Fujifilm’s retro-styled EF-X20 flash formally announced

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posted Wednesday, March 28, 2012 at 2:32 PM EDT

Fujifilm's EF-X20 flash strobe. Photo provided by Fujifilm Corp.When Fujifilm announced the Fuji X-Pro1 last January, a new flash strobe was quietly introduced alongside the attention-grabbing compact system camera. Today, the Fuji EF-X20 flash strobe makes its formal debut.

Although the retro-styled EF-X20's looks nicely complement those of Fuji's X-series cameras, the new strobe is also compatible with many of Fuji's other cameras, including the HS20EXR, HS25EXR, HS30EXR, SL240, SL260, SL280, SL300, and SL305.

Fujifilm's EF-X20 flash strobe. Photo provided by Fujifilm Corp. Click for a bigger picture!

Fujifilm's EF-X20 flash strobe.
Photo provided by Fujifilm Corp.

The EF-X20's metal body features a physical exposure dial on the top deck, and weighs just 100 grams without batteries. Dimensions are 2.3 x 2.0 x 1.4 inches (59.5 x 50 x 36mm). The exposure dial provides access to TTL Auto exposure compensation from +1 to -1 EV, as well as manual flash output control from 1/32 to full power.

The guide number is ordinarily 20 meters at ISO 100, and deploying a built-in wide angle panel with a lever on the strobe's right-hand side reduces this to a guide number of 12 meters. At full power, the color temperature is 5,600K.

The EF-X20 flash strobe mounted on Fujifilm's X-Pro1 compact system camera. Photo provided by Fujifilm Corp. Click for a bigger picture!

The EF-X20 flash strobe mounted on Fujifilm's X-Pro1 compact system camera.
Photo provided by Fujifilm Corp.

Other features of the Fujifilm EF-X20 flash include an automatic locking mechanism, and a slave mode that will fire the flash when another flash is fired, allowing for off-camera flash. The slave mode can be configured to ignore pre-flash and fire on the second flash instead. An included tripod mount adapter allows the flash to be positioned off-camera.

Power comes from two AAA NiMh batteries, and the EF-X20 has an operating temperature range of 0 to 40°C.

The Fujifilm EF-X20 strobe goes on sale in Japan this weekend. Pricing and availability in other markets weren't available at press time.

Press Release

Fujifilm announces a lightweight and compact digital camera accessory — the EF-X20 hot shoe mounted flash gun

March 28, 2012 -- Fujifilm is proud to announce a lightweight and compact digital camera accessory — the EF-X20 hot shoe mounted flash gun.

Ease of use and sophistication have been combined with analogue functionality by the inclusion of an exposure setting dial. The EF-X20 hot shoe mounted flash gun is an external TTL flash that is compatible with the Fujifilm X Series, FinePix HS30EXR / HS25EXR / HS20EXR and SL300 / 305 / 280 / 260 / 240. Despite the EF-X20 hot shoe mounted flash gun compact size, the flash provides a strong light intensity of guide number 20.

In keeping with the style of the X-series cameras, the flash has been crafted from premium materials. Further attention to detail has been given to the feel of the setting dial — the excellent ergonomics keep control totally responsive. The X Series range of cameras has received praise from photographers all over the world for their analogue like controls. With this in mind a manual setting dial is incorporated in the Shoe Mount Flash EF-X20. Full manual control is featured, down to 1/64 power for very low levels of power output. The TTL (Through The Lens) with EV (Exposure Value) flash compensation is in +/- 1/3 step, which means that the photographer is in total control of the power of flash output. Built-in wide panel can be selected by using the lever located on the side of the flash for incredible ease of use.

The Shoe Mount Flash EF-X20 design allows for the flash to be locked in place when attaching to a hot shoe. This automatically eliminates any need for the added hassle of opening and closing lock bars or screwing the flash in — just easy attachment, fast. Shoe Mount Flash EF-X20 features a built-in “Slave Mode” which enables the flash to be fired automatically using another flash.

Supported cameras :

 

FUJIFILM X-Pro1 / X100 / X10 / X-S1, FinePix HS30EXR / HS25EXR / HS20EXR / SL300 / SL305 / SL280 / SL260 / SL240

Shoe Mount Flash EF-X20 : key features

  • Stylish and precise metalwork body design

  • Guide number 20

  • Slave mode

  • Full manual control