The Fujifilm XF33mm F1.4 LM WR Announced
Last week Fujifilm held its annual X-Summit, announcing loads of new gear and discussing future plans. There was a lot to be excited about as a Fuji user. New cameras, new lenses, and of course, knowing where the lens map was going didn’t hurt either.
The big lens news for the X-Series cameras was the new XF23mm and XF33mm f1.4 lens, which adds to the recently available 18mm f1.4. My most used lens is the XF35mm f1.4. If I was forced to have only one prime lens for my personal work, it would be this. But, the XF35mm f1.4 is also from the original staple of three lenses created for the X-Pro1 (along with the original XF18mm f2 and the XF60mm f2.4 Macro). That means it’s a pretty old design, and while it’s been a workhorse, it’s well overdue a tune up.
My current lens image count. The 50-140 looks close, but really that’s because it’s used on high volume work. The lower counts are test shots with that lens (e.g. the 90mm). It also doesn’t show images where the focal length was recorded, but without the lens name.
And that tune up is the XF33mm f1.4. Being 33mm, rather than 35mm, gives it a true 50mm equivalent on APS-C (crop) sensors. It uses a linear motor for faster auto focus, and the symmetrical elements in the design reduce aberration and make for a sharper lens. What’s really interesting about the design is that the linear motor moves the entire focus element set. Focus breathing is minimal, and the operation is almost silent. For video work, that’s amazing! The final thing that really gets me interested in the weather sealing.
The XF33 F1.4 LM WR-Press photo from Fuji.
The final thing that really gets me interested in the weather sealing. I’m in Galway, pretty much the wettest city in Ireland. I’ve gotten used to the weather sealing on some of my lenses, but to be able to use my preferred focal length in most weather conditions would be fantastic.
One of the lucky users to get to do a test run with it was Bert Stephani. Similar in fashion to my work, Bert uses both flash and natural light light in his work, so I feel a little kinship photographically speaking. What had Bert to say? Well..
“XF33mmF1.4 R LM WR is probably the sharpest lens that I've ever used. The clarity, the contrast, the colours are all very very impressive.” Bert Stephani
Colour me impressed. How impressed? Well enough to have preordered one. Fingers crossed I’ll get it faster than the XF70-300mm. I’ll be doing a review on that soon. I just want to shoot more content for the review first. And then, of course, I’ll properly work the XF33mm for you.