Fujifilm announced that they’re hosting a “Focus on Glass” online event on March 5th at 5 AM Pacific Time, 8 AM Eastern. They’re going to highlight and discuss various Fujinon lenses. I’m sure it will be interesting. Apparently, one aspect of this event will be engaging with the community. Fujifilm stated that they’re interested in receiving input from their users regarding future lenses, which I think is great. Not wanting to wait until March, I thought I’d share some ideas today. Maybe Fujifilm will take this into consideration.
I have a few ideas for both X and GFX, but I wanted to just discuss the X-series in this article. Since GFX is much newer and niche, it obviously has a lot more holes; however, it has a lot few customers—most X-series photographers don’t own a GFX camera. To keep this most relevant to the majority of you all, we’ll stick strictly to X-mount lenses today.
If you’re a regular reader, most of these suggestions will be familiar, because I’ve said them before. For one or two, this will be my first time mentioning it. My ideas might be much different than yours, so feel free to give your suggestions in the comments, should Fujifilm read this article and take the ideas into consideration. Also, let me know which of these you’d most want Fujifilm to make.
Fujinon 12mm f/2
Fujifilm has a few options for ultra-wide-angle lenses. There’s the 8mm f/3.5, which has surprisingly little distortion for how wide it is; however, it’s definitely questionable for things like astrophotography. Then there’s the 14mm f/2.8, which is not going to be quite ultra-wide enough for some, and also not quite bright enough. There are two zooms: 8-16mm f/2.8 and the 10-24mm f/4. What’s missing is a faster prime in the 10mm-12mm range, such as a 12mm f/2. There are some good third-party options (like the Rokinon 12mm f/2), but a Fujinon lens would be nice to have available.
Fujinon 15mm f/3.5 Pancake
One advantage of APS-C over full-frame is the compact size; however (and shockingly), there aren’t a lot of pancake lenses to pair with the small camera bodies. The Fujinon 27mm f/2.8, which is one of my favorites, has become legendary. The brand-new Fujinon 23mm f/2.8 is great, and a very welcomed addition. The Fujinon 18mm f/2 is one of the original X-series lenses, and is barely a pancake (more like a short stack or Japanese pancake). In my opinion, another pancake lens or two makes a whole lot of sense, and a 15mm f/3.5 would be an excellent option that I think many would appreciate.
Fujinon 18mm f/2 II
The Fujinon 18mm f/2 is one of the oldest lenses in the lineup, and it shows. It has good character, and there’s a reason people love it, but it’s in pretty desperate need of a refresh. I hope this is the next one to receive a Mark 2 version.
Fujinon 40mm f/3.5 Pancake
This is the other pancake lens that I’d love to see added to the lineup. Just a little telephoto, but not far from a “nifty-fifty” focal length. A maximum aperture of f/2.8 would be good if they can keep it no larger than the 18mm f/2, but otherwise I’d want a smaller lens with a smaller maximum aperture. I would buy this on day one if Fujifilm made it.
Fujinon 60mm f/2.4 Macro II
The Fujinon 60mm f/2.4 Macro is often overlooked because it is older, not the best performer among the X-series lineup, and lacks weather-sealing. If Fujifilm modernized it, I think it would do quite well. It’s got a lot of versatility, and can serve as a walk-around lens for those who prefer telephoto focal lengths. This is my second pick for a lens refresh.
Fujinon 70mm f/1.4
In-between the Fujinon 56mm f/1.2 and Fujinon 90mm f/2, there’s not a fast portrait lens. Both the Fujinon 60mm f/2.4 and Fujinon 80mm f/2.8 can serve as portrait lenses, but that’s not their primary purpose. For those who find the 56mm too short and the 90mm too long, a 70mm f/1.4 would be the Goldilocks option.
Fujinon 135mm f/2.8
There aren’t many long telephoto primes for the X-series. In my opinion, something in-between the Fujinon 90mm f/2 and the (very large and expensive) Fujinon 200mm f/2 is desperately missing. This lens should not be all that much larger or heavier than 90mm f/2, and the price needs to stay somewhat reasonable, preferably under $1,500. This would be another day-one buy for me.
I’m all in for a 70mm or 75mm to give Viltrox a run. Back in my film days I was happy with the Nikkor 105mm 2.5 AIS. A focal length that when you stick with it for the day, you soak it in and see like a 105. As said Fujifilm danced around this concept with before and after lengths, but I firmly believe that the 75mm for APS-C is necessary tool in the box.
70mm or 75mm would be good. 70mm obviously fits right in-between 60mm and 80mm, but nothing says that it has to.
Exactly what Don just wrote. And I’d be happy for it not to be too fast,. so as to keep it smallish and ‘travelable’. Say f/2.5 like that famous Nikkor or f/2 as you get more depth of field on APS-C. Also I’d love them to find a way to keep the character of the first generation lenses (esp. the original 35/1.4 look) as I worry that ever-increasing megapixel counts and razor-sharp lenses don’t actually give a nicer feel to images than the original couple of generations did.
I’d like it to be a “larger” maximum aperture only because there’s the 60mm f/2.4 and 80mm f/2.8 already in the neighborhood, so going larger than f/2 provides some extra distinction; however, if the primary distinction is size and weight, with a footprint maybe a bit closer to the 50mm f/2, than I could see that as a good philosophy.
Expect to be on a limb here.
Concur we have a big gap from 90 to 200 but do you really need F:2? Pick a filter size and work to it.
Across the board:-
Weatherproofing, absolutely.
Resolving chops and with Zeiss accuracy.
Barring accidents, lenses are an investment, bodies a mere distress purchase. Worth little in a few years.
Would love to see all metal plus full frame coverage throughout.
XT lenses can be adapted to all, probably, other mirrorless regimes. Celebrate this and build accordingly.
Once the computations are up to snuff, only revisions to the motors should need a re-work.
After the F:2.8/135, self levelling sensors would be my priority.
Rgds.
Fujifilm has apparently registered patents on a few lenses that cover full-frame. The new X-series 500mm lens has full-frame coverage (actually, GFX). I know some of their current lenses can cover APS-H, but most don’t; however, this might be something they’re looking at for future glass.