Is the Fuji 23mm f/1.4 Worth it in 2019?

[Kenneth Soto]

I've recently uploaded a video where I talk about the Fuji 23mm f/1.4, and I give a few reasons why this lens is worth owning. I actually owned this lens previously, but foolishly sold it when I switched to Panasonic. When I switched back to Fuji I knew it was a lens I wanted to have in my kit, so I bought it for $600 used. It was in mint condition, so I'm pretty happy about it

If you're interested, here's the link:

If you have any suggestions or comments please let me know, I'm looking for feedback, and anything helps.

 

[stevo23]

I've recently uploaded a video where I talk about the Fuji 23mm f/1.4, and I give a few reasons why this lens is worth owning. I actually owned this lens previously, but foolishly sold it when I switched to Panasonic. When I switched back to Fuji I knew it was a lens I wanted to have in my kit, so I bought it for $600 used. It was in mint condition, so I'm pretty happy about it

If you're interested, here's the link:

If you have any suggestions or comments please let me know, I'm looking for feedback, and anything helps.

Its a great lens. Not much else to say - its as good in 2019 as it always was.

I'm a bit confused why you want feedback after you bought the lens?

 

[Kenneth Soto]

I've recently uploaded a video where I talk about the Fuji 23mm f/1.4, and I give a few reasons why this lens is worth owning. I actually owned this lens previously, but foolishly sold it when I switched to Panasonic. When I switched back to Fuji I knew it was a lens I wanted to have in my kit, so I bought it for $600 used. It was in mint condition, so I'm pretty happy about it

If you're interested, here's the link:

If you have any suggestions or comments please let me know, I'm looking for feedback, and anything helps.

Its a great lens. Not much else to say - its as good in 2019 as it always was.

I'm a bit confused why you want feedback after you bought the lens?

I was asking for feedback on the video

 

[Mecca66]

Nice video Kenneth. You seemed to cover everything. I'm a Canon shooter from way back and I'm just getting a taste of Fuji. I picked up an X-T100 and you're right about the grip, it's lousy, but that sensor is amazing.

Great sample photos at the end. The ones of your baby are excellent. You mentioned you don't like using the word "character". I had to laugh as I don't either. I've come to learn that many times when someone says a lens is "clinical", it means it's sharp, and when someone says a lens has "character" it means it's not so sharp.

To be honest, I'm not crazy about that Tokina like push pull mechanism on the lens, but you explained it well. Some videos have annoying music, but yours didn't, so kudos on that. All in all, a nice informative review.

 

[stevo23]

I've recently uploaded a video where I talk about the Fuji 23mm f/1.4, and I give a few reasons why this lens is worth owning. I actually owned this lens previously, but foolishly sold it when I switched to Panasonic. When I switched back to Fuji I knew it was a lens I wanted to have in my kit, so I bought it for $600 used. It was in mint condition, so I'm pretty happy about it

If you're interested, here's the link:

If you have any suggestions or comments please let me know, I'm looking for feedback, and anything helps.

Its a great lens. Not much else to say - its as good in 2019 as it always was.

I'm a bit confused why you want feedback after you bought the lens?

I was asking for feedback on the video

Ha. This is your video?

 

[Kenneth Soto]

Nice video Kenneth. You seemed to cover everything. I'm a Canon shooter from way back and I'm just getting a taste of Fuji. I picked up an X-T100 and you're right about the grip, it's lousy, but that sensor is amazing.

Great sample photos at the end. The ones of your baby are excellent. You mentioned you don't like using the word "character". I had to laugh as I don't either. I've come to learn that many times when someone says a lens is "clinical", it means it's sharp, and when someone says a lens has "character" it means it's not so sharp.

To be honest, I'm not crazy about that Tokina like push pull mechanism on the lens, but you explained it well. Some videos have annoying music, but yours didn't, so kudos on that. All in all, a nice informative review.

Thank you Mecca! I try not to cover technical specs as those can be found pretty much anywhere, and there plenty of videos that are specs heavy too.

I've been an intermittent Canon shooter for many years, but have never shot with Tokina lenses. The newly-announced 16-28mm f/2.8 Opera also has a manual clutch mechanism, so it seems that they want to stick to that. I don't know how it works on the Tokinas, but with the Fujis you're still able to use AF when the manual clutch is engaged, which is pretty cool.

Again, thanks for your feedback, I do appreciate it.

 

[MS82]

Hell yes this is still the number one Fuji lens to own and will be in 2029 too. This is my staple lens. If I could only have one lens - this is it.

 

[Meetmer]

I want it too but it’s not on sale now. I also like the 23 F 2 for half the price but wonder if the pictures won’t be as special.

 

[rokphish]

The 23/2 is plenty special even if outed as not as special…

 

[Kenneth Soto]

Hell yes this is still the number one Fuji lens to own and will be in 2029 too. This is my staple lens. If I could only have one lens - this is it.

I agree, if I could only have one lens then this would be it!

 

[Kenneth Soto]

I want it too but it’s not on sale now. I also like the 23 F 2 for half the price but wonder if the pictures won’t be as special.

You have to ask yourself if the f/2 version is enough for your needs. I personally have not been impressed by the f/2 versions, and though I haven't tested the 50mm f/2 I personally prefer the faster versions. The close focusing distance on the 23mm f/2 for instance, it has a significant degradation of image quality unless you stop down to about f/4. Then there's the soft corners from the 35mm f/2 that perform no better than the 18-55mm f/2.8-4 that I already own.

That being said, you might find that the quality and output of these lenses acceptable to you, in which case you could be saving a lot of money by getting fast f/2 aperture primes. Still, I would highly recommend that you rent these lenses and try them out for yourself. I've found that some people in these forums swear by certain lenses that I find to be lackluster, and if I were to buy lenses solely based on their recommendations then I would end up being sorely disappointed.

Also, try looking for lenses in mint condition. It could save you a couple of hundred dollars, perhaps even more. I used to only buy new lenses, but then you can't recoup that money when it comes time to resell them, so I've now started buying used in mint condition. If at any point I decide to sell a lens, I'll sell it for what I bought it for and I won't lose any money in the process. Just my thoughts, but something to consider.

 

[Doug MacMillan]

I have photographed with both 23mm lenses. They are both excellent lenses and I would be happy to own either, but when I do spring for a 23mm prime, it will be for the 1.4, even though I think the f2 has slightly faster and more accurate AF. If I was going to use it primarily for travel, then I'd go with the f2.

 

[boogisha]

I want it too but it’s not on sale now. I also like the 23 F 2 for half the price but wonder if the pictures won’t be as special.

If you`re just after "absolute" image "quality and rendering" (put in quotes as it could still mean a lot of stuff, being subjective and depending on what you`re looking for), or at least wanting to have shallower depth of field and/or more light gathering (think: lower ISO) as an option, while you don`t mind its physical size, I think f/1.4 version is a no-brainer.

For me, I went for f/2 one - rationale being that I had Mitakon 35mm f/0.95, not being either small nor light, not weather resistant, and manual focus only, so I wanted something completely different for 23mm focal length.

 

[Meetmer]

Well, i have to disagree with you on the 35 mm F2. I like the output much better than the kit lens, which i also own. I love that lens, so do most. Some mixed reviews on the 23 F2, mostly about the close focus softness but also the Bokeh not quite as good as the 1.4 version. I just need to figure out if those two things really matter that much. Would sure be nice to have a very compact, weatherproof, fast focusing lens. Problem is i always want the best and not sure if the sacrifice in image quality with the F2 is something that will bother me or if I will even notice it.

 

[Meetmer]

can you post a few pics from the 23 mm F2? Wondering if you are happy with your decision

 

[TravisForsyth]

It's a great lens for sure!

But in regards to the video I think your sounds needs some work, its low and subject to background noise. Otherwise it seems pretty alright!

 

[stevo23]

Well, i have to disagree with you on the 35 mm F2. I like the output much better than the kit lens, which i also own. I love that lens, so do most. Some mixed reviews on the 23 F2, mostly about the close focus softness but also the Bokeh not quite as good as the 1.4 version.

FYI - every complaint about the 23mm also applies to the 35mm f/2 except that the 35mm f/2 is worse. That doesn't mean it's not well loved or that good photos can't be had. But it's important to know it's limitations - not great close focus results wide open, significant CA and LoCA, very high distortion that isn't corrected well etc. etc. I would venture to say that the 23mm f/2 is an equal lens to the 23 1.4 depending on what is important. But the 35mm f/2 isn't even close to equal to it's f/1.4 sibling.

 

[Meetmer]

maybe you got a bad copy of the 35 mm F2? On Amazon, that lens is a 4.8 / 5 stars based upon 190 customer reviews. 88% gave it 5 star, 8% gave it 4 star, 3% gave it 3 star.

The 23 mm F2 gets a 4.3 out of 5 star based upon 65 reviews, 75% 5 star, 9% 4 star, 9% 3 star, 2% 2 star, 5% 1 star

That is a significant difference in opinion. Plus, having been researching the 23 mm for quite some time having read extensively on that and the 35 mm it's pretty clear to me that people love the 35 mm but the 23 mm is a little controversial. I have no problems with the 35 mm, the output is awesome and i personally think it takes better pictures than the kit zoom that i also own. Compared to the 35 mm 1.4 the f2 version is softer in the corners but sharper in the center. Gordon Lang from Camera labs loves that lens but he has some reservations with the 23 mm F2. I trust him , he doesn't seem like a "drink the Koolaid" kind of guy.

 

[stevo23]

maybe you got a bad copy of the 35 mm F2?

No, that's part of it's design. You don't get one lens with a good bit of uncorrected coma, LoCA and distortion. Those are things the whole lot gets and it's exactly as they all are. Weak in some areas, pretty good in others. On Amazon, that lens is a 4.8 / 5 stars based upon 190 customer reviews. 88% gave it 5 star, 8% gave it 4 star, 3% gave it 3 star.

Amazon? Not a lens review. I'm talking about actual performance, not love. Look at lenstip for an unbiased test.

But also, no one tests for close focus performance - you won't see that anywhere in a test. But people who have compared it to the Zeiss 32mm 1.8 (which I have done) will tell you how it compares at minimum focus wide open. That's a very narrow parameter and not something everyone cares about. But it's there.

Be aware that it has a good bit of coma and distortion - that's not hard to find. I can show you the coma and distortion if you don't believe lenstip.

The 23 mm F2 gets a 4.3 out of 5 star based upon 65 reviews, 75% 5 star, 9% 4 star, 9% 3 star, 2% 2 star, 5% 1 star

That is a significant difference in opinion. Plus, having been researching the 23 mm for quite some time having read extensively on that and the 35 mm it's pretty clear to me that people love the 35 mm but the 23 mm is a little controversial.

The 23mm is just a better lens. Look up actual tests, not anecdotal opinions. But thinking about price - what does one expect?

I have no problems with the 35 mm, the output is awesome and i personally think it takes better pictures than the kit zoom that i also own. Compared to the 35 mm 1.4 the f2 version is softer in the corners but sharper in the center. Gordon Lang from Camera labs loves that lens but he has some reservations with the 23 mm F2. I trust him , he doesn't seem like a "drink the Koolaid" kind of guy.

Look at real tests. Love is one thing and we need more of it. But if you look at lenstip.com and what's happening with each, you'll see how the 35mm f/2 performs in some areas. It's not a BAD lens and people get great images from it. But it's got issues and you should be aware of them.

 

[Meetmer]

The reason I like user reviews is because they are unpaid and not from professional reps for companies. The marketplace is efficient and it’s a free market world. A 4.8 vs a 4.3 on Amazon is a huge difference and shouldn’t be discounted .