[Leica] Fujifilm Store Visit in Tokyo

[jayanand at gmail.com (Jayanand Govindaraj)]

I will buy the 100-400 as soon as it is available - I have been told by my
eye surgeon that I am forbidden from lifting heavy items for some time, so
I will have to try to replace my Nikon Safari shooting kit with Fuji....the
other alternative to use lighter lenses and crop, because I will have to
get rid of my 200-400 for certain...
Cheers
Jayanand

On Wed, Apr 22, 2015 at 5:43 AM, H&ECummer <cummer at netvigator.com> wrote:

> Morning Luggers,
> As I mentioned in yesterday?s posting I stopped by the Fujifilm Building
> in Roppongi and picked up a replacement lens hood for my 35mmf1.4.
> At the front of the main floor next to one of the galleries showing
> contemporary photos all taken with Fuji cameras (naturally) there was a
> showcase
> full of prototype lenses.
>
> I was wearing my Tilley photo vest and carrying my XT1 with motor drive
> with the 35 f1.4 mounted and so Mr. Takashi Ueno
> came over to talk. He is in the Sales and Marketing Division of Imaging
> Products, spoke quite good English and volunteered that he was involved
> in the design of the XT1. In the showcase were three lenses that
> particularly interested me - the 100 - 400 zoom - which is BIG Bulky and
> heavy - weighing
> in just under the weight of the Nikon 80 - 400VR zoom at about 1.4Kg. To
> keep the weight down some carbon fibre is used in the construction. The
> maximum aperture is f5.6 and the lens will take an extender reducing the
> aperture to f8.0 - which means the extender must be a 1.4X or so. That
> would bring the lens focal length in 35mm terms up to 400 X 1.5 = 600 X 1.4
> = 840mm f8.0.
>
> Now, if the AF in the Fuji bodies could approach the speed and accuracy of
> Nikon professional bodies, then Fuji
> could be a contender in sports and wild life photography. Based on my in
> field experience in Africa they are not there yet.
>
> In the cabinet was a 35mm f2.0 both in chrome and black finish. Takashi
> San pointed them out proudly as an alternative to my 35 f1.4. I asked if
> they were like the
> Leica 35 Summicron in design and Takashi smiled and said he didn?t really
> know.
>
> Also in the cabinet was a 90mm f2.0 which I had not seen mentioned in
> internet postings. It is a big imposing lens and will be the equivalent of
> a 135 f2.0 in 35mm terms. As I left the store I mused how Fuji has adapted
> to the digital world while Kodak didn?t make it. This showcase store in
> Roppongi, in some of the highest priced real estate on the planet,
> indicates that they are doing very well and looking to fill our camera bags
> with more desirable goods in the future. I came away quite impressed and
> with a future shopping list in my head.
> Howard
>
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