How the Fujifilm 18mm F1.4 Changed The Way I Shoot 

The image at 9:10 is incredible. So much going on, such good lighting, amazing detail. Superb. 👌

Reviews like this are MUCH more inspiring than technical rundowns of lens features. Spectacular work. Thank you.

Fantastic photos! That baby in the highchair looking over at all the adults at the table is probably my favorite moment in these photos. Such a great capture, and a great example of what the 18mm focal length can accomplish.

So glad you’re back! This is how weddings should be photographed in my opinion. The video reminds me of Robert Capa’s famous saying “If you’re pictures aren’t good enough, you’re not close enough.”

The 18 on the left hip and 33 on the right hip would be an epic combination. The 90 on another body in your bag.

So many things to comment on here: 1) your edits…wow. So clean. Full of contrast without giving off an IG filter vibe. 2) Being able to photograph weddings (and families) 100% documentary style would be a dream come true for me. I don’t know how to get there, Kevin, but I want to! Keep up the good work. We appreciate your work.

Great to see you back Kevin! Thanks for sharing these amazing images and showing what the new lens can do - now I want one for my X-Pro3!

Wlcome back, a great return video. I love your style and b/w photos will always be my favourites, some of your shots were stunning. Looking forward to you (hopefully) once regularly posting.

Thank you for this Kevin and great that you’re back. 2 surprises for me: (i) you seem to shoot a lot wide open, and (ii) I’m seeing little or no distortion of faces/people even on 18mm - I expected more.

Ooh this is good stuff. The pre-wedding shot with the baby in the high chair is probably my favourite. On the last shot, I'd never thought about going in to the side of the confetti line. I've pretty much always stayed central and started with a longer lens then switched wider and allowed the couple to process toward me. I like slightly side on look though, it's nice.

Wow! Beautiful photography as always. Thank you for taking the time to share your thoughts with us. Definitely a lens I would love to add to my arsenal.

Beautiful work! It takes me back in time to the all time great film photographers (elk & wht)....especially love the 2 children walking down the aisle next to the pews...and the hugs...I'm glad I found you here on YT.

Pleased to see you back, and nice to know that your business has resumed. Loved the photo of the bride and father walking down the aisle .... great lighting, terrific image.

All of these photos are beautiful… But.. Th capture of the Bride and her Father walking down the isle in the church is my favorite… Her emotions …combined with the reaction of the guests and the light…👏👏👏

Welcome back, love your RU-vid channel. Your pod cast is good to. Can't wait to see more videos about fuji and black and white image.

Coming back to this channel after a long time and Man, Mr. Mullins - I am so impressed by your Colour Work! Breathtaking Shots as always!

Welcome back and thanks for sharing some inspiring images Love the image at 14:32. I never really enjoyed the 18/2 but definitely going to give this one a try

Glad to see you back on track! Love your work!!

Jeez man, great shots, and amazing lens. Nice work.

There are some lenses so great that it is worth getting into that system because of them. I think this 18mm is like that. I don't think any other APSC offers such a lens. I have been enjoying it since last month and it is really great and best of the 3 new lenses Fuji releases - 18, 23 and 33.

Outstanding images Kevin. Lovely hearing the passion for photography coming through.

Welcome back! Stunning images as always. You're making me covet that lens!

I got the X-70 because of you. Best decision I ever made for my photography. The FoV was so challenging originally I had no choice but to become more aware of composition.

Beautiful Kev, just wonderful. Thank you x

Great work Kevin. Good to see you again!

It is a rare lens-review that focuses on the images, rather than the lens. Bravo.

Wow, love the images! Makes me glad I bought the lens, now I just need to use it.

as usual, best wedding pictures!

Good to see you back! Awesome content as always. Compliments.

Really loved these images. Let me also say that you are an exceptional photographer. There is so much story in those images that you shot. 28mm (full frame eqv.) is one of my favourite focal lengths and you have nailed these 28mm compositions.

Its great to see you again :) Amazing photos and colours :)

Stunning shots man! Trying out the lens in London this weekend. Dead keen!

I admire your compositions, esp. where I know that you did not have much time to think. You are a master!

I was holding out for some reason... but after watching this my 23 and 16 are now going up for sale as I just ordered this. Fantastic images as always.

Good to have you back… lovely photos

At the ripe old age of 49 I shot my first solo wedding using a couple of old xt1s last week. My inspiration for taking the plunge is admiring Kevin's work over the years and an accomplished, Birmingham based weddings photographer- Dave Causson. Just ordered an 18mm after watching this 😀

Just superb! Great professional perspective on the lens, backed up by beautiful images.

Love your work. I mainly shoot wildlife and landscape. Love your style of documenting weddings, when I attend a wedding I apply your style and everyone loves it!

Pics are absolutely gorgeous, mate! I was looking examples of how colleges work with 18mm and your review it’s amazing! The lens works incredible for groups and it is sharp! Thanks for the review!

Hey that was a really interesting video to watch with your walk through narrative. Much more interesting than just the tech specs. Thank you.

Really wonderful images. Epic!

I will say this only in two sentences fantastic pictures of a professional Photographer.1000% 👌

Kevin, I am always amazed a what you capture. Beautiful. I've told you this before. Your pics make me feel like I am there in the middle of it.

I enjoyed watching your take on the 18mm lens. It is much more informative when one can see how you have made use of the lens, rather than simply rhyming of tech jargon. I am contemplating this lens as well as the 23mm lens. Being able to see a series of shots taken in a single particular situation really helps me to envision how I would be able to use the lens myself. Thanks!

Absolutely amazing images you captured!!

Welcome back Kevin, you've sold it to me!

Great to see you back on RU-vid Kevin! It's such a beautiful lens, I simply had to get one. So far it's only really seen the Green Man Festival here in Wales, and a few gigs, but I'm really looking forward to working a wedding with it. The 18mm f/2 will always be my street lens, but having this low-light wonder makes for a holy trinity for me - the 18mm f/1.4, the 35mm f/1.4 and the 56mm f/1.2 sitting on my X-Pro3. I honestly don't need anything else. Well, maybe the X100V.

Great shots. I love the image at 9:20 - looks like a Norman Rockwell painting!

Thanks, Kevin. I am really loving this lens. A huge step forward that doesn’t require me to step backward!

This video really cemented my decision on my next lens, thank you. Great work.

Nice video Kevin with some beautiful shots, the 18mm f1.4 is definitely on my shopping list for Christmas.

Beautiful images and I love that the distortion on the edges is minimal, very clear.

Love your work, Kevin. Feels like we approach weddings the same way. I used to photograph weddings 10-12 years ago with the old Nikon 28mm f/1.4D. When Mirrorless came out, I sold that lens to help buy my way into the Sony a7rII system, and bought the Sony 35mm f/1.4 - felt like it was good enough at the time. I did miss the 28mm focal length though - especially indoors in tighter rooms. I moved from Sony to the Fuji X-T2 for dual card slots, and I wanted to continue to downsize my gear, and mostly shot with the 23/1.4 and the 56/1.4. Love the image quality, but the old noisy AF of those lenses were a bit annoying. They didn't have the 18/1.4 at the time. One thing I felt Fuji struggled with, was low-light photography. Even with a large focal point, it seemed to hunt a lot when the lights got really dim. I clung on to one Nikon D750 camera body for this reason - and photographed the dance floor with that camera. The Nikon came out with the Z6 II, which pretty much put in on par with the Sony a7III. But the low AF availability was damn stellar. Best Low Light camera ability I've ever used. But... One of the reasons I moved to the Nikon Z6 II is for the 28mm f/1.4E (with the FTZ adapter). At the time, I moved back to Nikon, neither Sony nor Fuji had a fast 28mm field of view lens. That focal length is a fabulous documentary "street photography" style lens. Getting ready, cocktail hour, dancing - the 28mm focal length is magical to me. The Nikon 28/1.4 is HUGE and heavy by itself, and when you add the FTZ adapter, it's even more monsterous. ...but I still love it. ...Now?... this Fuji 18/1.4 really has my attention, as it's significantly smaller and lighter than Nikon's beast. Also saw Viltrox now has a 28mm f/1.8, which is WAY smaller than the old Nikon 28mm f/1.4E I purposefully buy small kits, so I have zero problem selling my gear, and moving from one brand to another. ...one of the perks of not being brand loyal - "The freedom to explore..." Thanks for this review. Much to ponder. :)

Excellent photos. Beautiful perspectives captured with that 18mm focal length.

Great review Kevin.

Amazing imagery Kevin! And now I may have to buy this lens, dammit! :-)

Hi Kevin, good to see you back. Always love to see your black and whites, sharp, dark and very contrasty, your style, not mine in particular but I do like the way you manage it to perfection. Allow me to share a test I did recently that you might find interesting. I edited 2 color shots of a female model, one laying on a couch and one portrait, clothes on, no sexy stuff, normal for all ages shots. I changed them to black and white with some editing, and one to black and white with a tiny bit of a platinum look (not the vintage yellow) . Send the 3 shots, (Color, pure B/W and B/W plat.) to people (Male, Female, 25-75 years, no photographers) Guess what, 90% chose the monochrome over the color but surprisingly from that 90% more that 3/4 chose the platinum over the pure B/W. So there is still hope and love for B/W or Monochrome Photography Thanks for sharing

Really inspiring to see some real world photographers using the 18mm lens. I think I'm convinced to go get one myself now. I was on the hunt for a 16mm 1.4 but I'm confident now that the 18mm rocks my boat just a tad more.

Great to see you again! Thanks for sharing. That’s one of the few Fuji lenses I don’t own (you temptress you! 😉)

9:30 that baby in the corner is the icing on the cake, awesome shoot 👏🏼

Really nice video Kevin. Love that you talk about actually photos from the real world. I am struggling with buying decisions here.. as many people.. new 18mm that probably will cannibalise on my lovely 16mm.. or new 23mm that will replace the old 1.4. Love the old but tend not to use it at f1.4.. due to lack of detail. I imagine the new 23 will solve that

everytime i listen to you "natural light" i think about spanish churchs, so dark, without natural lights......great job as always, greetings from spain

The new 18mm is super sharp. It too is becoming one of my favorites! Your photos are pretty awesome too!

Fantastic as always…. I’ve now traded in some zoom lenses and bought this. You’ve been a HUGE inspiration to me. I especially love the double hug shot. Have you used your 2021 presets? Do I need to save up again 😂

I love your photos... so beautiful! Those clients must have been thrilled.

Lovely!… I like that you shared real images with us. I love 18mm on crop!… That's 28 street photography style. 😎

Wonderful Kevin, thank you.

I wait a long time before buying this lens for my X-Pro 2, because my two fav lens were XF 35 MM F/1.4 and....the XF/18 Mm F2. But the 18 mm (or 27 in FF) is really my choice if i have to go somewhere with only one Lens.I was at a point where i was wondering if i go to Sony Alpha 7 IV with the 24 mm F/1.4 G serie, but it cost a lot.. Same case with the Leica Q2. Fantastic machine, but out of my world right now.....And finally, thanks to your video, i took my 18 mm F/1.4 this Tuesday and stay with Fuji. We can see in your pictures how this lens is good. Super sharp, even at F/1.4, excellent micro-contrasts; nice bokeh. OK, it is bigger than my previous 18 mm F/2 but it worth it. Now, i'm just wondering if Fuji will launch one day or the other this year a new camera with a new sensor... I crave for an X- Pro 4. But right now, my X Pro 2 is still alive and super well. Keep doing this fantastic videos where the artistic moods, creativ analyses and human takes over the technical apsect. It is super cool to have a real photographer who talks about his job and its expectations instead of a Geek who will talk about technicalspecs etc....

Hard to choose a favourite photo with that great set, but for me it's the second confetti shot in bw. I think it's one of the best wedding shots I've seen.

Incredible work.

Your pics are incredible 👍🏼

This is so much useful ..!! And man love those shots ..!! So dramatic but still conveying message in every shot ..!! Would you mind if I ask you the camera you used for it with the 18mm lens ?? Mainly wanna know in terms of full frame range would it be an approx 23mm ?? Thank you 🙂

Welcome back Kevin!

I know what you mean about primarily focusing on one lens that you love. Few years back when I got the sony a6000, I have the xt3 now, I was picking up the sigma lenses. My first one was the 30mm 1.4. I remember one wedding where I used it like 80% of the time. Now I'm buying up the viltrox lens set and I really like them. Have the 13, 33, 56. Have a couple more to grab

Really nice shots! Interesting you were able to shoot at 1.4 in so many shots, thus getting the light in, but not blurring the background or foreground too much. I assume there would be a more pronounced bokeh effect if you were closer to your subject. Thanks for posting your work, it’s inspiring.

Fuji best lens. Just breathtaking. It made me sell my 16mm 1.4. The sharpness, contrast, slightly higher compression, low distortion, color, and lower CA really push this lens ahead for me. Especially when shooting people the extra compression and less distortion really helps the subject pop and look more natural.

I have spent months “looking the other way” to avoid the 18 1.4… thanks Kevin for reigniting my GAS 🤣 Another British photographer that swears by a 28mm for spontaneity, character and depth is Greg Williams, albeit in a Leica Q2 so the DOF falls off a little quicker. I think the 18 & 33 f1.4’s should have a bigger brother… a 50… that, for me would be a great trio… Good to see you back on RU-vid Kevin 👍🏻

Thanks for making your choice. I was wondering about the 23mm f2.

Very beautiful photos and impressive performance from the Fuji 18mm f/1.4

I'm torn between the the 16 f/1.4 & 23 f/1.4 (which I currently have/use) vs replacing both those lenses with the 18 f/1.4 - It's been ages since I used a 28mm FF equivalent (in my 35mm photojournalism days) having opted for the classic FF equivalents of 24, 35, 85 & 135 lens in my work. I also opted into getting the original 35 f/1.4 as my 5th lens but am now torn as to which way to go with regards to sticking with my current setup vs trading the two wide angles I currently have for the 18 f/1.4 - It would reduce the number of lenses carried but there have been a few times in my documentary and street work where the 16 focal length was absolutely needed due to not being able to move from my current shooting position. The 18mm seems to be the flavor of the moment for Fuji shooters right now and having followed you (and done a remote 1 on 1 consultation) I originally went with the 23 & 56 combo as my go to lenses (I shot the equivalents in Olympus for 7 years) - After watching this video - I'm still unsure whether the 18 is the right move for me. I live in a small enough town where there are no rental houses available to even get the lens in my hand to see if its an option - any thoughts?

Superb… nice wide images 👍🏼👍🏼

Beautiful photos, I was somewhat undecided whether I should get the latest fujinon 18 or the 23mm but your pictures pretty much sold me on why the former is a much better choice for telling stories and street photography too.

Thank you for this video and sharing your thoughts concerning this lens. 23 and 56 have also been my standard for weddings but with the the new 18 I‘ve changed my mind. Are you still using the 56 on the 2nd body or do you prefer another prime now? For my opinion there‘s a gap in the lens line up at present. A new fast 50mm would be nice, the 50mm/1.0 is not the right gear in the field, isn‘t it?

Just found this. Shooting a wedding every third day for a month is a testament of stamina. Kudos to you sir!

Kevin, those were great! Looking at your settings I was wondering if you are using auto ISO and auto shutter and setting the aperture manually. Also having a max setting allowable on both iso & shutter to keep the exposure good. am I right? if not can you share, Thanks!

Grandes imágenes ! Un trabajo fantástico ,este 18mm es tan rápido en su enfoque como la gama de los F2? O es más lento ?

Beautiful shots!

Beautiful pictures.

Beautiful photos.

Excelent photos and tips!

Love your work Kevin - excellent stiff!

Very inspiring like always, just one question if you may did you use zone focusing or AF-L back button (or af-on) with the 18mm ? In an old article on your website you said you used to shoot with af-L, I wonder if your methodology has changed since you wrote the article (2016).

I always preferred the 18 (28FF) focal length to 23, but had to use the 16 which was the nearest fast pro lens up until now. Some great images mate.

Great video! Learned a lot about what is possible with lense. Really loved your images. And I learned that Kevin feeds babies with sandwiches.

Your work is stunning....you set a very high bar for wedding photographers, and anyone trying to tell a story. The lens is not bad either!

Splendid images and editing.

Beautiful, atmospheric images - I am stunned by the quality of this lens - any hints on the b/w presets you're using ?

Long time, but well worth the wait. Nice work. Now I want the 18mm 😜 I have the 16mm 1.4, but that is often to wide. I´m considering the new 23, but then again. I do own the X100V. If only money was no option 😉

WOW! 4:39 image is so beautiful! You have superb photography.

Welcome back. Great to see you again. I have boring JPEG question to ask. How do you resize your JPEGs? I guess you give your clients full size images and a social size or am I mistaken? Thanks.