Fuji has updated another of its X-mount compact system cameras, though this time the changes are more modest. The X-E2S improves on the original X-E2 with the addition of the new Zone and Wide/Tracking autofocus options already seen on some other Fuji X-mount models. Fuji says this gives 'vastly improved' performance on moving subjects across the 77-point autofocus area.
Elsewhere, the X-E2S gets a redesigned front grip to make it easier to hold and an electronic shutter. Eagle-eyed readers will spot that these autofocus and electronic shutter features had been added to the Fuji X-T1 as a firmware upgrade, but presumably this was not possible with the X-E2. The X-E2S also has Fuji's latest Classic Chrome film simulation mode.
You will be able to buy the X-E2S from February 2016 for £549.00 (about US$790) body only or £749 (AU$1,399, about US$1,078) with 18-55mm kit lens.
Fuji XF100-400mm F4.5-5.6 R LM OIS WR
On top of its three new camera launches, Fuji has also announced a new telephoto zoom for its X-mount cameras.
The XF100-400mm F4.5-5.6 R LM OIS WR lens is equivalent to 152-609mm in 35mm camera terms, and fills an important gap in Fuji's X-mount lens range. Fuji has the wide-angle, standard lens and short telephoto range covered pretty well, especially with high-quality prime lenses, but if it wants to compete with other interchangeable lens camera makers for sports, action and wildlife photography, it needs really good long telephoto lenses too.
The XF100-400mm certainly seems to fit the bill, offering near-supertelephoto capability and with a reasonable maximum aperture too, which drops less than one f-stop across the whole zoom range.
Fuji claims its OIS (optical image stabilization) system is the most powerful in any telephoto lens, offering a 5-stop shutter speed advantage. It can also detect and adjust to panning movements automatically.
If that focal range still isn't long enough, you can use the new lens with Fuji's XF1.4X TC WR teleconverter to get a range of 140-560mm (213-853mm equivalent), though this will drop the maximum aperture by 1 f-stop to f/6.3-8.
Twin linear autofocus motors are used to provide fast, quiet AF and there's a focus limiter function too. This sets the minimum focus range to 5m so that the lens operates over a shorter focus range and can focus even faster.
The WR designation indicates the lens is water and dust-resistant, with 13 seals at 12 different points, and it's designed to keep working down to a temperature of -10 degrees centigrade.
The XF100-400mm goes on sale in February 2016 at £1,399 (AU$2,799, about US$2,013), or £1,499 (about US$2,157) bundled with the XF1.4X TC WR teleconverter. That's not too bad for an own-brand lens with this kind of range.
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