fuji 23

[back alley]

went out this morning for errand running and a quick walkabout with the 23.

despite being a lens on the large size it handles very well and fits comfortably on the xe1 and in my hand…

with the ishoot grip on the camera, the xe1 plus 23 makes a small but formidable package…and that lens is so damn sharp!

if needed, i could stick with this combo and be very happy!

 

[gavinlg]

One of my favorite lenses. I am a big 35mm equivalent guy - if a system doesn't have a good fast 35mm equivalent it never lasts in my possession (contax G/micro 4/3).
perfect size and weight for the xpro1.

 

[Jamie Pillers]

Joe and Gavin, If I remember correctly, I think both of you have used the X100 or X100s as well. Can you say something about why the X body + 23mm kit is better than the X100/s? Thanks.
Jamie

 

[back alley]

the 23/1.4 seems sharper to me…right from wide open on...

 

[GaryLH]

Joe

If the comparison is a x100s and the 23, this is a fair comparison.. Otherwise the difference in mp and aa filter on the x100 will make a difference.

Gary

 

[back alley]

Joe

If the comparison is a x100s and the 23, this is a fair comparison.. Otherwise the difference in mp and aa filter on the x100 will make a difference.

Gary

i think we had this conversation before…and i agree with you…but the bottom line is i prefer the new 23 over the x100…couple that with an infatuation with the 16-50 and the x100 had to go!

 

[GaryLH]

No prob Joe. Just wanted to make sure that everyone else knew it was not a perfect apples to apples comparision, especially those on the fence on the new x100s.

Gary

 

[willie_901]

It is not a one-to-one comparison.

The 23/1.4 is better though. The flare/ghosting from bright point-source lights that can affect X100/S photos does not occur with the 23/1.4. The coating of the XF lens seems better too. If I remember correctly, the XF aperture blade shape is more sophisticated. Of course the XF lens is larger and heavier. The X100/S lens is not exactly small because it's recessed into the body and it houses the shutter. The XF lens is more expensive as well.

 

[gavinlg]

Joe and Gavin, If I remember correctly, I think both of you have used the X100 or X100s as well. Can you say something about why the X body + 23mm kit is better than the X100/s? Thanks.
Jamie

The 23mm f2 on the x100 is good, but it has design compromises to keep it compact. For instance the bokeh can be a funny sometimes, and light sources can make it get a hazy sort of flare that looks like a loss of contrast.

The XF23 however is not compromised in design. It is sharp but gentle wide open, the bokeh is wonderful for a 35, and it handles better due to the size. The subject separation is better at same apertures (something to do with controlled coma).

Overall it is basically better in all measurable ways except size, but it is also better in-measureable ways like 'look' and bokeh rendering - to me anyway.

 

[Jamie Pillers]

Thanks, Joe and Gavin for the insight. If the lens wasn't so large, I might think about selling X100s and getting the lens. But I saw one today on someone's X-E2 and it looked too bulky for my taste, at least for a 35mm lens.

Do you guys have any idea what that "high speed wide-angle" lens is that's shown on the Fuji lens roadmap?

 

[gavinlg]

Thanks, Joe and Gavin for the insight. If the lens wasn't so large, I might think about selling X100s and getting the lens. But I saw one today on someone's X-E2 and it looked too bulky for my taste, at least for a 35mm lens.

Do you guys have any idea what that "high speed wide-angle" lens is that's shown on the Fuji lens roadmap?

It doesn't handle as big as it looks in photos, but thats on an x-pro1, not and XE body.

As far as the high speed wide, we are speculating its a 16mm f1.4-f2, but that is based on very little...

 

[back alley]

it is bigger but it handles really well, feels very comfortable...it's surprising...put one on your camera and try it.
as to the fast wide...i know i'm hoping for it to be a 24...maybe a 2 but i'd be happy with a 2.8!

 

[jsrockit]

Just got one... jeez, this thing is huge!

 

[coelacanth]

Just got one... jeez, this thing is huge!

That was the first thing I thought when I got one with the recent discount.

Now I received 35mm and I feel it is tiny for the speed compared to the 23mm. 😉 I felt the 35mm was huge when I first got it with X-Pro1 (which is considerably larger than X-E2 that I have now) a couple years back.

 

[jsrockit]

That was the first thing I thought when I got one with the recent discount.

Now I received 35mm and I feel it is tiny for the speed compared to the 23mm. 😉 I felt the 35mm was huge when I first got it with X-Pro1 (which is considerably larger than X-E2 that I have now) a couple years back.

Exactly ... the 35mm feels good now in comparison. I'll learn to live with the 23mm though.

 

[back alley]

a tip for the 23…i bought a step up ring and use a screw in hood…67mm filter size…i tried a 62mm hood directly but there was some slight vignetting.

 

[jsrockit]

BA, I go bareback with these lenses! No filters, no hoods. 😉

 

[back alley]

BA, I go bareback with these lenses! No filters, no hoods. 😉

i forgot you were such a daredevil!

 

[dcsang]

Is it just me or do all those photos look like they've been taken on a cropped sensor? 😀 😀 😀 😀 😀

This would be one one of the lenses that I think would be a "must have" in the Fuji stable. If I ever go back to Fuji I would snap this lens up in a heartbeat!!

Cheers,
Dave

 

[willie_901]

Just got one... jeez, this thing is huge!

The length is a bit of a shock. After using the lens for awhile on a X-Pro 1 I feel that if it was 5mm longer, it would be too much. The only downside is it draws more attention and it's more difficult to get it in an gout of the bag. Thank goodness it's not that heavy.