Laowa 9mm F2.8 Review by Jonas Rask: “This Lens is Pure fun, Fun, FUN!”

A busy day… shared earlier today on FujiRumors:

  • Click here: Kai Reviews Fujifilm X-H1: “In Stills, Focus Sticks on Subject Like Glue, Quite Phenomenal”
  • Click here: Fringer Smart Adapter Pro: Sigma 150-600 on Fujifilm X-T2 PDAF Autofocus Video Demo (Firmware 1.40)
  • Click here: LOL: Fujifilm Already Sells Fujifilm X-H2… Fixing Bugs with New Cameras Instead of Firmware Updates Like Sony? ;)
  • Click here: Hurry up! Save up to $50 on Fuji gear sold on eBay!
  • Click here: Steelsring Smart Adapter Firmware Update for Canon EF to Fujifilm X (ver. 1.07) and Canon EF to Fujifilm GFX (ver. 1.06)
  • Click here: Alien Skin Exposure X3 adds Fujifilm X-H1 Support and Fujifilm Film Simulations Profiles
  • Click here: Don’t Skimp on the Grip

Laowa 9mm F2.8 Review:

UPDATE: Venus Optics is now taking pre-orders on their latest lens, the Laowa 9mm F2.8 Zero-D (zero distortion). The first 100 people buying this lens will get a set of 49mm filters (ND 1000 + CPL +UV ) for free. First comes first, so order now to be high on waiting list. The lens is not yet available at BHphoto & Co.

Jonas Rask just published his Laowa 9mm F2.8 Review… and it comes with tons of stunning samples at jonasraskphotography.

Here some excerpts:

  • absolutely tiny and stelar build quality
  • rectilinear lens, nice straight lines right to the corners
  • It is really sharp in the 3/4 central part of the frame, but it loses a little bit of sharpness towards the edges, there’s also a fair bit of vignetting when shot at f/2.8
  • some gorgeous sun stars
  • vibrant colours and some great contrast
  • this lens is pure fun, fun, fun!
  • It’s such and amazing performer, especially when you take the small size into account.
  • suggest retail price of $499
  • Easily one of the most usable lenses I’ve ever mounted on my X-series system (And I have mounted A LOT over the years!)

Don’t forget to check out all the fantastic samples Jonas Rask took with this lens at jonasraskphotography.

The Laowa 9mm F2.8 will be soon available for pre-order at VenusOptics, AmazonUS, BHphoto and Adorama

There is also a review of the Sony E-mount version at thephoblographer and an Interview/Review about the Laowa 9mmF2.8 Lens with lens designer Dayong Li at fujilove.

TODAY ONLY:

This one runs today only: You save 15% on eBay.com when using the promo code “PSPRINGTIME” on checkout (max $50). This is valid also on all Fuji gear (Click here).

Capture One Adds Reala Ace Support

Capture One has announced that REALA ACE support has been added in Capture One 16.4.4 for the following Fujifilm cameras: GFX100II, GFX100SII, X100VI, X-H2, X-H2s, X-S20, X-T5, X-T50.

You can download the latest Capture One 16.4.4 here and view the release notes here.

Of course I have the perpetual license, so no Reala Ace for me.

At the end I’ll have to give up on the idea to stick with perpetual licenses. I will start to rent my editing software. But I am not sure it will still be Capture One.

New Firmware Updates Coming Soon (see X-T5 with Reala Ace) and New Surprise App Coming too

What you can see above is the lovely Fujifilm X-T5 with Reala Ace on its Film Simulation menu.

And if you are looking on your X-T5 if it has that too, then do not waste your time.

Mere mortals like you and me, will have to wait a few more days for the Reala Ace firmware to come to X Processor 5 Fujifilm cameras.

The firmware should also fix the annoying autofocus bug we reported about.

One last thing: there should soon be also a new “surprise” App coming.

I am approaching the last days of holiday in South Italy. Great timing Fujifilm to release Reala Ace right when I have to go back home. Couldn’t you have done it just a few days earlier?

Oh boy, I find myself moaning, when in truth I should just be happy I get lovely firmware updates for free from Fujifilm :).

Fujinon XF 8mm F2.8, XF 10mm F2.8 and XF 15mm F2.8 Patents Spotted

New Fujifilm patents surfaced on the web. They are for the following Fujinon lenses:

  • Fujinon XF 8mm f/2.8
  • Fujinon XF 10mm f/2.8
  • Fujinon XF 15mm f/2.8

Probably just variation of patents shared in the last 10+ years, such as:

The patents have been spotted by the Japanese website asobinet.

And remember, Fujifilm has also patented this foldable smartphone, so that one has to come soon, too :).

More seriously: Fujifilm recently said they have 10 lenses currently under study. Look up at those to see a more realistic list of lenses that might come at some point.

Fujifilm Patent Details

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

Cosina Voigtlander COLOR-SKOPAR 18mm F2.8 Aspherical Lens Announced – First Look and Samples

Cosina has just announced the Voigtlander COLOR-SKOPAR 18mm F2.8 Aspherical lens, which will be released in February exclusively for Fujifilm X mount. It comes with electronic contacts (but no AF). Full product page below.

Definitely in line in terms of looks and feel with the lovely Voigtländer ULTRON 27mm F2.

Usually the first to get new Voigtländer lenses for shipping is Voigtlander USA Distributor CameraQuest, which should list this lens for sale soon at their Amazon Storefront page.

There is already a first look with sample images available at fujifanboys here.

Full Product Page + Compatible Fujifilm Cameras

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

Viltrox NP-W235 Orders Available Now

The brand new Viltrox NP-W235 battery is now available for order at BHphoto here.

The Viltrox NP-W235 battery is also listed at Amazon here (two pack here), but you can’t place your order yet.

In 2023, the best selling accessory on FujiRumors was also a third party NP-W235, and it was this one of Smallrig.

Some NP-W235 options:

Voigtländer NOKTON 50mm f/1.2 Available for Pre-Order

The Cosina Voigtländer 50mm f/1.2 is now available for pre-order at BHphoto here.

The Fujifilm cameras that support the electronic contacts with this lens are:

  • X-H2S
  • X-H2
  • X-Pro3
  • X-T5
  • X-S20
  • X-S10
  • X-H1
  • X-T4
  • X-T3
  • X-T2*
    *When using the X-T2, the aperture value can be displayed in Fno by changing the aperture value display setting from TNo to FNo in the body settings.
  • X-T30
  • X-T30II
  • X-E4

Not Supported Cameras

  • X-T1
  • X-T20
  • X-T10
  • X-T200
  • X-T100
  • X-Pro2
  • X-Pro1
  • X-E3
  • X-E2
  • X-E1
  • X-M1
  • X-A7
  • X-A5
  • X-A3
  • X-A2
  • X-A1

List of Voigtländer lenses for Fujifilm:

Additional Details

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

Firmware Suggestions, Lens Wishes and More – FR-readers Wishlist Corner

I get many emails from FR-readers with wishes about all possible things regarding the Fujifilm system.

Today I decided to catch up with and share some of those wishes.

This time we don’t share camera related wishes, but only lens, firmware and more, as otherwise there would be simply just too much to cover and discuss at once. An additional wishlist roundup with even more wishes will follow later on.

Wishlist Roundup

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

New Firmware, Talking Velvia, New Camera Registrations, X100V Struggles, X-T5 Rise and More – Top June Articles and Videos

Here are the top 10 articles for June:

  1. New Firmware Updates for Fujifilm X-T5, X-H2, X-H2S, X-E4 and X-S10
  2. Welcome to the World of VELVIA Film Simulation
  3. Fujifilm FF230002 Registration Found – Expect X-Pro4, X-E5, X-S30, X-T6, X-T40, X-H3, X-H3S, X80, X100VI (X200) and GFX50R Successor Rumors to Magically Appear ;)
  4. Fujifilm X100V Orders Suspended at BHphoto, Blocked in Japan and What it Could Mean for the X100V Successor
  5. The Impressive Rise of the Fujifilm X-T5 (Despite X-H2 Competition) and Popularity of X Series Camera Lines – Poll Results
  6. It’s All About the Latest and Greatest (X-T5, X-H2, X-H2S, X-S20) – Roundup
  7. WANTED: New Fujifilm X Mount Roadmap Needed (and Why)!
  8. Fujifilm GFX100 Firmware 5.00 New Features Guide Leaked
  9. Viltrox 27mm f/1.2 PRO XF Lens “Coming Soon” – Teaser
  10. Fujifilm X-Pro4 Fantasies – Your Dreams Here!

And here are the June Youtube videos ranked by popularity. The 2nd and 4th video are from the Dolomites… they might be worth to watch just for the scenery ;).

Yongnuo YN 50mm f/1.8X DA DSM PRO Coming Soon

It’s months now that we report about the upcoming Yongnuo autofocus lenses for Fujifilm X mount. In case you missed the previous episodes, here is what will come:

  • Yongnuo 11mm f/1.8
  • Yongnuo 23mm f/1.4
  • Yongnuo 33mm f/1.4
  • Yongnuo 50mm f/1.8
  • Yongnuo 56mm f/1.4

We also have shared lots of images of these lenses:

And now the Japanese website Asobinet reports that the Yongnuo will be released soon and a preliminary “experience meeting” is about to be held in China.

They also shared an image that you can see above.

It will be based on the lens design of the current full frame Yongnuo YN50mm F1.8 DF DSM and the selling price will be of 1799 yuan (converted to $247).

Some of these new Yongnuo lenses are going to have some stiff competition:

Yongnuo 11mm f/1.8 vs…

Yongnuo 23mm f/1.4 vs…

Yongnuo 33mm f/1.4 vs…

Yongnuo 50mm f/1.8 vs…

Yongnuo 56mm f/1.4 vs…

Good luck Yongnuo!