My New Lens Temptation Gets a Focus on Glass Episode: the Fujinon GF100-200mmF5.6 R LM OIS WR

If you…

  • follow regulary FujiRumors
  • read more than just the headline

then you’ll know that not only I have a Fujifilm GFX100S on pre-order, and because in crop we trust, I pre-ordered also the Fujinon GF32-64mmF4, but for reasons I have briefly explained here, I am totally tempted by the Fujinon GF100-200mmF5.6.

I did handle the Fujinon GF100-200mmF5.6 at the store, and was surprised that it is actually so light, hence definitely portable for my hikes in the Dolomites.

However, I did put the purchase of that lens on hold, as in 2021 I already bought the XF80mm, XF27MKII, GFX100S and GF32-64, and it’s getting more and more tricky to convince my wife that we really need yet another lens.

And things have not become easier after Fujifilm launched a massive rebate on guess which lens? Exactly, the GF100-200!

For the sake of my bank account health I am still resisting, but Fujifilm keeps up fighting for my money, this time by dedicating their latest Focus on Glass episode to the Fujinon GF100-200mmF5.6.

Well, I’ve watched the episode, and here is what Fujifilm engineers and managers say about this lens:

  • Fujifilm wanted to make a tele-zoom suitable for handheld shooting
  • they needed to develop a smaller and lighter lens
  • at planing stage, they set their target at 1 kg
  • the lens has 5 stops OIS
  • this makes handheld shooting easier
  • Fujifilm hopes you will use this lens to take images that you have never experienced before with a 35mm format lens
  • with GF teleconverter it covers up to 221mm (35mm equivalent)
  • during the development tests, Fujifilm has conducted repeated toughness tests
  • it is a rugged lens while maintaining lightness and compactness
  • although it’s a zoom, resolution is superb and able to resolve the high megapixel of GFX cameras over the entire zoom range and even at f/5.6
  • in order to make the lens brighter and still have higher resolving power, a greater number of elements in the lens are required
  • but the more elements you use, the more the lens gets bigger
  • that’s why Fujifilm designed ever lens element to be as thing as possible
  • every effort to save size and weight was made
  • the engineer is proud of the final result
  • you can easily shoot handheld in places where you can bring a tripod
  • Fujifilm designed a small focus lock mechanism to fit in the lens
  • toughness test were contacted to overcome weaknesses on by one

But was is triggering my GAS more then what the managers and engineers said, is the photographers and their work shared inside that video. Definitely check it out in the video down below.

GFX Gear Savings in Europe

Focus On Glass: Talking Fujinon XF80mmF2.8 1:1 Macro and About the APS-C Macro Advantage over FULL FRAME

If you are one of those, who defines how good a lens is mainly on how sharp it is, then you’ll consider the XF80mmF2.8 1:1 Macro lens a fantastic lens.

It is clinically sharp and one of the best, if not the best lens in the Fujinon X system.

So let’s talk about this lens, starting from a recent “focus on glass” episodes, where Fujfilm talks about the XF80mmF2.8 Macro. They say:

  • Fuji’s APS-C sensor allows to shoot 1.5 times larger macro photography than a full frame sensor
  • Fujifilm is strongly committed to APS-C
  • the 80mm maximizes the APS-C value proposition and allows user to experience macro photography without sacrifice
  • the synergy between Fujifilm color reproduction and lens technology offers a unique and unrivaled product on the market
  • uses floating focus system to obtain high image quality. New autofocus system was developed for this lens
  • fast and accurate focus
  • Since this is a marco lens, Fujifilm opted for an optical image stabilization system that suppresses shift shake
  • uses many ED lenses to minimize chromatic aberration at wide apertures
  • creates beautiful bokeh at 1:1 magnification ratio

Quite frankly, though, I think the main advantage of APS-C lenses is that you can make them smaller (and consequently cheaper) than full frame lenses. If then in certain areas they have other advantages, that’s a welcome, but minor advantage.

FYI, I’ll add also the video about the glorious XF16mm f/1.4.

  • thanks to floating focus system the XF16mmF1.4 can achieve minimum focus distance of 15cm
  • NanGI coating to reduce flare

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Focus on Glass – XF80mmF2.8 Macro and XF16mm F1.4

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Focus On Glass: “Higher Megapixel Cameras May Come in Near Future and XF200mmF2 Will Satisfy Increased Resolution Requirement”

Focus on Glass

Fujifilm continues to launch dedicated “Focus On Glass” promo videos to their lenses, new and old ones.

Today I’d like to highlight the one they released about the Fujinon XF200mm f/2 R LM OIS WR, a lens that belongs to the very best ones Fujifilm ever made, and is hard to beat in terms of IQ also by similar lenses of other brands. You do get what you pay for!

So how did Fujifilm achieve this tremendous image quality? In the Promo video, managers and engineers explain:

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Focus On Glass: Fujinon XF 50-140mmF2.8 Even Better with Future X Bodies and Why no OIS on XF 16-55mmF2.8

We already reported in this post, about the first episodes of the Fujifilm series “Focus on Glass“, which included the XF8-16mmF2.8 and the GF30mmF3.5.

Now new episodes have been uploaded at Fujifilm Spain, this time about two lenses, that we can define the “workhorses” in the X mount lens lineup, the Fujinon XF16-55mmF2.8 and the Fujinon XF50-140mmF2.8.

It includes statements made by Fujifilm managers and engineers about those lenses, which I will report in written form here, to make you safe some time ;)

Fujinon XF50-140mmF2.8

  • no excuse is allowed for this lens:
    – autofocus has to be fast
    – image quality has to be impressive
    – weight has to be light
    – size has to be compact
    – it has to tick all boxes
  • it has outstanding resolution
  • a flawless lens
  • clear color reproduction
  • minimal chromatic aberration
  • Fujifilm is proud of the result
  • 23 glass elements inside with many ED lenses
  • the more the Fujifilm X bodies evolve, the more the potential of this lens is executed
  • an engineer says he can see its performance extended even further in future

Regarding the better performance in future, they probably refer to autofocus speed, but possibly also to sharpness. We know from this Fujifilm manager statement that Fujifilm X glass can resolve at least 32 megapixel, hence, Fujifilm might hint that the XF50-140mmF2.8 is one of those lenses that is currently underperforming on the 26 megapixel X-Trans sensor.

Fujinon XF16-55mmF2.8

  • in order to maximize optical performance, Fujifilm decided to remove OIS, it was not an easy decision
  • it’s a must have lens
  • you can attempt any photo shoot with this lens
  • a reliable partner
  • no excuses are allowed, when making a red badged lens
  • Fujifilm would give it 5 stars

I have been told in the past by my sources, that the optical performance at the wide end did not satisfy Fujifilm completely, hence they decided to remove OIS. At that point in time a strongly debated discussion, but now that Fujifilm offers cameras with IBIS, we can say that in the long term this was the right decision.

You can see both videos down below.

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FOCUS ON GLASS – VIDEOS

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The Legendary Fujinon XF35mm f/1.4 Gets a Dedicated Promo Video 8 Years after its Release

Curiosity of the day!

Fujifilm has released a promo video about the legendary Fujinon XF35mm f/1.4… about 8 years after it has been announced!

Now that we know that the Fujinon XF35mm F/1.4 will apparently not be updated anytime soon (another lens will get this privilege), maybe it’s indeed a good moment to push a little bit the good old XF35mmF1.4 again, which is, I think, Fuji’s most sold prime lens, and probably for many Fuji X shooters (me included), the first prime lens for the X system they ever owned.

The Fujinon XF 35mm f/1.4 has served me well over many years, and will continue to do so. Its autofocus is not the fastest nor the most silent (though much better on my X-T4 than on my old X-E1’s and co), but it has that magic, that Fujifilm tried to explain in a dedicated post we reported about here.

Mine even survived a several minutes long swim in the water, totally submerged (my X-E2 died), and it’s still working like a champ – I wrote about it here.

Also, Fujifilm launched a dedicated page about the Fujinon XF35mmF1.4 here.

  • fujirumors – The Magic of the Fujinon XF 35mm f/1.4 Explained and Why Fujifilm Should NOT Make an XF 35mm f/1.4 MK II

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