Best Fujinon XC 15-45mm f / 3.5-5.6 OIS PZ Black Friday and Cyber Monday Deals & Sales 2020:

Launched at the same time as the X-A5 hybrid , the Fujinon Super EBC XC 15-45mm f / 3.5-5.6 OIS PZ is the brand’s first electric zoom and will therefore prove particularly useful during video capture. Equivalent to a 23-69 mm in 24×36, it retracts when the device is turned off and then measures just over 4 cm.

Presentation

Made from 10 lenses divided into 9 groups, including 3 aspherical lenses and 2 in. ED glass, the Fujinon Super EBC XC 15-45mm f / 3.5-5.6 zoom is relatively compact when folded. Since ” then it measures only 44 mm in length for a diameter of 62 mm. It accepts screw-on circular filters with a diameter of 52 mm.

Third model in the XC range (corresponding to entry-level lenses), this 15-45 mm offers only a sliding aperture of f / 3.5 at wide angle and f / 5.6 at telephoto but offers an integrated stabilization in order to compensate for this lower luminosity by the use of lower speeds by freehand, provided that the subject is obviously fixed.

It is equipped with a circular diaphragm with 7 blades and a silent autofocus motorization. Above all, an engine is dedicated to deploying the zoom so that smooth and smooth zoom-in or zoom-out effects can be achieved in video recording. Its minimum focusing distance is 13 cm at wide angle and 35 cm at telephoto. At wide angle, it offers a maximum magnification of 0.24x.

The Fujinon Super EBC XC. 15-45mm f / 3.5-5.6 OIS PZ is currently only available as a kit, associated with the. X-A5 or X-T100 (with which it is valued at 100 €). But when it was announced, Fujifilm had talked about marketing it alone for € 299.

Best Fujinon XC 15-45mm f / 3.5-5.6 OIS PZ Black Friday and Cyber Monday Deals & Sales 2020

1. Fujinon XC15-45mmF3.5-5.6 OIS PZ Lens – Silver

2., Fujinon XC15-45mmF3.5-5.6 OIS PZ Lens – Black

3. Fujifilm XC 16-50mm F3.5-5.6 OIS Zoom Camera Lens, Silver

Ergonomics

The Fujinon Super EBC XC 15-45mm f / 3.5-5.6 OIS PZ does not benefit from the high-end manufacturing of XF lenses and this is the first observation that we make when we are used to use – we think in particular of the XF 50 mm f / 2 R WR which we said very good about our test. However, this XC 15-45 mm has beautiful finishes and precise machining. The most striking thing at first contact is its low weight of only 135g; it therefore does not cause any imbalance once associated with a device even compact and light like the X-A5.

If this zoom measures only 44 mm in the folded position, the lens deploys automatically as soon as the camera is turned on, then goes to 65 mm in wide-angle position and 62 mm at telephoto.

Its barrel accommodates two adjustment rings, without the slightest inscription to specify their use. It must be said that if you are in autofocus mode on the camera, both will have the same function: activate the zoom. The closest to the camera and the widest (1 cm) operates a progressive and smooth zooming. As for the second, it can be used to quickly switch from wide-angle to telephoto via a dozen intermediate levels, however its use has not convinced us. Above all, the two rings being very close to each other, we regularly operated one in place of the other. We also regret not being able to position the camera on a given focal length with the exception of the two extremes (15 and 45 mm).

More

The motorized zoom is appreciable in video. Its speed, which can easily be measured according to the amplitude of the rotation, is neither too fast nor too slow and its operation is perfectly fluid. However, he would have benefited from being a little quieter. Inscriptions indicating the direction of the wide-angle and the telephoto would also have been appreciable to avoid piloting errors. However, the front ring is too fluid. When using it to focus in manual mode, it will be necessary to use the distance indications on the screen in order to know its position and the absence of stop is quite annoying.

The lens is delivered without lens hood and does not have a fixing mechanism to accommodate one. The front lens is however set back from the objective, it is not too problematic. Nor did we have to complain about the appearance of flare .

In practice

Embracing a field equivalent to that of a 23-69mm in 24×36, the Fujinon XC 15-45mm f / 3.5-5.6 is comfortable in many areas, including street photography, landscape or the portrait. For the latter, we still regret sometimes not being able to zoom a little more than the 45 mm position. Its focal range will be too short to consider using it for sporting events or distant subjects.

However, we appreciated its close focus at only 13 cm. It does not allow taking macro shots, but allows focusing on a close foreground while including its environment in the frame.

The modest aperture of f / 3.5-5-6 does not allow for spectacular bokeh as with the f / 2.8 or f / 1.4 aperture lenses in the XF range.

On the other hand, optical stabilization has been shown to be very effective, making it possible to take clear photos in long exposure by freehand.

The geometry is perfectly corrected with imperceptible distortion at wide-angle as at telephoto.

Vignetting marks are visible at 15 mm at full aperture, but they are not annoying on classic subjects and disappear quickly when the diaphragm is closed. We did not find any vignetting at the other focal lengths.

Sharpness

The notion of dive is quite delicate to deal with. This is what we can assimilate to the “feeling of sharpness” or to the “precision” that we observe on an image. It can be very different from one lens to another, from one focal to another and from one aperture to another. It can also vary between the center and the edges of the image. We usually say that the sharpness is optimal in the center and at the average openings

We tested the lens with the Fujifilm X-A5 which accompanies it as a kit. Its 24 Mpx APS-C sensor generates images of 6000 x 4000 px. Each pixel therefore measures 3.7 µm on a side. The Fujinon Super EBC XC 15-45mm f / 3.5-5.6 OIS PZ will also be sold as a kit with the. X-T100 announced last week, and should give generally similar results since the two devices share the same sensor.

From the outset, a first observation is essential: the sharpness in the center of the image proves to be high at all focal lengths, from the full opening. No need to close the diaphragm to take advantage of a better dive in the center, which is good news given the modest opening of this zoom. But this remark is only valid if you center on your subject. Because the corners and the sides do not benefit from the same rendering.

At 15 mm, the results are quite bad on the sides and you have to wait for the f / 8 aperture for the lens to appear more homogeneous. A phenomenon that the images of our test scene below, at the bottom of this article, highlight.

STRONG POINTS

• Good optical qualities.
• Lightness.
• Compact in folded position.
• Effective stabilization.

WEAK POINTS

• Convenient zooming.
• Complicated manual focusing.
• Lack of homogeneity at short focal lengths.

CONCLUSION

The Fujinon Super EBC XC 15-45mm f / 3.5-5.6 OIS PZ motorized zoom is used in particular as a kit for the Fujifilm X-A5. If this lens is practical in video recording – which we could unfortunately see that it was not the specialty of the X-A5 -, its electric zooming did not convince us in the photo where we often lost time trying to to serve. But it’s a matter of taste and practice, which perhaps you don’t share with us. 

Regarding its intrinsic qualities, this zoom fulfills its mission by offering a strong dive in the center from full opening, the absence of any distortion and effective stabilization which will make it a very good companion to start in photography with a hybrid entry range. More demanding users will prefer a brighter model from the XF range. But one that will also be much more expensive.

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