Photography News 04

Latest photography news

Fujifilm launches plenty,more to come Fujifilm has started the new year by adding to its line-up of Fujinon lenses for its X-series compact system cameras, while it also laid out its road map for upcoming lens releases in 2014 and early 2015, and launched a number of fixed-lens cameras. A newwide-aperture prime lens for the FujifilmX-series paves the way for more lenses

Wide-aperture Panasonic lens Panasonic’s new portrait lens for Micro Four Thirds has a maximum aperture of f/1.2 Panasonic has a new wide-aperture Leica-certified lens for the Micro Four Thirds system: the Leica DG Nocticron 42.5mm f/1.2. The focal length is equivalent to 85mm on a full-frame camera, and the aperture is made up of nine blades for smooth bokeh. The lens also features Power Optical Image Stabilisation to compensate for small, fast movements and large, slow At CES, Fujifilm revealed to the world its XF56mm f/1.2 lens, designed to deliver beautiful bokeh and high-quality portraits. Its focal length is equivalent to 85mm on a full-frame camera, but it’s half the size of an equivalent full-frame lens with such a wide aperture. It has a metal aperture ring for a premium feel, and the lens design includes two extra low-dispersion elements, one double-sided aspherical element and four elements with convex front surfaces, all included to reduce spherical and chromatic aberrations. It also features Fujifilm’s proprietary HT-EBC coating on all lens surfaces to reduce ghosting and flare. The inner focus mechanism is driven by a motor that’s designed and positioned to reduce sound and vibration, making for smooth, silent autofocusing with no movement of the lens barrel. The structure of the lens also prevents dust getting inside. The Fujinon XF56mm will be on sale from February 2014 at a price of £900. This new lens kicks off the next phase in Fujifilm’s lens road map, and the company revealed there will be five more launched in the coming year. Specified in the line-up are the XF18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 R OIS, the XF16-55mm f/2.8 R OIS and the XF50-140mm f/2.8 R OIS, while undefined high speed wide-angle and super telephoto zoom lenses are also in the pipeline. Also in the X-series, Fujifilm announced an all black version of its X100S premium compact, and there were more new cameras in the FinePix line- up. Most notable was the FinePix S1, the world’s first weather-resistant bridge camera with a 50x HD movie function and wireless communication. π To find out more, go to www.fujifilm.co.uk.

IMAGES Fujifilm had a busy start to 2014, launching several new cameras and lenses. Above the FinePix S1 bridge camera; top right the black X100S; and right, the XF56mm f/1.2.

movements so that subjects are kept in focus even with the extremely shallow depth-of-field the widest apertures create. Themetalbuildincludesanaperturering for direct control, while the inner focusing mechanism includes a stepping motor for smooth and silent lens movement that allows focusing as close as 50cm. The glass has Panasonic’s Nano Surface Coating to reduce reflections, ghosting and flare, while the 14 lens elements in 11 groups include two aspherical lenses, one extra low-dispersion lens and one ultra high refractive index lens, combining to reduce aberrations and maximise optical performance. The lens is available to pre-order now at a price of £1399.

π To find out more, go to www.panasonic.co.uk.

Photography News | Issue 4