Fujifilm XC 50-230mm f/4.5-6.7 OIS lens confirmed in leaked roadmap

The Fujifilm XC 50-230mm f/4.5-6.7 OIS lens has been unofficially confirmed in a leaked and updated lens roadmap for 2013.

There is no secret that Fujifilm is working on several new lenses. Three of them should have been released by now, but the company has decided to delayed them, in order to increase their quality and to make sure that everything will be all right after the launch.

The new XF lens roadmap for 2013/2014. The Fujifilm XC 50-230mm f/4.5-6.7 OIS lens is there, alongside all upcoming X-mount optics.

Fujifilm XC 50-230mm f/4.5-6.7 OIS lens unofficially confirmed in updated roadmap

The corporation has recently updated its roadmap for late 2013 and early 2014, revealing that the XF 23mm f/1.4 R and XF 10-24mm f/4 R OIS lenses will be released by the end of this year, while the XF 56mm f/1.2 R optic is coming in the first quarter of next year.

According to a leaked roadmap and press release, the Fujifilm XC 50-230mm f/4.5-6.7 OIS lens will be released at the beginning of Q4 2013 and it will provide a 35mm equivalent of 75-350mm. Unfortunately, the post has been taken down, suggesting that it was an accidental “leak”.

The optic will become the second XC lens, after the 16-50mm f/3.5-5.6 OIS, which has been officially announced alongside the entry-level X-M1 camera at the end of June.

Fuji to release new XC 50-230mm f/4.5-6.7 OIS lens in the fourth quarter of 2013

Fujifilm XC 50-230mm f/4.5-6.7 OIS lens release date will most likely be October 2013 and it will be compatible with all X-mount shooters, including the X-M1, which is referred to as a “mid-range” camera in the press release, suggesting that an even cheaper cameras is on its way, too.

The Japanese manufacturer has been rumored to introduce a cheap X-mount camera without an X-Trans image sensor for quite some time. The device will be called Fujifilm X-A1 and it will be announced this August.

The rumor mill might be on track with this one, as it has previously said that a cheaper version of the XF 55-200mm f/3.5-4.8 R LM OIS lens will be released this year. The XC 50-230mm f/4.5-6.7 OIS is a pretty strong candidate, so all that remains is an official announcement.

About the new Fujifilm X-M1 camera

The Fujifilm X-M1 features a 16-megapixel image sensor and a tilting LCD screen. It does not have a viewfinder, but its price is pretty low, too, as it is available for pre-order at Amazon and B&H Photo Video for $699. Shipping will begin in late July.