Fujifilm to boost its production capacity for interchangeable lenses, addressing the ever-increasing demand for mirrorless digital cameras

Fujifilm to boost its production capacity for interchangeable lenses, addressing the ever-increasing demand for mirrorless digital cameras Production Capacity to increase 70% by 2020

20.07.2018

FUJIFILM Corporation (President: Kenji Sukeno) has announced that it will substantially reinforce its production capacity for interchangeable lenses in response to a growing demand for mirrorless digital cameras. Additional production facilities will be set up at the Taiwa Factory of FUJIFILM Optics Co., Ltd. ( FFOP ), a subsidiary for producing cameras and lenses in Japan. The new facilities will go operational in stages starting in September 2018. This expansion will boost the production capacity by approx. 70% in 2020, when all of the new facilities go fully operational.

Fujifilm entered into the mirrorless digital camera market in 2012 and continued to expand the lineup of the X Series of highly maneuverable APS-C mirrorless digital cameras. In March 2017, the company introduced the FUJIFILM GFX 50S ( GFX 50S ), a medium-format mirrorless digital camera featuring a large sensor 1.7 times the area of a 35mm full-size sensor. Its superior image quality based on Fujifilm unique color reproduction technology, elegant design and outstanding operability have given the camera a strong reputation from professional photographers and photo enthusiasts. Tapping into the optical technologies nurtured through the production of FUJINON lenses, widely used in the broadcasting and cinematography industries, Fujifilm has worked on developing interchangeable lenses with excellent descriptive performance. The current lineup of interchangeable lenses includes 36 models, with sales expanding at the rate of over 20% per annum.

Fujifilm is substantially reinforcing the production capacity of FFOPs Taiwa Factory in response to a growing demand for mirrorless digital cameras and to achieve further sales expansion of interchangeable lenses for the X Series and GFX Series. Among new facilities to be installed are a large-scale cleanroom featuring the cutting-edge cleanroom analyzer, and other latest facilities that use AI to improve accuracy in optical adjustments. This will enable the production of interchangeable lenses at high quality and efficiency, resulting in advanced productivity in manufacturing ultra wide-angle lenses and large-diameter lenses, which require a high level of image resolving performance. Through this investement, the Taiwa Factorys production capacity will be raised by approx. 70% from the current level by 2020, when all of the new facilities go fully operational.

After the upgrade, the Taiwa Factory will combine the state-of-the-art facilities and production technology of skilled workers to manufacture not only the GF lenses, which draw out the advanced resolving performance of the GFX 50S, but also other interchangeable lenses which require highest manufacturing skill. They include an ultra wide-angle zoom lens announced today with a maximum aperture of F2.8 and focal length range equivalent to 12-24mm*, addition to the lineup of XF interchangeable lenses for the X Series, as well as a large-diameter telephoto lens, being developed for anticipated demand during the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, with a maximum aperture of F2.0 and focal length equivalent to 305mm*. Interchangeable lenses with Made in Japan quality, manufactured at the Taiwa Factory, will be distributed worldwide.

Fujifilm will continue to tap into its optical, precision processing and assembling technologies that have been nurtured in the cutting-edge imaging field over many years, to further expand the lineup of mirrorless digital cameras and interchangeable lenses, thereby broadening the photographic appeal of the X Series and GFX Series.

*Focal lengths equivalent in the 35mm film format

Overview of the capital investment Site Taiwa Factory, FUJIFILM Optics Co., Ltd.

Address 1-6 Matsusakadaira, Taiwa-cho, Kurokawa-gun, Miyagi Prefecture

Facilities Cleanroom, automatic assembling equipment, optical adjustment device using AI, etc.

Production items Interchangeable lenses for mirrorless digital cameras

Operation launch timing To be launched in stages, starting in September 2018

For UK MEDIA ENQUIRIES please contact:

FUJIFILM UK Digital Camera Press Office

Jeannie Corby

PR Executive

fujifilmpr_uk(at)fujifilm(dot)com

Tel: 01234 572064 / 07979 525398

For UK CONSUMER ENQUIRIES please contact:

FUJIFILM UK Camera Service

fujifilmtec_uk(at)fujifilm(dot)com

Tel: 0344 553 2321

ABOUT FUJIFILM

Fujifilm UK, established in the UK since 1976, is a subsidiary of FUJIFILM Holdings Corporation and consists of six business divisions. The Photo Imaging division provides commercial photographic businesses with photo printing equipment, kiosk and software solutions along with a range of photo papers for both dry and wet labs, wide format media and inks, photo chemistry, film, and single-use cameras. Photo Imaging is also the home of the best-selling Instax instant camera and accessories. The Electronic Imaging division markets an award-winning range of digital cameras suited to professionals and enthusiasts alike, including the FinePix, X Series and GFX medium format ranges. The Medical Systems division delivers a range of diagnostic imaging systems, medical informatics solutions and clinical chemistry analysers, helping healthcare professionals to deliver excellent care to patients. The Graphic Systems division supplies industry-leading digital, offset, inkjet and plate products and services to deliver superb, high-quality print. The Recording Media division is one of the leading manufacturers of high performance storage media, producing the latest in high capacity data tape storage technology solutions and services. Lastly, the Optical Devices division develops and manufactures FUJINON high-precision lenses for the T

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