FUJIFILM EXPANDS GF LENS LINE

WITH DELIVERIES of its GFX 50S mirrorless digital medium format camera now underway, Fujifilm is making good on its promise of additional lenses for the system before year’s end.

The camera body launched with three GF mount lenses – two primes and a zoom – and these have been quickly followed up by the GF 23mm f4.0 R LM WR ultra-wide and the GF 110mm f2.0 R LM WR short telephoto. To match the GXF 50S body, both lenses are fully weatherised and can operate in subzero temperatures down to -10 degrees Celsius. Both also use linear autofocusing motors – with internal focusing – for faster and smoother operation.

The 23mm lens – which has a 35mmequivalent focal length of 18mm – gives a 100-degree angle-of-view on the 44x33 mm sensor. It has a 15-element optical construction which includes two aspherical types, one made from Super ED (extra-low dispersion) optical glass and three made from ED glass. These are designed to minimise, respectively, distortion and chromatic aberrations. Fujifilm’s new ‘Nano GI’ multi-coating is employed to help suppress ghosting and flare. A nine-blade diaphragm gives smoother out-of-focus effects.

The new 110mm lens is equivalent to 87mm in the 35mm format and its 14-element optical construction includes four ED glass types to correct for spherical and chromatic aberrations. It has a minimum focusing distance of 90 centimetres and a minimum aperture of f22.

Still to come later this year is a 45mm f2.8 wide-angle (equivalent to 35mm) and as announced at the system’s launch, but Fujifilm has also revealed that a “telephoto prime lens” – focal length as yet unspecified – is scheduled for mid-2018 along with a teleconverter.

New accessories for the GFX system comprise a new eyecup (the EC-GFX) using a softer material for a better fit and more effective lighting shield; and an adapter for mounting the camera on a view camera.

The new GF23mm f4.0 lens is priced at $3999 and the GF110 f2.0 at $4299. For more information visit www.fujifilm.com.au