The superb Fuji 56mm f/1.2 and Black X100s announced (preorders in US).

Fuji annnounced the new 56mm f/1.2 lens which gets priced at $999 and is available for preorder at Amazon US (Click here to grab it) and at BHphoto (Click here).

They also announced the Black X100s (preorder here) and a lot of compact cameras (full list here at Amazon).

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Press release

The XF56mmF1.2 R is less than half the size of an equivalent lens on a full-frame camera ** and offers fast, quiet autofocusing that ensures stress-free shooting for both the photographer and the model. It also delivers incredible resolving power for high quality results that are enhanced by the unique skin tone reproduction technology found in Fujifilm’s X-mount cameras. Using the XF56mm and selecting one of two PRO Negative modes from the Film Simulation menu on the camera body will ensure users can capture beautiful portraits with rich tonal gradations reminiscent of images from film cameras.

Like all other lenses in the XF line up, the XF56mmF1.2 R is designed with an impressive attention to detail. It has a design that sits comfortably in the hand and exterior features including a metal aperture ring for a premium quality feel.

Advanced optical design for professional portraits

The lens’ new optical design featuring 11 elements in 8 groups delivers impressive results. The design includes two ED (extra low-dispersion) elements and one double-sided aspherical element, plus four elements with a convex surface facing the subject, which combine to reduce spherical and chromatic aberrations. They also ensure the best possible image resolution, even when the lens is at its widest aperture of F1.2.

Image quality is further enhanced by Fujifilm’s proprietary HT-EBC coating that’s used on all lens surfaces to reduce ghosting and flare, while the seven-blade rounded diaphragm produces the creamy smooth bokeh effect that’s become synonymous with XF series lenses.
Attach the XF56mmF1.2 R lens to a body that supports the Lens Modulation Optimizer*** and picture quality leaps even higher thanks to the automatic correction of diffraction when shooting at smaller apertures.

Fast autofocus, silent operation

The XF56mmF1.2 R combines an inner focus mechanism*4 and a DC coreless motor for rapid autofocusing speeds, which are boosted further when used with a X-series camera body that supports phase detection AF. The structure and positioning of the focusing unit reduces sound and vibration for silent operation and with no lens barrel movement during focusing, the structure effectively prevents dust particles from getting into the lens and degrading picture quality.

Premium build quality

In keeping with the XF lens legacy, the 56mmF1.2 R features a durable, metal construction — including the aperture and focusing rings — to ensure a high quality feel. The aperture ring is designed to ensure it’s easy to detect ‘clicks’ between f-stops, while the focusing ring is both comfortable in use and has the perfect amount of torque so it’s simple to focus precisely.

* 35mm format equivalent
** According to Fujifilm data
*** Fujifilm X-E2 as of January 2014
*4 A mechanism that moves small elements in the middle or at the rear of the lens, while keeping the large, front elements stationery

Next Fuji leak: Black Fuji X100s image!

On Monday morning (January 6 at 5-6 am London time) Fuji will announce the spectacular new 56mm f/1.2 lens and the Black Fuji X100s. The image of the camera just got leaked via Digicameinfo. Fuji will also announce some other stuff:

– S1 FinePix: 50 times zoom, F2.8-5.6
– FinePix S8600: 36 times zoom
– S9200 FinePix: 50 times zoom, F2.9-6.5
– FinePix S9400W: 50 times zoom, F2.9-6.5, Wi-Fi
– XP70 FinePix: 10m waterproof, Wi-Fi

See you on Monday to follow live the announcement!!!!

UPDATE: New Fuji X-W1 gets leaked by Fuji Photographer (and he says it’s fake)

What a surprise! Photographer Dominik Fusina first posted the full clear picture of the new Fuji X-W1 on facebook and today admitted he created a FAKE :( The full size pic can be seen here: https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=741542789208619&set=a.508861135810120.130927.412285615467673&type=1&theater

UPDATE: More pictures have been posted on his website: http://photo.fusina.net/news-Exclu__des_images_du_futur_FUJI_serie_X_-77.html

Don’t know what to think about the design. Looks quite non proportional to me and it somewhat reminds me of the new Nikon DF.

 

Fuji 56mm f/1.2 and Black X100s to be announced on Monday. Fuji also says X-PRO 2 is not ready yet.

Let’s start with the biggest news: In an Interview with Fuji managers released by DC.watch Fuji claims that the X-PRO-2 will not come any time soon. Their goal is to wait until they can deliver a “major breakthrough” on the camera development front. This is just my guess but I think they are working on a Full Frame X-Pro 2.

They also said that they want to offer a total of 20 XF lenses as soon as possible (this means 8 more lenses to come this year).

And now to the real new stuff coming soon: The XF 56mm f/1.2 and the Black X100s will be announced on Monday (January 6th).

via Fujirumors.

Still one more Samsung camera to come: The NXF1 gets approved at Indonesian agency!

Samsung isn’t done with their mirrorless camera announcement. We can expect a new NXF1 camera to be announced within the next couple of weeks too! The camera just got approved for commercial use by the Indonesian agency Postel.

Still, I don’t think that “F” inside the name stays for “Full Frame” or so. It will be a sort of NX3000 successor. That’s just my guess…

Samsung announces the new NX30 with baby monitor feature (no joke!) and two 16-50mm lenses (yes two!).

Scroll the images on top to see the cameras and lenses.

Samsung is the first manufacturer of the year announcing a new mirrorless camera with the NX30. And there are also two new 16-50mm lenses. One is a big and lens with an amazing f/2.0-2.8 aperture lens. The other one is a 16-50mm pancake with f/3.5-5.6 aperture and Power Zoom ED OIS.

The Samsung NX30:

It has exactly the same sensor and autofocusing ot the NX300. The real highlight is that new super moveable EVF which can be pulled and tilted. Quite cool!

And as a Killer feature you will get a baby monitor function too…and yes, this is not one of my bad jokes. It really has it!

Anyway, other improvements are minor and can be read at the bottom of this post inside the official press text. By the way, there is neither a pricing nor an availability info :(

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Fashion Photography With the Sony RX1. It’s One Little Beast of a Camera.

A little Background…
I am a 23 year old photographer who moved to Chicago from Nigeria 6 years ago. I started photography about 3 years ago. After playing around with a DSLR in Target, I was hooked. I shoot mostly fashion photography, and female models. I have shot full frame since late 2011 with the 5D mk2, then the D800 since November 2012.

Why the RX1?
I honestly just had some extra money 2 months ago, and wanted a new toy. It was either the camera or a new road bike. Boy am I glad I went with the RX1. I was lucky enough to get a used one in excellent condition for $1900 with a very nice leather case. 

First Impressions
It’s really small, but substantial. There is a solid heft to it, even though it’s not heavy by any means. The compactness makes me marvel at how far technology has come. Everything on the camera feels solidly built and very premium. 

Using the Camera
It’s such a joy to use. It gets out of your way, and just lets you shoot. The controls are very intuitive, and the feedback from the buttons are very good too. Before getting this camera, my preferred lens was the Nikon 50mm 1.4. I don’t like zooms, so a fixed lens that gave me more room to add the environment was perfect. It took me a little while to get used to the 35mm focal length, but now it just feels natural. I have only shot with the camera in available light. I tried using my generic Calumet flash triggers, but they didn’t fit completely into the hotshoe. The strobe syncing worked fine, but the contact was finicky, so it wouldn’t flash when it secured tightly. I prefer to shoot with available light when I shoot outdoors anyways, so strobing with the RX1 wasn’t a priority for me. That just takes the simplicity of using this camera out of the equation. The auto white balance on the RX1 is wonderful. It always metered much better than my D800 in every situation. 

One big advantage with shooting outside on location with the RX1 is how little attention you gather. It’s unbelievable. Cops just walked on by when I was shooting a model in a vest and panties in the middle of the street, in the middle of the day without saying a word. Contrary to my experiences with my D800, we would have been asked to present permits, and all sorts of documentation. People don’t crowd around to watch, because it just looks like I’m with my hot friends taking pics for Instagram.

The autofocus is good. It’s not going to win any awards for speed and accuracy, but it’s good enough to capture what I want quickly enough. Especially in sufficient light. It does struggle in low light, but I rarely ever shoot in low light, so that hasn’t been a problem. Speaking of low light performance, the RX1 is really good at high ISO’s. Better than my D800 from 3200 and up.

The dynamic range and sharpness from that 35mm f2 lens are just wonderful. I don’t even add sharpening in post, because the photos come out nice and sharp. With tons of shadow and highlight detail which makes post-processing a joy.


I didn’t get the EVF, because it adds bulk to the camera, is quite expensive, and makes it feel like a very formal/professional affair which goes against the philosophy behind the RX1 in my opinion. The LCD works just fine even in direct sunlight. I do not have a single complaint with it.


Battery life is quite bad, but the batteries are really cheap, and I have five of them with two chargers. I usually use 2 batteries for a full 2-3 hour fashion shoot. It’s also disconcerting to models who are used to using loud shutter clicks as cues to switch poses, but they get used to it after a while.

I shoot weddings occasionally, and I use the RX1 for all the pre-ceremony and reception shots where I have more time to be creative. 


My only gripe with using it is that I still haven’t had a bride, groom, or client freak out that I was shooting with this tiny camera. It’s a little disappointing because I expected to get that reaction every time I whipped out the RX1 instead of my big DSLR. My D800 now sits at home collecting dust, and it takes me a while to re-adjust when I have to shoot with it because it really is cumbersome working with DSLR cameras. They’re heavy, bulky, and I hate not being able to see what my photo will look like before I click the shutter. Optical viewfinders are so old-fashioned.


I LOVE my RX1. It has been a revelation shooting with this little beast of a camera. I can’t stress how easy it makes shooting become. It makes something as serious as a high-end fashion shoot feel like a leisure time activity. It makes it easier for me to interact with my models, because everyone is more relaxed and having a blast during the shoot, and it shows in the images. I can’t speak for others, but for my purposes it is the perfect camera for my uses. I recently went on a trip to LA, and I left my DSLR at home. I didn’t miss having it for one moment. That was when I realized that small mirrorless Full-frame cameras are the future. I’ve only done a handful of shoots with the RX1, but it will be my main camera for the foreseeable future. 


You can ask me any question you like, and I will be glad to answer in the comments section.
You can see more of my work on www.isispiks.com
Thanks for reading!

Isi Aakahome