willie_901
Veteran
My experience with this lens matches what tomtofa shared. I like the rendering better than the Nikkor AF lenses I used.
The 35/1.4 is handicapped because it has the oldest AF motor and lens positioning hardware of all the XF primes. For me it is fine with the X-Pro 1. It's a bit faster with the XT-1. Sometimes I wish Fujifilm would release a version with newer AF hardware. But most of the time I don't think about it.
If AF speed is a high priority at this angle of view, I switch to the 27/2.8. Its angle of view is only about 6 degrees wider.
The 35/1.4 is handicapped because it has the oldest AF motor and lens positioning hardware of all the XF primes. For me it is fine with the X-Pro 1. It's a bit faster with the XT-1. Sometimes I wish Fujifilm would release a version with newer AF hardware. But most of the time I don't think about it.
If AF speed is a high priority at this angle of view, I switch to the 27/2.8. Its angle of view is only about 6 degrees wider.
lxmike
M2 fan.
many thanks for the replies chaps, the 35 1.4 arrives tomorrow, needles to say I am a tad excited
OurManInTangier
An Undesirable
lxmike said:
We all have our own slopes to slip down in terms of gear I doubt you'll be disappointed Mike. I'd agree that in terms of sharpness its razor sharp ( I'm, often, told this is a bourgeois concept
) whilst in terms of AF speed it isn't the fastest 50mm (or equivalent) but it shouldn't affect your working methods if you learn how to make the most of the AF focus system the XPro uses. Oh, and it is quite noisy in my opinion. Though I still have a Nikon F801s and F90 that I used to use for work and they're NOISY...but were quite the thing back in the day.
Enjoy!
lxmike
M2 fan.
I doubt you'll be disappointed Mike. I'd agree that in terms of sharpness its razor sharp ( I'm, often, told this is a bourgeois concept
Oh, and it is quite noisy in my opinion. Though I still have a Nikon F801s and F90 that I used to use for work and they're NOISY...but were quite the thing back in the day.
Enjoy!
F801S now that was a great camera, and it took AA batteries too, loved the F801, I had one with a 50mm, nice camera
honozooloo
Established
I've found the 35mm to be completely useable wide open, and only better as it is stopped down. The Fujinon also seems less prone to CA and terrible flaring when shot into harsh backlighting. As for IQ, it's easily on par with the best I've used from Nikon, Canon, and even Leica in the 50mm range, and packs a nice signature in its bokeh that helps give the image a nice sense of depth without being distracting.
Yes, the 35mm isn't an AF speed demon but then again, it certainly "feels" subjectively faster than my Canon 50 1.2L on a 1D mk iv, and yes it seems to hit proper focus quite accurately/consistently, which can't be said for the 50L (just like gavinlg pointed out)...so again not sure what others are comparing the 35mm's speed to but it isn't THAT bad in my opinion. Sure there are faster focusing AF lenses and camera systems but I don't think that the Fuji system is super slow as it's online reputation seems to imply...the jittering and focising inconsistencies of the 35mm disappeared like two firmware updates ago for me.
I took this shot at f/2, 10 second exposure for the blurred water, some insanely high ISO (3200 I think). See the light on the horizon? That was from the MOON, there were a few VERY distant arc sodium street lights directly behind me about 300 yards. And the X Pro's AF managed a lock on the subject on the third try using just the available light, which was so dim it barely registered at all in the long exposure. As a longtime Canon user I can tell you, it wouldn't have happened without a flashlight or a Canon Speedlite with AF assist.
Flare control, and ability to lock AF on a moving subject in low-light? If you get used to working with the camera, its possible. And at least it doesn't "hunt" the way the 50L does:
And for situations where you need AF accuracy on something moving quickly...well I just prefocused this shot using the yellow railing as a reference point. I'd do the same with Canon's latest, greatest, and fastest too if I wanted to be sure I'd nail this shot. Techique > Technology all day, everyday:
I've used the X Pro (supposedly one of the slowest-focusing X-cameras) to shoot fast, up close action by modifying my technique and prefocusing or whatever...which is also what I have to do with the 1D in situations where the 1D's AF falls short, like shooting through a fence or tracking a moving subject in front of the ocean on a sunny day. In other words, like every other camera system ever, of course there are caveats; the question isn't what are the drawbacks, it's which drawbacks you can live/shoot with, and which you cannot.
Hope this helps!
Yes, the 35mm isn't an AF speed demon but then again, it certainly "feels" subjectively faster than my Canon 50 1.2L on a 1D mk iv, and yes it seems to hit proper focus quite accurately/consistently, which can't be said for the 50L (just like gavinlg pointed out)...so again not sure what others are comparing the 35mm's speed to but it isn't THAT bad in my opinion. Sure there are faster focusing AF lenses and camera systems but I don't think that the Fuji system is super slow as it's online reputation seems to imply...the jittering and focising inconsistencies of the 35mm disappeared like two firmware updates ago for me.
I took this shot at f/2, 10 second exposure for the blurred water, some insanely high ISO (3200 I think). See the light on the horizon? That was from the MOON, there were a few VERY distant arc sodium street lights directly behind me about 300 yards. And the X Pro's AF managed a lock on the subject on the third try using just the available light, which was so dim it barely registered at all in the long exposure. As a longtime Canon user I can tell you, it wouldn't have happened without a flashlight or a Canon Speedlite with AF assist.
Flare control, and ability to lock AF on a moving subject in low-light? If you get used to working with the camera, its possible. And at least it doesn't "hunt" the way the 50L does:
And for situations where you need AF accuracy on something moving quickly...well I just prefocused this shot using the yellow railing as a reference point. I'd do the same with Canon's latest, greatest, and fastest too if I wanted to be sure I'd nail this shot. Techique > Technology all day, everyday:
I've used the X Pro (supposedly one of the slowest-focusing X-cameras) to shoot fast, up close action by modifying my technique and prefocusing or whatever...which is also what I have to do with the 1D in situations where the 1D's AF falls short, like shooting through a fence or tracking a moving subject in front of the ocean on a sunny day. In other words, like every other camera system ever, of course there are caveats; the question isn't what are the drawbacks, it's which drawbacks you can live/shoot with, and which you cannot.
Hope this helps!
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gavinlg
Veteran
^good stuff, mirrors my experience with the lens/system perfectly. Even the low light thing - I have also found my x-pro1 and 35mm will achieve focus in in lower light than the 5dIII and 50mm 1.2L.
Paul Jenkin
Well-known
I have the 35mm/f1.4 and the 18mm/f2 and can't fault wither of them.
My attention has recently been drawn towards the new 10-22mm and 56mm lenses which I will buy at some point but, from my relatively limited experience with Fuji X series, the 35/f1.4 is a fine lens in every respect.
My attention has recently been drawn towards the new 10-22mm and 56mm lenses which I will buy at some point but, from my relatively limited experience with Fuji X series, the 35/f1.4 is a fine lens in every respect.
lxmike
M2 fan.
many thanks Paul, have just unboxed this lens and I'm very impressed to say the least
lxmike
M2 fan.
lxmike
M2 fan.
lxmike
M2 fan.
boy I really love this lens, I can see me shooting a lot with it, absolutely spot on fits my needs perfectly
honozooloo
Established
boy I really love this lens, I can see me shooting a lot with it, absolutely spot on fits my needs perfectly
Good stuff! Enjoy.
romi.gilles
i'm a wanderer
i hope version 2 will have internal focusing that's both quicker and quieter.
willie_901
Veteran
NicoM
Well-known
That would be a dream come true! the IQ of that lens is outstanding, it'd be nice if the operational performance was equal to it.
romi.gilles
i'm a wanderer
from fuji rumors...
“the 35mm is going to be rereleased however don’t expect huge changes this is going to be more of an update of the same lens (AF motor as far as I know) to bring it up to standard of the 56mm and 23mm.“
“the 35mm is going to be rereleased however don’t expect huge changes this is going to be more of an update of the same lens (AF motor as far as I know) to bring it up to standard of the 56mm and 23mm.“
Canyongazer
Canyongazer
Hope the rumor is true, Romi.
I've an XE 2 w/ 18-55 on the way. At some point (soon!) wish to add the 35mm but it is apparently in production hiatus .
This lens seems universally praised except for the AF. Should that be cured it will be perfect, at least for those, like myself, who prize a fast "normal" prime above all else.
Some have said July for version II and that is fast approaching. We shall see.
I've an XE 2 w/ 18-55 on the way. At some point (soon!) wish to add the 35mm but it is apparently in production hiatus .
This lens seems universally praised except for the AF. Should that be cured it will be perfect, at least for those, like myself, who prize a fast "normal" prime above all else.
Some have said July for version II and that is fast approaching. We shall see.
jazzwave
Well-known
Good choice...you will happy with 35/1.4.
Don't forget to upgrade firmware to the latest version.
~ron~
Don't forget to upgrade firmware to the latest version.
~ron~
Faintandfuzzy
Well-known
Good enough that I can get a 20x30 print sharp edge to edge...corner to corner...for landscape work. That is something I never got from Nikon or Canon glass on FF