Fujinon Cine Lens MK18-55MM T2.9 Review

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The FUJINON MK18-55mm T2.9 E-Mount Cine Lens, designed with a dedicated E-Mount Lens, is the revolutionary answer to those demanding high-quality video for film producers, wedding videos, commercials and more. Superior professional results delivered in a lightweight build with seamless integration with other lenses, and non-breathing par-focal focus at just $3299.

Fujinon Cine Lens MK18-55MM T2.9 Features

The compact and lightweight body FUJINON MK18-55mm T2.9, weighing only 2.16 pounds, is a cine-style zoom lens with smooth zooms and focusing specially crafted for moving pictures.

Focus

With more than double the focus throw than your standard DSLR lens, the 200° of barrel rotation provides greater precision and the ability to focus on images with shallow depths of field.

The sophisticated cinema lens features full manual operation via three independently operated mechanical lens for focus, zoom, and iris, thereby eliminating the time lags found in electric controls.

Constant focus is attained with the inner focus system, allowing for fast and smooth focus changes. Annoying focus breathing is completely eliminated, saving time and frustration. Thanks to the internal zoom, the lens won’t extend either, so filters and a Matte Box are easily integrated. For ease of follow-focus, the lens uses hard stops.

Aperture

The aperture has 9 blades that consistently produce T2.9 speed throughout the range of zoom. With a T-Stop, the effort needed to readjust lighting and shorten shooting time is cut down. The seamless iris is clickless, meaning that the smooth pulls are precise while eliminating vibrations and noise found with clicking mechanisms.

Working Together

Both the MK 18-55mm and the MK 50-135mm overlap, covering the standard focal lengths for cinema production. They are identical in weight and size, eliminating the need to rebalance your camera when switching lenses. The three lens control rings use industry-standard 0.8 film pitch gears in order to interface with lens accessories.

Switching between lenses is also easier because the gear ring positions are located the same on both lenses. The two are perfectly colored matched producing smooth intercutting from lens to lens.

Macro

Close focus abilities are possible with the macro mode.

Image Quality

The FUJINON MK18-55mm T2.9 Cine Zoom Lens provides incredible image quality. The sharpness is across the corners, with the only distortion seen as pincushion starting at 33mm. There’s very little chromatic aberration noticed, and vignetting is found when at a wide-open aperture. You’ll be hard-pressed to find it in wide-angle, and the vignetting really helps provide a more natural look.

Calibration of color grading with the use of multiple lenses is simplified because the color is standardized with all of the FUJINON HK, ZK, and XK series.

The lens creates a rather beautiful Bokeh as well.

Pros

The ability to zoom without refocus
Awesome color and overall image quality
200 degrees of focus throw
Internal zoom and focus
Built-in back focus
Lightweight
Ease of integration

Cons

Does not adapt to X-Mount cameras