What happened to the XF 23mm 1.4 LM WR?

I would have one in a heartbeat if I could justify the cost :-(

I'm currently on my 4th variation of the 23mm fl. I first got the Viltrox, briefly owned the XF 23mm f2 then sold both and bought the XF 23mm f1.4 R. Out of these 3 the latter produced the best images (to my liking anyway). However, I began to grow a little tired of the unpredictable back focussing - of course it would predominantly occur when you least wanted it to.

I just last week bought the Tokina 23mm f1.4. I know the Tokina and Viltrox are effectively the same lens however I was always intrigued by the improved coatings and the licensed protocols from Fuji - I always found the corrections on the Viltrox to be very poor.

I still think the Xf 23mm f1.4 R is the best of all these but the focussing issue was just too much in the end. I got the Tokina for £200 which was a great deal and actually made a small profit on the Fuji 23mm :-D

But of course, the new Fuji 23mm would be the one to rule them all but just not at the current price. I will wait a couple of years and hopefully get a good deal on a used copy.

I've just get back from Crete Island where I was in holidays trip for 7 days. Took with me only X-S10 and Tokina 23/1.4 combo, as I wanted myself to challenge if I can take travel photos with success only with one lens. I guess I did and I said to myself that IF I can be able to make travel photos with 23/1.4 lens (35/2.0 @ FF) I will sell crappy Tokina 23/1.4 and get XF 23/1.4 LM WR instead. Alternatively I was considering to sell X-S10 and Tokina 23/1.4 and get X100V.

Now I'm sure, that for everyday documentry photos of my life, family events, weekend walks with wife and travel I don't need f/1.4 lens as mach, as smallest possible and lightest form factor. I barerly took only couple of shots with 1.4 aperture, but carrying around my X-S10 with smallrig grip + Tokina 23/1.4 for ~ 12h in over 35 degrees of Celcius heat is at least not pleasant That's why I decided to sell X-S10 and Tokina 23/1.4 and get X100V, because I do still have excellent XF 16/1.4 and stellar XF 33/1.4 for more advanced projects and I can use them on my wife's X-T30II. For my everyday and travel purposes X100V seems to be ideal.

This is my 5 cents, why personally I decided to skip excellent 23/1.4 LM WR

TomasT said:

I see little attention for the XF 23mm 1.4 LM WR. Everyone seems to be targeting the 18mm 1.4 and also the 33mm 1.4. The 18mm focal length was the reason for many people not to buy a Ricoh GR because it is much too wide. However, now you suddenly see the 18mm 1.4 being widely used. Has anything changed in the photography world or is it just because the lens is really good. I just bought the 23mm 1.4 WR myself, partly because I already have a GR (18mm). Is the 23mm focus length out of favor?

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Forgive me for expressing myself like that but, why should you care wether the 23mm focal length is out of favour or not? If you like the 23mm on Fuji, there's no reason why you shouldn't get a lens with that focal length. Myself I was looking for a fast prime lens for street and low light photography. I also didn't want to pay much. I thought of the XC 35mm f2. But I had doubts about using this focal length. The 23mm f2 was only available new for 450$. Luckily I found a very clean used 23mm f1.4 R for 480$. It's much more than what I planned to spend but I bit the bullet because it's a f1.4 and ideal for my case. I also much prefer the 23mm focal length over the 35 for street.

TomasT said:

I see little attention for the XF 23mm 1.4 LM WR. Everyone seems to be targeting the 18mm 1.4 and also the 33mm 1.4. The 18mm focal length was the reason for many people not to buy a Ricoh GR because it is much too wide. However, now you suddenly see the 18mm 1.4 being widely used. Has anything changed in the photography world or is it just because the lens is really good. I just bought the 23mm 1.4 WR myself, partly because I already have a GR (18mm). Is the 23mm focus length out of favor?

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I have the "holy" trinity . I prefer for focal length reasons, the 23 and the 33. All of them are stellar lenses. On test bench , the 18 mm is the best in the center (see lenstip test) , the 33 mm is the ""less"" good of the three, and the 23 mm is the best for the edges.

I am planning later to order the 56 mk2. This four lens, will shine on the new 40 mp sensor (they are already shining on the 26 mp sensor)

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It's all about photography

This is an interesting topic, and one that I've wondered myself. I don't remember hearing all the accolades about this lens. The 18mm lens intrigues me, but the 13mm Viltrox also piques my interest for wide-ish angle primes. Can't beat the price either.

The 23 mk ii seems so versatile. I'd like to hear more about it from someone who owns several of the new primes.

TomasT said:

I see little attention for the XF 23mm 1.4 LM WR. Everyone seems to be targeting the 18mm 1.4 and also the 33mm 1.4. The 18mm focal length was the reason for many people not to buy a Ricoh GR because it is much too wide. However, now you suddenly see the 18mm 1.4 being widely used. Has anything changed in the photography world or is it just because the lens is really good. I just bought the 23mm 1.4 WR myself, partly because I already have a GR (18mm). Is the 23mm focus length out of favor?

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Is it out favor? Is the hottest camera on the market that sports a 23mm lens out of favor as well (x100v).

Is the old one, or the 23 f/2 out of favor?

Lots of options....Not sure where you "hear" about lenses but I use mine literally 5 days a week for video. Lots of 23mm options out there and the 16's, 18's, 23's, 28's, 33's, 50, 56's etc all overlap to some degree.

So out of favor? Again not sure how you "hear" about lenses but the 23 is one of my favorites.

I really like 23mm - definitely the best all-purpose walkabout focal length, IMO. I tried a variety of lenses and sorted out my 23mm options before the new 23 WR came out (I bought an X100V), but if the new 23 WR is anything like the new 18mm f/1.4 (also a great all-purpose option in more cramped quarters), then it’s a fabulous lens. Buy the focal length that works best for you. The 18 is great on its own, but I mostly like it best in combination with other lenses (especially a 35). A 23mm, however, is usually the better single focal length/do-it-all option for me.

TomasT said:

... Is the 23mm focus length out of favor?

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It is my standard fl.

However, last year, I went for a silver XF 23/2 and am super happy with it.

1. IQ is great. Just don't shoot very close wide open, a well known fact.
2. AF is fast and silent.
3. It is so small.
4. There is no hassle with the lens hood. It is tiny. I leave it on all the time and just need to remove the lid.

I also have the Viltrox 23/1.4 but use it only very rarely. Thinking of selling it.

Regards,

Martin

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Maybe the reason is because there are other 23mm lenses for Fuji that are quite good. The old 23mm/1.4 is still a good lens that I like over the 23mm/2.0. But the latter has many users. And than there is Viltrox and so on.
So the market is quite exploited IMO.

But the 18mm with F1.4 was a new addition which was anticipated from all those photogs that like the focal length. And probably were not satisfied with the old 18mm.

Fuji's 23mm lenses have long been overshadowed by the existence of the X100 cameras. Photogs I know and have hear of who are devoted to the 35mm focal length seem to always go with an X100 camera.

Photogaphers who are really into features such as weather resistence and blazing fast autofocus are the antithesis of '35mm-only decisive moment on the street' type of phptographers, and they have many choices including some stellar zoom lenses from Fuji. Plus, the 23mm 2.0 was a best seller for Fujifilm, and it includes both of these features as well.

It seems natural that the new 23mm recieves little fanfare, but the few who have it probably love it, just like the original 23mm 1.4 lens.

It’s too big for my liking…

I think there 3 reasons the 23mm 1.4 II gets overlooked.

1. The 18mm 1.4 is a lot better and sharper then anyone expected, so much so that most people are very happy to crop in to get a 23mm look without much loss of detail.

2. The 23mm f2 is small, light and cheap that it makes a perfect walk around travel/street prime for those who mostly shoot f4 and up.

3. At the cost of the new 1.4 lens, many would rather the x100v for a couple of 100s more, it’s a lens vs a whole camera that has glowing reviews.

Im in camp 1.

ChrisGibbons001 said:

I think there 3 reasons the 23mm 1.4 II gets overlooked.

1. The 18mm 1.4 is a lot better and sharper then anyone expected, so much so that most people are very happy to crop in to get a 23mm look without much loss of detail.

2. The 23mm f2 is small, light and cheap that it makes a perfect walk around travel/street prime for those who mostly shoot f4 and up.

3. At the cost of the new 1.4 lens, many would rather the x100v for a couple of 100s more, it’s a lens vs a whole camera that has glowing reviews.

Im in camp 1.

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point 3, would be twice the price of the XF23mm 1.4, as the X100V sells for 1600 in my country, bought the XF231.4 WR for 790, thats not a couple of 100s ;-)

i understand why you're in camp 1.

I have already a 18mm inside my RicohGRII, as a 10 year owner im pretty used to that FOV.

But now i have a 23mm for the first time in 15 years of photography,,looking forward to get to know its as a documentary FOV. I was always looking at the Canon 5D2 with the 35mm 1.4, loved that combo, but never pulled the trigger.

not a native english speaker

ChrisGibbons001 said:

I think there 3 reasons the 23mm 1.4 II gets overlooked.

1. The 18mm 1.4 is a lot better and sharper then anyone expected, so much so that most people are very happy to crop in to get a 23mm look without much loss of detail.

2. The 23mm f2 is small, light and cheap that it makes a perfect walk around travel/street prime for those who mostly shoot f4 and up.

3. At the cost of the new 1.4 lens, many would rather the x100v for a couple of 100s more, it’s a lens vs a whole camera that has glowing reviews.

Im in camp 1.

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There is a fourth argument : the 23 mm is the newest one. The 18 mm is one year older

ChrisGibbons001 said:

I think there 3 reasons the 23mm 1.4 II gets overlooked.

1. The 18mm 1.4 is a lot better and sharper then anyone expected, so much so that most people are very happy to crop in to get a 23mm look without much loss of detail.

2. The 23mm f2 is small, light and cheap that it makes a perfect walk around travel/street prime for those who mostly shoot f4 and up.

3. At the cost of the new 1.4 lens, many would rather the x100v for a couple of 100s more, it’s a lens vs a whole camera that has glowing reviews.

Im in camp 1.

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I purchased the 18 and the 33mm….

Since the 2/23 is excellent and very small, there was no reason to replace it.

BUT there is also another reason why the surely excellent 1.4/23 II is less demanded:

with the excellent 1.4/18mm you can just crop a little bit and there you are:

NO lens to change during shooting, less humidity and/or dust in-camera

and your 18mm angle is ALWAYS Art your service!

PLUS: with the upcoming 30MP sensors, there is even MORE room for cropping.

And last but not least: If you replace the 1,4/23 II by using the 18 mm, you spare weigth, space money and are more flexible…. Nice, isn’t it?

Many fixed lens cameras use the 35 (FF equivalent) FOV because it is a good compromise for a camera where the lens can't be changed. However, like any compromise it is a well a compromise. At 28/50 mm (FF equivalent) is a nice kit for an ILC. Personally I am not a big fan of the 23 mm focal length on APSC. The 18 mm is wide without suffering some of the UWA perspective distortions of the 16 mm and wider.

TomasT said:

I see little attention for the XF 23mm 1.4 LM WR. Everyone seems to be targeting the 18mm 1.4 and also the 33mm 1.4. The 18mm focal length was the reason for many people not to buy a Ricoh GR because it is much too wide. However, now you suddenly see the 18mm 1.4 being widely used. Has anything changed in the photography world or is it just because the lens is really good. I just bought the 23mm 1.4 WR myself, partly because I already have a GR (18mm). Is the 23mm focus length out of favor?

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I love the 23mm f1.4 R WR LM.

It is wide enough to get some environment captured for full body portrait, but not too wide that I have to get too close, and with just enough amount of distortion to make a more dramatic composition.

It is also sharp corner to corner, and fast & reliable AF. My go to lens for portrait sessions.









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The 23mm and the 56mm always go hand in hand. The 18mm and the 33mm are too close to the 23mm, and a lot of people already have those. With the announcement of the new 56mm WR, I'm pretty sure it will boost up sales of the 23mm. I have the new 23mm btw

TomasT said:

I see little attention for the XF 23mm 1.4 LM WR. Everyone seems to be targeting the 18mm 1.4 and also the 33mm 1.4. The 18mm focal length was the reason for many people not to buy a Ricoh GR because it is much too wide. However, now you suddenly see the 18mm 1.4 being widely used. Has anything changed in the photography world or is it just because the lens is really good. I just bought the 23mm 1.4 WR myself, partly because I already have a GR (18mm). Is the 23mm focus length out of favor?

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I used to rock the 23 and 35 f/2s. But when I upgraded to f1.4s, the 18mm proved too tempting. I really enjoy the extra focal length spread of 18/33 offers vs 23/33. I feel the 23mm would be well paired with the 56mm.

However I think a bigger factor is that this is the first time I can remember a really top-tier, fast 28mm equivalent being offered. I've shot Canon for 20 years and Fuji for 6 years and have always had a 35mm. Now, it's exciting to explore a new focal length. 18mm is just right for my use case, which mostly involves taking photos of my kid at close range.