We already saw the first images of the XF8-16, GF250 and XF200 here, but now we can enjoy the XF 8-16 mounted on the Fujifilm X-T2 and the GF 250mm next to the Fujifilm GFX.
According to a new source, the Fujinon XF 8-16mm F2.8 WR will be available mid 2018. Take it with a grain of salt for now. We have already shared the first images of the XF 8-16, XF 200mmF2 and GF 250mmF4 in this Fujirumors article.
And which one should be the next X mount zoom lens after the XF 8-16mm F2.8 WR?
In our gigantic X mount lens poll request to Fujifilm, where over 14,000 of you guys voted, dropping a total of 34,431 preferences, a lens like an XF 16-80mm F4 became the most wanted zoom lens after the XF 8-16mm F2.8.
So, dear Fujifilm, the FujiRumors community worked very hard to collect for you free market investigation data, and we decided for something like a Fujinon XF 16-80… thank you very much for listening :) .
I’m getting a lot of images about the upcoming Fujinon XF 8-16mmF2.8 and XF 200mmF2, which I’m happy to share with all of you guys.
UPDATE: Fujikina Report at the Japanese site dc.watch (translation), also with hands on images on the latest Fuji gear, for example the GF250/4 here. (thanks Mistral)
And don’t forget… the big FujiRumors live blogging will continue NON STOP the whole day and bring you all the latest updates, reviews, hands on images and videos.
The Fujifilm XF10-24 is one lens I always lusted after. I also almost bought it, but at the end went for the smaller and much cheaper Samyang 12mmF2.
Regarding the XF10-24, I remember how it was launched just a two months before Fuji’s first weather sealed camera, the Fujifilm X-T1. At that time, here on FujiRumors I already told you that a the WR X-T1 would come in January 2014. So, when Fujifilm decided to launch the XF10-24 in November, we all hoped it would be weather sealed… but it wasn’t.
Now, I know that there are tons of X-shooters out there enjoying this lens day after day. But if you are like Jim, and bring it out into some really tough conditions, then you might be interested to read to rest of the story :)
Why That Fujinon XF 8-16mm WR Can’t Come Soon Enough
Now, Jim is completely in love with the X-system. He loves the image quality, the form factor, the size, the usability, the dials… just everything. He says it “fits my style of photography”
But he also says that “photography is adventure” and that it is “completely unaccetable” that the only wide angle zoom lens in the Fuji system is not weather sealed.
In fact, after a while shooting in the very wet and humid waterfall envoriment, he couldn’t take pictures anymore, because “the lens gets wet and causes a lens communication error“. He says this is not the first time it happens to him. That’s why he owns two of these lenses and changes them, when one stops working. And once at home, he has to dry the lenses.
Jim apparently reads FujiRumors, since he knows about the XF 8-16mm F2.8 WR lens, which will come in early 2018 (I’ve shared the first rumor back in May 2016 (!) here). But he said he’s not sure he can wait that long for the XF 8-16. Hence, despite him loving Fujifilm’s image quality and usability, he is considering to switch to another brand.
At our immense future APS-C lens poll, with over 11,000+ voters, the XF 8-16mm F2.8 WR is the most wanted out of the 30 lenses in the voting-list.
Just a curiosity, on the way back, he uses a Beta version of an App, called “The Really Good Photo Spots“, which I think he’s developing right now. Based on your location, it shows you the best spots to photograph in your area.
Of course, Jim is using the XF 10-24 in an enviroment it is not planned to be used (rainy/wet conditions). But if he wants to get the shot he wants with a Fuji camera, then he currently has no other choice than to go with the XF10-24. The next widest weather sealed lens in the Fuji line-up is the XF 16mmF1.4…. and evidently not wide enough for certain landscape photography.
So, Jim might do well to switch, because Fujifilm currently does not offer the lens he needs the most… unless he is willing to dry his two XF 10-24 for a few more months, until the XF 8-16 will be out.
Or, maybe, just use a plastic bag around your lens in the meantime ;)
And What About You?
So what about you? Do you own the Fujinon XF 10-24mm F4 OIS? Did you have the same experience as Jim? Are you also waiting for the weather sealed XF 8-16mm F2.8 WR or are you just fine with the Fujinon XF 10-24?
Feel free to drop you thoughts and considerations in the comments :)
All we know, is that Fujifilm delayed the release of the XF8-16mm, because they prioritized smaller WR lenses, such as the XF35mmF2, XF23mmF2 and the XF50mmF2… and of course Fujifilm invested a lot of time also in the medium format G-mount system.
But here is an update for you today.
I hear from a source, right in the past, that once Fujifilm completed the current roadmap with the release of the XF80mmF2.8 1:1 Macro later this year, the next X-mount lens to be released will be the Fujinon XF 8-16mm F2.8. But… please take long term rumors always with …. you know what ;)
Stay tuned on FujiRumors…. because apparently rumors never take a rest ;)
Back in October 2015 here, a source told us about an internal Fuji roadmap showing the XF200mm, XF33mmF1.0 and also an 8mm lens. Moreover, the same source told us that a firmware update will make the video button on the X-T1 customizable.
What remains so far is the XF8mm… no one ever confirmed it, but the source mentioned above has proven to be pretty reliable.
Well, today I got word from a source, who was right in the past: Fuji will develop a XF8-16mmF2.8! When will it come? I don’t know, but I guess it will take still quite a bit.
This could mean that:
A) the 8mm rumor was wrong
B) the 8mm was right at the time of sharing, but Fuji changed (as so often) plans.
C) Fuji will launch both, the 8mm and 8-16mm
I do not believe that Fuji will launch both, 8mm + 8-16mm. However, until I can’t 100% categorically exclude that Fujifilm has no plans to develop the 8mm lens, I’ll let it there in the rumored roadmap.
Also, considering there is also the quite amazing (and affordable) [shoplink 45870 ebay]Samyang 8mm X-mount fisheye lens[/shoplink], I think it’s a better move for Fujifilm to put its resources in the XF8-16mmF2.8 WR.
Imaging achievements. The sales of instant photo systems and digital cameras were strong, with revenue up 19.5% YoY to JPY219.2 billion and operating income up 85.5% to JPY49.4 billion.
But despite that, the growth was not as strong as Fujifilm hoped for.
Hence, in a Q&A session discussing the financial results, the Fujifilm CEO (Mr. Goto) and the Vice President (Mr. Higuchi) were asked about the reasons for that.
Shibano [Q]: I would like to ask President Goto about Imaging. Since President Goto took office, I believe you have often expressed your strong belief in the potentials of Imaging. In fact, the strong performance of H1 of the fiscal year indicates this, but the operating income for H1 was JPY49.4 billion, and even though Q4 is usually weak, there is Q3, so H2 of the fiscal year, which includes the sales season, is expected to see a 387% decrease, or even a 17% decrease YoY, which is a little questionable. I would like to ask again if there is any specific reason for such a decline, worse than the previous year, in H2. This is the point what I would like to reconfirm.
Higuchi [A]: Regarding H2 of last year, we closed our U.S. plant in H2 of last year, and there was a one-time profit. One reason is that we don’t have it in this term. Another is that we have increased development costs for new products in H2 in order to continue to introduce new products without interruption, and we have also increased marketing expenses and marketing investment.
Goto [A]: I will continue with my answer. Now, we are looking at Black Friday toward December, the biggest sales season in the U.S. at the end of November, and the purchasing situation, or rather the movement, is on par with the previous year, but the voice from the person in charge is that inflation in the U.S. is high. We have heard that it is not clear whether it will be as good as the previous year. However, in fact, given the tight demand for INSTAX film and the fact that cameras are selling well if they are made, I believe that there is room for a bounce upward, although we are taking a firm stance now. Is that all right?
Good thing first: one reason why the profit was not as strong as hoped, was that Fujifilm has allocated lots of resources to increase development and marketing expenses in order to assure “to continue to introduce new products without interruption“.
Of course the managers talk about R&D money for Instax as well as digital cameras. But it’s great to hear that overall they keep investing more money to push development.
Also worth to note is the comment of Fujifilm CEO Mr. Goto, who says that “cameras are selling well if they are made“. And this is probably Fujifilm’s biggest issue so far, with lots of cameras out of stock and in many cases even a complete suspension of camera sales in certain countries until who knows when.
The CEO says the hope is to “bounce back” thanks to Black Friday sales, although inflation is still high and it is not sure if the holiday season will run as good as last year.
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I’m very impressed by the mechanics and reliable design of electronics in this Voigtlander 23mm F1.2 Nokton lens. The precise way focusing distance information is collected is one of huge benefits of true manual focusing Voigtlander lens comparing to focus-by-wire most Fujinon lens. All parts are made from metal and precisely machined up to highest Cosina quality standards similar to Leica M mount lenses.
You can read the full article and see all the images at Yukosteel here.