Fujifilm Launches “FUJINON Lens XF16-55mmF2.8 R LM WR II”

Fujifilm Launches “FUJINON Lens XF16-55mmF2.8 R LM WR II”
– The new large-aperture standard zoom lens offers improved descriptive performance
– 37% lighter than its predecessor
– New function “Smooth aperture control” suited for movie recording

October 14, 2024

TOKYO, October 14, 2024 – FUJIFILM Corporation announces the launch of the “FUJINON Lens XF16-55mmF2.8 R LM WR II” (XF16-55mmF2.8 R LM WR II) globally from end of November 2024. The lens is a new lineup of the “XF lens” interchangeable lens lineup for the mirrorless digital camera X Series that offers outstanding image quality and compact size and weight.

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Fujifilm Confident in New Autofocus – Says It’s “Nailed” Ahead of Early November Firmware Release – REPORT

Fellow Fujifilm shooter photorabz was at the Salon de la Photo photography fair in Paris.

There he had the chance to talk to Fujifilm reps about the upcoming firmware updates and this is what he was told (video below):

  • Fujifilm is working on the firmware since May
  • the firmware is for X-H2S, X-H2, GFX100 II, X-S20, X100Vi, X-T5 and maybe also the X-T4
  • Fujifilm told him that this time they nailed it very well
  • Fujifilm is very happy with this new firmware and they are very optimistic
  • the firmware will be announced on October 14, but it will be released, he thinks, in early November

As usual, I believe it only when I see it.

And actually, we might already see the newest AF algorithm in action with the X-M5 on October 14.

EXCLUSIVE: Fujifilm X-M5 Full Press Release Leaked and Product Images

A kind source* (THANKS!) has passed us the full press releases and specs sheets for the upcoming gear.

We start with the full press release for the Fujifilm X-M5, which you can read below.

*A message to the source: Thanks a lot. You have been instantly elevated to the elite team of trusted sources. If you want, you can contact me again anonymously and give yourself a nickname, so I can eventually recognize you in future if you decide to contact me again. Thanks so much!

Press Text

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The Future of Fujifilm’s Autofocus Could Be Revealed with the X-M5 on October 14

Fujifilm said they are aware of the “comments” of the Fujifilm community regarding the latest autofocus issues and they promised firmware updates to fix that.

The fix will come in November for their flagship Fujifilm X-H2s, X-H2 and GFX100 II cameras, but also other fifth generation cameras such as the X-T5, X-S20 and “more”  will get firmware updates this year, as Fujifilm officially said here.

Sure, it takes time. But to a certain degree I can understand that.

Fujifilm knows they have to get it right this time, so they’re likely testing the firmware more rigorously than ever, which is surely costing a lot of time and money.

But the big question is: how well will the autofocus firmware really work?

Well, maybe we might not have to wait until November to see these autofocus improvements in action.

In fact, we could get our answers as early as October 14 with the launch of the Fujifilm X-M5.

Why?

Well, Fujifilm has been aware of the autofocus issues for months now. They already began addressing them with a firmware update back in June. Since then, they’ve continued working on the improvements, so the firmware must have evolved significantly from the June version.

And I’d not be surprised if the first camera to actually incorporate the enhanced autofocus capabilities won’t be the X-H2s, X-H2 and GFX100II in November, but the Fujifilm X-M5 coming on October 14.

After all, why not equip the brand-new Fujifilm X-M5 with the most up-to-date firmware available, especially since it’s a fresh release that requires a new firmware anyway? And maybe that’s also  why Fujifilm has published a X-M5 teaser poster where they write big “fast autofocus“.

If that turns out to be the case, if the X-M5 is indeed the first camera to feature the new AF algorithm, then by October 14, we’ll already have a glimpse of how well the latest autofocus firmware performs.

I guess that’s one more excellent reason to follow the X Summit on October 14 at 9AM New York time.

Fujifilm Says Autofocus Firmware Updates for X-T5, X-S20 and Other Models Coming This Year

When Fujifilm had their X Summit announcement, they promised us autofocus improvements via firmware updates for the Fujifilm X-H2, X-H2s and GFX100 II.

Many, me included, wondered why there was no mention of other 5th generation cameras such as the X-T5 and the X-S20.

Now, I was confident something would come also for those models, which is why I wrote here “I would not be surprised if the Fujifilm X-T5 and other cameras would get a bunch of improvements too“.

Well, it looks like my intuition was right.

Fujifilm has now pinned a comment to their October announcement video that we shared here and said:

Dear Customers,
Thank you for your feedback and comments on our AF system performance.
We’ve been working on X-T5, X-S20 and other models as well, to release the firmware within this year for improved user experience. We will communicate the details as soon as we have more information.
We appreciate your understanding.

So here you have it. Also the Fujifilm X-T5 and X-S20 (and other models) will get AF improvements this year.

What I am not sure is if lower end models will also get F-Log2 C and Timecode Synchronization, but I personally could not care less about those features on my X-T5.

Fujifilm’s November Firmware Update: Autofocus Fixes, New Features, and More Enhancements to Come (+ My Take)

Earlier today Fujifilm has shared a video with their “October announcements“. You can check out all details in this article.

Among the others Fujifilm promised firmware updates to come in November.

First off: they did say that they got lots of feedback from customers especially regarding the autofocus. Based on that feedback, Fujifilm is now working to improve the firmware. But there is more, so let’s check it out:

The Good

  • Firmware update coming in November
  • Cameras mentioned: Fujifilm X-H2, X-H2s and GFX100 II
  • Improved Subject Tracking while video filming
  • Face/Eye detection while video filming
  • F-Log2 C for wide color gamut
  • Timecode Synchronization by Ambient Lockit devices through wired connection

The Questions

  • are other 5th generation cameras (X-T5 & Co) also getting the improved AF while filming?
  • what about AF-C tracking in stills?

The Surprises?

It almost passed unnoticed, but Fujifilm also said that they are considering further enhancements. So it looks like we are not yet done with Kaizen love for 5th generation cameras.

What could it be?

Well, I don’t have that much anymore on my wishlist, but if I could pick one thing, then I’d like to get the fully automatic subject tracking of the Fujifilm X-S20. I also suggested Fujifilm how this could be implemented on other Fujifilm cameras in this article here.

Of course, feel free to share your wish with the Fujifilm community in the comments down below.

My Thoughts

Fujifilm (like many other brands) often tends to conceal significant bug fixes under the vague term “minor bug fixes.” This article dives deeper into the issue, offering real examples of what Fujifilm has masked with this phrase—some of which were rather embarrassing. Read more here.

This time, though, Fujifilm is putting a spotlight on the autofocus improvements. To me, this signals that they’re taking it more seriously than ever, with a firm commitment to finally getting it right.

It’s also evident that while Fujifilm recognizes the issues, they’ve chosen not to rush a fix like they did with the June firmware. Instead, they’re taking extra time—and probably conducting more thorough testing—to ensure this firmware update works as intended.

I guess they’re well aware they can’t afford to get it wrong this time and it looks like Fujifilm has embraced this challenge, as evidenced by the emphasis they placed on the upcoming autofocus improvements in the video released today.

But again: I believe it only when I see it.

And the Fujifilm X-T5 & Co?

We will see what happens in November, but I would not be surprised if the Fujifilm X-T5 and other cameras would get a bunch of improvements too. Maybe not everything the flagship X-H and GFX cameras will get, but it just makes sense that some of the improvements find its way down also to lower end models.

But again, that’s a pure speculation of mine, not a rumor whatsoever.

Overall, after today’s firmware announcement I am definitely more confident. Fujifilm Japan has spoken and finally addressed the issue publicly. But I have learned not to celebrate too early and wait to see what happens in November with the new firmware.

Fujifilm Announces New Firmware Updates (Better AF and More) and X Summit on October 14

Fujifilm has just announced three things:

  • GFX challenge grant program updates
  • Firmware updates coming in November
  • Fujifilm X Summit on October 14 at 1PM GMT in Tokyo at the Clay Studio (Fuji’s design center). The theme of the X Summit will be “design”. From product design to engineering design, Fujifilm will deliver “new information to you” from design perspective. “You won’t be disappointed with the X summit.

As for the firmware updates they say:

We strive to improve our products by making improvements and adding new features through firmware updates guided by feedback we receive from our users.

Recently we have received comments especially about autofocus, to improve performance.

In response, we are developing a new firmware for X-H2, X-H2S and GFX100 II.

This updated enhances subject tracking stability when shooting video.

The improvement by firmware updates are not limited to autofocus. We will add two new functions for video shooting. It’s F-Log 2C, which has a wide color gamut, and timecode synchronization by Ambient Lockit devices through wired connection.

[…] We are currently considering further enhancements.

FR-Reader Wishlist Corner: The One Thing Where Leica Q3 Beats Fujifilm X100VI and More Firmware Wishes

FR-reader Wishlist Corner

Recently we published a bunch of gear/hardware related wishes we have received from the Fujifilm community.

Now it is time to share a bunch of firmware wishes.

by Oli

Here is a link to my blog post about my experiences with the X100Vi and the WCL as a “poor man’s Leica Q”.
I guess you might be able to read German: shashindo.de/fuqi/ (google translated).

There is actually ONE reason why the Leica Q3 is “better” than the Fujifilm X100VI: The handling of the metadata!

Leica writes the crop focal length and crop pixel size in the metadata!
It’s too bad that Fujifilm doesn’t also set the crop focal length in the metadata!
It would also be nice to find the name of the custom setting (aka film simulation) here in the EXIF data. Well, you can still have wishes…

Thought you might be interested ;-)
Or in case you do have access to Fuji Development department somehow, maybe you can drop this there… :-D

by Keith

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Fujifilm X-M5 Coming with Selfie Screen – My Hope is the Return of This Screen!

Unlike the original Fujifilm X-M1, the successor, the Fujifilm X-M5, will come with a fully articulating screen.

That’s all I know.

But I have a hope.

And my hope is that, instead of using the same screen we find on the X-S20/X-H2 etc, Fujifilm will give a comeback to the unique tilt/flip screen of the Fujifilm X-T100. I will never understand why Fujifilm dropped that concept as it allows to go in “selfie mode” but still retain the option of a simple tilt-screen function, with the screen remaining nicely centered to the camera.

I think that screen it would have made the X-S20, X-H2 and X-H2S an even more appealing camera to many. So I think Fujifilm missed an opportunity there.

But again, that’s not a rumor, just a hope of mine.

And since we are talking of dropped concepts, also the before/after split screen slider on the X-T200 screen would be nice to have. But also in this case I have no rumors, just a wish of mine.

Another curiosity: the Fujifilm X-A and X-M line, as well as the X-T*** line, where Fujifilm branded cameras, but actually manufactured by the Xacti Corporation. And as it is well known, all Xacti made cameras have all been discontinued.

Now, I have not heard that Xacti is back, so I suppose (not rumor) that this time the camera will be made by Fujifilm. But that’s not a rumor, just a speculation. Maybe it will be another Xacti made but Fujifilm branded camera. We will soon see.

Photographing the Belgian National Day with Fujifilm Gear – Guest Post by Olivier Polet

guest post by Olivier Polet – website

I am 57 years old and I have been a press photographer in Belgium for over 30 years.

Like every year, I reported on the parade of July 21, 2024 for the Belgian national holiday in Brussels. This annual report is often an opportunity to renew my archives of the royal families by taking beautiful portraits of them.

When Fujifilm asked me to become their ambassador, I didn’t hesitate for a second. I exchanged my old guns for lighter Fujifilm equipment.
My Fuji equipment: two X-H2S bodies, the traditional optics and also the famous XF 150-600 mm

This fabulous optic allows me to take portraits of members of the royal family with beautiful ambient light.

I placed the 1.4X multiplier on the optics which allows me to work at 1260mm!

I must first of all say that the autofocus, which was sometimes a little hesitant, seems very efficient to me since the latest firmware version. There is no more hesitation, the focus is direct.  Small drawback, the aperture… at 1360 mm I have to work at a diaphragm of f:11 at 1250 iso. For a speed of 1/100. I use a lightweight monopod. The subject does not move and this speed is enough.  I often run the reports through the Topaz software which increases the sharpness and allows for higher sensitivity subjects to remove slight noise. Although the noise is less and less present at high sensitivity with the XH2 S, the Topaz software allows you to work at high sensitivity without any fear.

Another positive point is the lightness of this lens and its stabilization which brings a lot of comfort to shooting.

In addition, the optical unit moves internally which provides additional comfort when shooting!

If we publish the aperture, this optic in 24/36 conversion allows us to cover focal lengths from 225 mm (without the 1.4X) to 1260mm with the 1.4X. With the multiplier. An absolute weapon in many situations which allows me to compete with my colleagues and produce often different images.

It is without hesitation that I take this lens as soon as I can, which remains light for its focal length and which brings me different images.

I work in RAW and develop them with Capture One software.

You can see more picture on my web site: www.photographe-polet.com

All this pictures are done front of the king’s palace in Brussels during the national parade.
The distance between the photographers and the royal family is approximately of 70 meters.