Fujinon's New 50mm Lens is Super Fast and Tack Sharp
Fujifilm refreshes its portrait lens for X Series camera.
Fujifilm recently announced the development of its Premista 19-45mm T2.9 cine zoom lens, and now, the company is giving attention to its mirrorless cameras with the release of the Fujinon XF 50mm F1.0 R WR.
You might be thinking, "Doesn't Fujifilm already offer a 50mm R WR lens?" and you would be correct, but that's a F2.0. The selling point here is the extra stop which will give shooters more options when it comes to low-light conditions or dark interiors.
The XF 50mm F1.0 R WR is compatible with all X-Series cameras including the X-T4 and sees a complete redesign. Optically, it's designed from 12 elements in 9 groups and touts one aspherical element and two extra-low dispersion (ED) elements to thwart spherical aberration. Comparing it to the 50mm R WR F2.0, it only has a single ED element, so users should see a difference in image quality right away.
50mm side by side comparison
The overall look of the lens has changed too. Instead the slimmer profile like the F2.0, it more resembles the 56mm R WR F1.2, which is a little fatter and possibly easier to use depending on your hand size. But it's still compact, measuring 4.07" (103.5mm) long and weighing 1.86 pounds (845 grams).The still lens is capable of covering full-frame sensor and is compatible with X-Series autofocus. When using the X-Pro3 or X-T4, autofocus can be used at -7EV luminance, providing fast and precise autofocus in low-light conditions. The lens also functions with the phase detection autofocus and face/eye AF to track subjects with ease.
Since the lens provides a shallow depth of field, Fujifilm increased the focus throw of the lens to 120° for better accuracy in manual mode or when using focus peaking and focus assist modes. The lens has a weather-resistant design and is sealed in 11 locations to protect it against moisture and dust. Fujfilm says the lens is functional in temperatures down to 14°F (-10°C).
The XF 50mm F1.0 R WR is available now for $1,499 USD.