Fujifilm mirrorless cameras are best known for two main factors, their pleasing color reproduction and their excellent lenses. While they don't have the amazing low light abilities of the Sony A7 line, and they aren't the documentary powerhouses with the 10-bit internal of the GH5, they have found a solid position for themselves in the market for photographers—and increasingly filmmakers—who are focused on accurate skintones and sharp but pleasing lenses.
With the XH1 earlier this year. Fujifilm released its more obviously video-focused mirrorless camera, and the company is now expanding its lens offerings with a few lenses filmmakers will appreciate.
Credit: Fujifilm
FUJINON XF8-16mm F2.8 R LM WR
At the wide end of the scale, Fujinon (the company's lens division) is releasing an 8-16mm zoom lens with a constant F2.8 aperture. As filmmakers tend to appreciate a faster stop since we can't crank down to long shutter speeds for extra exposure, this will be particularly appealing. 8mm on the Fuji sensor translates to something like 12mm on a 35mm Full Frame sensor which is pretty wide, but if you are working in close spaces such as a cramped apartment or an elevator or bathroom scene, that wide angle will be appreciated by many.
Credit: Fujifilm
FUJINON XF200mm F2 R LM OIS WR
In a more radical move, Fujifilm has also announced a 200mm F2 prime lens for $5995. That might seem steep, but for a lens delivering optical image stabilization, weather sealing, and an F2 aperture, the price point is actually roughly on market. It's a radical move for Fujifilm since this is likely targeted heavily at the nature and sports markets—a landscape heavily dominated by Canon and which Sony has been moving on quite aggressively. For Fujifilm to start moving in as well shows tremendous confidence in its ability to deliver high-quality imagery from its mirrorless system with especially strong autofocus speed.
Like many long lenses, the body is a light color in order to avoid the heat absorbtion of black lens bodies. It's available with an optional 1.4 extender that makes the lens a 280mm length and costs a stop, giving a widest aperture of 2.8. One particularly nifty feature is a focus reset, allowing users to set a focus mark to automatically return to a specific position, for instance, a key location on a sports field that you will frequently photograph throughout a game. That's not to say filmmakers don't love a long lens; we do, and this will definitely be used to create some dynamic motion imagery once it's on the streets.
Up next
On top of that, Fujinon, who has always been pretty generous with indications about future plans, has added two new lenses to its 2019 roadmap and one particularly exciting lens for 2020. In 2019, we're going to see a 16mm F2.8 and a 16-80mm F4 added to the lineup, but more intriguing is the 33mm F1 coming in 2020. This is planned as a fully auto-focus enabled F1. Considering the power of Fuji auto focus, including face detect, this should make for a great option when working with truly low light situations.
Of course, if you want true cinema lenses, with parfocal, a macro mode, and repeatable focus moves with gears, the best move is the MK Zooms, which are available in X mount. But these lenses are a great option for smaller productions without a focus puller, where the auto focus will be a huge bonus.
Both lenses shipping this fall, go here for more.
Tech Specs
FUJINON XF8-16mmF2.8 R LM WR
- Compatible with all FUJIFILM X Series interchangeable system cameras
- 11 points weather-sealing
- 14°F/-10°C operating tempurature lower limit
- 20 elements in 13 groups including 4 aspherical elements, 3 ED elements and 3 super ED elements
- Uses linear motors for quiet and ultra-fast AF
- Nano-GI coating applied to rear surface of two front lens elements to eliminate ghosting and flare caused by oblique light
FUJINON XF200mmF2 R LM OIS WR
- 17 points weather sealing
- 19 elements in 14 groups including 2 ED elements, and 1 super ED element
- Focus Preset Function instantly changes focus to a preset position to capture main subject without readjustments
- Optical Image Stabilization system achieves 5-stop image stabilization
- Fluorine coating applied to front lens element for improved durability
- Matte silver color for reduced risk of overheating
