Fujifilm XF 18-55mm f/2.8-4 R LM WR OIS lens could be in the works

Fujifilm is now rumored to announce a new version of the already-available XF 18-55mm kit lens, one which could be weathersealed.

The first zoom lens of the X-mount has been the XF 18-55mm f/2.8-4 R LM OIS, which has been released as a kit for the X-E1. The optic is still available, but now it is selling alongside the X-E2.

Since it is the first of its kind, the Japan-based company may be looking to release a replacement, just in time for Photokina 2014.

According to a now-gone listing by a German retailer, the Fujifilm XF 18-55mm f/2.8-4 R LM WR OIS lens will be announced at the world’s largest digital imaging trade fair.

A new Fujifilm weathersealed lens is rumored to be unveiled at Photokina 2014. The product in question is said to consist of the XF 18-55mm f/2.8-4 R LM OIS WR.

Fujifilm XF 18-55mm f/2.8-4 R LM WR OIS lens might be announced at Photokina 2014

When the X-T1 was launched, Fuji confirmed that three weathersealed optics were in the works. Additionally, the manufacturer has revealed that the lenses would be gradually released.

There are plenty of Photokina 2014 rumors circling around the web, but there is room for one more. It appears that the company has not told us everything about its plans with weathersealed products.

A popular Germany-based retailer, called Top-Foto.de, has recently listed a Fujifilm XF 18-55mm f/2.8-4 R LM WR OIS lens, which has nothing to do with the original version, nor with the already-announced XF 16-55mm f/2.8 R WR unit.

The listing has been taken down, but FujiRumors has managed to get a screenshot beforehand. This might be a typo or a misunderstanding, but we should not overlook it because it could turn out to be a massive leak.

What Fujifilm has told us about its weathersealed lens line-up

The first weathersealed lens available in Fujifilm’s X-mount line-up is the XF 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 R LM OIS WR, which is available at Amazon for about $900.

The second model will be the XF 50-140mm f/2.8 R LM OIS WR and it will probably get an adequate launch event at Photokina.

The third unit to be confirmed by Fuji consists of the XF 16-55mm f/2.8 R WR. It is easy to see that the focal lengths and apertures with the aforementioned lenses are similar. However, this unit has a constant maximum aperture, but does not have OIS.

There are lots of possible outcomes, but the official event is only one day away, so it would be best to wait in order to see if this new lens is real or if the German store has made a mistake.