Beat Traveller
Leading Member
- Messages
- 745
- Reaction score
- 415
-
Welcome to the new forums! Please read this first. For known issues we are working to resolve, click here.
New lens set please Fuji - smaller, lighter, but still top quality!
- Thread starter Phil1
- Start date
Hi Jason,
Yes I think that what's happening is that Fuji released a set of smallish lenses in the initial batch (of 18, 35, & 60mm, and perhaps the 14mm) and have recently been delivering fast lenses (23, 56, 16, 90, 16-55, 50-140) that are specifically designed to attract pros. Why? - In a shrinking market, where the simple compact camera has virtually been wiped out by phones, and the beginner APSC market is saturated with cheap options, that only leaves the high-end to attract.
I guess what I'm saying here is that it comes down to their priorities. I suspect we'll see some other small lenses and some other 'enthusiast regulars' - eg macros, some not-so-fast lenses, long wildlife teles, etc a little later..... I hope so, because I'm personally more interested in those than fast lenses.
Cheers, Rod.
Yes I think that what's happening is that Fuji released a set of smallish lenses in the initial batch (of 18, 35, & 60mm, and perhaps the 14mm) and have recently been delivering fast lenses (23, 56, 16, 90, 16-55, 50-140) that are specifically designed to attract pros. Why? - In a shrinking market, where the simple compact camera has virtually been wiped out by phones, and the beginner APSC market is saturated with cheap options, that only leaves the high-end to attract.
I guess what I'm saying here is that it comes down to their priorities. I suspect we'll see some other small lenses and some other 'enthusiast regulars' - eg macros, some not-so-fast lenses, long wildlife teles, etc a little later..... I hope so, because I'm personally more interested in those than fast lenses.
Cheers, Rod.
georgehudetz
Veteran Member
I may be in the minority here, but I think the fact that none of Fuji's primes are weather sealed is a bigger problem than the fact that half the existing primes are "too big."
I'd really love to see a 23 or 35 WR for street shooting in inclement weather - preferably both. Having said that, I'd be fine if the 23 were an f/2 to keep the size down. But no slower, please, as I like to shoot at night. In fact, simply re-releasing the 35 & 60 with faster AF and WR - but no other changes - would be fantastic. Then that 23mm f/2 WR. Yes, please!
I'd really love to see a 23 or 35 WR for street shooting in inclement weather - preferably both. Having said that, I'd be fine if the 23 were an f/2 to keep the size down. But no slower, please, as I like to shoot at night. In fact, simply re-releasing the 35 & 60 with faster AF and WR - but no other changes - would be fantastic. Then that 23mm f/2 WR. Yes, please!
Hi George,
I agree with you on sealing. Premium optical products - bodies and lenses - should all be sealed against moisture and dust. Pentax has been doing it for years on their better lenses (and DSLR bodies far cheaper than Fuji's cameras). It doesn't seem to cost a lot if it's designed in from the outset.
I don't agree on the order - I'd prefer the sealed 23/2 first!
Cheers, Rod
I agree with you on sealing. Premium optical products - bodies and lenses - should all be sealed against moisture and dust. Pentax has been doing it for years on their better lenses (and DSLR bodies far cheaper than Fuji's cameras). It doesn't seem to cost a lot if it's designed in from the outset.
I don't agree on the order - I'd prefer the sealed 23/2 first!
Cheers, Rod
I'm not sure... I'm one of those who think the existing lightweight options already cover most of the usual focal lenghts, at least for the primes.
The 14mm, 27mm, 35mm, 60mm, and 18-55mm are all very light and relatively small considering the sensor size, without compromising image quality to any significant extent.
How much smaller could they be if they sacrificed another stop worth of aperture or so? I'm guessing not enough that this would be the deciding factor for anybody who hasn't purchased the already existing lenses yet.
Even if you talk about the telephoto end, the 50-230mm and 55-200mm are just about the lightest and smallest quality tele zooms around for APS-C, and they already come in two variants so you can decide based on your personal preference between maximum aperture and portability.
Given the recent releases of high speed, high quality zooms, what I really think we need is more versatility on the side of the lightweight zooms. Give me a 15-35, or a 16-70, or a 18-105, with moderately slow apertures like 2.8 to 5.6 or so. Other than that, I don't think anything would make me drop the 14 + 18-55 + 50-230 as my ultra-portable kit.
The 14mm, 27mm, 35mm, 60mm, and 18-55mm are all very light and relatively small considering the sensor size, without compromising image quality to any significant extent.
How much smaller could they be if they sacrificed another stop worth of aperture or so? I'm guessing not enough that this would be the deciding factor for anybody who hasn't purchased the already existing lenses yet.
Even if you talk about the telephoto end, the 50-230mm and 55-200mm are just about the lightest and smallest quality tele zooms around for APS-C, and they already come in two variants so you can decide based on your personal preference between maximum aperture and portability.
Given the recent releases of high speed, high quality zooms, what I really think we need is more versatility on the side of the lightweight zooms. Give me a 15-35, or a 16-70, or a 18-105, with moderately slow apertures like 2.8 to 5.6 or so. Other than that, I don't think anything would make me drop the 14 + 18-55 + 50-230 as my ultra-portable kit.
Please Fuji if you do take up the suggestions for a few smaller, lighter lenses PLEASE don't sacrifice IQ, build quality and aperture rings! There are the reasons why folk moved to Fuji from Canikon etc!!!!
But please do improve the IQ, bokeh, focussing, OIS & add WR!!!
Phil
But please do improve the IQ, bokeh, focussing, OIS & add WR!!!
Phil
The range covered by small lenses is fairly limited : 14 - 60mm. With larger lenses, if you take one you're still lighter and smaller than an APS-C DSLR, but not by much. If you take two of them, you totally lose the size and weight advantage of a mirrorless camera.
What brothers me the most is that Fuji don't seem to know where they're going. I may be wrong but it's the impression they give. They start building a small lens line-up and then switch to DSLR sized lenses. They make rangefinder style cameras and then promote DSLR style camera. I came from a DSLR, I don't want a Fuji DSLR !
So yes I am 200% for smaller primes and zooms, not necessarily pancakes, but with metal bayonet and aperture ring.
As for wheather proofing, without ingress protection rating it doesn't mean much. It may resist to rain, but it may not. Do you feel lucky ? Without IP rating, manufacturers make no promise and if things go wrong they're not responsible.
I wish Fuji would make at least one prime and one camera with certified wheather proofing.
What brothers me the most is that Fuji don't seem to know where they're going. I may be wrong but it's the impression they give. They start building a small lens line-up and then switch to DSLR sized lenses. They make rangefinder style cameras and then promote DSLR style camera. I came from a DSLR, I don't want a Fuji DSLR !
So yes I am 200% for smaller primes and zooms, not necessarily pancakes, but with metal bayonet and aperture ring.
As for wheather proofing, without ingress protection rating it doesn't mean much. It may resist to rain, but it may not. Do you feel lucky ? Without IP rating, manufacturers make no promise and if things go wrong they're not responsible.
I wish Fuji would make at least one prime and one camera with certified wheather proofing.
georgehudetz
Veteran Member
I disagree here - the way I see it, Fuji has always been about high quality glass that is tailored for APS-C. The fact that they have spread these lenses (both zoom and prime) over both light & slow lenses and large & fast lenses (with some in-between) is an indication that they know their market. After all, if the 35 were the only 1.4 lens in the lineup there would be a whole other group of people wailing about their "limited" lens lineup. So they added the 23 & 56, and have the 16 coming.
After all, "light, slow, and small" has already been done - u4/3rds. I for one don't want to see Fuji try to compete with that. In my opinion they have carved out a very appealing niche in this crowded market place, and it's in their best interest to offer a proper range of lenses to appeal to a reasonably broad set of users. And, in my opinion, they have done just that.
But yes, a 23 f/2 would be nice!
--
liquid stereo
Veteran Member
If that's what you want, get a Nikon V1. Ridiculously small. Very fast AF. And cheap!
as 55/2, 35/2, 85/2.8 & 16/2.
Last edited:
Beat Traveller
Leading Member
- Messages
- 745
- Reaction score
- 415
You've given about three examples, some of which have no AF. I wouldn't exactly call that 'loads'.
The Nikon 85 f/3.5 for DX is really the only fair comparison to draw.
georgehudetz
Veteran Member
Since there is already a 60/2.4, and an 18/2, it seems overkill to have the 55 & 16 f/2. A 35/2? If it was *much* smaller than the current lens, sure. Of all the focal lengths where it makes sense to have two sizes available, 23 & 35 make the most sense. But the current 35 is so small I wonder about how much better they could do.
Totally see the 85/2.8, if indeed the 90 is as big as we think it will be.
--
http://georgehudetzphotography.smugmug.com/
My Flikr stream: http://flic.kr/ps/Ay8ka
Last edited:
evoprox
Senior Member
...
Sony continue to fill the 35mm slot with pricey Zeiss glass. The rather large but optically excellent SEL24f18Z(eiss) for their NEX system, their RX1 (Zeiss) or the A7... + SEL35f28Z(eiss). I guess those guys know how to play their game.
It wouldn't be only nice but a small, fast and optically above-average 23mm pancake might cannibalize heavily on X100T and 23mm/f1.4 sales. How many folks would buy that large f1.4 lens for their compact X if they could get a one stop slower pancake for less ? I wouldn't hold my breath, not even for an f2.8. Many X shooters end up buying an additional X100... for their compact 35mm needs. Gotcha.
Sony continue to fill the 35mm slot with pricey Zeiss glass. The rather large but optically excellent SEL24f18Z(eiss) for their NEX system, their RX1 (Zeiss) or the A7... + SEL35f28Z(eiss). I guess those guys know how to play their game.
Last edited:
It is entirely possible. It is difficult to know what is going on in Fuji's headquarters.
However newest big lenses are optically perfect. Older smaller lenses are not optically uncompromised.
I am not saying they are bad, definitely not. Moreover imperfect lenses are fine for me, in particular when they are so good
The 18mm as most pancakes is a bit less sharp in the corners.
The 35mm relies on a planar design. It would have probably given better sharpness with an inverted tele design as the Sigma 35mm or the Zeiss 55mm.
The 14mm is sharp from corner to corner but has a significant vignetting.
These are not beginner's mistakes. Fuji's optical designers are not beginners.
But this makes me think Fuji's design priorities have changed and they might change again.
Personally I would like to see Fuji compete directly with MFT.
In my opinion APS-C allows making much more versatile gear without being so much bigger. For example MFT has almost no ultra wide angle lens offer.
The Canon 85mm f1.8, the Nikon 85mm f1.8 AFD are good candidates I think. At least if you compare to the coming Fuji.
The Sony 85mm f2.8 is another interesting specimen, almost a pancake lens.
Last edited:
tedolf
Forum Pro
Are you sure about that?
Rokinon/Samyang 7.5mm
Panasonic 8mm
Olympus 9mm
Olympus 12mm
and two wide zooms, one starting at 7mm the other at 9mm.
I think there is a 10.5mm too?
TEdolph
Similar threads
Keyboard shortcuts
- f
- Forum