I have both and like them very much. I tend to gravitate towards the 23 just because I like the wider view for my style of photography but I do think the 35 produces a slightly better image overall. Their compact size makes them a joy to carry everywhere.
I have the 23mm f2 lens and love it to bits. I tend to prefer 35mm full frame equivalent which of course the 23mm lens gives, and there is something really special about the character of its output.
Thanks so much for watching, Andrew! Yeah, I do really like having that lens. I was shooting in the studio with it recently & am stoked by the images it can produce.
I have owned three copies of the 23mm, and one of them was returned as it was mis-aligned and very soft in one corner. So quality control may be an issue for Fujifilm. I have owned two copies of the 35mm and both were stellar.
Hi Zach, just stumbled upon your channel and I have to say that I really like how you approach your content creation. Although focussed on fujifilm and canon you manage to give an honest impression of the products. Keep it up 👍
I have only recently purchased both these lenses to go with my XF16mm, & 27mm. I will be going on a weeks break at home in the UK shortly and I hope to give it all a good test. Great video
I had the 35mm F2 and loved it but as my preference is street, I tried the 23mm F2 and boy do I love it! Yes open wide there is a soft haze which is a shame unlike the 35 which is great (Omar Gonzalez has done a video on this), but I suspect the 23mm has moved in as the regular 😊
Very helpful! Think you just got me to decide on the 35 f2 after weeks of debating :) Thanks. I didn't know the f1.4 ones are older and apparently not as well made as the f2s
@Zach Mendez I do have the sharpness issue at f2 and the same blue chip in the flare, I have it on my XT5 there is so many good reviews about fuji and this combo really made me second guess. Also some time at f8 cant lock focus on the distance like city staff. I will return this and try the 35mm anyways always find myself croping my images. Thanks for the review
Just got the XT20 body and was thinking which lens to get. Thank you for the video, will definitely get the 35mm f2. Was shooting with Nikon and this is my first fuji system.
Nice video Zach! I was planning on going with the xf35mm 1.4 and the xf50 f2 for Christams but you've made my decision much harder lol. I quite like the shots with the 35mm f2 on your Instagram.
Thanks for watching! Sorry to complicate your decision lol! I haven't used the 35 1.4, but have heard lots of great things about it. I do love the f/2 version though. Also great choice with the 50 f/2 - that is a fantastic little lens!
I sold my f2 for the f1.4 and haven't regretted it. The magic everyone talks about with this lens is true, and its plenty fast on x-pro2/X-T2 vintage Fujis
I might be lucky with my copy of the lens but I really can´t tell a difference between the X100V and the 23mm f2.0 on the X -S10 in terms of sharpness and contrast (I owned the X100V and now the X-S10). Great Channel Zach, you gave me so much inspiration!
This is exactly what I've been looking for. I've been wanting a wide lens specifically for vlogging. I have the 16-80mm and 50-140mm for everything else. The 16-80 gets heavy over time with vlogging so I'm trying to see if there's a lighter option that is weather sealed. These two lenses have been popping up for me. Maybe I'll get the 23mm first? But the 35mm is so versatile! So hard to choose! Someday I'll definitely have both
Yes it is hard to choose! If you are looking for something wider, I would definitely go with the 23! It is super light and it's much easier to use for longer periods of time. Thanks so much for watching & for the comment! Cheers :)
I have 50-140 too, and I love it so much! But now I’m struggling what focal lens should I get? 23 or 35, I love portraits in the streets.. Well, did you get one of these primes?:) which one?:) or may be both of them?:) could you tell about your experience?:)
It's a fairly common complaint that the 23 is soft at f2. In the christopher Frost review it doesn't look so bad. I have the lens and it never struck me as super soft, but it definitely not the sharpest I've used.
Yeah- for some reason it just isn’t as sharp as I remember it when I owned it the first time around. I didn’t have any issues before. Oh well, still a great lens. Thanks for watching!
@@TheZachMendez I had the same issue with the 23mm f2. It's not great at f2 but only with subjects close up. Did you try shooting f2 with subjects in the distance? I actually sold it and bought the f1.4 instead in the end. It's not super sharp wide open either but by f2 - f2.8 it's much sharper than the f2 version (though a bit heavier and slower to focus). In my experience the 50mm f2 is the sharpest in the f2 range and one of Fuji's best lenses.
@@anthonystonehouse Thanks for sharing your experience! I'm glad it's not just me...lol. I still feel like my first copy was better though because there was much more consistency in image quality. Also, you're totally right about the 50 f/2. I love that little lens!
My first copy of the 35mm f/2.0 wasn't just not sharp, it actually didn't hold focus. I sent it back to Fuji and they will ask if you want to replace it with a refurbished lens, or wait until they Can fix the one you sent them. I picked send me a refurbished lens and it is the sharpest lens that I own. I was told that these lens have to pass several bench test before they can be returned or replaced. So if you have one that is under warranty contact Fuji and they will fix or replace for free. In my case I waited to long to get it done for free, but still it was worth paying to have a really sharp lens
I wonder whether the 23 flares a little bit more because it is a slightly wider focal length often with wider lenses you do get a bit more flaring with light going into them so if you think about it because it’s wider while it doesn’t access more light there is more types of light hitting the element because of the wider focal length and when you get wider there is light from all different angles coming in which generally means that you will get more weird like going into the lens. I am a landscape photographer and I have several wired lenses and I have to be conscious of where the light is coming from
Unfortunatly I didn't use the 23mm enough to confirm or refute your findings. The 35mm/f2.0 is my "always-on" lens on the X-Pro3 as I also like the 50mm-look a lot. And if I'm going to shoot in a city and don't need to have as light and small an equipment as possible I usually grab the 10-24mm/f4. Thank you for the review - it's refreshing not to hear technical details but how you feel about the gear you use. Much appreciated. One little critique: please fix the horizon in the image at 1:56 so all that water won't flow onto my desk (I always have the electronic level visible as I also tend to swivel the camera a bit to the right).
Lol the water flowing onto your desk! Haha good point - will fix. That one was a JPEG straight out of camera so I hadn't touched it. Yes, the 35 mm is on my X-Pro3 most of the time. Thank you for watching & for the comments!
I saw someone on a different channel that said the later fuji sensors with more pixels were prone to a bit of purple hue in backlit situations. Maybe that particular lens on that particular sensor is more likely to have colorful flare.
Ahhh so interesting! Okay, thanks for the insight. I don't notice it all of the time, but sometimes it's very present & distracting. Thanks so much for watching!
Big question since u have both , for my gimbal to do video only not photos which one u recommend? 23mm or 35mm which one stay more in focus ? Thanks in advance Daniel.
I have a week only using the Fuji 23 mm and the Rokinon 12mm . I got a few more sharped images with the Rokinon but is a manual lense and the light have to be perfectly exposed to get a good image.
Yeah, I haven't tried the Rokinon lenses, but I would love to! I hope that Fujifilm makes a mk ii version of the 23 at some point. Thanks so much for watching!
I previously bought the 35mm f1.4 and was going to order the 16mm f1.4 however, I ended up with both of these f2 lenses in the video and think they are wonderful. 23mm and 35mm is really all most people need for anything, both classic focal lengths. The 50mm f2 is too close to 35mm for me and a weird focal length. My copies are so sharp and contrasty, are more than good enough in the hands of a good photographer. To me, the images I am getting out of these lenses far out-weigh the cost and size.
Hey man I just came across this video while looking for reviews of the 35mm f2, but I was also looking at the 23mm f2. I like to shoot a little bit of landscape as well but I am very new to photography altogether and I’m wondering what you would think is a good lense between these two for someone who is just staring photography and wants to be able to get a little of everything as it were, but also get a lense that will teach me a bit. What you think? Thanks and keep it up, your Chanel is awesome, really like you photos. Oh I have an x-t3. Don’t know if that changes anything
Hi, Joden! Thanks for watching & for the comment. It's a good question & a difficult one for me to answer! I think it depends on what you prefer. I started with the 50mm on full frame (35mm APS-C) - I love that focal length because I think it is good for portraits, but it is also wide enough to capture some of the "scene" too. It's definitely my preffered, but I do think that either the 35mm (23mm APS-C) or 50mm (35mm APS-C) focal lengths are good for beginners. Hope this helps! :)
hi i have fuji 15-55mm lens i am using xt4. I want to buy a prime lens. I'm undecided between 23mm f2 or 35mm f2. I can shoot youtube videos, promotional videos, product shots. which one do you think?
hey, thanks so much for this video! I just got the X-Pro3 and I'm unsure whether the 23mm f2 is within the framelines of the OVF, or is it just outside the boundary? either way, do you feel the OVF works ok for that lens? thanks!
Would you suggest I pick these up if I'm planning to get the new 23 F 1.4 and 33 F1.4 announced today? I like their smaller size for street photography, but am wondering if they'll sit in the bag once the new ones arrive?
Personally I would wait for the new lenses. I think there are a lot of benefits with the newer versions if you are OK with the extra expense and size. Thanks for watching!
Was your older copy made in Japan? Newer copies are made in the Philippines, that may have something to do with it. The 23mm f2 is a better lens than the x100f equivalent and comparable to the x100v That may help you to unravel the 23 mystery.
the problem with the 23 is the lack of contrast too at f2. Mine was sharp, but had some kind of veiling at f2. I didn't like the bokeh neither, quite nervous and distracting. and it's strange, the 23 f1.4 gives more separation at f2.
For my 35mm film cameras, I had 50mm and 35mm focal length lenses. However, I preferred using the 50mm for thea tre and I preferred using the 35mm for everything else. When I purchased my Fuji mirrorless, my first lens purchased was a 23mm. I later purchased a 16-55 mm zoom which satisfies my need for 35mm focal length.
For me it was a pragmatic issue. I shoot 35mm on full frame all the time. so when it came time to get the x-t20, I went with a 23mm simply due to the fact that it was the equivalent to what I'd already been using.
Hi, Colin! Not a stupid question at all, but I'm not sure if I can answer it well since I haven't used the xc 15-45. I do love these lenses for their solid build construction, weather sealing, and F/2 aperture. If any of those are features that will benefit you, you will probably enjoy these lenses. They are really great optically. Thanks so much for watching & for the comment! 😊
Hello Colin, I have the 15-45mm and you won't notice any difference in sharpness or image quality. The primes are faster (and have more bokeh indeed), and to me they are more pleasing to use because they have aperture ring and the front manual focus ring is smooth (not electrical with steps like on the 15-45). The 15-45 is wider, stabilized... I like the 23-35mm for everyday life, streetphotography and portrait. I like the 15-45 for landscape (man this lens is so wide!), vlog and handheld videos.
My first copy was better. It was the same lens, but I think one copy was made in Japan and the other in the Philippines. I noticed a difference in quality when I bought the lens for a second time unfortunately, and I think it has to do with the change in manufacturing.
@@TheZachMendez thanks for your info, i thought about that too, some reviews praise this lens, others not, like having variation from one batch to another, hope i can get a good one.
A fellow Mendez! lol... I agree 100% with your assessment of both lenses! I own these and the 16-80mm kit lens and I just LOVE them! I've noticed the same issues with the 23mm F2 - apparently flare and softness is pretty common along with that odd vignetting at lower f stops. f2.8-4 seem to hit a sweet spot in terms of improving sharpness and reducing vignetting. Still, while some consider it a flaw, I actually kind of like it, adds some character. The 35mm f2 is just my absolute favorite though. I keep going back to it over and over for almost everything. There is definitely something special in the images from the 35, whether its the framing or the subject separation, there's just something about it that is really nice and I find myself liking photos taken with that lens more often than not.
Hi! I'm thinking of getting a fuji camera and I don't know much about photography. But I'm curious how'd you get that 'grainy' effect on your pictures? Especially on portraits it looks beautiful like an old film. Like the ones at 4:11 - 4:22 - 4:34 Is it a filter directly from camera or do you edit them later?
Hi! Thank you for watching! I actually made a video about how I create film grain in digital images. Take a look: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-DQwb7AZUhas.html
I am big fan of primes and i got my fuji XT3 and 35mm f2. Recently i also got 50mm f2 for portraits.I am wondering if I should sell my 35mm and get a 23mm as i want a wider lens OR wait and get a 18-55mm which is very decent Lens. So confused.
Thanks so much for watching!! I think it really depends on you and your needs. Hard for me to say. I think you have a lot of good options there. Just depends on what you will get the most value out of for your own work, etc. Thanks again & hope this helps! :)
I recommend that you try the Viltrox AF 23mm f/1.4 XF Lens, it is a little bigger and heavier, but it is very affordable and the imagine quality is very good. Also, I am very happy with my Viltrox AF 56mm f/1.4 XF Lens. You really should try them out, you will like them.
It´s interesting you like the X100V´s lens so much more compared to the 23mm prime. It really makes me think that your specific 23mm copy is a bad copy, as there is plenty or reviews and articles clearly demonstrating that the 23mm prime and the 100V´s lens are very very hard to tell apart in terms of image quality...
When I started I used a 50mm and 24mm (full frame equivalent). That was a great combo for me for a long time for portraiture, but it's really all up to your personal taste. I think anything in the range of 24-85 ff equivalent would be a good option for prime portrait lenses. Thanks for watching!
Hey, can you please tell us what lens did you use for shooting this video? I’ve bought an X-T4 and am thinking what to buy for hybrid use between: 23mm f2 and 18-55mm f2.8 , which one would you advise for stills and video? Thanks man
Hi there! This was shot on the EOS R6 with the Canon 24mm L II. I've never used the 18-55, so it's hard to say! I think it just depends on you and your preference for primes vs. zooms. Typically I prefer primes, and I think, for me, the 23 works better as a video lens than a photo lens on Fujifilm cameras, but I use it for both. Sorry I can't be more helpful. Thanks so much for watching & for the comment.
For video I recommend the 18-55, it's just that good. Amazing video focusing, it's great to rack focus and also for stills it's an amazing lens. Sharp throughout the whole range and very pleasing bokeh. The optical image stabilization is also one of the best I've seen. For hybrid use I really recommend it
@@leesangwook hey there BVD. i have an x-t1 with these lenses, because i adore the old fuji sensor colors against the newer models. The thing is i am not shooting video with my fuji. i am using sony full frame with zeiss lenses for video, but i`d pick the 35 f/2 all day every day for anything over the 23. Sorry, i couldn`t help you out. cheers
@@thickrebel6493 I also used Sony a6400 and recently purchased Fuji S10. I was looking for sth like 35.8 (Sony E mount) bcz It's super small, light + bright prime lens. I know Fuji cannot be like Sony but I believe Fuji color worths to trade off some benefit of a6400. 35 f2 and 23 f2 were on my list and thanks to you I come one step closer to 35 f2. Thanks for the recommendation.
@@leesangwook i find 2 major problems with the 23mm. 1. Flaring+heavy contrast loss against bright light 2. extremely poor close up quality at f2-f4. It makes halo and softness even in the middle of the frame. If you can live with these, then the lens is fine. Where the 23mm is great, i think, is street or casual landscape photography from f5.6 up to f11. i've tried to like this lens, but i just couldn't. So, my first prime guess for x mount is the 35mm. Great general lens, street, portraits, food you name it and it has a lovely bokeh. With a 11 or 16mm smart extension tube, you can make some sudo macro shots without the symptoms of the 23mm. All in all, Fuji has it's own magic, which can not described on paper with spec sheets. My primary street setup is an x-t1 with the 35 or the 27mm for years. Your new camera is awesome for sure and you'll love it with a fast prime. Wish you great times with your x-s10!
I started with the 35 f2 and it’s always super sharp even wide open, so like you I was surprised when I got the 23 f2 this month and noticed that it was softer at f2 than the 35... I’m glad I wasn’t the only one who ran into that issue. It’s too late for me to return, so I’m just getting used to shooting 2.8-4 with it
I know :( Apparently it has to do with where the lens is manufactured now. It was originally made in Japan, but now in the Philippines. I really miss my first copy - it was really an amazing lens! Thanks so much for watching! :)
@@TheZachMendez I wonder if all the Philippines copies have this issue. I'm pretty sure this lens has always had some softness close up at f2 though. I just ordered the 35mm f1.4. Might be worth selling your 23mm and ordering another one to see if it's any better. I will get the 16mm f1.4 next. I heard Fuji might be updating some of their f1.4 lenses such as the 23mm, as well as an 18mm f1.4. Wonder if they will be Japan made.
I bought the 35mm f 2 for my Xt 30 but I don’t know if I should think of the 23mm f 2 instead. I like to take pictures at my apartment/ indoor and don’t want to have a lens that is to wide or to tight. With the 35mm I don’t get a lot in the picture but I wonder if the 23mm will give me enough what I want in the image but still not to be to wide??
Hi! Thanks for watching! Yeah, I see where you are coming from. It really depends on what you need. The wider 23mm will definitely be easier to work with indoors & I think it's a nice focal length - not too wide. It also depends on what you are shooting. When I am shooting portraits in my studio setup in my apartment, I generally always use my Canon 50 mm (35 equivalent on APS-C) and it works fine because I don't usually need full-body shots. At the most, I can only really get 3/4 length shots comfortably with that lens in my space, but it's ok for me. The 23mm APS-C lens would definitely give more room to work with indoors. Hope this helps!
You should consider the Fuji 18 f2, a vastly underrated lens. I have nothing but praise for the 18f2; having used it extensively with XPro 1 and XPro2 bodies
I just recently got my hands on a XT-4 with the 16-80mm. It’s my first time using Fuji. My next lens was going to be the 90mm F2 but the price is a bit steep for me right now, so maybe one day. Lol. But I was looking into either the 35, 23 or 50mm f2 as my next choice. It’s so hard on which to go for though. I’m currently more of a travel/street photographer..but I would love to eventually branch out into Portraits. I guess what I currently want is something more versatile. So maybe the 35mm F2 might be the way to go. I just don’t know lol.
Yeah! Totally depends on your needs, but I do love the 35. (50ff equivalent) focal length! I think its really useful for a variety of situations. Thanks so much for watching! :)
I got the xt-4 6 months ago with the 35mm f2 and then I purchased the 16-55 f2. I love both lenses so far and I love shooting with the 35mm more. It’s so light and sharp and it does create some impressive bokeh as mentioned in the video. You can’t go wrong with it.
@@JoeHan268 Hi Joe! It has become my fav for travel with the xpro3. So light that I just focus on creating! And I'm trying a series of prints with this little one. Wish me luck and I'll keep you informed of the process 🙌🏻
Yeah, the 23mm does not produce sharp images. There are many shots I took where I know it should look good, but once I open it up on the computer, it looks alright.
@@myerwerl I agree with Snaan! The 35 F/2 is a perfect lens if you just want one versatile, relatively inexpensive lens to start with. I have a review of the 35 f/2 coming to the channel soon - one of my most used lenses on my X-Pro3.
I own the 23mm f2 a philippines model and on f2 it's tack sharp, that said I think it's important to realize, carefully focusing is really important for the area of focus for short distances are pretty narrow. When taking a portrait focussing on the nearest eyeball is key for taking a good (sharp) shot. From distances from 2 to 3 meters the area of focus is no problem anymore and sharpness either. Also one should realize that most people doing documentary or street photography mostly put the aperture somewhere between 5.6 and 11 so most of the scene is in focus.
All true! Except it's also true that certain lenses are sharper than others at the maximum aperture, and in my experience what I said is true of the 23 F/2 I own. But honestly, it doesn't really matter. There are much more important things than sharpness.Thanks for watching!
@@TheZachMendez I agree "sharpness is a bourgeois concept". And I follow your channel for your honest view on photography and the gear and the differences makes that interesting for me. 👍😀👍
@@TheZachMendez Thanks a lot Zach for your nice video and you great channel! Could you please help me, I'm wondering if I should buy the 35mm F2 for stills and facecam videos: 1. Is your 35mm F2 still prone to hunting while shooting videos in march 2021? In which conditions? 2. in particular: did you try to play with autofocus sensitivity and speed, as they play a major role in autofocus breathing? 3. Did you find a way to solve it? Maybe the last february 2021 firmware updates correct this? It helped many of my lenses autofocus... If it is not solved yet, I'm afraid that this hunting/focus breathing ruins my videos as I need continuous autofocus and face tracking (for RU-vid facecams and customers interviews). That's why I ask, it's very important to me ;) Thanks a lot Zach!
Use the 23 F2 for 6000+ images and theres absolutely nothing wrong with it….as long as the user doesnt stupidly compare a BMW 3 series base model with a AMG C-Class.
The copy prior to 2016 was made in Japan, and after that year the production was moved to Philippines. So newer production lenses was made in the Philippines. Maybe that's the reason why Q.C was a bit off.
Hi! Thanks for watching! I don't think so, the lens has a minimum focus distance of about 22 cm (I just looked that up) & in my experience it focuses fine up close. It's a bit soft wide & a bit soft close, not really much difference. Again, this copy is worse than my previous copy, so you might have a sharp copy, and if so, lucky you! My original copy was a fantastic lens. Cheers!
XF23mm f2 is not very sharp wide open, especially at close distance. That new 23mm in X100V is a totally different design and we all hope it will come as an update to this faulty one we all know. I think for now Viltrox 23mm f1.4 is a great affordable option, however not without its flaws.
Sorry but they are no where near the best lenses in Fuji lineup, most versatile for a prime for the price maybe, but compared to the big ones (56, 16 1.4, 80, 90, 23 1.4, 35 1.4 and 16-55 etc) they can’t compare.
Hi, Super review, spoilt.... by what..??? the cackle of background noise going on whilst you are talking... sorry to be a bore, but when wearing headphones etc... the last you want is your attention taken away by what sounds like your sister in the background... spoilt a really good review, ( wanting you to succeed not being super arsey as your voice is made for this sort of thing...) rgds Yoki..