Reviews – Page 10

First and foremost, I would like to thank and appreciate Mr Lawson from Sigma Marketing (Singapore) for loaning me the Sigma 16mm f1.4 Contemporary DC DN lens for making this review possible.

Intro

Similar to Sigma 30mm f1.4 Contemporary DC DN, I refer to Sigma 16mm f1.4 Contemporary DC DN as “Sigma 16mm f1.4” in short. Unlike the Sigma 30mm f1.4, it was announced back in October 2017 but was only available for EF-M, E-mount, L-mount and Micro Four Thirds back then. Now it is available in X-mount too.

Being a 24mm full-frame equivalent ultra-wide lens, the first thing that I can’t help noticing how huge the lens is. It is almost identical to the size of the Fuji XF16mm f1.4 and it is merely taller. Speaking of comparison, I will not compare both lenses directly as I believe every lens has its own reasons to be here and hence giving it a fair chance to shine.

Price Point

I decided to shift this section to the front because Sigma 16mm f1.4 comes at a very interesting and competitive price point. In Singapore, it is priced at SGD648/USD449 (*SRP). It is just $50 more than the XF 16mm f2.8 (SGD599/USD399 SRP) and it is far cheaper than XF 16mm f1.4 (SGD1599/USD999 SRP). With such a competitive price, are you tempted to get Sigma instead of Fuji?

Fuji X-T3 . Sigma 16mm f1.4 @ 16mm . f1.4 . 1/640″ . ISO 160 . Post-edited

Fuji X-T3 . Sigma 16mm f1.4 @ 16mm . f1.4 . 1/105″ . ISO 160 . Classic Chrome

At this price point, lets me share with you what are the things you will be getting from this lens and what are the thing you will miss.

*SRP – Suggested Retail Price

Design & Build Quality

Sigma 16mm f1.4 has the same built element and design language as its brothers. It is a low profile lens that does not shout out loud, especially on the front glass. It is minimalistic on its own by labelling the wordings in black.

Left: Fuji X-T3 . Sigma 16mm f1.4 @ 16mm . f1.4 . 1/1300″ . ISO 160 . Post-edited
Right: Fuji X-T3 . Sigma 16mm f1.4 @ 16mm . f1.4 . 1/850″ . ISO 160 . Classic Chrome

Fuji X-T3 . Sigma 16mm f1.4 @ 16mm . f1.4 . 1/250″ . ISO 160 . Classic Chrome

Although the body of the lens is made of “Thermally Stable Composite” (TSC) polycarbonate material, it feels well-constructed and comfortable to hold. But it does attract some fingerprints on the glossy material of the lens. Even so, it can be removed easily with a piece of cloth.

Fuji X-T3 . Sigma 16mm f1.4 @ 16mm . f5 . 1/900″ . ISO 160 . Classic Chrome

This huge lens weighs 405 grams and it is the heaviest one among the trio of Sigma lenses. I think there is quite a huge amount of heavy glass elements inside this lens, which explains the weighty weight. For readers who are looking to equip the lens with filters, it comes with a filter size of 67mm. It also comes with dust and splash resistant sealing that helps to protect the lens from certain conditions.

Left: Fuji X-T3 . Sigma 16mm f1.4 @ 16mm . f5.6 . 1/80″ . ISO 640 . Classic Chrome
Right: Fuji X-T3 . Sigma 16mm f1.4 @ 16mm . f1.4 . 1/350″ . ISO 160 . Post-edited

Similarly to the Sigma 30mm f1.4, it does not have an aperture ring too. So you have to control your aperture via the front dial of your camera. It’s a very similar approach to what Fujifilm has for XC lenses.

Image Quality

At f1.4, the image is usable. It retains the sharpness, contrast and details of the image very well. But for some shots especially shooting at infinity, the results tend to be soft at wide-open.

Left: Fuji X-T3 . Sigma 16mm f1.4 @ 16mm . f1.4 . 1/450″ . ISO 160 . Classic Chrome
Right: Fuji X-T3 . Sigma 16mm f1.4 @ 16mm . f1.4 . 1/85″ . ISO 160 . Classic Chrome

Although some vignetting can be observed, this can be easily resolved in post-processing or shot at a smaller aperture to reduce it. In my opinion, this can be forgiving and unavoidable because it is an ultra-wide lens after all.

There is also some slight chromatic aberration observed in some of my shots, but it is still within my acceptance level. Again, it can be removed easily with post-processing.

Fuji X-T3 . Sigma 16mm f1.4 @ 16mm . f1.4 . 1/80″ . ISO 320 . Classic Chrome

Fuji X-T3 . Sigma 16mm f1.4 @ 16mm . f1.4 . 1/125″ . ISO 160 . Classic Chrome

On the subject of the sunny star result, I prefer the shot taken at f16 as the “star” looks sharper than the one at f8. As for the lens flare, it did control very well too.

Left: Fuji X-T3 . Sigma 16mm f1.4 @ 16mm . f16 . 4″ . ISO 160 . Classic Chrome
Right: Fuji X-T3 . Sigma 16mm f1.4 @ 16mm . f8 . 1″ . ISO 160 . Classic Chrome

One thing to note, I never expect how good the control of the lens distortion for this ultra-wide lens. Probably thanks to the camera auto-correction? But nonetheless, the output is good.

Focusing

This lens is silent and fast. This is something that I have expected after using Sigma 30mm f1.4 as I believe they are using the same stepping motor. The sound of the focusing experience that I have is close to complete silence. Please bear in mind that this lens has lots of heavy glass inside it and yet it can achieve something like this is totally remarkable.

Left: Fuji X-T3 . Sigma 16mm f1.4 @ 16mm . f2.8 . 1/80″ . ISO 640 . Classic Chrome
Right: Fuji X-T3 . Sigma 16mm f1.4 @ 16mm . f1.4 . 1/80″ . ISO 320 . Post-edited

Left: Fuji X-T3 . Sigma 16mm f1.4 @ 16mm . f2.8 . 1/90″ . ISO 160 . Classic Chrome
Right: Fuji X-T3 . Sigma 16mm f1.4 @ 16mm . f5.6 . 1/850″ . ISO 160 . Classic Chrome

Regarding the focusing accuracy, unfortunately, it also inherits the same issue as the Sigma 30mm f1.4 as well. Similar off-focused results when I shoot with the little green box lit up but it hardly happens. But not too worry about it, understand from Sigma that they are constantly improving their lenses’ focusing quality and accuracy via updates.

Fuji X-T3 . Sigma 16mm f1.4 @ 16mm . f4 . 1/210″ . ISO 160 . Classic Chrome

Fuji X-T3 . Sigma 16mm f1.4 @ 16mm . f5.6 . 1/180″ . ISO 160 . Post-edited

Minimum Focus Distance (MFD)

The MFD of this lens is 25cm. By comparison, the XF16mm F1.4 is 15cm. Does it really matter? Not really matter as the general purpose of this lens is for landscape or similar genres.

Fuji X-T3 . Sigma 16mm f1.4 @ 16mm . f1.4 . 1/420″ . ISO 160 . Classic Chrome

Fuji X-T3 . Sigma 16mm f1.4 @ 16mm . f1.4 . 1/350″ . ISO 160 . Classic Chrome

But it does matter if the photographer could love to use the lens for other creative purposes. Because the closer the MFD you have, the more possibilities you can create with.

Fuji X-T3 . Sigma 16mm f1.4 @ 16mm . f1.4 . 1/2200″ . ISO 160 . Classic Chrome

Conclusion

Sigma 16mm f1.4 does have its shortfall but it strikes a good balance between price and overall experience. For a lens optic design that has been around for 5 years, the image renders very remarkably sharp, especially at wide open. I have to appraise that Sigma did not compromise on the image quality and I think Sigma did the right thing here as I believe this is more important than anything else for every photographer.

Fuji X-T3 . Sigma 16mm f1.4 @ 16mm . f1.4 . 1/450″ . ISO 160 . Classic Chrome

Fuji X-T3 . Sigma 16mm f1.4 @ 16mm . f1.4 . 1/250″ . ISO 400 . Classic Chrome

Overall, I can accept what this lens has to offer. Likewise, how is it compared to XF16mm f1.4? All I can say is that both lenses are good at their price points and there are reasons to be at their price points. They supply different demands to different groups of photographers. In my opinion, there is no end to making comparisons between lenses.

Who is this for?

This lens is suitable for photographers who are just starting to learn photography or tipping their toes in the world of prime lenses but with a limited budget on hand or wish to have their money well spent. But who are these photographers?

Fuji X-T3 . Sigma 16mm f1.4 @ 16mm . f5.6 . 1/900″ . ISO 160 . Classic Chrome

Fuji X-T3 . Sigma 16mm f1.4 @ 16mm . f8 . 1/320″ . ISO 160 . Classic Chrome . Post-edited

Photographers who are landscape, environmental and architecture lovers, you may consider getting this lens in your arsenal. If you do not mind about its build quality, etc, the price of this lens can actually save you some money and maybe you can use that money to invest in other lenses or accessories.

Left: Fuji X-T3 . Sigma 16mm f1.4 @ 16mm . f1.4 . 1/80″ . ISO 2000 . Classic Chrome
Right: Fuji X-T3 . Sigma 16mm f1.4 @ 16mm . f1.4 . 1/80″ . ISO 1600 . Post-edited

For street photographers, this ultra-wide lens is harder to isolate your subject unless you get closer to it. If you know what you intend to do with this lens, otherwise I will not recommend you to use this lens.

Fuji X-T3 . Sigma 16mm f1.4 @ 16mm . f1.4 . 1/180″ . ISO 160 . Post-edited

Left: Fuji X-T3 . Sigma 16mm f1.4 @ 16mm . f1.4 . 1/1000″ . ISO 160 . Post-edited
Right: Fuji X-T3 . Sigma 16mm f1.4 @ 16mm . f1.4 . 1/80″ . ISO 160 . Post-edited

Fuji X-T3 . Sigma 16mm f1.4 @ 16mm . f1.4 . 1/1000″ . ISO 160 . Post-edited

Left: Fuji X-T3 . Sigma 16mm f1.4 @ 16mm . f1.4 . 1/80″ . ISO 250 . Post-edited
Right: Fuji X-T3 . Sigma 16mm f1.4 @ 16mm . f1.4 . 1/250″ . ISO 800 . Post-edited

To answer my question in the title, it is indeed a good alternative to XF16mm f1.4.

Thank you for reading.

Disclaimer:
1. The lens is a loan unit from Mr. Lawson from Sigma Marketing (Singapore). By the time this review is online, the lens had returned back to Sigma Marketing (Singapore).
2. The lens firmware that I am using is version 1.00.
3. Some of the shots are straight out of the camera while others are edited via In-Camera Raw Processing and Adobe Lightroom Classic & Capture One.
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. All the shots taken here are shot by me. 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:

https://www.instagram.com/alwinkok_

https://www.instagram.com/alwin.portraits

If you like my content and you want to show some support, you can buy me a coffee here.

Reviews

Sigma 30mm f1.4 – Never Too Late

March 29, 2022April 10, 2022 Alwin Kok

First of all, allow me to thank Mr Lawson from Sigma Marketing (Singapore) for loaning me the Sigma 30mm f1.4 Contemporary DC DN lens for a review. I appreciate his support to make this review a reality.

Intro

Sigma 30mm f1.4 Contemporary DC DN (I will just call it Sigma 30mm in short for the rest of the review) was announced back in February 2016. It was introduced with various mounts (i.e. EF-M, M43, E-mount and Leica L). 6 years later, X-mount is the latest mount in the Sigma family.

35mm (50mm in full-frame equivalent) is a very popular focal length among all others. And then, Sigma comes with this 30mm focal length and this is an interesting focal length to compete with many 35mm lenses in the Fuji market. It also sits right between the 27mm and 33mm of what Fujifilm has offered.

At an equivalent to 45mm in full-frame, let’s dive in and see how this lens can actually perform.

Design & Build Quality

According to the official, the build of this lens is made out of a type of polycarbonate called “Thermally Stable Composite” (TSC). This material has a thermal expansion rate similar to that of aluminium and it also has a high affinity to metal parts which contributes to high-quality product manufacturing.

Fuji X-E4 . Sigma 30mm f1.4 @ 30mm . f5.6 . 1/1000″ . ISO 160 . Classic Neg

Fuji X-E4 . Sigma 30mm f1.4 @ 30mm . f5.6 . 1/160″ . ISO 500 . Classic Neg

And according to my hands-on, it feels great to hold. Although it is polycarbonate built, it does not feel cheap at all. The lens is very well built and solid. But one thing to point out is that it is a fingerprint magnet and it can leave some fingerprint marks on the lens. Luckily, it can be easily wiped off.

Fuji X-E4 . Sigma 30mm f1.4 @ 30mm . f5 . 1/60″ . ISO 1250 . Classic Neg

Fuji X-E4 . Sigma 30mm f1.4 @ 30mm . f4 . 1/90″ . ISO 640 . Classic Neg

This lens comes with a filter size of 52mm and it is more than welcome for photographers to buy filters at a more affordable price.

At 275 grams, the weight of this compact lens is decently light to mount on any Fujifilm camera body without feeling adding much weight to the camera.

Left: Fuji X-E4 . Sigma 30mm f1.4 @ 30mm . f1.4 . 1/160″ . ISO 500 . Classic Neg
Right: Fuji X-E4 . Sigma 30mm f1.4 @ 30mm . f5.6 . 1/1000″ . ISO 320 . Classic Neg

One fact to note is that this lens is equipped with dust and splash resistant sealing that helps to protect the lens from certain conditions.

Left: Fuji X-E4 . Sigma 30mm f1.4 @ 30mm . f1.4 . 1/140″ . ISO 640 . Classic Neg
Right: Fuji X-E4 . Sigma 30mm f1.4 @ 30mm . f1.4 . 1/105″ . ISO 640 . Classic Neg

Image Quality

Before I share my opinion about the optical quality. My understanding from Sigma Marketing is that the lens optical is exactly the same as other mounts, which also means that the glass elements and design are the same as 6 years ago.

Left: Fuji X-E4 . Sigma 30mm f1.4 @ 30mm . f1.4 . 1/17000″ . ISO 320 . Classic Neg
Right: Fuji X-E4 . Sigma 30mm f1.4 @ 30mm . f1.4 . 1/5800″ . ISO 320 . Classic Neg

So how does it perform in real-world situations? Well, the image quality is exceptionally good. The results at wide-open actually surprised me. The details, sharpness and contrast are well preserved.

Fuji X-T3 . Sigma 30mm f1.4 @ 30mm . f1.4 . 1/22000″ . ISO 320 . Classic Neg

Fuji X-T3 . Sigma 30mm f1.4 @ 30mm . f1.4 . 1/2500″ . ISO 320 . Classic Neg

As for the chromatic aberration, I hardly notice it. I think the lens did a good job of controlling it. It does help us to reduce one task in our post-processing.

Left: Fuji X-E4 . Sigma 30mm f1.4 @ 30mm . f1.4 . 1/14000″ . ISO 320 . Classic Neg
Right: Fuji X-E4 . Sigma 30mm f1.4 @ 30mm . f1.4 . 1/5800″ . ISO 320 . Classic Neg

For the sunny star result, the shot taken at f8 produces much softer and less rounded results. On the other hand, it looks sharper at f16 and more detailed than that of f8.

Left: Fuji X-E4 . Sigma 30mm f1.4 @ 30mm . f16 . 1/500″ . ISO 320 . Classic Neg
Right: Fuji X-E4 . Sigma 30mm f1.4 @ 30mm . f8 . 1/1900″ . ISO 320 . Classic Neg

Focusing

Two words to describe it. Silent sniper. The focusing speed is surprisingly fast, accurate and completely silent. The word “completely” may sound too strong but it is really silent and the only sound I can hear is coming from my shutter. All thanks to the stepping motor that is equipped with the lens, this also means that this lens can be a wise choice for videographers to consider.

Fuji X-E4 . Sigma 30mm f1.4 @ 30mm . f4 . 1/160″ . ISO 500 . Classic Neg

As for accuracy, I can say it has a very high accuracy rate, probably around 95%. Why not 100%? Because I do encounter a few off-focused results when the little green box has lit up. For under low light situations, this lens still performs well most of the time.

Left: Fuji X-E4 . Sigma 30mm f1.4 @ 30mm . f1.4 . 1/160″ . ISO 800 . Classic Neg
Right: Fuji X-E4 . Sigma 30mm f1.4 @ 30mm . f1.4 . 1/160″ . ISO 800 . Classic Neg

Something to highlight, when I am trying to do some closed up shots under broad daylight, I encountered this phenomenon where the subject is not in focus but the little green box has lit up. What I do is focus on another nearby object and then it works as per normal.

But rest assure, Sigma is constantly updating their lenses to improve the focus quality and accuracy. In fact, there is an update for this lens last Friday. Unfortunately, I do not have the chance to give it a try.

Left: Fuji X-E4 . Sigma 30mm f1.4 @ 30mm . f2 . 1/60″ . ISO 160 . Classic Neg
Right: Fuji X-E4 . Sigma 30mm f1.4 @ 30mm . f1.4 . 1/2900″ . ISO 160 . Classic Neg

Minimum Focus Distance (MFD)

The MFD is at 30cm which is considered quite close but not extremely close. One thing to note is that shooting at MFD produces a very special character to the photo. Shooting under sunlight, the focused object looks sharp but anything around it is kind of soft and the softness will slowly blend into the background as the distance is further from the object. Somehow, I quite like how it renders.

Fuji X-E4 . Sigma 30mm f1.4 @ 30mm . f1.4 . 1/1900″ . ISO 160 . Classic Neg

Fuji X-E4 . Sigma 30mm f1.4 @ 30mm . f1.4 . 1/1000″ . ISO 160 . Classic Neg

Also, if you are shooting wide-open at the MFD, it produces a very shallow depth of field.

Fuji X-T3 . Sigma 30mm f1.4 @ 30mm . f1.4 . 1/3800″ . ISO 160 . Post-edited

Fuji X-T3 . Sigma 30mm f1.4 @ 30mm . f2 . 1/2400″ . ISO 160 . Post-edited

Price Point

I rarely open up discussions about price points. But this lens is really positioned itself very well. At *SGD488 (or USD339), it is slightly above as XC35mm f2 at SGD299 (or USD 199) and way below XF35mm f2 at SGD699 (or USD 399). Yet it offers one full stop more light.

Fuji X-E4 . Sigma 30mm f1.4 @ 30mm . f1.4 . 1/60″ . ISO 500 . Classic Neg

Fuji X-E4 . Sigma 30mm f1.4 @ 30mm . f1.4 . 1/60″ . ISO 400 . Classic Neg

With this price point, it does attract a lot of potential buyers who are about to start their photography journey.

*The price quoted is based on Recommended Retail Price.

Conclusion

Coming from a guy who likes to shoot streets with 23mm and 35mm focal lengths, I am able to adapt the Sigma 30mm f1.4 very well. In these 2 weeks of loan, I do not find much of a challenge using this lens except for the above-mentioned issue.

Fuji X-T3 . Sigma 30mm f1.4 @ 30mm . f1.4 . 1/2700″ . ISO 160 . Post-edited

For a slightly over a demi-decade old glass design, the photos taken with this lens are considered impressive and pretty usable, especially for the wide-open shots.

Left: Fuji X-T3 . Sigma 30mm f1.4 @ 30mm . f1.4 . 1/1800″ . ISO 160 . Post-edited
Right: Fuji X-T3 . Sigma 30mm f1.4 @ 30mm . f1.4 . 1/3800″ . ISO 160 . Post-edited

However, this lens does come with some downsides. First, it does not has an aperture ring. Something that I do miss sometimes. Second, it is not a full weather resistant lens. It does not matter to me but I think it is good to let the readers know.

Left: Fuji X-T3 . Sigma 30mm f1.4 @ 30mm . f1.4 . 1/700″ . ISO 160 . Post-edited
Right: Fuji X-T3 . Sigma 30mm f1.4 @ 30mm . f1.4 . 1/4000″ . ISO 160 . Post-edited

Overall, I think this piece of glass does strike a good balance between price, image quality and the tradeoffs. Plus, it is made in Japan.

Fuji X-T3 . Sigma 30mm f1.4 @ 30mm . f1.4 . 1/5000″ . ISO 160 . Post-edited

Who is this for?

This focal length covers well in most genres such as street, journalism, portraits and landscape. Hence I will highly recommend it to an amateur who just picking up photography and trying to explore the world with prime lenses; someone who does not has a 35mm focal length; and someone who is on a tight budget.

Fuji X-T3 . Sigma 30mm f1.4 @ 30mm . f2.2 . 1/170″ . ISO 160 . Classic Chrome

Fuji X-T3 . Sigma 30mm f1.4 @ 30mm . f1.4 . 1/280″ . ISO 600 . Classic Chrome

Fuji X-T3 . Sigma 30mm f1.4 @ 30mm . f1.4 . 1/2000″ . ISO 160 . Post-edited

Thank you for reading.

Disclaimer:
1. The lens is a loan unit from Mr. Lawson from Sigma Marketing (Singapore). By the time this review is online, the lens had returned back to Sigma Marketing (Singapore).
2. The lens firmware that I am using is version 0.63.
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. All the shots taken here are shot by me. 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:

https://www.instagram.com/alwinkok_

https://www.instagram.com/alwin.portraits

If you like my content and you want to show some support, you can buy me a coffee here.

Reviews

XF23mm f1.4 WR: The King of Street Lens

January 10, 2022February 15, 2023 Alwin Kok

First and foremost, I appreciate Mr. Keitaro So, Divisional Head of Fujifilm Asia Pacific, for his generosity in providing the loan for the XF23mm f1.4 R LM WR and Fuji X-S10. By the time this review is online, the units had returned back to Fujifilm Asia Pacific.

On a side note

XF23mm f1.4 WR (I remove the R LM to shorten the wording in this article) is announced during the Fujifilm X-summit in September 2021. It is priced at USD 899 and it is supposed to launch on 30 November 2021. But due to the global chip shortage, the original shipping date has been pushed to sometime in February 2022.

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.

Intro

Fujicron XF23mm f2 WR is the first prime lens I have with Fujifilm. I love almost everything about it except for the softness in image quality at wide-open and that’s probably due to my personal preference. Years later, I have my first ever X100 series, the X100V. Love it to bits. It has become my daily weapon of choice wherever I go.

Fuji X-S10 . XF 23mm f1.4 WR @ 23mm . f1.4 . 1/1100″ . ISO 320 . Classic Neg

Fuji X-S10 . XF 23mm f1.4 WR @ 23mm . f1.4 . 1/30″ . ISO 400 . Classic Neg

At 23mm (35mm in full-frame equivalent), the focal length is one of the most versatile lenses out there in the market. For greenhorn, it is easy to pick up and enjoy the fun experience with a fixed focal length.

Also, I have previously shared my staycation with this lens. You can have a look over here.

Design & Build Quality

The design language of this lens follows the same as its two new brothers, XF18mm f1.4 WR and XF33mm f1.4 WR. The build is a premium one too. Full metal-built and the weight is well balanced across the lens. The aperture ring is clicky, gentle, and not too loose like its predecessor. It is an enjoyable experience to rotate and change the aperture.

Fuji X-S10 . XF 23mm f1.4 WR @ 23mm . f5 . 1/420″ . ISO 320 . Classic Neg

Fuji X-S10 . XF 23mm f1.4 WR @ 23mm . f8 . 1/1500″ . ISO 320 . Classic Neg

Fuji X-S10 . XF 23mm f1.4 WR @ 23mm . f1.4 . 1/1900″ . ISO 320 . Classic Neg

Fuji X-S10 . XF 23mm f1.4 WR @ 23mm . f1.4 . 1/160″ . ISO 320 . Classic Neg

According to my wife’s kitchen scale, it weighs 375 grams & 402 grams with the lens hood on. The weight is also merely heavier as compared to XF18mm f1.4 (@370 grams) and XF33mm f1.4 (@360 grams) but I am not able to tell the difference in weight by holding them on my hand. With similar sizes and weights, my guess is that it will benefit videographers from saving time for recalibrating their gimbals when swapping among these 3 lenses.

Image Quality

The glass optic of this lens is similar (or even the same optic formula) to the XF18mm f1.4 and XF33mm f1.4 and the image quality is very sharp at wide open. Maybe I should use the term called “clinically sharp” to best describe this lens. I know some people prefer more characteristic results than “clinically sharp” ones. But personally, I accept it and have zero picky reasons to point out any flaw with the image quality.

Fuji X-S10 . XF 23mm f1.4 WR @ 23mm . f1.4 . 1/4000″ . ISO 160 . Classic Neg

Fuji X-S10 . XF 23mm f1.4 WR @ 23mm . f1.4 . 1/450″ . ISO 320 . Classic Neg

Fuji X-T3 . XF 23mm f1.4 WR @ 23mm . f1.4 . 1/5800″ . ISO 160 . Classic Chrome

The bokeh produced by this piece of glass renders very beautifully and the fall-off is seamless. This is kind of in my expectation since I have tested the XF18mm f1.4 and XF33mm f1.4 before. I mean the standard should be at least on-par and should not be worse than its brothers. How about the shallow depth field of view? Is it too shallow or just nice or love it? Share with me your opinion.

How good is the sunny star shot taken with this lens? I think the result is pretty decent. Nothing to complain about over here. At f16, the star shape is sharper but I prefer the result at f8. Besides that, the lens flare is well-controlled. A decent amount of flares is acceptable for me and it does create some mood to the photos.

Fuji X-S10 . XF 23mm f1.4 WR @ 23mm . f8 . 1/210″ . ISO 320 . Classic Neg

Fuji X-S10 . XF 23mm f1.4 WR @ 23mm . f16 . 1/40″ . ISO 320 . Classic Neg

As for chromatic aberration, not really obvious in my opinion. At least I do not observe any in my test.

Autofocus

What can I complain about the autofocus speed? Absolutely nothing. The focus speed is very fast, very silent, and very accurate. Sometimes, the lens focus locked is so fast that I thought I did not half-press the shutter button. You should probably try it out and you will understand.

Fuji X-S10 . XF 23mm f1.4 WR @ 23mm . f7.1 . 1/1800″ . ISO 320 . Classic Neg

Fuji X-S10 . XF 23mm f1.4 WR @ 23mm . f8 . 1/640″ . ISO 160 . Classic Neg

Fuji X-S10 . XF 23mm f1.4 WR @ 23mm . f5.6 . 1/5000″ . ISO 320 . Classic Neg

Fuji X-S10 . XF 23mm f1.4 WR @ 23mm . f1.4 . 1/45″ . ISO 320 . Classic Neg

For dim light situations, the focus performance can be slightly slower but the accuracy remains the same top performance and the lens focusing still remains silent.

Minimum Focus Distance (MFD)

According to the internet, the MFD is 20cm and it is the same MFD as what XF18mm f1.4 WR is offering. The close-up result is breathtaking and it does not render soft images like some of the old lenses do. Fujifilm really works hard on improving the optic!

Fuji X-S10 . XF 23mm f1.4 WR @ 23mm . f1.4 . 1/26001″ . ISO 320 . Classic Neg

Fuji X-S10 . XF 23mm f1.4 WR @ 23mm . f10 . 0.5″ . ISO 160 . Classic Chrome

Side by Side

I do not own an XF23mm f1.4 but I have the opportunity to try it out from a friend who has it. Visually, the new XF23mm is taller and slimmer than the old XF23mm. And the new XF23mm also missing the clutch mechanism that the old XF23mm has.

Fuji X-S10 . XF 23mm f1.4 WR @ 23mm . f1.4 . 1/5000″ . ISO 320 . Classic Neg

Fuji X-S10 . XF 23mm f1.4 WR @ 23mm . f1.4 . 1/180″ . ISO 160 . Classic Neg

Fuji X-S10 . XF 23mm f1.4 WR @ 23mm . f2.8 . 1/600″ . ISO 160 . Classic Neg

Although the older generation is 70 grams lighter, I cannot really tell the difference in weight when I hold both of them together. Like I mentioned earlier, the aperture ring of the old XF23mm is much looser than the new one.

As for the autofocusing performance, the old XF23mm is slower and noisier. At wide-open, the sharpness is not as sharp as the newer one and again, this is a personal preference. Also, let’s not forget that it does not equip with Weather Resistant as well.

Fuji X-S10 . XF 23mm f1.4 WR @ 23mm . f1.4 . 1/125″ . ISO 320 . Classic Neg

Fuji X-S10 . XF 23mm f1.4 WR @ 23mm . f1.4 . 1/110″ . ISO 320 . Classic Neg

Who is this for?

In my humble opinion, this lens is really suitable for most photographers out there, be it professional or casual photographers. The focal length is really versatile in that it can use in most genres; streets, editorial, documentary, landscape, cityscape, environmental portraits, astrophotography, and the list goes on. With its sharp IQ at wide-open and easy to adapt focal length, this lens is suitable to bring on any occasion, including taking night streets photography or low light situation.

Fuji X-T3 . XF 23mm f1.4 WR @ 23mm . f1.4 . 1/3500″ . ISO 160 . Post-edit

Fuji X-T3 . XF 23mm f1.4 WR @ 23mm . f1.4 . 1/5400″ . ISO 160 . Post-edit

Fuji X-T3 . XF 23mm f1.4 WR @ 23mm . f1.4 . 1/850″ . ISO 160 . Post-edit

Fuji X-T3 . XF 23mm f1.4 WR @ 23mm . f1.4 . 1/9000″ . ISO 160 . Post-edit

Conclusion

If you are looking for your first-ever prime lens, maybe you should give this lens a try. I will recommend you try it out in your local camera store or try renting it for a week or so. I think you will like this lens a lot. While the price might be a little steep to some, I think it will be a good photography investment for years (or decades) to come.

Fuji X-S10 . XF 23mm f1.4 WR @ 23mm . f9 . 1/300″ . ISO 320 . Classic Neg

Fuji X-S10 . XF 23mm f1.4 WR @ 23mm . f1.4 . 1/170″ . ISO 320 . Classic Neg

Fuji X-S10 . XF 23mm f1.4 WR @ 23mm . f1.4 . 1/350″ . ISO 320 . Classic Neg

Fuji X-S10 . XF 23mm f1.4 WR @ 23mm . f1.4 . 1/1700″ . ISO 160 . Classic Neg

If you are the existing owner of the XF23mm f1.4 R and you do not mind missing out push/pull clutch mechanism, you may consider upgrading to this successor. Considering it is a decent update, I think you will love this lens a lot more.

As for me, I love this lens, it really grew on me during this period of testing. I can see this lens will replace my f2 variant eventually. And honestly, it is a nice upgrade from the f2 variant with improved IQ and AF accuracy. Yes. The new lens weighs almost 2 times the f2 variant but I am acceptable with the weight because nothing beats the results coming out of f1.4

Thank you for reading.

If you like my works, please follow me on either one of the 2 Instagram accounts:

https://www.instagram.com/alwinkok_

https://www.instagram.com/alwin.portraits

If you like my content and you want to show some support, you can buy me a coffee here.

Reviews

Staycation with XF23mm f1.4 WR

December 20, 2021January 2, 2022 Alwin Kok

It’s the time of the year where people spend their holidays overseas. Although there are countries open up with the Vaccinated Travel Lane (VTL), we decide to have a short staycation in one of the hotels in the heart of the Singapore shopping belt.

All thanks to Mr. Keitaro So, Divisional Head of Fujifilm Asia Pacific, for providing the loan for X-S10 and XF23mm f1.4 WR, I have the opportunity to test out the lens during my stay.

I will be providing a review when I return the loaned units. But for now, I will just share what I have taken with this lens.

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.

Fuji X-S10 . XF 23mm F1.4 @ 23mm . f5.6 . 1/450″ . ISO 320 . Classic Neg

Fuji X-S10 . XF 23mm F1.4 @ 23mm . f1.4 . 1/6000″ . ISO 320 . Classic Neg

Fuji X-S10 . XF 23mm F1.4 @ 23mm . f2 . 1/2000″ . ISO 320 . Classic Neg

Fuji X-S10 . XF 23mm F1.4 @ 23mm . f8 . 1/1000″ . ISO 320 . Classic Neg

Fuji X-S10 . XF 23mm F1.4 @ 23mm . f1.4 . 1/6000″ . ISO 160 . Classic Neg

Fuji X-S10 . XF 23mm F1.4 @ 23mm . f16 . 1/280″ . ISO 320 . Classic Neg

Fuji X-S10 . XF 23mm F1.4 @ 23mm . f8 . 1/750″ . ISO 320 . Classic Neg

Fuji X-S10 . XF 23mm F1.4 @ 23mm . f1.4 . 1/40″ . ISO 320 . Classic Neg

Always have some protection when playing with fire.

Fuji X-S10 . XF 23mm F1.4 @ 23mm . f1.4 . 1/1600″ . ISO 160 . Classic Neg

Fuji X-S10 . XF 23mm F1.4 @ 23mm . f1.4 . 1/2000″ . ISO 320 . Classic Neg

Fuji X-S10 . XF 23mm F1.4 @ 23mm . f1.4 . 1/680″ . ISO 320 . Classic Neg

Fuji X-S10 . XF 23mm F1.4 @ 23mm . f1.4 . 1/160″ . ISO 320 . Classic Neg

A chef ensuring the order is in order.

Fuji X-S10 . XF 23mm F1.4 @ 23mm . f1.4 . 1/45″ . ISO 320 . Classic Neg

Fuji X-S10 . XF 23mm F1.4 @ 23mm . f1.4 . 1/640″ . ISO 320 . Classic Neg

Fuji X-S10 . XF 23mm F1.4 @ 23mm . f1.4 . 1/30″ . ISO 320 . Classic Neg

Since young, we are so fascinated about big bright screen. (And Papa Pink has a sexy pose.)

Fuji X-S10 . XF 23mm F1.4 @ 23mm . f1.4 . 1/100″ . ISO 320 . Classic Neg

Fuji X-S10 . XF 23mm F1.4 @ 23mm . f1.4 . 1/50″ . ISO 320 . Classic Chrome.

Last but not least, a Fujifilm X100T user on the road.

Thank you for reading.

If you like my works, please follow me on either one of the 2 Instagram accounts:

https://www.instagram.com/alwinkok_

https://www.instagram.com/alwin.portraits

If you like my content and you want to show some support, you can buy me a coffee here.

Reviews

TTArtisan 17mm f1.4: The Economical Ultra-wide Angle Lens

December 13, 2021December 13, 2021 Alwin Kok

Due to my work and other personal commitment, this short lens review takes me quite a while to write and share. Here is the review:

I win the TTArtisan 17mm f1.4 over an online photography competition early this year. Coincidentally, this lens completes the uncostly quaternity lenses of my Fujifilm camera setup. Together with the TTArtisan 23mm f1.4, 35mm f1.4, and 50mm f1.2 lens, these 4 lenses give a basic setup that covers most focal lengths for landscape and streets.

Fuji X-S10 . TTArtisan 17mm f1.4 . @17mm . f2 . 0.9″ . ISO 160 . Classic Negative

Fuji X-S10 . TTArtisan 17mm f1.4 . @17mm . f2 . 1/6″ . ISO 3200 . Classic Negative

Fuji X-S10 . TTArtisan 17mm f1.4 . @17mm . f2 . 1/10″ . ISO 640 . Classic Negative

Special thanks to Den Poh for lending me the X-T20 for being the model for the lens.

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. I reserve ownership of these images, if you wish to use my images, please notify me.
4. The opinions are based on my experience. If there is any mistake made, please kindly drop me a message and I will gladly make the amendment.

Fuji X-Pro1 . TTArtisan 17mm f1.4 . @17mm . f5.6 . 1/2400″ . ISO 400 . Post-edited

Fuji X-S10 . TTArtisan 17mm f1.4 . @17mm . f2 . 1/150″ . ISO 320 . Classic Chrome

About this lens

By looking at the name of this lens, I am sure everyone should have noticed that this is an uncommon focal length for a prime lens. It sits right between the popular focal lengths from Fujifilm 16mm and 18mm. It seems to me that TTArtisan is trying to do away with the “common” focal lengths that Fujifilm has. This approach also gives the photographers more choices to look out for.

Based on the full-frame equivalent, the focal length is 25.5mm. On paper, it is wider than 28mm but slightly narrower than 24mm. In this case, we already know that what is the purpose of this lens. But does it make a huge difference with the 1.5m? Personally, I don’t think so.

When I first hold this lens in my hand, I can feel the metal-constructed premium quality built similar to other TTArtisan lenses. It is small but slightly taller than its 35mm brother. Despite its small size, I can too feel some weight on this lens (248 grams). It has a relatively small filter size of 40.5mm. Not a common filter size if you are looking to give extra protection to the front lens element (which I do not think is necessary to do so) or doing planning to do creative works. But it is also not that difficult to look for one.

The aperture gives a nice and satisfying clicky feedback when I change the aperture value. The manual focus ring gives a comfortable rotation with a little friction to hold me back.

Like all the TTArtisan lenses, this lens also does not come with a lens hood. Hence, lens flare can be an issue when you are shooting directly towards the sun. Unless lens flares are intended for your shots, try to avoid it or try getting a third-party lens hood to overcome the lens flare.

Image Quality

The image quality is decent and sharp. However, if you are shooting wide open, vignetting is considerably strong at the corners, but it is easy to post-process to remove it.

Left: Fuji X-T3 . TTArtisan 17mm f1.4 . @17mm . f1.4 . 1/120″ . ISO 320 . Classic Chrome
Right: Fuji X-T3 . TTArtisan 17mm f1.4 . @17mm . f2 . 1/80″ . ISO 2000 . Classic Chrome

For this lens, I prefer to use an aperture number from f2 onwards. It gives me an acceptable balance between image softness and image sharpness. At wide-open, it gives some sort of softness (or character) to the shot, and unfortunately, it is not my preferred kind of result.

Fuji X-T3 . TTArtisan 17mm f1.4 . @17mm . f2 . 1/5800″ . ISO 320 . Post-edited

Fuji X-T3 . TTArtisan 17mm f1.4 . @17mm . f5.6 . 1/550″ . ISO 320 . Classic Chrome

As usual, I do not have high expectations for the third-party lens’ bokeh performance. At f1.4, it gives the overall picture a softer, dreamy look. I believe there are some photographers who actually know how to appreciate this kind of result. I am still learning to appreciate this. the background blur falls off remarkably nice from the subject and it does not give a harsh background blur too.

Sunny star effects are formed easily from F5.6 and the results are more beautiful and sharper from F8 onwards. But on a side note, flares can noticeable too if the lens is facing directly at where the sun direction is.

Fuji X-S10 . TTArtisan 17mm f1.4 . @17mm . f8 . 30″ . ISO 160 . Classic Chrome

Fuji X-T3 . TTArtisan 17mm f1.4 . @17mm . f8 . 1/200″ . ISO 320 . Classic Chrome

Minimum Object Distance (MOD)

The MOD is 20 cm and it is considerably close for a compact wide-angle lens like this. With this MOD, we can create different perspectives and creative shots that we cannot achieve with our common lens.

Fuji X-S10 . TTArtisan 17mm f1.4 . @17mm . f2 . 1/100″ . ISO 160 . Classic Chrome

Fuji X-Pro1 . TTArtisan 17mm f1.4 . @17mm . f4 . 1/2900″ . ISO 800 . Post-editd

Fuji X-T3 . TTArtisan 17mm f1.4 . @17mm . f2 . 1/900″ . ISO 320 . Classic Chrome

To give you some sensing on how close it is as compared to the Fujifilm 16mm f1.4 and 18mm f1.4, it has the same MOD as the XF18mm f1.4.

Manual Focusing

The smooth yet gentle friction experience on this manual focusing lens is as enjoyable as the rest of the TTArtisan lenses. I can’t find any reason to complain about it.

The focus throw from MOD to infinity is about 160°. Unlike some other lenses which take a huge throw to reach from one end to the other, the TTArtisan 17mm f1.4 is considered reasonable. I suppose there are some benefits for larger focus throw but I prefer a shorter one.

Who is this for?

This focal length is not my commonly used focal length for my shutter therapy. But I will bring this lens along with my other lenses. After all, it is compact and easy to place inside my camera bag.

Fuji X-E3 . TTArtisan 17mm f1.4 . @17mm . f5.6 . 1/280″ . ISO 200 . Post-edited

Fuji X-R3 . TTArtisan 17mm f1.4 . @17mm . f2 . 1/60″ . ISO 640 . Classic Chrome

This lens is suitable for Landscape, architecture photographers, and probably astrography photographers who are on a limited budget and yet want a fast prime lens. I also tested this lens for portraits and I think it is a good lens to catch some environmental portraits with your loved ones.

Fuji X-S10 . TTArtisan 17mm f1.4 . @17mm . f2 . 1/25″ . ISO 320 . Post-edited

Fuji X-S10 . TTArtisan 17mm f1.4 . @17mm . f2 . 1/60″ . ISO 320 . Post-edited

Fuji X-S10 . TTArtisan 17mm f1.4 . @17mm . f2 . 1/60″ . ISO 640 . Post-edited

Fuji X-T3 . TTArtisan 17mm f1.4 . @17mm . f5.6 . 1/2000″ . ISO 320 . Post-edited

If you are a photographer who wants to have experience shooting with a full manual lens, you are welcome to try this lens out but I will recommend TTArtisan 23mm f1.4 to start with.

Conclusion

TTArtisan is really good at striking a balance between the price and lens quality. I cannot find any player in the market that can compete with them without sacrificing either one of them. At USD118, I think the money is worth spending if you know what you can do with this lens.

Fuji X-T3 . TTArtisan 17mm f1.4 . @17mm . f4 . 1/80″ . ISO 320 . Post-edited

Fuji X-T3 . TTArtisan 17mm f1.4 . @17mm . f4 . 1/1600″ . ISO 320 . Classic Chrome

Fuji X-S10 . TTArtisan 17mm f1.4 . @17mm . f2 . 1/30″ . ISO 1000 . Classic Chrome

This lens gives me a fun and enjoyable experience. If you are willing to accept the flaws in this piece of glass, you will enjoy what it can give you.

Thank you for reading.

If you like my works, please follow me on either one of the 2 Instagram accounts:

https://www.instagram.com/alwinkok_

https://www.instagram.com/alwin.portraits

If you like my content and you want to show some support, you can buy me a coffee here.

Reviews

TTArtisan 23mm f1.4 – The affordable wide-angle lens

December 6, 2021August 13, 2022 Alwin Kok

First of all, I would like to thank TTArtisan for inviting me to review this lens and it is my privilege to do so. Nevertheless, you can rest assured that this review will be based on the lens I received and it is purely on my own opinion.

Special thanks to Den Poh for lending me the X-T20 for being the model to the lens.

Intro

While I am eagerly waiting for TTArtisan to release their first autofocus lens for Fujifilm, instead, they release this tiny lens in the market. I am not surprised by its arrival as TTArtisan had shared the news via Fujirumors as early as August 2021. But at that point in time, no one knows how does the lens look like.

At 23mm (35mm in full-frame equivalent), this is one of my most commonly used focal lengths. My first prime lens is a 23mm lens and my most used camera is an X100V. Thanks to the versatility of this focal length, it is easily one of the favorites among street, documentary and journalist photographers. But can this lens become part of their photography tool? Only times will tell.

Design and Build Quality

The first thing that strikes me is the lens design. Unlike its peers, this lens has this sweet concave front element with a zebra-like pattern. I actually quite like this new design language and it is also distinguishable from the other players in the market. If you do not like this silver zebra-like version or you love your lens to be low profile, you can opt for the full black version.

Fuji X-T3 . TTArtisan 23mm f1.4 @ 23mm . f2.8 . 1/420 . ISO 160 . Post-edit

Fuji X-T3 . TTArtisan 23mm f1.4 @ 23mm . f4 . 1/450 . ISO 160 . Classic Chrome

Fuji X-T3 . TTArtisan 23mm f1.4 @ 23mm . f5.6 . 1/160 . ISO 320 . Classic Chrome

Similar to the other TTArtisan lenses, the build quality of this lens is remarkable. The metal build is fantastic and it still comes with a rear metal bayonet. And also, this 43mm filter size lens does not include a lens hood.

Fuji X-T3 . TTArtisan 23mm f1.4 @ 23mm . f5.6 . 1/420 . ISO 160 . Classic Chrome

Fuji X-T3 . TTArtisan 23mm f1.4 @ 23mm . f8 . 1/340 . ISO 160 . Classic Chrome

Fuji X-T3 . TTArtisan 23mm f1.4 @ 23mm . f4 . 1/58 . ISO 320 . Classic Chrome

In my opinion, this is presumably one of the good changes and it’s the lens cap. The metal lens cap is no longer a screw-in type, but rather, it is replaced by the cap-on type. This changes really saves my time from screwing and unscrewing the lens cap. Not only that, it also gives a satisfying cushion feedback whenever I cap it onto the lens. Personally, I welcome this change.

When you change the aperture, the aperture ring provides gentle and comfortable clicky feedback. The rotation of the manual focus ring from one end to the other is about 160°. It gives a buttery smooth experience when you rotate it.

Fuji X-T3 . TTArtisan 23mm f1.4 @ 23mm . f1.4 . 1/2700 . ISO 160 . Classic Chrome

Fuji X-T3 . TTArtisan 23mm f1.4 @ 23mm . f5.6 . 1/160 . ISO 160 . Classic Chrome

Fuji X-T3 . TTArtisan 23mm f1.4 @ 23mm . f5.6 . 1/750 . ISO 160 . Classic Chrome

At 224 grams (and 240 grams with the lens cap – according to my kitchen weighting scale), the weight is well distributed and I do not experience any front element heavier than the other and vice versa. Overall, I have zero complaints in this department.

Image Quality

In my fair use of TTArtisan lenses, I habitually increase 1-stop of aperture instead of using the widest aperture. Not anymore with this lens. For the first time ever, I am happy with the image quality produced with the shots taken at f1.4 wide open. The result is sharp and has good contrast. Of course, the image quality improved further from f2 onwards, especially on the corners.

Fuji X-T3 . TTArtisan 23mm f1.4 @ 23mm . f5.6 . 1/1700 . ISO 160 . Classic Chrome

Fuji X-T3 . TTArtisan 23mm f1.4 @ 23mm . f8 . 1/550 . ISO 160 . Classic Chrome

Fuji X-T3 . TTArtisan 23mm f1.4 @ 23mm . f2.8 . 1/160 . ISO 500 . Classic Chrome

Unless you love to pixel-peep, otherwise, the chromatic aberration is mild and it is hardly noticeable for day-to-day shoots. For a budget-friendly lens like this, I could say this lens does a good job of managing chromatic aberration.

Like most of the TTArtisan lenses, it comes with 10 diaphragm blades too. This means that this lens is also capable of producing bokehlicious results. I will share my opinion about achieving the best bokehlicious result with this lens.

Minimum Focus Distance

While Minimum Focus Distance (MFD) might not matter to some photographers, but this is one of the key things when I am looking for a lens. Understanding a lens’ MFD allows me to know what kind of shots I can achieve with it.

Fuji X-T3 . TTArtisan 23mm f1.4 @ 23mm . f1.4 . 1/420 . ISO 160 . Classic Chrome

Fuji X-T3 . TTArtisan 23mm f1.4 @ 23mm . f2 . 1/160 . ISO 500 . Classic Chrome

Fuji X-T3 . TTArtisan 23mm f1.4 @ 23mm . f2 . 1/160 . ISO 1600 . Classic Chrome

It has a MFD of 0.2m and I am impressed with the TTArtisan design team again. It has the shortest MFD as compared to the XF23mm f1.4 (@0.28m) and XF23mm f2 (@0.22m). This also means that I can take a slightly closer shot of the subject and give a slightly different perspective of the shot.

In my opinion, in order to achieve the best bokehlicious result with this lens is to shoot at its MFD wide open and with a good amount of depth background. That is because I notice that the bokeh is not that beautiful in other focusing distances.

Fuji X-T3 . TTArtisan 23mm f1.4 @ 23mm . f8 . 15″ . ISO 160 . Classic Chrome

Fuji X-T3 . TTArtisan 23mm f1.4 @ 23mm . f2 . 1/20 . ISO 3200 . Classic Chrome

Fuji X-T3 . TTArtisan 23mm f1.4 @ 23mm . f4 . 1/160 . ISO 640 . Classic Chrome

Something to take note of

If you want to shoot at infinity, the result is not sharp at the infinity marking. you have to rotate the focus slightly backward to get the right infinity shot. I think this is quite a common issue as the manufacturer is designed for various mounts and different mounts have different flange focus distances.

Another observation is that I notice there is some barrel distortion and this is within my expectation for a wide-angle like this one. But it can be fixed easily in post.

Who is this for?

In this day and age, one might ask who actually wants a manual lens where an autofocus lens is much superior in every aspect? I think there is no right or wrong answer. But rather why does the photographer wants to use a manual lens? The photographer himself/herself should have the best answer. It could be the price factor for such a fast prime lens. It could also be the compact form factor of the lens and the list of possible answers go on.

Fuji X-T3 . TTArtisan 23mm f1.4 @ 23mm . f1.4 . 1/5400 . ISO 160 . Post-edit

Fuji X-T3 . TTArtisan 23mm f1.4 @ 23mm . f1.4 . 1/850 . ISO 160 . Post Edit

But in my opinion, if you are a new photographer who wishes to experience a fully manual focus lens; or you want to give your old camera a reason to bring it out and shoot again; or does not wish to spend a fortune for a fast prime lens, then this lens is the one to start with. It is easy to pick up and use for everyday shoots.

However, if you are a commercial photographer or commissioning a project, you know the answer.

Conclusion

I have used this lens for about 2 weeks and what TTArtisan does impress me with is its image and build quality. Its usable f1.4 gives me a taste of what it is like to have it on 23mm. This lens is totally enjoyable and easy to use. And also, this lens makes me look forward to the autofocus lens.

Fuji X-T3 . TTArtisan 23mm f1.4 @ 23mm . f5.6 . 1/250 . ISO 160 . Classic Chrome

Fuji X-T3 . TTArtisan 23mm f1.4 @ 23mm . f4 . 1/5 . ISO 160 . Classic Chrome

Fuji X-T3 . TTArtisan 23mm f1.4 @ 23mm . f1.4 . 1/160 . ISO 800 . Classic Chrome

Thank you for reading.

If you like my works, please follow me on either one of the 2 Instagram accounts:

https://www.instagram.com/alwinkok_

https://www.instagram.com/alwin.portraits

If you like my content and you want to show some support, you can buy me a coffee here.

Reviews

Tamron 18-300mm: The Best All-Rounder Lens?

October 21, 2021November 1, 2021 Alwin Kok

Special thanks to Cles Distribution of Tamron Singapore for giving me the opportunity to loan the Tamron 18-300mm F3.5-6.3 Di III-A VC VXD (Model B061) for Fuji mount for a review. At the time of releasing this review, I have returned the loan unit to Cles Distribution.

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. I reserve ownership of these images, if you wish to use my images, please notify me.
4. The opinions are based on my experience. If there is any mistake made, please kindly drop me a message and I will gladly make the amendment.

Before I start, I wish to highlight that this is a lengthy sharing session of my personal experience with this lens but not too much on the technical specification. You may skip to the Conclusion if you wish to or just browse the photos.

A Little History

Tamron has a long history of producing lenses and they are the pioneer of producing high-ratio zoom lenses. AF 28-200mm F3.8-5.6 was the first all-in-one zoom lens that was launched in 1992 and since then, Tamron has never stopped innovating and creating many “first” in the photography industry. In other words, Tamron is an expert in this field.

Fuji X-T3 . Tamron 18-300mm @ 64.3mm . f5 . 1/125″ . ISO 1600 . Classic Chrome

Fuji X-T3 . Tamron 18-300mm @ 18mm . f3.5 . 1/180″ . ISO 160 . Classic Chrome

Fuji X-T3 . Tamron 18-300mm @ 300mm . f6.3 . 1/160″ . ISO 800 . Classic Chrome

About The Lens

As the name of this lens has suggested, it is an ultra-zoom lens that features a 16.6x zoom ratio. Besides having a focal length from 27mm to 450mm (full-frame equivalent). At 18mm focal length, this lens is capable of shooting at a Minimum Object Distance (MOD) of 15 cm with a maximum magnification ratio of 1:2 and MOD at 1 meter at the tele end with a maximum magnification ratio of 1:4. That is a pretty remarkable piece of engineering to me as I love to shoot close up a lot.

Fuji X-T3 . Tamron 18-300mm @ 148.6mm . f3.5 . 1/300″ . ISO 160 . Classic Chrome

Fuji X-T3 . Tamron 18-300mm @ 126.8mm . f5.6 . 1/160″ . ISO 250 . Classic Chrome

Fuji X-T3 . Tamron 18-300mm @ 48.6mm . f4.5 . 1/240″ . ISO 160 . Classic Chrome

It is a plastic lens body with a metal rear mount bayonet. To be honest, the experience is not as good as the metal-constructed lens but it is still feels solid and does not feel cheap on my hand. Rotating the zoom ring is smooth while giving you some little friction. Do note that when the lens zooms to 300mm, the physical length of the lens does extend to almost 3/4 times its original length.

Fuji X-T3 . Tamron 18-300mm @ 300mm . f6.3 . 1/160″ . ISO 2500 . Classic Chrome

Fuji X-T3 . Tamron 18-300mm @ 203mm . f6.3 . 1/125″ . ISO 3200 . Classic Chrome

Fuji X-T3 . Tamron 18-300mm @ 117.3mm . f5.6 . 1/160″ . ISO 200 . Classic Chrome

Unlike most of the Fujifilm lenses, it does not come with an aperture ring, that’s means you have to control the aperture via the front command dial on the camera body. If you wish to purchase a filter to protect the front lens element, it has a filter size of 67mm, which the cost is on the affordable side.

Fuji X-T3 . Tamron 18-300mm @ 18mm . f3.5 . 1/5″ . ISO 80 . Classic Chrome

Fuji X-T3 . Tamron 18-300mm @ 37mm . f4 . 1/160″ . ISO 2500 . Classic Chrome

Fuji X-T3 . Tamron 18-300mm @ 64.3mm . f5 . 1/160″ . ISO 1600 . Classic Chrome

It weighs 620 grams which are acceptable for an ultra-zoom lens. By looking at the numbers, the lens seems to be heavy. Fear not, the weight distribution is evenly throughout the lens.

Image Quality

During the day, the image quality across all focal lengths is great. I am surprised that the images are decent and beyond my expectation. Of course, the image quality is not comparable to prime lenses but not too far behind from the shorter zoom ratio lenses. Different lenses are created for different purposes, so it is not a fair comparison if you are comparing it with other lenses directly.

Fuji X-T3 . Tamron 18-300mm @ 300mm . f6.3 . 1/50″ . ISO 3200 . Post-edited

Fuji X-T3 . Tamron 18-300mm @ 18mm . f5 . 1/15″ . ISO 3200 . Classic Chrome

Fuji X-T3 . Tamron 18-300mm @ 93.2mm . f5 . 1/55″ . ISO 3200 . Classic Chrome

Fuji X-T3 . Tamron 18-300mm @ 18mm . f3.5 . 1/160″ . ISO 2500 . Classic Chrome

Also, I am not expecting creamy, nice, and beautiful bokeh produces by this lens, the result is quite acceptable for me. It still does its job well for separating the subject from the foreground/background. The good thing about its bokeh is that it still produces smooth and nice fall-off and it does not give harsh and disturbing background blur.

Fuji X-T3 . Tamron 18-300mm @ 18mm . f8 . 1/450″ . ISO 160 . Classic Chrome

Fuji X-T3 . Tamron 18-300mm @ 248.6mm . f6.3 . 1/160″ . ISO 1000 . Classic Chrome

Fuji X-T3 . Tamron 18-300mm @ 45.4mm . f4.5 . 1/160″ . ISO 200 . Classic Chrome

If someone is concerning whether the aperture at F6.3 for 300mm does not give a good background bokeh, well, I think this has to depend on what genres you are shooting with. At least for my shoots, I think the bokeh is okay.

Focusing

Thanks to the VXD (Voice-coil eXtreme-torque Drive) linear motor focus mechanism, the focusing is pretty fast at all focal lengths and silent under the sun. The focus is quite accurate at most focal lengths but I do miss some shots at 300mm. I am wondering if it is due to the small aperture at 300mm.

Fuji X-T3 . Tamron 18-300mm @ 300mm . f6.3 . 1/32000″ . ISO 160 . Classic Chrome

Fuji X-T3 . Tamron 18-300mm @ 69.2mm . f5 . 1/240″ . ISO 160 . Post-edited

Fuji X-T3 . Tamron 18-300mm @ 300mm . f6.3 . 1/1250″ . ISO 160 . Classic Chrome

As for dim lighting situations or nighttime, the focusing speed is noticeably reduced. At 18mm, the focusing speed is still not too bad. However, as the focal length increases, the focusing speed is getting slower and more focus hunting is observed too. I think this is also due to the small aperture value at 300mm.

Optical Stabilization

This lens is equipped with Tamron’s proprietary VC (Vibration Compensation) image stabilization, which helps to compensate for unwanted camera movements, especially under low light situations. While the official statement does not indicate the number of f-stops the lens can deliver, I tested and I manage to get decently sharp photos at 1/14 sec at 300mm. I think I can confirm that VC does work reasonably well under such a situation.

Fuji X-T3 . Tamron 18-300mm @ 300mm . f6.3 . 1/14″ . ISO 400 . Classic Chrome

Fuji X-T3 . Tamron 18-300mm @ 300mm . f6.3 . 1/160″ . ISO 3200 . Classic Chrome

Fuji X-T3 . Tamron 18-300mm @ 55.8mm . f4.5 . 1/160″ . ISO 320 . Classic Chrome

Minimum Object Distance

I have mentioned the MOD earlier. But what I want to mention here is how impressive the MOD is. If you want to shoot at 18mm, basically your lens is very close to the subject. It is surprisingly a fun perspective to shoot with.

Fuji X-T3 . Tamron 18-300mm @ 18mm . f3.5 . 1/1000″ . ISO 160 . Classic Chrome

Fuji X-T3 . Tamron 18-300mm @ 18mm . f3.5 . 1/160″ . ISO 640 . Classic Chrome

Fuji X-T3 . Tamron 18-300mm @ 18mm . f3.5 . 1/680″ . ISO 320 . Classic Chrome

Others

Soft vignetting is observed throughout the focal lengths but it can be easily correctly via post-processing. Also, I notice some softness at 300mm at F6.3 for some shots but it gets slightly better if the aperture is lower to F8 onwards.

Left: Fuji X-E4 . Tamron 18-300mm @ 18mm . f3.5 . 1/1500″ . ISO 320 . Classic Negative
Right: Fuji X-E4 . Tamron 18-300mm @ 300mm . f6.3 . 1/450″ . ISO 160 . Classic Negative

Left: Fuji X-E4 . Tamron 18-300mm @ 18mm . f8 . 1/800″ . ISO 320 . Classic Negative
Right: Fuji X-E4 . Tamron 18-300mm @ 300mm . f8 . 1/680″ . ISO 160 . Classic Negative

Fuji X-T3 . Tamron 18-300mm @ 18mm . f8 . 1/200″ . ISO 160 . Classic Chrome

Left: Fuji X-T3 . Tamron 18-300mm @ 300mm . f8 . 1/210″ . ISO 160 . Classic Negative
Right: Fuji X-T3 . Tamron 18-300mm @ 300mm . f8 . 1/220″ . ISO 160 . Classic Negative
Both shots are taken at the same spot of the previous photo.

This lens comes with a Zoom Lock switch where it locks the zoom ring at 18mm and prevents the lens from creeping due to the weight of the lens while on the move. This mechanical switch is common among all long barrel lenses and I am glad that the Tamron engineers do include it in this lens as well.

This is another thing that I like about this lens and I think it is worth mentioning. If I want to change the focal length from 18mm to 300mm, all it takes is to rotate the zoom ring 45° and I have arrived at 300mm.

Fuji X-T3 . Tamron 18-300mm @ 233.4mm . f6.3 . 1/210″ . ISO 160 . Classic Chrome

Fuji X-T3 . Tamron 18-300mm @ 69.2mm . f5 . 1/400″ . ISO 160 . Classic Chrome

Fuji X-T3 . Tamron 18-300mm @ 300mm . f6.3 . 1/240″ . ISO 160 . Classic Chrome

Fuji X-T3 . Tamron 18-300mm @ 59.9mm . f4.5 . 1/240″ . ISO 160 . Classic Chrome

Who is this for?

This lens is actually quite a versatile lens and it’s a great lens of its class. If the image quality is not much of a concern, this lens basically can shoot anything under the sun.

This lens also gives a good focal length for a photographer who is exploring different kinds of genres without breaking his wallet. If a photographer wants to travel light for his overseas trip, this is one good option too. Besides, if the photographer wants to do a simple product shoot with budget studio lights, this lens is capable of it too.

Fuji X-T3 . Tamron 18-300mm @ 18mm . f4 . 1/28″ . ISO 3200 . Classic Chrome

Fuji X-T3 . Tamron 18-300mm @ 45.4mm . f4.5 . 1/17″ . ISO 3200 . Classic Chrome

Fuji X-T3 . Tamron 18-300mm @ 100.6mm . f5.6 . 1/45″ . ISO 3200 . Classic Chrome

Fuji X-T3 . Tamron 18-300mm @ 86.4mm . f5 . 1/50″ . ISO 3200 . Classic Chrome

Conclusion

This is Tamron very first lens for Fujifilm users and I think this is a wise choice to start off with. That’s because Fujifilm does not have this level of the all-in-one zoom lens in its lens lineup. The closest that Fujifilm has is the 18-135mm and it is nowhere near what Tamron has to offer. Not only that, it is selling at USD 699 (SGD 1088). With such competitive pricing, I think it will attract lots of interested photographers.

Fuji X-T3 . Tamron 18-300mm @ 300mm . f6.3 . 1/250″ . ISO 1250 . Classic Chrome

Fuji X-T3 . Tamron 18-300mm @ 18mm . f3.5 . 1/250″ . ISO 320 . Classic Chrome

Fuji X-T3 . Tamron 18-300mm @ 300mm . f6.3 . 1/160″ . ISO 640 . Classic Chrome

In my own words

Frankly speaking, I am excited to see more and more 3rd party manufacturers stepping into Fujifilm X-system. Not only this gives Fuji users more lens varieties to choose from, but also provides healthy competition with other APS-C manufacturers.

Fuji X-T3 . Tamron 18-300mm @ 34.5mm . f4 . 1/160″ . ISO 2500 . Classic Chrome

Fuji X-T3 . Tamron 18-300mm @ 93.2mm . f5 . 1/80″ . ISO 400 . Classic Chrome

Fuji X-T3 . Tamron 18-300mm @ 300mm . f6.3 . 1/75″ . ISO 400 . Classic Chrome

Fuji X-T3 . Tamron 18-300mm @ 59.9mm . f4.5 . 1/600″ . ISO 160 . Classic Chrome

Fuji X-T3 . Tamron 18-300mm @ 100.6mm . f11 . 1/160″ . ISO 160 . Post-edited

By the way, if you are in Singapore and interested to buy this lens, do drop by SLR Revolution. As far as I know, they are one of the leading local retailers carrying this lens.

Thank you for reading.

If you like my works, please follow me on either one of the 2 Instagram accounts:

https://www.instagram.com/alwinkok_

https://www.instagram.com/alwin.portraits

Reviews

XF33mm F1.4: The “epic” lens for the next decade

October 18, 2021October 20, 2021 Alwin Kok

Before all else, I would like to thank Mr. Keitaro So, Divisional Head of Fujifilm for providing the loan for X-E4 and XF33mm F1.4. The units were loaned from Fujifilm Asia Pacific and had returned back to them.

XF35mm F1.4 is one of the “epic” lenses that Fujifilm ever created. On paper, it is not the perfect lens but to many photographers, it is much more than just perfect. I am one of them. XF33mm F1.4 is by no means to replace the magical characteristic of XF35mm F1.4. But I believe it will be the magical lens for the next decade.

In this review, I will discuss less technical and more on my personal experience with the lens itself. At the same time, as much as possible, I will try not to compare the XF33mm F1.4 with the XF35mm F1.4. It is not a fair comparison by any means. So I hope I can achieve a more independent review of this new lens.

Fuji X-E4 . XF 33mm F1.4 @ 33mm . f1.4 . 1/2700″ . ISO 160 . Classic Neg

Fuji X-E4 . XF 33mm F1.4 @ 33mm . f1.4 . 1/2500″ . ISO 320 . Classic Neg

Fuji X-E4 . XF 33mm F1.4 @ 33mm . f1.4 . 1/1600″ . ISO 320 . Classic Neg

One last thing before I start my review, here is my suggestion to all the X-E4 users. If you are interested to buy this lens after reading this review, I will recommend you to use an additional grip to have better overall balance when you equip this lens with your X-E4.

Fuji X-E4 . XF 33mm F1.4 @ 33mm . f1.4 . 1/160″ . ISO 1000 . Classic Neg

Fuji X-E4 . XF 33mm F1.4 @ 33mm . f1.4 . 1/160″ . ISO 800 . Classic Neg

Fuji X-E4 . XF 33mm F1.4 @ 33mm . f1.4 . 1/240″ . ISO 320 . Classic Neg

Build Quality

For a start, it is made in Philippines. But we should dismiss that the product is poorly produce if the product is made in other countries other than Japan. To be honest, this metal- built lens is fantastic and I can feel it is a great quality lens when I hold it in my hand. The manual focus ring has a gentle smooth rotation. The aperture ring has that same nice and gentle clicky feedback when you are rotating it. Like the newer lenses, it has also come with the “A” (Auto) position lock which locks the aperture ring and prevents any accidental movement. Also, it comes with a plastic hood instead of the metal square hood that XF35mm F1.4 has.

Fuji X-E4 . XF 33mm F1.4 @ 33mm . f1.4 . 1/220″ . ISO 320 . Classic Neg

Fuji X-E4 . XF 33mm F1.4 @ 33mm . f2.8 . 1/4400″ . ISO 320 . Classic Neg

Fuji X-E4 . XF 33mm F1.4 @ 33mm . f4 . 1/2500″ . ISO 320 . Classic Neg

Fuji X-E4 . XF 33mm F1.4 @ 33mm . f1.4 . 1/180″ . ISO 320 . Classic Neg

Fuji X-E4 . XF 33mm F1.4 @ 33mm . f1.4 . 1/5000″ . ISO 160 . Classic Neg

It comes with a 58mm filter size. The weight distribution throughout the lens is good and I can’t really tell it actually weighs 360 grams when I am holding it. There are some 3rd party lenses that are slightly lighter than this lens feel heavier.

Weather Resistant

Like all the new XF lenses, the XF33mm F1.4 also equips itself with the weather-resistant. This is a good direction from Fujifilm because it does help the photographer to have one thing to less worry about.

Fuji X-E4 . XF 33mm F1.4 @ 33mm . f1.4 . 1/125″ . ISO 1250 . Classic Neg

Fuji X-E4 . XF 33mm F1.4 @ 33mm . f1.4 . 1/250″ . ISO 1000 . Classic Neg

Focusing

Fast, accurate, and silent are the 3 keywords that best describe this gem. It is probably one of the lenses that nail the subject so fast that I sometimes wonder if I have half-press the shutter. Even under dim light conditions, I did not notice the focusing speed slowing down at all.

Fuji X-E4 . XF 33mm F1.4 @ 33mm . f1.4 . 1/2500″ . ISO 1250 . Classic Neg

Fuji X-E4 . XF 33mm F1.4 @ 33mm . f1.4 . 1/420″ . ISO 320 . Classic Neg

I even test this lens with an X-E3 which has the previous generation X-Trans sensor. The lens performs is exactly the same as the one with X-E4. At least, I am not able to notice the difference in terms of speed.

Fuji X-E3 . XF 33mm F1.4 @ 33mm . f1.4 . 1/200″ . ISO 200 . Classic chrome

Fuji X-E3 . XF 33mm F1.4 @ 33mm . f2 . 1/150″ . ISO 200 . Classic Chrome

Fuji X-E3 . XF 33mm F1.4 @ 33mm . f1.4 . 1/125″ . ISO 200 . Classic Chrome

Fuji X-E3 . XF 33mm F1.4 @ 33mm . f1.4 . 1/100″ . ISO 500 . Classic Chrome

Fuji X-E3 . XF 33mm F1.4 @ 33mm . f1.4 . 1/100″ . ISO 2500 . Classic Chrome

Image Quality

The image quality coming out from this lens is absolutely stunning! The results coming out of this lens is incredibly crisp and sharp. Basically, I did not notice any flaw with these mind-blowing images.

Fuji X-E4 . XF 33mm F1.4 @ 33mm . f1.4 . 1/160″ . ISO 640 . Classic Neg

Fuji X-E4 . XF 33mm F1.4 @ 33mm . f1.4 . 1/160″ . ISO 1600 . Classic Neg

Fuji X-E4 . XF 33mm F1.4 @ 33mm . f1.4 . 1/160″ . ISO 320 . Classic Neg

The foreground and background blur fall off very smoothly, creamy, and gently. This is one of the nicest bokeh that I can recommend photographers to use this lens to shoot wide open. Besides that, I also hardly notice any distortion, vignetting, and obvious chromatic aberration.

Fuji X-E4 . XF 33mm F1.4 @ 33mm . f1.4 . 1/800″ . ISO 320 . Classic Neg

Minimum Focus Distance & Magnification

This is one of my favorite parts because this is one of the features when I am looking for a lens. Its minimum focus distance (MFD) is 30 cm which is pretty impressive. I love to shoot close up for certain subjects and understanding the MFD of this lens will allow me to visualize what result I can achieve.

Fuji X-E4 . XF 33mm F1.4 @ 33mm . f1.4 . 1/3000″ . ISO 160 . Classic Neg

Fuji X-E4 . XF 33mm F1.4 @ 33mm . f1.4 . 1/13000″ . ISO 320 . Classic Neg

Fuji X-E4 . XF 33mm F1.4 @ 33mm . f1.4 . 1/3500″ . ISO 160 . Classic Neg

Side By Side

On photos, the XF 33mm F1.4 may look bigger than XF 35mm F1.4 but please do not deceive by its size. It is actually relatively small and compact when you look at it on its own. Nevertheless, the lens hood indeed makes the lens looks much taller than it is.

Fujifilm XF33mm F1.4 and Fujifilm XF35mm F1.4

Apart from that, XF35mm F1.4 is noisier, slower (depends on which camera body you are mounting with), and more retro style to me.

Who is this for?

XF35mm F1.4 is here to stay and will continue selling side by side with the XF33mm F1.4. Both lenses are fantastic and have their pro and con. As a wise photographer, you know what works best for you and your budget.

Fuji X-E4 . XF 33mm F1.4 @ 33mm . f1.4 . 1/160″ . ISO 2500 . Classic Neg

From my standpoint, if you do not own the XF35mm F1.4 and you are into street, documentary, and/or portrait photography, then the XF33mm F1.4 is a wiser choice to have. Its accuracy, fast focusing speed, and fantastic image quality are something that I think you will love it. Yes. it is more expensive but I think it is worth to be part of your arsenal.

Fuji X-E4 . XF 33mm F1.4 @ 33mm . f1.4 . 1/160″ . ISO 1250 . Classic Neg

If you own the XF35mm F1.4, it is really up to you if you want to sell it away and purchase this lens. Personally, I will keep my XF35mm F1.4 a little longer with me.

Conclusion

XF33mm F1.4 is really excellent and I am undoubtedly impressed by its optical and focusing performance. This lens also show how much effort are the engineers in Fujifilm had put in and raises the bar of what flagship APS-C lenses can be. If I have to point out the disadvantage of this lens, it will be the price of this lens. Like Mr Shinichiro Udono said in the X Summit, the XF33mm F1.4 should become Fujifilm new “epic” lens.

Fuji X-E4 . XF 33mm F1.4 @ 33mm . f8 . 0.6″ . ISO 160 . Classic Neg

Fuji X-E4 . XF 33mm F1.4 @ 33mm . f8 . 1.3″ . ISO 160 . Classic Neg

Fuji X-E4 . XF 33mm F1.4 @ 33mm . f1.4 . 1/1500″ . ISO 320 . Classic Neg

Fuji X-E4 . XF 33mm F1.4 @ 33mm . f16 . 1/420″ . ISO 320 . Classic Neg

Thank you for reading.

If you wish to contact me, you may direct message me in either one of the 2 Instagram accounts:

https://www.instagram.com/alwinkok_

https://www.instagram.com/alwin.portraits

Reviews

GFX 50S II: A Taste of “More Than Full Frame”

October 14, 2021November 1, 2021 Alwin Kok

Before I begin, I would like to thank Mr. Keitaro So, Divisional Head of Fujifilm for providing the loan for GFX 50S II, GF 45mm, GF 50mm, GF 80mm, and GF 32-64mm. The units were loaned from Fujifilm Asia Pacific and had returned back to them by the time of releasing this review.

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. I reserve ownership of these images, if you wish to use my images, please notify me.
4. I have posted my preview photos in my previous post. You can see it here.

In my own words
Allow me to start off with my conclusion to this review. GFX 50S II is set to be the cheapest medium format camera in the industry. Every camera does come with pros and cons and this camera sure has them too. Instead of making comments on why there is missing hardware or function in its gut, we have to really understand what really serves our needs, achieve our goal, and we have to ask ourselves if we can actually live with the cons.

GFX 50S II . GF 32-64mm F4 @ 64mm . f8 . 1/105″ . ISO 100 . Nostalgic Neg

GFX 50S II . GF 45mm F2.8 @ 45mm . f2.8 . 1/80″ . ISO 2000 . Nostalgic Neg

GFX 50S II . GF 32-64mm F4 @ 32mm . f8 . 1/105″ . ISO 200 . Nostalgic Neg

GFX 50S II . GF 32-64mm F4 @ 64mm . f4 . 1/1000″ . ISO 200 . Nostalgic Neg

I have had the opportunity to test out this beauty for merely 2 weeks. And in these 2 weeks of testing, I am flooded with stunning photos that this camera can give. This makes me believe that if you are someone who is looking for fantastic image quality but do not dare to tip your toe in the world of medium format because of the price, then this camera might be the one you are looking for. I am sure that you will be rewarded handsomely with the results from this medium format camera. If you are interested to find out why, please continue to read.

Left: GFX 50S II . GF 32-64mm F4 @ 64mm . f4 . 1/850″ . ISO 100 . Nostalgic Neg
Right: GFX 50S II . GF 32-64mm F4 @ 64mm . f4 . 1/1600″ . ISO 200 . Nostalgic Neg

Introduction

Remember that GFX 50R was once the cheapest medium format camera? Now it is GFX 50S II. Fujifilm promise of making affordable medium format cameras and they still keep their promise. This also means there they are also creating more opportunities for more photographers to have a taste of what it is like to have the “more than full frame” experience.

GFX 50S II . GF 32-64mm F4 @ 64mm . f4 . 1/1300″ . ISO 100 . Nostalgic Neg

GFX 50S II . GF 32-64mm F4 @ 64mm . f32 . 1/125″ . ISO 320 . Nostalgic Neg

GFX 50S II . GF 32-64mm F4 @ 32mm . f4 . 1/500″ . ISO 200 . Nostalgic Neg

GFX 50S II . GF 32-64mm F4 @ 64mm . f4 . 1/170″ . ISO 200 . Nostalgic Neg

In this review, I am sharing more of my personal experience and not much on the technical side of this camera.

Design

It is actually the same as the GFX 100S. Every single bit of it is identical to its brother except for one thing. There is a label on the left of the camera to indicate it is a GFX 50S II. I quite like the look of it and I am happy that Fujifilm has brought the same look to the 50S II too.

GFX 50S II . GF 50mm F3.5 @ 50mm . f3.5 . 1/30″ . ISO 3200 . Nostalgic Neg

GFX 50S II . GF 80mm F1.7 @ 80mm . f1.7 . 1/450″ . ISO 200 . Nostalgic Neg

GFX 50S II . GF 32-64mm F4 @ 32mm . f4 . 1/90″ . ISO 3200 . Nostalgic Neg

GFX 50S II . GF 50mm F3.5 @ 50mm . f3.5 . 1/1500″ . ISO 200 . Nostalgic Neg

Handling

The weight and the build of this camera assure you that you are holding professional and quality workhorse gear. Although it weighs 900 grams, it comes with a comfortable handgrip. The grip is deep enough to allow you to hold the camera well and confidently with one hand. To be honest, I think the grip is even better than the DSLRs I had previously.

The Shutter

This is probably one of the most enjoyable and satisfying mechanical shutters I have experienced so far. When I click the shutter, I can feel the gentle mechanic shutter feedback it gives and also a sense of assurance that I have clicked the shutter. The shutter sound is actually considerably silent and hardly anyone else notices it when I shoot with it.

GFX 50S II . GF 50mm F3.5 @ 50mm . f3.5 . 1/340″ . ISO 100 . Classic Chrome

GFX 50S II . GF 50mm F3.5 @ 50mm . f5.6 . 1/250″ . ISO 200 . Classic Chrome

GFX 50S II . GF 50mm F3.5 @ 50mm . f3.5 . 1/125″ . ISO 2500 . Classic Chrome

GFX 50S II . GF 50mm F3.5 @ 50mm . f5.6 . 1/125″ . ISO 400 . Classic Chrome

The Viewfinder & The LCD Screen

GFX 50S II is equipped with the 3.69M-dot OLED electronic viewfinder (EVF) with a magnification of 0.77x. Although it is not the best EVF I have tried, but it still gives me a comfortable viewing experience.

The LCD screen is my preferred kind of screen and this is one of the reasons why I do not upgrade my X-T3 to X-T4. I love and enjoy using this 3 ways tilted screen for my shooting. I am pleased that Fujifilm keeps this 3 ways tilted screen in their professional workhorse.

GFX 50S II . GF 80mm F1.7 @ 80mm . f1.7 . 1″ . ISO 3200 . Post-edited

GFX 50S II . GF 50mm F3.5 @ 50mm . f3.5 . 1/320″ . ISO 1250 . Classic Chrome

GFX 50S II . GF 50mm F3.5 @ 50mm . f3.5 . 1/125″ . ISO 320 . Nostalgic Neg

Image Quality

This is really where the medium format sensor shines gloriously. My words might be over-exaggerating but this is my way of expressing how awesome it is. The bokeh really falls off nicely and renders smoothly. To be honest, the image result is quite distinguishable from other image sensor sizes.

GFX 50S II . GF 50mm F3.5 @ 50mm . f3.5 . 1/42″ . ISO 3200 . Nostalgic Neg

GFX 50S II . GF 50mm F3.5 @ 50mm . f3.5 . 1/100″ . ISO 3200 . Nostalgic Neg

Unless my photos happen to be slanted a little, I am not a person who loves to crop my photos. Nonetheless, this camera has a whopping 51 megapixels for me to experience the fun of cropping without sacrificing the details. The photos will speak for themselves. Frankly, I am stunned by the cropped results.

GFX 50S II . GF 50mm F3.5 @ 50mm . f3.5 . 1/125″ . ISO 200 . Classic Chrome

GFX 50S II . GF 50mm F3.5 @ 50mm . f3.5 . 1/125″ . ISO 800 . Nostalgic Neg

GFX 50S II . GF 80mm F1.7 @ 80mm . f8 . 1/800″ . ISO 100 . Post-edited

Dynamic range is absolutely stunning and it can recover most of the data very well. Although the color might be off a little, I believe the professional should be able to recover the color back to the desired one easily.

GFX 50S II . GF 80mm F1.7 @ 80mm . f1.7 . 1/100″ . ISO 1000 . Post-edited

GFX 50S II . GF 80mm F1.7 @ 80mm . f1.7 . 1/110″ . ISO 640 . Post-edited

GFX 50S II . GF 80mm F1.7 @ 80mm . f1.7 . 1/80″ . ISO 500 . Post-edited

GFX 50S II . GF 80mm F1.7 @ 80mm . f1.7 . 1/340″ . ISO 640 . Post-edited

Performance

Unlike the other medium format cameras I have played before, the focusing speed on this camera is incredibly fast and I have also experienced less hunting too. I think it has to do with the X-Processor 4 in its gut because I can hardly tell that I am shooting with a medium format camera.

But on a side note, I do experience somewhat slow focusing speed with the GF 80mm, probably unlike the other lenses, it lacks the Linear Motor (LM).

GFX 50S II . GF 50mm F3.5 @ 50mm . f4 . 1/150″ . ISO 100 . Nostalgic Neg

GFX 50S II . GF 50mm F3.5 @ 50mm . f3.5 . 1/27″ . ISO 3200 . Nostalgic Neg

GFX 50S II . GF 50mm F3.5 @ 50mm . f4 . 1/340″ . ISO 125 . Nostalgic Neg

When I first learned about the 50S II will be using the 4 years old 50S sensor (based on the year it went on sales), I give my disappointment. But on second thought, given that it is the cheapest medium format camera, the manufacturer has to reduce their cost somewhere. However, after using this camera, I dismiss my misconception that this sensor is “old” and “unusable”. Instead, this sensor still stays strong for at least another 5 to 10 years.

GFX 50S II . GF 32-64mm F4 @ 64mm . f4 . 1/125″ . ISO 320 . Nostalgic Neg

GFX 50S II . GF 32-64mm F4 @ 32mm . f5.6 . 1/200″ . ISO 200 . Nostalgic Neg

GFX 50S II . GF 80mm F1.7 @ 80mm . f1.7 . 1/4700″ . ISO 200 . Nostalgic Neg

GFX 50S II . GF 80mm F1.7 @ 80mm . f1.7 . 1/1300″ . ISO 200 . Nostalgic Neg

Since the 50S II uses the original 50S sensor, this also means that it comes with contrast detection only. Hence, it is missing the hybrid system with phase detection technology that most of the modern mirrorless camera has. Despite lacking phase detection, Fujifilm has actually reworked the algorithm and together with the new processing engine to improve the photographer’s overall shooting experience. In other words, the shooting experience is far better for 50S II than the 50S. In short, I have no problem shooting in most of the scenarios in my testing period.

IBIS

On paper, 50S II offers an incredible 6.5 stops of compensation. How does it translate into real-world usage? A successful 1-second handheld shot. Of course, it comes with a few tries before I manage to get a decent shot. This pretty much has become an achievement for me.

GFX 50S II . GF 50mm F3.5 @ 50mm . f6.4 . 1″ . ISO 100 . Nostalgic Neg

GFX 50S II . GF 50mm F3.5 @ 50mm . f9 . 0.8″ . ISO 100 . Classic Chrome

Feedback

Actually, I am struggling to say this but I do miss the retro dials that Fujifilm has in most of their X system cameras but they replace the dials with the top-panel status LCD. I am not saying it is bad because both of them serve their purposes well with useful information for individuals. But it is just me that I love those retro dials and I am going to miss them if I ever own one.

GFX 50S II . GF 45mm F2.8 @ 45mm . f5.6 . 1/900″ . ISO 200 . Nostalgic Neg

GFX 50S II . GF 32-64mm F4 @ 32mm . f8 . 14″ . ISO 100 . Nostalgic Neg

GFX 50S II . GF 45mm F2.8 @ 45mm . f11 . 1/280″ . ISO 100 . Nostalgic Neg

When I need to use the exposure compensation function, I need to press the exposure compensation button together with the rear command dial. This is different from the X-system I am using, where I can assign the exposure compensation function to the front command dial and use it straight away. It is a personal preference and personal habit and I hope that Fujifilm can allow users to have straight away access to the exposure compensation.

GFX 50S II . GF 45mm F2.8 @ 45mm . f2.8. 1/100″ . ISO 3200 . Nostalgic Neg

GFX 50S II . GF 45mm F2.8 @ 45mm . f5.6 . 1/125″ . ISO 2000 . Nostalgic Neg

GFX 50S II . GF 80mm F1.7 @ 80mm . f1.7 . 1/340″ . ISO 200 . Nostalgic Neg

GFX 50S II . GF 80mm F1.7 @ 80mm . f2 . 1/125″ . ISO 1250 . Nostalgic Neg

Who is this for?

If you are thinking to purchase a full-frame camera but does not rely on fast burst rate for your shoot, you may consider this powerhouse in your next purchase. This camera is suitable for photographers who are looking to advance their image quality to the next level. Whether you are a landscape photographer, portrait photographer, documentary photographer, or travel photographer, by pairing with some decent GF lenses, I believe you can harness the power of GFX 50S II and enjoy every single moment of it.

GFX 50S II . GF 80mm F1.7 @ 80mm . f1.7 . 1/125″ . ISO 2500 . Post-edited

GFX 50S II . GF 80mm F1.7 @ 80mm . f1.7 . 1/120″ . ISO 3200 . Post-edited

GFX 50S II . GF 45mm F2.8 @ 80mm . f2.8 . 1/125″ . ISO 2500 . Post-edited

GFX 50S II . GF 80mm F1.7 @ 80mm . f1.7 . 1/125″ . ISO 1250 . Post-edited

GFX 50S II . GF 80mm F1.7 @ 80mm . f1.7 . 1/160″ . ISO 800 . Post-edited

If you are a commercial photographer, I believe you know what you need to deliver your jobs. So I leave it to you to decide.

Thank you for reading.

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Reviews

Staycation With GFX 50S II

October 13, 2021December 8, 2021 Alwin Kok

It was a last minute arrangement with Mr. Keitaro So, Divisional Head of Fujifilm for providing the loan unit of GFX 50S II and 4 GF lenses (GF 45mm f2.8, 50mm f3.5, 80mm f1.7 and GF32-64mm f4). We discussed over the night and the gears are on my hands the very next day. I am very grateful to Mr. Keitaro So for the effort and time for this arrangement and support.

This is my first time holding the GFX camera and I happened to have a short staycation at Sofitel Singapore City Centre. So, I think this is a good opportunity for me to test out this large format camera.

I will be sharing my full experience in another blog post and that will be available in a few weeks time. Meanwhile, I will not share too much about the details over here but photos!

Disclaimer:
1. All the shots taken here are shot by me.
2. All the shots are straight out of the camera with some shots are edited via In-Camera Raw Processing.
3. I reserve ownership of these images, if you wish to use my images, please notify me.