According to our sources, the Fujinon XF16mmF2.8 R WR will come in early 2019. I remind you that the Fujifilm X-T30 is also scheduled for early 2019 release.
I had the pleasure to use and extensively test the newly released Fujinon XF200 f/2.0 LM OIS WR in October, 2018 while covering the Sports Car Club of America’s 2018 National Championships, also know as “The Runoffs” at Sonoma Raceway, Sonoma, CA, Oct 19-21, 2018.
Fujifilm North America graciously sent me the Fujinon XF200 f/2.0 along with an X-T3 and battery grip for approximately 10 days for motorsports photography testing to compare to my Fujifilm X-H1. The purpose of the test was to collect autofocus performance data for both cameras when used in a real-world professional motorsports photography use-case, and for this weekend long test-session, I used the new XF200 f/2.0 exclusively, as well as the new 1.4X teleconverter in some situations.
BACKGROUND: I’ve been a professionally accredited motorsports photojournalist for 15 years. I’ve was an official track photographers for Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca for 7 years, and have been shooting as an accredited photojournalist for Sonoma Raceway since 2003. I cover all their professional series races, including NASCAR, NHRA Professional and Indy Car, and my photographs have been published in numerous newspapers in the SF Bay Area, including the San Francisco Chronicle, as well as various motorsports websites and magazines.
The Fujinon XF 8-16mmF2.8 will ship at the end of November, and we have a few more reviews, unboxing and samples on the web.
The most comprehensive review has been shared by lenstip. Overall they think the lens price of $2,000 is not justified.
“After the test I find the number of small slip-ups of this lens a bit too high so, I suppose, only lowering of price can help. Of course it doesn’t change the fact the Fujinon remains a very well-done and optically good lens.”
ON1 just released ON1 Photo RAW 2019, and it should make life a lot easier to those, looking to switch from Lightroom subscription model to a standalone software.
In fact, ON1’s new AI-powered algorithms, will give you the ability to transfer your Lightroom edited photos, keep your non-destructive editing settings, and move them into ON1 Photo RAW. See the video below.
So based on the images I took and what I have seen with my own eyes at the Photokina Fujifilm booth, I try to give you a visual representation of how Fuji’s 50mm equivalent trinity compares side by side mounted on a Fujifilm X-T3.
Of course this can’t be super-accurate, and I’d say it’s 85+% close to perfection. However, the Fujinon XF 33mm F1.0 will hit the market in 2020, and until there, the final size can change.
In an earlier post on FujiRumors, we launched a huge poll, asking you guys if you consider the Fujinon XF33mmF1.0 is too big for you. 7,500 people voted already, and you can check the results here.
When I was at photokina 2018, I stopped at the Kipon booth, and checked out the Kipon EF-FX 0.7x focal reducer (the quivalent of Metabones’ Speedbooster). Since I couldn’t test it, all I can say it that it feels very well build.
If you want to know more about it, definitely check out the Kipon Baveyes EF-FX ”Speedbooster” review at Mattias Burling Youtube.
PROS
all metal very sturdy build
USB port for firmware
similar results to Viltrox and Metabones focal reducers, and no so buggy like the Viltrox
AF for stills is pretty good
CONS
with some lenses swirly bokeh (the reviewers likes it, but some others might not like it)
X-H1 IBIS sometimes gives vignetting and ND sometimes creeps into frame
AF is not as reliable as native lens
not for streets and sports photography
Video AF is not great
You can purchase the following Kipon Adapters for Fujifilm:
However, keep in mind that a Fujifilm manager said here that they need 2 years to discuss, develop and finally make a camera and even more than 2 years in case of lenses.
So if in June 2017, when we shared the GF 80mmF1.4 rumor, the discussions about the GF80mmF1.4 just started, then now, 1 year later, IF Fujifilm really decided to go ahead with it, it will take them well over 1 year to come out with it.
Again… if Fujifilm decided to make it all.
But even if Fujifilm decided to make it, you should not expect any GF 80mmF1.4 lens at Photokina 2018, and I’d personally would not expect it before 2020 anyway.
Don’t worry, there will be lots of other great gear to enjoy at Photokina 2018, such as the Fujifilm X-T3 and Fujifilm GF 50R.
Tilt Shift, UWA & The New Roadmap
According to our sources, we must add also a tilt shift lens for the GF system to the list of rumored lenses shared back in April 2017, so the updated and complete rumored GF lens list is the following:
GF 35mm F2.8 (coming 2018)
GF 20-36mm F3.5-4.5 (in 2018 this or the GF 100-200)
GF 100-200mm F4.5-5.6 (in 2018 this or the GF 20-36)
GF 80mm F1.4 (not in 2018 – personally I’d not expect it before 2020)
Tilt Shift lens (coming 2018/2019)
Fujifilm plans to release 2/3 GF lenses a year, and since we already got the GF250mmF4 last month, we can expect a maximum of two more lenses in 2018.
Now, for 2018, the Fujinon GF 35mmF2.8 should be sure.
So now it’s your turn guys. Let us know which one you would prefer between the GF20-36, GF-100-200 and the tilt shift lens for 2018.
Also introduced with DxO PureRAW 5: DeepPRIME XD3 X-Trans Beta. DxO writes:
Fujifilm fans will be delighted to see what’s included. X-Trans images have never looked this good
I also went though the launch material of DxO and noticed three before/after images taken with Fujifilm gear. For your convenience I have uploaded them on my Dropbox here.
Especially the X-H2S before/after looks quite impressive.