Fujifilm has used its latest X Summit event to announce the GFX 50S II. The event, taking place in Japan and live-streamed on YouTube can be viewed below.
GFX 50S II
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The GFX 50S II uses the same 50MP sensor as its existing cameras, and adds image stabilization and the same ‘X Processor 4’ chip used in the GFX 100S. The new chip improves AF speed and face/eye detection performance, the company says.
The in-body image stabilization system is also used to offer a 200MP, 16-shot high resolution mode. The new camera offers 19 Film Simulations, and there are over 100 new features and improvements compared to previous 50MP models, Fujifilm says.
The camera will be available from the end of September at a price of $3999.
GF 35-70mm F4.5-5.6 WR
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In addition, there will be a GF 35-70mm F4.5-5.6 WR collapsible zoom lens, offering lens that matches the relative compactness of the 50S II. It offers a 28-55mm equivalent coverage and is designed to minimize the degree to which the light needs to be bent, as it passes through the optics. A symmetrical design with two ED, and one aspheric element means the aberrations of the elements at the front of the lens are cancelled out at the rear, they claim.
The 35-70mm zoom uses a two-lens focus system that allows for close focus. It will be sold for $999, but adds only $500 to the cost of a GFX 50S II if bought as a kit.
Lens development
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| Three new GF lenses were announced as being in development. These include the first tilt-shift lens for GFX cameras (with the prototype pictured here). |
Fujifilm has revealed details of three additional lenses for the GF system.
The first is the 55mm F1.7, a 44m equivalent which is announced with the tag-line ‘more bokeh than full frame.’
The second lens in development will be a GF 20-35mm lens: a wide-angle zoom that starts at 16mm equivalent (107 degrees) and extends to 28mm equiv.
The final additional lens is the first tilt-shift lens for the GFX system. No details were given of focal length or the timescale for its development.
Further updates
A firmware update for GFX 100 and GFX 100S is scheduled for October, which will add support for Blackmagics’ ‘BRaw’ video format. The company is also collaborating on the development of and XLR adapter to allow high-quality mics to be used with its cameras.
X-Series
2022 will represent the tenth anniversary of the X-mount, and the company says it is looking forward, rather than back. It says high resolution will be part of the next phase of development.
As part of this, Fujifilm has announced the XF 33mm F1.4 R WR LM, a lens it says has been developed with sharpness and ‘purity of light’ (minimal aberration) as its primary focus. A linear motor and internal focus promises faster autofocus. It will be available at the end of September at a cost of $799.
In addition, there will be an XF 23mm F1.4 R LM WR, which follows a similar design concept to the 33mm. It corrects aberrations optically, uses faster internal focus, adds weather resistance and a linear motor for focus. It will hit the shelves in November at a cost of $899.
The two new lenses are designed to match the recently launched 18mm F1.4 R WR.
Future lenses
In addition to the two lenses being launched, there were also reveals of two additional X-mount lenses in development for launch in 2022. The first is the XF 150-600mm super telephoto.
The second is an XF 18-120mm, which the company says will be designed to offer ‘seamless still/movie shooting.’ No details were given of what this entails, but the lens will be designed with recognition of the different challenges of both types of shooting in mind.
One more thing…
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Perhaps having watched Columbo during lockdown, Yuji Igarashi interrupted the end of the presentation to add ‘one more thing’:
Promising ‘new devices’ in 2022, to mark the X-mount’s tenth anniversary, Shin Udono revealed that it will introduce a Stacked (BSI) CMOS sensor with X-Trans color filter array.
You can re-watch the full presentation here:
Author:
Richard Butler
Source: Dpreview
