Today, Fujifilm announced the Fuji XF 16mm f/1.4 R WR lens for its XF platform cameras (such as the recently released X-T1, part of a class of APS-C mirrorless cameras popularized by the success of the acclaimed Fuji X-Pro1 back in 2012). The weather-resistant (WR) 16mm f/1.4 R WR lens gives the Fuji X-mount lineup a much-needed wide-angle addition to the wide-aperture lens lineup with a 35mm equivalent focal length of 24mm -- a focal length that street photographers will love along with several other additions.
In true Fujifilm fashion, the new 16mm f/1.4 lens also features an aperture ring (this is what the standalone "R" in the name signifies) with extremely precise 1/3-stop increment adjustability and a depth-of-field scale to make manually focusing a landscape shot or on-the-fly zone focusing for street photography a cinch.
A nine-bladed aperture for smooth bokeh, weather and dust resistance with operability down to 14° F, Nano-GL-coating for flare- and ghost-reduction, and a minimum focusing distance of less than six inches round out the features of what will likely be a lens hard to keep on store shelves come its May 2015 release.
At a price of $999.95, the Fuji XF 16mm f/1.4 R WR is certainly has a premium price to match those features. We will update this post with pre-order information when available.
The 16mm lens, reported to be about the size of the current 56mm f/1.2 lenses, fills out the wide end Fuji's highest-end lens system that also consists of the 23mm f/1.4 R (35mm full-frame equivalent), 35mm f/1.4 R (53mm full-frame equivalent), and 56mm f/1.2 R, and 56mm f/1.2 R APD lenses (both 85mm full-frame equivalent). It is also the first and only prime OR wide-aperture lens in Fuji's XF lineup to feature weather resistance.
For more information, check out Fujifilm's webpage for the 16mm lens (if the link doesn't work yet, it should update/go live very shortly). Alternatively, those interested can read the full press release.
Lens hood not included. Cmon now Fuji!
Where are you seeing that the lens hood isn't included? To date, every Fuji lens other than the 27mm pancake has come with a hood. Now you can debate how USEFUL some of those hoods are (the 18mm and 35mm are the biggest offenders here), but they've consistently provided hoods for each lens other than the aforementioned 27mm pancake (which would look ridiculous with a hood anyway).
Ah - just saw the features tab on the Fuji site. "Optional metal lens hood." That's annoying considering that this is likely to be used for a lot of landscapes where flare could be an issue w/o a hood.
It comes with a plastic lens hood. There will be an optional metal hood in the future.
Petal Lens hood is included with your purchase.
Additional Metal square lens hood can be purchased.
Minor correction: X100T does not have interchangeable lenses so this cannot be used with it.
Minor?
It comes with a pipe wrench to tear the old lens off your X100 T.
Thanks...I suppose 1AM was a little too late to get my numbers and letters perfect in my model numbers. Will work on that in the future. Corrected to what I meant to begin with: the X-T1.
Fuji keeps it rolling...
Much needed wide angle addition? Yes, this is much faster than Fuji's other wide angle primes, but let's not forget about the 14 f/2.8, the 18 f/2, the 27 f/2.8, and the 10-24 f/4. If anything, this is filling out Fuji's "Holy Trinity" of primes - 16mm f/1.4, 23mm f/1.4, and 56 f/1.2 (though I would also throw in the 35mm f/1.4).
I actually think $999 is a pretty reasonable price for a high-quality F/1.4 prime. Canon's 24mm f/1.4 costs $1549 and I bet this Fuji stands up to it just fine.
This Fuji will probably blow the 24 out of the water. Taking relative prices according to the aperture and focal length, the Canon/Nikon version of this would probably cost 1800-2000$. Look at their 35 1.4 that hovers around 1350$ and Fuji's that is 500$, and optically miles ahead of both Canon and Nikon :)
I love Fuji i was one of the first to hop on the x trans sensor when the x pro 1 first came out . Then i got pissed with them when there camera body and lens got dirt cheap . I wish Fuji would have the confidence and have the balls to keep there prices up there with Sony canon and Nikon . I purchased the xt1 before one year and now they would give you this camera when you purchase a memory card . kidding of course but the camera has gotten a disappointing price cut.
I'm sorry to hear that, but unfortunately that's the story of technology. Nikon, Canon, Sony -- they're not having an easy time staying up there, either. Canon and Sony are each more diversified, but even according to new WikiLeaks, Sony is supposedly dropping their A-mount system. Who knows if that's true, but anytime a company can sustain dropped prices, it helps everyone out since it grows their marketshare (which I'm sure was intentional on their part). Fuji is also competing with everyday consumers and pro-sumers that are looking at 24MP superzooms for $300 and wondering why the Fuji is so expensive... But in general, this is the way things are...prices depreciate. Even Nikon's own Coolpix A can now be found for a fourth of what it was offered at originally... Just food for thought. Sorry your investment has depreciated so rapidly, but then I wish my D4 was closer to the $5k I paid for it than the $3.5k or so it's worth now.