Ibelux 40mm f/0.85 Review at riflessifotografici in English (Italian)
_ _ _
Maybe you remember that, back in October, I told you that due to a production issue, ZY optics decided to postpone the release of the Fuji X mount 42.5mm f/1.2. Well, it seems that the lens is ready, and we can now enjoy the first samples at photographyblog here.
Please note that the aperture data at photographyblog always says “f/0“. That’s becuase X-cameras can’t “communicate” with this lens. The aperture and the distance & depth of field indicators in the EVF/LCD won’t work. It’s a pity that photographyblog didn’t take manually note of the aperture for each shot and added the information later on their images.
Who did take note manually for each shot of the aperture, is riflessifotografici. But they reviewed worlds fastest lens for mirrorless cameras, the IBELUX 40mmF0.85. You can check out the their review at riflessifotografici (Italian version) . I also wrote a much more humble review of the Ibelux (part1 – part2)
The price of the Ibelux is dropping at BHphoto.
And btw, Fuji’s fastest lens, the XF 56mmF1.2, is still available $150 off here.

11 Responses
Has anybody tried the Mitakon 35mm f0.95 for the X-mount? It’s been out for a while now but I can’t find reviews.
Most likely it has a distinct flattering look where airy softness transitions into mysterious bokeh, corners are swirling with specular highlights, and any light source produces framefull of glittery flares.
In short, it sucks just as much as Ibelux.
I searched in a Chinese photography forum (Xitek) and found this review
http://forum.xitek.com/thread-1034213-1-1-1.html
All in Chinese but there are many sample images taken with NEX.
(family edited version) I think I just passed coffee through my nose and eject yellow fluid from my nether parts…
Riflessifotografici’s findings are quite interesting. Mirrorrless in general with modern EVF and focus assist technologies are touted for their easy manual focus. Still, like the reviewer, I find it easier to manually focus on my D800 bright, beautiful OVF, especially in low light.
I’ve been testing and practicing the x100t focusing both auto and manual with various MF assist options (settled with white focus peaking once I got used to what to look for). I’m obsessive/compulsive when learning a new camera, prefer to know my gear inside-out. But in the end, my conclusion is the same as the writers’. This is not to say EVF sucks. It’s very nice, I use the EVF on my x100t, but there’s still room for improvement.
Of course there’s room for improvement, but I’m shocked the anybody would say it’s easier to manually focus with a DSLR. The mf assist features such as the zoomed in view on the X-T1 put it in a different league to any DSLR when it comes to mf in my experience.
Agreed. I found that Focus Peaking in low light is almost useless and magnification works best for stationary subjects. At least with my X-E1. Absolutely not comparable to the bright OVF and the mechanical RF coupling on my M240.
I knew it. I knew parallel universes existed!
In my universe, in low light situations I can still easily focus my X-T1 way past the point where OVFs of D4 and D800 get into “Can’t See Shit Captain” mode. This camera has a freakin’ night vision!
No sh*t Sherlock, second that Capt’n!
I used manual focus lenses for the last 7 years on my Canon, fitted with a custom KatzEye split prism screen. But in no way did I manage to nail focus better with an OVF than with the EVF I have in my current X-T1. Especially not in low light.
Except when the Fuji’s battery is flat, then the EVF becomes very dim.
I’m talking about the X100T. In the kind of situations that I resort to MF, the EVF image becomes noisy enough that focus peaking won’t help much. Maybe it will take time to get used to this (and some of the tearing I see in low light) but at the moment, I can ascertain focus faster and easier on my d800 when manually focusing.
I don’t have an X100T (probably never will), but focusing and framing my X100S in low light was a breeze compared to my friend’s D610. Haven’t compared it to D800, as I don’t have any Nikons in my studio anymore.
Compared to X-T1, an X100S is much more prone to “snow” in EVF, which makes low light focus peaking harder. Harder, but not impossible. However, manually focusing X100 series camera in low light and with the tele converter attached is a task so infuriating that I won’t even try it in a real world scenario.