FUJIFILM X-H2 GEAR FUJIFILM’S X LENS RANGE CONTINUES TO FLOURISH A wide choice of lenses is vital for any professional filmmaker, and the APS-C sensor size of the Fujifilm cameras makes them ideal for use with hundreds of PL mount cinema
in image-resolving performance – plus some beautiful rendering of out-of-focus backgrounds. This £999/$999 lens has 13 elements including two aspherical and one ED element in eight groups to reduce chromatic aberration and coma. It has a 67mm filter thread and is sealed at nine points. The 56mm focal length is equivalent to 85mm in the 35mm format – ideal for portraits. And its 11 rounded aperture blades give very smooth bokeh. Focus noise has been reduced thanks to a bearing mechanism that reduces friction when the autofocus motor is driving lens elements. The new focusing unit is three times the weight of that from the previous-generation 56mm f/1.2, so a new actuation system had to be built in order to keep up. Weighing just 445g/0.98lb and measuring 76mm/2.99in in length, the lens
lenses via a simple adapter. For purchase or rental, there’s a huge range, as well as Fujifilm’s own cinema lenses including the MKX cinema zooms. When the X Mount launched over a decade ago there weren’t many lenses available, but now the range is mature and there are Mark II versions of popular optics, not to mention options from various independent manufacturers. The latest next-generation Fujifilm lens is the new version of the XF56mm f/1.2 R WR short telephoto which we used on the X-H2. Compared to the original, it offers a reduction in minimum focusing distance but an increase
HOLY TRINITY With a brand-new 18-120mm power zoom, 56mm f/1.2 prime Mark II and 16-55mm f/2.8, you have a stunning set
THE FAST ALL-ROUNDER As a great general-purpose lens, we tried the popular £993/$1000 16- 55mm f/2.8 Nano-GI zoom. With its constant f/2.8 maximum aperture, it’s very fast and bright. Plus it has weather sealing and is nice and quiet to focus. Of course, it’s really an optic designed for stills – for which it is a great performer – but it’s not parfocal and suffers from focus breathing when used in video, as most stills lenses do. It’s still a fine all-rounder for multipurpose use, though, and perfectly sharp right across the frame. This is obviously significantly cheaper than an equivalent full- frame lens. But it’s an older design and so doesn’t include any built-in image stabilisation. Since the latest Fujifilm cameras such as the X-H2 and X-H2S now offer in-body image stabilisation, this lens can be used for handheld shooting without any obvious shakes.
GRAND JOB The 16-55mm f/2.8 zoom is a fantastic and fast ‘standard’ lens that’s a proven performer, even on the 8K X-H2
“When the X Mount launched over a decade ago there weren’t too many lenses, but now the range is mature”
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