With Fujifilm ever expanding and reiterating the lens lineup with sharp, well-corrected lenses, I wonder if Fujifilm got it right the first time with the compact and pleasing trio.
As the spiritual successor of the Contax G, the X-Pro1, Fujifilm’s rangefinder for the mirrorless age, not only teased at a future lineage with its nomenclature but came with three astounding lenses that drew more than a little inspiration from the Contax G Zeiss lineup. Whilst the X-Pro1 shows its age as a first-generation mirrorless with a ‘strange’ X-Trans sensor, the same cannot be said for the lenses. With updates and better AF in newer bodies, where the X-Pro1 shows age, these lenses show vintage.
Before I can talk about Fujifilm’s offerings we must address the Zeiss-shaped elephant in the room. Developed by Kyocera, the Contax G was a Japanese invention in everything but name. The same goes for the Zeiss lenses, manufactured in Cosina’s Nakano factory. This is a tale of Japanese glass at its finest. Known for its 28mm Biogon, 45mm Planar and 90mm Sonnar, not only did it complete the set of wide, normal and short-tele but also showed off Zeiss’ best optical formulas. This clearly did not go unseen by Fujifilm.
Unfortunately, from here on out I will not be able to compare side by side, having sold my Contax G1 many years ago and iteratively upgrading my Fujifilm camera bodies. However, recently I have rounded out the original trio with the 60mm F2.4 and it has spurred me to write this love letter…
This is an excerpt from an article by David Roberts in issue 97 of FUJILOVE MAGAZINE (March 2024). Subscribers, you can find this article by downloading this issue from your subscriber area.
You will find the remaining part of this article in FUJILOVE MAGAZINE.
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