Every now and then, some manufacturers want to extend the longevity of their product line-up to maintain its popularity. The usual way is to release a new color. For example, TTArtisan 27mm f2.8. They released the black version in 2022, then the yellow edition in 2023, and now the silver version in 2024. Another good example is Ricoh GR3. It has a few editions, and the recently announced HDF edition gives a little hardware change to boost the photographers’ choices.
Brightin Star 35mm f0.95 Silver EditionBrightin Star 35mm f0.95 Silver Edition
Intro
Brightin Star has just launched a new silver version of its popular 35mm f0.95. If you hesitated to buy it before due to the black color, this silver option adds a fresh appeal, making it a great choice for you now.
Image Quality, Build Quality & Design
The image quality remains the same and if you are curious about it, you can click on link from the previous paragraph to understand more about this lens. As for built quality, it is no difference from the black color variant.
The silver color gives a totally different vibe to the original black color. The striking yellow bold brand logo has become subtle. This may be a good thing for someone wants to lay low yet wants a different color to differentiate this lens with the other he/she owns. Apart from that, the aperture numberings and markings are now in black with focusing distance numberings in red.
Brightin Star 35mm f0.95 Black & Silver EditionBrightin Star 35mm f0.95 Black & Silver EditionBrightin Star 35mm f0.95 Black & Silver Edition (rear)
Price Point
It is now 169.99 USD, slightly cheaper than when I reviewed it. Do you think it is a good time to get it?
Others
What’s fascinating about this lens is the lens cap. Both front and rear.
Brightin Star 35mm f0.95 Black & Silver Edition
The front lens cap now comes with a minimalistic font indicating it’s a “35mm f0.95” lens and followed by the brand itself. Again, all wordings are in black.
The rear lens cap comes with a frosted plastic material. I think this is the first time I am seeing something that is so interesting. Of course, the name “Brightin Star” can be seen on the rear lens cap.
Conclusion
This lens is an ingenious design from Brightin Star’s design team. They did not simply “color change” the lens and then sell it to potential photographers. I can see that they put effort and thought into this edition of the lens.
This lens is a cleverly crafted creation by Brightin Star’s design team. They put in more than just a “color change” and clearly invested time and effort into this particular version of the lens.
Fuji X-T5 . Brightin Star 35mm f0.95 @ 35mm . f0.95. 1/320″ . ISO 800 . Nostalgic NegativeFuji X-T5 . Brightin Star 35mm f0.95 @ 35mm . f0.95. 1/320″ . ISO 320 . Nostalgic NegativeFuji X-T5 . Brightin Star 35mm f0.95 @ 35mm . f0.95. 1/320″ . ISO 1000 . Nostalgic NegativeFuji X-T5 . Brightin Star 35mm f0.95 @ 35mm . f0.95. 1/320″ . ISO 640 . Nostalgic NegativeFuji X-T5 . Brightin Star 35mm f0.95 @ 35mm . f0.95. 1/320″ . ISO 400. Nostalgic NegativeFuji X-T5 . Brightin Star 35mm f0.95 @ 35mm . f0.95. 1/320″ . ISO 200 . Nostalgic NegativeFuji X-T5 . Brightin Star 35mm f0.95 @ 35mm . f2. 1/320″ . ISO 125 . Nostalgic NegativeFuji X-T5 . Brightin Star 35mm f0.95 @ 35mm . f0.95. 1/950″ . ISO 125 . Nostalgic NegativeFuji X-T5 . Brightin Star 35mm f0.95 @ 35mm . f0.95. 1/320″ . ISO 125 . Nostalgic NegativeFuji X-T5 . Brightin Star 35mm f0.95 @ 35mm . f8. 1/1000″ . ISO 125 . Nostalgic Negative
Thank you for reading.
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 and Capture One. 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:
When it comes to the 33mm focal length (or 50mm in full-frame equivalent), there aren’t many options available. Unlike the 50mm to 56mm range, which is well-represented by nearly every brand, the 33mm/35mm focal length seems to lack strong competition in the market.
Meike 33mm f1.4
Meike likely recognized this gap in the market and released their 33mm f1.4 to attract more attention from photographers like us.
Intro
There are some teases for this lens from the company and rumors before it’s official announcement in August 2024.
Meike 33mm f1.4
Prior to this lens, Meike released the quite impressive 55mm f1.4, which I tested and really liked. I often recommend it to anyone looking for a compact and lightweight portrait lens. Because of my positive experience with that lens, I have high expectations for the Meike 33mm f/1.4.
Meike 33mm f1.4 with lens hood
Before I move on, I want to express my gratitude to the wonderful team at Meike for providing this lens for my review. I sincerely appreciate their ongoing support.
Design and Build Quality
If you have the Meike 55mm f1.4, then you will be treated with many familiarities with this lens. It shares the same design language, same build quality, and same handling experience.
This 55mm filter-size lens comes with an aperture ring. It still has the same stiffness and same clickiness level applied to the aperture ring. The stiff level is strong enough to prevent accidental change in aperture value. This can be a beneficial thing for me, but definitely not so much for the videographer.
The lens still uses a plastic build, but it doesn’t feel cheap. Holding it feels quite solid, and it doesn’t attract fingerprints easily. While I’m not sure how much weight was shaved off to bring the total weight down to 314 grams, I believe Meike must have carefully considered this balance during the design process.
The Meike 55mm f1.4 gives me a very satisfying result. A result that has decent image quality, good level of contrast, and good chromatic aberration control. The Meike 33mm f1.4 follows the same. After knowing that it does not produce any soft unusable result, I am very happy to use this lens wide-open.
Vignetting, however, is still present at wide-open. In my opinion, it is acceptable as I am totally fine with a small level of vignetting but not too heavy too disturbing to the overall viewing experience.
When comes to sun stars, it is just fine. The lines are not well-defined or detailed. Just fine soft lines. Of course, it does introduce some flares too.
Focusing is snappy in most scenarios but sometimes I do encounter the lens is not able to focus on any object at wide-open in bright outdoor and well-lit indoor environment.
This could be a bug or just the copy I have and it only happens if I shoot at f1.4 and did not encounter similar behaviour in any other aperture values. I hope there will have a firmware update to address the focusing issue at wide-open.
If you are concerning about lens breathing, this lens has actually one of the good minimal lens breathing among the third-party manufacturers.
Minimum Focus Distance (MFD)
40cm minimum focus distance is not the shortest. Using XF33mm f1.4 as a benchmark, it’s 30cm and Sirui 33mm f1.2 shared the same MFD as the Meike 33mm f1.4.
In most scenarios, short MFD does not really impact to my day-to-day shoots. Just that occasionally I wish it can close up more when I wish to do close-up shots. Nevertheless, I am glad that the image quality does not reduce significantly when taken at MFD.
Price Point
229.99 USD is what it is selling at this time of posting. It is about 3.5 times cheaper than the XF33mm f1.4 (799 USD) but comparable with the other third-party lenses like Viltrox 33mm f1.4 (279 USD) and Sirui 33mm f1.2 (279 USD).
It has the USB-C port located at the rear lens to allow easy firmwares upgrades in the future. And similar to the Meike 55mm f1.4, this lens does not come with any weather sealing or weather resistance.
Meike 33mm f1.4 rear
Who is this for?
With this price point, it is easy to recommend new photographers who plan to buy their first prime lens. For the professional, this can be a good getaway lens to enjoy the love of photography.
This lens may not be perfect in every aspect, but it offers solid performance for its price. In my view, Meike made a smart move by introducing this focal length to expand their lineup. I love how compact the lens is and how usable the image results are. Most importantly, I enjoy using it a lot. I’d highly recommend it to anyone looking for a budget-friendly option without breaking the bank.
Alongside the Meike 55mm f1.4, the Meike 33mm f1.4 is one of the best lenses to complement it. What’s still missing, though, is a 23mm focal length (or perhaps even 22mm, given the 55mm and 33mm in the lineup) to complete a “Trinity” of lenses from Meike. While there’s no official word from the manufacturer yet, we can only hope they’ll eventually release this focal length to round out the set.
Meike 33mm f1.4 with lens cap
Thank you for reading.
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:
The 50mm focal length (equivalent to 75mm in full frame) or similar focal length is a favorite among both manufacturers and photographers, showcasing its popularity. Most brands offer one or two standout lenses in this category. However, the real question is: Can this lens differentiate itself from the competition?
Brightin Star 50mm f1.4
Intro
Before I proceed, I would like to take the opportunity to thank Brightin Star for sending this lens over for my review. Having said that, the review is based on personal experience and zero influence from the manufacturer.
Brightin Star 50mm f1.4
This is Brightin Star first first-ever autofocus lens. It’s a great deal for the manufacturer and I am always happy to see more and more third-party lenses joining the Fuji family. This gives us one more option to choose from.
Design and Build Quality
At a glance, the striking yellow brand label is prominently marked on the lens body, and it resembles somewhat similar to a red badge brand. Nonetheless, it easily gives everyone a good impression of the brand. Oh yes, it comes with metal-built quality, which adds a touch of premium quality.
Fuji X-T5 . Brightin Star 50mm f1.4 @ 50mm . f1.4. 1/1500″ . ISO 125 . Nostalgic NegativeLeft: Fuji X-T5 . Brightin Star 50mm f1.4 @ 50mm . f1.4. 1/2500″ . ISO 125 . Nostalgic Negative Right: Fuji X-T5 . Brightin Star 50mm f1.4 @ 50mm . f2 . 1/400″ . ISO 125 . Nostalgic Negative
Despite the presence of a textured half ring where the aperture ring would typically be located, this lens does not actually have one. I found myself attempting to rotate the “ring” only to discover that it was not present.
It’s a pity to see them missing out on the aperture ring. I was informed that by implementing the aperture ring, the height of the lens will be increased by at least 2cm. I guess the engineers behind this lens have some consideration and come out with this decision. Probably we might see one with the aperture ring someday?
Fuji X-T5 . Brightin Star 50mm f1.4 @ 50mm . f1.4. 1/150″ . ISO 125 . Nostalgic Negative
With the weight of 445 grams, I can feel the weight when I hold the lens in my hand but it feels well-balanced when I mount it on my X-T5.
Fuji X-T5 . Brightin Star 50mm f1.4 @ 50mm . f1.4. 1/80″ . ISO 320 . Nostalgic NegativeLeft: Fuji X-T5 . Brightin Star 50mm f1.4 @ 50mm . f1.4. 1/2500″ . ISO 125 . Nostalgic Negative Right: Fuji X-T5 . Brightin Star 50mm f1.4 @ 50mm . f1.4 . 1/400″ . ISO 125 . Nostalgic Negative
It comes with a 58mm filter. I am glad that it comes with a small filter size, which does not require photographers to cough out a huge amount of money for a larger filter size.
Image Quality
My experience with Brightin Star 35mn f0.95 was positive and so I have a high expectation for this lens. I am glad that this lens did meet my expectations. The image quality is great at wide-open.
Fuji X-T5 . Brightin Star 50mm f1.4 @ 50mm . f1.4. 1/250″ . ISO 1250 . Nostalgic NegativeLeft: Fuji X-T5 . Brightin Star 50mm f1.4 @ 50mm . f1.4. 1/125″ . ISO 640 . Nostalgic Negative Right: Fuji X-T5 . Brightin Star 50mm f1.4 @ 50mm . f1.4 . 1/80″ . ISO 3200 . Nostalgic Negative
The sharpness at wide-open is great but still falls behind the XF56mm f1.2. When comes to contrast, it seems to be slightly lacking too. I do not worry much about it since it can be done via post-edit. Nonetheless, vignetting and chromatic aberration are well-controlled.
When it comes to the background/foreground blur rendering, it is not the best rendering. But at least it is not something dramatic, nor is it messy.
One observation I’ve made is that, despite having the lens hood attached to the front, some flares are still able to penetrate and reach the glass. It’s uncertain whether this is due to the way I shoot, but it’s worth being aware of. However, the flare does not significantly diminish the quality of the captured image. It retains a good level of contrast on the subject while adding a unique character to the shot.
Fuji X-T5 . Brightin Star 50mm f1.4 @ 50mm . f16. 1/80″ . ISO 160 . Nostalgic Negative
When it comes to the sun star result, the line is not the sharpest nor the lines are well-defined. The result is pretty dull in my opinion.
Focusing
This lens is equipped with a Stepper Motor (STM), and the focusing is considerably snappy for so many glass elements inside the lens. I have no issue with focusing on both bright days and well-lit environments. For low-light situations, I do experience occasionally a little slower autofocus performance. But it’s not a deal breaker for me.
Fuji X-T5 . Brightin Star 50mm f1.4 @ 50mm . f5.6. 1/350″ . ISO 125 . Nostalgic Negative
Left: Fuji X-T5 . Brightin Star 50mm f1.4 @ 50mm . f1.4. 1/80″ . ISO 250 . Nostalgic Negative Right: Fuji X-T5 . Brightin Star 50mm f1.4 @ 50mm . f1.4 . 1/170″ . ISO 125 . Nostalgic Negative
In terms of eye-AF for portrait photography, the combination with the X-T5 performs well. It achieves a high success rate, with only a minimal number of out-of-focus results.
Fuji X-T5 . Brightin Star 50mm f1.4 @ 50mm . f1.4. 1/125″ . ISO 3200 . Nostalgic Negative
Left: Fuji X-T5 . Brightin Star 50mm f1.4 @ 50mm . f1.4. 1/125″ . ISO 800 . Nostalgic Negative Right: Fuji X-T5 . Brightin Star 50mm f1.4 @ 50mm . f2 . 1/100″ . ISO 2500 . Nostalgic Negative
I also encounter a few times when the focus is off when the focus box is already in green. I think this can be fixed by future firmware updates.
The focus breathing is a surprising minimum and I think this helps for videography.
Minimum Focus Distance (MFD)
It has a 50cm MFD, which is a little fall-short as compared with XF50mm f2 (39cm), Yongnuo 50mm f1.8 (45cm), but slightly better than Meike 55mm f1.4 (61cm), and Sirui 56mm f1.2 (60cm).
Fuji X-T5 . Brightin Star 50mm f1.4 @ 50mm . f1.4. 1/80″ . ISO 160 . Nostalgic Negative
The MFD is just nice, and it is nothing to shout about. At least, the focus distance since any further than the competitions. In my observation, the image quality still preserved well with a minimal amount of softness is observed at wide-open. No sign of losing in contrast.
Fuji X-T5 . Brightin Star 50mm f1.4 @ 50mm . f1.4. 1/80″ . ISO 200 . Nostalgic Negative
Price Point
It is priced at 299 USD. This is an attractive yet competitive price point for getting this amazing glass. Taking references from other similar focal length lenses like Sirui 56mm (279 USD), Yongnuo 50mm f1.8 (299 USD), Meike 55mm f1.4 (200 USD), Sigma 56mm f1.4 (529 USD), TTArtisan 56mm f1.8 (158 USD) and lastly XF50mm f2 (449 USD), this newly launched lens is actually quite reasonable.
Fuji X-T5 . Brightin Star 50mm f1.4 @ 50mm . f2. 1/4000″ . ISO 125 . Nostalgic NegativeLeft: Fuji X-T5 . Brightin Star 50mm f1.4 @ 50mm . f1.4. 1/240″ . ISO 125 . Nostalgic Negative Right: Fuji X-T5 . Brightin Star 50mm f1.4 @ 50mm . f1.4 . 1/200″ . ISO 125 . Nostalgic Negative
Others
It comes with a USB-C port right at the rear of the lens mount, like many other third-party manufacturers do. This is mainly for future firmware updates.
USB-C port at the rear lens. (Love the black chrome color)
According to Brightin Star, this lens does come with waterproofing, drip proofing, and dust proofing. Also, it comes with an anti-fouling fluorine coating that allows the stains that fall onto the lens to be easily removed. This surprised me, and I consider it to be a bonus point.
Brightin Star 50mm f1.4 with lens hood
You might have noticed that there is something on the lens hood. It comes with a different lock release mechanism. When the lens hood is in the forward position, you need to press the button to detach it. However, this design only works one way, the lens hood is not able to lock when placed in the reverse position.
Who is this for?
We all know this focal length is suitable for the portrait genre, but this focal length is also suitable for the street genre, product genre, and journalism/documentary genre as well.
Fuji X-T5 . Brightin Star 50mm f1.4 @ 50mm . f2. 1/80″ . ISO 160 . Nostalgic Negative
Left: Fuji X-T5 . Brightin Star 50mm f1.4 @ 50mm . f1.4. 1/160″ . ISO 400 . Nostalgic Negative Right: Fuji X-T5 . Brightin Star 50mm f1.4 @ 50mm . f2 . 1/6000″ . ISO 125 . Nostalgic Negative
If you are new to Fujifilm and looking to start building a collection of prime lenses, this lens is both affordable and reliable for long-term use.
For seasoned photographers looking to experiment with third-party lenses, this could be the next lens to consider, as long as you are willing to accept that it lacks an aperture ring.
Conclusion
I have to emphasize again that this is Brightin Star’s first autofocus lens. Although it is not the perfect lens everyone is looking for (such as missing aperture ring and weight), the decent image quality and price tag is something worth considering.
In my opinion, image quality should be the higher priority among all functionalities, and I think the engineering effort for this lens deserves good praise. Nevertheless, this is a worthy lens, and I am already looking forward to their next autofocus lens.
Thank you for reading.
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 and Capture One. 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:
It’s been four years since I’ve had my X100V in hand. Specifically, I first picked up this gem on 27 February 2020, and time has truly flown by. While this camera has been a faithful companion, my fully occupied full-time work and remaining time spent testing out other lenses has given me little time to devote to it. However, whenever I do get the chance, I ensure that the moments spent with it are of the highest quality.
Fujifilm X100VI
Intro
The X100V successor was announced on the 20 February 2024 X-summit Tokyo. But before the announcement, Fujifilm had already teased us with 2 teasers. So it is not much of a surprise and those who know already expected what camera is coming up for the announcement. So what remains unknown are the guts of the camera.
Fujifilm X100VIFujifilm X100VI
Design and Build Quality
The build quality is premium, which has always been the case since the X100 era. You can tell by holding the camera and feeling how nicely the camera is engineered and crafted.
As for design, it is pretty much the same as its predecessor, X100V, which is also very similar to each iteration.
This is exactly what Masazumi Imai San intention is. He wants other people to identify the camera as an “X100” camera but cannot tell which generation this X100 camera is from as far as 3 meters away.
On paper, the X100VI is actually 2mm thicker than its predecessor. Because it is now 2mm thicker, he also designed the handgrip to be 0.5 mm deeper than the X100V, which he deemed that this is the best comfort grip for this 521 grams gear.
The first is the noticeable color change for the viewfinder selector. It has changed from red to silver/black color that goes according to the silver/black or of the camera.
From the back, the “drive/delete” button has shifted more closer for easier reachability for the right thumb. I do not have problem reaching the button back then but Fujifilm might have considered photographers who have smaller hands.
Lastly is the tripod mount. It has shifted away from the center and a few millimeters towards the edge of the front camera.
Handling & The Shutter
The handling of the camera is identical to the X100V, it is great in my opinion. Unfortunately (or fortunately to some?), I did not feel any different from the deeper 0.5mm handgrip. For photographers who prefer a deeper grip will have to purchase an additional hand grip.
Speaking of leaf shutter, it still stay with the camera and it is part of the X100 tradition.
Sensorand Processor
X-Trans CMOS sensor 5 HR and the X-Processor 5 are the core of the X100VI. If you follow Fujifilm, this is the third camera using this setup (according to the announcement date). In short, no need to explain further how capable is this 40-megapixel sensor and the processor that handles it.
I have also shared my experiences with the sensor on both X-H2 and X-T5.
Image Quality
Surprise surprise. Fujifilm is using back the same lens from X100V which is a re-designed lens from the predecessors like the X100F, X100T, X100S, and the OG X100. Since Fujifilm is using back the optic from X100V, does this mean that Fujifilm has already well-planned way before launching X100V?
Combined with the latest generation sensor and processor, the image quality is still great. It has met my expectations. The sharpness and contrast are fantastic and well-balanced across the frame. Chromatic aberration is nowhere to be found and I am not expecting that to happen. A little vignetting can be seen, but it is not affecting me at all. Probably already been processed for jpeg but nonetheless, I am pleased with the results.
Pairing up with Wide Conversion Lens and Tele Conversion Lens is good and surprisingly still maintains the same image quality. At least I do not see any drop in image quality.
It comes with a 10cm minimum focus distance. This pretty much helps the photographer to have the option to get closer to the subject if he/she needs it.
It shares the same “snappy” with occasionally focus pulling like its predecessor but it does not happen frequently. The focus hunting does come when there is a lack of contrast or low light condition and I think it is acceptable for my usage. Overall, it doesn’t impact my X100 series shooting experience.
The eye-AF tracking performs identically to the other cameras that use X-Processor 5.
IBIS
It is a marvel of engineering for Fujifilm engineers to be able to pack a 5-axis IBIS system that is capable of providing up to 6 stops. Impressive work there.
For me, I can hold the camera as slowly as 0.6 seconds with one hand and still achieve a very decent success hit rate.
Battery Life
It is using back the same NP-W126S battery. My first thought was that the battery was not going to last. I was wrong. The battery life is improved. Though not by a margin, it is slightly better than the predecessors. I think it has to do with the new X-Trans 5 processor that makes the battery life even more efficient.
In my test, I can take approximately 450 shots on average with some photos transferred to the phone. While it is slightly lower than X-T50, it is still not an issue for me. Just bring more batteries. My way of shooting is simply to turn on, shoot, and turn off.
Feedback
The battery is what most people are concerned about for this model and since NP-W235 is missing, I hope to see the successor of X100VI have the NP-W235 instead of NP-W126S. Meanwhile, we will just need to bring an extra battery or two and put it inside our pockets.
Fujifilm chose to keep the 4-stop built-in ND filter in this generation. What I hope to that Fujifilm will make one more built-in ND filter and allow photographers to choose between 4 stops and 8 stops (for example only) for their shoot. Probably even better for a videographer?
Price Point
At 1599 USD, it is pretty expensive and is 200 USD more than its predecessor. But with all the newest technologies from Fujifilm packed into this compact package, I think I can accept it.
Others
After 5 generations of the X100 series, this is the first that is made outside of Japan. Does that mean the build quality is no longer on par with the predecessors?
Fujifilm X100VI with WCL and TCLLeft: Fujifilm X100VI with TCL Right: Fujifilm X100VI with WCL
If Fujifilm did not inform us about where it is made from, I think everyone assumes this generation is still made in Japan. It is so hard to differentiate by just physical touch. This is not the first product that Fujifilm made outside of Japan and I believe Fujifilm does set a certain standard for the other country makers to follow the protocol and quality control set by Fujifilm. If someone is having this concern, I think don’t worry about it.
Who is this for?
This camera can be for everyone and anyone. From a hobbyist to a professional photographer, a parent who wants to capture every moment of his/her kids, a person who loves to have a memorable gathering or someone who just wants to have a camera with a “one lens fits all” concept, or even travelers.
X100 series is a unique product and it holds a special place in my heart. In my opinion, it is still one of the best “Every Day Camera” options. If I have ever had difficulty in deciding what lens to bring out to pair with my X-T5, then the X100 camera will be the only choice. I do not need to think, just grab it and go.
X100 VI is the latest and it is the best X100 series yet. No doubt getting one might be a problem now. But if you pick it up from the retail dealer (not scalpers), spend a good time with it. Give yourself a good time admiring its look, hold it up, and feel it. Then power up, click the shutters, and snap some shots. Listen to the shutter “clicks” when you press down the shutters. It gives a good serene experience in return. A good camera to slow down my pace and wander the street through the viewfinder.
As my title suggests, it may seem like a minor upgrade but it turns out to be a great improvement over the X100V. I love it and I hope I can spend more time with it in the future. I also understand that it is totally a challenge to take one from official retailers but I urge potential buyers not to buy from scalpers. I hope serious photographers will get one on their hands.
Disclaimer: 1. All the shots taken here are shot by me. 2. All of the shots are straight out of the camera with some edited via In-Camera Raw Processing. 3. The photos are resized to 30% of the original size except for cropped ones. If you wish to see the original file, contact me and I will be happy to share it with you. 4. I reserve ownership of these images, if you wish to use my images, please notify me. 5.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.
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The XF18-55mm f/2.8-4 is undeniably one of the most standout lenses in Fujifilm’s X-mount lineup. Even Chris and Jordan of Petapixel agreed too. It is also my very first lens with my very first X-Mount camera.
XF16-50mm f2.8-4.8
So Fujifilm has given us it’s successor: XF16-50mm f2.8-4.8 R LM WR. Do you think it is a worthy one?
Intro
The long-waited premium kit lens was announced together with the X-T50 at the X-Summit Sydney 2024. The focal lengths (in full frame equivalent) is 24mm to 75mm and it is no stranger to us. This focal length was first ever introduce to us in 2013 in a form of XC16-5mm f3.5-5.6 OIS (version II was updated in 2015).
XF16-50mm f2.8-4.8
As stated in the name of this lens, the aperture value is variable throughout the lens. This means it’s maximum aperture is f2.8 at 16mm and f4.8 at 50mm.
Before I dive in further, I want to extend my thanks to Ms. Carmen, Marketing Manager at Fujifilm Singapore, for lending the XF16-50mm for review. As of the publication of this review, the lens unit has been returned to Fujifilm Singapore.
Design and Build Quality
When I first saw this lens at the launch event, I was impressed by its size. Visually, it is very similar to the XF18-55mm in size. In terms of built quality, it is the same as the new generation XF lenses. Solid and well-built.
XF16-50mm f2.8-4.8
At 240 grams, it feels light on the hand, and due to its compact size, it is easy to hold too. Here comes the first thing that I like about the lens. It is internal zoom, which means it does not protrude when I zoom in and also does not feel “lost balance” when I use the lens at tele. Fujifilm has developed several internal zoom lenses, such as the XF8-16mm f2.8, XF18-120mm f4, and XF150-600mm f5.6-8. Another benefit of having internal zoom is for videographers but I am not about the small aperture value at 50mm.
It comes with an Aperture Mode Switch, which allows the photographer to choose if he/she wants to control the aperture by himself/herself or leave it to the camera to decide for you.
A little bit more about the aperture ring. Unlike Fujifilm prime lenses, it does not have aperture values labeled on the ring. It is simply a “controller” that continues to rotate regardless of whether it has reached its maximum or minimum aperture value, in either direction (clockwise or counterclockwise). The aperture ring is clicky and less stiff than the one on the prime lenses. Anyway, you need to take note of the aperture value before you shoot as you might accidentally rotate the aperture ring without noticing.
This lens is designed to resolve the X-Trans CMOS sensor 5 HR and I think Fujifilm keep their promise.
As a zoom lens, the image quality from this lens is pretty great. It has good sharpness and contrast across all focal lengths. Vignetting is well-controlled and chromatic aberration is nowhere to be seen. This is what I have expected from Fujifilm.
However, the rendering of the background/off focus blur varies as you zoom. That’s because it is a variable apertures lens. But it is still able to give a good amount of separation between the off-focus and subject. This is normal for a variable zoom lens as oppose to prime lens.
As for sun star, it is there if you need it in your shot but the result is not the finest one out there in the market.
Since it comes with a Linear Motor, I am not expecting a poor autofocus performance from this. I was not disappointed. Although it is not as instantaneously focused and locked onto the subject as fast as the prime lenses, it is still pretty decent for a zoom lens. The autofocus is snappy across all focal lengths. Even when it is under a low-light situation, it’s performance is slightly poor but still very good for day-to-day use.
What I like about this lens is the MFD. It comes with a fixed 24cm. Meaning the MFD does not change when you change your focal length. This also means that this lens is capable of shooting at a close-up of an object. It is even closer than Sigma 18-50mm at 50mm (which is at 30cm).
However, the lens optics do exhibit some loss in image quality, leading to softer and less contrasty results. But it looks fine if you don’t pixel-peeping.
Price Point
It is priced the same as the XF18-55mm (currently not in stock in B&H) at 699 USD. Do you think the price is steep? I think it is a little steep for a kit lens but on second thought, it is a premium one. That’s probably explain why.
Yes if your camera is not equipped with In-Body Image Stabilization (IBIS). Unless you are fine with higher ISO under low-light situations, you might struggle to take steady shots at 50mm due to low shutter speed.
No, if your camera is already equipped with the IBIS like the X-H2S, X-H2, X-T5, X-S20, etc., then the IBIS will help out for steady shots at low shutter speed.
Who is this for?
This is a good lens for a beginner to pick up and it is a very versatile lens that covers most genres. It’s also beneficial for photographers to identify their most frequently used focal length before delving into more specific options.
Also, it is good for travelers who prefer to keep their setup as light as possible and as minimal as possible; like pairing up with the new camera, X-T50.
Conclusion
It is a small and also an all-propose lens. During my testing period, it is delightful to use together with the X-T50. However, is it timed correctly for its launch? I’m uncertain. Nowadays, there are plenty of third-party lenses available, such as the Sigma 18-50mm and Tamron 17-70mm. The XF16-50mm might face tough competition in winning over photographers’ favor.
Having said that, I am not saying it is a bad lens to pick up. I would advise photographers who are interested to visit a camera store and try it out before deciding which lens suits them best. The XF16-50mm is a good replacement for the XF18-55mm but it doesn’t hold the same place in my affection that the XF18-55mm does.
XF16-50mm f2.8-4.8 with lens hood
Thank you for reading.
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:
Many are aware that the X-T30II, released in 2021, is not a true successor to the 2019 X-T30, and there have been no indications of a potential upgrade in this mid-range category during these years. At one juncture, I even considered the possibility of this series being discontinued.
Fujifilm X-T50Fujifilm X-T50
Now, the much-anticipated X-T50 has finally arrived. Does it represent a significant improvement over the X-T30?
Intro
X-T50 is the fifth iteration of the X-T double-digit series. It was announced at the X Summit Sydney 2024 in May.
X-T(xx) series has always been the little brother of the X-T(x) series. They share something similar, but also something different to set them apart. This is no different for this generation. But the gap is sort of getting closer.
Before continuing, I want to extend my thanks to Ms. Carmen, Marketing Manager at Fujifilm Singapore, for lending the X-T50 for review. As of the publication of this review, the camera unit has been returned to Fujifilm Singapore.
Design, Build Quality, Handling & The Shutter…
X-T50 still gives a nostalgic feel like its predecessors but takes a different camera design approach. The camera is more rounded now and has a deeper hand grip design. Some photographers might dislike it, but I love this design.
With the deeper hand grip design, the ergonomic handling is way better than its predecessors. I remember I felt that I always needed an additional hand grip to make myself feel more secure in those days. Just to let you know, my little pinky still hanging out but the handling now feels more secure with this X-T50.
Having said that, mounting bigger lenses like XF70-300mm or XF56mm f1.2 WR still has the common problem of heavier lenses over the camera body which makes the balancing of the camera handling experience off. I suggest getting an additional hand grip for better balancing. If you are using compact lightweight lenses, it handles perfectly fine.
It has a 2-way tilt screen (like the X100V/VI) with 1.84 million dot resolution and a 2.36 million dot electronic viewfinder (EVF). A little disappointed with the EVF as it still uses the same resolution as the X-T30II but is still usable. On the bright side, it has improved 3-inch screen resolution from 1.04 million dot resolution.
(In comparison to X-T5, it is 3-way tilt 3-inch screen with 1.84 million dot resolution and 3.69 million dot resolution EVF.)
As compared to X-T5, the mechanical shutter seems to be “heavier” in the X-T50. Probably due to the size of the camera body, I can feel the shutter movement more than the X-T5. It is not a deal breaker for me but just my observation.
Sensor and Processor
The X-T50 comes with the X-Trans CMOS sensor 5 HR and the X-Processor 5, which shares similarities with X-H2, X-T5, and X100VI. I think I do not need to explain how good is it with this combination.
While the image quality is subjective to the lenses I have mounted on, it is the same as what I have expected from the X-Trans CMOS sensor 5 HR and the X-Processor 5.
The image quality is exceptionally great if you pair up with the new generation of Fuji lenses. In short, you will not be disappointed with the results.
Performance
In general, the performance is pretty close to its elder sibling. The tracking system behaved the same. I have no issue with eye-AF tracking, train tracking, and bike training during my test. They pick up and lock up as they should be.
Not surprised that Fujifilm implemented the IBIS but what surprised me is that Fujifilm did not skim down on the IBIS compensation. The IBIS in the X-T50 shares the same 7-stops of compensation like the latest X-H2S, X-H2, X-T5 and X-S20.
In layman’s terms, the IBIS works very well. If you read about it in my other reviews. It can achieve similar results with a similar lens setup. In my daily life, I do not encounter any blurred results unless it is intended.
Battery Life
While it still uses the NP-W126S battery instead of the bigger NP-W235 battery, I managed to squeeze about 550 shots on average. (In my test, I switch on the camera to shoot, switch off when not in use, and transfer about 50 photos.) According to CIPA, it is about 305 shots.
I understand that it is not an impressive number based on today’s standards. But battery is always not an issue in my opinion. The batteries are not bulky or difficult to keep inside my camera bag so I always bring 3 – 4 batteries everywhere I go.
Feedback
40 megapixels provides ample resolution, especially for RAW files, which is substantial. Looking ahead, I hope Fujifilm considers offering photographers the option to choose between small, medium, and large resolution settings for RAW files, similar to what they currently offer for JPEGs.
At $1399 USD, it competes in a price range where other brands offer cameras with larger sensors, which is worth considering.
However, I always advise photographers to thoroughly research their purchase because they’re investing in a system, not just a brand. Consider not only the initial camera cost but also the investment in lenses and their availability. It’s important to focus on what lenses are currently available from both the manufacturer and third-party suppliers, rather than relying on future promises or aspirations.
The X mount system has evolved significantly, offering a wide range of lens options today, including a variety of third-party offerings.
Others
There are a few more things that set the X-T50 and X-T5 apart and here are some of them. The first one is a single SD card slot against dual. The second one is X-T50 comes with a pop-up flash while X-T5 doesn’t has one. The last one is the mechanical shutter, where X-T50 can only go as fast as 1/4000s whereas 1/8000s on X-T5.
NP-W126s battery slot and SD card slotThe Pop-up FlashMic-in port, USB-C port and mini-HDMI port
There is one very bold change that I did not mention earlier and it is the Drive mode dial. It has been replaced by the new Film Simulation dial. While I am not sure if everyone loves this new change, I enjoy using it. It gives me an instantaneous switch of film simulations at ease.
I know we can switch film simulations via the “Q” function, but switching the film simulations via the dial is an enjoyable process.
The Film Simulation Dial
The dial also has three additional custom/programmable FS positions, allowing you to assign to Pro Negative, Eterna, standard Monochrome, and Sepia film simulations. For “C” function, basically allows you to control the film simulations via the “Q” function and also allows you to use your customized film simulations.
One small feature that further endears me to the camera is its design: the “play” button is noticeably more prominent than the “delete” button. This not only makes it easier to distinguish between the two but also enhances the satisfaction of pressing the buttons.
Lastly, it does not come with the 4 ways selector buttons.
Who is this for?
It is a good mid-range camera. If you are holding on to the first three generations of this series (X-T10, X-T20 and X-T30), I think X-T50 is a good upgrade. No doubt it is priced higher than the predecessors, but I think it is a good investment for years to come. Oh yes, you can continue to use the same NP-W126S battery.
If you are new to photography and want to use Fujifilm as your camera, the X-T50 is a good camera to allow you to explore. Although the X-T30II is still in the available in the market, I believe that the X-T50 is a better investment to choose from.
Conclusion
I initially believed it might share the same configuration as the X-S20, but that assumption proved incorrect. Fujifilm has not compromised on the internals; instead, they’ve maximized the potential of this sensor and processor, offering more photographers the opportunity to experience it.
In my view, the X-T50 stands out as a capable mid-range camera for photography. Its compact size and only weighs slightly over 440 grams makes it ideally suited for use with compact to mid-size lenses, which, in my opinion, generally fulfills the needs of most photographers.
Thank you for reading.
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Disclaimer: 1. All the shots taken here are shot by me. 2. All of the shots are straight out of the camera with some edited via In-Camera Raw Processing. 3. The photos are resized to 30% of the original size except for cropped ones. If you wish to see the original file, contact me and I will be happy to share it with you. 4. I reserve ownership of these images, if you wish to use my images, please notify me. 5.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.
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This is the last of the Sniper lenses I have with me. By now, if you have read the first two lenses, I guess you should know my opinion of this series. Anyway, I still need to finish sharing my opinion of this focal length.
Sirui 56mm f1.2Sirui 56mm f1.2
Intro
This is the third lens introduced by Sirui together with the 23mm f1.2 and 33mm f1.2. In summary, they started with crowdfunding from one of the popular platforms and this Sniper series succeeded.
For some reasons, the “white ceramic coating” or simply white plastic seems to be the worse built quality among the three colors. Having said that, it still far better than the Meike 85mm f1.8. That’s my opinion. As part of the Sniper family, it shares many similarities such as filter size (58mm), no aperture ring and no weather resistant. Also they share the same length as well. This is beneficial to videographers who need to mount on a gimbal.
At 419 grams, the weight of this lens feels okay. Although it may seem heavy, it is evenly distributed. Like its siblings, it comes with a lens hood. The difference is that it comes with a round lens hood instead of a petal-shaped lens hood.
Image Quality
Optically, it shares a lot of similarities with the Sniper family. At f1.2, the image is soft and lacks contrast. Coupled with it are the mild vignetting and strong chromatic aberration. Of course, everything gets better when stopping down. For my acceptance, f2 is the minimum f-stop for sharpness and contrast.
The rendering of the background blur is not as smooth as I expected. Somehow it looks kind of hard and unpleasant. Or maybe it is something that I don’t appreciate?
Focusing
It comes with a Stepper Motor (STM). The focus is okay. It is not as snappy as the XF56mm f1.2 WR (just using it as a benchmark). Probably quite average among the rest of the 56mm focal length.
On average, I do encounter some pull-push effect before focus is locked on my subject. Not every time, but encounter it quite often. Hard to catch the behavior here but fail to do so. I hope the future firmware provides some remedies.
Also, the manual ring is different from the typical manual ring, this one can do a 360° rotation angle electronic focus ring. For photography per SE, I think it might help with precision focusing but I believe this benefits videography more.
Minimum Focus Distance (MFD)
For a typical 85mm (in full frame equivalent), what is your expectation for a MFD for this focal length?
The MFD of this lens is 60cm. Not quite on par with the average one but not any worse. The image quality, fortunately, isn’t degraded any worse too.
Price Point
At 279 USD (discount from the usual price at $349 USD from it’s official store), it is a good price point for a f1.2 autofocus lens. Or 799 USD for the 3 lenses.
For a quick comparison, XF56Mm f1.2 WR is priced at 999 USD, Meike 55mm f1.4 is priced at 199.9 USD, Sigma 56mm f1.4 is priced at 479 USD, and Viltrox 56mm f1.4 is priced at 299 USD. Is the price attractive?
Others
Like all other Sniper lenses, it comes with an USB-C port for future firmware update.
Sirui 56mm f1.2 – rear
Also, it comes with a circular lens hood but mounting and dismounting it gives a quirky noise that always makes me think that I am breaking it anytime with a little pressure. Probably I have a bad copy of the lens hood?
Lastly, it has a thin lens cap (similar to its siblings) which gives me some problems when removing the lens cap from the lens. That’s because the pinch-to-release area is too narrow for big fingers (like mine) to pinch and remove the cap without any level of struggling.
Who is this for?
This 85mm (in full frame equivalent) focal length is suitable for the portrait genre. But not only that, this lens is also suitable for product shots, street, documentary, etc.
If you are a new photographer and have a limited budget, this lens together with its siblings forms good trinity lenses for a starter. Only if you are acceptable with its not-so-perfect image quality.
Conclusion
We do not lack any third-party autofocus lenses for Fujifilm. If you are looking for a “complete set” of third-party lenses, there are a few brands that I can think of at the moment; Sigma and Viltrox.
Considering the price point, I find this lens acceptable, especially since it’s an f1.2 prime rather than the typical f1.4. However, I may have overestimated its capabilities. Nevertheless, I’m eagerly anticipating the release of their “Mark II” Sniper lenses, hoping for significant improvements in this series.
Oh yes, Sirui has launched another 2 new Sniper lenses, the 16mm f1.2, and the 75mm f1.2.
Thank you for reading.
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:
I have recently shared my opinion about the Sirui 33mm f1.2 and this is the second lens from the Sirui Sniper series.
Sirui 23mm f1.2
Intro
To keep things short, this series was first introduced via a crowdfunding platform and, they were successfully funded as expected.
Design and Build Quality
Sirui 23mm f1.2
The aluminum alloy or silver color (in my opinion) option seems to be less fancy than the white and black/carbon fiber one. The color is also duller and less reflective than the silver XF lenses.
It is plastic-made build quality. Not the worst one but it’s also not the best plastic build either. However, the 380-gram lens is well-balanced on hand but I can feel the weight. This lens also shared the same 58mm filter size as the Sirui 33mm f1.2.
And yes, it comes with a petal-shaped lens hood and metal rear mount.
Since it comes from the Sniper family, missing the aperture ring is one of them. (There are more similarities later.) It comes with an electronic manual ring, which means it comes with a 360° smooth rotation angle.
Image Quality
At f1.2, softness and weak contrast are pretty obvious. In my opinion, sometimes I am unsure if I have nailed the shots with such an image quality. While there are photographers who might like this level of softness, I can’t accept it. I would probably close one eye if this lens were to be released a few years back. For my personal acceptance, f2 is the base with f2.8 for better results.
Vignetting at the corners is acceptable but the chromatic aberration is obvious for wide-open shots.
The foreground/background blur rendering is not my favorite. It seems to be “hard” or I should say the transition is not as smooth as I am expecting it to be.
Focusing performance is fast and silent due to the Stepper Motor equipped with this lens. The performance seems to be better than the 33mm version. If compared with the XF23mm f1.4 WR, it is not that snappy fast and locks the subject fast. I do not experience a lot of push-pull focusing issues.
For a 35mm (full-frame equivalent) lens, the MFD is 30cm. For a quick comparison, XF23mm f1.4 WR is 20cm, Sigma 23mm f1.4 is 25cm and the classic XF23mm f1.4 R is 28cm.
If you don’t really need to care about shooting as close to the subject as possible, then this lens is fine. The good thing is that the image quality won’t get worse, even at wide-open.
Price Point
279 USD (from B&H) is considerably a good price point for a f1.2. For reference, XF23mm f1.4 WR is about 810 USD, Viltrox 23mm f1.4 mk II is at 299 USD, and, Sigma 23mm f1.4 is priced at 550 USD.
This 35mm (in full frame equivalent) shares some similarities with the other Sniper lenses. For example, the lens hood gives a very clicky feel that deems the hood can be broken easily when mounting it front-facing. Another example is it comes with a very thin lens cap with very narrow pinch-to-release space. This gives a good challenge for big fingers to pinch the lens cap.
Lastly, it is not weather-resistance.
Who is this for?
This is my favorite focal length. I would say it’s a very versatile focal length for environment portraits, street, documentaries, journalism, and many others.
If you are a new photographer or you are unsure if this focal length suits your shooting habit or on a tight budget, you can consider this lens as a stepping stone.
Conclusion
This lens together with the other Sniper lenses is a good attempt from Sirui. Compared with the other manufacturers’ lenses I have reviewed, I am a little disappointed with the optical quality Sirui provides with this series.
There is a lot of potential in this series. Unfortunately, it is not what I expected for a fast lens. Having said that, I hope to see more improved versions of this series in the future.
Thank you for reading.
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 and Capture One. 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:
I mentioned before that I do not have very good experience with Meike’s first autofocus lens. When I received this lens, I set myself a low expectation of this lens.
Sometimes, I wonder whether the manufacturers communicate with one another or they coincidentally have the same thoughts at the same time. This is the third portrait lens that are available to photographers in just the first half of 2024. Anyway, I feel there is a sudden strong competition with this focal length in this budget segment.
Meike 55mm f1.4 with lens hoodMeike 55mm f1.4M
Intro
Meike 55mm f1.4 was announced in March 2024 and this is Meike’s second autofocus lens. I have reviewed their first X-Mount autofocus lens, the Meike 85mm f1.8, and I have my reservation with it after some testing. The announcement between the two lenses was about 1 year apart.
Before I proceed further, I appreciate the good people from Meike for sending this lens for my review. I thank them for their continuous support.
Design and Build Quality
From the first impression, the lens design seems to take inspiration from the Canon L lens (the red line ring). Secondly, the plastic build quality feels so much better than the Meike 85mm f1.8 when I hold it in my hand. The lens comes in a matte finish, so it is fingerprint-magnet-free. It’s a huge improvement in my opinion.
This 52mm filter-size lens is compact and lightweight. Only 286 grams. Oh yes, it comes with an aperture ring! Hooray! However, the ring is a little stiff compared to other lenses I have tested. At least it is clicky but the experience is not what I expected.
On the bright side, it comes with a lens hood too. As for the lens cap, it is the normal pinch-to-release lens cap but better than the ArtraLab 24mm and 35mm.
Image Quality
With my low expectations, Meike gives me a good surprise. The image quality at f1.4 is pretty good. Decently sharp and has good contrast. Although corner-to-corner sharpness is within passable to a fair standard, in general, it is fine if you do not pixel-peep.
Chromatic aberration is decently well-controlled but you still can spot it if you pixel-peep. Vignetting can be observed too but not as heavy as I have expected.
When it comes to sun effect, I think it is just fair. The lines are not clearly defined or sharp. Also, shooting directly facing the sun does come with some flares as well. So please be mindful if you dislike it.
Focusing
It comes with a Stepper Motor (STM) and the focusing speed is fast. The focusing response is pretty good from MFD to infinity. But it is still not as fast as the new generation lenses from Fujifilm like XF23mm f1.4 WR.
However, I do notice that the lens is unable to focus on the subject, even in bright daylight. It seems to have this strange phenomenon, luckily, it happens rarely. I hope they will address the issue here.
One interesting thing to note here, it comes with an AF/MF switch. If you want to switch to manual mode to shoot, you have to switch the mode via the AF/MF switch on the lens and not on the focus mode selector on your camera. I hope they can give the photographer an option to choose where to change the focus mode freely. I hope they can implement it in future firmware updates. Nevertheless, it is not a big deal.
Meike 55mm f1.4
Minimum Focus Distance (MFD)
By now, we all know there is no perfect lens in the market. The lens should have compromise(s) and it is also depending on our acceptance. Well, for Meike 55mm f1.4, the shortcoming is the MFD.
Why did I say not the worse? Because we have lenses that are even furthe, the classic XF56mm f1.2 and XF50mm f1. Both at 70cm. So this is something the Meike 55mm is slightly better.
Price Point
This lens comes at a very competitive price point of 199.99 USD. To name a few, TTArtisan 56mm f1.8 is priced at 158 USD and Viltrox 56mm f1.7 is priced at 169 USD in their own respective online stores.
With just 30-40 USD more, I can get aperture ring and a faster lens. So do you think it is a sweet deal?
One good improvement that Meike do it right is having a few USB-C port for firmware upgrades. This is so much friendlier than the 85mm. Now I can have fewer cable management issues.
Meike 55mm f1.4
Also, I think this is also within expectation. This lens does not come with any weather sealing or weather resistance.
Who is this for?
Although it is 1mm shorter than the typical 56mm, this 82.5mm (in full frame equivalent) lens is still a portrait lens. It does not make any difference from the other portrait lens.
With this price tag, I can recommend it to any photographers new to photography or exploring photography genres like portraits. But this lens can be used for street, documentary, and product shoots.
Conclusion
The market is flooded with many third-party portrait lenses, but what makes this lens stand out is the f1.4 fast lens, aperture ring, and price point. Even though the MFD is the only drawback I have with the lens, Meike has done well with the optic quality and the focusing speed.
All in all, I do love this lens a lot and I am excited to know that Meike is planning to release 16mm, 23mm, and 33mm. All are f1.4. (At least this is the understanding so far). I am looking forward to their arrival.
So does this lens check all the boxes? In my opinion, not all but it checks on the right boxes.
Meike 55mm f1.4 with lens cap
Thank you for reading.
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:
It has been almost a year since the previous event I attended. This X-T50 and GFX100S II launch event is unique, there is not one but four sessions were held on the same day. I managed to attend the last one. The event was held at Hvala @ Chijmes this time round. This is a nice place to catch up with friends as I have visited it several times. Do check it out if you are nearby.
There are some bites available for the guests. Tea baristas are preparing drinks for the guests.
Guess who is that?
The event begins…Leung from Fujifilm Singapore is giving a speech.
Product specialist, Jere, is sharing the new products.
Lee with the iconic Stamford Raffles pose.
Mindy took her turn to share her take on the X-T50 surroundings with her family and her.
Vance, the new X-Photographer, shares his experience with the GFX100S II.
X-T50, XF16-50mm f2.8-4.8, GFX100S II and GF500mm f5.6The first look of GF500mm f5.6.
Fuji X-T50
The big boy filming for reels and tik tok.
Chajin making matcha.
A close-up shot. A gift from Fujifilm SingaporeAnother gift from Fujifilm SingaporeSample shot 1: X-T50 with XF16-50mmSample shot 2: X-T50 with XF16-50mmSample shot3 & 4: X-T50 with XF16-50mmSample shot 5: X-T50 with XF16-50mmWefie before the end of the event.
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Alwin Kok 