Fujifilm Announce 2 New Cinema Lenses

Equipped with focus and zoom mechanisms optimal for high-quality video production, Fujifilm's new lenses are a perfect match for the X Series range of cameras. 

The FUJINON MKX18-55mmT2.9 (MKX18-55mm) and FUJINON MKX50-135mmT2.9 (MKX50-135mm) will be added to the mirrorless digital camera "X Series" interchangeable lens lineup in June 2018 and they are the first full manual cinema lenses to be compatible with the X Series interchangeable lens lineup. 

In the 35mm format equivalent, MKX18-55mm covers a focal distance from 27mm to 84mm and MKX50-135mm covers a focal distance from 76mm to 206mm. 

The FUJINON MKX18-55mmT2.9 and FUJINON MKX50-135mmT2.9 lenses will be available from early Summer 2018 priced as follows: 

• FUJINON MKX18-55mmT2.9 - £3499
• FUJINON MKX50-135mmT2.9 - £3799

Also announced today was the Fujifilm X-H1 flagship mirrorless camera. 

FUJINON MKX18-55mm & MKX50-135mm Key Features:

Advanced optical performance, packed into a compact and lightweight lens barrel

MKX18-55mm uses an optical construction comprising 22 glass elements in 17 groups, with six super ED lens elements and two ED lens elements. MKX50-135mm uses 22 glass elements in 17 groups, with two super ED lens elements and two ED lens elements. These lenses offer advanced edge-to-edge optical performance across the entire zoom range.

They have T2.9 aperture across the entire zoom range which facilitates the increasingly popular style of bokeh effect with shallow depth-of-field. This also eliminates the need to re-adjust lighting, contributing to shortening shooting time.

The MKX lenses achieve advanced optical performance despite their compact and lightweight body by incorporating the benefits of short flange focal distance of X Mount into optical design to the maximum extent. This accommodates shooting with a limited number of people.

The electrical contact to communicate with the X Series camera not only corrects the distortion and the colour/brightness shading, but also achieves various colour expressions with Film Simulation modes.

Optical and mechanical design optimal for shooting video

The front focusing group of lens elements and the zooming group of lens elements are driven independently from one another to suppress focus shift while zooming, which eliminates the need to re-focus after zooming in or out. The optical and mechanical approach means there is no time lag as seen in an electrical control system.

The use of the front inner-focusing system controls lens breathing (change of angle of view during focusing which achieves smooth focusing in an impressive scene.

Manufacturing technology developed for conventional FUJINON cine lenses is applied to control optical axis shift while zooming, achieving intended composition every time.

Comfortable operability provided through dedicated cinema lenses

The focus ring features a rotation of a full 200 degrees to facilitate precise focusing even when shooting with a shallow depth-of-field where a high degree of precision is required.

The lenses feature three fully manual rings to enable independent adjustment of focus, zoom and iris (aperture). This enables intuitive operations which cannot be attained with an electrical mechanism that typically causes time lag.

All the operation rings have a gear pitch of 0.8M, the same as all other FUJINON cine lenses, which allows the use of all standard third-party accessories for video production, e.g. Follow Focus that enable accurate and smooth focusing.

The iris supports seamless adjustment that is free of clicking. This enables precise and silent exposure adjustment while also preventing camera shake caused by the clicking.

Standardized design for ease of operation

Only one matte box between the lenses is needed with a 85mm front diameter.

Only one filter size between the lenses is needed with a filter thread of 82mm.

The gears for the three rings are positioned in the same place so as to eliminate the need to re-position accessories when switching lenses.

The lenses have a macro function that allows shooting close-up to broaden the range of scenes that can be covered with one lens.

• MK18-55mm: Minimum Object Distance*6 of 0.38m (wide end)
• MK50-135mm: Minimum Object Distance of 0.85m (wide end)

The lenses feature a Flange Focal Distance adjustment function*7 to achieve optimum camera and lens matching, bringing out the lenses' full optical performance.