An Asian Samyang retailer unveiled on Facebook the first picture and specs of the new Samyang 16mm f/2.0 lens. It will come for Fuji X mount too. They write: “The 16mm focus length with rectilinear imaging system ensure extra wide angle of view amounting to 83.1 degrees (for Nikon version and 79.5 for Canon). The big aperture opening of F2.0 ensure photographers able to use it for low light environment like night street shooting. The weight of the lens is just about 571g, as a result this lens will be a attractive carry on for architecture and landscape shooting.”
Maybe we might still get some third party manual of even autofocus lenses (maybe the X mount version of this lens here for example), but they’d come so late in the year that I prefer to include them in the 2025 list anyway.
The list includes only Fujifilm cameras and Fujinon or third party autofocus lenses (no manual focus), which are:
And while they all agree it is workable again, FujiRumors has shared also two videos of Edvard, which show in which areas there are still improvements to be done. Especially his findings about the X-T3 should be taken into consideration by Fujifilm. But I refer you to this article.
Now we have, for the first time, a direct side by side comparison between Fujifilm X-H2S with firmware 7.10 vs the Sony A6700.
It has been made by Sony and Fujifilm shooter photorabz using the Sigma 16mmF1.4 APS-C lens as as well as the Brightin Star 50mm F1.4 (he owns both versions, one of E mount and one for X mount).
He also tested the X-H2S with the Viltrox 75mmF1.2 outside for a shoot (stills and video) in real world conditions, where the autofocus performed much better than with firmware 7.00.
Sony A6700 vs Fujifilm X-H2S head to head:
the results are surprisingly good for Fujifilm. I really loved how the autofocus on the Fuji worked during this comparison. Sony cameras have one of the best autofocus systems out there, but now the Fujifilm is not bad all. This comparison test made me more confident to take the Fujifilm again for professional work.
Take this as one more of the many feedbacks we got in these days.
My position remains the same: it’s true that it is workable again and you can go back to work confidently again with Fujfilm gear, but it is also true that the work is not yet finished and there is room for further improvements, which is why in my previous coverage I highlighted in the headline as well as in the intro the findings that Edvard made, which I think are valuable feedback for Fujifilm.
I will include several videos, including the one of Edvard, who shares interesting findings about the X-T3 which potentially shows where the AF issues with Fujifilm started.
Summing Up All Videos – tl;dr version
everybody agrees that now autofocus is workable again, even Edvard
some got better results than others, I guess based on use case, testing scenario and settings
Adan in “video 7” for example is very impressed and applauds Fujifilm for the improvement and says he is confident to use it now for his professional video work
others aknowledge the improvement, say it is something you can rely on for work, but highlight it is not yet at the level of top tier AF of other brands
Edvard is the most critical and I will share his findings below (with some interesting findings)
UPDATE: Edvard published a second video, which I share below with his main findings
there is still room for improvement (and looking at Edvard’s video some of the improvements could be achieved by using parts of the algorithm used on X-T3 firmware 3.00/3.30)
and finally… Thierry in Video 1 has simply one of the most beautiful settings and light to record a video (I know it’s unreleated, but I appreciate it when photographers try to give us also a great scenery ;))
My take:
Having a usable and workable autofocus is nice. This takes away stress for those, who rely on autofocus for work.
And that it is workable has been now confirmed by the very same people, who made very harsh videos against Fujfilm in the last few months. So there is no bias there.
My fear:
Most reviewers seem to be overall pleased and happy. But the error the Fujifilm engineers could do now, is to consider the autofocus chapter closed. There is still work to do, and maybe some feedback they get today from these videos can help them to improve further.
Read for it?
Below I will share a couple of videos. I could ignore the postiive feedback, but I think it has just as much reason to exist as negative feedback.
What FujiRumors can do is just to share it all to give you the most comprehensive overview possible.
My personal experience?
Well, none. Because I am still waiting for my X-T5 to get the update, but my X-T5 has so far shot 0 seconds of video in its entire life so I would not be able to compare it to how it was before.
What the April firmware broke, though, was the stills side of it. It did fail on me when shooting still standing people. But the June firmware fixed that, so now I have no issue in taking family pictures.
But don’t ask me for video… my X-T5 does not even know it has this option.
Fujifilm Launches “FUJINON Lens XF16-55mmF2.8 R LM WR II” – The new large-aperture standard zoom lens offers improved descriptive performance – 37% lighter than its predecessor – New function “Smooth aperture control” suited for movie recording
TOKYO, October 14, 2024 – FUJIFILM Corporation announces the launch of the “FUJINON Lens XF16-55mmF2.8 R LM WR II” (XF16-55mmF2.8 R LM WR II) globally from end of November 2024. The lens is a new lineup of the “XF lens” interchangeable lens lineup for the mirrorless digital camera X Series that offers outstanding image quality and compact size and weight.
A message to the source: Thanks a lot. You have been instantly elevated to the elite team of trusted sources. If you want, you can contact me again anonymously and give yourself a nickname, so I can eventually recognize you in future if you decide to contact me again. Thanks so much!
And until a few weeks ago, the lens was also always listed at the official Fujifilm X mount Sigma lens page here.
Well, as spotted by a fellow FR-reader (thanks), the Sigma 100-400mmF5-6.3 has now been removed from the Sigma X mount lens selection page.
There is still the dedicated product page up here, but as you can see from the screenshot above, the lens is out of stock for all mounts, except for L-mount, which is in low stock.
The question now is if Sigma is phasing out the Sigma 100-400mmF5-6.3 and if they plan to release a replacement in the near future.
I have no answer to any of these questions, but if there is anyone out there who has it, feel free to contact me.
Anyway, if you are interested in the Sigma 100-400mmF5-6.3, it is currently available with a $100 discount at BHphoto and if the removal from the Sigma website means anything, then this might well be the last units you’ll find new on the market.
It would be a pity if this lens would have been discontinued, since it is a great low budget alternative to the Fujinon XF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6.
And yes, I know we usually say “the more, the merrier”, and I agree with that.
But this focal length is already well covered and maybe it would be a good move by third party manufacturer to offer something different and not yet covered by other brands.
And maybe even more importantly: why not offer G mount autofocus lenses?
I guess it is a bit normal that we are drawn to the latest and greatest, the newest and most shiny stuff.
But truth is: there is PLENTY of wonderful gear out there that has its age, but still delivers wonderfully.
And look guys, I know what I talk about, because I did just photograph a family day trip on the mountains with my X-E3 today ;).
So I thought about making a roundup of a different kind: include all the latest and greatest stuff (the 5th generation cameras and the newest lenses), but also the older gear we hardly ever talk about now (4th gen. cameras or older and older lenses).
I hope there will be something among it that you’ll appreciate as much as I did.
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