter one having a higher import tax. Of course higher taxes translate into a higher price for customers.

The workaround for companies is to set the video record limit to 30 minutes, so that the device will be classified as “still camera”, and there are lower taxes to pay. Reuters wrote 11 years ago here:

The EU trade experts decided last Friday that to be classified as a digital camera, equipment must not be able to record at least 30 minutes of a single sequence of video […].”

So no, there is absolutely no “overheating” issue behind the 30 minutes limit, as Palle Schultz also told us in our fantastic X-H facebook group here. Do you want longer record time? Then the Fujifilm X-H1 will get more expensive.

Now you can stop to struggle and puzzle… always happy to help ;)

We have written a more in depth article about this here, and we also tell you when this nonsense regualtion will end.

Fujifilm X-H1 Review

Full Review of the Fujifilm X-H1 at photographyblog. The X-H1 is “highly recommended“. From the conclusions:

You’d probably think that adding an effective optical image stabilisation system, better AF system, more advanced video, tougher build quality, a higher-resolution EVF, welcome touchscreen functionality, a top plate LCD panel and Bluetooth connectivity would be more than enough to make the X-H1 the de facto choice amongst Fujifilm fans, and mostly I’d agree.

But there’s a small part of me that recognises that it’s also the biggest, heaviest and most expensive X-series camera to date, it suffers from the need to have the VPB-XH1 vertical battery grip fitted to take full advantage of the video capabilities, and the removal of the dedicated exposure compensation dial is at best mildly irritating.

So what Fujifilm have mostly added, they’ve perhaps also taken a little away, with the addition of IBIS, bigger handgrip and top LCD screen making the X-H1 the largest X-series APS-C camera to date. Whether size matters or not does very much depend on your viewpoint – we’ve seen some people expressing both disdain at the increased size of the X-H1, and some expressing delight.

Perhaps more worrying than the growth in size of the X-H1 is the growth in the price-tag – £1699 / $1899 body-only or £1949 / $2199 with the near-essential VPB-XH1 vertical battery grip puts it almost on a par with the fashionable new elephant in the room, the very recently announced 35mm full-frame Sony A7 III.

Fujifilm X-H1 Owners Feedback

It feels like that whoever owns the Fujifilm X-H1, is also part of our fantastic X-H1 facebook group. It’s impossible to sum it all up here on FujiRumors, so I’ll pick one feedback for you. If you are interested, feel free to join… you will see LOTS of stills and video samples, too :)

John R.

Made this super short vid testing out the IBIS AND 120p SLO MO (it’s fantastic) and Eterna film simulation. And here’s some random thoughts on Day 1 of shooting.

+ Eterna is incredible. Easy to get good results quickly in post.
+ IBIS is great but it’s not a gimbal that floats on clouds. Secure the camera and it’s incredible.
+ I’m shooting the video at high isos and for me the Fuji’s grain always at character.
+ Video does have a slight microjitters if you don’t dial in your settings. (Be interesting in seeing how Full Auto for video fares.
+ AF and shooting speed is snappier.
+ That shutter button, very responsive, very quiet,
+ Displays are brighter / clearer and it shows.
+ LED Display was a good choice. The EV is easy enough to find though I shoot on full manual.
+ A lot of new options inside the menus which are much needed.

– Size/weight: you can tell the difference from an X-T2. (Add on a 50-140 and you have something similar to a Canon 7DmII AKA.)
– Add on a boost, and this isn’t a small camera.
-The dials seem cheaper.
– Eterna isn’t a great photo film sim.
– Eye piece protrudes out, sometimes getting in the way of the display depending on the angle.
– The touch screen has a learning curve. Will take a minute to get it to be second nature

 

I would describe the X-H1 this way… the X-T2 was a workhorse and a piece of art. The X-H1 is more a tool than a design element. But the thing is the X-H1 is an improvement. Many of the nagging issues of the XT2 are fixed but the cost is a bit more weight and the design.

If you need video and shoot photos, this camera is a no brainer if you invested in Fuji gear.

Fujifilm X-H1: BHphoto, AmazonUS, Adorama, Focuscamera
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Fujifilm X-H1 Coverage: X-H1 facebook group + X-H1 facebook Page

Fuji Guys Vlogging Style :)

Fuji Guys Channel Youtube – Fujiguys – Japan vlog #1

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Fujifilm X-H1 Vs. Panasonic GH5 Autofocus and IBIS Compared

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Fujifilm X-H1 Vs. Panasonic GH5

The Panasonic GH5 has arguably industies best in body image stabilization technology. So how does Fujifilm first IBIS generation compare against the very best?

That’s the question MDR Foto tries to anwer in this video above.

Keep in mind the Panasonic GH5 has been used with dual IS (body + lens) and the X-H1 with in body IBIS only. And it’s more a test “out of the box”, which does not guarantee 100% fair conditions, but it’s the first time the X-H1 gets compared to the very top IBIS on the market.

The Result:

  • Panasonic GH5 has better stabilization
  • Fujifilm X-H1 has “much better” autofocus
  • Fujifilm X-H1 has autofucs even at 120 fps, which the Panasonic GH5 has not

See the full video here.

Fujifilm X-H1: BHphoto, AmazonUS, Adorama, Focuscamera
Follow FujiRumors on Facebook, RSS-feed, Instagram, Youtube and Twitter
Fujifilm X-H1 Coverage: X-H1 facebook group + X-H1 facebook Page

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Fujifilm X-H1 Look Up Table Available (ETERNA included) + Fuji Guy Billy Interview: “We still Believe in Dials, but on the X-H1…”

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BighHeadTaco & Fuji Guy Billy

BigHeadTaco (BHT) had a talk about the Fujifilm X-H1 with Fuji Guy Billy. Some experts.

  • BHT starts mentioning the great TCSTV live stream, we reported here and BHT links in the comments to his youtube video
  • Billy: ETERNA film simulation is Billy’s favorite new feature. A nice base for further grading
  • BHT: Fujifilm X-H1 first Fujifilm camera to be equally good for stills and video
  • BHT unveiles that a couple of years ago, Fujifilm asked photographers what features they want in Fujifilm cameras that they have in other brands, and almost all said IBIS. They also gave feedback about other things, and Fujifilm listened and implemented these features in the X-H1.
  • Billy: X-H1 is very customizable
  • You will see the MK Cine lenses mounted on X-H1 and X-T2
  • Billy: We still believe in dials, especially picking up the camera you feel a little bit more connected. The fact that you don’t have to dive deep into menu system is great, especially for the main exposure. On the X-H1, though, the exp. comp. dial is gone and makes space to a sub-monitor. Fujifilm finds that to be quite useful especially for video side of things. When you are in video mode, the sub-monitor displays video centric information.
  • Billy: SD-relay recording confirmed
  • Billy: AF improvements targeting action and wildlife photography

See the full video here.

LUT for F-log

LUT for F-Log (Look Up Table)

This LUT file is to edit the movie data below when the data is edited by a movie editor on your PC or Mac.
*4K movie data of X-T2 recorded in external HDMI devices with the mode of the “HDMI F-Log” under the “4K MOVIE OUTPUT” in the “MOVIE SETTING”
*4K and Full HD movie data of X-H1 recorded on SD cards or in external HDMI devices with the mode of the “F-Log RECORDING” in the “MOVIE SETTING”

It includes the ETERNA LUT, as reported also at cinema5D here.

Download

F-Log 3D-LUT file
F-Log Data sheet
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