XC 35 f/2

vivanchenko wrote:

I believe that it has the same motor as the XF 35 f2. Otherwise it would require a complete redesign and it wouldn’t be optically the same. I believe that motors don’t cost that much to justify downgrading to a cheaper one. It looks like Fuji wants to capitalize on the success of the XF35 f2. A downgraded motor would spoil it all. This is a complete speculation on my side though.

I'm writing a master thesis on production logistics right now, and I'd agree with your speculation. Variation is the death of production efficiency, pretty much every single study on production management for the last 30 years can be summarized by two sentences: "Maintaining low cost while delivering customization/variety to the customer is difficult and to some extent incompatible. This study presents or attempts to verify/debunk a method that can bridge that gap a little better in a given environment".

For an interchangeable lens system (ILC), every new lens added is not just a one-time investment in the optical and mechanical design; it adds hidden running costs throughout the supply chain for the whole system for its whole lifetime. One principle for limiting that effect is to delay any differences as far 'downstream' (closer to the customer) as possible. That way they can flexibly decide later which lens it will become as retailers may want 1000 XC lenses one week and 500 of each the next, and in their infinite wisdom won't tell Fujifilm production department until until they needed it yesterday.

What it means for us is that:
1) Fujifilm is a company that involves production/logistics personnel in the early design process of new products. Might seem obvious, but I have my suspicion that maybe Nikon didn't do that very well when they recently launched their Z50... Good product, but I struggle to see them making money on it, thus risking the system as a whole in the long term
X-mount and GF-mount does financially better than Nikon's camera division, despite a smaller base of owners that buy lenses. Optimizations like this is really important in a tough market as ILC is now.

2) All differences from the XF35 will likely be the ones that can be made quickly just before shipping, not necessarily the ones that make the most difference in actual manufacturing cost such as polishing and coating of the glass.

3) To keep costs down as more lenses are added, we will probably see some lenses being discontinued as new ones are released, even without a direct replacement such as the 16-50mm case. Some unfortunate candidates might be the 18mm and 60mm. They'll still be on the map and available to order from remaining stock in warehouses, but slowly disappear from shelves and production halted. That way Fuji might climb to 60 or more native X-mount lenses while actually maintaining logistics for only 30 or so.