FUJIFILM has officially announced the XF50mm F1.0 R WR. The Japanese company is claiming that the 50mm is the world’s first autofocus f1.0 lens. Technically that’s not true, but more on that later.
FUJIFILM teased this lens back in July 2018, however, at the time it was a 33mm F1.0 lens. That subsequently got changed to a 50mm F1.0.
The FUJIFILM XF 50mm f/1 R WR is a portrait-length prime lens that is designed to be used with APS-C-format FUJIFILM X-mount mirrorless cameras.
It features a very fast f/1 maximum aperture which allows it to be used in low light environments and also to create a very shallow depth of field. A rounded nine-blade diaphragm helps to create pleasing bokeh.
FUJIFILM claims that the 50mm f/1 utilizes an advanced optical system that features aspherical and extra-low dispersion elements to control a variety of aberrations.
One aspherical element limits distortion and spherical aberration in order to achieve greater sharpness and accurate rendering. The two extra-low dispersion elements reduce color fringing and chromatic aberrations in order to provide greater clarity and color accuracy. A Super EBC coating has been applied to individual elements to reduce lens flare and ghosting for improved contrast and color fidelity when working in strong lighting conditions.
The lens is weather-sealed so it is able to be used in a wide variety of environmental conditions. The weather-resistant design prevents dust and moisture from entering the lens and it can work in freezing temperatures as low as 14°F.
It’s rare to see a lens with an f/1 aperture that isn’t manual focus only. The only other f/1 lens with autofocus that I can think of is the Canon’s EF 50mm f/1 lens, that was released almost 30 years ago and hasn’t been in production since 2000.
You can still find some examples of the Canon EF 50mm f/1 second hand, but be prepared to have deep pockets. Most second-hand versions I have seen are selling for upwards of $3000 USD.
Price & Availability
The FUJIFILM XF 50mm f/1 R WR will be shipping soon and it is now available to pre-order for $1,499.95 USD.
