A busy day… shared earlier today on FujiRumors:

• Click here: Kai Reviews Fujifilm X-H1: “In Stills, Focus Sticks on Subject Like Glue, Quite Phenomenal”
• Click here: Fringer Smart Adapter Pro: Sigma 150-600 on Fujifilm X-T2 PDAF Autofocus Video Demo (Firmware 1.40)
• Click here: LOL: Fujifilm Already Sells Fujifilm X-H2… Fixing Bugs with New Cameras Instead of Firmware Updates Like Sony? ;)
• Click here: Hurry up! Save up to $50 on Fuji gear sold on eBay!
• Click here: Steelsring Smart Adapter Firmware Update for Canon EF to Fujifilm X (ver. 1.07) and Canon EF to Fujifilm GFX (ver. 1.06)
• Click here: Alien Skin Exposure X3 adds Fujifilm X-H1 Support and Fujifilm Film Simulations Profiles
• Click here: Don’t Skimp on the Grip

Laowa 9mm F2.8 Review:

UPDATE: Venus Optics is now taking pre-orders on their latest lens, the Laowa 9mm F2.8 Zero-D (zero distortion). The first 100 people buying this lens will get a set of 49mm filters (ND 1000 + CPL +UV ) for free. First comes first, so order now to be high on waiting list. The lens is not yet available at BHphoto & Co.

Jonas Rask just published his Laowa 9mm F2.8 Review… and it comes with tons of stunning samples at jonasraskphotography.

Here some excerpts:

• absolutely tiny and stelar build quality
• rectilinear lens, nice straight lines right to the corners
• It is really sharp in the 3/4 central part of the frame, but it loses a little bit of sharpness towards the edges, there’s also a fair bit of vignetting when shot at f/2.8
• some gorgeous sun stars
• vibrant colours and some great contrast
• this lens is pure fun, fun, fun!
• It’s such and amazing performer, especially when you take the small size into account.
• suggest retail price of $499
• Easily one of the most usable lenses I’ve ever mounted on my X-series system (And I have mounted A LOT over the years!)

Don’t forget to check out all the fantastic samples Jonas Rask took with this lens at jonasraskphotography.

The Laowa 9mm F2.8 will be soon available for pre-order at VenusOptics, AmazonUS, BHphoto and Adorama

There is also a review of the Sony E-mount version at thephoblographer and an Interview/Review about the Laowa 9mmF2.8 Lens with lens designer Dayong Li at fujilove.

TODAY ONLY:

This one runs today only: You save 15% on eBay.com when using the promo code “PSPRINGTIME” on checkout (max $50). This is valid also on all Fuji gear (Click here).

Markus tests the ‘extraordinary’ Indirect Litemotiv 190 from Elinchrom and adapts it for the Flashpoint Xplor 600 Pro.

guest post & all images by Markus Klinko

If you already read my recent article on this site about cross brand adaptations, you know that the Elinchrom Zoom Spot 18–36° is one of my current favorite key lights.

In order to maximize my adaptation of these spots for Flashpoint XPLOR 1200 extension heads (Godox H1200) and the new AD600 PRO units, I made sure to add the small reflector that is a standard for all Elinchrom flash heads, to my adapters.

Initially, I combined the Phottix Elinchrom to Bowens adapter with the reflector from the Elinchrom Quadra adapter, by adding a custom, acrylic tube piece.

This solution proved to be not as durable as I hoped, and I since found a simpler solution. I now use the entire Quadra adapter, but added a Bowens low profile custom mount to the back of the Quadra adapter, and also eliminate the stand adapter piece entirely. This is by far more solid, and avoids struggling with the lesser Phottix adapter.

Elinchrom deserves much praise for keeping a theatrical follow spot in their line up, which they also sell at a very reasonable price. Both Broncolor and Profoto have sadly long discontinued their own versions of the theatrical zoom spots.

Elinchrom Indirect Litemotiv Octa 190cm

Fujinon XC 15-45mm

The official “shipping embargo” ends tomorrow, and finally BHphoto, AmazonUS and Adorama will start delivering Fuji’s smallest zoom lens, the XC 15-45mm F3.5-5.6 PZ OIS.

The XC15-45 is an interesting option for those of us, who’d like to travel as light as possible, but do want to keep the flexibility a zoom lens offers.

The Fujinon internal competitor of the XC15-45 is the XF 18-55 (the XC16-50 will probably be discontinued).

Having 3mm more at the wide end can make the difference especially for landscape photography. I personally applaud Fuji’s decision to go wider (15mm) and sacrifice a bit of reach at the long end.

True, the XC15-45 won’t be able to keep up optically with the XF18-55 and it is also a slower lens, but these are inevitable tradeoffs for a lens, the XC15-45, that is about half the size of the XF18-55.

It remains to see how well it performs optically, and we now have the first review at photographyblog. Their conclusions:

What we do know about Fujifilm’s lenses, even the budget-friendly ones, is that we can expect very good image quality. The Fujinon XC 15-45mm f/3.5-5.6 OIS PZ lens is no exception. Paired with the Fujifilm X-A5, we have been able to make images with wonderful clarity.

Fine and complex detail is handled and reproduced very well for such a compact and affordable lens. Usually kit lenses are below par, not so here.

All in all, the handling of the lens is average. Really, it’s to be expected of a lens at this level and price point. With an unmarked electronic zoom, it’s more friendly to filmmakers than photographers.

What is clearly the champion feature is its diminutive size and weight, and for that reason alone we expect the lens to be very popular.

Yet, what may get overlooked is how much wider this lens is than many other kit lenses. If you are into landscape photography, then the lens’ 23mm wide setting will be very accommodating.

Bottom line; the Fujinon XC 15-45mm f/3.5-5.6 OIS PZ could handle better, but it is compact, it is light, it has a wider angle of view than most kit lenses and creates very sharp images indeed.

So overall a nice little lens, that performs better than comparable kit lenses of other manufacturers.

Fujinon XC 15-45: BHphoto, AmazonUS, Adorama
Fujifilm X-A5: BHphoto, Adorama, AmazonUS