Done with autofocus, manual RF lens recommendation for shooting digital?

[Redseele]

Hi all,

I know this might sound strange to some. I just bought an excellent lens (a Fuji 35mm f1.4 for use with the Fuji X-E1) but I just cannot get into it and therefore I am in the strange predicament of asking for manual lens recommendations.

Here's my story: I started getting seriously into photography by buying an amateur-level DSLR a few years ago, I did not shoot it much as I found it big and clanky. My interest in serious photography came, though, when I bought a Fuji X100. I loved it and got used to zone-focus it for street photography. Since my photography technique changed a lot after shooting with the X100, I ended up selling my DSLR system and getting myself a Leica M3 with a Summicron Collapsible (which, after being CLA'd, is the most beautiful lens I've ever shot with).

Shooting film and shooting all manually (including learning to calculate exposure using the Sunny 16 rule for all sorts of light conditions) changed my photography once again. A few weeks ago, I realized that I didn't shoot the X100 so often anymore (not because I didn't like it, but I'm not very fond of the 35mm equivalent focal distance, 50mm is my thing) so I decided to sell it and get myself an X-E1 to use my manual lenses (at this point: the cron collapsible, a Canon 50mm 1.4 LTM and a Jupiter 8 that I inherited) with it. It's been a lovely ride so far, focusing everything manually with the Fuji peeking system. The only problem is that on the small sensor, all my 50mm lenses became 75mm equivalences 🙁

I want to shoot 50mm equivalence, so I read a ton of reviews about the Fuji 35mm 1.4. Sharp all over, beautiful bokeh, etc. etc. etc. So I got it today (relatively very little for it, used) but I noticed that I have become fond of manual focusing. Autofocusing just feels strange in my hands, almost as if I am cheating myself. It doesn't help that the manual focus on this particular lens is also quite bad and that the lens is so big. I get very little of that photographer's satisfaction that I get from shooting my old M3.

Hence, even if I know the Fuji X lens is "rationally" the best lens there is for this camera, I'd rather shoot something not so perfect (sharp?) to get the satisfaction of feeling that I'm working actively in my photography. As I said before, I know good 50mm lenses (both on M mount and ltm mount) but I want to get a 50mm equivalent (35mm) for my Fuji X-E1. I already have an LTM and M adapter for the Fuji and I love how those small lenses look and feel in the camera.

Can anyone recommend me something? I guess it doesn't necessarily have to be 1.4, an f2 would also do. And it doesn't have to have be the sharpest or have the most beautiful bokeh. as long as it is below around $500, used (I've always bought all my stuff used).

Sorry for the long write-up. Thank you for reading 🙂

 

[Larry H-L]

Any of the C/V 35mm lenses are quite good for the money, the Nokton f1.4 is small and fast with lots of personality; the f1.7 Ultron Asph. gives a more modern neutral look, but larger; and the f2.5 Skopars are nice, small, but slower. All could be found for under $500 with patience.

Or, get a used M9 body and use the lenses you have.

 

[hepcat]

I'm with Larry on all points. I had the 35mm f/1.7 Ultron for a while and it was a really nice lens, but I have to confess that now I have the 35mm Nokton f/1.2 v.1 and it is my go-to lens on my M8. I love everything about that lens... and the tactile feedback is wonderful; it feels the same as the '60s vintage Leitz lenses with the scalloped focusing ring. It is probably a little more than $500, but I didn't pay too much more than that for my copy.

 

[kiss-o-matic]

I'm with Larry on all points. I had the 35mm f/1.7 Ultron for a while and it was a really nice lens, but I have to confess that now I have the 35mm Nokton f/1.2 v.1 and it is my go-to lens on my M8.

I just nabbed one "as-is" for what I think is a great price. It was a dice roll, but I'm happy with it. Noticeably soft at 1.2 & 1.4, much better at 2.0, but excellent at 2.8 and up. I rarely shoot even that wide, unless I really need it. Great lens.. just... kinda huge.

Another 35mm to look for would be the Zeiss Biogon 35/2.8. It retails for like $750 I think so $500 or there abouts for a used one isn't too hard to fathom. There's a love-in thread about it in the Zeiss Ikon forum.

 

[rhl-oregon]

The SLR Magic X mount lenses are worth a look. Sub $500, no adapter needed. I bought my 23 1.7 from an RFFer. It's well damped and plenty fast given the XE's high ISO goodness.

I have also kept a couple of my Pen F lenses--25 2.8 and 40 1.4-- because a nice Pen/X adapter showed up on my radar. These are lenses calibrated for 24x18 coverage, I.e. very close to APS-C. Nicely compact, though they still give a 1.5 crop view.

 

[RAK]

35mm Nokton f/1.4 works great on APS-C sensors. As much as i lust for the f/1.2 the compact size of the f/1.4 just makes more sense on small mirrorless cameras.

I actually get much sharper and better focused pictures from the nokton on my nex-7 than m8 where it backfocuses a bit.

 

[Redseele]

I'm thinking about that 35mm 1.4 Nokton as well... Along with the Skopar they seem very good options.

That aside, am I the only crazy one who doesn't like the feel of autofocus lenses? I had a really hard time tonight trying to tell my girlfriend that my new shiny Fuji 1.4 lens wasn't really what I though I wanted 😛

 

[back alley]

if i had to choose using af or mf on a fuji camera i'd go for af…it's just made for that…
i do have some manual focus lenses that i use on the xe-1 sometimes and i like them but only as a diversion not the main users.
if i want a real manual focus experience i use a manual focus camera…again lens and camera made for each other.

 

[Godfrey]

My go-to 35mm lens is the Color Skopar 35/2.5 Pancake II. It's very small, light (and sturdy build), has excellent sharpness and rendering qualities, and costs $410 new. i've used it quite a lot on the M9.

G

 

[jsrockit]

No matter what you choose... the 35mm AF 1.4 will outperform it. I would rethink the emotion connection to MF in this case...the lens is worth it.

 

[Redseele]

No matter what you choose... the 35mm AF 1.4 will outperform it. I would rethink the emotion connection to MF in this case...the lens is worth it.

I know that anything will be outperformed by the Fuji 35mm. But in this case, performance is not the top of my priorities (especially because sometimes this lens also feels way too clinical for my taste... coming from film, I guess); feel and satisfaction are. I know this sounds really strange, but I hope I'm not the only one 🙂

 

[jsrockit]

I know that anything will be outperformed by the Fuji 35mm. But in this case, performance is not the top of my priorities (especially because sometimes this lens also feels way too clinical for my taste... coming from film, I guess); feel and satisfaction are. I know this sounds really strange, but I hope I'm not the only one 🙂

No, not strange at all... I'm very picky. I just happen to love the 35mm 1.4. When I use manual focus, I prefer rangefinders and lenses with tabs. I just don't get on with them on mirrorless.

Another option could be to look into the 40mm summicron, but then you are at 60mm.

 

[Margu]

if the lens is too critical open it in photoshop, duplicate the layer add 2% gaussian blur and set the blending mode to overlay or softlight

 

[grandallj]

I've used the ZM 35/2 and a Leica Summaron 35/3.5 on the X-Pro and haven't cared for either of them. The Zeiss renders nicely with the camera, but the ergonomics are suboptimal because the lens is long and heavy. The Summaron was pretty smeary around the edges until stopped down to 5.6 or so. If it were me, I might go with the Nokton 35/1.4 -- or just suck it up with the Fuji 35/1.4.

 

[konicaman]

If you are willing to go a bit wider, the Meyer Lydith 30/3.5 is an excellent lens for very little money. Works well on the Fujis.

100% crop at 5.6 utmost left of the frame

 

[Redseele]

Today I went out try try and test my Fuji Autofocus lens once more. I realized exactly why it is that I prefer a rangefinder manual lens: zone focusing!

Thing is, with an autofocus lens I am 100% dependent on pointing the lens at my subject, focus and then shoot. Problem is that because I do mostly candid street photography, many times I'd have to be pointing the camera at my subject for more than 4 seconds, which is usually enough for my subjects to be aware of my presence. Obviously, I could try to use the manual focus of the Fuji lens, but it is cumbersome and I need to be looking at the LCD to do that.

With a manual focus lens, I've noticed that I've got used to using the focusing scale and calculate the distance by eye. This way, I do everything in my head first and then just lift up the camera for a second, press the shutter and then continue walking. This way, I am not used to getting 100% razor sharp pictures, but I do get the pictures to begin with.

This is one of the reasons I consistently get better pictures using manual lenses. Today I was just made very aware of it 🙂

BTW, today I got to try the Voigtlander Skopar and Nokton 35mm. Both of them were so beautiful and small! The camera is a LOT less intimidating with them as well.