Got X-T1. Now what lenses?

Q

Q-dog

Established
Local time
4:57 AM
Joined
Jan 16, 2007
Messages
75
Hi,
Got a X-T1 body (pre-owned but unused) from the local classifieds. Now I need to decide which lens to begin with.

Since I primarily shoot 50 and sometimes 35 on film the new 35/2 seems a great place to start. But the 35/1.4 can be had used for less. I guess it boils down to better handling, size and weather resistance with the former vs better optics with the latter? And new vs used of course.

For about the same price, maybe a little less, as the used 35/1.4 you can have a used 18-55. Now I am not used to zoom lenses but it seems a great one lens does it all for when you are walking around with the family. Seems a rational choice, but it just don't make my heart go any faster.

Further away there is the 16/1.4 which seems great and would make a great pair with a 35. Haven't seen it used and new it is not exactly cheap.

I now you all like to tell people you don't know anything about what they should buy so come on, let me hear your thoughts!

Regards,
Ola
 
How about a used 27/2.8 pancake? You can get one for under 200€, it's tiny and great optically (_very_ sharp and almost no distortion). And it's a ~42mm equivalent lens :)
 
nothing against the 35/2 but i prefer the 35/1.4 as extra stop of light is more important to me than WR.
both are great performers and quick AF on the X-T1.

18-55 is one hell of a kit len
 
The 35mm f/2 allows for autofocus that holds up with the best of what is out there in mirrorless and m/43. The rest of Fuji's prime offerings are slower and clunkier. The 27mm isn't bad though.
 
The one stop gain is not that useful unless one likes to work with very thin DOF.

The 35/2 has superior AF, especially on the X-T1.
 
My guess is there is a reason for the price difference between the 1.4 vs 2.0. From everything I've seen the 2.0 is just that much better of a lens. Faster focus, sharper, if it were a basketball player, the 2.0 would be in the caliber of a franchise player (most players are good, but a franchise play helps you make the playoffs year after year and often win).

B2 (;->
 
I just picked up an XE-2 and am waiting on an the 18/2 as my first lens. Wanted something small, wide and inexpensive. The 35/2 is probably next on my list.

I'm watching this thread with interest.
 
Thank you for your input everyone. Seems I can't go wrong whatever I chose. I have a Nokton 50/1.5 that I plan to use with an adapter for portrait/thin dof. So I probably go for the 35/2 instead of the 35/1.4. Or maybe the zoom. In the end I probably get both.
/Ola
 
I have a used XT1 with the 18-55 lens on the way from BH. For my needs, and what I've gotten used to in the age of digital, a good small zoom like this will take care of 80-90% of my walking around needs. If I keep the camera, I will likely add a 35mm equivalent and/or their 55-200 zoom.
 
I don't see a lot of feedback on the 23 or the 27.

I sorta gathered people don't really love these lenses. I saw on a rumor site that they are going to do a 23/2 like the 35/2 that has been getting so many favorable comments here so will probably see if that pans out.

I was looking for something small so didn't really entertain the 23 and the 27 with an equivalent focal length of 42 didn't appeal to me as too in-between (I hated my 40mm Summicron on my Leica so much that I sold it and bought a 35 for double the cost and was much happier).
 
I also have the 27mm and think it's a pretty good compromise when you don't want to carry more than one lens. Works very well on a small body like my X-A1.
 
I happen to like the ~40mm equivalent focal length (but I can't really stand 50mm lenses).

IMO the 27mm is a gem, it's basically free of CAs and fringing, has almost no distortion (even when left completly uncorrected) and is very sharp from wide open on (at times I find it _too_ sharp; it can be quite clinical). It has some heavy vignetting going on, but most users won't ever see this as it's automatically corrected in jpgs and most raw converters.

If one can live with f2.8 and the missing aperture ring, this lens is a great value.

Combine the 27mm with the 18mm and you have a great lightweight very versatile 2 lens kit.
 
35mm F2 for sure faster than the 1.4 that extra stop isnt worth it compared to what the F2 offeres overall. I have both lens. Going to sell teh 1.4 shortly
 
I'll give some love to the 23 f1.4 . I really like it especially for daylight shooting where I need to put some separation between my subject and my background, but I still want to include a background to provide context. Enable the electronic shutter in the body through the firmware upgrade and it really sings in this situation.
 
I recently started using an x-pro 2, first with the 18-55 and then I picked up a used 23mm from the classified here. I always leave a 35mm lens on a full frame body but I have found that there isn't much difference in size or weight between the 18-55 and the 23mm. I now tend to leave the 18-55 on the camera and then switch to a prime 50mm lens on an adapter when I want shallow depth of field for portraits. When Fuji makes a weather resistant 23mm f2 this equation will change.
 
i've used most of the xf primes on my xt1, my favs are the 16/1.4 and the 56/1.2. big and not the cheapest, but i really like 'em. prefer the 16/1.4 to the other wides (14/2.8 not fast enough and 23/1.4 not wide enough). prefer the 56/1.2 to the 35/1.4 (not long enough).
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom