Fujifilm have officially announced the imminent arrival of the XF 23mm f1.4 R. This is the one that I, and I know a lot of you, have been waiting for. With that classic 35mm field of view (full frame), this latest X system lens is perfect for street photography and documentary photography. But not just that, it will also be at home shooting anything from environmental portraits to Landscapes.
I've never quite got into shooting street with the X-Pro1 or the X-E1. The 35mm f1.4 (53mm FF) is too long and the 18mm f2 (27mm FF) is a bit too wide for me. The X100 has stayed as my trusty street camera, but this new lens might change that, although I love the way the X100 with the lens hood feels in my hand when I'm out shooting on the streets. I think an X100s is on the cards at some point.
Like the 14mm f1.4, the 23mm has a depth of field scale near the front of the lens that makes it easier to use for zone focusing. It has 11 elements in 8 groups and includes 1 aspherical element. Aperture ranges from f1.4 to f16 and moves in the usual 1/3rd stop intervals. It has seven rounded diaphragm blades and a filter size of 62mm. The best part is that it's only 63mm in length and weighs 300g, so it must be one of the smallest (full frame equivalent) 35mm f1.4 lenses around. Price in the UK is looking like £849 and it should be available in October this year.