Is minimalism equal to limitation? In a way, yes. Minimalism is by keeping things as simple as possible, limited yet still functioning as what it suppose to be. In this case, X-E4 has done it and did it right. It has the most minimalistic design Fujifilm has ever created. The design is a bold move. Fujifilm removes some of the hardware functions but still allows photographers to access them when needed via the “Q” menu, setting up the “My Menu” or mapping it to other buttons or dials. While I am not sure by removing the grip from the camera body is a wise choice but honestly speaking, the camera is aesthetically beautiful.
X-E4 is not designed in such a way that it will please everyone but rather, it does attract a niche group of people who adore simplicity. In other words, this camera is what represents the life of how the photographer live in. At least I am.
A little bit of history here. X-E4 was announced on 27 January 2021 and released a month later. And my first ever review post was actually about this camera together with the XF27mm f2.8. (The review can be found here.)
Fuji X-E4 . XF27mm f2.8 WR
I love all the camera designs from Fujifilm, especially the X-Pro series but the X-E series still has a special place in my heart. I cannot explain specifically why I love this series so much. But I think a combination of aesthetic, compact and retro-style designs are probably the reasons.
Fuji X-E4 . XF27mm f2.8 WR
Another short history here. I pick up my first X-E series (X-E3) back in 2019. It is a preloved unit but the overall condition is not heavily abused. It’s a simple camera that somehow I love using for my street shutter therapy more than my X-T3. It’s light, compact and less prominent among other camera designs. It does not look like a professional camera but in its gut, it is capable to meet my needs. X-E4, in my opinion, improves way better than its predecessor in many ways.
Back to X-E4. So how do I overcome the limitations of this camera? Well, I just simply preset the desired ISO auto setting (maximum ISO sensitivity and minimum shutter speed) and that’s all. Most of the functions that I need is actually available in the “Q” menu. Honestly, I rarely touch anything else besides the aperture value, exposure compensation value and of course the shutter button.
Besides people who love simplicity, in my opinion, this camera is very suitable for someone who is a retro-style enthusiastic, an everyday camera for casual photographers and of course a good pickup camera for amateurs. Why so? Firstly, it is not as expensive as its other brothers (i.e. X-Pro and X-T series). Secondly, it is equipped with the X-Trans IV sensor, which is a very capable sensor and also not forgetting that this sensor is also equipped in all its other brothers as well. Thirdly, it has a lot of compact lenses to pair up with (both Fujifilm and third parties manual lenses).
Fuji X-E4 . XF33mm f1.4
To end this, I have been using this camera for months. In these few months of using it, I get to understand what this camera design philosophy is. In my interpretation, the answer is very straightforward. Fujifilm wants to let the photographer concentrate on shooting, enjoy the process of shooting and leave everything else to the camera to handle it. I am glad that Fujifilm dares to design something different from its current line-up of cameras. And I hope this X-E4 will encourage more photographers to bring it out and capture the moments in them. After all, it’s a beauty to hang out with.
Fuji X-E4 . XF33mm f1.4
Fuji X-E4 . XF27mm f2.8
Disclaimer: 1. The camera is a loan unit from Mr. Keitaro So, Divisional Head of Fujifilm Asia Pacific. By the time this review is online, the units had returned back to Fujifilm Asia Pacific. 2. All the shots taken here are shot by me. 3. Some of the shots are straight out of the camera while others are edited via In-Camera Raw Processing and Adobe Lightroom Classic. 4. The opinions are based on my experience. If there is any mistake, please kindly drop me a message and I will gladly make the amendment. 5. I reserve ownership of these images, if you wish to use my images, please notify me.
Thank you for reading.
If you like my works, please follow me on either one of the 2 Instagram accounts:
After three months of delay, the successor of the classic XF23mm f1.4 R has finally arrived on our shore this month. While the price of the newly launched lens is priced at USD 900, the predecessor is easily available between USD 600 to 700~ ish. Is it worth saving the $200 ~ $300 difference? In this post, I will share some of the experiences I had with both lenses and hope to help you in your own decision journey.
XF23mm f1.4 R
XF23mm f1.4 R
XF23mm f1.4 R
Before I start my sharing, I would like to thank Ivan Joshua Loh for lending me his XF23mm f1.4 R for a shoot. This has actually landed me an opportunity to have a full 2 days of hands-on with the classic lens.
Image Quality
The classic one gives an overall decent image quality all most focusing distance but I noticed soft results at its minimum focus distance. Chromatic aberration is also quite noticeable, especially in an outdoor sunny environment and shooting wide open. As for the new one, it produces sharper image quality and addresses those flaws that I mentioned earlier. The rendering of the bokeh also seems to be better than the classic one. More pleasant to the eyes if you ask me.
X-E4 . XF23mm f1.4 R @ F1.4
For the new F23mm f1.4 R LM WR, you can have a look at photos taken here and here.
Autofocus speed
This is a very subjective topic when comes to focusing performance. How fast or slow depends on how the individual defines it. Unfortunately, I have both the classic and new lenses mounted on different camera bodies (due to different loan periods) but the cameras are equipped with X-Trans 4 (if that is the concern). For reference, X-E4 is for the classic lens and X-S10 is for the new lens.
X-E4 . XF23mm f1.4 R @ F1.4
To my surprise, the classic one is not that slow with the newer camera. The focusing speed is acceptably fast and I do not really experience any slow-focusing or focus hunting under dim light conditions. However, it is surely noisy.
X-E4 . XF23mm f1.4 R @ F1.4
For the new lens, the focusing speed is indeed very fast and silent. It locks onto the subject really quick and precise.
Minimum Focus Distance
If you are like me who like to take as close up as possible, the classic is not for you. It’s minimum focus distance is at 28 cm as compared to 19cm on the new one.
X-E4 . XF23mm f1.4 R @ F1.4
Size and Weight
To be honest, they are somewhat close to each other. The overall size and weight is nothing much to shout about or compare. While one is slightly wider and shorter, the other is slightly taller and slimmer. Both are about the same weight and still bigger than the f2 variant.
X-E4 . XF23mm f1.4 R @ F1.4
Appearance
The classic one comes with the push/pull clutch manual focus ring. The aperture ring is close to clickless. Overall, the lens gives a very vintage style design element.
X-E4 . XF23mm f1.4 R @ F2.8 (right) & F1.4 (left)
As for the new one, it is totally the opposite of the classic. Fujifilm has removed the push/pull clutch, gives the aperture ring better clicky feedback and modernize the overall lens design. Plus it includes the Weather Resistant (WR).
Conclusion
The successor iso truly the winner here. I can see how much effort Fujifilm has improved the lens in almost every aspect of the classic one.
Back to the question. Is it worth saving the $200 ~ $300 difference? Ideally, getting the latest glass is always the better choice. If you have no financial constraints, this is the way to go.
X-E4 . XF23mm f1.4 R @ F5.6X-E4 . XF23mm f1.4 R @ F5.6
But if you are just picking up photography with a limited budget, I think there are a few more options besides getting the used XF23mm f1.4 R. I think starting off with 3rd party lenses from Sigma and Viltrox is also another good option (if you are willing to accept their strengths and drawbacks).
X-E4 . XF23mm f1.4 R @ F1.4X-E4 . XF23mm f1.4 R @ F1.4 (left) & F4 (right)
What is your opinion? Share with me in the comment below or DM me in instagrams. Cheers!
As for me, I have a lot of concerns when purchasing a used lens and that’s just my two cents. I am kind of biased to the successor and that’s because I started using the successor before using the classic lens. On that account, I have unconsciously set a high standard for image quality and I cannot turn it back. Yes, it is not a cheap lens but it is unarguably a futureproofing lens for the newer camera bodies which will harness the power of the lens.
X-E4 . XF23mm f1.4 R @ F1.4X-E4 . XF23mm f1.4 R @ F1.4
Disclaimer: 1. All the shots taken here are shot by me. 2. Some of the shots are straight out of the camera while others are edited via In-Camera Raw Processing and Adobe Lightroom Classic. 3. The opinions are based on my experience. If there is any mistake, please kindly drop me a message and I will gladly make the amendment. 4. I reserve ownership of these images, if you wish to use my images, please notify me.
Thank you for reading.
If you like my works, please follow me on either one of the 2 Instagram accounts:
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.
Fuji X-S10 . XF 23mm f1.4 R LM WR
XF 23mm f1.4 R LM WR
XF 23mm f1.4 R LM WR
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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!
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.
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.
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.
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.
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:
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.
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.
X-T20 with TTArtisan 23mm f1.4X-T20 with TTArtisan 23mm f1.4
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.
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.
TTArtisan 23mm f1.4
TTArtisan 23mm f1.4
TTArtisan 23mm f1.4 with metal lens cap
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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 . 1/850 . 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.
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.
Fujifilm XF33mm F1.4Fujifilm XF33mm F1.4
Disclaimer: 1. All the shots taken here are shot by me. 2. Some of the shots are straight out of the camera while others are edited via In-Camera Raw Processing and Adobe Lightroom Classic. 3. I reserve ownership of these images, if you wish to use my images, please notify me.
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.
Fujifilm X-E4 with XF33mm F1.4Fujifilm X-E4 with XF33mm F1.4
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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 F1.4Fujifilm 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.
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.
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.
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.
GFX 50S IIGFX 50S IIGFX 50S II
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 NegGFX 50S II . GF 45mm F2.8 @ 45mm . f2.8 . 1/80″ . ISO 2000 . Nostalgic NegGFX 50S II . GF 32-64mm F4 @ 32mm . f8 . 1/105″ . ISO 200 . Nostalgic NegGFX 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 NegGFX 50S II . GF 32-64mm F4 @ 64mm . f32 . 1/125″ . ISO 320 . Nostalgic NegGFX 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 NegGFX 50S II . GF 80mm F1.7 @ 80mm . f1.7 . 1/450″ . ISO 200 . Nostalgic NegGFX 50S II . GF 32-64mm F4 @ 32mm . f4 . 1/90″ . ISO 3200 . Nostalgic NegGFX 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 ChromeGFX 50S II . GF 50mm F3.5 @ 50mm . f5.6 . 1/250″ . ISO 200 . Classic ChromeGFX 50S II . GF 50mm F3.5 @ 50mm . f3.5 . 1/125″ . ISO 2500 . Classic ChromeGFX 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-editedGFX 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 NegGFX 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 ChromeGFX 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-editedGFX 50S II . GF 80mm F1.7 @ 80mm . f1.7 . 1/110″ . ISO 640 . Post-editedGFX 50S II . GF 80mm F1.7 @ 80mm . f1.7 . 1/80″ . ISO 500 . Post-editedGFX 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 NegGFX 50S II . GF 50mm F3.5 @ 50mm . f3.5 . 1/27″ . ISO 3200 . Nostalgic NegGFX 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 NegGFX 50S II . GF 32-64mm F4 @ 32mm . f5.6 . 1/200″ . ISO 200 . Nostalgic NegGFX 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 NegGFX 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 NegGFX 50S II . GF 32-64mm F4 @ 32mm . f8 . 14″ . ISO 100 . Nostalgic NegGFX 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-editedGFX 50S II . GF 80mm F1.7 @ 80mm . f1.7 . 1/120″ . ISO 3200 . Post-editedGFX 50S II . GF 45mm F2.8 @ 80mm . f2.8 . 1/125″ . ISO 2500 . Post-editedGFX 50S II . GF 80mm F1.7 @ 80mm . f1.7 . 1/125″ . ISO 1250 . Post-editedGFX 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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Since we are just a few months away from the year 2022, please allow me to jump into 2022 instead of 2021. First thing first, yes, you can still use it to shoot. A camera is a camera, it is still capable of doing what it is designed to do. What I cannot answer is whether it is still viable in the year 2022. I do not own the X-Pro1 but I managed to borrow it from a friend for about a month to have a total hands-on experience with this classic rangefinder every day. Why am I using X-Pro1? That’s because I come across friends asking me these questions many times:
Fuji X-Pro 1 . XF35mm F1.4
“I am on a budget and I am interested to start to learn photography, do you think X-Pro1 is worth getting it?”; or “Is X-Pro1 a usable camera as a second camera system?”.
Fuji X-Pro 1 . XF35mm F1.4
Unfortunately, I cannot share my opinion with my friends because I do not have one. Hence, I always recommend my friends to rent it from a camera rental store or borrow it from someone who has it for at least a week. And in this one week, he/she has to try to bring it with him/her and do some shoots every day. So that he/she can see what does this camera lacking for his/her shooting preferences.
But now, it is a whole new different story for me.
Disclaimer: 1. All the shots taken here are shot by me. 2. Most 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.
A little of my Fuji history
My first interchangeable mirrorless camera was the X-T2 and then now X-T3 and X-E3. I have never held an X-Pro1 and shoot the outside world with it. That is why I am lacking experience with the first mirrorless camera from Fujifilm. How is the experience using it in the outside world? I was always told that the first generation was slow and sometimes the focusing can let one person frustrated, and the list goes on. I think this is a good opportunity for me to experience the good and the bad about this classic guy.
Before I start to share, I believe everyone is familiar with the X-Pro1. Thus, other than my experience, I will not share the technical specification.
Build Quality
When I hold this camera, the grip, the touch, and the weight of this camera give me a premium touch. I cannot believe this camera was made 10 years ago and the craftsmanship of this camera still looks amazing today. The dials and buttons feedbacks are great. I know some people do not like the ergonomic of the rangefinder-style camera but I quite like the ergonomic with it. Looking through the optical viewfinder is a joyful experience. It reminds me of the DSLR days but this experience is way better.
Fuji X-Pro1 . Fuji 35mm F1.4 @35mm . f2 . 1/125” . ISO 500 . Pro Neg HiFuji X-Pro1 . Fuji 35mm F1.4 @35mm . f2 . 1/125” . ISO 640 . Pro Neg HiFuji X-Pro1 . Fuji 35mm F1.4 @35mm . f4 . 1/1250” . ISO 1250 . Pro Neg HiFuji X-Pro1 . Fuji 35mm F1.4 @35mm . f16 . 1/125” . ISO 1600 . Pro Neg Hi
Shooting Experience …
For the shooting experience, I think it is good to split into 3 segments, the first is with the first generation Fuji lens and the second is with the Fuji newer generation lenses.
Fuji X-Pro1 . Fuji 35mm F1.4 @35mm . f2.8 . 1/1900” . ISO 200 . Pro Neg HiFuji X-Pro1 . Fuji 27mm F2.8 WR @27mm . f2.8 . 1/850” . ISO 200 . Pro Neg HiFuji X-Pro1 . Fuji 27mm F2.8 WR @27mm . f2.8 . 1/90” . ISO 3200 . Pro Neg HiFuji X-Pro1 . Fuji 27mm F2.8 WR @27mm . f2.8 . 1/450” . ISO 800 . Pro Neg Hi
i) With Classic Lens
I have one and only one classic lens and that is XF35mm F1.4. It is one of my most favourite lenses in my whole entire Fujifilm line-up. Needless to say, the combination of both XF35mm F1.4 and the X-Pro 1 is incredibly beautiful and it seems that they are a match made in heaven. From the moment I start to focus on an object, I finally know what do people meant by slow. The focusing really takes a longer time than the current newer Fuji cameras to lock onto the subject. There is some focus hunting. Sometimes I even encounter this during broad daylight, not to mention how bad it can be under challenging light conditions. Despite the worse, I still can bear with it and get the shot I want. Patience is the key.
Fuji X-Pro1 . Fuji 27mm F2.8 WR @27mm . f2.8 . 1/125” . ISO 800 . Pro Neg HiFuji X-Pro1 . Fuji 27mm F2.8 WR @27mm . f2.8 . 1/125” . ISO 1000 . Pro Neg HiFuji X-Pro1 . Fuji 35mm F1.4 @35mm . f2 . 1/125” . ISO 800 . Pro Neg HiFuji X-Pro1 . Fuji 27mm F2.8 WR @27mm . f2.8 . 1/1000” . ISO 400 . Pro Neg Hi
ii)With Newer Lenses
I have tried with a few newer generation lenses such as XF18mm F1.4, XF23mm F2, XF27mm F2.8 WR, and XF70-300mm F4-5.6. To my surprise, they do not give the same slow focus experience like the XF35mm F1.4 does. But rather, in my opinion, they do give a faster focusing lock and less focus hunting.
Image Quality
I have nothing to gripe about when comes to image quality. Coming out from the X-Trans first-generation CMOS sensor, the result is really impressive. From 100% viewing with the Lightroom Classic, the details are well preserved. Another surprise for me is that the dynamic range is decent too, it is capable of recovering quite an amount of details with the post-processing.
Fuji X-Pro1 . Fuji 27mm F2.8 WR @27mm . f2.8 . 1/280” . ISO 800 . Pro Neg HiFuji X-Pro1 . Fuji 27mm F2.8 WR @27mm . f2.8 . 1/55” . ISO 3200 . Pro Neg HiFuji X-Pro1 . Fuji 27mm F2.8 WR @27mm . f2.8 . 1/200” . ISO 800 . Pro Neg Hi
The Drawbacks:
I have a few drawbacks to share but these are based on my own preference and it may not be a drawback for you in your preference.
i) Front Command Dial
What I miss the most is the Front Command Dial and X-Pro 1 do not come with it. I usually use it for changing my exposure compensation and scroll through photos, etc, which I had gotten used to with the newer camera bodies.
Fuji X-Pro1 . Fuji 35mm F1.4 @35mm . f8 . 1/320” . ISO 200 . Pro Neg Hi
Fuji X-Pro1 . Fuji 23mm F2 @23mm . f2 . 1/20” . ISO 3200 . Pro Neg HiFuji X-Pro1 . Fuji 23mm F2 @23mm . f2 . 1/125” . ISO 1600 . Pro Neg Hi
Fuji X-Pro1 . Fuji 35mm F1.4 @35mm . f2.8 . 1/125” . ISO 320 . Pro Neg Hi
ii) Exposure Compensation Dial
In order to use the Front Command Dial, I set this exposure compensation dial to Custom (C). Unfortunately, this camera does not have the C in the dial.
iii) Using Fuji Remote App
Yes. This app gives me minor problems such as unstable network connectivity and file transfer connectivity. But it still comes in handy when I wish to transfer photos from camera to mobile phone and doing shooting via remote control. Since this camera does not come with Wi-Fi or Bluetooth module, that also means I need to go through the old-school way of file transferring.
I test the focus peaking with TTArtisan 17mm F1.4 and the result is awesome. There is no complaint about the image quality. The problem that I have is that I am too relying on the “Red” or “Blue” as my focus peaking highlight whereas X-Pro1 only comes with “High” and “Low” options. While it is not something that is not difficult to use, it is just personal preference.
v) The Menu System
The menu system from this rangefinder is not difficult to use, however, the current menu system is way better. I did use the old menu system before with my X10 but I am so used to the current menu that I feel a bit lost to use the old one. Again, this is about adaptability.
Fuji X-Pro1 . Fuji 27mm F2.8 WR @27mm . f5.6 . 1/3200” . ISO 400 . Post-editedFuji X-Pro1 . Fuji 35mm F1.4 @35mm . f2 . 1/125” . ISO 2500 . Pro Neg HiFuji X-Pro1 . Fuji 23mm F2 @23mm . f2 . 1/320” . ISO 640 . Pro Neg Hi
vi) The Little Focus Stick
Some people hate it, some people love it and I belong to the latter. In fact, I use it more often than the 4 directional buttons, also known as selector buttons. Whenever I try to navigate the menu system, my thumb will unknowingly move to where the focus stick position is. Then I only realize that this camera does not equip with it when I try to push the “stick”.
vii) The In-Camera Raw Processing
The newer lineup of Fujifilm cameras comes with a good suite of film simulations and basic editing tools to do some simple post-processing or fine-tune your photos, so you can share them with your family and friends immediately.
I love to use this function, especially when I can make some fine adjustments inside the camera during commuting or between breaks. However, the raw processor included in this first generation is rather slow. But if you want to do some simple post-processing in the camera, you can still do it.
It is a good camera with minor drawbacks. 16 megapixels (mp) is certainly enough for the magazine size print and more than enough for your social media sharing. I am totally fine with 16mp as I hardly crop my photos by a lot. So should I get one? Probably not the X-Pro 1. Don’t get me wrong. This camera is still capable of shooting amazing shots. Having said that, I might consider getting a used X-Pro2 instead of X-Pro 1. That is because X-Pro 2 at least eliminates my drawbacks. (Sorry for the disappointment.)
To answer both questions stated in my second paragraph. If you do not mind the drawbacks that I have mentioned, you can get one for your photography learning adventure or for a second camera system. I always prioritize great quality lenses first over the camera body. Hence, pick up one or two good primes lenses (or zoom lens if you prefer) together with this camera.
In My Own Words
The evolution of the technology in the camera industry has been improving from time to time. I always think of the longevity of the camera technologies one can optimize with. When I am purchasing a camera, I will weigh the cost and the longevity for myself. As this X-Pro1 is hitting its 10 years mark in 2022, this also means the technology inside its gut is 10 years old too. I’m not saying this camera cannot be used. But what I am suggesting is that if one person is to invest in a camera system, probably can consider cameras that launch in recent years. At least you can stop “chasing” after a newer camera when you get the more recent one. If brand new is not an option, you can also consider getting the pre-owned newer camera models at a better and affordable price point.
Thank you for reading.
If you need helps, you may direct message me in either one of the 2 Instagram accounts:
Circuit Breaker Phase 2 (Heightened Alert) started on 16 May 2021 and lasted for a month. As we are now moving into Phase 2 of re-opening, we started out with a small group of gangs for a small photowalk in the morning at the Kebun Baru Birdsinging club and the neighbourhood around it.
I also take this opportunity to play with my XF27mm WR lens, XF 70-300mm with an X-Pro3. I have to thanks my neighbor (Mr. Ivan Loh) for lending me this wonderful and sexy camera body.
Fuji X-Pro 3 . Fuji 27mm F2.8 R WR @27mm . f2.8 . 1/320” . ISO 160 . Classic Negative Fuji X-Pro 3 . Fuji 27mm F2.8 R WR @27mm . f2.8 . 1/280” . ISO 160 . Classic Negative Fuji X-Pro 3 . Fuji 27mm F2.8 R WR @27mm . f2.8 . 1/300” . ISO 160 . Classic Negative
A new friend who is using Olympus at the moment. Planning to jump over to Fujifilm.
Disclaimer: 1. All the shots taken here were shot by me. 2. I reserve ownerships to these images, if you wish to use my images for whatever reasons, please notify me and we can see how to works thing out.
Bokeh is derived from a Japanese word “ぼけ” (Boke). In case someone don’t know, it is referring to the out-of-focus blur background/foreground created. It is often used to separate unwanted thing from the subject you wish to present in your photos. Japanese photographers also often use “Tama bokeh” means round/ball bubbly bokeh and “Mae bokeh” means bokeh that is in front of the image.
Fuji X-E4 . Fuji XF70-300mm F4-5.6 R LM OIS WR @300mm . f6.4 . 1/500” . ISO 320 . Classic ChromeFuji X-E3 . Fuji XF35mm F1.4 R @35mm . f2 . 1/80” . ISO 2000 . Edited in post
Side note: In 2021, camera sensor in the smartphone is not as big as what digital camera sensor has (or at least the size of M43 or APS-C). Hence, smartphone manufacturers use computational imaging and Artificial Intelligence (AI) to create or mimic bokeh result and sometime we get to see weird results from the shots. There is still a huge step for the manufacturers to achieve the results from the bigger camera sensor but that future should be very near. I believe we will get to see amazing piece of tech in the next decade. And implementing 1 inch sensor in the flagship smartphones in the beginning of this era. I am eager to see a M43 or APS-C size sensor to be equipped in the smartphones somedays.
Side note 2: Over here, this is just a discussion over bokeh and there is no involvement in specific brands and lenses. The photos show here is for illustration purpose.
Fuji X-T3 . Fuji XF35mm F1.4 R @35mm . f2 . 1/80” . ISO 3200 . Classic Chrome
Back to the story. Recently, I have a discussion with photographers of mainly enthusiastic hobbyists and commercial professionals about the art of bokeh. It is a nice session and bring up lots of perspectives and opinions among the rest. Below are my views of the art of bokeh.
Fuji X-T2 . Fuji XF18-55mm F2.4-4 R LM OIS @48.2mm . f4 . 1/8000” . ISO 200 . Classic Chrome
In my opinion, the objective of the bokeh is to allow the main subject being separated background/foreground and get notice by the viewers immediately (otherwise, some creative shots taking advantage of the bokeh). However, if the bokeh steals the limelight or distracts the viewer from the main subject (if that is intentional), i think this is consider failing its objective. So balancing the art of bokeh and the subject is important. The best is having the smooth transition of sharp subject to blurring background with a nice fade off / melting effect. With this, I believe our eyes are more comfortable and stay more focus on the right subject.
Fuji X-T3 . Fuji XF35mm F1.4 R @35mm . f4.5 . 1/80” . ISO 640 . Classic ChromeFuji X-E4 . Fuji XF50mm F1 R WR @50mm . f1 . 1/400” . ISO 160 . Classic Chrome
Having a large aperture lens and setting it to the largest aperture (f stop) value does not mean you are going to have a smooth decent sharp subject & bokeh relationship. It might results in busy or nervous bokeh causing distraction. In some situations, stopping down the f stop a little might helps to improve the overall photo result. Other elements such as the number of blades, the optical glass elements configuration and the distance from the subject and background also play a role in achieving the balance. Not forgetting that available light source is one of the more important elements to consider too.
Fuji X-E3 . Fuji XF55-200mm F3.5-4.8 R LM OIS @200mm . f5.6 . 1/1100” . ISO 200 . Classic Chrome
So what I think is we need to understand how the lens can achieve the balance between the bokeh and the subject and we definitely need to experience the lens more by shooting more with it. I do believe there is no horrible lens in today’s technology, every lens can also achieve the balance within its own capability.
Fuji X-T3 . Fuji XF50mm F1 R WR @50mm . f1 . 1/1400” . ISO 160 . Edited in post.
Fuji X-T3 . Fuji XF50mm F1 R WR @50mm . f1 . 1/550” . ISO 160 . Edited in post.
As of today, I am still learning to find the balance. There is no right or wrong answer to the art of bokeh. It is just individual preference and taste. And I guess this is where I find interesting in photography.
Disclaimer: 1. All the shots taken here were shot by me. 2. I reserve ownerships to these images, if you wish to use my images for whatever reasons, please notify me and we can see how to works thing out.
Alwin Kok 