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The Latest News:
Fujifilm Accidentally Leaked Their New X-E5 Camera
credits: Fujifilm (image from taken down webpage)
Fujifilm accidentally spilled the beans on the rumoured X-E5. The camera leaked on the company’s own website and while the page was quickly taken down, most of the details are now ‘‘officially’’ out. Here is what the web page told us: The X-E5 is priced at $1,699.95 for the body only, or $1,899.95 bundled with a new XF 23mm f/2.8 lens. Design-wise, it’s got the same retro vibe that made the X100VI such a hit, but with the added versatility of interchangeable lenses. The top plate is aluminum, complete with a dedicated viewfinder bumped off to the side for the classic rangefinder look.
One standout feature is the new customizable Film Simulation dial tucked beneath the top plate, you can set up three custom film looks and quickly switch between them using a windowed dial that mimics old-school controls. Under the hood, the X-E5 shares the same 40.2MP sensor found in the X100VI and X-T5, paired with up to 7 stops of in-body stabilisation, a first for the X-E line. The EVF is a 2.36M-dot panel that supports multiple viewing modes, including a clever "Surround View" that lets you see a frame line (just like a Leica optical viewfinder), a semi-transparent preview, or a more traditional black mask. The rear LCD isn’t groundbreaking at 1.04M dots, but it should get the job done.
The camera is not weather-sealed, and while it has Bluetooth for easy sharing and pairing, the Bluetooth button is actually styled like a film rewind knob, one of those little Fuji touches that adds to the charm. The X-E5 and Fujifilm’s new lens should launch officially in a few days.
Lailens Announced Two New Lenses
credits: Lailens
Lailens, one of the newest names in the growing wave of Chinese lens makers, has announced two upcoming lenses for Leica shooters: a fast 50mm f/1.1 for M-mount and L39, and a compact 35mm f/1.8 for L39 screw-mount rangefinders. The company only formed last year and relies on DJ Optical for its glass, but they are already making moves with the 50mm f/1.1. lens.
Stylistically, the 50mm f/1.1 looks straight out of Leica’s catalog, though the price tag definitely doesn’t — it’s up for preorder at $800, that of course is still not ‘‘cheap’’ but it is a fraction of what Leica’s f/1.4 or Noctilux primes will cost you. For context, Leica’s 50mm f/1.4 ASPH. starts at over $5,000, and if you want the legendary Noctilux f/0.95, you’re looking at least $14,000. Specs-wise, the Lailens 50mm f/1.1 features a fast aperture range from f/1.1 to f/16, a 13-blade diaphragm for smoother bokeh, a minimum focusing distance of 0.7m, a 52mm filter thread, weighs just under 400 grams, and it’s fully manual.
That said, the official product page is pretty bare, no optical design info, no claims about sharpness or chromatic aberration, and only a handful of sample photos, which look decent but don’t offer much insight. Alongside the 50mm, Lailens is teasing a 35mm f/1.8 L39-mount lens, though details are even scarcer there. The company has shared a CAD rendering, but no specs, pricing, or release date yet, only that it’s expected later this year.
You can see full details and sample shots on Lailens’s website here
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