Fuji X Series

[Spleen Sauce]

23mm F2 and the F1.4

Yes. The 23mm F2 isn't the sharpest wide open (especially at close focus distances) but it is fast focusing. The 1.4 in my opinion is the better lens, its better wide open than the F2 is. Focusing speed is quick enough (certainly faster than the 56mm).

focus to be quite tempremental

It takes some getting used to. Is this when shooting wide open?

 

[Barks]

Yes. The 23mm F2 isn't the sharpest wide open (especially at close focus distances) but it is fast focusing. The 1.4 in my opinion is the better lens, its better wide open than the F2 is. Focusing speed is quick enough (certainly faster than the 56mm).



It takes some getting used to. Is this when shooting wide open?

Yes although I wouldn’t say it was much better stopped down. I think you’re right though probably just a case of getting used to. Oddly enough it actually seemed to perform better wide open in low light than in broad daylight. It was a 30 man wedding and the lighting conditions in their marquee for the speeches etc were terrible.

 

[Spleen Sauce]

lighting conditions in their marquee for the speeches etc were terrible

To be honest I struggled with most of my Fuji gear in those sorts of conditions, regardless of the glass I used. Always ended up using my Sony gear in tougher situations, better hit rates and just a bit less stressful. It could just be my lack of ability though, @Raymond Lin can probably offer better insight here

 

[Raymond Lin]

To be honest I struggled with most of my Fuji gear in those sorts of conditions, regardless of the glass I used. Always ended up using my Sony gear in tougher situations, better hit rates and just a bit less stressful. It could just be my lack of ability though, @Raymond Lin can probably offer better insight here

I actually use my Sony gear for weddings, Fuji is my "toy".

 

[Barks]

So potential noob queston here. I have limited experience shooting long exposure ND stuff.

I bought a new variable filter for my 23mm having used fixed filters in the past and this happened on many of my images:



Slightly more luck with this one



What exactly was happening with the first? I believe the shutter was set to auto whereas the second one I manually did shutter and aperture.

 

[GMac11]

So potential noob queston here. I have limited experience shooting long exposure ND stuff.

I bought a new variable filter for my 23mm having used fixed filters in the past and this happened on many of my images:
What exactly was happening with the first? I believe the shutter was set to auto whereas the second one I manually did shutter and aperture.

I believe what has happened here is that you have reached the very extremity of the the variable filter. Variable filters are basically two separate filters that rotate around each other, however, there is an exact point when this 'crossing' happens. How prevalent it is comes down to the quality of the filter at the end of the day.
I've had variable filters in the past with varying degrees of success but in the end I just went for a fixed square filter system and bought the relevant adapter rings for my lenses.

As for shutter speed, I would advise against using Auto for long exposure. To be right you should compose the shot 'normally' and then use a calculator (there's many websites and apps) to tell you what your shutter speed should be depending on the strength of the filter you are applying. I'll admit I'm guilty on many an occasion of not bothering with that and just guesstimating but either way you should be in manual and the shutter speed will be the last element you set.

 

[Barks]

Clear explanation, thank you. I must admit I had no idea this was an issue when I bought the filter, might just replace it with a fixed one. Yeah I'm not sure what I was doing using auto on the shutter, I think I'll likely just trial and error the shutter speeds - I think half the fun with long exposures is not quite knowing how they're going to turn out and at the end of the day I'm not shooting professionally for a client.

 

[philstanbridge]

Long exposures are a bit hit and miss for me too, but then I don't really know what I'm doing

 

[Barks]

Fuji 16mm f1.4 arrived from e-infinity.

Would be interested to hear how you’re getting on with this. I’m really tempted but worried it’ll end up gathering dust like my 14mm did.

 

[LiE]

Would be interested to hear how you’re getting on with this. I’m really tempted but worried it’ll end up gathering dust like my 14mm did.

I've used a little since I've had it, purely because there hasn't been much to photograph.

I took it to a family gathering and found it to be good at capturing a scene, especially indoors where rooms didn't allow me to zoom out with my feet.

What I really enjoy about the lens is the ability to take very close up photos that creates a lovely look (did a couple test shots above). Worked really well taking some interior photos of my car as well.

The close focus and large aperture make it a very versatile lens.

Here's another photo playing around with it:

View attachment w5wyVL6.jpg


It's a big boi on my X-T30:

 

[Barks]

It's a big boi on my X-T30:

Nice. Definitely tempting, it seems to me it's a 'do everything' lens. Some of the sample photos I've seen of portrait work have beautiful bokeh but seems you can just stick it on the camera in auto mode and it is ideal for indoor events/family gatherings etc. I'm supposed to be doing 2 weeks in Japan soon although looking like it will be pushed back to next year. It's a once in a life time trip for me so trying to find the perfect lens combo think it's going to be the 56 f1.2, 23 f2 and I'll buy this 16 f1.4. I'm guessing the 16 on a crop is still wide enough for most landscape/cityscape and indoor shots too.

Is that the standard lens hood?

 

[LiE]

portrait work have beautiful bokeh

The only thing I'd say on that is you have to get pretty close to the subjects face

 

[philstanbridge]

The 35mm is fab for portrait.

 

[Barks]

The only thing I'd say on that is you have to get pretty close to the subjects face

Of course although I would say with the 56mm 1.2 it basically blows the background into oblivion whereas with the 16mm from what I’ve seen it is possible to get the bokeh but also more background context if that makes sense

 

[LiE]

Of course although I would say with the 56mm 1.2 it basically blows the background into oblivion whereas with the 16mm from what I’ve seen it is possible to get the bokeh but also more background context if that makes sense

Yep, here is a photo of my son I managed (heavily edited).

 

[Barks]

Yep, here is a photo of my son I managed (heavily edited).

Nice - that’s exactly the sort of look I want to be able to achieve. Think I’m going to bite the bullet on this although I suspect it is going to be a challenging lens to work with.

 

[Barks]

Yep, here is a photo of my son I managed (heavily edited).

I think I’m going to use Einfini although starting to get a bit concerned over how much I’ve spent on lenses from them now. Do you know if there are any issues registering the lenses with Fuji or getting them repaired? Would they know they are grey imports… or even selling them to one of the camera shops in the future as used lenses? Basically don’t want to end up being stuck with a load of glass that can’t be sold on.

 

[LiE]

I think I’m going to use Einfini although starting to get a bit concerned over how much I’ve spent on lenses from them now. Do you know if there are any issues registering the lenses with Fuji or getting them repaired? Would they know they are grey imports… or even selling them to one of the camera shops in the future as used lenses? Basically don’t want to end up being stuck with a load of glass that can’t be sold on.

Grey imports don’t have official Fuji warranty AFAIK, the warranty is supplied by e-infinity. Camera shops don’t care that a lens is grey import since they assume no warranty and provide their own when they resell it.

 

[GMac11]

I think I’m going to use Einfini although starting to get a bit concerned over how much I’ve spent on lenses from them now. Do you know if there are any issues registering the lenses with Fuji or getting them repaired? Would they know they are grey imports… or even selling them to one of the camera shops in the future as used lenses? Basically don’t want to end up being stuck with a load of glass that can’t be sold on.

In my opinion (and experience) any costs saved by purchasing from einfin will easily cover the potentially lower costs recouped from selling on. But as @LiE says, the used market just assumes 'no warranty' and the prices are dictated by that.
Coming back to my first point, for example, the 90mm f2 is £800 RRP in the UK, £550 from einfin and around £550 used (figure from MPB). If you buy in UK and sell you've lost £250-300. If you buy from einfin and EVEN gave a generous discount of say £100 for being a grey import you've still only lost £100. Furthermore, when selling on as a used unit many buyers (myself included) don't consider warranty as a deal breaker - as long as it works.

 

[Barks]

Grey imports don’t have official Fuji warranty AFAIK, the warranty is supplied by e-infinity. Camera shops don’t care that a lens is grey import since they assume no warranty and provide their own when they resell it.

In my opinion (and experience) any costs saved by purchasing from einfin will easily cover the potentially lower costs recouped from selling on. But as @LiE says, the used market just assumes 'no warranty' and the prices are dictated by that.
Coming back to my first point, for example, the 90mm f2 is £800 RRP in the UK, £550 from einfin and around £550 used (figure from MPB). If you buy in UK and sell you've lost £250-300. If you buy from einfin and EVEN gave a generous discount of say £100 for being a grey import you've still only lost £100. Furthermore, when selling on as a used unit many buyers (myself included) don't consider warranty as a deal breaker - as long as it works.

Thanks guys, you've been really helpful.

Will sleep on this purchase. I didn't realise just how expensive it was even on Einfini. Seems a bit crazy dropping all this cash on lenses when I have an X-T20, maybe should look at upgrading that first!