Reviews |Fujifilm Fujinon MKX18-55mmT2.9 and MKX50-135mmT2.9: price, specs, release date confirmed

Fujifilm Fujinon MKX18-55mmT2.9 and MKX50-135mmT2.9: price, specs, release date confirmed

Fujifilm Fujinon MKX18-55mmT2.9 and Fujinon MKX50-135mmT2.9: price, specs, release date confirmed
News

Fujifilm has announced the first fully manual cinema lenses for its X Series of interchangeable lens cameras, the MKX18-55mm and MKX50-135mm.

On the company’s APS-C format cameras the MKX18-55mm has a focal length range equivalent to 27-84mm while the MKX50-135mm equates to a 76-206mm optic.

These lenses are optimised for shooting video, following on from the MK lenses for Sony E-mount cameras released in February 2017.

The new MKX lenses follow design concepts of the MK optics, but they are designed for use on Fuji cameras. An electrical contact enables communication between the X-Series camera and lens, which allows distortion, colour and vignetting corrections to be made.

 

Fuji launches MK50-135mm T2.9 telephoto zoom cine lens

The two optics offer a constant T2.9 aperture throughout their zoom range, for shallow depth of field and attractive bokeh.

The lens designs, which enable the front focusing and zooming groups to be driven independently, minimise focus shift and optical axis shift during zooming, as well as reducing lens breathing – when the angle of view shifts during focusing.

Three rings on the lens barrels give independent manual control over focus, focal length and aperture. Each has a standard gear pitch of 0.8M (making them compatible with third-party accessories like focus racks), with the focus rings rotating through up to 200 degrees for greater precision – essential with shallow depth of field.

Helpfully, the three rings’ gears are in the same location on each lens so accessories don’t need to be moved when swapping optics.

The closest focusing distances are 0.38m at 18mm with the MK18-55mm and 0.85m at 50mm with the MK50-135mm.

Construction

Both lenses are constructed from 22 glass elements in 17 groups with the MKX18-55mm having six super ED lens elements and two ED lens elements while the MKX50-135mm has two super ED lens elements and two ED lens elements.

Thanks to the short flange depth of Fujifilm X-Series cameras, the MKX lenses are smaller and lighter than other cinema optics but achieve high optical performance. Both lenses support click-free iris adjustment for reduced shake and silent exposure adjustment during filming.

With an 85mm front diameter and 82mm filter thread, they are both compatible with the same size matte box and filters.

Camera and lens matching, for the highest possible image quality, can be optimised through the lens’ Flange Focal Distance adjustment feature.

Price and Availability

The Fujinon MKX18-55mmT2.9 and Fujinon MKX50-135mmT2.9 lenses are set to retail for £3,499 and £3,799 respectively and are anticipated to be available from June 2018.

Key Specifications

[table id=57 /]