With another X Summit comes another set of product announcements! Fujifilm has just announced updates to both its X and GFX Series lineups with the release of the X-T30 II and GFX50S II camera bodies, as well as the XF33mmF1.4 R LM WR, XF23mmF1.4 R LM WR and GF35-70mmF4.5-5.6 WR lenses. Let’s take a look at each of these new offerings, as well as the roadmap for the XF and GF lenses.
X-T30 II
With its release due for October 2021, the X-T30 II inherits the compact and lightweight camera body of the original X-T30, but delivers high-speed AF performance and image quality equivalent to Fujifilm’s flagship model, the X-T4. The X-T30 II features a high-resolution 1.62-million-dot LCD monitor on the rear panel, an upgrade from the previous model, to achieve evolution in both hardware and software.
In its compact body that weighs just 378g, the X-T30 II features devices that boast the highest performance in the history of the X Series, namely the 26.1MP X-Trans™ CMOS 4 sensor and the high-speed X-Processor 4 image processing engine, to achieve AF performance equivalent to the significantly evolved flagship model, X-T4. The fast and highly-accurate AF with the focusing speed as fast as 0.02 seconds is complemented with exceptional capability to track a moving subject, capturing a decisive photo opportunity in a wide variety of shooting situations. The new camera can also use phase-detection AF in near darkness conditions at -7.0EV*1 to accurately capture a subject in low light and indoors, and supports high-speed video recording at smooth and tonality-rich 4K/30P and full-HD/240P modes.
The X-T30 II comes with 18 Film Simulation modes, including “Classic Neg,” ideal for street photography, and “ETERNA Bleach Bypass,” which faithfully simulates the film processing technique of the same name. The expanded lineup allows users to choose the mode that suits each situation.
The algorithm for the popular “AUTO” mode has been updated. The camera automatically identifies the type of shooting scenes based on whether there are people in the frame and other data such as color information and light source distance, and applies the latest image processing technology to adjust settings to optimum options, making it easy to obtain beautiful pictures. Users no longer have to fiddle with detailed settings while the camera switches to clear and vivid settings for landscapes, provides beautiful skin tone while accentuating blue skies and nature in the background for portraiture, and controlling highlight and shadow clippings even in back-lit situations.
The X-T30 II will be available in October 2021 and will be available in black or silver, with a recommended retail price of $899USD for the body only.
GFX50S II
Releasing in late September 2021, the GFX50S II packs the 51.4MP large-format sensor to boast an incredible image-resolving power, capturing every detail in sharpness across the frame. Light is recorded to the pixel which is 1.7 times that of a full-frame sensor*2 to achieve a wide dynamic range and a high signal-to-noise ratio. The resulting image reproduces deep tonality and texture from shadows to highlights, and delivers image clarity with minimal noise even when taken in low light. One of the strengths of the large format sensor is its ability to produce a very shallow depth of field. It is complimented by GF lenses’ edge-to-edge sharpness to accentuate the main subject against a blurred background for added three-dimensional definition.
The camera is innovatively designed for added groundbreaking mobility so that users can explore its exceptional image quality in a broad range of shooting fields. It integrates the high-speed image processing engine “X-Processor 4” and the latest algorithm with an autofocus system with an enhanced refresh rate to seize a decisive shutter opportunity. Another powerful feature is its five-axis in-body image stabilization(IBIS) mechanism that provides up to 6.5 stops of anti-shake advantage*3, the highest in the history of the GFX Series, to compensate for camera shakes during hand-held shooting and minimize motion blur in low light or in outdoor settings where a tripod cannot be used.
Despite carrying an impressive array of key devices, the camera comes in a compact form factor, weighing approximately 900g. Enjoy exceptional image quality in great portability, afforded by its size equivalent to full-frame cameras. The GFX50S II brings the premium world of large-format image quality closer than ever before with its advanced AF, high-performance In-Body Image Stabilization (IBIS) and compact lightweight body, superior to conventional medium-format cameras in every sense.
The GFX50S II will be available in late September 2021 at a recommended retail price of $3999USD for the body only.
XF33mmF1.4 R LM WR
The XF33mmF1.4 is a highly versatile standard prime lens with the focal length equivalent to 50mm in the 35mm film format, making it an essential new-generation lens for all X Mount users. The X Mount format, since its original introduction in 2012, has undergone continuous development of new products and devices in pursuit for advanced image quality. This lens has been designed to support camera sensors of even greater resolution to be developed in the future, offering exceptional image sharpness and advanced image-resolving performance even when wide open. It also offers impressive mobility and is equipped with a silent, fast and highly accurate AF system driven by a linear motor, enabling tack-sharp focus in stills and smooth focusing in video recording. The ruggedized dust- and moisture-resistant design comes in X Mount’s signature portability, weighing approximately 360g and measuring 73.5mm in length and 58mm in filter thread. The XF33mmF1.4 is a new-generation large-aperture standard prime designed with superior image resolution, mobility and ruggedness to drive the evolution of the X Series for the next decade and beyond, setting a new benchmark for interchangeable X Mount lenses.
The XF33mmF1.4 R LM WR will be available in late September 2021 at a recommended retail price of $799USD.
XF23mmF1.4 R LM WR
The XF23mmF1.4 is a new-generation prime lens, designed with a view to support future camera sensors of even greater resolution and setting the new benchmark for XF lenses for the highest level of image resolution capability. With the highly-versatile wide focal length of 23mm (equivalent to 35mm in the 35mm film format), the lens boasts uncompromising optical performance to deliver incredible sharpness even when wide open at F1.4. It controls camera shake and digital noise in low light, giving users flexibility on when to shoot. Its shallow-depth of field renders the background out-of-focus for creamy bokeh, adding three-dimensional definitions to the main subject. The use of nine aperture blades ensures nearly round shape bokeh effect even around the maximum aperture.
Coupled with advanced close-up capability, the lens accommodates a broad range of shooting situations. The new XF23mmF1.4 features a fast and highly-accurate AF in compact, lightweight and ruggedized construction to take advantage of the fully overhauled optical performance in stills, video and all shooting situations. The use of a linear motor means the AF system is driven silently to attain focus highly accurately in as fast as 0.04 seconds, capturing a decisive photo opportunity in all conditions.*1 The lens is easy to handle despite being a large-aperture prime, weighing approximately 375g and measuring 77.8mm long with the filter thread size of 58mm. The added ruggedized design offering dust- and moisture-resistant construction and the capability to operate at temperatures as low as -10℃, affords X system’s signature mobility while delivering advanced optical performance expected of large-aperture lenses, in all shooting conditions. The XF23mmF1.4 rewrites the existing benchmark to drive the evolution of the X Series for the next decade and beyond.
The XF23mmF1.4 R LM WR will be available in November 2021 at a recommended retail price of $899USD.
GF35-70mmF4.5-5.6 WR
The GF35-70mm is a compact and lightweight zoom lens, weighing approximately just 390g, with outstanding image-resolving performance and focal length range covering from the most frequently-used 35mm in wide angle to the standard 70mm (equivalent to 28mm – 55mm in the 35mm film format). The highly portable form factor will broaden the scope of applications for GFX camera systems, equipped with a large format sensor.
The compact and lightweight focusing elements are driven with a stepping motor for silent, fast and highly-accurate AF performance, attaining focus on a subject smoothly to seize photo opportunities. The lens offers the minimum working distance of 35cm across its zoom range, enabling a close-up shot of a subject approximately 25cm from the front-most element of the lens. This gives the lens the ability to cater to a variety of situations at a preferred angle of view, from tabletop photography to snapshots, portraiture, and landscape photography.
The lens has a dust- and moisture-resistant construction and can operate at temperatures as low as -10℃, ruggedized enough for this versatility so that users can click away in all conditions, unaffected by rain. The GF35-70mm is a new-concept portable zoom for the GFX Series, combining excellent versatility with mobility and portability.
The GF35-70mmF4.5-5.6 WR will be available in late November 2021 at a recommended retail price of $999USD.
XF lens roadmap
Fujifilm has unveiled the latest development roadmap for interchangeable lenses for its mirrorless digital cameras. The company has been actively and continuously introducing new interchangeable lenses for use on the X Series of digital cameras to reinforce the lineup, thus offering comprehensive coverage in focal lengths from ultra-wide angle to ultra-telephoto.
The first lens to be added to the roadmap is the XF18-120mm zoom lens (equivalent to 27-183mm in the 35mm film format), designed to cater to the growing needs for video lenses. It is to become the first XF lens that provides a function facilitating one-person shooting of full-scale video, catering to the comprehensive needs of today’s camera users in both stills and videos.
Another zoom lens to be added to the roadmap is the XF150-600mm (equivalent to 229-914mm in the 35mm film format), an ultra-telephoto zoom that extends to the Series’ longest focal distance among zoom lenses. This would be a perfect choice in situations that require a long focal distance, such as wildlife photography and sports photography. Its compact and lightweight design, one of the benefits of the X Mount, makes the lens highly portable and easy to hand-hold to allow users to explore new territories in their photography.
The latest announcement lists a total of 40 interchangeable lenses for the X Series. Fujifilm will continue to enhance the lineup to address users’ diverse photography needs and broaden their enjoyment of photography.
GF lens roadmap
The first lens to be added to the latest development roadmap for its GF lenses is the large-aperture prime standard lens GF55mmF1.7 (equivalent to 44mm in the 35mm film format). The fast F1.7 lens can be combined with a shallow depth-of-field, produced by the large format sensor, to render the background out of focus for the maximum level of creamy bokeh. This lens joins the GF80mmF1.7 R WR to expand the lineup of F1.7 lenses.
The second lens to be added to the roadmap is the G Mount’s first ultra-wide-angle zoom lens GF20-35mm (equivalent to 16mm-28mm in the 35mm film format). When mounted on a large-format camera, the wide-angle zoom lens can capture every detail in the world of wide-angle to ultra-wide-angle with its incredible image-resolving power, inspiring new photographic creativity.
The third lens Fujifilm is currently developing is a tilt & shift lens to meet the expectations of professional photographers. It can tilt and shift the focal plane to correct image distortion to produce distortion-free pictures of architecture, for example, in ultra-high image quality only GF lenses can deliver. This is a highly anticipated lens for professional use in commercial photography and other applications.
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