– 5 out of 5 stars for the XF 56mm. Read the full review of photographyblog here:

“Priced at £899.99 / $999.99, the Fujifilm XF 56mm F1.2 R is something of a considered purchase, but we found it to be a very adaptable lens that can be used for a lot more things than just portraiture, helping to justify the cost. We’d definitely recommend the new Fujifilm XF 56mm F1.2 R as a must-have lens for all Fujifilm X-mount users.”

– A Bikini Model and the Fuji XF56mmF1.2 R Lens at joshmcleodphotography here: “It is probably one of the most impressive lenses I have shot with… EVER! Even wide-open the lens performed exceptionally well. Shooting directly into bright sunlight also posed no problem for this little gem… lens flare was non existent, the autofocus was both fast and accurate and the images it produced are far far better than I could have hoped for, even the JPG’s (Lightroom still has no support of the X-T1 RAW files). In fact I am so impressed with its wide-open performance I am about to pull the trigger on a variable ND filter so I can shoot at F1.2 all the time.”

– first impressions at admiringlight here: “At first blush, Fuji has created a heck of a lens with the XF 56mm f/1.2.”

– “On the XE2 it certainly looks a beast. The combo may lesson one handed shooting overall, but a two handed grasp feels just right. Focus is assured and snappy and the lens is buttery smooth (and this would be butter churned by dusky maidens with long limbs and faultless skin smooth). And the bokeh, well it’s a Fuji lens with a max aperture of F/1.2, it’s fujilicious.” Read more at draigphotography here.

Fuji X-T1: [shopcountry 21553]

kit in stock at BHphoto

– low light AF and EVF test on youtube here.

– My Fujifilm Love Affair – a X-T1 & XF56mmF1.2 R two week review at jkspepper here: “Why am I calling this a love affair?  Perhaps it’s because this best sums up the experience I have for the Fujifilm devices, both the newly released X-T1 and the aging X-E1 before it. […] The biggest change however is not with the technology of X-T1 AF system but rather my own perception of it; I no longer seem to worry about focus anymore.  With my other cameras (the new Sony A7R included), I always have an expectation of AF failure which is one of the reasons why I set my cameras to back button focus and DMF; I never rely on AF and can manually override as necessary.  Shooting the X-T1 over the last few weeks I have realised I no longer assess a scene with the same mentality as when I shoot with the RX1, X-E1 or A7R, I haven’t even used MF.  I’m not saying it’s perfect or even close to a dedicated PDAF system but it’s definitely more usable in many more situations than before.”

–  Talking about Fujifilm’s X-T1 with an Australian Fuji rep on here.

– X-T1 + 60mm focus speed test here on youtube.

– review at nikonglass here: “Other reviewers are noting how the X-T1 is merely an evolution of the XE2 but for me a diehard DSLR user, the X-T1 is actually a game changer that has the potential to shake Nikon and Canon so hard that they will be forced to answer back sooner than later.” For AF tips and setup suggestions click here.

– Fuji X-T1 the pro’s and con’s thebigpicturegallery here: “So a big question I have heard alot of people asking, is how is the AF and focus tracking, well put it this way, my Nikon D3 bodies are totally redundant now. The af and focus tracking speed of this camera is fantastic. I shot an event yesterday where fast camera reactions were needed, shooting with the 55-200 zoom I captured frame after frame of in focus shots, its that quick at focus and tracking,I was also shooting the X pro 1 with the 14mm attached, the speed difference is quite amazing, where the X pro 1 has a little think before shooting, the Xt1 is pretty instant. As good as a DSLR maybe not quite but its a smidgen difference.”

– Fuji X-T1…. a quick 1st impression at tonysweet here: “The autofocus is a quantum leap from the Xpro 1 and the XE-2, which is to be expected as the technology advances.”

– 10 First Impressions on the Fuji X-T1 at bcapphoto here: “The depressed buttons on the directional pad will take a bit of getting used to. They aren’t as easy to press as with the X-E2 and other models.”

– First impressions at jekuarce here: “Earlier this week I had a chance to touch, taste, smell, and feel the new Fujifilm X-T1. I’m trying to lighten my load of camera gear. My Canon 5DMIIs are just too heavy for me. They pack weight when traveling. I’m a small guy so I can’t carry much with me. I was hoping to switch over completely to Fujifilm with this camera (I do own a x100s).”

– First Long Exposures with the Fujifilm X-T1 at stephenip here: “As you can see, the good for me outweighs the bad. While the X-T1 isn’t perfect, it does offer several improvements for long exposure photography over the X-Pro1. The biggest ones being the new EVF and tilting LCD. Are these must have improvements, not by any means. But since I was in the market for a new camera, they are certainly welcomed.”

– Fuji X-T1 + 23mm – Sony A7 + 35mm – Panasonic GX7 + 17mm Comparison at soundimageplus here: “So what does this prove? Well to me it proves firstly that differences between camera / lens combinations aren’t as great as often stated and secondly, apart from the odd exception, camera and lens choice for me is as much about handling, design, ease of use and enjoying the process as it is about marginal differences in image quality.” Further comparison between these cameras here: “A sensor / camera combination with the image quality of an A7r, the high ISO performance of the Fuji X series and the video quality of the GH3 would be something to behold, but we will have to dream on for that.”

– Gid Ferrer: “Just want to share some photos using the XT1 with the 18-55, 14mm, and the [shoplink 12946 ebay]Samyang 8mm[/shoplink] Fish eye.” See them on his Flickr here.

 XF 56mm f/1.2
[shopcountry 21554]

– The Dream Team – Completed! Fujinon XF 56mm F1.2 R review at olafblog here: “I could write a lot more but I would probably lose all my credibility as a lens reviewer – that’s how much this lens has impressed me. After using this lens on numerous assignments I decided to share with you more images than usual over the next few weeks. They include landscape shots, street photography, portraits and weddings.”

– X-T1 + 56mm model shoot at f-sunny here: “The lens reminds me of my Canon 85mm f/1.2L – another portrait specialist – it has that smooth bokeh and wonderful contrast – it just makes people look gorgeous!”

– A day with… Fuji 56mm 1.2 R at sebimagery here: “The build, the feel, and the optical quality of the Fuji 56mm 1.2 R are simply top notch.  You toss in the fact that it’s under $1000!!!  Unbelievable!!

– Fuji XF 56mm f/1.2 lens – Hands on review at aboutphotography here: “Let’s just get this out of the way up front: This lens is sharp. It is sharp in the corners, sharp in the center, even sharp in the corners wide open at f/1.2. On top of that it has no discernible distortion, and internal focus is fast and quiet.”

XF 10-24
[shopcountry 20414]

– EYES WIDE OPEN – First Thoughts on the XF 10-24 F4 R OIS at olafblog here: “I have spent the weekend shooting almost all my imagery at the wide-end of this lens, 10mm. What an impact it creates! While it is too early to evaluate all the technical attributes and write a full review of this lens, I can say with full confidence that if you are a serious landscape photographer, this lens should find its way into your bag.”

 X-E2
[shopcountry 17992]

 – Omar Barcenas: “Hey Patrick, Just letting you know I’ve shot my first wedding with a XE 2 (with a 23mm 1.4 and a 35mm 1.4) and D700 combo. What I found was that the XE 2 had really beautiful color that hardly needed work, where as the D700 took a lot more effort to get pleasing colors and skin tones. The bride getting was shot with the XE 2 and 23mm, while the ceremony was the D700, because I needed the fast AF. What I found was that the D700 colors needed a lot of work to get pleasing colors, where as the XE 2 was 90% there and just needed a little tweak… But with the XT 1 coming, all my gear will be Fuji in the future, I won’t need the AF from the D700 anymore. http://www.omarbarcenas.com/projects/commercial/jonathan-yvonne/“

– Dustin: “Not sure if this is the right way to contact you about this but I thought you might be interested in some photos I made with my X-E2 and 23mm f/1.4“. See them here at dustinfranzphotography.

X100S
[shopcountry 12883]

 – John: “Hi, I’ve followed your site for a while and wanted to share with you and your readers a recent photo project I completed with the X100S while also challenging myself to use it as my primary camera for three months.  Hope you enjoy: see it here.”

– Fuji X100s Review: Awesomesauce at theglezzdaily here.

– The x100/x100s must have accessory at sebimagery here.

– Made with a X100S at furfur here (translation).

– Review: Fujifilm x100s – The perfect Image at doublexposurephoto here: “If it wasn’t obvious thus far, I LOVE this camera. After waiting a long while for it and reading so many positive reviews I was wondering if the it could stand up to my overblown expectations of it. Turns out it easily does! The camera never leaves my sight. I can take it everywhere I go and not be burdened by it. In fact, I rarely use my Canon any more. I was looking for a smaller camera to go along my DSLR and ended up finding a whole new photographic experience.”

X-E1
[shopcountry 12881]

 – Richard Hinton “I started shooting with a Fuji X-E1 last summer, and I am hooked on Fuji. I plan on building my Fuji system, and stop building my Nikon system. I even revived my website. Thought maybe some people would like to see my images.” Visit his blog imbuedimages here.

– Ray Wong: “I just recently spent a month in India with my X-E1 and three XF lenses.  I’ve written about my experience with that kit and have included a link to some photos.  If you think it’s worthwhile sharing on your blog, feel free.” Ray Wong’s Flickr / travel photography Flickr: “Body: Fujifilm X-E1. All black with electrical tape covering the logo. I’m very pleased with how it performed. It’s discreet, durable, and light weight. I definitely did not baby this camera. I used it in the Indian Himalayas where it was constantly exposed to below freezing temperatures, the deserts of Rajistan where sand was the main risk, and in the dense urban areas where it was consistently bumped around. Not once did it give me any trouble. It’s light weight was important. I spent hours climbing around the different monasteries at high altitude in the Himalayas. The weight never burdened me even in that environment.”

– Bristol in February at fujiphotographer here: “Quality is terrific straight out of camera, I’m always enjoying the experience of picking up my X-E1 and just taking photos.”

– Jeremy: “Hi Patrick, I’ve been a follower of your blog FujiRumors.com for some time now, probably since the rumors of the X-E1 started circulating.  I probably visit your blog twice a day on average.  I am a huge fan of Fuji cameras and have owned an X-E1 for well over a year now.  I don’t shoot exclusively Fuji; most of the time I mix it up with a D800 and a Leica M9.  But there are a few occasions where I only take out the Fuji.  I have listed couple of blog posts of my own below that are where exclusively shot with the Fuji X-E1 and the 35mm f/1.4. I hope you find them a testament to the creative possibilities these cameras can open up for a photographer/artist. From my photography site (Attending a concert with the X-E1) / From my personal site (Ukraine the beautiful).

X-PRO1
[shopcountry 12882]

– Michael McQueen: “So my trip is coming to an abrupt end in the coming days but I was able to witness the showman ship of the Uruguayan Carnaval.. the longest carnival in the world.. lasting 40 days. This photo essay was shot on just one. Check it out.”

– March 3rd, 2014 ….. Fuji XP1 and 35mm 1.4 … Kills The Fuji XT1…) for Me! at streetshooter here.

– A wander around Lincoln to test Fuji X-Pro 1 settings at patrickstubbs here.

– An Afternoon in Paris at danielincandela here.

– Fuji X Pro 1 and VSCO pack 05…street photography Liverpool at ianmacmichael here.

– Travel Photography With Fujifilm X-Pro1 | Destination : Nepal | Doors of Nepal at shukurjahar here.

– Ground Level – Fujifilm X-Pro1 & XF 60mm 2.4 R Macro at roblowephoto here.

X100
[shopcountry 15293]

– Street Photography with the Fuji X100 at colinnichollsphotography here.

lenses

– Fujifilm 16-50mm Lens Review: This lightweight and budget-friendly Fujinon kit zoom shows impressive image quality at imaging-resource here.

RAW-conversion

 – Create your own Lightroom Plug-ins with Photoshop Droplets at thomasfitzgeraldphotography here: “To start, as part of my on-going quest to get the most out of Fuji X-Trans files, I had been working on a way to clean up the weird edges that Lightroom can give with x-trans files. I ended up with quite a complex photoshop action, which actually works quite well (more on that in a future post) and also adds some sharpening and a few other things.”

a little bit of everything

– Why WiFi or How the Fujifilm Camera App saved me at doncraigphoto here: “Nice to have the engineers of these cameras developing technology that I don’t think I need until, well, I need it. And, it just works. Great.”

– Why do we like black and white photographs? at stockografie here.

– New FujiFilm Magazine is out! issue no.3! Read it here.

lens deals (great also for EU-citizens)

BHphoto: New Benefits for International Customers: PayPal now open to all countries!

XF 14mm: $200 off (price $700) at BHphoto / Adorama / AmazonUS / Pictureline
XF 18mm: $200 off (price $400) at BHphoto / Adorama / AmazonUS / Pictureline
XF 23mm: $150 off (price $750) at BHphoto / Adorama / AmazonUS / Pictureline
XF 27mm: $250 off (price $200) at BHphoto / Adorama / AmazonUS / Pictureline
XF 35mm: $150 off (price $450) at BHphoto / Adorama / AmazonUS / Pictureline
XF 60mm: $250 off (price $400) at BHphoto / Adorama / AmazonUS / Pictureline
XF 55-200: $200 off (price $500) at BHphoto / Adorama / AmazonUS / Pictureline

German FR-reader Luzu explains how to order from Europe: “Choose UPS for international delivery, their option “UPS Super Saver” for around 45$ is the cheapest anyways. If you “pay on delivery”, UPS will handle all the customs work for you and deliver the item home to you where you pay the customs costs directly to the mailman. No going to customs office needed! Declaration of the deliveries from B&H is made very professionally by them and UPS, so I guess German customs are seldom stopping them. I already ordered two lenses this way (the 27mm and the 55-200mm) without problems! Btw.: The delivery is by plane and super fast … around two days only!”

X-T1 body only ($1,299): USA: AmazonUS / BHphoto / Adorama / Pictureline / EU: wexDE / wexUK / PCHstore /
X-T1 with 18-55 ($1,699): USA: AmazonUS / BHphoto / Adorama / Pictureline / EU: wexDE / wexUK / PCHstore /

_ _ _

– bokeh-monster posted the X-T1 review here and 56mm review here:

“[X-T1 review] The gap between optical and electronic view finders has finally been closed! The massive view finder on the XT1 even puts my old Canon 5D mrk iii to shame, bright and detailed with almost nonexistent low light flicker, it is capable of turning night into day and tackles manual focusing with ease. […]”

[XF 56mm review] Everyone who is familiar with large aperture lenses will know there are tradeoffs, nothing comes for free! Typically these lenses when shot at their maximum aperture (sucking in as much light as possible, hence helping make exposures in dim surroundings), 1) Do not have the best centre sharpness (corners of the frame are typically even softer) 2) Exhibit low contrast throughout the frame 3) Suffer from bad CA (chromatic aberrations)… Examining one of the street portraits captured with this lens […] illustrates perfectly how the wizards at FUJINON have overcome some colossal challenges. […]. The 56mm at F1.2 has maintained beautiful blacks and brilliant sharpness throughout the frame at the same time rendering true to life skin tones.

– Fuji X-T1, XF 10-24mm F4 OIS & XF 56mm F1.2 reviews at work at olafphotoblog here: “We have already started shooting with this gear. […] Stay tuned for full reviews of the X-T1, XF 10-24mm F4 R OIS and bitingly sharp XF 56mm R F1.2. In the meantime, here are our first images shot with the Fuji X-T1 and the XF 10-24mm F4 R OIS.”

– How fast is a SDHC UHS-II card in a Fuji X-T1 at aboutphotography here: “My older SanDisk Extreme rated at 80MB/s took 15.46 seconds to write the images to disc. The newer SanDisk Extreme Pro SDHC UHS-II did the same thing in 8:49 seconds – almost twice as fast.” [The UHS-II SD-cards are now available at BHphoto here and Adorama here.]

– Shared on FR-twitter: “This camera is amazing, it really is, FUJI hit it out the park with this one. it was really a joy to shoot with, its light weight, unobtrusive and completely gets out the way and help you make beautiful photos, all these are just my first day impressions of this camera.” Read more at itsneilb here.

– Fuji or Olympus? joshmcleodphotography has the answer here: “…the Fuji X-T1 is almost the perfect camera (for my needs). Shooting with it is an absolute pleasure… it is small, lightweight, inconspicuous, feels great in hand, extremely well built, has a great lens line up and is capable of producing beautiful images. I am so confident in the Fuij X-T1 that I believe it will meet if, not exceed, nearly every photographic need/expectation I can throw at it. Even if some say that the price is a little on the high side I think the Fuji X-T1 actually represents good value. In my opinion you have to spend a lot more money to get a camera that offers any real advantage in terms of Image quality, build quality and overall shooting enjoyment.”

– Here is what lighttraveler thinks of the X-T1: “Fuji have changed the way I think about my craft and taken me back over 40 years and made me want to start all over again.They have given me my passion back by putting all the passion they have for photography and film in to these little cameras. At last a company that are doing things for the right reasons and not just mass producing cameras for profit.”

– phoblographer X-T1 review here (and another award for the X-T1): “What the X-T1 really does is make the case for mirrorless cameras as worthy options for serious photographers. There have been strong mirrorless options before the X-T1, but none have looked so good. Sony’s done well with its NEX-now-alpha line, but it doesn’t hold a candle to Fujifilm in terms of design. Fujifilm pays just as much at to the outside of the camera as it does the inside. […] The X-T1 can bend to nearly any photographic need in my estimation, save for sports and wildlife photography due to Fujifilm’s lack of fast telephoto lenses.”

– admiringlight full review here: “The X-T1 is an immensely enjoyable camera to shoot with.  The grip is comfortable, the major exposure controls are all easily accessed and constantly visible.  The EVF is, in my opinion, the best on the market currently (though the one in the Olympus E-M1 is close).  Fuji has also made the X-T1 a responsive camera.  Everything reacts quickly, write speeds are blazing and all the delays that plagued early X-series cameras are now gone.  The X-T1′s continuous autofocus is something for Fuji to be proud of.”

– trustedreviews full X-T1 test here: “The X-T1 combines excellent design with a specification that makes it great value even at its circa-£1000 price tag. Above all, it produces breathtaking images and can be relied upon whatever the conditions, making it perhaps the best CSC on the market.”

– Fujifilm X-T1 Review: Feast for the Eyes, Frustration for the Fingers at gizmodo here: “LIKE: Looks can take a camera further than most photographers are willing to admit, and the X-T1 is exquisitely beautiful. It’s an all-around speedy camera in AF, startup time, and burst rate. Image quality is terrific and the lens selection is becoming more robust with high-quality options. The great build quality and weather sealing will keep the camera safe from jostles and the elements. NO LIKE: The controls on the X-T1 are a mess. They go too far into analogue nostalgia at the expense of simplicity and speed. The EVF, while big, is very noisy in low light.”

– X-T1 review at flixelpix here: “Does the X-T1 deserve the hype? Definitely. The X-T1 is a powerhouse that delivers stunning, pin sharp images with the almost breathtaking dynamic range we have grown to associate with the Fujfilm X-Range. I struggle to find fault and I hope you understand what I mean when I say I could look at it for hours, it is a remarkable piece of technology. The controls are extremely accessible on the body of the camera and there isn’t hardly an aspect of the device that isn’t customisable or adjustable. The viewfinder and LCD screens are stunning and if that isn’t enough you can even control the camera via live view on a mobile device”

– Fuji X-T1, Nkon 50mm f/1.4G, Metabones Speed Booster – Is this the answer to low light shooting? at soundimageplus here.

– First Impressions at thewanderinglensman here: “The “four-way” buttons that surround the menu/enter button aren’t very well designed.  I almost have to use my fingernail in order to push them.”

– Doring: “Here is a little piece on the pixel-level file quality from the new Fujifilm X-T1. It may be of interest to those who depend on good per-pixel quality for largish prints.” Read it at doeringphoto here.

– Review at fotodesign here: “Well, it’s fairly simple to summarize my findings about the X-T1. In the end it’s rather an evolution of the X-E2, wrapped in a different body, than a game changer taking over the camera world. For me, the biggest advantage is the new high-res viewfinder, which I would love to see in a X-E3. The autofocus is improved, but still lacks responsiveness compared to the competition. This might not be true for AF-C performance, but that is something I don’t care much about. The image quality hasn’t changed at all and is still very good. Video quality is still poor, so nothing has changed there either.”

– first impressions at photomadd here: “Yes!  I think it would be hard to argue that this was a bad camera.  It is a very good camera.  I’m not convinced that it is the revolution many were billing it as though.  I think a lot of people missed out on just how good the X-E2 really is with their bias still in place from the X-Pro1 and X-E1 with the early firmware.  The reality is that the X-T1 is an X-E2 bundled up differently to make it look like something else, but same sensor, same processor, with just a few tweaks and natural improvements here and there to give it better dSLR style AF tracking and a faster frame rate.”

– Further toughts at luminous-landscape here: “Fujifilm’s X-T1 has been a very eagerly awaited device. I know that I was eagerly waiting to get my hands on one ever size I saw its first announcement. Why? Because it appeared to offer the design ethos of another era. A look at the top panel tells the story. Nice solid mechanical wheels and levers for all of the cameras major functions; ISO, focus mode, metering mode, shutter speed and exposure compensation. And, if you have a lens with an aperture ring, such as one of Fuji’s XF primes, you even have direct manual control of that.”

– Should I sell all my Nikon gear for a X-T1? at ohm-image here: “I am ecstatic about the X-T1. It shows Fujifilm improving on most things. But the X-T1 is in no way a replacement for a DSLR in the arenas where DSLRs reign supreme. A great mirrorless camera is still a not equal to a great DSLR of any stripe unless weight, size, lens selection (this refers to APS-C DSLRs), are the deciding factors.”

– “I noticed a light leak on the new FUJI X-T1.  When using the cable release during long exposures I had a streak of light enter the sensor.  The light leaks when using long exposures and light hits the microphone jack and the HDMI ports“. Check it out on youtube here. Trenton suggested the following temporary solution for this problem in the comments: “use mobile app to trip the shutter by WiFi, without exposing the ports. Oh, and it would be fantastic if Fuji updates the app with timers and intervalometers.” Rico said: “Those who are affected by this light leak might want to have their cameras serviced by Fujifilm. Fuji knows about the issue, and a service directive has been in place for several weeks. It’s an easy fix.”

– first impressions at peterlangfelder here: “Overall, it is lightweight and super-fun to use”

– high ISO performance test at f8blog here.

– Fujifilm BLC-XT1 Leather Case for Fujifilm X-T1 at larsauthen here: “I’m not 100% percent happy with this leather case. It doesn’t fit as tight as I would like it. And it’s a bit unpractical to unscrew the bottom screw to remove it when you need to change memory cards. Of course, it’s nice to be able to change the batteries when needed with the case still on.”

– focus-numerique full review here (translation).

– Had a fantastic weekend up in the dales with a friend putting my new Fuji XT1 through its landscape paces and checking the area out for one of my up and coming landscape walking tutorial days. […] Here are a few photos from the weekend.” See more at lightgazer here.

XF 56mm f/1.2
USA AmazonUS / BHphoto / Adorama / DigitalRev / – EUROPE: wexUK / wexDE / PCHstore / DigitalRev

– XF 56mm test at pchome here (translation): “[google translated:] Maximum aperture edge quality is slightly lower compared to the center of some of the meat received significantly enhance the rate after F1.4, F4.0 and F5.6 until it reaches the maximum value. A conclusion can be: the overall level of sharpness and excellent performance of the central portion, and the edge portion of the central portion so although not eye-catching, but within the acceptable range.”

XF 10-24
USA. AmazonUS / BHphoto / Adorama / Pictureline / DigitalRev / EUROPE: DigitalRev / PCHstore / WexDE / WexUK

– michaelrcruz tested the XF 10-24. Read his impressions here: “I really had a great time using this lens. This is the lens that I always wanted for my X-series system. The focal length is very useful for photographers who shoots landscapes, architecture and even street photography.  I don’t really have any negative comment about this lens, I know others would have wanted a 2.8 lens but it might have made this lens bigger and I think, the current size is just perfect for the X-Series cameras.  And to be honest in landscape or architecture photography which this lens will be most used, you will use high aperture values anyways and at f4.0 it is by no means a slow lens.”

– X-T1 and the 10-24mm Lens impressions at getdpi here: “I personally think it’s a great performance at its widest angle. Please note there was a million people around me and I was just snapping away so I could look at the overall quality and distortion control. In a couple of photos, the Fuji staff member looks a little distorted but for the most part, I’d be happy with these images in regards to distortion.”