Fujinon XF 8mm f3.5 R WR lens - Images and Comments

Excellent images as always, but a little too much visible distortion for my liking.

I do especially like your 4, 5, 9, 25, 23, 33, 35 and 36. Colors are super good too, as I would expect from a Fujicron.

Overall a nice effect if one looks for that sort of thing. Your images do seem a tad 'soft' - is this the lens, or your personal preference??

So, I'll go on playing with my Fujinon 14/2.8, which I seem to use too little anyway. Must take it out and put that '14 perspective to the job, it's a great lens.
 
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Hello DownUnder! Thank you for taking the time to look at all these images and for leaving some positive feedback.

What I can say in response is that the XF 8mm f3.5 lens is a challenge for me; it’s unlike any other lens that I own. Sometimes I’ll go out with it and I’ll have a great day; everything will work out better than expected. I’ll get cocky and overconfident, I’ll start to think that I’ve got this lens mastered! Then I’ll go out on another day with it and it’ll be a disaster; all my images will suck!

Some things that I think I’ve learned about this lens so far:

Content and composition are critical. This lens is not suited for everything. It only works in certain situations. Where one stands in relation to the subject/object/point-of-view is so important.

“No when to hold them and know when to fold them”, if the shot doesn't look good don’t force it; it wasn’t meant to be; best to move on or try a different lens.

Like all photography, light is critical. I think even more-so with this lens. This lens seems to thrive in dark moody areas and falls apart in bright light. Dimly lit closed in spaces work well for me.

Lastly, a little good luck goes a long way. :)

Lastly, lastly… this lens is a lot of fun and I’m glad I bought it. I haven't mastered it yet and maybe I never will, however, the journey is all that really matters to me and this journey has been some terrific fun so far!

All the best,
Mike

P.S. How’s that for rambling on and probably over-stating the obvious!
 
Yokosuka Mike said:
Hello DownUnder! Thank you for taking the time to look at all these images and for leaving some positive feedback.

What I can say in response is that the XF 8mm f3.5 lens is a challenge for me; it’s unlike any other lens that I own. Sometimes I’ll go out with it and I’ll have a great day; everything will work out better than expected. I’ll get cocky and overconfident, I’ll start to think that I’ve got this lens mastered! Then I’ll go out on another day with it and it’ll be a disaster; all my images will suck!

Some things that I think I’ve learned about this lens so far:

Content and composition are critical. This lens is not suited for everything. It only works in certain situations. Where one stands in relation to the subject/object/point-of-view is so important.

“No when to hold them and know when to fold them”, if the shot doesn't look good don’t force it; it wasn’t meant to be; best to move on or try a different lens.

Like all photography, light is critical. I think even more-so with this lens. This lens seems to thrive in dark moody areas and falls apart in bright light. Dimly lit closed in spaces work well for me.

Lastly, a little good luck goes a long way. :)

Lastly, lastly… this lens is a lot of fun and I’m glad I bought it. I haven't mastered it yet and maybe I never will, however, the journey is all that really matters to me and this journey has been some terrific fun so far!

All the best,
Mike

P.S. How’s that for rambling on and probably over-stating the obvious!
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Hmm, these pretty much sound like the basic principals of any photography; I guess the 8mm is just a bit more unforgiving when you don't observe them. It seems to me that the more extreme the lens, at either end, the more difficult a taskmaster it becomes!
 
Retro-Grouch said:
Hmm, these pretty much sound like the basic principals of any photography; I guess the 8mm is just a bit more unforgiving when you don't observe them. It seems to me that the more extreme the lens, at either end, the more difficult a taskmaster it becomes!
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Principals or principles?? Never mind, it's the schoolteacher in me. A long time ago I did teach school for half a year. But I never made it to the level of principal, or priciple, or what have you.

Remember what Groucho Marx said about principals/principles - "those are my principles, and if you don't like them... I have others."

A long time ago I played with a Nikon 10.5mm on a D90. Got much the same results and had the same thoughts as Mike. If an image i took worked, well and good. If it didn't, too bad. Ultimately I decided I didn't really like that lens enough to spend AUD $550 on it, and I let it move on. Now I find I'm - missing it.

The architect in me works to perfectly (well, almost) vertical verticals. And horizontal lines stretching from end to end unbendingly. Rarely do I ever achieve this, but when I do, it's a champagne moment. And for those straight lines my Fuji 14/2.8 is for me, by far the best. A close second is my Nikon 20/2.8, a lens which oddly not many photographers like, but this is really about Fuji, so let's not wander too far off the beaten topic.

How's this for rambling on?? I could give you all lessons in rambling (or is it ramblation. I mean, after all we have ruminating and rumination.)
 
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DownUnder said:
Principals or principles?? Never mind, it's the schoolteacher in me. A long time ago I did teach school for half a year. But I never made it to the level of principal, or priciple, or what have you.

Remember what Groucho Marx said about principals - "those are my principles, and if you don't like them... I have others."

A long time ago I played with a Nikon 10.5mm on a D90. Got much the same results and had the same thoughts as Mike. If an image i took worked, well and good. If it didn't, too bad. Ultimately I decided I didn't really like that lens enough to spend AUD $550 on it, and I let it move on. Now I find I'm - missing it.

The architect in me works to perfectly (well, almost) vertical verticals. And horizontal lines stretching from end to end unbendingly. Rarely do I ever achieve this, but when I do, it's a champagne moment. And for those straight lines my Fuji 14/2.8 is for me, by far the best. A close second is my Nikon 20/2.8, a lens which oddly not many photographers like, but this is really about Fuji, so let's not wander too far off the beaten topic.

How's this for rambling on?? I could give you all lessons in rambling (or is it ramblation. I mean, after all we have ruminating and rumination.)
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Mea culpa, mea culpa! I fancy myself a member of the grammar police as well, so I'm ashamed to have let this happen. I will now go read Finnegan's Wake in one sitting, as penance.
 
Retro-Grouch said:
Mea culpa, mea culpa! I fancy myself a member of the grammar police as well, so I'm ashamed to have let this happen. I will now go read Finnegan's Wake in one sitting, as penance.
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I'm truly sorry if I came across as anally gramarrian - my post was not meant to be that way intended at all, rather my oafish Sagittarian sense of humor just ran away with my well-meant intentions. No offence was intended.

No-one should have to read Finnegan's Wake as penance for anything - except maybe, political misdemeanours.

On a more upbeat take to all this, many thanks to this pleasant thread and equally amusing interchange of thoughts, I'm now curious about the Fujinon 8 - I may just borrow one from a friend who has it, and try it out. Then - who knows?? Fuji Japan may be a little richer thanks to Mike.
 
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Marvelous photos as always, Mr Yokohama.

I recently priced one of these beaut lenses in Australia. Unlikely to buy one, as I'm unwilling to mortgage my home and sell the cats (to a cathouse) to pay for it. Aussie prices for these Fujinons are way above horrendous, that is when you can find one...

(Later in réponse to #59) The Aussie price was a little less than AUD $2000. Not cheap, but it was the first '8 I've seen for sale here.
 
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DownUnder said:
Marvelous photos as always, Mr Yokohama.

I recentlypriced one of these beaut lenses in Australia. Unlikely to buy one, as I'm unwilling to mortgage my home and sell the cats (to a cathouse) to pay for it. Aussie prices for these Fujinons are way above horrendous, that is when you can find one...
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Thank you, DownUnder, much appreciated!

Sorry to hear that the lens is so expensive where you live. I think that they are still reasonably priced here in Japan; Mapcamera (per their website) is selling them for $637.99USD at todays yen/dollar exchange rate.

All the best,
Mike
 
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