CineD: Sigma CEO Yamaki-San Interview: Seriously Looking At Making Fujifilm Fans Happy

By Louis Ferreira | Published: September 30, 2021

CineD interviewed Sigma CEO Yamaki-San about Sigma’s 60th anniversary and during the interview, he confirms that they are seriously looking at how to make Fujifilm photographers happy so I am covering the full interview. You can read the excerpts below:

  • Sigma turns 60 in September
  • Yamaki-San’s father founded the company at 27
  • His father passed away a few years ago and Sigma has grown a lot since he passed, but Yamaki-San’s father would still want them to do more
  • Yamaki-San isn’t sure if he is as ambitious about growing the company as his father was but he is more into quality
  • Things always have positives and negatives including the pandemic
  • The pandemic has reduced Sigma’s activity in terms of marketing sales, development, etc…
  • The pandemic has been good for Sigma because they couldn’t have events so they had to come up with other ways to communicate with customers directly
  • Sigma now has more ways to directly communicate with customers than they ever had before
  • Sigma introduced a new fpl camera a few months ago which is not easy for a comparatively small camera company with limited resources so they had to design based on the priorities of the customers
  • Sigma is in the middle of the process of finding its nitch for customers
  • The fpl was designed for flexibility as a new camera
  • Sigma is figuring out what to do next with its fp line
  • Sigma acknowledges that there is some confusion about the fp and fpl among customers
  • More and more people are interested in photography and even film
  • Sigma’s production capacity is the same, but they added a new building to increase the precision of their assembly and quality control
  • Sigma’ also added a new logistic center for shipping and customer support/repair because customer support is very important
  • Sigma is always trying to make their lenses as small as possible, but they cant develop a pancake lens with acceptable quality yet
  • Pancake lenses require compromising quality
  • Sigma has been getting a lot of requests to make anamorphic lenses and Yamaki-San is interested in developing one, but they do not currently have plans for one, but would like to explore making one
  • It’s hard to make anamorphic because everyone wants “character” and it is hard to tell what the majority would want
  • It’s easier to make it perfect than it is to figure out where the “character” line is drawn
  • The still photo market also has a huge variety of desires
  • Many anamorphic users are sophisticated buyers which makes it even harder
  • Sigma is aware there is a demand for Fujifilm cameras and Sigma is now seriously thinking about how to satisfy Fujifilm customers
  • Sigma believes that healthy competition helps everyone’s capabilities and is better for the industry and customers
  • Sigma is still doing FOVEON research and video capabilities are within the scope of that research
  • The full-frame FOVEON design they came up with wasn’t good enough to go to mass production so Sigma started from scratch
  • Sigma’s first priority is to obtain the best still quality with FOVEON
  • Sigma can make good video in terms of quality with FOVEON but the readout speed is challenging
  • Sigma needs 3x faster readouts for FOVEON video

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Fujinon XF 33mm f/1.4 R LM WR
B&H Photo / Amazon / Moment / Adorama
Fujinon XF 23mm f/1.4 R LM WR
B&H Photo / Amazon / Moment / Adorama

Fujifilm GFX50SII:
B&H Photo / Amazon  / Moment / Adorama
Fujifilm X-T30II:
B&H Photo / Amazon / Moment / Adorama
Fujinon GF 35-70mm f/4.5-5.6 WR:
B&H Photo / Amazon / Moment / Adorama

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Tamron 18-300mm f/3.5-6.3 Di III-A VC VXD Preorders Start

By Louis Ferreira | Published: September 30, 2021


The Tamron 18-300mm f/3.5-6.3 Di III-A VC VXD can be preordered from B&H Photo and should be available from Amazon and Adorama soon.

Tamron 18-300mm f/3.5-6.3 Di III-A VC VXD:
B&H Photo / Amazon / Adorama

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TTArtisan 32mm f/2.8 AutoFocus

By Louis Ferreira | Published: September 30, 2021

TTArtisan just announced their first autofocus lens and it is for X-Mount the TTArtisan 32mm f/2.8. This isn’t the first autofocus third-party 32mm f/2.8 lens that honor belongs to the Zeiss 32mm f/1.8 Touit Series for Fujifilm X-mount. We told you about this lens coming back in August in the roadmap. You can follow TTArtisan on Instagram for a chance to win this new lens and keep reading FujiAddict for more info.

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Tamron 18-300mm f/3.5-6.3 Di III-A VC VXD Launch Date Confirmed by Translated Press Release (Updated With Better Translation From Official)

By Louis Ferreira | Published: September 29, 2021

Tamron 18-300mm f/3.5-6.3 Di III-A VC VXD (Shipping October 28th):
B&H Photo / Amazon / Adorama

World’s first * 1), high-magnification zoom “18-300mm F / 3.5-6.3 Di III-A VC VXD (Model B061)” that covers the super-telephoto range with a zoom ratio of 16.6x
Tamron Co., Ltd. (President: Shiro Asaka, Headquarters: Saitama City), a comprehensive optical equipment manufacturer, announced on July 21, 2021, a high-power zoom lens compatible with APS-C size mirrorless interchangeable-lens cameras. “18-300mm F / 3.5-6.3 Di III-A * 2) VC VXD (Model B061)” (hereinafter referred to as Model B061) for Fujifilm X mount will be released on October 28, 2021. In addition, due to the influence of the new coronavirus infection in the future, there is a possibility that the release date review and supply will be delayed.

Product name18-300mm F / 3.5-6.3 Di III-A VC VXD (Model B061)
Release date *For FUJIFILM X mount: October 28, 2021
* Due to the influence of the new coronavirus infection (COVID-19), the release may be postponed or the supply may be delayed.
Suggested retail price96,800 yen (tax included)

* 1) For APS-C size mirrorless interchangeable-lens camera compatible zoom lenses. (As of August 2021. According to Tamron research)
* 2) Di III-A: APS-C size equivalent mirrorless interchangeable-lens camera lens.

Model B061 was developed based on the concept of “realizing a high-magnification zoom lens that covers a wide-angle range of 27 mm to a super-telephoto range of 450 mm in 35 mm format with a single lens and enables various shooting.” The world’s first * 1) zoom lens compatible with APS-C size mirrorless interchangeable-lens cameras , achieving a zoom ratio of 16.6x. The AF drive is equipped with a linear motor focus mechanism VXD (Voice-coil eXtreme-torque Drive), which is excellent in quietness and agility. By arranging the special glass material in a well-balanced manner, it maintains high depiction performance from the center to the periphery of the screen, and achieves the highest level of high image quality among high-magnification zoom lenses compatible with APS-C size mirrorless interchangeable-lens cameras.

In addition, the shortest shooting distance of 18mm at the wide-angle end is 0.15m, and the maximum shooting magnification is 1: 2, which is a high-magnification zoom lens, yet it demonstrates amazing close-up shooting performance. In addition, it is equipped with Tamron’s original image stabilization mechanism VC (Vibration Compensation), which effectively suppresses camera shake even in low light and super-telephoto range.

The filter diameter is φ67mm, which is the same as most of our mirrorless lens series. It is a highly practical lens that has a full range of functions to support comfortable shooting, and allows you to easily enjoy high image quality from wide-angle to super-telephoto.

Product features

1. World’s first 16.6x, high-power zoom lens that covers the super-telephoto range
The biggest feature of Model B061 is that it is the world’s first compatible with APS-C size mirrorless interchangeable-lens camera and achieves a zoom ratio of 16.6x. Equivalent to 27-450mm in the 35mm equivalent focal length. Taking full advantage of the wide focal range, you can take snapshots from everyday life on the road, dynamic landscape photography that makes use of super telephoto, and macro photography, and you can shoot various scenes with this single lens.

2. Equipped with best-in-class high-speed, high-precision AF and VXD
Model B061 is equipped with Tamron’s original linear motor focus mechanism VXD. It achieves best-in-class AF speed and accuracy as a high-magnification zoom lens, and enables stress-free and comfortable focusing in all focal ranges from wide-angle to super-telephoto. It also has excellent focus tracking on moving objects, making it ideal for shooting animals, airplanes, railroads, and so on. It is also highly quiet and can be used for still image shooting and video shooting in a quiet environment.

3. Achieves a minimum shooting distance of 0.15 m and a maximum shooting magnification of 1: 2 at the wide-angle end of 18 mm.
Model B061 achieves amazing close-up shooting performance for a high-magnification zoom lens (minimum shooting distance of 0.15m * 3 at the wide-angle end of 18mm , maximum shooting magnification of 1: 2). You can freely enjoy drawing with the background greatly blurred by boldly approaching the macro-specific subject. Tamron, a “pioneer of high-power zoom lenses,” has created overwhelming originality even in close-up photography.

* 3) When shooting at the shortest shooting distance of 0.15 m (wide-angle end 18 mm), the distance between the subject and the tip of the lens is approximately 5 mm. Please enjoy shooting so that the subject does not come into contact with the front lens.

4. Best-in-class high image quality
In order to achieve both a 16.6x zoom ratio and high image quality, three composite aspherical lenses and four LD (Low Dispersion) lenses are arranged in a well-balanced manner to effectively suppress various aberrations in the lenses. It maintains high resolution performance from the center to the periphery of the screen over the entire zoom range, and achieves class-leading high image quality as a high-magnification zoom lens compatible with APS-C size mirrorless interchangeable-lens cameras.

5. Equipped with image stabilization mechanism VC
Model B061 is equipped with Tamron’s original image stabilization mechanism VC while maintaining its compact size. Regardless of whether or not the camera has an in-body image stabilization mechanism, the VC mounted on this lens effectively suppresses camera shake that tends to occur in low light such as indoors and night scenes. In addition, by utilizing AI (artificial intelligence) technology, it is possible to obtain a correction effect that takes into consideration movie shooting at focal lengths of 70 mm or less.

6. Compact design

7. Simple drip-proof structure, antifouling coat, zoom lock switch mechanism that supports comfortable shooting

specification

Model nameB061
Focal length18-300mm <When using APS-C size mirrorless interchangeable-lens camera>
(35mm format equivalent: equivalent to 27-450mm)
BrightnessF3.5-6.3
Angle of view (diagonal angle of view)77 ° 24′-5 ° 30′<When using APS-C size mirrorless interchangeable-lens camera>
Lens configuration19 sheets in 15 groups
Shortest shooting distance0.15m (WIDE) /0.99m (TELE)
Maximum shooting magnification1: 2 (WIDE) / 1: 4 (TELE)
Filter diameterφ67mm
Maximum diameterφ75.5mm
length*125.8mm
mass620g
Aperture blade7 sheets (circular aperture) **
Minimum apertureF22-40
Standard accessoriesFlower-shaped hood, lens cap
Compatible mountFor FUJIFILM X mount

* Length = From the tip of the lens to the mount surface.
** Maintains an almost circular aperture shape from the maximum aperture to the state where the aperture is stopped down by two steps.

Specifications, appearance, performance, etc. are subject to change without notice.

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Viltrox AF 13mm f/1.4 Coming in November

By Louis Ferreira | Published: September 29, 2021


We have known about the Viltrox AF 13mm f/1.4 since the roadmap, but it seems we finally have a release window of November. There are also some additional images of the lens below.

Black
VILTROX 23mm f/1.4: B&H Photo / Amazon / Adorama
VILTROX 33mm f/1.4: B&H Photo / Amazon / Adorama
VILTROX 56mm f/1.4: B&H Photo / Amazon / Adorama
VILTROX 85mm f/1.8II: B&H Photo / Amazon / Adorama

Silver
VILTROX 23mm f/1.4: B&H Photo / Amazon
VILTROX 33mm f/1.4: B&H Photo / Amazon
VILTROX 56mm f/1.4: B&H Photo / Amazon

via Photorumors

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DPRTV: Fujinon XF23mm f/1.4 and Fujinon XF33mm f/1.4 Reviews

By Louis Ferreira | Published: September 29, 2021

Fujinon XF 23mm f/1.4 R LM WR:
B&H Photo / Amazon / Moment / Adorama

The Fujinon XF23mm f/1.4 will be coming a little after the XF33mm f1.4, which DPRTV covered on launch day, but we haven’t summarised it yet so I included it below in addition to the XF23mm f/1.4 summary:

  • Chris doesn’t love 35mm, but he is doing his best to be fair
  • Updated older prime lens
  • Larger than the old 23mm and 63g heavier
  • About the weight of a C battery
  • Has weather sealing
  • Filter size is smaller at 58mm and the old 23mm was 62mm
  • No more manual focus clutch due to the linear motor
  • AF speed should make up for MF
  • Aperture lock setting
  • The older 23mm was low getting from far to close and it was noisy
  • New 23mm is smooth, quite, quick and a big improvement
  • The old 23mm couldn’t close focus well at about 1:10 macro at 28mm from the sensor
  • The new 23mm is around 0.2x magnification, 1:5, or about 2x better than the old 23mm
  • Still using a preproduction lens since the coatings aren’t finalized
  • You can get some interesting sun stars with the 9 blade aperture
  • Linear focus makes it hard to manually focus for video so you should use AF
  • There is almost no focus breathing on this lens which is nice for video
  • LoCA is very clean
  • Bokeh has a little cats eyes in the corners at f/1.4 but it goes away as you stop down
  • There are some onion rings in the bokeh balls
  • The new lens is outstandingly sharp even wide open and it is an improvement over the old lens, but by f/2.8 both are excellent
  • The old 23mm was mushy in the corners and never got super sharp, but the new 23mm holds together a lot better
  • Yet another nice improvement
  • The old lens is still great optically, but you should only get it if you like the manual focus clutch over the new design

Fujinon XF 33mm f/1.4 R LM WR:
B&H Photo / Amazon / Moment / Adorama
Fujinon XF 35mm f/1.4 R:
B&H Photo / Amazon / Adorama

DPRTV Fujinon XF 33mm f/1.4 R LM WR summary:

  • 2mm less than the older XF35mm f/1.4 that is a decade old, but Fujifilm isn’t replacing the old lens
  • The old XF35mm f/1.4 has a lot of character which is why they are keeping it around
  • The new XF33mm is a lot heavier and larger at 360g vs 187g
  • The new XF33mm has a 58mm filter threat while the old one had a 52mm filter thread
  • The new XF33mm is weather resistant
  • Both lenses are similar with a bright light source in the frame with the older lens losing a little more contrast
  • The XF33mm has some more ghosting and rainbow patterns pointed into the sun but has much better sun stars
  • The old XF35mm has a little jitter while autofocusing while the XF33mm does not have this jitter
  • As for autofocus speed, the XF35mm and XF33mm seem to be pretty similar in performance
  • The XF33mm has great bokeh for video work and focus breathing isn’t a problem, but manually focusing the lens isn’t great even when set to linear because it is too fidgety
  • New XF33mm has less cats eye and more rounded bokeh balls
  • The transition from in focus to out of focus on the new XF33mm is similar to the XF35mm
  • The XF35mm is a little sharper wide open than the XF33mm in the center, but the XF33mm is a little sharper in the corners
  • When you stop down it is hard to tell the difference between the XF33mm and XF35mm
  • It’s rare to keep two similar lenses like this on the market
  • The XF33mm is a little better than the XF35mm in almost every way so it’s probably best to go with the XF33mm
  • The XF35mm is still a classic lens that is worth using

Other New Products
Fujifilm GFX50SII:
B&H Photo / Amazon  / Moment / Adorama
Fujifilm X-T30II:
B&H Photo / Amazon / Moment / Adorama
Fujinon GF 35-70mm f/4.5-5.6 WR:
B&H Photo / Amazon / Moment / Adorama
Fujifilm X-T3 Without Charger
B&H Photo

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