As to expect, the first bunch of lenses run quickly out of stock at Adorama and Pictureline. But you can still find some at AmazonUS and BestBuy.

And now also BHphoto has the lens available here.

In Stock Check

USA: BHphoto / AmazonUS / Adorama / [shoplink 26452 ebay]eBay[/shoplink] / – EUROPE: wexUK / wexDE / PCHstore / [shoplink 26452 ebay]eBay[/shoplink]

– Fuji XF 18-135mm F3.5-5.6 R LM OIS WR lens — a hands-on review at aboutphotography-tomgrill: “If it’s bokeh you’re after in selective focus, this lens is not going to have it. The slow maximum apertures work against it. Once again, however, Fuji has surprised us with a few tricks up their sleeve to deliver the best performance from a lens type that is typically only suited for amateur or very casual shooting. The weather-resistance, new auto-focus, incredible vibration reduction range, and fine optical performance helps make this a lens hold its own in the Fuji optical line up.”

– Initial Impression of the new Fujifilm 18-135 lens at vicsfujixblog: “My initial impressions after I have literally had this lens in my possession for five hours- Outstanding! It has the usual Fuji quality, produces sharp pics, has a nice weight, the zoom and aperture ring move perfectly and it is a joy to carry around on the X-T1. I feel it is a great value for $899. I could easily travel with just this lens. I have a wide-angle and short telephoto. I could do close-ups, landscape and portraits too. Great lens. Buy it!”

– FUJINON XF 18-135mm F3.5/5.6 WR OIS – Reviewed at bokeh-monster: “Once you sum up all the points from the widely varying situations we tossed its way, it has to be said, although it performed admirably, it is terribly boring, with little character. It does what it does with no surprises. It is very suited to small aperture photographers (situations which benefit large depths of field, for example landscape work) and covers a general purpose focal range which will get you by for most situations. You could definitely do worse for a travel lens. And as long as action stopping low light photography with razor thin bokeh are not part of your repertoire, then the new FUJINON 18-135 mm might just be the one you have been waiting for.”

When Fujifilm published its latest roadmap, the big surprises weren’t the new lenses Fuji added (they were all already known since months thanks to the FR-sources), but the fact that apparently the weather resistant XF 16-55F2.8 lens won’t feature the OIS (optical image stabilization) anymore.

I don’t get it. Fujifilm’s marketing is right now explaining us that the OIS in the brand new XF 18-135 is so awesome, that you hardly need a tripod anymore. They show us videos comparing its OIS technology with the one of the Canon’s 18-135 (and the Fujinon wins hands down), with the XF lens taking nice, sharp photos even at 1/4th of a second.

Why should the amazing 5.0 Stop Image Stabilization technology not be included in the XF 16-55mm?

Last week I’ve asked this question over at the FR-facebook page. And most of the X-shooters agreed: no OIS on the 16-55, no buy.

I also wanted Fuji to include the OIS in the 90mm. In this case opinions differ: some say that the 90F2 prime needs OIS too, others want to keep costs, size and weight down and therefore do not want OIS. For example James Kimber, who said: “OIS is a lifesaver for zooms. I like my primes as compact as possible though.”

Personally I’d like to have OIS in both lenses and then switch it on/off according to the situation. But that’s just my humble opinion.

Now, as promised, I’d like to hear your opinion. Make your considerations, feel free to share them in the comments, and finally simply vote the poll: do you want the OIS in these two lenses? Yes or No!

I hope/think that someone in Tokyo will take note of your feedback ;-).

Sorry, there are no polls available at the moment.

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In stock update: the XF18-135 is right now available at AmazonUS (via 3rd party [Murphy’s camera], 1 left at normal price), at BestBuy and at Adorama. There are still 3 available at kenmorecamera here (99,9% positive feedback). In Europe it’s available at PCHstore.

For years, the weak spot of the Fujfilm company was its imaging division. One of the reason for that, was that smartphones killed sales of compact cameras. Fuji reacted and launched the X100/S, the X-PRO1, the X10/20, the X-E1/2… but, while sales were “smooth”, the imaging field continued to lose money.

But something changed since the launch of the Fujifilm X-T1. The imaging division finally started to make profits (as I first told you in May 2014 here). Now this is the second report that confirms the overall grow of this line of business. In fact, it’s written Black on White on Page 22 of the annual report: “In the Imaging Solutions segment, consolidated revenue amounted to ¥373.6 billion, up 8.0% from the previous fiscal year.”

However, in the report of the 1st quarter (download zip), Fujifilm says: “Revenue decreased, but the profitability was secured due to the strong sales of instant cameras and profit improvement of digital camera business.” (NOTE that formulated this way – “profit improvement” – doesn’t necessarily mean profit (could also mean “less loss“)… but it’s nevertheless a further step into the right direction.)

So while the overall demand on compact cameras is inexorably decreasing, the X-series sales were strong, and the main reason for that is very likely X-T1.

I’ve checked the AmazonCSC ranking since the X-T1 hit the market, and both combinations, the body only and the kit, hardly ever left the first 15 positions of the ranking (at the moment 6th and 7th of the ranking). In fact, Fujifilm writes:

“In the electronic imaging field, sales of premium interchangeable lens camera, FUJIFILM X-T1, which was launched in February 2014, and others were strong. […] the sift to high-end models has been proceeding steadily.”

Sure, it’s not just the X-T1. Fujifilm says that “such factors as the expanded sales of instant cameras and camera modules for use in smartphones led to the increase in consolidated revenue. Operating income amounted to ¥3.6 billion, due to strong sales in the photo imaging business, cost reductions, and other factors.”

But the X-T1 is for sure a winner for Fujifilm, and probably the most sold X-camera ever.

FROM THE ANNUAL REPORT

Revenue increased and the segment become profitable, mainly due to robust sales in the photo imaging business, the positive effects of yen depreciation, and successful efforts to reduce fixed costs.
– Sales of instant cameras as well as such high-value-added print services as Year Album expanded.
– Sales increases were recorded for camera modules for use in smart phones, TV camera lenses, and related products.
– Emphasis was placed on expanding sales of premium-model digital cameras