Prime time: Fuji updates their XF lens roadmap with new 23mm f/2, 50mm f/2 and 80mm f/2.8 lenses

 

 

New lenses are on the way for Fuji X-mount cameras! Fujifilm has revised their XF lens roadmap. Compared to the XF lens roadmap released in February of 2015, the telephoto XF 120mm f/2.8R macro lens has been removed due to user demand for something more compact and lighter and is being replaced with the 1:1 XF 80mm f/2.8 R LM OIS WR Macro lens. Macro photographers looking for something longer -- like the 120mm, for example -- can use the 80mm with Fujifilm's existing teleconverters.

Joining the XF 80mm macro lens are two wider, faster prime pieces of glass. The XF 23mm f/2 R WR and the the XF 50mm f/2 R WR optics are the newest additions to the roadmap. Precise availability information is not yet known, but the XF 23mm f/2 R WR lens is expected to arrive on the scene this year and the XF 50mm and XF 80mm macro lenses are expected in 2017. No pricing information is yet available.

The XF 80mm f/2.8 R LM OIS WR along with the XF 60mm f/2.4 R are the only macro lenses in Fujifilm's XF lineup. The 23mm f/2 offers a more compact, lighter and presumably more affordable option for photographers compared to the existing XF 23mm f/1.4 R optic. The 50mm f/2 will be the only Fuji-made 50mm prime in the lineup as the other fast mid-telephoto lenses are the XF 56mm f/1.2 R and XF 56mm f/1.2 R APD. Zeiss does offer a Touit 50mm f/2.8 macro optic for the X-mount as well.

 

 

For Fuji fans keeping score at home, 2015 saw Fujifilm add the XF 16mm f/1.4R, XF 90mm f/2 R and XF 35mm f/2 R lenses along with the 1.4x teleconverter. 2016 has so far seen the release of the popular -- and very good -- XF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 R LM OIS WR supertelephoto zoom lens. With Fuji planning on having the XF 23 f/2 R WR hitting shelves this year, 2016 should prove to be yet another good year for Fujifilm photographers.

Stay tuned for more information on these new lenses and for our final lab review of the XF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 coming soon!