As the title suggests, please take this comparison with a pinch of salt. It’s just for fun and nothing too technical to share and discuss. This is something I did not try before but there is always a first time.
First thing first, why compare these 2 lenses? My reason is simple. They are approximately the same size and same price range (approximately 150 USD different) for brand new. Some might suggest why not compare the Sigma 18-50mm with the XF 16-55mm instead. In my opinion, they are not the same size and you can buy 2 of the Sigma 18-50mm lenses and have some cash left. To cut things short, they are in a different league.
Here we go.
Left: Sigma 18-50mm f2.8 @ f2.8. Right: XF 18-55mm f2.8 – 4 @ f2.8. Shoot at approximately 50 cm. Both at 18mm.
Left: Sigma 18-50mm f2.8 @ f2.8. Right: XF 18-55mm f2.8 – 4 @ f2.8. Shoot at 30 cm. (XF 18-55mm minimim focus distance). Both at 18mm.Sigma 18-50mm @ f2.8 @ 18mm . minimum focus distance @ 12.1 cm
Left: Sigma 18-50mm f2.8 @ f2.8 @ 50mm. Right: XF 18-55mm f2.8 – 4 @ f4 @ 55mm. Shoot at approximately 100 cm.
Sigma 18-50mm f2.8 @ f2.8 @ 50mm. Shoot at approximately 100 cm.
In conclusion: Despite having 5mm shorter than the Fuji, Sigma has more versatility. All thanks to the capability of shooting at a much closer Minimum focus distance at both wide and tele ends. As for image quality, I think they come in quite close together. What do you think? Are you willing to sacrifice the aperture ring and the metal build lens to opt for a Sigma 18-50mm f2.8?
Thank you for reading.
Disclaimer: 1. All the shots taken here are shot by me. 2. All shots are straight out of the camera. 3. The opinions are based on my experience. If there is any mistake, please kindly drop me a message and I will gladly make the amendment. 4. I reserve ownership of these images, if you wish to use my images, please notify me.
If you like my works, please follow me on either one of the 2 Instagram accounts:
My memory of my childhood is somehow considered “Childhood Amnesia”. I do not remember many personal milestones or achievements I had when I was young. As for photography, I remember I used a film camera before during a family outing or two. I also know it was an autofocus point-and-shoot film camera but I no longer remember which camera model and brand.
Kodak Ektar H35
Kodak is one of the few companies that is still manufacturing focus-free point-and-shoot film cameras. To name a few: Ilford, FilmNeverDie, and Yashica. The two good points in this category are usually priced affordably, and come with many attractive designs. With these, they usually attract many younger generations to explore with different film rolls and the process of making photography the fun way.
Usually, none of the film cameras are attractive to me. The design is okay to me and I am lazy to send to develop the roll after finished.
Anyway, somehow, this Ektar H35 caught my eye simply because it is so beautifully designed. Very retrospective and minimalistic. First of all, it’s a half-frame 35mm camera. It has a fixed 22mm focal length, a fixed f9.5 aperture value, and a fixed shutter speed of 1/100 seconds. So it is literally a true “point-and-shoot” film camera from this perspective.
I purchased it and loaded it with Fujicolor C200 (because I’m Fuji Fanboy) with a 36mm exposure (in this case, I have 72 exposure with this camera). The results, well, kind of expected because I am so dependent on technology for my shots. Many overexposed, many underexposed with some “passable” shots.
Handling of this camera wise is okay. Not the best in the market. Obvious plastic feel all over the camera but probably the lightest camera I have been using over the past decade.
Since it is focus-free camera, it’s Minimum Focus Distance (MFD) is 1 meter. Pretty standard for a film camera of it’s class. But the viewfinder will not tell you where is your MFD is, so this is where you will wonder if your shots are in “focused”. The good thing is that it is at f9.5. So the shots might still look okay if you off the MFD by a little.
In short, it does bring back a nostalgic feeling every time I used it. I am so used to previewing my shots taken and reshooting them if possible and what happens here is not possible. I cannot do anything besides clicking the shutter button makes me very curious about the results. When I look at them, another nostalgic feeling comes back to me. That’s the film color and quality that I used to see when I was young.
Will I ever shoot again with a film camera? I think I will do it again when time allows.
Thank you for reading.
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If you are aware, DPReview TV has done it again. Yes, this is the second time DPReview commented that the Fujifilm XF lens is not sharp, and unfortunately, XF18-120mm f4 is that lens. The first one was back in 2020 and they commented that the XF50mm f1 was soft.
In DPReview TV, they have this culture in which they will share their thoughts on the best and worse cameras and lenses at the end of every year with some alcohol.
So what are the comments? While Chris mentioned that it is a decent lens, Jordan was disappointed with the lens as it is not sharp and it should be sharper to take full advantage of the X-H2’s 8K video recording capability or the X-H2S’ 6.2k open gate.
This sparks quite a lot of discussions in various forums. Some videographers are worried & wonder why, some are outraged, and some simply ignore it. Usually, I belong to the last category. But I have a few friends who actually want to buy this lens and they want to use it for photography purposes. So I just hope to address some concerns with this post.
The first thing about this lens is that it is designed with videography and videographers in mind. As suggested by many videographers out there, videography lenses that are optimized for video are often not sharp. Even if it is a sharp lens, videographers will need to do something to soften the sharpness. What fascinates me is that the “worse lens” comment actually came out from Jordon and he is a videographer shouldn’t he know why the lens is not sharp-sharp?
I shall stop talking about videography (because I am no expert) and share from my photography standpoint. I do not own this XF18-120mm but I do test the lens out and used it for slightly over 2 weeks. Deep in my heart, it is a very good general-purpose lens with decently sharp across all focal lengths and with adequate contrast. Among all the non-red badged lenses, It is probably one of the best zoom lenses coming out from Fujifilm. Very good control of chromatic aberration and vignetting is an additional plus point to the lens.
If you are looking for an all-rounder lens and you do not mind having a power-zoom lens like this one (it has 3 ways of zoom functionalities) and missing out on the slightly wider focal length like 16mm, I strongly recommend you to try it out in your local camera stores for your consideration.
Disclaimer: 1. All the shots taken here are shot by me. 2. Most of the shots are straight out of the camera with some shots edited via In-Camera Raw Processing. 3. The opinions are based on my experience. If there is any mistake, please kindly drop me a message and I will gladly make the amendment. 4. I reserve ownership of these images, if you wish to use my images, please notify me.
If you like my works, please follow me on either one of the 2 Instagram accounts:
X-summit Omiya 2022 has come and gone. It was an announcement of something we have expected and something that we are unexpected.
Thanks to the hints from the previous X-summit and rumors websites, we are pretty much prepared for gears such as X-H2S, XF18-120mm, and XF150-600mm to be announced in this X-summit and truly, they did. Under development XF56mm f1.2 MK II was also finally announced on stage. The statement was sort of confirming what the rumors websites had been suggesting. Of course, I am excited about this piece of the announcement and I can’t wait to get the lens in my hand.
The unexpected announcement, at least to me, is the XF8mm f3.5 and XF30mm f2.8 macro. Fuji hits 2 of my favorites spots; ultra-wide lens and macro lens. I think I will own them some days but I guess I have to prioritize my wishlist first.
*In case you wonder, I am not a G.A.S person and I am not the person who love to buy and sell gears.
Back to the topic, after the price of the X-H2S was announced. A lot of comments flooding the online community. The comments that caught my eyes the most are “X-H2S priced evenly to Canon R6 and Sony A7 IV. Is the price worth it? For this price, I rather go for full-frame.” And many similar statements were made.
Well, if you want to make a comparison, there is no end to comparing this and that. People will always find justification to uphold their judgment. Of course, there is no right or wrong. It is just an individual opinion.
I bring back the comparison on pricing earlier: as Fujifilm indicated that X-H2S is a flagship camera model, so technically we should compare X-H2S with all other flagship models such as Canon R3, Sony A1, Nikon Z9, and OM System OM-1. What is common they all have are stacked BSI sensors. Instead, the comments suggest comparing X-H2S with A7 IV and R6, just because they are in the same price bracket. So is that a fair comparison?
Oftentimes, people might be forgotten to weigh the overall “price” to pay. Because when you are buying a camera, you are buying the ecosystem of that system which includes lenses and accessories. So depending on individual needs, the overall “price” to pay for brand “A” ecosystem might be even more expensive than that of brand “B”. So as a smart consumer/prosumer/professional, I believe one knows how to weigh it. Unless one is too loaded and spending one after another ecosystem means nothing much in his bank, I think you can ignore my statement.
I shall end here and I believe you can understand my point here. Of course, I can further make many comparisons here and there but I cannot find the justification for doing so. Like I mentioned early, there is no end in comparison. My philosophy is simple, buy an ecosystem that can make you go out and enjoy shooting with it.
All in all, I have to highlight that I am not against other camera formats. Rather this is my personal view/opinion on the term “comparision”. Again, is X-H2S priced right?
Is minimalism equal to limitation? In a way, yes. Minimalism is by keeping things as simple as possible, limited yet still functioning as what it suppose to be. In this case, X-E4 has done it and did it right. It has the most minimalistic design Fujifilm has ever created. The design is a bold move. Fujifilm removes some of the hardware functions but still allows photographers to access them when needed via the “Q” menu, setting up the “My Menu” or mapping it to other buttons or dials. While I am not sure by removing the grip from the camera body is a wise choice but honestly speaking, the camera is aesthetically beautiful.
X-E4 is not designed in such a way that it will please everyone but rather, it does attract a niche group of people who adore simplicity. In other words, this camera is what represents the life of how the photographer live in. At least I am.
A little bit of history here. X-E4 was announced on 27 January 2021 and released a month later. And my first ever review post was actually about this camera together with the XF27mm f2.8. (The review can be found here.)
Fuji X-E4 . XF27mm f2.8 WR
I love all the camera designs from Fujifilm, especially the X-Pro series but the X-E series still has a special place in my heart. I cannot explain specifically why I love this series so much. But I think a combination of aesthetic, compact and retro-style designs are probably the reasons.
Fuji X-E4 . XF27mm f2.8 WR
Another short history here. I pick up my first X-E series (X-E3) back in 2019. It is a preloved unit but the overall condition is not heavily abused. It’s a simple camera that somehow I love using for my street shutter therapy more than my X-T3. It’s light, compact and less prominent among other camera designs. It does not look like a professional camera but in its gut, it is capable to meet my needs. X-E4, in my opinion, improves way better than its predecessor in many ways.
Back to X-E4. So how do I overcome the limitations of this camera? Well, I just simply preset the desired ISO auto setting (maximum ISO sensitivity and minimum shutter speed) and that’s all. Most of the functions that I need is actually available in the “Q” menu. Honestly, I rarely touch anything else besides the aperture value, exposure compensation value and of course the shutter button.
Besides people who love simplicity, in my opinion, this camera is very suitable for someone who is a retro-style enthusiastic, an everyday camera for casual photographers and of course a good pickup camera for amateurs. Why so? Firstly, it is not as expensive as its other brothers (i.e. X-Pro and X-T series). Secondly, it is equipped with the X-Trans IV sensor, which is a very capable sensor and also not forgetting that this sensor is also equipped in all its other brothers as well. Thirdly, it has a lot of compact lenses to pair up with (both Fujifilm and third parties manual lenses).
Fuji X-E4 . XF33mm f1.4
To end this, I have been using this camera for months. In these few months of using it, I get to understand what this camera design philosophy is. In my interpretation, the answer is very straightforward. Fujifilm wants to let the photographer concentrate on shooting, enjoy the process of shooting and leave everything else to the camera to handle it. I am glad that Fujifilm dares to design something different from its current line-up of cameras. And I hope this X-E4 will encourage more photographers to bring it out and capture the moments in them. After all, it’s a beauty to hang out with.
Fuji X-E4 . XF33mm f1.4
Fuji X-E4 . XF27mm f2.8
Disclaimer: 1. The camera is a loan unit from Mr. Keitaro So, Divisional Head of Fujifilm Asia Pacific. By the time this review is online, the units had returned back to Fujifilm Asia Pacific. 2. All the shots taken here are shot by me. 3. Some of the shots are straight out of the camera while others are edited via In-Camera Raw Processing and Adobe Lightroom Classic. 4. The opinions are based on my experience. If there is any mistake, please kindly drop me a message and I will gladly make the amendment. 5. I reserve ownership of these images, if you wish to use my images, please notify me.
Thank you for reading.
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After three months of delay, the successor of the classic XF23mm f1.4 R has finally arrived on our shore this month. While the price of the newly launched lens is priced at USD 900, the predecessor is easily available between USD 600 to 700~ ish. Is it worth saving the $200 ~ $300 difference? In this post, I will share some of the experiences I had with both lenses and hope to help you in your own decision journey.
XF23mm f1.4 R
XF23mm f1.4 R
XF23mm f1.4 R
Before I start my sharing, I would like to thank Ivan Joshua Loh for lending me his XF23mm f1.4 R for a shoot. This has actually landed me an opportunity to have a full 2 days of hands-on with the classic lens.
Image Quality
The classic one gives an overall decent image quality all most focusing distance but I noticed soft results at its minimum focus distance. Chromatic aberration is also quite noticeable, especially in an outdoor sunny environment and shooting wide open. As for the new one, it produces sharper image quality and addresses those flaws that I mentioned earlier. The rendering of the bokeh also seems to be better than the classic one. More pleasant to the eyes if you ask me.
X-E4 . XF23mm f1.4 R @ F1.4
For the new F23mm f1.4 R LM WR, you can have a look at photos taken here and here.
Autofocus speed
This is a very subjective topic when comes to focusing performance. How fast or slow depends on how the individual defines it. Unfortunately, I have both the classic and new lenses mounted on different camera bodies (due to different loan periods) but the cameras are equipped with X-Trans 4 (if that is the concern). For reference, X-E4 is for the classic lens and X-S10 is for the new lens.
X-E4 . XF23mm f1.4 R @ F1.4
To my surprise, the classic one is not that slow with the newer camera. The focusing speed is acceptably fast and I do not really experience any slow-focusing or focus hunting under dim light conditions. However, it is surely noisy.
X-E4 . XF23mm f1.4 R @ F1.4
For the new lens, the focusing speed is indeed very fast and silent. It locks onto the subject really quick and precise.
Minimum Focus Distance
If you are like me who like to take as close up as possible, the classic is not for you. It’s minimum focus distance is at 28 cm as compared to 19cm on the new one.
X-E4 . XF23mm f1.4 R @ F1.4
Size and Weight
To be honest, they are somewhat close to each other. The overall size and weight is nothing much to shout about or compare. While one is slightly wider and shorter, the other is slightly taller and slimmer. Both are about the same weight and still bigger than the f2 variant.
X-E4 . XF23mm f1.4 R @ F1.4
Appearance
The classic one comes with the push/pull clutch manual focus ring. The aperture ring is close to clickless. Overall, the lens gives a very vintage style design element.
X-E4 . XF23mm f1.4 R @ F2.8 (right) & F1.4 (left)
As for the new one, it is totally the opposite of the classic. Fujifilm has removed the push/pull clutch, gives the aperture ring better clicky feedback and modernize the overall lens design. Plus it includes the Weather Resistant (WR).
Conclusion
The successor iso truly the winner here. I can see how much effort Fujifilm has improved the lens in almost every aspect of the classic one.
Back to the question. Is it worth saving the $200 ~ $300 difference? Ideally, getting the latest glass is always the better choice. If you have no financial constraints, this is the way to go.
X-E4 . XF23mm f1.4 R @ F5.6X-E4 . XF23mm f1.4 R @ F5.6
But if you are just picking up photography with a limited budget, I think there are a few more options besides getting the used XF23mm f1.4 R. I think starting off with 3rd party lenses from Sigma and Viltrox is also another good option (if you are willing to accept their strengths and drawbacks).
X-E4 . XF23mm f1.4 R @ F1.4X-E4 . XF23mm f1.4 R @ F1.4 (left) & F4 (right)
What is your opinion? Share with me in the comment below or DM me in instagrams. Cheers!
As for me, I have a lot of concerns when purchasing a used lens and that’s just my two cents. I am kind of biased to the successor and that’s because I started using the successor before using the classic lens. On that account, I have unconsciously set a high standard for image quality and I cannot turn it back. Yes, it is not a cheap lens but it is unarguably a futureproofing lens for the newer camera bodies which will harness the power of the lens.
X-E4 . XF23mm f1.4 R @ F1.4X-E4 . XF23mm f1.4 R @ F1.4
Disclaimer: 1. All the shots taken here are shot by me. 2. Some of the shots are straight out of the camera while others are edited via In-Camera Raw Processing and Adobe Lightroom Classic. 3. The opinions are based on my experience. If there is any mistake, please kindly drop me a message and I will gladly make the amendment. 4. I reserve ownership of these images, if you wish to use my images, please notify me.
Thank you for reading.
If you like my works, please follow me on either one of the 2 Instagram accounts:
2021 comes and goes. In this pandemic year, I have gained quite fruitful experiences. In this year, I have a total of 22 posts, 11 of them are reviews of camera gears and lenses. All thanks to the opportunities given by Mr. Keitaro So, Divisional Head of Fujifilm, and Cles Distribution of Tamron Singapore and Sony, Singapore. Without them, I won’t be able to share my opinions and having these opportunities to wander around Singapore to capture some of the photos that have become to be my favorite. And these are my 12 most favorite photos in 2021. (They are not listed in order.)
#12
Fuji X-S10 . Fuji XF18mm F1.4 R LM WR @27mm . f1.4 . 1/60” . ISO 640 . Classic Chrome
Is there any that you like? Let me know if you have one.
Disclaimer: 1. All the shots taken here are shot by me. 2. Some of the shots are slightly edited in Lightroom Classic to my preferences. Otherwise, the shots are straight out of the camera. 3. The opinions are based on my experience. If there is any mistake, please kindly drop me a message and I will gladly make the amendment. 4. I reserve ownership of these images, if you wish to use my images, please notify me
Thank you for reading.
If you like my works, please follow me on either one of the 2 Instagram accounts:
As we all know, the XF35mm F1.4 is probably one of the legendary lenses in Fujifilm 10 years of X-series. Most of the Fujifilm photographers who use it, love it and praise it. So am I. The noisy focusing motor can be easily forgiven by the impressive results coming out from the optical magic that it has and of course, its compact size. My only regret is that I should have get this lens sooner than any other lenses. The price of this F1.4 lens is not as expensive as the other F1.4 lenses. So if budget is not an issue, I always recommend this lens to anyone who wants to own their first prime lens. Otherwise, it’s younger sibling, XC35mm F2.
Today, we know that everyone is desperately wanting for the MK II of this glass. Whenever there is a Fujifilm X Summit, everyone is hoping for Fujifilm to release some form of news or teaser. Yet, Fujifilm chooses to stay silent about it.
In this article, I am based on rumors and some observations from Fujifilm strategy, I will be sharing my thought of what this MK II lens will be like. So, please take this article as a pinch of salt.
First, let’s talk about rumors. Early this year, the popular Fujifilm rumors site, Fujirumors.com, has shared a piece of news stating that there will be an XF33mm F1.4. When I read this headline, I have this thought in my mind; We all know that Fujifilm has dropped the development of the XF33mm F1 and change to XF50mm F1. Despite that, it seems that Fujifilm has not given up the 33mm focal length at all. If this XF33mm F1.4 is true, then this lens will come with new optical formula (or probably a revised version of the F1 “predecessor”?), equips with better focusing technology, and probably larger in lens size too (compare to XF35mm F1.4). Does that mean there will no longer be an MK II of the XF35mm F1.4? My guess is that it is not going to replace the XF35mm F1.4 but rather sell along with the XF35mm F1.4 (MK II?).
Secondly, let’s discuss the Fujifilm strategy so far. We know that Fujifilm has recently released 2 MK II lenses. They are XF10-24mm F4 WR OIS WR and XF27mm F2.8 R WR. What do they have in common? They are using the same optical formula as their predecessors and added with some upgrades. Catch my theory? I suspect Fujifilm will use the same optical formula for the XF35mm F1.4 MK II and introduce WR and probably some upgrades to go along with. I think this strategy will work and will please most of the XF35mm F1.4 lovers. Because most of the XF35mm F1.4 owners share to me that their most concern is that Fujifilm might lose that magical mojo with its success
If everything mentioned in this article is true in the future, then I think this is a good move from Fujifilm. While they get to keep their fans happy with the newly upgraded XF35mm F1.4, they can also comfy engineer a new piece of glass of a very similar focal length to target new photographers.
Disclaimer: 1. All the shots taken here were shot by me. 2. I reserve ownerships to these images, if you wish to use my images for whatever reasons, please notify me and we can see how to works thing out.
Bokeh is derived from a Japanese word “ぼけ” (Boke). In case someone don’t know, it is referring to the out-of-focus blur background/foreground created. It is often used to separate unwanted thing from the subject you wish to present in your photos. Japanese photographers also often use “Tama bokeh” means round/ball bubbly bokeh and “Mae bokeh” means bokeh that is in front of the image.
Fuji X-E4 . Fuji XF70-300mm F4-5.6 R LM OIS WR @300mm . f6.4 . 1/500” . ISO 320 . Classic ChromeFuji X-E3 . Fuji XF35mm F1.4 R @35mm . f2 . 1/80” . ISO 2000 . Edited in post
Side note: In 2021, camera sensor in the smartphone is not as big as what digital camera sensor has (or at least the size of M43 or APS-C). Hence, smartphone manufacturers use computational imaging and Artificial Intelligence (AI) to create or mimic bokeh result and sometime we get to see weird results from the shots. There is still a huge step for the manufacturers to achieve the results from the bigger camera sensor but that future should be very near. I believe we will get to see amazing piece of tech in the next decade. And implementing 1 inch sensor in the flagship smartphones in the beginning of this era. I am eager to see a M43 or APS-C size sensor to be equipped in the smartphones somedays.
Side note 2: Over here, this is just a discussion over bokeh and there is no involvement in specific brands and lenses. The photos show here is for illustration purpose.
Fuji X-T3 . Fuji XF35mm F1.4 R @35mm . f2 . 1/80” . ISO 3200 . Classic Chrome
Back to the story. Recently, I have a discussion with photographers of mainly enthusiastic hobbyists and commercial professionals about the art of bokeh. It is a nice session and bring up lots of perspectives and opinions among the rest. Below are my views of the art of bokeh.
Fuji X-T2 . Fuji XF18-55mm F2.4-4 R LM OIS @48.2mm . f4 . 1/8000” . ISO 200 . Classic Chrome
In my opinion, the objective of the bokeh is to allow the main subject being separated background/foreground and get notice by the viewers immediately (otherwise, some creative shots taking advantage of the bokeh). However, if the bokeh steals the limelight or distracts the viewer from the main subject (if that is intentional), i think this is consider failing its objective. So balancing the art of bokeh and the subject is important. The best is having the smooth transition of sharp subject to blurring background with a nice fade off / melting effect. With this, I believe our eyes are more comfortable and stay more focus on the right subject.
Fuji X-T3 . Fuji XF35mm F1.4 R @35mm . f4.5 . 1/80” . ISO 640 . Classic ChromeFuji X-E4 . Fuji XF50mm F1 R WR @50mm . f1 . 1/400” . ISO 160 . Classic Chrome
Having a large aperture lens and setting it to the largest aperture (f stop) value does not mean you are going to have a smooth decent sharp subject & bokeh relationship. It might results in busy or nervous bokeh causing distraction. In some situations, stopping down the f stop a little might helps to improve the overall photo result. Other elements such as the number of blades, the optical glass elements configuration and the distance from the subject and background also play a role in achieving the balance. Not forgetting that available light source is one of the more important elements to consider too.
Fuji X-E3 . Fuji XF55-200mm F3.5-4.8 R LM OIS @200mm . f5.6 . 1/1100” . ISO 200 . Classic Chrome
So what I think is we need to understand how the lens can achieve the balance between the bokeh and the subject and we definitely need to experience the lens more by shooting more with it. I do believe there is no horrible lens in today’s technology, every lens can also achieve the balance within its own capability.
Fuji X-T3 . Fuji XF50mm F1 R WR @50mm . f1 . 1/1400” . ISO 160 . Edited in post.
Fuji X-T3 . Fuji XF50mm F1 R WR @50mm . f1 . 1/550” . ISO 160 . Edited in post.
As of today, I am still learning to find the balance. There is no right or wrong answer to the art of bokeh. It is just individual preference and taste. And I guess this is where I find interesting in photography.
Disclaimer: 1. All the shots taken here were shot by me. 2. I reserve ownerships to these images, if you wish to use my images for whatever reasons, please notify me and we can see how to works thing out.
Alwin Kok 