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‹ Photo Notes · 16 dubna, 2015
Fujifilm has finally officially announced the release of the new Fujifilm XF 16mm/F1.4 WR lens. Normally I wouldn’t deal here with some new glass, but this one definitely deserves a little attention. Why?
After the 23mm/1.4, 35mm/1.4 and two versions of the 56mm/1.2, the Fujifilm XF 16mm/F1.4 WR is the fifth lens in the line of high-speed Fujinons.
A speed of F1.4 is excellent, but it is no extreme or rarity, there are plenty of lenses this fast on the market. What is a rarity, though, is a speed of 1.4 at such a short focal length.
A focal length of 16 mm (on APS-C) corresponds to the field of view of 24 mm on full frame (or 35mm film). With similarly short focal lengths a speed of F1.4 is truly exceptional. Not only can you shoot more comfortably in poor light with an aperture of F1.4, but at the same time it is finally possible to work with shallow depth of field. Given the outstanding rendering of all four lenses mentioned above, uncompromising quality without the need to stop down can be expected from the FX 16/1.4 too. In combination with the minimum shooting distance of 15 cm you can really work magic with such a lens.
The lens is weather- and dust-resistant and weighs only 375 grams; the filter thread has a diameter of 67 mm.
Although unofficial sources talk about next week, Fujifilm promises to put the FX 16mm/F1.4 WR on the market in mid-May. In the world, that is; here, as usual, we’ll probably wait a month or two longer. We’ll see, maybe not…
The price of pre-orders at Fujifoto is 27,990 CZK. It isn’t the cheapest, but anyone yearning for a splendid street focal length of 24 mm (equivalent) with high speed and maximum quality will hardly find a better buy. If I didn’t have the XF 14mm at home, I’d be saving up.