I'm literally in the middle of buying into the fuji system, and then this video pops up to answer the questions I've been vigorously googling the past 2 weeks. Thank you Chris!
Lens from the list you mentioned, I own the trio XC lens, discover this channel because of the XC lens reviews. Excellent lenses, I prefer to use the front dial for aperture so worked out perfectly. I find the XC15-45 more useful for that 3mm wider range than the 18-55 kit, and a lot lighter. The tele one also has a bit more reach than the 50-200. The trade off of image quality is little, and the extra stops feels a bit unnecessary when shooting landscape at F8 anyways. I do like the XC35 but I think if I had to do it again, probably the one i wouldn't get, not really a prime person, only time I really grab the prime is for the wider aperture, and a bit more you get a much more solid feeling Viltrox 33 with autofocus. Also own the Samyang, the 12mm is really worth it when you need to shoot really wide, and for that astro shot you get to do once or twice a year. However the other Samyang you mentioned I feel like at that price point you might as well just get the similar Viltrox version, autofocus etc. Lastly the Laowa 65mm honorable mention is probably my favorite macro lens on the Fuji system period. Prefer it better than the actual Fuji version more magnification. Also thank you for all the FUJI alternative lens review, quite a lot of youtuber does review of the Fuji lens, but no one does the cheaper alternative like you do. One of the most to the point reviews out there for the system!
there are tons of very cheap lenses for Fuji. They are not always amazing optically, but some are good enough and, as I said, cheap. Look for brands like Meike, 7Artisans and Kamlan. There are others too, but I have not owned any lenses from those.
"Error of judgement" is HIS OPINION. I'll tell you one thing for sure. Invest time in practicing manual focus and then an entire WORLD of awesome vintage lenses opens up for you. I own a sony APS-C camera and started with the kit lens 16-50 and then got also the 55-210mm. After only one year, I now have 8 lenses total and only one of them is the Sony (the first 16-50mm). That's only because I haven't found a buyer for it yet. So I'll say it again, vintage lenses and adapted lenses (from Nikon, canon, m42 ...) can make your heart melt at their quality and character. They can definitely beat modern lenses in sharpness as well as other attributes of image quality. The BEST part, you can keep an eye for some specific ones and get them SUPER CHEAP ($10-$100 in many cases). There are several RU-vid channels that review these vintage lenses. I suggest taking advice from people who actually tested and/or owned many of these vintage lenses. Some of these channels do not have sponsors sending them free stuff (good thing) and they actually own and have extensive experience with vintage lenses. They will NOT recommend to you a lens because they have a link in the description and they get a commission when you use it.
I have the Samyang 8mm and a 35mm f1.2 which as mentioned, is a very sharp lens. Both are manual focus, but with Fuji’s focus aids such as peaking, make them easier to use. Great all round review of 3rd party lenses! Cheers
I think Jonas Rask mentioned on his blog, that 7Artisans will come out with a 35mm 0.95 option soon, that uses the exact same optical formula as the awesome Mitakon 35mm 0.95 at a lower cost as well. Could be a really nice option too.
I'm obviously a cheapskate as I have several of these. I would like to plug the ridiculously cheap 7artisans 25/1.8. It has acceptable sharpness but its best attribute is the close focus of about 8". This gives way more opportunity for defocused backgrounds and interesting bokeh effects than the faster Viltrox 23/1.4. I also enjoy it as a discrete street photography lens at f8 using zone focussing technique. Whilst I also own the Viltrox 23 and Fuji 27 I frequently opt for the 7artisans for its greater creative potential.
The Fujian 25mm/1.8 is practically the same and even cheaper. ;) It's main drawback is its short focus throw though. For that, the Fujian 25mm/1.4 is better.
My kingdom for Sigma's APS-C primes on Fuji X... As much as I like some of the Viltrox options (the 23mm in parcitular), I'd much prefer the Sigma 56mm F1.4 for the weather sealing. I was encouraged a while back when Sigma's CEO said they'd explore bringing lenses to X mount if the market share grew, but that's now happened and no moves appear to have been made. Fingers crossed for the future, I guess!
Nice review. But two more important lenses have been missed out. The 7artisans 25mm f1.8 which doesn't suffer from the field curvature issue like it's 35mm f1.2 and the 7artisans 35mm f0.95. both these two lenses deserved mention too in my opinion.
The XF is my favorite lens and similar price to the Viltrox lenses used. With it having shallower DOF than the 35mm, the aperture ring gets used a lot. I used it much less with the 23mm f2, so would like an XC of that one. They may as well do an 18mm and 90mm while they are at it 😉
Part 2 could include the TTartisans trio coming out now (17mm, 35mm f1.4 and 50mm f1.2, I think), the new 7Artisans bodycap 18mm f6.3 and their fisheye 7.5mm f2.8. Not sure if you mentioned the 16-50 II which I much prefer to the 15-45mm. Maybe do it when Tokina have released their versions of the Viltrox lenses which shouldn’t be too far away. 👍
I got a couple manual prime lenses for my X-E2, but my favourite is the 7Artisans 50mm F/1.8. It's pretty bright for the price, and the colour rendition is very nice. The fully-open vignetting is pretty low, too.
Brilliant video! Your channel helps me a lot when I am choosing my next lens for my X-T200. I would love to see a video on your favourite fuji lenses (first and third party)
Thanks Chris. I got the Mitakon f0.95 35mm mark ii. Highly regarded in reviews. It’s AWESOME. PRIMO. Also bought the Samyang f1.4 85mm manual. It’s a GREAT mini-Tele/Portrait lens. Love them both. My 18-55mm “kit lens” is a great quality, reasonably priced super versatile work-horse, that you could leave on your camera for much of the time. Recommend this Highly! Cheers.
I bought a Fuji XE4 “body only” without realising what body only meant 😅 and now I’ve been on google looking for lens and I’ve seen £400-800 for a lens soooo I’m glad this vid is here ahah
Is the Samyang 12mm rectilinear suitable for full frame Chris ? I have the 14mm Samyang for my Full frame Canon but can’t afford the Iris 11mm just yet.
Choosing Fuji for budget photography might be an error of judgement, but choosing Fuji for affordable quality photography certainly is great judgement.
Dear Christopher, great review for 2020. I miss the new TTArtisan 35mm f1.4 come in very late this october. I receive my copy last week. And I think this will be change the game. Great lens. Perhaps to grab it and test it out .....
TT Artisan 50 mm F 1.2 for Fuji . Absolutely fantastic manual lens . Get it for around 100 u/s dollars . If you shoot black and white this lens is a stunner .
If you want really cheap and manual focus is not a problem for you, then go vintage! For 30-50 euros you can buy amazing lenses, a few decades old but still very good. I use XT-4 and Pentax Takamur 55mm 1.8 is my favorite lens, colors I get with it are perfect, creamy bokeh...just love it. Also Fujinon 50mm 1.9 AX mount (old Fuji mount) very sharp lens, with bokeh's out of this world...and they were 30-40euros each, plus an adapter. So for around 50e each, I got lenses that are really fantastic and I love working with them, and both of them are less than the cheapest modern ones from the store. And you are not going for lesser quality with those, on the contrary.
Folks - I'm looking for a *good* lens around 16mm or 18mm. Up to 21mm could work or 23 if I really give up on wider. What should I look at?? I much prefer a full MF lens, but also happy if it's an AF lens that I can move the focus equipment directly (not actuating a motor).. I have a Mitakon 35mm f/0.95 and like it a lot. I have a Kamlan 21mm and I am unsatisfied with the image quality. What should I look at? Should I just 'give up' and buy a Fuji 16mm 2.8 or an 18mm 2.0? (I can buy the 18mm when I go to Thailand at a much lower price than usual. I forget, maybe $150). I think I won't like the size of the Fuji 16mm 1.4. I might also be open to buying the Voigtlander 23mm, but I'm not sure if it's worth it
Great review Christopher I have two lenses you reviewed I just bought a TTartisans 23mm 1.4 lens = to 35mm manual lens I'm looking forward to getting it in the post soon I enjoy your reviews God bless from Tony.......
Christopher: If you bought a fuji camera to save money on camera lenses then I'll tell you right now, you made a serios error on judgement. Me Laughs on Sony. 😂😄😀🙂😐😕😢😭
Interesting point that the 18 mm f:2,0 does not offer the most exciting focal length in the world. I could not agree more and with that in mind I am a bit baffled by the reviews of the new 18 mm, f:1,4. I know it is a great lens.
KamLan announced a new lens, the 32mm f1.1. It is priced the same as the 50mm f1.1 Mark II. I tried it during a camera show event earlier this week in Taiwan (where KamLan is found). It handles really nice and has very nice build quality. And the rings are smooth as well. However, I wasn't able to test out the image quality. I also chatted with the founder of KamLan. He said he's interested in allowing reviewers review their products. Maybe give them another chance for the 32mm f1.1? I certainly would love to see your take on that lens.
Hi Chris, your style of testing lenses and cameras are great, I am watching your videos from 2015. I have a small request, whenever you test 70-200 f2.8 Nikon,Sony,Sigma,tamron lenses test the focus breathing are they real 200mm are less than 200mm at 1.9m to 3.8m distance . All manufacturers hide this information. (We pay for 200mm f2.8 ) Thanks
3:26 Did you maybe accidentally swap the f2.8-4 and f2.8 versions of the lens? The latter is expensive but the format - referred to as kit lens - is only about 250-300€.
I read that Fuji îs opening up the software for 3rd party lens manufacturers such as Sigma and Tamron as soon as the beginning of next year. Tamron glass is just viltrox with a double price almost. I own the x-t4 and even though I love Fuji’s lenses, I wouldn’t mind buying Sigma or Viltrox with official software:). I love how light the system is:)...I switched from Nikon.
I own the Samyang 50mm 1.2. Wonderful lens, razorsharp, but I just can't deal with the manual focus. Gave it a try, but I need the AF for my type of photography: (business) events.
Great choice of lenses. Bit surprised about 7Artisans 35/1.2 making it on the list after I've seen your review. With regards to Zonlai 22, I was unlucky, as both of my copies were a bit decentered. However, I am extremely happy with Kamlan 21/1.8, which I find sharper than their 28/1.4.
hi there.. really like your reviews ;) I do a question, you probably hear a lot but yea;) in terms if optical performance. which 23 and/or 35mm lenses (fuji or third party, manual or autofocus) are the best for the fuji x system. btw: Im using the xpro1 and shoot pretty much everything, but mainly landscape, travel and portraits and always in a „art“ way…thank you very much ;) mainly think about xf 23 1.4 35 1.4 mitakon 35 0.95 etc
Thanks Christopher I am considering 35mm 1.4 prime lens for indoor and portrait for my Fujifilm XT20 camera. Great and extremely thorough review. I am now subscribing to your channel.
I'm looking for a good vlog lens. One that can handle being outdoors and has an aperture of F2 or more. I do love the 16-80 kit lens I got with my xt4, but I want a good prime lens that I can use solely for my face whether I'm outside or inside. I'm not the biggest fan of the fisheye lenses and I was looking for something in the 15-25mm range. I was looking at Fuji's official primes but the 18mm isn't weather resistant, sadly. I wouldn't mind manually focusing because I'd either be stationary or walking with the camera in a baby monopod. Thoughts?
Have you tried the Bower 16mm f2 ED AS UMC ? ON fUJIFILM ? I have seen your review of the Samyang 16mm on the Cannon 70D and I think its probably the same lens apart from the mounts. I picked mine up used on E bay dirt cheap and I love it
Zonlai 35/1.6 is the most “moody” lens i’ve ever used which is not expensive too, and ttartisian just release a new 50/1.2 which costs less than 500 RMB (around 75 dollars?) ,that may be a good choice too.
Fujifilm was clever from the beginning and knew that couldn't compete in the full frame market. So Fujifilm in 2012 started to invest heavily in APS-C cameras with special sensors and great lenses. Sony started strong in 2010 with APS-C mirrorless cameras and lenses but after the immense success of a7 series in 2013, Sony neglected the APS-C. Canon and Nikon were never very serious with the variety and quality of APS-C lenses for dSLR or mirrorless cameras and Pentax is a lost case. So Fujifilm is without doubt the king of APS-C cameras and lenses. Fujifilm has entered the medium format market too but this is a niche market of very expensive cameras and lenses for real professionals or very rich amateurs.
To be fair to Canon, they have some very solid, affordable options for APS-C (that thankfully work with an adapter on Fuji) as far as lenses go. the real problem with Canon is their lackluster camera bodies.
I wish that the Viltrox lenses were available here in India. All we get is the 7artisans and a couple of Meike options right now. The Fuji xc35 is a must buy for anyone with a Fuji body unless they want to pony up for the XF or XR versions.
I hope that stuff hanging down from the church ceiling at 15:19 ish isn't part of the theme park crap that has been passing for PC sacred spaces I have heard about going on over in England with playground equipment and all such other sick nonsense. I for one am sick to death of the trivializing of God and His sacred spaces.
7artisans just released a 35mm f0. 95 for Sony APSC camera and I heard its much better than the 1.2 version. I wonder if they will make a version for every mirrorless mount.
When shooting manual switch to black and white jpg and use red focus peaking. Quick to nail focus with a red outline. If you have the RAF it will be color of course.
