Fujifilm has announced a new wide conversion lens for its X100 premium compact camera.
The converter attaches directly to the camera and increases the field of view from a 23mm (35mm in 35mm equivalent terms) to a 19mm (28mm in 35mm terms) optic.
It has been specially designed to preserve the X100 lens' optical quality, with Fujifilm promising that it is capable of delivering comparable image quality even at f/2, the widest aperture setting available.
Manufactured in Japan, the WCL-X100 comprises of four premium glass elements in three groups, designed to keep aberration to a minimum and also including Fujinon's unique Super EBC coating.
Upgrade
To use the lens converter, owners of X100 cameras need to update the Firmware to version 1.3.0 or later, which allows the option to be selected by the Fn or RAW button. The X100 includes options to apply image processing to shots taken with the converter to reduce image distortion, ensure balanced illumination and reduce chromatic aberration.
When using the WCL-X100, full functionality of the X100 remains, including the autofocusing speed and 10cm macro distance. Also compatible with the hybrid optical and electronic viewfinder, the converter is manufactured from the same materials, textures and colours as the X100.
The converter will be available in black and silver, while a WCL-X100 price is looking likely to be around £249 (around $400) with an August on-sale date.
