Fujifilm doesn’t have a big booth presence at CES 2015, as it did in years past, but the company announced a new lens that it says it geared toward photojournalists (that’s not to say anybody else couldn’t use it). The XF16-55mm F2.8 R LM WR lens has a classic zoom range (24-84mm, 35mm equivalent) with a constant f/2.8 throughout the focal range. Available in February 2015, it will retail for $1,200.
The lens’ big selling point is the 14 seal points that make it weather resistant and dust proof. Fujifilm describes the lens as a “perfect companion for photojournalists who do not want to compromise when weather conditions are the most challenging.”
The lens is versatile, and can be used to shoot wide-angle landscapes and portraits. It works with any X-mount camera (mainly those from Fujifilm), but it’s made especially for Fujifilm’s X-T1. Thanks to a lightweight Internal Focusing System and a Twin Linear Motor, the lens offers high-speed, quiet autofocusing at 0.06 seconds. At $1,200, it’s a high price, considering it’s lacking an optical image stabilization feature.
Even though Fujifilm only announced one product, we think the company is holding out for the CP+ camera show in Japan, which takes place in February 2015.
The list of features include (per Fujifilm):
- Fujifilm X-Mount is compatible with all Fujifilm interchangeable system cameras
- Weather-resistant design with 14 sealing points
- 0.06 seconds autofocus speed and nearly silent operation
- Uses 17 elements in 12 groups, including three aspherical lens elements to control spherical aberration and distortion, and three ED glass lens elements to reduce lateral and axial chromatic aberration
- Nano-GI coating alters the refractive index between glass and air to reduce ghosting and flare
- 9 blade aperture creates smooth and circular bokeh
- 1/3 EV steps
- Minimum working distance of less than 12 inches
