Another orbit of the sun complete, and another year of awesome new Fujifilm lenses. Although it was a quiet year for G-mount lenses, compared to last year, the company continues to roll out new glass for its X-mount cameras all while hinting at some exciting new releases coming in the next few years.
X Series
The first Fujifilm X-mount lens out of the gate this year was the Fujifilm XC 15-45mm f/3.5-5.6 OIS PZ lens—the first power zoom lens for the X-mount system. The lens has an equivalent focal length of 23-69mm and great close-up capability, with the ability to focus down to just 2" from the front element. Even with powered zoom, the lens is very travel friendly—small and light—and is a great companion to any X-series camera, and it comes bundled with the new X-A5 camera.
Previously available in the Sony E mount, but always destined for Fujifilm X-mount were the spectacular duo of cine lenses—the Fujinon MKX18-55mm T2.9 and the Fujinon MKX50-135mm T2.9 lenses. Fujifilm has been making stellar Fujinon video lenses for years and, now, we have native X-mount cine lenses to pair with the expanded video capabilities of the X-H1 and X-T3 cameras. These gorgeous lenses have Super 35mm coverage, 0.8 MOD gearing, 200° focus rotation, de-clicked 9-blade apertures, and are the same size with 82mm front filter threads. Are you ready to make some movies?
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For mainstream Fujifilm X-mount shooters, the big releases of the year were the ultra-wide-angle zoom, the Fujifilm XF 8-16mm f/2.8 R LM WR lens, and the Fujifilm XF 200mm f/2 OIS WR lens and XF 1.4x TC F2 WR Teleconverter.
With the 8-16mm, your dreams of a fast and wide zoom have been answered. The lens has the equivalent field of view of a 12-24mm lens, an exotic lens formula that includes 4 aspherical elements, 3 pieces of ED glass, Nano-GI coating, weatherproofing, and a rounded 9-blade diaphragm. Many X-series shooters cannot wait to get their hands on this glass.
On the complete other end of the focal length spectrum is the bold, new, white-bodied 200mm f/2 lens. With an eye toward sports and action shooters, this new monster of a lens gives the X-shooter a 305mm equivalent field of view that bumps up to an equivalent 427mm at f/2.8 with the 1.4x teleconverter. The lens is packed with specialized glass, including a large super ED element and two other ED elements. Fujifilm incorporated some of the tech that it employs on Fujinon broadcast lenses when polishing the glass for this lens, and the OIS system gives five stops of stabilization. Like the wide, it is weatherproofed, as well.
G Series
Last year, we saw the launch of the G-series medium format digital camera line and several lenses to complement the system, right out of the gate. This year, we got one beautiful lens to add to our G-mount quivers—the GF 250mm f/4 LM OIS WR lens. The lens has a 35mm format equivalent field of view of right around 200mm and the new G-mount GF 1.4x TC WR Teleconverter can be added to it to run out toward 277mm.
Also added to the G-mount lineup is a pair of extension tubes for doing some serious medium format macro work. The MCEX-18G and MCEX-45G are 18mm and 45mm, respectively.
The Future
When it comes to lenses, Fujifilm doesn’t really like surprises, so it has its Lens Roadmaps published on the Internet for all to see. Next year, X-mount shooters will be seeing the XF 16mm f/2.8 R WR and the XF 16-80mm f/4 R OIS WR lens. And then, if you can stand the wait, in 2020, get ready for the XF 33mm f/1.0 R WR lens. No, that wasn’t a typographical error. The maximum aperture is f/one point zero.
For the G-mount, arriving in 2019 is the GF 50mm f/3.5 R LM WR and the GF 100-200mm f/5.6 R LM PIS WR. The year 2020 brings the GF 45-100mm f/4 R LM OIS WR.
That’s a wrap of Fujifilm lens launches for 2018. Thanks for reading, and we will see you next year!
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