Leave a comment if you own this lens and let everyone know your experience! Currently we are in quarantine/isolation if you're seeing this in the future. Would've loved to get you guys some more image samples. Stay safe.
Hi there, I do own this lens and it's honestly a great all-rounder if you're willing to sacrifice that BOKEH on the F4 specification of this particular lens, what you said about most lenses being sharp enough has never been more true a lot of people exclude certain lenses due to it not being the sharpest lens out there, according to some reviewer, and that's just unfortunate because there's a lot of great lenses out there where you would never even realize the difference in Sharpness... Realistically that is. This lens specifically is supposed to have a smart OIS (Optical Image Stabilization) so the tripod shouldn't be an issue, I have tested this in the past and it does seem to work as advertised the lens realizes when it's on a tripod and turns off the OIS. Thanks for the Review and i love your channel :)
@@quikee9195 its terrible at the edges and the wide end is shockingly distorted. I couldnt believe how bad it was. The first really bad fuji lens i have owned.
@@doptimist it's relatively bad at 70mm-80mm in the corners sure, 16mm is definitely not terrible - about the same as 18-55 at 18mm. Stopped down and it gets near 16-55 at 16mm stopped down. Distortion at 16mm is about the same as 16-55 and it is just a fact for zooms (even the great Nikon Z zooms, 24-120 f4, 24-70 f4 for example, have quite wild distortion at wide end) - I don't really care about it as they get corrected. I had all the tree lenses at different points in time - I sold the 16-80 because I didn't use it, because I just took 16-55 instead every time I needed a zoom. Now it's a very similar situation with Sigma 18-50 and XF 16-55.
I hike A LOT. I take photo+video. I chose the Fuji X-T3 and 16-80mm kit to be my companion. The setup is weather resistant, has optical image stabilization and offers a lot of flexibility for the weight (which despite being a small camera, this is not an ultralight setup). I’ve been thrilled with the results and have zero regrets. Also, a note about OIS, the X-T3 will turn it off if it detects that the camera is on a tripod.
Who is this lens for? For everybody who owns a Fuji camera. The ois is from another world, 1 sec at 80 mm and still sharp. And I love a zoom lens so much. I also have a very old 50mm F1.2, great for portrets. I nearly never use it. Great lens, but yes, sometimes I want a little wider or more tele. For me the Fujifilm 16-80mm is the best lens Fuji ever made. I love this zoom.
I bought this lens to replace the 16-55. I also had the 50-140 and found I never used it. I wanted to see if the extra zoom on the 16-80 scratched the itch that I thought having a longer zoom (that I never used) would scratch. Absolutely. I also purchased the 10-24. I am not a professional photographer, I'm just a guy who likes to take photos. I found having those two lenses is really good for me. The two lenses are within a fraction of an inch the same length, which makes using a camera bag really easy. Sounds silly maybe but I like it. I think the separation at f/4 is really good (the outgoing lenses were f/2.8 at the widest aperture). One thing I have really noticed is that colors seem more vivid. A lot of review of the 16-80 go through all the apertures and zoom range and pixel peep to death. I loved Omar's thought -- if people are noticing lack of sharpness in the corners, what's going on in the middle must not be that great. I feel I made an excellent decision to buy the 10-24 and 16-80. I started out with primes and just never used them. I guess I'm a zoom lens kinda guy. BTW, I also just upgraded to the X-T5 with its 40 megapixel sensor. I was surprised at how little difference 40 is vs. 26 on the X-T3. But now with the extra pixels, I can crop an 80mm photo a lot more and that scratches the extra zoom itch I theoretically lost by selling the 50-140. That lens is a beast and was a tight fit in my camera bag. Oh yeah, the 16-80 is surprisingly light and I find that makes a difference walking around.
If someone is undecided and they were buying a new X-T30 and choosing between the 16-80 as an add on purchase and a 18-55 as a kit lens I would recommend the 18-55 if you didn't have a use case to leads you to the 16-80. I have both lenses. The 16-80 is a fine lens but the 18-55 is also quite good and would be a better value when included as a kit lens. If you are used to using smaller lenses the 16-80 will feel bulky on the smaller cameras. However it's a perfect fit for my X-H1. If I had to choose between the 18-55 and the 16-80 with both at full price (or both are kit options) I would factor in budget, use cases, primary body, and zoom range vs minimum aperture. The 16-80 is at its best outside from dawn to dusk. The extra stop on the wide end will give the 18-55 the advantage indoors and in low light if you don't need the length.
The 16-80 on my xt3 is the perfect package. I find it amazing for video and stills. But it does shine at 16mm, especially for video. With this kit, I find that I'm not missing anything that my full frame Nikon d600 offered.
Hey Omar, I bought this lens with the X-S10 Fuji camera as a travel photo kit. I think the lens is in my opinion too big and heavy for an 16-80 f4 lens, compared to the Zeiss 16-70 F4 for Sony that I just to have. An point that I did not see mentioned anywhere, was that because the lens is so big, it almost leaves no room for your fingers on the X-S10 witch has an extended grip. My finger was constantly wedged between the aperture ring of the 16-80 lens and the grip of the S-X10. I don't think I have massive hands, but after a few hours shooting, my middle finger became too sensitive to hold the camera.
Hola señor Omar, I got this lens a couple of months ago and it’s great for stills (I don’t shoot video), I have used it on a tripod many times and never had a problem because the image stabilization was on, I called Fuji tech support and they advised me that the lens “knows” (LOL) that it’s on a steady surface and it turns itself off.
I've had mine for almost two weeks now and I absolutely love it. I have all of the fujicrons, the 16 f1.4, the 55-200, the 50-140, and I just picked up a 27 pancake used based upon your recommendations (love it so far - I've glued it on my xt100 for something to keep with me all the time). I've hardly taken the 16-80 off since I got it. I also have the battery grip on my xt3 and it makes for a nice package. Just let my 18-55 go and will probably let a couple of others go since picking this up. Couldn't agree more on the landscape comments. As far as the IS goes, I get great photos at 1/15 sec and my hands aren't the steadiest. Really good on video as well. You can turn off the IS in camera, btw.
I bought this lens because I loved my 24-105L when I was on canon FF. This lens is very similar. To me, this lens advantages are enough to win me over the 16-55 which is a tad better IQ wise, but much more weight, size, expensive...and for "only" 1 stop (f/2.8). If F/4 is not enough...F2.8 won't be much better actually. So I prefer to have a F4 zoom with large range and F/2 or F/1.4 primes when you need wide aperture. Difference between F/4 and F/2 or F/1.4 is really night & day.
It's the perfect wedding lens. Especially if you like using primes for all your other lenses. Even if the 16-55mm was the same cost I would choose this lens. Image stabiliser and extra zoom is a winner.
Thanks, Omar! I haven't gotten this yet, because of all the bashing and negative comments. However, I'm going to purchase this lens today. I appreciate your logic!
I have the XT3 kit w 16-80 coming Monday. Very excited. Got it primarily for a light weight one lens street, travel and family camera as I have a Nikon Z FF set for landscape. Debated between this and the 18-55mm as 2.8 was attractive for the evening shots, but having eq of 120mm when I need it pushed me over the top. Thanks for the review and the honest assessment of just about all lenses out there except for the very pricey fast primes.
I love this lens for documentary/event photography! I find the OIS quite effective (for my needs) in low light. Thanks for sharing this video--love the content!
Hooray! Finally, a photographer nailing the message home about sharpness! People go on and on and on about how sharp a lens or a picture is. Get over it. Embrace your non sharp images. If it's a good non sharp image, it's still a good image! Great message Omar, cheers mate!
Nice video! I own the lens and I have to admit I have mixed feelings about it. Sometimes I like the image quality, sometimes I wish it would be better. But in my case it doesn’t matter too much. Most of my private stuff and my travel work I shoot with the 35mm F1.4 or the 18mm F2. The 16-80 for me is some kind of a backup lens in case I need weather sealing, OIS or more reach or if there is an issue with my two primes. And in this role the lens is close to perfect.
I have and really like this lens. Regarding the OIS of the 16-80, Fuji says "the lens recognizes shooting conditions, such as panning and shooting on a tripod, and automatically applies the optimum stabilization control". Smart lens!!
Thanks for another great video, Omar. This lens knows to switch itself off when it's on a tripod. No need to worry about it. I think it's great if it works well as I won't forget to either turn it ON or OFF as appropriate!
But how big is it compared to a tomato? Thanks for this one Omar. This lens is supposed to sense when the camera is mounted to a tripod and turn off OIS automatically.
I use it for vlogging from the studio. I find it awesome on the tripod when I am talking / doing gear reviews. It isn’t bad for daylight street photography either.
Great videos. I’ve never been a fan of focusing on sharpness when considering lenses to buy. I really realized what makes a great lens when I purchase my canon 70-200f4 IS lens. The colors, contrast were just amazing - the photos have a magical quality about them which made me want to shoot with it. I switched to fuji ( still have and use the canon) 2-1/2 years ago to get something lighter and bought the xt20 just like you. I also bought the 35mm f1.4, the 18-135, and the 10-24f4. I sold the 18-135 because it was noticably softer than the 18-55, heavier and Sloooow. Of the fuji lenses I own, only the 35mm f 1,4 has amazing rendition. The others are good lenses but don’t even come close to the rendering of the canon 70-200 ( I have a rebel t2i). Fuji overcharges for what they provide imo. I’ve been eying this new fuji 16-80 lens for its versatility - its the perfect zoom. But how does it render? What is the micro contrast, what’s the feeling yiu get when you see photos shot with this lens. That’s what I want to know. If no better the. , I’ll just keep my 18-55 and 10-24
As always your post is so informative ! Own a S10. Over time ( since 1971) I have gravitated to the smaller cameras. The Fujifilm XF S10 with IBIS, and a nice grip and obviously mirrorless format is what I recently purchased. I now have two cameras…the Sony RX100Vii and the Fujifilm XS10. I am not a professional so I shoot for the creatively of photography and document travel. At present I have one prime lens…23mm/f2. But now I will be traveling to Switzerland again and require something more. and would benefit from a zoom. Of course price is always a factor but if I purchase just one lens it would most likely be this 16-80mm/ f4. I a not looking for small detail in the distance and will create compositions with the 16-80… this should deliver enough focal length for landscapes in Switzerland and flexibility for a good walk around lens in the villages and cities.😢
Favorite lens was the Canon 24-70 2.8 for weddings but since moved to Fuji the kit lens was my go to, i sell a lot of photos to guests at the same day, every time i do a photo of bride and groom with guests i do a closed portrait of every guest and its sold 75% of times. With the Canon 24-70 and now with the Fuji 18-55 i have to move a few steps forward and then backwards, so been flirting this lens since it came out and it will be my next purchase.
It definitely handles better with a grip on the X-T20(I have a Fotasy grip on mine). I primarily bought the 16-80 as a 'knock around' lens for the X-T20 but found myself packing it on corporate headshot jobs as a spare. It will match my 56mm for focal length, comes close to my 90mm and since I'm at f5.6-f8 most times, the max f4 aperture is fine. On my battery gripped workhorse X-T2's the size isn't an issue at all.
Hi Omar, love your videos. A bit off topic but I would like if you did a more in depth video about the photo book you did, it looked great and is something I’m interested in doing, that slideshow on your screen reminded me of it. Keep up the good work and stay safe. 👍🏻
My understanding is the lens knows when to turn off image stabilization. Don't know how... Feels like lens and camera are getting smarter than the operator 😄. Thanks again for another great vid
Yes, it’s true. The lens is designed smart enough to know when to turn on and off the OIS. When put in a tripod, the lens’ OIS will automatically be turned off. Awesome tho for fujifilm to put that smart lens design, in lieu of simplicity for getting rid of the physical OIS switch.
I'm not him,but that's really going to depend on what you shoot more. I would say if you plan on shooting indoor a lot, you're gonna want that wider aperture of the 18-55. If you're gonna be outside more, the extra reach is what you probably want, but you lose the ability to shoot in lower light as well.
Thanks Omar. I own this lens; had it a few months now. I found myself using it just as you describe: it's both a great carry round lens for my X-T2 and for landscapes. The inbuilt stabilisation is terrific; I can get sharp pictures at quite slow shutter speeds handheld. Even in these days of confinement I'm using it for more kinds of stuff in and around the house and garden. Stay safe.
The lack of a OIS on off switch is the one thing that’s stopping me getting this lens, I just don’t trust the auto off thingy. Just put a switch on it. That said I always forget to turn it back on so maybe this is the lens for me🙄🙄🙄🙄
I'm only discovering your channel just now. Great content, coming from someone who's not even a Fuji user. Great shot of a Seiko sarb035 btw, I think I saw you wearing a sarb033 in another video too but I wasn't sure. Seems like you got a great watch collection.
Apparently the OIS auto turns off on a tripod, just ordered it, so I will see, putting on my XS20, Main use is filming trains but still photography as well.
Hi Omar, nice video, I love my 16-80 mm, plus, is weather resistant so is one more good point for landscape. About the IS, it have a weird mode that the camera knowss when it have to be ON or OFF :D
I have one and it's as good as you say (thanks for another fun, informative video). I have found though that the DoF is narrower than I'm expecting - it's easy to overestimate the DoF unless you're careful. I have found that because sometimes I've been careless. Other than that personal shortcoming it has worked very nicely for me and I'm keeping it for continued use on my luvverly X-T30 :-)
Hello Omar nice Video like always! I only shoot with Primelenses and i want a Zoomlense for the future would you still prefer the 16-80 over the 18-55mm?
I'm not as knowledgeable as Omar, but I much prefer the 16-80, can't really say why other than it's just got the Special Sauce that the 18-55 seems to lack. And I find those extra 2MM on the wide end really come in handy for landscape/architecture.
Hi Omar, thanks for this lens review. If I may suggest a video topic, I would like you to walk us through the basic process of editing of a photo for people like me who don’t have a printer and must use a printing service. Thanks!
spot on with your comments about lens sharpness in the opening of the video, also about the corner sharpness. There is no such thing as a perfect lens and often any blurring is due to some other factor. Good point about noticing the corner sharpness instead of the actual picture. Good review Jerry
I think this lens would be good for the line of work I do. With the exception of weddings, I always shoot at F4-5.6 for my portrait or fashion work. If I didn’t shoot weddings and just did my modeling work, I’d probably get this lens, but my 16-55 now is a dream
Looks like a great lens, not sure I could find a need for it as long as I had the 18-55 and given the price, it would be hard to chose it over the kit lens if buying either separately..... But definitely a bit more practical if price wasn't a factor.
Hi Omar, thanks for the video. Regarding definition betwen 18-55 and 16-80, wich do you thing is better? I have the 18-55 to travel and I thinking to buy this 16-80, but I want not to lose definition. Greetings from Argentina.
Tnx so much for this video, i just bought a XT4 and i was looking for a lens to use for landscape and vlogging :) This is perfect, may i ask if you have any suggestions for a portrait lens? tnx new subscriber here :)
Dude do you want to compare fujifilm XT20 and XT30 in different film simulation sometimes? Or do you prefer me to upgrade my XT20 to XT30 for more dynamic range? Its really huge steps for DR?
