PolarPro LightLeak 16mm, 28mm and 50mm Lenses Launched

While I appreciate getting more third party lenses for X mount, I often criticized third parties because they do not offer something “unique”, but just regurgitate the same mainstream focal length over and over again.

Well, I certainly can’t moan about that today ;).

PolarPro has launched new ”nostalgic” lenses in 3 focal lengths, offered on the X mount. They come with an adjustable lightleak ring.

The lenses are:

  • PolarPro LightLeak 16mm f/11
  • PolarPro LightLeak 28mm f/11
  • PolarPro LightLeak 50mm f/11

These are the main features as according to PolarPro.

  1. Lenses designed to capture that timeless, nostalgic look (in camera)
  2. Adjustable LightLeak Ring allows you to leak light behind the lens
  3. Available in Sony E, Canon RF, Fuji X, and Nikon Z mounts
  4. 3 Different focal lengths with WILD looks (16mm, 28mm, 50mm)
  5. Aluminum Frame is durable, lightweight, and allows threaded filters

PolarPro also writes:

Get that timeless, nostalgic look straight in-camera with the PolarPro LightLeak lens. This lens brings back the timeless feel of analog photography, allowing you to instantly capture filmic-style images with your professional digital setup. It’s a useful alternative for shooting photography or videography in a unique and authentic way, providing that nostalgic feel and answering your creative calling. Each frame tells a story and will have a distinct, vintage look—characterized by rich colors, natural grain, and adjustable light leaks that digital cameras simply can’t replicate.

I have not tested these lenses (nor did I know they existed until a few minutes ago), so I can’t tell you more than what is written in the product page.

But certainly PolarPro is pushing strongly the vintage vibe of these lenses with words like “timeless feel”, “analog photography“, “filmic-style images“, “natural grain” and “nostalgic look”.

Where can you get them?

PolarPro products are sold also at Amazon here, although at this moment you don’t find the lenses there. If you want them, you have to order through the PolarPro store here.

Here are the details for each lens:

LightLeak 16mm

  • LENS MATERIAL: Optical Grade Polymer
  • APERTURE: Fixed at f11
  • LENS HOUSING MATERIAL: Anodized Aluminum
  • FILTER THREAD SIZES: Z Mount: 67mm | RF Mount: 67mm | E Mount: 58mm | X Mount: 58mm
  • FIXED FOCUS DISTANCE: 1M to Infinity
  • SOFT VIGNETTE: 1 to 1.5 stops (when lightleak closed), 0.75 to 1 stops (when lightleak open)

LightLeak 28mm

  • LENS MATERIAL: Optical Grade Polymer
  • APERTURE: Fixed at f11
  • LENS HOUSING MATERIAL: Anodized Aluminum
  • FILTER THREAD SIZE: Z Mount: 67mm | RF Mount: 67mm | E Mount: 58mm | X Mount: 58mm
  • FIXED FOCUS DISTANCE: 1M to Infinity
  • SOFT VIGNETTE: No Soft Vignette

LightLeak 50mm

  • LENS MATERIAL: Optical Grade Polymer
  • APERTURE: Fixed at f11
  • LENS HOUSING MATERIAL: Anodized Aluminum
  • FILTER THREAD SIZE: Z Mount: 67mm | RF Mount: 67mm | E Mount: 58mm | X Mount: 58mm
  • FIXED FOCUS DISTANCE: 3M to Infinity
  • SOFT VIGNETTE: Zero

EISA Awards Fujifilm X100VI as Best Compact Camera

You know what I think about these awards. And if you don’t know it, read this article.

In short: they are meaningless.

So meaningless, that usually I write sarcastic articles about them.

And the point now came in which I thought I should not even talk about these awards anymore here on FujiRumors.

However, I also noticed that every time I post about them, there are quite a few out there who in the comments on social media rejoice about Fujifilm winning an award.

And who am I to take away such an easy and genuine joy to people. It’s a messy world that needs more joy, not less.

So, let’s be happy and celebrate the fact that EISA declared the Fujifilm X100VI the best compact camera.

via EISA

Get Fujifilm X-T5 Alike Sized Viewfinder on Smaller X Series Cameras with This 3D Printed Accessory

Usually when Fujifilm launches a new compact camera, there are always people who wish it had a larger EVF.

Of course that’s not possible, if the concept of the camera is to be compact and small. You have to make tradeoffs.

Personally I am fine with this choice. The EVF on my X-E3 is certainly not big, but big enough for my type of shooting. I am certainly not wishing of a larger EVF on my compact X-E3, but rather for a tilt screen to avoid to shoot like this ;).

And yet, there are plenty of people desiring a larger EVF and if you are among them, then this could be a solution.

Fellow Fujifilm X Shooter Yukosteel has designed a 3D printed solution to use DSLR magnifiers adapted to X-T30 and alike cameras, to make EVF 0.76x – 0.84x magnified, larger than X-T series.

Yukosteel has published article which you can read here and after more testing he also published 3D printable adapter models.

Yukosteel also plans to design an adapter for X-E and X100 series in nearest future, which is a bit more complex task but doable.

Read the full story at yukosteel here.

What’s Hiding Behind Fujifilm’s “Minor Bug” Fixes?

Every time I report about a new firmware update, I get asked (such as here): what’s hiding behind the mysterious phrase “fix of minor bugs“?

That’s a legit question, also considering that, in rare occasions, updating the firmware can actually introduce new bugs (this happens with every brand, Sony, Nikon, Canon and Co. They all struggle with that).

So why update the firmware for a minor thing if your gear works just fine?

Well, unless your gear has a specific issue that the firmware update addresses, it’s generally a good idea to wait a bit before updating. Just to see if some issues come up with the new firmware.

I don’t do that, honestly. I update immediately. But I also don’t photograph weddings or do professional work with my gear (oh well, except for this wedding, but that one I shot for free).

And yet…

even if the firmware addresses a “minor bug”, I strongly recommend to update anyway sooner or later..

Why?

Well, because sometimes the bugs are not really “minor”.

For example: in 2020 Fujifilm released a firmware also for X-T4 and it gave us a “minor bug fix”. At that time I was in holiday in Southern Italy and I took some time to try to find out what it really fixed. Well, it turned out the minor bug fix was actually a major one, as it drastically reduced the exposure stepping in video.

This was a major complaint and a major bug fix, but Fujifilm did hide it behind the phrase “fix of minor bugs“.

Other times, the “minor bug” might be better called an “embarrassing bug fix”. In fact so embarrassing, that Fujifilm (but that’s valid also for other brands) doesn’t want you to know what it is, hence they don’t elaborate on that.

For example, I think it was the X-Pro1 that got a “minor bug” fixed, but what it really fixed was that the focus point worked “mirrored”, so if you moved the AF box to the bottom right of the frame, the camera would actually focus on the top left of the frame.

This is why ultimately I always recommend to update your gear, even if Fujifilm calls it just a smaller bug fix.

If you want, wait a couple of weeks and then see if there are reports here on FujiRumors or in Fuji Forums about problems with the firmware. And if there aren’t, update! What Fujifilm calls “minor” might not really be that minor in the end.

And in any case remember: if for some reason a firmware would break certain features of your camera, Fujifilm will release a free follow-up firmware fix and don’t charge you $700+ like Sony :D.

FUJIFILM Firmware Updates for XF16-55mmF2.8, XF16-80mmF4 and XF18-120mmF4

Fujifilm has release firmware updates for a couple of X mount lenses. Down below you can find all the details.

Firmware Details

Fujinon XF 16-55mm F2.8 R LM WR ver.1.33 – download here
The firmware update Ver.1.33 from Ver.1.32 incorporates the following issue:

  1. A minor bug is fixed.

Fujinon XF 16-80mm F4 R OIS WR ver.1.21 – download here
The firmware update Ver.1.21 from Ver.1.20 incorporates the following issues:

  1. A firmware bug is fixed that the noise occurs during zoom operation in the rare cases.
  2. A minor bug is fixed.

Fujinon XF 18-120mm F4 LM PZ WR ver.1.11 – download here
The firmware update Ver.1.11 from Ver.1.10 incorporates the following issue:

  1. A minor bug is fixed.