image courtesy: Max Angeloni
Fujifilm X-Pro1 Fujinon 23mm 1/40 f/1.4 Iso 200 – JPEG SOOC

– Is it sharp wide open? In the reviews I’ve read until now there are some saying that it is a bit soft in the centre of the image, others say it is sharp. Now I got feedback from Max Angeloni (riflessifotografici). Judging from this image taken by the professional photographer I’d say that there is really no reason to worry about soft results wide open… of course if you know how to set your lens and camera properly.

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– the photographyblog review of the 23mm is online here. They confirm that:

“The Fujifilm XF 23mm F1.4 R lens is remarkably sharp in both the image centre and edges virtually throughout the entire aperture range. The fast maximum aperture of f/1.4 makes it incredibly easy to creatively throw the background out of focus, with the seven-blade iris diaphragm achieving some lovely bokeh effects. Vignetting is practically a non-issue, and chromatic aberrations are present but well-controlled. There is no barrel distortion worth mentioning.

Perhaps the only real fly in the ointment is the price – at around £849.99 / $899.95 this isn’t exactly a cheap lens. Compared to a similarly specced DSLR lens with an equally fast aperture, however, it could be viewed as something of a bargain. In summary the Fujifilm XF 23mm F1.4 R is another very high-quality optic in the XF lens range and definitely worthy of our Highly Recommended award.”

Fuji XF 23mm: [shopcountry 16128]

XF23mm

[shopcountry 16128]

– Tom Grill is testing the XF23mm on the X-E2. Read his first impressions and download high-res samples here: “I think you will find that this is an extremely sharp lens wide open both in the center and in the corners, and at f/5.6 it is nothing short of sensational. […] The lens feels good. It focuses fast, is comfortable to hold, and due to its large size fits nicely on my X-Pro1. If anything, I am not a fan of scalloped lens shades. They seem unnecessarily large on short focal length lenses. I already found myself leaving it off when there was no absolute need for it.  That is the only negative thing I have to say about my experience using this lens, which says something in and of itself.”

– XF23mm samples at brandonremler here.

X-E2

USA: AmazonUS / BHphoto / Adorama / DigitalRev / Pictureline / EUROPE: wexphotographicUK / DigitalRev / Fotomundus24 GER / PCHstore / AmazonDE (via DR)

– The X-E2 at yodobashi.com here (translation).

– X-E2 samples at the Polish site optyczne.pl (tranlsation)

– Portugal, a wedding and the X-E2 here (translation).

– Some shots taken with the X-E2 by mingthein here.

XQ1

USA: AmazonUS / BHphoto / Adorama / DigitalRev / EUROPE: wexphotographicUK / DigitalRev / PCHstore / AmazonDE (via DR)

– Samples at letsgodigital here.

The brand new Fujinon XF 23mm f/1.4 is falling in the hands of more and more photographers all over the world… and they drop their feedback on their websites. Here are some of them. Feel free to say what you think about this lens in the comments.

greez
Patrick (google+, facebook and twitter)

P.S.: if you’d like to support this blog, consider to purchase your grear using the links below. Fujirumors gets a small commision that helps to run this site… and it won’t cost you a penny extra.

Fuji XF 23mm: [shopcountry 16128]

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GREENLAND

Hi Patrick

I got the 23mm 4 days ago but only had the chance to do a quick walk around the neighborhood here in Sisimiut, Greenland, this morning.

Included here are 5 images shot with the X-E1 and the 23mm f/1.4, and if you feel they’re worth anything to the Fuji Rumors community feel free to share them. I love the 35mm equivalent FOV but I mostly prefer to shoot it with people in the frame somewhere. However, being a quiet little town and during normal working hours, no one was really around to play with with, so I did a handful of quick shots of… stuff.

The autofocus I experience with this lens is quick and super precise, also handheld wide open, and the shallow DOF creates some really lovely out of focus areas. At least, they appeal to me :)

Also, it’s -10 C up here today, but I heard no mechanical complaints from the lens, going through the entire focus distance scale. It seems really well built.

Cheers, Mads Pihl http://northbound.gl – Flickr XF23mm images

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SPAIN

The Spanish site dslrmagazine posted downloadable high-res samples shot with the XF23mm and X-E2 here (translated version)!

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NEW ZEALAND

– Some samples and first impression can be read also at bokeh-monster.com here:

“There are not many negative things to say on the overall lens performance: it operates quietly, focuses quickly, corner to corner sharpness is awesome (even wide open) and it swallows flare whole while maintaining good contrast. During the three days I had to play with this lens I found no performance gaps and it is definitely the best 35mm (equivalent) I have had the pleasure of using to date.”

– First shots taken with the XF23mm at proimagenz.com here (with RAW samples to download): “I believe the best X series lens Ive tried is the [shoplink 12888 ebay]14mm[/shoplink] but this is right there wth it. Here is the file for you to play with.”

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For an alternative Lens Hood for your 23mm check out Chris’ solution here at dpreview.

Fuji XF 23mm: [shopcountry 16128]

image courtesy: riflessifotografici

PRE-ORDER

by using the links below to make your purchase, you’ll support FR. It won’t cost you a single penny extra, but FR will get a small commision that will help to keep this site running. Thanks.

X-E2 – USA: AmazonUS / BHphoto / Adorama / DigitalRev / Pictureline / EUROPE: wexphotographicUK / DigitalRev / Fotomundus24 GER / PCHstore /

XQ1 – USA: AmazonUS / BHphoto / Adorama / DigitalRev / EUROPE: wexphotographicUK / DigitalRev / PCHstore /

XQ1

– Max (riflessifotografici) posted his first impressions of the XQ1 here (English verison). He’ll share the full review once he completed the “stress-test” of this little camera. For now we can read his initial conclusions after 2 days of testing.

“It’s well built but is far from being as sturdy as the [shoplink 13127]Sony RX100[/shoplink]. It is also true, to be honest, that the Fuji costs around half the price of the competitors and given how fast camera bodies tends to be upgraded, thus compromising the used market price, a net saving of around 380 Euros will be highly appreciated. Dials and buttons are well built and assembled with high precision as usual for this Japanese manufacturer. […] I also have to point out that the battery life looks really good, even if unfortunately this is a different battery from the one of the X10/[shoplink 12884]X20[/shoplink] cameras.”

– Some initial impressions of the XQ1 at mirrorlessons here: “It is fun to use and can easily slip into your trouser pocket if you don’t have your bag on you. Not to mention that the simple retro design is, in my opinion, even more aesthetically pleasing than the vintage design of the [shoplink 12885]XF1[/shoplink].”

XF23mm

image courtesy: michaelmcqueen

– The 23mm is stunning according to michaelmcqueen.: “Pros: Everything; Focussing both Auto and Manual – The Clutch feels firm and focuses smooth. – Sharp from 1.4-16 / Cons: A little big for the X-E1 (14mm and 35mm feel more at home on the X-E1) – That ridiculous lens hood.. but not to worry I pre ordered a month prior from ebay a metal vented lens hood. It arrived the day after I got the lens.”

– “The Fujinon XF 23mm f/1.4 is a lens many Fuji photographers have eagerly been waiting for. After spending 15 minutes with it and the X-Pro1 in Cossato, I can already tell you that it is one of the best pieces of glass ever produced for the system. But it also begs the question…if you already own an X100s, is it worth buying the 23mm? And if you don’t own either and 23mm is your favourite focal length, which should you go for?” The answer at mirrorlessons here.

– A 3 year old, a 6 year old, and a Fuji 23mm lens @ f/1.4 – sounds like a challenge. Click here!

Full frame or not?

image courtesy: Olaf (part II)

– “Of course, we haven’t seen this camera yet but from early rumours and teasers this could be the first Nikon product for a long time that photographers should be excited about. “It’s in MY HANDS again.” Nikon teases with “Pure Photography.” I say: FINALLY!  […] Fuji – you started this revolution. The Fuji X100s is still my favourite camera but the competition is catching up. The ball is in your court.” Read more at olafblog here. In part two of his article here he Olaf says: “Some of you interpreted my article as a restart of a “full frame vs. APS-C” argument. Let me clarify. I don’t think it is necessary for Fuji to go full frame at all. The current Fuji X-series line-up is excellent. The whole hysteria around full frame is way overblown if you take a look at how people use their cameras or even look at prints (how many people actually print their photos?). For our work, Fuji X-Pro1, Fuji X-E1 and X100s are more than adequate. Most importantly, the “feel” of those cameras and how they engage a photographer and let him/her focus on key elements is much more important to me than discussion about full frame or not. After all, the Fuji X100s is the camera that I breathe in my daily photographic life.”

– What are the 10 things we can learn from famous photographers of the past according to digitalcameraworld.com? Number 1) “You don’t need full frame: Galen Rowell, David Bailey, John Blakemore and Henri Cartier-Bresson are just a handful of photographers who shunned the big medium format cameras in favour of nifty little 35mm ones, and proved that it’s the eye behind the viewfinder that counts.”