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Fujifilm delays XF14mm F2.8 in light of XF 18-55mm F2.8-4 R LM OIS success

Dec 3, 2012 at 19:57:27 GMT

LENS NEWS FUJIFILM X-MOUNT

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Fujifilm has announced it is delaying the introduction of its XF 14mm F2.8 prime lens by a month so it can concentrate production on the XF 18-55mm F2.8-4 OIS. The 14mm (21mm equivalent) prime lens is the first in the X-mount lineup to feature a pull-back focus ring that engages manual focus and reveals distance markings to allow use of its depth-of-field scale. It will now start to become available from late January 2013. Meanwhile we've been shooting with the 18-55mm zoom and will include a gallery of images along was an expanded XE-1 preview later this week.

Click here for the Google translation of the Fujifilm announcement

Fujifilm XF 14mm F2.8 R

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Comments

Total comments: 62

Will the preview extension be posted soon? Thanks.

0 upvotes

I am very keen on the Fuji X-pro as possibly my next camera-system. But every new lens they announce has a higher price-tag. They better be very, very, extremely good, or else the system loses my interest.

Comment edited 1 minute after posting

0 upvotes

I'm wating for 23mm f/1.4 and 56mm f/1.4........

0 upvotes

Ok, the complete review is a hard job...

Perhaps, could the PREVIEW extension consider these features: the EVF and the AF ??????? It could help a lot people (thinking about X-E1 and about the Oly...).

PS: If I lived in USA I would have been a DP reviewer... ha !!!

0 upvotes

Zzzzz.

0 upvotes

Surprised to hear that another PREVIEW is coming out on X-E1. It's about time for the REVIEW.

5 upvotes

It doesn't say another preview is coming, it says that the preview is going to be extended (as part of the process of completing the review).

0 upvotes

To DPReview (not DPPreview):
Honestly this whole idea about previews and then extended previews is annoying. Please just do good, complete REVIEW as it used to be. This is what most of us is waiting for.

8 upvotes

Our reviews take a long time, we don't have many reviewers. This gives us several choices:

1) Write a preview. Work for 4-6 weeks from when the camera becomes available and there's someone available to review it. Publish a Review.
2) Write a preview. Add a substantial chunk of our test data and hands-on impressions, call it an extended preview after a couple of weeks. Then, a few weeks later, publish a review.
3) Write a preview, call it a review. Keep adding content to the 'review.' Finish adding material after about 4-6 weeks.

All of them take the same amount of time and effort (the completed review doesn't magically happen faster). There are plenty of sites that take option 3 and plenty more that stop around what we call a preview and call it a review.

Which would you choose? Because no-one was happy with option 1 either.

Comment edited 45 seconds after posting

7 upvotes

I'd rather DPR take its time in truly getting to know a camera and publishing every bit of significant information it can find on its performance and handling. It's better information to a prospective buyer in the end, at the expense of a little time. Unless you'd rather DPR publish reviews that feel more like fleeting impressions and observations like every other review site out there.

0 upvotes

"delaying the introduction of its XF 14mm F2.8 prime lens by a month so it can concentrate production on the XF 18-55mm F2.8-4 OIS"

Well...I bet the 14mm is gonna be much more popular!

0 upvotes

Bet you it isn't. 18-55 comes as a kit with the X-E1. And it is also a damn good lens. Compare zoom sales with any prime for SLRs and the zooms are always the biggest sellers.

5 upvotes

Well I bet Fuji users are in a different demographic and are more inclined towards primes...

0 upvotes

I can tell you without a shadow of a doubt, these Fuji lenses are built to a very high order. The 18-55 f2.8-4 is all metal, built like a Zeiss or Leica lens. Fuji builds many Hassy bodies and lenses, a highly under rated company. My 18-55 has a build and feel at least as good as my Nikkor pro glass had.

So, anyone out there that doubts the quality of the Fuji lenses needs to go to the store and handle Fuji glass. You will realize in short order it is nothing like the Plastic stuff we get from Nikon and Canon, and forget Sigma and Tammy, it's in a complete different league.

8 upvotes

The Nikon's CX mount lenses (for V1,V2,F1,F2), have machined aluminum barrels, as do most Sony NEX lenses, so just handling the Fuji lenses proves nothing. I would want to see a lens test before I agree with your assessment of the Fuji lenses.

-Jon

1 upvote

I live in a huge city and Fuji is sold nowhere. Where does one actually see a Fuji in the real world?

0 upvotes

@Cane
I live in a 1-million city and Fuji is everywhere! I just got my X-E1 with 18-55 mm and I LOVE it.

0 upvotes

@RadPhoto I got the X-E1 (Kit with 18-55) too. I have it with me almost all the time. I LOVE IT! With the Nikon Adapter I shoot the 50mm 1.4 - perfect for available light. As soon as the pancake will be available - I will have it. This is just a wonderful little machine. It is a milestone as much as the D700 once was.

Comment edited 2 minutes after posting

0 upvotes

Yes, I agree with the high quality of the Fuji built, but at least the 18-55mm is not ALL metal. There is a fair amount of plastic invlved in construction. The lens barrell that extends is plastic, while the filter thread is metal.

0 upvotes

Looks like some license money for Olympus, if true. The 12mm and 17mm already have that tech.

0 upvotes

Tokina has had this for years... I bet Tokina's patent expired or something...

2 upvotes

Why would it be license money, Olympus didn't invent AF/MF clutch. The 12-24 Tokina had this feature years before the 12 and 17 were released.

0 upvotes

A lot of Pentax FA (AF) 645 lenses use this mechanism as well. I don't think that this is patented.

0 upvotes

It's a pretty basic, simple mechanical design. If you could patent that, you might as well patent the shutter button half-press or the aperture ring.

0 upvotes

i have the x-e1 and 18-55 kit lens and after trading in my 500D with 5 lenses, tripod, flash and a plethora of other extras ive been using the fuji and kit lens for 2 weeks or so now and dont regret it. The bokeh on the 18-55 is excellent and image quality across the range fantastic. reallt the only lens i miss from my old canon is the 10-20 so saving up and looking forward to the release next year of fuji's 10-24. though the 14mm sounds a good option its just not wide enough to be classed as ultrawide for me and doesnt warrant the epense over the 10-24mm

0 upvotes

I agree fuji has high priced lenses but i wouldnt trade the autofocus even if samyag and other third parties buiders are cheaper ...but i regret that fuji delayed the 14 mm cause a good wide angle is missing to me...

0 upvotes

IMO, for such a wide angle proper manual focus scales are much more usable than any kind of AF. Just my opinion.

0 upvotes

With wide angles, focus is less critical, but it is also MUCH harder to see focus errors on a small screen or viewfinder. The details are spread out across such a wide scene, you can't tell what's only half in focus. SO I guess I only half agree with you.

Comment edited 26 seconds after posting

0 upvotes

I have the XE-1 bought as a limited launch kit with the 35mm 1.4 lens.
This is such a nice combination, giving very convincing bokeh and perfect sharpness and colours, that I was a bit disappointed when trying the 18-55 in a japanese shop. Yes the quality seems to be good, but the speed and bokeh is lost.
I may eventually still buy the 18-55 as a good single lens for holidays.
But for now, I think I'll just stay with the 35mm and walk a bit more instead of zooming :-) There is something to be said for minimalism !
I am curious about the 23mm, it has the perfect angle of view for walking around like a classic full frame 35mm lens. However if I read the DOF charts well then at medium distances this 23mm f1.4 lens has a similar DOF as a classic 35mm lens at f2.8.

0 upvotes

I am disappointed that 14mm is arriving late, I placed an order over a month ago. I am staying away from the zooms, minimalism is precisely the word which describes shooting with X-Pro1 and X-E1. Also the large apertures and the possibilities they offer in low light. I will be getting also the 23 mm and maybe the 50mm also. 14-23-56 would be quite ideal street combo for me, rarely need anything longer. It is easy to approach people with these cameras.

X-Pro1 shots from Jerusalem:

https://picasaweb.google.com/109958612223411682295/Jerusalem2012?authuser=0&feat=directlink

3 upvotes

I have the same kit with the 35 mm 1.4 lens. I seem to be having a hard time achieving focus when taking portraits at a close-ish distance (say 3 or 4 feet away) even in reasonable light conditions. The focus square shows green but when I look at the images on the computer they are all out of focus. I never had this trouble with the X100 - any tips? I've already enlarged the EVF focus square up a couple of notches from the smallest setting I kept it at on the X100 & checked I've the latest firmware installed. Thanks.

0 upvotes

That's a tough one. My move would be to test with an object with more obvious contrast and various detailed shape and place first at a distance of success then start closing the gap. If you still have the X100 do the same. Those results may lead you to then try a portrait for the same test.

If none of this reveals anything that might be the cause and you have pretty well eliminated user error then at least you have clear samples to demonstrate when sending in the camera and lens for repair which is what I would do. If you could easily obtain another lens to compare that might narrow the source of the problem. Good luck.

0 upvotes

Petka's photo really good sample, what lens are you using?

0 upvotes

I have all 3 primes: 18, 35 and 60 mm.

1 upvote

Nice pics Petka.

0 upvotes

Thanks, actually those pictures earned me a 2 week assignment to Burma... :-)

With X-Pro1 and X-E1...

0 upvotes

What on earth does "very convincing bokeh" mean?

That out of focus areas appear actually to be out of focus?

0 upvotes

Every lens ever made has other lenses that can be substituted for it. That sure doesn't mean they are equal either in value or quality.
The XF 18-55, given its amazing build quality and superb optics, is actually priced quite conservatively People who want something cheaper matched to the camera with a third party adapter, should go for it. But they should not delude themselves into believing that a Focus is actually a Mercedes.

0 upvotes

Priced conservatively ? I wouldn't consider a variable aperture lens at $800 priced conservatively at any stretch of imagination.

The Sony 16-50mm which is for DSLRs and has more glass and a constant f2.8 aperture is priced cheaper. The Sigma 18-50mm f2.8-4 OS HSM lens is priced at $200 in comparison. I am sure the Fuji is optically better than the Sigma but having been pleased with the results from the Sigma I doubt its better by much.

1 upvote

The fuji is far better built, better colour across the frame - a fast, sharp VW is no Porsche.

2 upvotes

max metz Where did You get such information?

0 upvotes

@hippo84, from good drugs, obviously :)

0 upvotes

I suspect the Fuji is based on the Sigma 18-50 f/2.8-4, which is $200. These new Fuji lenses are overrated.

0 upvotes

@Mike9999
Fuji has been making superb Fujinon EBC coated lenses for many, many years. Trust me they are not basing ANY of their lens designs on ANY Sigma lens (nothing against Sigma).

4 upvotes

@Mike99999

There's a Sigma 18-50mm F2.8-4.5 but that has a list price of $420, a 16e/12g design and internal zoom, whereas the Fujinon has a 14e/10g design and extends on zooming. It's fair to conclude these aren't related.

Even looking at the 17-70s, there's nothing there that looks anything like the Fujifilm lens.

Is there not the chance that Fujifilm has developed its own premium kit lens, given the company's optics experience?

2 upvotes

Got the 18-55 today and took a few picture indoor. I think I am too used to prime with their shallow DOF and low ISO. :!

0 upvotes

I'm not buying the 18-55mm kit lens if the price remains jacked up like that. The 10-24 mm is more desirable for me, but looks like it will be a long wait. Meanwhile, my legacy wide angle zoom will suffice.

0 upvotes

Which wide angle zoom?

0 upvotes

FYI, Amazon is still showing both kits (silver and black) in stock with basically immediate delivery dates.

0 upvotes

Alas, I'm in WA - constraint = saving $130 :-)

0 upvotes

Ordered the XE1 w/ 18~55mm lens in September from BH. No shipping notice yet!
Fuji better be working on my order now before they make that 14mm lens. Better hurry, Fuji! I'm really losing my patient when everyone else in the world are shooting their XE1.

4 upvotes

HaHa. Now you know what we owners of the Oly E-M5 went through with our wait. I was among the first of the pre-orders (Amazon) for the E-M5 and still had to wait 3.5 months.

1 upvote

I wish they would commit more resources to making and delivering X-E1 bodies in black.

0 upvotes

Don’t worry!!!!

Everyone check out the 14mm f/2.8 by Samyang, Vivitar, Sakar, Polar, Walimex, Rokinon. The lens is identical regardless of which brand you select. Prices might be slightly different. Rokinon version is only $379.00!!!

It’s a great quality lens for less $$$ than what Fuji will charge for theirs.

You need to buy an inexpensive adapter to use the lens on the X-E1 or X-PRO1.

Adapters:
http://www.rainbowimaging.biz/shop/search.php?orderby=position&orderway=desc&submit_search=Search&search_query=FUJI+X-PRO1+

http://fotodioxpro.com/index.php/catalogsearch/result/?q=fuji+adapter

http://www.dl-kipon.com/en/articledetail.asp?id=54
ETC

Take a look at these 14mm images!!!
http://500px.com/search?utf8=%E2%9C%93&q=samyang+14mm&type=photos&page=1&order=votes&license_type=-1

http://www.flickr.com/groups/14/pool/

http://500px.com/search?utf8=%E2%9C%93&q=rokinon+14mm

Comment edited 33 seconds after posting

0 upvotes

Yes...except that the lens is twice the size of the Fuji and manual focus only. The reason people like me bought an XPro was for the smaller size.

I do agree that the 14mm Samyang is a great lens, I will be getting one for my 5D2:)

5 upvotes

The Samyang 14 2.8 is an extremely sharp lens, but it has huge distortion which no software like Lightroom, AFAIK, has lens profiles for.

1 upvote

@marike6 : try PTLens.. Its only 25 bucks and it works..

0 upvotes

I've seen and held the Samyang. I have no opinion on its optical quality. But it sure is a beast compared to the Fuji. the fuji lens and body retains that pleasant compact overall size, with the advantage of autofocus and highly likely top image quality. I do know that I would often leave the big Samyang at home, while I would often bring the fuji lens along. In short, the Samyang does not really fit within the compact lightweight concept of the fuji system. I will pass it by.

0 upvotes

I have been waiting patiently for the 14mm to hit the shelves...but I can understand why Fuji made this decision. With that said, I can't help but think that Fuji may eventually lose some 14mm sales to the Zeiss 12mm with AF that is also going to be released in the New Year.

2 upvotes

This is true. But it also depends on the performance of the 14mm. The Zeiss 12mm is Fuji's only real threat when it comes to lenses.
It is really going to depend on distortion. If one of the lenses has some crazy mustache distortion, the obvious choice would be the latter.

2 upvotes

But when it does come out, we know for sure it will be worth the wait.

3 upvotes

I have been enjoying the XE1 and the 18-55 OIS for a few days and i need to say its amazing ! I love this camera and i would have enouth money to get the 14 mm or waitng for the announced (dixit fujifilm france ) 10-22 zoom !!!

2 upvotes

Total comments: 62


Just posted: Our Fujifilm XF 14mm 1:2.8 R lens review Apr 2, 2013	Fujifilm launches XF18-55mm F2.8-4.0 OIS and XF14mm F2.8 Sep 6, 2012	Zeiss names and defines new lenses for Sony NEX and Fujifilm X cameras Apr 30, 2013	Fujifilm releases XF 55-200mm F3.5-4.8 R LM OIS and updates lens roadmap Apr 17, 2013

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