X Summit PRIME 2021: Fujifilm Unveils XF 23mm and 33mm f/1.4 R LM WR
2022 will represent the tenth anniversary of the X-mount, and the company says it is looking forward, rather than back. It says the high resolution will be part of the next phase of development.
As part of this, Fujifilm has announced the XF 33mm F1.4 R WR LM, a lens it says has been developed with sharpness and purity of light (minimal aberration) as its primary focus. In addition, there will be an XF 23mm F1.4 R LM WR, which follows a similar design concept to the 33mm. It corrects aberrations optically, uses faster internal focus, adds weather resistance and a linear motor for focus.
The new XF 23mm f/1.4 R LM WR lens offers a focal length of 23mm, which is equivalent to 35mm on a full-frame camera, with a minimum focus distance of 19 centimeters from the front element and a maximum magnification of 0.2x. Fujifilm says the close-up capability enables a dynamic framing characteristic of wide-angle lenses, capturing the main subject in close-up while bringing a unique spread of background into the frame. Weighing 375 grams (13 ounces), the lens measures approximately three inches (77.8mm) long with a filter thread size of 58mm. Fujifilm equipped the lens with 11 weather-resistant seals helping make it resistant to dust, moisture, and temperatures as low as 14-degrees Fahrenheit (-10-degrees Celcius).
The XF23mm f/1.4 lens is constructed of 15 elements, including two aspherical elements and three extra-low dispersion (ED) elements, in 10 groups in an effort to minimize both chromatic and spherical aberration. A two-element lens group including an aspherical lens at the far end nearly eliminates fluctuation of aberration caused by the movements of focusing elements, which the company says will deliver edge-to-edge sharpness and high image quality across all focusing ranges and even when shot wide open.
Fujifilm says the focusing lens group is driven by a linear motor, which provides a fast, accurate, and nearly silent autofocus experience. The autofocus system uses an inner focus mechanism that keeps the range of movements for the focusing lens group small, while precisely controlling the amount of focusing required within the range, allowing for focusing as fast as 0.04 seconds when mounted on an X Series camera.
The company also says the lens maintains a highly accurate focus even in AF-C mode, minimizing changes in the angle of view caused by focus-breathing to approximately 0.011%, making it an ideal choice for video recording.
Here some sample pictures:
When converted to the crop-sensor size of the X Series cameras, the 33mm f/1.4 becomes equivalent to a 50mm “standard” lens. The XF33mm f/1.4 R LM WR is constructed of 15 elements in 10 groups, with two aspherical elements and three extra-low dispersion (ED) elements. Fujifilm says this design allows the lens to minimize chromatic and spherical aberration and deliver edge-to-edge sharpness even wide open. Additionally, the company says that the focusing group in the middle includes two ED elements and one aspherical element that together are designed to reduce the fluctuation of aberrations caused by the movements of focusing elements, which Fujifilm says results in superior image quality across all focusing ranges from close-up to very distant.
The autofocus system is driven with a linear motor which Fujifilm says results in a near-silent, fast, and accurate autofocus experience. The AF is achieved with the Inner Focus system, which keeps the range of movements for the focusing lens group small while precisely controlling the amount of focusing required within the range. The focus is attained in as fast as .04 seconds as well. In AF-C mode, the lens can maintain fast and accurate focus, especially in the case of video recording. The lens is optically designed to minimize focus breathing in this capacity as well, which Fujifilm says makes it a solid choice for both photo and video applications.
The new lens weighs about 13 ounces (360 grams) and measures 2.89 inches (73.5mm) long with a filter thread size of 58mm. It is weather-resistant at 11 locations against dust and moisture and can operate with weather-resistant X Series cameras as low as 14-degrees Fahrenheit (-10 degrees Celsius).
Here some sample pictures:
The Fujifilm XF 23mm f/1.4 R LM WR and XF 33mm f/1.4 R LM WR will be available in late November and late September, respectively, for $899.95 and $799.95.
More info on Fujifilm’s website.
