A first from Fujifilm

Fujifilm announced its intention to add a 50mm f/1.0 lens to its XF system just about one year ago – and here is it: due in the shops towards the end of September. It’s the world’s first autofocus f/1.0 lens for mirrorless cameras and, giving the 35mm equivalent focal length of 76mm, the short telephoto lens makes for an ideal portrait and event photography lens.

For a lens of this speed, the 50mm f/1.0 is remarkably compact and not too heavy at 850g. Its 12 elements in nine groups optical construction features one aspherical element and two ED elements to help the lens deliver high-resolution, ghost-free images throughout its aperture range. With the right subject distance and background, the lens and its nine rounded diaphragm blades is said to deliver soft and beautiful bokeh, especially at f/1.0, where uncorrected spherical aberration helps to give smooth bokeh.

Other key features include 70cm minimum focus, a 77mm filter thread and eleven environment seals, which ensure reliable performance when the conditions are less than ideal.

The Fujifilm XF50mm f/1.0 R WR is priced at £1499 and it will be available from 24 September 2020.

Photography News got the chance to enjoy a pre-production sample of this exciting lens, so click here to read the hands-on report.

To find out more, please visit the Fujifilm website.