Sigma CEO: “Fujifilm Customers Would be Our Ideal Customer, but Fujifilm Does Not Disclose Their Protocols”

Sigma Fujifilm

Just a few weeks ago we reported how the Sigma CEO said that, he would really like to make Fujifilm X mount lenses, but resources are limited and other projects have priority.

And today, in an interview with DPReview, when asked if Sigma is planing to make Fujifilm X mount lenses, Sigma CEO Kazuto Yamaki answered:

I have [had] many questions about it. I know that some [Fujifilm] customers are wishing for us to make lenses for them. It’s always a matter of priority. We know there are many good customers of the Fuji system and they’re perfectly matched with our ideal customer but [Fujifilm doesn’t] really disclose the protocol between the lens and camera, so we need to do the reverse engineering by ourselves.

It’s a really time-consuming process so we need to prioritize support for Sony E mount, our L-mount system, existing DSLR mounts and Micro Four Thirds.”

DPReview then adds:

According to Mr Yamaki, the cost of the R&D required is easy to justify for major mounts, where sales are guaranteed. The flip-side, of course, is that for systems with a relatively small market share, and / or a large range of attractive native options already in existence – like Fujifilm X – it’s a trickier proposition.”

Just recently, Fujifilm top manager Toshihisa Iida said here that Fujifilm does not believe they need to share their X mount protocols with third-party manufactures, since Fujifilm offers already lots of glass.

On the other hand, when asked about third parties reverse engineering their lenses, Toshihisa Iida said “I guess that’s good for customers“, which to me sounds like they won’t sue Viltrox for making the Viltrox 85mm f/1.8.

Yes, dear Fujifilm, customers like indeed more lenses!

So please, share those protocols and help even more people to join the X family, by widen your lens offer and open for third parties. Because, as they say, we buy cameras, but we marry lenses. And the more sexy lenses a system has, the more people will buy into and stick with it.

  • read here: SIGMA Will Make FUJIFILM X Mount lenses if X series Camera Sales Increase by 20%
  • read here: SIGMA Needs Bigger Fujifilm Market Share, TOKINA Designed X Glass Already but Stopped by Royalties, TAMRON is Vague

Not sure if it mitigates the pain, but you can for example use the Fringer Smart AF adapter, which supports the Sigma 50/1.4 ART, Sigma 85/1.4 ART, Sigma 17-50/2.8 OS, Sigma 50-100/1.8 ART, Sigma 24/1.4 ART, Sigma 135/1.8 ART, Sigma 100-400 and many more.

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New Fringer EF/FX Smart Autofocus Adapters Firmware 2.80 Released – VIDEO DEMO

Fringer just released firmware version 2.80 for their Fringer EF/FX smart adapters.

version 2.80

  1. Fixed: Some of EF400/5.6L lenses can’t be recognized by the adapterand lose PDAF capability
  2. Re-optimized following lenses to improve theirPDAFaccuracy
    1) EF40/2.8STM
    2) EF17-40/4L
    3) EF50/1.2L
    4) EF85/1.2L II
  3. Introduced smooth video AF for the following lenses. More lenses may be added to thislist in the future
    1) EF 50/1.8STM
    2) EF 40/2.8STM
    3) EFS 24/2.8STM
    4) EF 70-200/2.8L IS II
    5) SIGMA 50-100/1.8 Art
    6) SIGMA 70-200/2.8 OS Sports
    7) SIGMA 24-105/4 OS Art
    8) SIGMA 24-70/2.8 OS Art
    9) TAMRON SP 15-30/2.8 VC
  4. Added following lenses to the tested and optimized lens list:
    1) TAMRON SP 15-30/2.8 VC
    2) SIGMA 60-600/4.5-6.3 OS Sports
    3) SIGMA 70-200/2.8 OS Sports
    4) SIGMA 70-200/2.8 OS Sports + 1.4X
    5) SIGMA 70-200/2.8 OS Sports + 2X
    6) SIGMA 24-105/4 OS Art
    7) SIGMA 24-70/2.8 OS Art
    Be noted: It’s known that firmware v1.02for Sigma24-70/2.8Arthas compatible issues. If you encounter AF problems when using this lens, please upgrade it to latest firmware, i.e. v2.03at currenttime.

Click here to understand how to upgradedownload links here
Be noted: Before upgrading to V2.80, make sure current firmware version is V2.x. If it’s V1.x, please upgrade to V2.10 first.

Sigma CEO: “I Would Really Like to Make Fujifilm X Mount Lenses, but Resources are Limited and Other Projects have Priority”

Sigma CEO interviewed by lenstip
Sigma CEO interviewed by lenstip

Sigma Fujifilm

In a recent interview to lenstip, Sigma CEO Kazuto Yamaki said regarding making Fujifilm X mount Sigma lenses:

I really would want to but, you know, our resources are limited and it’s all a matter of priorities. I really wish we could make a lens for the X mount system but right now, just because our resources are limited, we don’t have such a plan. We have too many ongoing projects.”

Here on fujirumors we shared a rumor, that Sigma wants to see an increase in Fujifilm market share, before they start making lenses for Fujifilm.

  • read here: SIGMA Will Make FUJIFILM X Mount lenses if X series Camera Sales Increase by 20%
  • read here: SIGMA Needs Bigger Fujifilm Market Share, TOKINA Designed X Glass Already but Stopped by Royalties, TAMRON is Vague

It seems we can definitely put aside hopes for Sigma X mount glass.

Not sure if it mitigates the pain, but you can for example use the Fringer Smart AF adapter, which supports the Sigma 50/1.4 ART, Sigma 85/1.4 ART, Sigma 17-50/2.8 OS, Sigma 50-100/1.8 ART, Sigma 24/1.4 ART, Sigma 135/1.8 ART, Sigma 100-400 and many more.

There are other interesting things to read and I will highlight my best of down below.

Foveon full frame camera coming?

That is the basic plan but everything is possible. We might even use an APS-C sensor again.”

He sets his priorities:

We will work more on full frame mirrorless lenses […]; then probably there will be mirrorless cameras with APS-C and then, full frame DSLR

And how many engineers are involved in designing one lens?

A typical team consists of 1 optical designer engineer, maybe 3 or 4 mechanical engineers, 1 or 2 software engineers and maybe 1 or 2 electronic engineers so not more than 10 people. In the next stages more specialists become involved: prototype engineers, production system engineers so, in total, several dozens of people are engaged in a production of a new lens. If you add the die design, I think it’s close to 100 people for one product.

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New FIKAZ Adapters for Fujifilm X and Fringer/Viltrox Smart Adapter Reviews (Inlcuding Fujifilm X-T3 with Sigma Face Detection Test)

Adapters for Fujifilm

This roundup is dedicated to adapters. Mainly to Fringer and Viltrox Autofocus adapters for Fujifilm X, but also to the new FIKAZ bayonet adapters for Fujifilm X.

FIKAZ Bayonet Adapter for Fujifilm

FIKAZ launched new bayonet adapters for Fujifilm X.

  • M42-Fujifilm X
  • M39-Fujifilm X
  • Pentax K-Fujifilm X
  • Canon FD-Fujifilm X
  • Nikon F-Fujifilm X
  • Sony A / Minolta AF-Fujifilm X
  • Minolta MD-Fujifilm X
  • Leica M-Fujifilm X

You can read the whole news at the Polish site optyczne.

Smart Adapters Reviews

Advanced Photography – Fujifilm X-T3 + Sigma 18-35 1.8 face detection video test (Fringer EF-FX Pro)

Fusion X Photo – Fuji X-T3 with Canon 85mm AF test via Fringer Adapter

Patrick Ramdial – Fringer EF-XF Video Review with Fujifilm XT3 – EF to X Mount Adapter