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

tokumeino wrote:

robert1955 wrote:

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.

I guess you meant 35/2 here?

Yes sorry, my mistake.

• 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.

what do ypu base this on?

I've read the reviews posted on this thread. When we come in the below-f/1.4 territory, the smoothness of the out-of-focus part of images is a prominent criterion IMO. Many people on this thread praised the "magic" (whatever it is) of the Fuji 1.4 even if the 2.0 is uniformly sharper overall. Following the same logic, it seems that the Mitakon is one step further in that direction.

FWIW, this is not true of the MkI version of the Mitakon, which is very soft wide open.  I do believe this is well known, but I point it out now to ensure our new addition to the Fuji family knows this.

While within decent prices ranges, many f/0.95 lenses are so soft that they are almost unuseable wide open, reviews about the Mitakon all seem to agree that it stands out of the crowd, beeing sharp (at least in the center) even wide open (and wide means very wide, here).

There is also this direct comparison ...

which shows very creamy OOF areas. Very tempting.

Note that I didn't experiment any of these, as I stated. I've only read reviews. And such lenses are quite specialized and shouldn't be evaluated solely on MTF sharpness charts.

The major flaw of the Mitakon seems to be a very poor resistance to flare. It has to be balanced for people who care.