“Incredibly sharp with impressive background blur” (ephotozine XF 56mmF1.2 APD review)

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MTF Charts at ephotozine

XF 56mm f/1.2 APD
USA: BHphoto / AmazonUS / Adorama / DigitalRev EUROPE: AmazonUK / PCHstore / WexUK / DigitalRev AUSTRALIA: CameraPro / DigitalRev

MUST READ: Rico’s X-pert corner comparison XF 56 vs XF 56 APD

ephotozine published the XF 56 APD reivew. They end up highly recommending this lens, saying that it is “incredibly sharp with impressive background blur“! The CON is a “slight loss of light due to APD filter makes the choice of this lens a creative decision over the standard lens“.

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HELLO KITTY Instax Mini + High-end X-series keep imaging division profitable (Fujifilm earnings report)

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A Strong Seller: The Fujifilm instax mini HELLO KITTY edition

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According to the latest Earning Report, Fujifilm’s Imaging Solutions segment went down 0.5% from the previous fiscal year, but it is still profitable “reflecting strong sales in the instant photo systems and drastic profit improvement in digital cameras, though overall revenue decreased due to the decrease in sales of digital cameras and others.”

A special mention in the report goes to the instax mini HELLO KITTY edition (launched in November 2014) and to the instax SHARE Smartphone Printer SP-1. But also the Fujifilm X100T and XF 50-140 sales were strong. Here an excerpt or the latest Fujifilm earnings report:

“In the photo imaging business, sales of instant photo system increased around the world, because the pleasure of printing photos on the spot was re-realized, Sales of instax mini HELLO KITTY, which was launched in November 2014, and sales of , with which the pictures in smartphones can be printed on instant films easily, increased as well as those of other various designs of instax films increased.

[…]

Sales in the optical device and electronic imaging business decreased due to reduction of compact digital camera’s lineup, while the sales of premium digital cameras X Series were strong. In the electronic imaging field, sales of premium compact digital camera, FUJIFILM X100T, and sales of large-diameter telephoto zoom lenses, including the FUJINON XF50-140mm F2.8 R LM OIS WR, both of which were launched in November 2014, and others were strong. Looking ahead, Fujifilm is expanding the product lineup.”

So, it’s the high-end X-series that saves the digital camera business… now I wonder if the Selfie-Fujifilm X-A2 will be able to make also the entry-level segment profitable or not… i doubt, but the next reports will tell us if was well invested R&D or just another entry-level flop.

Check out the latest Fujfilm reports here.

And c’mon Fuji… give us that X-T1 Hello Kitty edition ;-)

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Fujfilm report

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Fuji working on bigger sensor camera. Some XF lenses already designed to cover bigger sensor! (SRP)

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This is one of the most intriguing rumors that ever landed in my Inbox, and it comes from a source, who was right in the past (SRP).

However, as every rumor, you should take it with a grain of salt. Even the best sources can sometimes mix up things (especially with Fujifilm changing plans every few months ;) ).

That being said, it’s the first time ever we hear about a bigger sensor X-series camera from a source, that is not “new” or “anonymous”… and here is what it told us:

Fuji is working on a bigger sensor camera. The source would like to specify, that the release of this bigger sensor size camera is everything else but imminent (so don’t expect it to come anytime soon). We are just in the early stages of its development. But Fujifilm is already paving the way for its arrival, since, always according to this source, some of the recently announced/released Fujinon XF lenses are already designed to cover the bigger sensor.

End of the rumor.

Does it make sense? Well, the APS-C camera and lens lineup is almost complete. I think that this could be the right moment for Fujifilm to start to develop a new system, APS-H, Full Frame or Medium Format.

But I’d love to hear what you think about. For example, in the comments Lars wonders if “maybe that’s the reason why the latest lenses (e.g. 2/90 mm, 2,8/50-140mm, 2,8/16-55mm) are so huge?”

NOTE: In the image above I called this camera X-TF, but the name is just my pure invention… or my suggestion to Fujiiflm ;).

stay tuned on Fuji Rumors,
facebook, google+, RSS-feed and twitter

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Runner-up: Fuji second best lens and high end MILC at dpreview readers poll + X-A2 and portrait modes at fujiXsecrets

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DPR published the results of their Readers Poll. Fujifilm gains the second place in the High-End MILC ranking with the Fujfilm X-T1 (first is the Sony A7II). Second position also for the best lens rankning, with the 56mm f/1.2 (first place Sigma ART 50mmF1.4).

So, Fuji’s cameras AND lenses make it into the top positions… and this speaks for the system as a whole.

Check out the results at DPreview

NOTE: Rico takes a look at the different Fujilm X-A2 portrait modes on his German Workshop page fujixsecrets (google translated).

X-T1 body: BHphoto (save $100 + $70 of freebies + 4% reward) / AmazonUS (save $100) / Adorama (save $100 + $123 of freebies + 4% reward)
X-T1 + XF18-55: BHphoto (save $100 + + $70 of freebies + 4% reward) / AmazonUS (save $100) / Adorama (save $100 + $123 of freebies + 4% reward)

XF 56mm f/1.2: BHphoto (save $150) / AmazonUS (save $150) / Adorama (save $150 + 4% reward)

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