First Look: XF16mmF1.4 R WR

First Impressions Review: XF16mmF1.4 R WR

by Rico Pfirstinger

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Specs – Rico’s XF16mmF1.4 R WR Sample Images – Deutsche Version

^ X-T1 with XF16mmF1.4 R WR

As you might already know, my new book featuring 111 tipps for X-T1 users is now available as an eBook and as a conventionally printed edition. If you are still undecided, click here to download 47 free sample pages. If you like my book and can afford the time, please leave a review at Amazon.

^ X-T1, XF16mmF1.4 R WR, f/1.4, Capture One Pro

Fuji’s latest lens addition has “high-end” written all over it. The XF16mmF1.4 R WR is a fast, weather- and dust-sealed wide-angle prime lens with Nano-GI coating (to eliminate flare and ghosting), a 0.21x magnification close-up capability with a minimum focus distance of only 15 cm (thanks to two floating focus groups) and nine aperture blades for a smooth bokeh with circular blur discs.

^ X-T1, XF16mmF1.4 R WR, f/2.0, SOOC JPEG (Pro Neg. Std)

The lens also features two aspherical elements and two ED (extra low-dispersion) elements that minimize spherical and chromatic aberrations to surprisingly low levels and deliver corner-sharp images even at the widest aperture setting of f/1.4:

** CLICK HERE to Read the Rest of the Article **

[UPDTE: Content Back Again] First Report & Samples of the XF 16mmF1.4

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PRE-ORDER XF 16mmF1.4 WR ($999): USA: BHphoto / AmazonUS / Adorama / EUROPE: WexUK / PCHstore /

[UDPATE: As to expect, the review has been removed due to NDA or/and embargo violation. I’ll put the link up here again, as soon as it is online again. I remind you that there will be a live blogging session here on FR as soon as the lens will be announced and the embargo ends. A trusted source said it will happen this week, so I expect it to come on Thursday or Friday (I never saw an annoucement on a weekend), as usual around midnight in New York (early in the morning in London).] [UPDATE 2: Review is online again at fujilove]

FUJI X-SHIRTS available here in USA and here in Europe & CO.
Learn more about the 100% Fair Trade Charity X-shirts here.

miXed Zone: AF-performance with FW 3.10, about Kaizen, Fuji Interview, X-Trans + C1… and Max Angeloni’s “holy” Fuji work!

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If you are in Rome in these holy Easter days, don’t miss to check out Max Angeloni’s exhibition about the Way of the Cross in one of the arguably most important baroque churches worldwide, the Basilica di Sant’Andrea della Valle (the exhibition ends on the 8th of April.)

X-Photographer Max Angeloni used exclusively Fuji X gear for this important assignment: the Fujifilm X-T1 and three lenses (23mm, 35mm and 56mm… and two 180 Watt lights).

If you can’t go to Rome, take a look at his work at riflessifotografici (translation).

NEW FIRMWARE 3.10 for X-T1

AF performance with the new firmware at johncaz: “My quick and dirty testing shows that there is an overall small and bearable noticeable boost in AF performance with all three lenses so it’s not a placebo effect.” /

LENSES

X-mount lenses

A very nice ‘in the field’ 50-140 review in pictures at chrisharrisonphotography / Matt Brandon took the 50-140 mm out for a real workout in Komodo, Indonesia and came back with some crazy sharp images of dragons. See them at thedigitaltrekker  / Fuji 16-55mm F2.8 R LM WR Fujinon Lens – Is This The Best Fuji X Lens Ever? at soundimageplus / Fujifilm XF56mm F1.2 APD Lens Aperture Range at brandonremler /

FujiFilmUK just launched a Series of short 1 minute video presentations of the Fujinon lenses. Check out the videos about the 23mm, 60mm, 56mm, XF 55-200, XF 35mm, XF 27mm, XF 18mm, XF 18-135, XF 18-55, XF 10-24 and XF 14mm. See all the FujiUK videos here.

other lenses / Adapter / Extension Tubes

Speedbooster Ultra OM-FX Unboxing at FujiOM’s youtube channel / Samyang 12mm F2 NCS CS with Fujifilm X-T1 at dslrmagazine (translation) /

RAW-CONVERSION

I’m really enjoying the combination of Fuji X-Trans + Capture One at thomasfitzgeraldphotography /

ACCESSORIES

Clip cap battery protection frame designed for Fujifilm NP-W126. See more at vimeo / Sasurai Camera Straps made in Japan… here are the leather straps. Check out their store for other options /

KAIZEN

Crying Wolf… and about Fuji’s Kaizen at olafphotoblog + The Kaizen Contention: Final Thought at olafphotoblog /

INTERVIEW

There is an interview with Fujifilm Japan’s Kunio Aoyama and Hiroto Nakata at mirrorlessons. Here some excerpts (FYI, here are the interviews with Mr. Iida Toshihisa & Makoto Oishi):

– NEW LENSES: “We are trying to understand where the lack of coverage is. For example, tilt-shift lenses or fisheye lenses or extreme telephoto lenses. […] Maybe when we announce the next generation of cameras, we can announce the next roadmap.”

– ORGANIC SENSOR: “We are continuing to develop the sensor. […] The organic sensor itself is designed not only for cameras but also for other applications. So originally the technology and development is not for digital cameras. […] We are trying to figure out if the sensor is best for cameras, video or other hardware products. We are still studying and developing the package.

Make sure to check out the whole interview at mirrorlessons… and just a little note about the Organic Sensor. A Fuji Guy said to bigheadtaco at youtube (minute 13:00) that there are some challenges in the production the organic sensor, but ones these issues are fixed “we are going to see an entire new page of sensor technology!”

The Problem with the organic sensor? As shared in this rumor, it could be due to too much battery drain and heat production..

dpreview X100T review: “Still nothing else on the market offering same combination of IQ and shooting experience”

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Silver Award for the X100T at dpreview. You can read the whole review here or jump to the conclusions here. Overall they say:

“The X100T is an excellent photographic tool that’s engaging to use and capable of beautiful images. Its autofocus is starting to show its age, and its unusual X-Trans sensor’s benefits are hard to discern in an era of 24 and 28MP rivals. But there’s currently nothing to touch it in terms of the size/price/image quality balance it offers and the style with which it does so.”

100% Fair Trade X-shirts just launched. 100% of the profits will go to charity. You can get the X-shirts here in USA and here in Europe & CO.

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“Unashamedly aimed at Pros!” XF 16-55mmF2.8 WR highly recommended at Cameralabs & ePhotoZine… and more!

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XF 16-55mmF2.8 WR
USA:
BHphoto / AmazonUS / Adorama / EUROPE: wexUK / PCHstore /

A bunch of tests about the XF 16-55mmF2.8 WR has been published over the last few days. I invite you to check out all the reviews listed in this post. But it’s pretty clear: the XF 16-55mmF2.8 WR is another optically outstanding Fujinon lens. Fuji spoiled us with truly amazing glass… so no surprise that X-shooters consider the Fujinon lenses the highlight of the X-system (see the poll at the bottom).

And now, have a good read:

1) Every good read begins with Rico’s First Looks…. and here is the one about the XF 16-55. If you didn’t still check it out, then make sure to click on this link.

2) 16-55mm f2.8 review at cameralabs: “Ultimately the XF 16-55mm is unashamedly aimed at pros, particularly event shooters who’ll want to pair it with the XF 40-150mm and know they’ll have a bright f2.8 aperture throughout a broad range and not need to worry about inclement weather. Suffice it to say wedding and street photographers will love it.”

3) 16-55 review at ephotozine: “Optically, this standard zoom from Fujifilm is up there with the best f/2.8 zooms available for APS-C format cameras. It is capable of delivering excellent sharpness, with low CA and distortion. More importantly, it handles well, and features such as weather sealing and the Nano-GI coatings applied to this lens ensure it is capable of holding its own amongst the best zoom lenses currently available.”

4) Fuji XF 16-55mm f/2.8 zoom — a hands-on review at aboutphotography-tomgrill: “If I were a wedding photographer depending only upon a Fuji equipment kit, I would add this lens to the mix for its high resolution and fast aperture. Same would be true if I only used a Fuji X camera for lifestyle or landscape photography.

5) Fuji XF 16-55 LM WR Review (Part 2) at adamkingphoto: “The Fuji XF 16-55 F2.8 is hands down the best standard zoom available to demanding Fuji shooters, and I would consider it essential for event shooting, outdoor exploration, and any high-performance work in the standard range.”

6) Review at thephoblographer: “Is this a great lens? Absolutely, but it’s one that we’d keep in our camera bag and relegate to special needs purposes when we really need a zoom lens.”

7) Spanish Field Test at dslrmagazine (translation).

8) 16-55 compared to 23 at soundimageplus and compared to the Sony A7 Mk II 35mm Prime here: “Completely contrary to my expectations, the Fuji / Zoom combination turned in a better looking file than the Sony at f/2.8 and ISO 200, even after the upsizing and the Sony A7 Mk II / prime combination turned in a slightly better performance than the Fuji at f/2.8 and ISO 3200. ?????”

 

XF 16-55mmF2.8 WR USA: BHphoto / AmazonUS / Adorama / EUROPE: wexUK / PCHstore /

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