Fujifilm announces two Tilt / Shift lenses: Fujinon GF30mm F5.6 T/S and GF110mm F5.6 T/S Macro
This week Fujifilm, became the latest manufacturer to add Tilt/Shift lenses to their medium format system. The introduction of the G30mm F5.6 T/S is good news for architectural photographers and landscape photographers in general. The GF110mm F5.6 T/S Macro is, of course, aimed at studio/tabletop photographers.
As for the wider market, I can’t understand why Sigma hasn’t introduced any, or Sony for that matter, although in a discussion with a senior Sony executive some ten years ago now, I was told that “they [Sony, Japan] aren’t interested commercially… “. At the time I thought that was shortsighted but let’s hope that position changes.
Nevertheless, I applaud Fujifilm for pushing ahead with these designs. Fujinon has some of the most accomplished lens designers in Japan and they have designed ultra-high-end lenses for other brands.
As MF models the new lenses will have to be bigger than those designed for 35mm (accounting for the larger image circle), so it will be interesting to see how these handle. I know many Fuji GFX users adapt the Canon Tilt/shifts so it will be interesting to see how the GF30mm F5.6 T/S compare with the Canon 24mm F3.5 TS-E (original and Mk II).
Fujifilm UK are a friendly bunch and I hope to review the 30mm model, at least.
Preorder [affiliate links]:
From the Press Release [edited somewhat for clarity, from what I presume to be a translated copy]:
TOKYO, September 12, 2023 – FUJIFILM Corporation (President & CEO, Representative Director: Teiichi Goto) announces the release of the tilt-and-shift lens “FUJINON Lens GF30mmF5.6 T/S” (GF30mmF5.6 T/S) in October 2023, and the tilt-and-shift macro lens “FUJINON Lens GF110mmF5.6 T/S Macro” (GF110mmF5.6 T/S Macro) in November 2023. The new lenses join the lineup of GF lenses, i.e. interchangeable lenses for the GFX Series of Fujifilm’s mirrorless digital cameras equipped with the large-format sensor*1 measuring approximately 1.7 times that of the 35mm full-frame sensor.
The GF30mmF5.6 T/S and GF110mmF5.6 T/S Macro combine the tilt function of [tilting] their optical axis and the shift function of moving their optical axis in parallel to alter how the optical axis relates to the imaging plane and intentionally manipulate areas in focus and perspective. This caters to the needs of professional photographers who want to explore composition and shooting positions freely in architecture, landscape and commercial photography, broadening the range of shooting that takes advantage of GFX Series’ superior image quality.
Fujinon GF30mmF5.6 T/S
The GF30mmF5.6 T/S is a wide-angle tilt-and-shift lens with a focal length of 30mm (equivalent to 24mm in the 35mm film format). It suppresses distortion and ghosting, typically seen with wide-angle lenses, to achieve a high level of image resolution. Users can keep everything within the frame in focus in landscape photography from grass in the foreground to distant mountains, or correct distortion characteristically seen in architectural photography when shooting tall [buildings].
① Advanced optical design that delivers superior image-resolving performance
- The lens consists of 16 lens elements in 11 groups including three aspherical lenses, two ED lenses and one Super ED lens. Its generous configuration featuring the use of a large-diameter aspherical lens as the front element as well as three ED lenses provides an advanced optical design that eliminates the need for electronically correcting distortion and lateral chromatic aberration. Spherical aberration, comatic aberration and field curvature are suppressed to an extreme extent to achieve edge-to-edge sharpness even during shifting.
- The use of Fujifilm’s proprietary Nano GI Coating technology controls the refractive index on the lens surface moderately to inhibit unnecessary light reflection and reduce ghosting and flare, which are typically seen in wide-angle lenses.
② Tilting and shifting mechanisms that make most of the benefits of the large-format sensor
- Tiling of ±8.5° and shifting of up to ±15mm control the focal plane and perspective of the subject. The revolving operation of changing tilting and shifting directions within ±90° is combined with the T/S revolving operation, where the angle of tilting and shifting direction can be adjusted from perpendicular to parallel within 0°〜90° to give a high level of shooting freedom.
- The lens has a built-in sensor that detects the degree of shifting and revolving movements. This data can be checked in Live View and is recorded into image data so that it can be referred to during RAW processing*2. [LCC, take note Capture One users. Read the well-documented Help Site here.]
③ Compact design that considers ease of use during shooting
- Wide-angle tilt-and-shift lenses tend to become large. However, the positioning of lens elements has been optimized to achieve a compact design measuring just 138.5mm and weighing 1,340g. Furthermore, the filter thread size is a versatile 105mm*3, allowing users to use a variety of filters to suit wide-angle situations including landscape.
- The lens comes with a tripod collar, specifically designed for it. Even during shifting, the collar helps maintain the subject’s position in relation to the lens to prevent parallax and facilitates accurate stitching of multiple images.
Fujinon GF110mmF5.6 T/S Macro
The GF110mmF5.6 T/S Macro is a mid-telephoto tilt-and-shift macro lens with a focal length of 110mm (equivalent to 87mm in the 35mm film format) and a maximum reproduction rate of 0.5x. It suppresses various types of aberration to achieve an advanced level of image resolution. The focal position of a subject in close-up can be controlled freely to meet the needs of commercial photography for still life, etc.
① Advanced optical design that produces superior image sharpness
- This lens consists of 11 lens elements in nine groups including one aspherical lens and two ED lenses. The aspherical lens controls comatic aberration and field curvature while the ED lenses minimize axial chromatic aberration to an extreme extent. Furthermore, the lens configuration, symmetrical with the aperture midway, suppresses distortion and lateral chromatic aberration to achieve edge-to-edge sharpness without relying on electronic correction.
- This lens achieves the maximum magnification ratio of 0.5x for close-up photography. Users can enjoy unconstrained focal control while going up close to the subject, a feature useful in commercial photography for subjects such as still life.
② Tilting and shifting mechanisms that make most of the benefits of the large-format sensor
Tiling of ±10° and shifting of up to ±15mm control the focal plane and perspective of the subject. The revolving operation of changing tilting and shifting directions within ±90° is combined with the T/S revolving operation, where the angle of tilting and shifting direction can be adjusted from perpendicular to parallel within 0°〜90° to give a high level of shooting freedom.
The lens has a built-in sensor that detects the degree of shifting and revolving movements. This data can be checked in Live View and is recorded into image data so that it can be used during RAW processing*2.
③ Compact design that reduces the burden during shooting
This lens measures 149mm and weighs 1,255g with a filter thread size of 72mm. It uses a focus system that extends out in order to keep the overall lens size compact.
Close attention has been paid to designs of operation sections to achieve a highly functional design that reduces users’ burden during extended shooting.
*1 An image sensor that measures 55mm diagonally (43.8mm x 32.9mm) and is approximately 1.7 times larger than a 35mm full-frame sensor
*2 FUJIFILM GFX100 II. FUJIFILM GFX50S II, FUJIFILM GFX100S, FUJIFLM GFX100, FUJIFILM GFX50R and FUJIFILM GFX50S are planned to be compatible via firmware update.
*3 Use the supplied adapter ring to use a 105mm filter.
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