image courtesy: dslrmagazine

1) The phoblographer published his first impressions of the XF14mm (specs&price). You can read them here. From the conclusions:

“In our tests so far, we’re fairly impressed with the image quality but still don’t think that this lens can touch the 35mm f1.4. However, we love the fact that Fujifilm decided to put a working depth of field scale on this lens. The build quality is also the best of the X series lenses released so far. We’re a bit disappointed with the autofocus performance on the X-Pro1, so far, with the latest firmware updates.”

image courtesy: phoblographer

2) I’ve received this mail from Fujirumors reader Olaf: “[…] I have just published sample images taken with the XF 14mm F2.8. Please feel free to share them with your readers. Regards, Olaf.”

“Since I sold my SLR gear and started shooting exclusively with X-series cameras I have started enjoying photography once again. I spend less time playing with menus and settings and focus instead on light and composition. The biggest drawback of the system so far has been the lack of wide-angle lenses – my favourite perspective. But my problem has been solved. This weekend I picked up the latest Fuji lens – XF 14mm F2.8. What a lens it is!”

Read the whole article and see Olaf’s shots on his website here!

“Please note that these are sample images without any distortion correction applied. Processed in Capture One 7 and Lightroom 4.”

image courtesy: Olaf

3) Last but not least, the dc.watch article here (translated version)

[ XF14mm in stock status check: AmazonUS/ B&H / Adorama / Amazon GERMANY / Amazon ITALY / or on ebay worldwide via slidoo ]

This time you can hear the shutter sound of the X100s without adapter lens on it (WCL-X100 at AmazonUS and AmazonDE). Be aware that it is a pre-production X100s.

with the WCL-X100

X100s preorders: AmazonUS / BHphoto / Adorama / AmazonUK

X20 preorders: AmazonUS (black / silver) / BHphoto (black / silver) / Adorama (black / silver) / AmazonUK (black / silver) / ebayITA

Fuji X-E1 & Fujinon XF 14mm f/2,8 R – Iso  400(Auto) f/11 1/550 sec.

image courtesy: riflessifotografici

The long expected 14mm is finally in the hands of the talented photographer Donato Chirulli of riflessifotografici who immediately put it on his X-E1 and began shooting with it in the streets of Rome.

This lens is of course perfect for architecture and landscape photography. But the 14mm is also important in some particular aspects of street photography. You’ll have to face some challenges, (as the light that a wide angle like this can capture from different sources)… but Donato will tell you how to deal with it.

And, once you tamed this lens, be creative! Sometimes you should forget all the good “composing rules”. This focal length allows you to play for example with perspective, stretching and distorting the image and add new “forms of expression” in the “language” of photography! And that is what Donato did, turning imperfection into beauty!

It’s a review, it’s a photography lesson, it’s art… brilliant work!

Ah, I forgot, you want to know about chromatic aberration, distortion, aperture ring, backlight performance, see 100% crops and more… so just read the whole review here (translated version)… and enjoy the pictures. (If you want, tell us your favorite shot in the comments)!

Fuji X-E1 & Fujinon XF 14mm f/2,8 R – Iso 320 (Auto) f/4,0 – 1/30 sec. -0,3EV

 Fuji X-E1 & Fujinon XF 14mm f/2,8 R – Iso  400 (Auto) f/8,0 1/30 sec.

image courtesy: composinghands (image of Billingham Hadley Small (AmazonUS) taken with X-E1, 18-55 lens: File OOC JPG)

Now that David from composinghands got his X-E1, he looked for the right bag to put in this little great cam. He decided to buy a Billingham Pro… if you use a DSLR, you’ll surely grab the Billingham Hadley Pro but for the small X-E1 the Hadley Small is enough.

“It’s everything I hoped for, material and construction are all top grade, you can see it’s built by craftsman. Design is retro like… so doesn’t shout I’m a camera bag. Take out the removable sleeve and you have yourself a beautiful everyday bag, plus the canvas has been treated to be waterproof which is good to know your gear is well protected… it’s made to last a lifetime and it’s going to protect my gear, I can rely on its build quality not to fail.” 

Read the whole review and see more images here at composinghands.com.

Billingham Hadley Small: AmazonUS / B&H / Adorama / AmazonUK / AmazonGER / AmazonITA / AmazonFRA

… and thanks Andy for linking this video in the comments. How much you can fit in a Bilingham Hadley Small?