About to dive in: Is X-E3 + 35mm f1.4 a good 'single prime' camera choice?

First your reply reads more like it is from the company that either makes it or distributes it.

I have read several customer reviews of this lens, people that have actually bought and tested this lens, and although the lens barrel aperture ring is marked 0.95 most feel that at best it is 1/4 stop faster than the Fuji f/1.4 and not one stop faster.

Given the price here in the US, $499, and the cost of the Fuji f/1.4 35mm, $599, along with the Fuji lens having auto focus I would never buy this lens.

Best of luck to you if you do buy this lens.

tokumeino wrote:

I don't own any 35mm lens yet and I'm not an only-1-lens guy But I've read the whole thread because after buying a 23mm in kit, I now know I prefer 35mm as a versatile lens (I've used this FL a lot with other systems), so I'm after buying one.

So after reading all of these, including linked reviews, I'm now inclined to buy the Mitakon 35/0.95. My summary would be that (according to readings only) :

• the Fuji 23/2 is a modern fast AF lens with a typical "clinical" sharp rendering, but it is not that fast after all (only 1 stop ahead of f/2.8). So if you're looking for versatility wrt aperture and DOF control, then it is not the best.
• the Mikaton 35/0.95 is the most versatile when it comes do aperture control but much less when it comes to AF. But with the MF assistance Fuji offers, it can be OK. After all, that's only 1 ring to manage
• the Fuji 35/1.4 is somewhere in between : not as good optically as the Mikaton, and not so fast AF-wise than the Fuji 23mm/2

The 1.4 is a kind of "no choice" : the best in no area, but a good allrounder and that's probably what you're after it you're looking for only one lens.

But in my case, already owning a kit zoom with a fast AF and FL control, I have to admit that the 1.4 would be the last in my list, first being the 0.95. After all, with a fast prime lens, I'm after versatility wrt aperture control and excellent IQ. In that case, the 0.95 excels in both areas.