The Fujinon XF56mmF1.2 R APD - billed as the world’s first AF lens with an apodisation filter - is a new ultra-fast telephoto lens for Fujifilm's X-series compact system cameras. Offering a 35mm equivalent focal length of 85mm, the lens has a maximum aperture of f/1.2, making it the world’s brightest autofocus lens designed for digital cameras with an APS-C sensor. The XF56mm F1.2 R APD offers "brilliant levels of sharpness," even when shooting  wide open at f/1.2. In addition, the apodisation filter smooths the outlines of out-of-focus highlights resulting in superior bokeh. The apodisation filter delivers its best results at wider apertures. To enable wide apertures to be used even in bright environments, an ND filter is included that adjusts brightness in three levels. To indicate the apodising effect, the lens features an aperture ring showing the effective F-number in red. The difference between the FNo. and the effective FNo. indicates the effectiveness of the apodisation filter. The Fujinon XF56mmF1.2 R APD will be available in the UK from November 2014 with a suggested retail price of £1099.99.

Fujifilm Press Release

Presenting the world’s first autofocusing lens with an apodisation filter
FUJINON XF56mmF1.2 R APD

A fast-aperture AF lens with an apodisation filter for perfect portraits with beautiful bokeh

September 10th, 2014

FUJIFILM Corporation (President: Shigehiro Nakajima) is proud to announce that a new FUJINON XF56mmF1.2 R APD lens will be added to the X-Series interchangeable lens lineup from December 2014.

The FUJINON XF56mmF1.2 R APD is an autofocus lens for digital cameras with APS-C size sensor and provides a focal length equivalent to 85mm*1. The lens has a maximum aperture of F1.2 making it the world’s brightest autofocus lens for digital cameras with an APS-C sensor. In addition, the new apodising filter makes it the perfect choice for portraiture, with every strand of hair visible and a unique bokeh effect.

This lens is highly portable. When attached to an X Series camera body, it weighs about half*2 as much as a single-lens reflex camera with a lens of the same focal length and F value, plus it’s quick to use thanks to the high-speed, quiet autofocus.

It produces not only beautiful bokeh part, but also maintain the sharpness with accurate focusing even in a shallow depth-of -field. This is a huge advantage of Mirrorless system over SLR thanks to focusing on image sensor itself rather than on separate PD sensor. The shutter on X Series bodies is equally quiet, so it’s easy to capture more natural shots of subjects.

*1　35mm format equivalent

*2　Fujifilm research.

1．Main Features

Apodisation filter delivers more creative portraits

The XF56mm F1.2 R APD offers brilliant levels of sharpness even when shooting with the aperture at F1.2. In addition, the apodisation filter smooths the bokeh’s outlines. This combination of image sharpness and beautiful bokeh delivers portraits with a three-dimensional feel.

An optical construction of 11 glass elements in eight groups, including one aspherical glass molded lens element and two extra low dispersion lens elements has been used. Spherical aberrations are corrected by the aspherical glass element to deliver high resolution at the maximum aperture setting. Additionally, thanks to the combination of two extra-low dispersion lens elements and three cemented lens elements, chromatic aberrations are greatly reduced.

By applying Fujifilm’s unique HT-EBC (High Transmittance Electron Beam Coating) to all lens surfaces, ghosting and flare are controlled for sharp, clear results.

The lens also makes the most of Fujifilm’s unique X-TransTM CMOS low pass filter-less sensor for extremely high image quality. Ghosting and flare are controlled even under harsh conditions such as backlighting.

By combining this lens with an X Series camera body*5 with Lens Modulation Optimiser*4 (LMO) technology, the performance from the lens is improved even further. LMO corrects for diffraction*6 to produce images with edge-to-edge sharpness and create a realistic three-dimensional effect, even at small apertures.

*3　X-Trans is a trademark or registered trademark of Fujifilm Corporation.

*4　Fujifilm’s own image processing function that corrects the optical effects of diffraction, based on the optical performance of each lens.

*5　Supported by the “FUJIFILM X-T1” and “FUJIFILM X-E2” as of August, 2014.

*6　Phenomenon that occurs when the shooting with a narrow aperture in which fine images that should originally be sharp become blurred.

(2) Autofocusing for a lens with an apodisation filter

In the past, an apodisation filter has only been used on a manual focus lens, this is the first to use high-precision contrast AF.

Combined with an X Series camera body, more natural shots of subjects are possible thanks to the near-silent shutter sound.

(3) Film-like effects with the Film Simulation function

X Series interchangeable lens cameras are equipped with Film Simulation modes, which have been developed using Fujifilm’s knowledge from 80 years of manufacturing to deliver film-like colours and tones. Combining this lens with the Pro Neg. Film Simulation mode, which is specifically designed for portrait photography, reproduces beautiful skin tones.

(4) High build quality and comfortable operation

The apodisation filter delivers its best results at wider apertures. To enable wide apertures to be used even in bright environments, an ND filter is included that adjusts brightness in three levels. To indicate the apodising effect, the lens features an aperture ring showing the effective FNo. in red. The difference between the FNo. and the effective FNo. indicates the effectiveness of the apodisation filter.

Both the focus and aperture rings are metal, plus metal is also used on the exterior of the lens body for a high-quality finish. The texture and torque on the rings makes for comfortable shooting even for delicate manual focusing.

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