Maannn, finally someone who’s not obsessed with bokeh and minimum focus distance! This lens is fantastic! The 2.8 wins 95% of the time. The 5% is low light and that extra 3cm MFD. I sold the XF 16mm 1.4 since!!!
Think it has nothing to do with bokeh or minimum distance but with image rendering.They are two different lenses and not even subject of compare .If you want small, sterile sharp, images and use for video work get 16 f2.8. If you want images with character (3D) ,maximum subject isolation, low light performance ,pseudo macro and you have cash to spend go for 16mm f1.4.
eagleeye photo keyword is „maximum subject isolation „. I usually don’t this shoot wide if I want „maximum subject isolation“. I have the 90mm and the 35mm 0,95 for that. „Sterile“ is also subjective as composition on wide angle trumps lazy background blur any day as seen in the photos here.
"Lazy" is subjective. Both composition and background blur are tools at our disposal. Composition doesn't necessarily trump background blur -- they're both different tools for us to use.
Mark Hantla I stand corrected although my response was befitting to the other comment. “ Lazy” is my personal opinion because that’s what I do if I can’t be bothered with composition. Regardless, you are right. Both are tools for us to use.
As an almost backpacker travel photographer for whom every ounce counts, this cute lens proved to be a perfect fit for my X-T30. It's compact and lightweight, but delivers an impressive image quality. I just love it.
Just got the 16mm f/2.8 and took on a live concert job. I ended up keeping my 18-55mm zoom in my vest and kept the 16mm on my second body. Wow!!! It worked great in low light and is sharp! I love the star ray effect that you get shooting directly into stage lighting! It’s a keeper for me!!
Random observation from several of your videos. You’re parents look super happy together. Great for them. They obviously found the right person in each other. Beautiful to see two people so happy together.
Make no mistake about it, that was no mistake! Fuji knew what they were doing! I really wanted the 16 1.4 but couldn’t afford it so I bought the 2.8 instead. So glad I did. This lens is a sleeper and little by little it’s rep will follow. A must have especially travel.
I got my 2.8 this week and I love it already. It's perfect for me and how/what I shoot. Everyone wants to compare it to the 1.4 which is natural since they are both 16mm, but they are different tools. They each have their pros and cons obviously, the for the money the 2.8 is great for me. Glad you were given this wonderful surprise and shared it with us.
@@twocupsstudio No. The email in the video was just a joke. Haha. By philosophy of use, I mean how I like to shoot and what I'm looking for in gear. I want small and light even if that means sacrificing things like a bigger sensor or wider aperture in some cases.
@@KentuckyMan30 hmm means everyday walking lens.. lightweight. for special purpose shoot or in some cases only one may need extra glass and extra stop. Just now I have got first fuji camera in form of X-E4 with 28mm and thought to give 16mm 2.8 a try and decided whether to get it or not and so was looking for videos on 16mm. Thanks for your content. It helps
As a Micro Four Thirds shooter who loves the 24mm focal lenght, this lens ticks all of the boxes for my recently acquired X-Pro1. Is weather sealed, focus is fast, is portable, great optics, reasonable fast aperture. Just the kind of lens I'm interested in, even if the X-Pro1 is not weather sealed and is slower than newer bodies. Definitely a winner here!
The size, weight, design and convince are also reasons for why I love using the Olympus 12mm f/2 on my Olympus OMD E-M5ii. Sometimes there are other things than super shallow depth of field that matters.
What a great surprise! Thanks for bringing this lens to more attention... I've debating another prime, might have to give this a harder look! Love the photos of your fam at the beach - so much joy.
Having recently bought the xe4 could you share some tips about your settings? I’m particularly interested in landscape and general photography. Thanks in advance.
Wow, muchas gracias, sinceramente esta es la reseña perfecta que buscaba, siempre se habla de calidad en un sentido muy tecnico y cuando se trata de este lente usan fotografías de edificios y cosas por el estilo, pero yo justamente estaba buscando qué tal se comporta para DOCUMENTAR la vida, retratos y momentos con amigos o familia y es justo lo que tú hiciste. Muchas gracias y gran reseña! Ahora definitivamente es momento de comprarlo.
Great photos! Yes, I think a side by side comparison with the f1.4 would be a great video. Like you I kinda frown at the f2.8, but I don't want to carry around the f1.4 if I don't have to. Thanks
I got this little lens for vacation last year when it first came out and it is paired with my 35 f2 now. I have other lenses for the fuji but they have been shelved for a while.
I bought one of these to try out the 16mm focal length on crop sensor. I ended up really liking it so I was going to buy a 16mm 1.4 but I had other lenses I wanted to pull the trigger on. By the time I got around to thinking about buying the 1.4 I rented one instead. I then went back and looked at my images from the 2.8 and 1.4 and decided the 1.4 wasn't worth it. My copy of the 2.8 provides fantastically sharp images with only a little softness at 2.8. Stopped down to 5.6 for shooting in bright light, it's every bit as good as the 1.4 IMHO. If you want shallow depth of field, get right up close to your subject. The 24mm equivalent distance allows you to get close and still fit a lot of context in the frame. The 2.8 is a winner for size and weight.
It looks awesome. Great pics of course. Looking forward to that comparison but enjoyed this video in the mean time. Really well presented and really made me smile. Hmmmm would look great on my xt1 too...... 👍😊
I don't know what it is about the photos from that 2.8, but they to my eye have subject separation without the normally-required shallow DOF you'd need to do that. I'm guessing it's amazing micro contrast creating that effect, especially in the portrait of the mature lady and the beach photos. Edit: I have two X-T1s arriving Friday. Can't wait!!
@@KentuckyMan30 I'm back to this video 3 months later still considering the 2.8. I absolutely love my X-T1's to the point I'm considering buying 2 more for when these two are beyond repair. That's how special the images I'm getting are from this camera and so far with the 23mm f2 and a couple others. But I don't have anything wider than 23mm besides an XC 16-50mm 3.5-5.6, which isn't bright enough indoors. However, the 2.8 isn't significantly brighter and I'm fearing I'll regret that single use part despite it being optimal for everything else. I have a wedding coming up for my daughter and want to capture some of my own images. I have the 23mm f2 but wanted wider for a few other images, and I have a 35mm f2 and 50mm f2 for anything else. Any thoughts on the 2.8 indoors at a wedding reception paired with the X-T1? Still love those images in your video!
Your video (with the photos in it) sold me on the 16mm f2.8! Just ordered it secondhand and can't wait to try it out on my XT-3; hope it'll be a nice company to my 35mm f2 :)
16 1.4 was easily my fav lens when I had my Fuji system. Loved the close focusing ability and image quality. When I moved back to Nikon my first lens purchase was the 20mm 1.8 to get something comparable. The 20mm has now become my favorite "walkaround" lens. I just love the ability to shoot close up and wide with big apertures.
@@knio1 I had nearly 20 years of Nikon glass collected and was just waiting for them to go mirrorless. I saved up and bought an x-t2 and x-m1 late last year to keep a foot in the Fuji camp though. They all have their benefits.
Really enjoyed this review as well as your images. I own 10 Fuji lenses and I just picked up this lens a week ago and I absolutely love it. I have what I call my “professional lenses”, the F2.8 zooms as well as a few F1 .4 and 1.2 primes. The lens I bought before this was the new 18 mm F1 .4 lens which is amazingly sharp but for my “ travel lenses” it’s just a bit big. I had the 23 mm F1 .4 which I sold because I never felt like it was super sharp but then thought of getting the 23 mm F2 and I’ve been looking for literally two or three months at prices but then someone had the 16 mm F2.8 for €230, or $248 in perfect condition so I snatched it up. It’s a wonderful focal length! I actually think it’s better than what you get with a 23 mm. It’s very interesting as you look at the most popular camera of all time, the iPhone, and when it first came out the standard lens was a 35 mm equivalent, then they went to 33 mm equivalent, then 28 mm, then 26 mm, And the latest 15 series is a 24 mm equivalent. I think that says something. My X-Pro2 with the 16 mm F2.8 looks like a Leica, but much less expensive and amazing image quality and super fast focusing. LOVE IT!
The 16/2.8 is my favorite lens since I got it when it first came out. By default, it is mounted on my XT1. The 35/2.0 and Laowa 9/2.8 always come along in my small sling bag. It’s a tiny lens kit!!! I love all 3. Interesting that these 3 lenses match up almost exactly with the 3 cameras on the iPhone 11 Pro. When lugging more weight around, I’ve also got the 56/1.2 and 55-200. But most of the time, the 3 tiny lenses are such a pleasure and cover my needs. I wouldn’t sell your 35/2.0 - you love that lens too. Sell something else. And if you review a Laowa 9/2.8, don’t get it from B&H, in case they send you one of Andrew’s rejects. (LOL) Mine was ordered at Adorama and is sharp in the corners when stopped down at 5.6. Most reviewers got sharp lenses. Too bad Andrew got 2 bad copies, so now he settled on the Zeiss 12mm. But he even said the 9mm bad lens was a blast to use until he reviewed the images and noticed they weren’t good copies. Anyway, I’ve gone on too much on that. Enjoy!
I have both the f/1.4 and f/2.8 versions of Fujifilm's 16mm lenses, and use the f/2.8 about 80% of the time based on the size and weight. In the middle of the aperture ring, I don't feel that I give up much compared to the faster lens. To be sure, playing to its strengths, close in and wide open, the f/1.4 can be magic. But for normal, general photography, the smaller, lighter lens will deliver. The 16mm f/1.4 costs the same as the f/2.8 version PLUS a 35mm f/2, which can be a great pairing for a day out.
Picked one up for $270 yesterday and I can’t wait to take it out for a shoot on a sunny day (it’s been gloomy) it is a compact and lightweight lens and you’ve shown it has great potential!
Well done...thanks. I appreciate the fact that this was about the images produced by the lens and the user experience and not about test shots and charts and graphs. Stylistically, I also like that your face (not that it is a bad face) wasn't the dominant image of the video.
You sold me!!! I shot on a 10-24 for 15days but wanted something as portable like how I'd weild my 23f2 in one pant pocket and my 50f2 in another. So sharp, focus is wizardry and most importantly there fun!
I got the 16mm 2.8 also and love it. I bought a Viltrox 23mm 1.4 for my XT-5 as it was highly rated and cheap. Excellent lens but the 16mm is awesome. Viltrox is making some terrific lenses for Fuji at a modest price.
I would have never considered this lens based on other reviews. But, your images are compelling. It’s looks like it’s perfect for family and travel. Thanks for the review.
Great video. I've had my eye on this lens for some time, I'm primarily a 23mm f/2 (35mm equiv) documenting my family. I thought this lens would be too wide and distorted for family documentary but you've shown me otherwise. Wow.
I want one. I love my 10-24 which is great for interior shots, but a small pocketable 16 will be a great alternative. Your love of the X-T1 has got me reappraising my X-E2 now...
I bought the 16 2.8 on the day it released. It's been such a joy in my kit and must say that I use it more than the 1.4 version. Still wouldn't get rid of the 1.4 as I use it for weddings and the minimum focus distance is insane ! Great sample images and review for this awesome lens! Just sub'd!
Just bought this lens second hand in mint condition (still in one month warranty) for $282. I tried 16mm f2.8 about 3 months ago at fuji store, and I love it 👌
You were hyped for the 1.4 but you got me hyped for the 2.8. I purchased it yesterday and it's already out for delivery today. Can't wait! I love Fuji's compact prime lens lineup. I own the 23/2 and the 35/2 so the 16/2.8 will be a welcomed addition to my kit. Unless you REALLY need the extra DOF that lower apertures will provide, I see no reason to buy the more expensive lenses. These are more affordable, have snappy AF, weather sealing, they're small, and have outstanding IQ. They have some of the best value in photography today
Tengo una xt1 con esta lente y no me puedo quejar para nada...tal vez en algunas fotos necesito usar el LR software para reajuste de la optica , pero poco más. El auto Focus es increíble y el peso de la lemte con el cuerpo de la xt1 es perfecta. Recomiendo encarecidamente este combo, ahora en ebay tienes grandes ofertas de ocasion para adquirir a precios de risa😂, diviertanse fotografos adictos!
Great shots! Just...wow. Thank you Sir. Looks like a great prime indeed. Aside from a 35 and 50mm 3rd party primes which I use with adapters, the only Fuji lens I have for my X-T2 is the "budget" XC 16-50, and while I love it for what it is, I'm debating between a better build quality Fuji prime or the Rokinon 10mm for something even wider.
I got my 16mm f2.8 on a special offer together with the X-E4. This combination is magic. Small, lightweight - it is as if you are not carrying a camera at all.
Nice. I know this review is already a little over a year old but it still applies today, at least to me. I recently picked up an X-T1 with the 16-50mm kit lens and only shot at 16mm indoors to capture my niece and nephew running around. That focal length is great for smaller indoor settings. I ended up restricting myself to 16mm for awhile and really enjoy shooting at that focal length so I will probably save up to get this lens. I already picked up the 23mm f2 and that lens is way sharper than the 16-50mm. I might as well get the whole "fujicron" line of lenses since they're all so nice an compact. Thanks for the awesome review!
I’ve just ordered the 1.4! Like people say it seems to have such amazing reviews. I’m currently liking the idea of the close focusing and clutch / distance markings but the 2.8 does look very nice. The 35 1.4 is my everyday.
I was debating on buying the XF 16 F2. 8 for more environmental portraits but I went with the XF18MM F2 (super cheap on ebay). Christopher reviewed the 18 more favorable and you also get a pancake lens 🙌
Funny story: I bought a xs10 with the 16-80 f4 second hand. I paid and the seller decided to give me as a present the 16 2.8. For sure I will be keep it not only for the present, but as you have told, is a great lens.
Thanks for your informative and enthusiastic review. I was able to get a demo f/1.4 for a really good price. Then, within days, the f/2.8 is announced. Turns out the price wasn't that good. For me, it took some time to learn how to best use the 1.4. Now, it's one of my favorites. Of course, I like the 18-135 so I guess that tells you about me!! With the pandemic and the use of both Zoom and Team, to stay in touch with family and friends, I now love the f/1.4 when I use my XT-3 as a webcam. The field of view is perfect for one to three people. The focus is fast and the motor is quiet. I have friends who use the f/2.8 for the same purpose and they are happy with that lens as well.
Hi.. theres an image on your website taken with the xt1 of a woman in a yellow dress on a beach ,and would just like to say that one particular image is absolutely fantastic !
Was set on the 18mm f2 or 23mm then someone on Reddit suggested this lens (just to make my life harder!) Such a toss up with the extra stop (fov not much of a difference to me really) vs the size vs speedier focus but this video completely sold me. Just ordered the 16m f2.8
@@KentuckyMan30me too! It was the pics of the people that sold it (even though I love a wide fov for buildings etc, the way you’ve managed to incorporate environment and individual I my preferred way to shoot individuals over tight portraits - great shots through
Totally agree it's a great lens, I recently purchased the 16mm 2.8 r wr and combined it with my XT2, absolutely beautiful combination. Had the 16mm 1.4 and didn't like it. I shoot street in all weather so prefer the sealing on the 2.8. Loved your review by the way.
Wow thanks for the review.. Gave me hope coz i don't know how or when to use my 16mm f2.8... i also have the x-t1. i think i need to learn more using this lens 🙏🏼🙏🏼😍
Been using Canon for a decade... 5d, 1d, 1ds, L lenses.. you name it. Till I got frustrated coz I often visit service center for either calibration, cleaning, broken shutter. I bought Xt1, xt10, kit 18-55, 35 1.4, 56 1.2... for wedding. I cant forget peoples face with their "silly look" when Im shooting this "fuji toy". Can't blame them.. even me was not sure at first. When we present the photo same day edit slideshow on reception, even me was blown away !!! We got standing ovation... the rest is history... Im telling you... Fuji may not be perfect.. but they are number one in terms of photography. Look at their lens lineup... 2.8 is common. Whereas, other company.. if you want 2.8.. you need to sell one of your kidneys.
Great summary. Straightforward and clear. Just for the xs10 with the 16-80 f4. Am thinking of max one or two lenses to add to this and compactness but equally good for video is key. Seems the 16 2.8 would fit that bill nicely. Perhaps complemented by something longer that would be a good close up, portrait lens with sharpness and bokeh. Still thinking about what one that might be
I must agree with the other comments, this is really awesome review. I’ve never smiled uncontrollably from watching a review before. I literally had the sudden urge to go out and take some photos after watching this. And like someone else said, its so refreshing to hear more about the feel than the techy stuff. And beautiful shots by the way, your shooting style feels very familiar. Cheers
