Any Fuji X UWA users there?

[Fuchs]

Hi. Sorry for the following longish post.

I'm starting a new sorta crazy trip into (yet) another system switch, abandoning Nikon to Fuji X. I work covering mostly political issues, rallies, marches, reportage. Mostly selected assignments now, so no more sports, no more long shifts waiting to candid catch the latest scandal celebrity.
It also implies no more lugging 300-600mm beasts around, nor being in need of the latest fastest fanciest tracking af etc.
My usual kit used to consist of couple of big gripped FF dslrs, 14mm, 24-70 and 70-200.
I am now covered with XT1 and XT2 bodies with grip for longer battery life, XF 14/2.8, 18-55 kitlens, 50-200, and for special occasions, 23/1.4 and 56/1.2, but I'm lacking in the UWA dept.
For the time being im considering the multiple options between 10mm, 12mm (Fuji, Samyang, Zeiss), and the XF 10-24. Fact is, Ive never been fond of the UWA zooms, due to their added weight -think the Nikon afs 14-24, and the fact that when I need an ultra wide, I mean it, so I almost always end up using them at their widest setting.

Now the question part: has anyone compared the different makes and focal lengths available between 10mm and 12mm? Any opinions on them in actual use? I do not really care that much to MTFs as to get the job done

PS. I'm keeping my D4 just in case.

 

[rybolt]

Me. I have and use regularly the 12mm Zeiss, 10-24 Fuji and the 14mm Fuji. Plus the Roki/Samyang 8mm f2.8.
Before I switched to Fuji I used the Nikon D3 and D800 with the 14mm f2.8 and the 16-35 Nikon lenses.
The Zeiss and Fuji lenses compare very favorably and the difference in bulk and weight is significant.
I'm a shooter and not a pixel peeper and I'm ver pleased with all of them.

 

[Fuchs]

Hi Rybolt, do you think there's a significative visual difference between 14 and 12mm, or i'd rather go straight to 10mm (roki or fuji ie $400 vs 800)?

 

[Canyongazer]

I use a Zeiss 12mm.
It is a fine lens with a big problem: Aperture ring detents are sloppy.
Sounds like nitpicking but it is not.
Many times I have been at f8 or whatever when I had set it for f4.
Landscape photographers can check and recheck.

Even setting it to "A" (which you probably do not want to do) won't work as it is not locked there and will move to f16 now and then.

Sounds like you are in the midst of the fray when shooting...lots of fast, unpredictable action. Could be a serious problem for you.

 

[Fuchs]

No nitpicking at all. Actually, a deal breaker for me and a mighty reason to save some coin for other purchases. Thanks, the Zeiss was ranking high in my list, I'm almost sure I'll pick the Rokinon/Samyang 10/2.8. looks like a better value and, on top ofthat,it gives a more distinctive and dramatic field of view /perspective

 

[krötenblender]

AFAIK, the 10mm Samyang is a lens made for (FF?)-DSLR and as such pretty big and heavy on a Fuji-X. The 12mm 2,0 from Samyang is made for mirrorless cameras and much smaller. Also the F2,0 is very interesting with low light or star photography (as in sky and milky way, not in american idol... 🙂). It's a pretty neat lens and astonishingly cheap.

 

[Fuchs]

AFAIK, the 10mm Samyang is a lens made for (FF?)-DSLR and as such pretty big and heavy on a Fuji-X. The 12mm 2,0 from Samyang is made for mirrorless cameras and much smaller. Also the F2,0 is very interesting with low light or star photography (as in sky and milky way, not in american idol... 🙂). It's a pretty neat lens and astonishingly cheap.

Yes, Ill factor that too. After taking a look at the Samyang 10mm, despite all my previous thoughts, the XF 10-24/4 starts to look attractive. Maybe I'd sell the XF 14 and go for it?

 

[narsuitus]

In my film only days, an 18mm was my widest lens. The 18mm was as wide as I needed for covering most events.

When I started shooting digital, I had to get something wider to give me the same angle-of-view on my APS-C digital bodies that the 18mm gave me on my 35mm film bodies.

I considered the Zeiss Touit 12mm 2.8, the Fuji 10-24mm f/4, and the Rokinon 12mm f/2. All three are excellent lenses.

I selected the manual focus 12mm Rokinon because I needed the f/2 lens speed more than I needed a 10mm focal length or auto focus.

I have been very pleased with my selection.


Rokinon 12mm f/2 by Narsuitus, on Flickr