XF16-55mmF2.8 II: Smaller, Lighter, and Yet Overall Better Image Quality than Its Predecessor

We already told you that the new XF16-55mmF2.8 will be about 30% smaller and lighter than its predecessor.

In fact, recent leaks suggest it might be 37% lighter. You can also see a size comparison with the old version here and the first leaked image here.

But unlike many feared, this size and weight reduction will not come at the expense of image quality.

On the contrary: I have been told that the image quality of the upcoming Fujinon XF16-55mmF2.8 MKII will be overall better to the one of the MK I version.

ATTENTION: what does “overall better” mean? Sharper? Better handling of backlight situations? Less flares? More beautiful sunstars? Less fringing? I don’t have the answer to this. Nor do I know how big (or small) the improvement will be, and which areas they will eventually affect. Just because the new XF16-55 will be overall “better” it does not mean it will be better in every single aspect.

Stay tuned on FujiRumors… we have more stuff to talk about ;). I mean lots more stuff.

Fujifilm Confident in New Autofocus – Says It’s “Nailed” Ahead of Early November Firmware Release – REPORT

Fellow Fujifilm shooter photorabz was at the Salon de la Photo photography fair in Paris.

There he had the chance to talk to Fujifilm reps about the upcoming firmware updates and this is what he was told (video below):

  • Fujifilm is working on the firmware since May
  • the firmware is for X-H2S, X-H2, GFX100 II, X-S20, X100Vi, X-T5 and maybe also the X-T4
  • Fujifilm told him that this time they nailed it very well
  • Fujifilm is very happy with this new firmware and they are very optimistic
  • the firmware will be announced on October 14, but it will be released, he thinks, in early November

As usual, I believe it only when I see it.

And actually, we might already see the newest AF algorithm in action with the X-M5 on October 14.

US Dollar Price for Fujinon XF16-55mmF2.8 II and XF500mmF5.6

We leaked the price for the Fujinon XF16-55mmF2.8 II and the Fujinon XF500mmF5.6 in £ and € already in this article.

Well, I have received information about the price in US Dollar, which is not yet multiple checked but I share it anyway, because the announcement is close and I don’t know if I’ll be able to get it multiple confirmed. So take it with a grain of salt for now.

But the price I hear is the following:

If accurate, then the price of the new Fujinon XF16-55mmF2.8 II in USA will remain identical to the one of its predeccessor. That’s not the case in Europe, where we will get a €/£ 50 price jump.

As far as the XF500mmF5.6, it should cost $500 less than it’s sibiling, the Fujinon GF500mmF5.6. That’s more or less in line with the pricing in Europe, where we have about the same price gap between the two lenses.

I have no information about the Fujifilm X-M5 price, but I’d say it’s likely to cost around $799, considering it costs €899 in Europe. But that’s just an educated guess, not a rumor.

Reframing the Debate: Fujifilm Film Simulations as a RAW Photographer’s Ally

Stop Hating Film Simulations

When we posted the rumor about the Fujifilm X-M5 having the film simulation dial, there were again some who just snubbing the concept of using Fujifilm Film Simulation overall. For example here:

I’m the Maestro I shot RAW files and make art from them.

I get the point. Shooting RAW opens up lots of creative possibilities in post processing.

But here is the thing: Fujifilm Film Simulation are not necessarily intended to stop you from using RAW files, but they can be a helpful (and extremely time saving) starting point when editing your RAW files.

Here is a real life example from my own shooting experience.

When I shot my best friend’s wedding, I captured everything in RAW (+JPEG). Out of countless photos, I chose 129 to edit. My first step was setting the right vibe by adjusting the colors. Some images called for a vintage look (Classic Chrome), others needed vibrant colors with good skin tones (Astia), some looked best in black and white (Acros), and for tricky indoor lighting, ProNeg Standard or High worked perfectly.

Choosing the right Film Simulation in Capture One was quick and easy – just a few seconds per image – and then I could move on to other edits like cropping and sharpening. This made the color correction process fast and efficient, even with RAW files.

So, it’s a misconception that Film Simulations are only for JPEG shooters. They can speed up RAW editing significantly.

At the end of the day film simulations are just a tool that can be super helpful also for RAW shooters, if they want to save time editing. And of course they are a true blessing for JPEG shooters, as you get the best colors of any digital camera with just a click of a button… or a turn on the dial, if you use the X-T50 or the upcoming X-M5.

FR-Reader Wishlist Corner: The One Thing Where Leica Q3 Beats Fujifilm X100VI and More Firmware Wishes

FR-reader Wishlist Corner

Recently we published a bunch of gear/hardware related wishes we have received from the Fujifilm community.

Now it is time to share a bunch of firmware wishes.

by Oli

Here is a link to my blog post about my experiences with the X100Vi and the WCL as a “poor man’s Leica Q”.
I guess you might be able to read German: shashindo.de/fuqi/ (google translated).

There is actually ONE reason why the Leica Q3 is “better” than the Fujifilm X100VI: The handling of the metadata!

Leica writes the crop focal length and crop pixel size in the metadata!
It’s too bad that Fujifilm doesn’t also set the crop focal length in the metadata!
It would also be nice to find the name of the custom setting (aka film simulation) here in the EXIF data. Well, you can still have wishes…

Thought you might be interested ;-)
Or in case you do have access to Fuji Development department somehow, maybe you can drop this there… :-D

by Keith

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

Fujifilm X-E5 in 2025: The Perfect Dial is…? – VOTE

If you thought the film simulation dial of the Fujifilm X-T50 was a one-time experiment by Fujifilm, then forget about it.

Hate it or love it, it is here to stay and it will be used also on the upcoming Fujifilm X-M5.

Of course the question now is: will there be also other future Fujifilm cameras that will use that dial?

Well, we can safely assume that higher end cameras won’t use the film simulation dial. I simply can’t believe Fujifilm would put one on the Fujifilm X-Pro5 or Fujifilm X-T6 or Fujifilm X-H3 or Fujifilm X-H3S.

But as we can see on X-T50/X-M5, on mid-low end cameras Fujifilm might as well use that dial.

So now the question comes up: will maybe the Fujifilm X-E5 have a film simulation dial, too?

I do not have the answer to that question.

But what I can do until I find the answer, is to ask you which dial you’d like on the Fujifilm X-E5.

I guess the most realistic options are either a shutter speed dial or a film simulation dial.

I don’t believe that Fujifilm would put the very complicated to manufacture and assemble combined ISO/Shutter dial on the X-E5. I mean, I’d be happy to pay the extra price for that dial, since it is my favorite dial offered by Fujifilm. But it would make the camera more expensive and slower to manufacture, which are dealbreakers for Fujifilm, especially considering how disastrous the shipping of the X-E4 was.

Fujifilm must make sure the errors of the X-E4 are not repeated. The X-E5 must be produced in sufficient numbers. And that dial is just too cumbersome to make.

And yet, out of curiosity, I will give you also that dial option to vote on. Just to see if I am the only one who’s in love with that dial or if there are also others who’d pay a bit more for an X-E5 just to get that dial.

I want a Fujifilm X-E5 with...

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