The brand new Fujinon XF 23mm f/1.4 is falling in the hands of more and more photographers all over the world… and they drop their feedback on their websites. Here are some of them. Feel free to say what you think about this lens in the comments.
greez
PatrickĀ (google+, facebook and twitter)
P.S.: if you’d like to support this blog, consider to purchase your grear using the links below. Fujirumors gets a small commision that helps to run this site… and it won’t cost you a penny extra.
Fuji XF 23mm: [shopcountry 16128]
_ _ _
GREENLAND
Hi Patrick
I got the 23mm 4 days ago but only had the chance to do a quick walk around the neighborhood here in Sisimiut, Greenland, this morning.
Included here are 5 images shot with the X-E1 and the 23mm f/1.4, and if you feel they’re worth anything to the Fuji Rumors community feel free to share them. I love the 35mm equivalent FOV but I mostly prefer to shoot it with people in the frame somewhere. However, being a quiet little town and during normal working hours, no one was really around to play with with, so I did a handful of quick shots of… stuff.
The autofocus I experience with this lens is quick and super precise, also handheld wide open, and the shallow DOF creates some really lovely out of focus areas. At least, they appeal to me š
Also, it’s -10 C up here today, but I heard no mechanical complaints from the lens, going through the entire focus distance scale. It seems really well built.
Cheers, Mads Pihl http://northbound.gl – Flickr XF23mm images
_ _ _
SPAIN
The Spanish site dslrmagazine posted downloadable high-res samples shot with the XF23mm and X-E2 here (translated version)!
_ _ _
NEW ZEALAND
– Some samples and first impression can be read also at bokeh-monster.com here:
“There are not many negative things to say on the overall lens performance: it operates quietly, focuses quickly, corner to corner sharpness is awesome (even wide open) and it swallows flare whole while maintaining good contrast. During the three days I had to play with this lens I found no performance gaps and it is definitely the best 35mm (equivalent) I have had the pleasure of using to date.”
– First shots taken with the XF23mm at proimagenz.com here (with RAW samples to download): “I believe the best X series lens Ive tried is theĀ [shoplink 12888 ebay]14mm[/shoplink] but this is right there wth it. Here is the file for you to play with.”
_ _ _
For an alternative Lens Hood for your 23mm check out Chris’ solution here at dpreview.
Fuji XF 23mm: [shopcountry 16128]
19 Responses
I have received mine yesterday. When stopping down you see a significant improvement of sharpness. At 1.4 it is a little mushy. Bummer. Rest is excellent: sharpness from F2 onwards, build etc
Could also be poor technique. It’s not an IS lens either.
not really.. i had mine 2 days ago, i am a pro photographer.. if it’s not a lemon at 1.4 corner ed edges are really soft.
the center is good, but with hi contrast subjects and a lot of light it render the hicontrast parts as “dreamy”
you can see a sharpness test at ephotozine http://www.ephotozine.com/article/fujifilm-xf-fujinon-23mm-f-1-4-r-lens-review-23524
and edge are “fair” i can tell you that corner are “poor” for sure..
even looking at photography blog http://www.photographyblog.com/reviews/fujifilm_xf_23mm_f1_4_review/sharpness_1/ you can see at 1.4, still far from edges the text is quite “dreamy” and the scene is softly lighted.. i can tell you with a strong lighting at 1.4 (a sunny day” this lens is not so nice at 1.4
Please Admin,
can you change web theme to something more mobile friendly?
Thank you
Played with this beauty a few months back, when it was still a pre production model.
Very nice lens, probably the best within the range!
Actually I cancelled my order after reading some reviews. I was disappointed in the design. It is
too big and bulky. I wanted something on the size and weight of the 18 F2. It my be a great lens but my Nikkor 35 F2 D is a smaller lens and lighter. I think the Fuji is protecting the X100 market.
But this is just my nickel
FWIW I was somewhat disappointed by how large it was too. Was hoping for something more like the 35/1.4 (hoping for something like the 18 while being a stop faster is pie in the sky IMO). Nevertheless, at PhotoPlus I got to handle it and was pleased that it felt considerable smaller in person on a camera than I expected from the photos. Now I’m going back and forth about whether I really want to spend money for an extra stop of speed. One day yes, another day no.
The lens seems very well constructed and I do not mind the size but that lens hood is not to my liking. Surely there must be an effective design that is not so huge.
I saw a guy on DPreivew forums recommend this one:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Metal-Standard-Lens-Hood-for-62mm-Filter-Thread-Canon-Nikon-Sony-Pentax-MH-62S/390687279972?_trksid=p2047675.m1850&_trkparms=aid%3D222002%26algo%3DSIC.FIT%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D18577%26meid%3D2352400898999244940%26pid%3D100011%26prg%3D8476%26rk%3D2%26rkt%3D5%26sd%3D370920628829%26
Soft from 1.4 to f2? mmm no good news :-((
Oh please. Spare us. Use one yourself before believing everything some other person says. Good lord….
I disagree with the softness comments. I don’t think this lens is soft from 1.4-2.0.
I understand that cutting diamonds with the sharp edge of a photo at f/1.4 might not be desirable, but given that I love to pixel peep I don’t see anything to worry about in terms of softness in real world situations. At all.
Curious minds would like to know how many 23mm lenses Fuji built and shipped.
Well next week I’ll learn for myself. Amazon finally sent me notice that mine will ship tomorrow so I’ll have it next week.
I got my 23mm f1.4 in hong kong 3 weeks ago and import to canadaā¦ is a crazy sharp lens. is even better then my Nikon 35mm f1.4. is comparable to leica lens. everyone should buy it. hehehe
even on f1.4 is sharp. but I will using it at f1.8-2.0. if you think the f1.4 are mushy that mean you are using it wrong.. is very sharp even at f1.4. but you gota be careful. after you focus and if you move your body forward or backward by 1/2 or 1 cm . you will lose focus. try it with a tripod or mono pod you will know what I mean
Have tried that. It is OK sharp at 1.4 but has little micro contrast. That gives you the mushy feel. Once you start stopping down that fixes it.
Try the same with the 35 and you will not see this improvement as it is fantastic from1.4 onwards.
Get me right, it is a good lens bug does not meet my expectation at 1.4. It starts to meet that from 1.8 onwards.
Actually it is very much at 1.4 as the 23 is on the X100s at 2.0: Lack of micro contrast that improves dramatically when stopping down.
Have had the lens for 2 days, and am very impressed. Very sharp in center at 1.4, edges are excellent by 2.0. Wonderful color and rendering of out of focus areas. It’s a keeper, and my favorite lens for the X system so far. It’s so good my X100S is for sale! Size on the X-E1 is not too bad, larger than I would like, but no worse than the 18-55.