Samyang 85 f/1.4 and 14mm f/2.8 for Fuji X-mount available!

photo samyang_zps1a74eadd.jpg

Samyang said it on November 18th here: all their existing lenses will have X Mount in future… and now it begins!

You can now purchase the Samyang 85mm f/1.4 for $299 at BHphoto here and the Samyang 14mm f/2.8 for $399 here. You can find the 85 also at AmazonUS for $399 (Rokinon 85 f/1.4 here) and the 14mm for $499 (Rokinon 14 f/2.8).

For a review about the Samyang/Rokinon 14mm check out davedillonphoto here: “The Rokinon 14mm f2.8 ED AS IF UMC lens is flat out impressive at its price point of $399 USD. Its built well, fun to use, sharp as hell, and produces some really fantastic images when used correctly. That being said, the [shoplink 12888]Fuji XF 14mm F2.8[/shoplink] will most definitely produce nicer images with less distortion and vignette. However, it’s more than double the price!”

Samyang lenses for Fuji X-mount:

Samyang 8mm: [shopcountry 12946] Samyang 300mm mirror lens: [shopcountry 14844] Samyang 16mm f/2.0: [shopcountry 15934] Samyang 24mm f/3.5 Tilt Shift: [shopcountry 15963] Samyang 85mm f/1.4: [shopcountry 21522] Samyang 14mm f/2.8: [shopcountry 21527]

X-DEALS

X-E2: save $100 on the kit ($1,299) and also on the body ($899) at BHphoto and Adorama (body only $100 off at AmazonUS)
X-E1: get the kit for $799 (save $300) or the body for $599 (save $200) at AmazonUS and Adorama (+6% reward on kit, 4% reward on body).
X-M1: Save $200 (price $599) on the kit and $200 on the body (price $499) at AmazonUS, BHphoto (+4%reward) and Adorama.
X-A1: get it for $499 with kit lens (save $100) at AmazonUS, BHphoto and Adorama.
X-PRO1: get the body for $999!! (save $200) at AmazonUS,  Adorama (+4%reward) and BHphoto (+4%reward).

Surprise. The Zeiss-deals didn’t end on January 31th on all stores. While Pictureline is now selling the 32 for $900 and the 12 for $1,250 again, you can still purchase the 12mm for $999 and the 32mm for $720 at AmazonUS,  BHphoto and Adorama.

X-T1 pre-orders

X-T1 body only ($1,299): USA: AmazonUS / BHphoto / Adorama / Pictureline / EU: wexDE / wexUK / PCHstore /
X-T1 with 18-55 ($1,699): USA: AmazonUS / BHphoto / Adorama / Pictureline / EU: wexDE / wexUK / PCHstore /
X-T1 Vertical Battery Grip ($ 249,99): USA: AmazonUS / BHphoto / Adorama / EU: wexDE / wexUK /
X-T1 Hand Grip ($129.95): USA: AmazonUS / Bhphoto / EU: wexUk / wexDE

Samyang 10mm f/2.8 announced!

photo as_zps12b4189f.jpg

Finally, it’s here. Samyang officially announced the 10mm f/2.8! Some specs: Weight: 580 g (1.28 lb) – diameter: 86 mm (3.39″) – length: 77 mm (3.03″) – no AF – aperture ring – DOF scale.

It will be available from the end of January 2014. Suggested retail price of £429.99. More at Samyangs website here (with samples).

The company also said here that all their existing lenses will be available for X-mount in future. Up to now, here is Samyang’s offering for X-shooters:

Samyang 10mm f/2.8 (pre-order check): [shopcountry 19747] Samyang 8mm: [shopcountry 12946] Samyang 300mm mirror lens: [shopcountry 14844] Samyang 16mm f/2.0: [shopcountry 15934] Samyang 24mm f/3.5 Tilt Shift: [shopcountry 15963]

Press release

December 6th 2013 – New 10mm f/2.8 wide-angle lens for APS-C.

The new Samyang 10mm 1:2.8 ED AS NCS CS is an ideal tool for indoor, architecture and landscape photography. It provides an exceptionally wide field of view of up to 109.5 degrees and rectilinear image mapping function. Owing to a fast f/2.8 lens speed you can also use the lens in low light conditions as well as sports photography and photojournalism purposes. The product’s optics comprises 14 elements divided into 10 groups, this includes 2 aspherical AS lenses and one lens made of extra-low dispersion glass.  During development works on the prototype version the lens was fitted with an embedded lens hood which ensures a more compact size and reduces its weight by approximately 160 grams*.
* – applicable to a version with Canon E mount

NCS (Nano Coating System)

The Samyang 10mm 1:2.8 ED AS NCS CS is the first Samyang Optics lens to feature a nano crystal anti-reflection coating system. This technology provides a lower reflection factor than (U)MC system as the coating is now applied more evenly on the surface of the lens. Benefits brought by the nano crystal layer include better light transmission, increased resistance to reflections and higher contrast, and all of this translates into supreme optical resolution of the lens.

The lens will be available from the end of January 2014.
The suggested retail price for the Nikon version is £469.99 inc VAT
All other fittings carry a suggested retail price of £429.99 inc VAT

Samyang says: “All our existing lenses will have X-mount in future”

photo samyang_zps62100f9b.jpg

Now, time for a rumor update to what belongs Samyang’s X-mount lens lineup.

In late August photorumors said that there would be a Samyang 12mm f/2.0 lens for Fuji X-mount. I checked Samyang’s website and there was another lens listed, the 10mm f/2.8. Anyway, photorumors confirmed: the Samyang 12mm will come too. That’s good to know.

But what is the situation now? The 10mm f/2.8 disappeared from the Samyang lens lineup (as you can see from the screenshot here, it was still up in late August).

But here is the good news: According to a facebook comment of Samyang Asia all the existing lenses will have X Mount in future! At Trenton’s question if there is any release roadmap for the X-mount lenses, Samyang answered: “Will be available soon!”

At the moment, the X-mount lenses of Samyang are:

Samyang 8mm: [shopcountry 12946] Samyang 300mm mirror lens: [shopcountry 14844] Samyang 16mm f/2.0: [shopcountry 15934] Samyang 24mm f/3.5 Tilt Shift: [shopcountry 15963]

To see the whole interchangeable lens lineup of Samyang visit their website here. Check it out and tell us which of the existing “non X-mount” Samyang lenses you’d consider to pruchase once it gets the X-mount!

thanks Trenton!

cheers
photo Patrick_zpse517a3cc.png  (facebook, google+ and twitter)

P.S.: Sigma, where are you? ;)

Tested: XF 23mm (dslrmagazine) and XC 16-50 (photozone)

photo 23_zps380a4f8a.jpg

first bunch of lenses is shipping

Fuji XF 23mm

[shopcountry 16128]

The Spanish site dslrmagazine shared its XF23mm review (mounted on a X-E2). Read the result of their field test here (translation). It’s a high quality lens with “character”, beautiful bokeh, no distortion, very little lens flare… lot of great feedback! For their technical test click here (tranlsation). They say it’s worth every cent: “From a technical point of view, image quality, those opting for this lens will soon discover they have made a good investment with € 929.”

Fuji XC 16-50

[shopcountry 17197]

photzone‘s XC 16-50 review can be read here: “The Fujinon XC 16-50mm f/3.5-5.6 OIS is a fairly good standard zoom lens but it doesn’t really stand out due to a number of weaknesses. In terms of resolution, the quality is generally high in the image center and decent in the outer image field. The lens relies heavily on auto-correction with respect to its native distortion characteristic which is nothing short of extreme at 16mm. Since most users will never notice this, this is probably an acceptable compromise (albeit a lossy one). The original vignetting is rather heavy at large apertures but also corrected behind the scenes. Lateral CAs are an issue at 16mm at large aperture settings especially in the image corners.”

“The X-Pro1 will become the backup to the X-E2” (Riley Joseph)

X-E2 – USA: AmazonUS / BHphoto / Adorama / Pictureline / EUROPE: wexphotographicUK /

[I’ve already share Fuji’s X-E2 high-res samples at Fuji’s website here (and XQ1  here). For the X-E2 Brochure click here and here is the features page. The Brochure says that the X-E2 (AF-speed 0,08 sec.) has the fastest AF speed among digital cameras equipped with a 4/3-inch or larger sensor. Measurement conducted by Fujifilm research based on CIPA guidelines using the X-E2 equipped with [shoplink 12888]XF14mmF2.8 R lens[/shoplink] in High Performance mode as of September 2013.]

_ _ _

It seems that for Riley Joseph, the X-PRO1 isn’t Fuji’s flagship anymore! It has become the back-up camera of the X-E2. Why? You can read it here:

“The X-E2 inherits the X-Trans II sensor and the phase & contrast auto focus from the X100S. In using the camera I found the auto focus to be very accurate and snappy. Definitely better than my X-Pro1. And that is not even using the phase detection because my lenses do not have the required firmware updates for the camera. […] And in another suprise (to myself especially) the X-Pro1 will become the backup to the X-E2. At least until the X-Pro2 turns up.”

You can find one more first impressions article at KaleJF here. And check out also Rico’s first look (with more then 200 comments) here (for Rico’s XQ1 Flickr set click here).

How to support Fujirumors

Here is how you can support Fujirumors: if you think the X-E2 is the camera that meets your needs and you want to pre-order it, consider to use one of the links below. FR will get a small commission and it won’t cost you one single penny extra. Thanks in advance for every FR-reader who places his pre-order via Fujirumors. It’s a great help to keep the site ticking over.

X-E2 – USA: AmazonUS / BHphoto / Adorama / DigitalRev / Pictureline / EUROPE: wexphotographicUK / DigitalRev / Fotomundus24 GER / PCHstore /

XQ1 – USA: AmazonUS / BHphoto / Adorama / DigitalRev / EUROPE: wexphotographicUK / DigitalRev / PCHstore /

 

 

Confirmed: The 12mm f/2 Samyang lens will come!

 

Good news! PR confirms that Samyang will announce a 12mm f/2 lens for mirrorless cameras in the next weeks. The company just officially released the 10mm f2.8 lens here.

This could be the Fuji-X product lineup of Samyang:

Samyang 12mm f/2
Samyang 10mm f/2.8
Samyang 8mm: [shopcountry 12946] Samyang 300mm mirror lens: [shopcountry 14844] Samyang 16mm f/2.0: [shopcountry 15934] Samyang 24mm f/3.5 Tilt Shift: [shopcountry 15963]

10mm f/2.8: this is the next Samyang lens for Fuji X-mount

photo smayang_zps6dc2e1ec.png

Will there still be a Samyang 12mm f/2.0 lens for Fuji X-mount as rumored by Photorumors here? Well, fact is that in the meantime Samyang added a new lens for Fuji-X at their website here: the Samyang 10mm f/2.8! Now let’s hope that also the rumored 12mm f/2.0 will become true.

Here is the Fuji-X product lineup of Samyang until now:

Samyang 10mm f/2.8
Samyang 8mm: [shopcountry 12946] Samyang 300mm mirror lens: [shopcountry 14844] Samyang 16mm f/2.0: [shopcountry 15934] Samyang 24mm f/3.5 Tilt Shift: [shopcountry 15963]

cheers
Patrick

10mm f/2.8 specs

Specification 1:2.8 10mm ED AS UMC CS
Aperture Range F2.8 ~ 22
Optical Construction 14 Element in 10 Groups (2 ASPHERICAL LENS)
Angle of View 109.5˚(APS-C)
Minimum Focusing Distance 0.25m (0.82ft)
Filter Size NONE
Length 76.7 ~ 105.5 mm
Maximum Diameter Ф86mm
Weight 710 ~ 740g
Mount Canon EOS, Canon M, Nikon, Pentax, Sony, Sony-E, FUJIFILM X, Samsung NX, Four-thirds, Micro Four-thrids
Lens Coating Multi-coating

Tested: ephotozine XF 27mm and XC 16-50 review

photo 27mm_zps9e63da87.png

the XF 27mm is in stock at various stores as BHphoto, Adorama and Pictureline

ephotozine just posted its XF 27mm review here and the XC 16-50 review here. The XC 16-50 is recommended by ephotozine, confirming that the image quality of Fuji’s XC line remains top notch. Now ephotozine has tested all the Fuji lenses. Check the reviews here. They recommend 6 of the 8 Fuji lenses, the [shoplink 12892]XF 55-200[/shoplink], [shoplink 12887]XF 18-55mm[/shoplink], [shoplink 12888]XF 14mm[/shoplink], [shoplink 12889]XF 35mm[/shoplink], [shoplink 12890]XF 60mm[/shoplink] and now also the XC 16-50.

XF 27mm verdict: “Those looking for as compact a lens as possible for their X-series camera have no other option as lightweight and compact as this lens available to them at the moment. This lens delivers very high levels of sharpness in the centre of the frame, and although adequate, the performance towards the edges of the frame isn’t on quite the same level. The price at launch may seem slightly high when compared to established lenses available for other camera formats, but as this lens is freshly launched, that may change in time. However as the build quality of this lens is so high, that goes some way towards justifying a higher price tag.”

XC 16-50 verdict: “Although most people who end up owning this lens will do by picking it up as part of a kit with the X-M1 camera, it still may be a compelling choice for owners of other X-series cameras, due to it’s light weight, 16mm wide-angle and comparatively low price. Add to that the decent optical performance throughout the zoom range, as well as low levels of chromatic aberrations, low falloff and distortion, it makes this a very competent lens, for not a lot of money.”

IN STOCK STATUS CHECK

X-M1 (body only or with 16-50mm) – USA: AmazonUS / BHphoto / Adorama / DigitalRev / [shoplink 13828 ebay]eBay[/shoplink] / Pictureline EUROPE: [shoplink 13828 ebay]eBay[/shoplink] / DigitalRev / AmazonITA / AmazonDE / WexUK / PCHstore

XF 27mm – USA: AmazonUS / BHphoto / Adorama / DigitalRev / [shoplink 13828 ebay]eBay[/shoplink] / Pictureline EUROPE: [shoplink 13828 ebay]eBay[/shoplink] / DigitalRev / WexUK / AmazonDE / AmazonITA / PCHstore XC 16-50: [shoplink 13828 ebay]eBay[/shoplink] / WexUK / PCHstore

[UPDATE: 16-50 review] X-M1 roundup: photographyblog review, first impressions and samples

X-M1 (body only or with 16-50mm) – USA: AmazonUS / BHphoto / Adorama / DigitalRev / Pictureline EUROPE: DigitalRev / WexUK / PCHstore / AmazonITA

XF 27mm – USA: AmazonUS / BHphoto / Adorama / DigitalRev / Pictureline EUROPE: DigitalRev / WexUK / PCHstore / AmazonITA XC 16-50: WexUK / PCHstore

_ _ _

1) photographyblog posted the X-M1 review review here. 4.5 out of 5 starts… and guess where the X-M1 lost half a star? Exactly, the viewfinder. Some extracts:

“Despite its significantly lower price on launch, the Fujifilm X-M1 is another well-built X-series camera, with very little no flex or movement in its chassis, despite having more plastic in its construction. […] The Fujifilm X-M1’s auto-focusing speed is quick, with a quoted fastest auto-focus time of 0.1 seconds, although it was slightly slower when using the 16-50mm kit zoom. […] The Fujifilm X-M1 produces images of outstanding quality. […] The new 16-50mm lens is also worthy of mention, as although it has a cheaper build quality, it still offers sharp results throughout the focal range. The X-M1 is certainly right up there with the best APS-C sensor cameras on the market, and some full-frame models too, so if image quality at an affordable price is paramount, the [shoplink 13828]X-M1[/shoplink] certainly fits the bill.” (review here)

[UPDATE] photographyblog just posted the 16-50 review here. Fast and quiet focus, “Vignetting is practically a non-issue, and chromatic aberrations are present but well-controlled […] pleasingly sharp in the image centre at 16mm and 23mm, with performance dropping off at 35mm and 50mm where optimum sharpness isn’t achieved until f/8.“

2) The Spanish site dslrmagazine.com had his hands on the X-M1. Their impression can be read here (translation)

3) dc.watch introduces the X-M1 and posted some samples (whole ISO range, film simulations and filters…) Read it here (translation)

X-M1 pre-order check: [shopcountry 13828]

First Look: X-M1 with New Kit Zoom and Pancake Lens

by Rico Pfirstinger

Talk to Rico (open forum for questions & feedback) – Rico’s Flickr sets – X-M1 sample images – Mastering the Fujifilm X-Pro1 reading samples (65 free pages)

Click here to read Andy Westlake’s excellent preview of the X-M1 on DPR – Click here to jump directly to my set of sample images taken with my pre-production camera and lenses

Edit [16/9/13]: Added additional findings to the “pro” section of this article.

Edit [1/8/13]: Added plenty of new samples, both JPEG and RAW (Lightroom & Silkypix) to the Flickr set. Updated Pro/Con comparison with X-E1.

Edit [30/6/13]: Added several SOOC JPEG portrait samples taken with the X-M1 and the two new lenses to the Flickr set.

Edit [29/6/13]: Added my experiences using an USB adapter to get RR-80 remote controls to work with the X-M1

Fujifilm’s new X-M1 mid-range system camera is targeting users and fans of premium compact cameras (like the Sony RX100 or Fujifilm X10, X20 and XF1) as well as users of entry-level DSLR cameras who do not want to compromise on image quality, but prefer a small, lightweight and still affordable package. It’s important to recognize that the X-M1 was at least as much inspired by the Fujifilm X20 and XF1 as was by its older and more expensive system camera sibling, the X-E1.

In other words: This is as much a smaller X-E1 as it is an APS-C sensor sized system camera version of the XF1 or X20. Believe it or not, but the X10/X20 is actually a little bit larger than the body of the X-M1.

A Little Bit of Everything

This turns the X-M1 into kind of a hybrid system: It features the mode dial, scene modes, additional AF modes (including face recognition and pattern tracking), an additional OIS mode and the “art filters” of Fuji’s premium compact and bridge cameras. At the same time, it records images with the same 16 MP APS-C X-Trans sensor found in the larger and more expensive X-Pro1 or X-E1.

In terms of image processing, the tiny X-M1 even surpasses its bigger siblings with the faster EXR Processor II engine already known from the X100S and X20, with conventional 12 Bit RAW image recording. This turns the X-M1 into a pretty responsive camera (at least in Fuji terms). A 95 MB/s SD card (such as a [shoplink 13681]SanDisk Extreme Pro[/shoplink]) certainly pays-off when used in concert with this camera. It takes the X-M1 just about 2 seconds to copy 3 FINE+RAW images from its internal buffer to the card. With its modest burst rate of 5.6 frames per second, this means that the camera can shoot 13 frames in a row at full speed, even though the buffer is just large enough to hold 10 FINE+RAW images at any given time.

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