Which of those 35mm lenses would you recommend?

Hi,

I want to get a 35mm lens for my XT5 (and maybe later for a XE5).

My priorities is subject separation, light weight, aperture ring and ideally WR.

The Fujicron 35mm/f2 would be my obvious choice, but am also attracted by the faster new Viltrox Air 35/f1.7 or the older and even faster Viltrox 33/f1.4.

The Fuji 33/f1.4 is probably the best but had it and found it too heavy and big for my taste. I also had the 35/f2 and my only "complaint" was that is wasn't that fast, not much of a subject separation in portraits and this is why I am looking for the other two Viltrox alternatives.

I can find the Fuji 35/f2 and Viltrox 33/f1.4 in good prices in the used market and the Air f1.7 is not that expensive new, even cheaper than the others. Which would you suggest?

Use case would be street and portraits.

For me, this would be a decision between the XF 35/2 and the XF 35/1.4. Weather resistance versus an additional stop of aperture.

If reducing depth of field is the absolute priority, have you considered the two or three manual f/0.95 options?

I will send you soon some samples taken with the old 35mm f1,4 I bought in 2012 with the XP1, on the XH2, I think I only used it on 26 mpx sensors.

Bob

i wouldn't consider the Viltrox 33 1.4...it's not entirely bad, but i think even the new Air 35mm is better...

from what i see, second hand, the fuji 35 1.4 can be had for just a bit more than the 35 2

TTartisan also have a cheap 35mm 1.8...and i think there are also some other brands with the same lens

Jeff Biscuits said:

For me, this would be a decision between the XF 35/2 and the XF 35/1.4. Weather resistance versus an additional stop of aperture.

If reducing depth of field is the absolute priority, have you considered the two or three manual f/0.95 options?

Click to expand...

I have tried several times but never managed to bond with any manual lens

Here is a folder with both OOC JPEGs and RAF files at f 1.4 and f 5.6 just shot right now

with the XH2 and the XF 35mm f 1.4

A rapid look at the files shows that at f 1.4 to get borders and corners with a good IQ you need RAF files and a AI noise and details process, with a very good final result.

Altogether it was for me a good surprise in terms of final IQ using the 40mpx sensor.

Bokeh is always superb.

Abour cons : the AF is definitly noisy and it is not the fastest in the XF lenses range, but I would not say it is slow.

Play with the files to make up your mind


Bob

Good judgment comes from experience
Experience comes from bad judgment

Finally I find the lens works very well with the 40 mpx sensor. F 1.4 developped from the RAF with a AI noise and details process lead to quite good results on borders and corners, but at f 1.4 the lens is prone to CA in corners.

best results are achieved at f 5.6 even in JPEGs.

f 1.4 allows creamy bokeh

That said I find the price for a new one too high

The only weatehr sealed lens you mentioned here is the 35mm f/2, so I guess you answered you own question by citing weather sealing as a requirement.

It's decently affordable, and it's an excellent lens.

MJ_Photo38 said:

The only weatehr sealed lens you mentioned here is the 35mm f/2, so I guess you answered you own question by citing weather sealing as a requirement.

It's decently affordable, and it's an excellent lens.

Click to expand...

XF 33mm F1.4 R LM WR is, umm, WR.

Yannis1976 said:

Hi,

I want to get a 35mm lens for my XT5 (and maybe later for a XE5).

My priorities is subject separation, light weight, aperture ring and ideally WR.

The Fujicron 35mm/f2 would be my obvious choice, but am also attracted by the faster new Viltrox Air 35/f1.7 or the older and even faster Viltrox 33/f1.4.

Click to expand...

I doubt you will be satisfied with their AF speed and precision, even compared to XF 35/2, though I may be wrong. F1.7 is not a big win compared to F2. Viltrox 33/1.4 (also offered badged as Tokina) gets very mixed reviews, with slow AF and AF hunting explicitly mentioned.

Yannis1976 said:

The Fuji 33/f1.4 is probably the best but had it and found it too heavy and big for my taste.

Click to expand...

XF 33mm F1.4 R LM WR is definitely the best in IQ, rendering, sharpness, and AF. You get excellent optics, LM AF motors, and native firmware matched to the body firmware. For X-T5, I'd go for it even despite its weight; it balances well.

For X-E5, XF 35/2 is the best match.

Yannis1976 said:

I also had the 35/f2 and my only "complaint" was that is wasn't that fast,

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If F2 is not fast enough, XF 33/1.4 is your best choice. XF 35/1.4 AF is known to be at the "so-so" level.

See, if you want street photography — where scenes are dynamic, and you want your portraiture perfectly focused — I suggest the AF speed and accuracy should become your primary concern.

XF 35/2 has much faster, more reliable AF than XF 35/4. XF 33/1.4 is even better. Viltrox's AF is undoubtedly inferior to all these, and its IQ gets mixed reviews as well.

Yannis1976 said:

not much of a subject separation in portraits and this is why I am looking for the other two Viltrox alternatives.

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Did you consider the Sigma CONTEMPORARY 30mm F1.4 DC DN to add to your shortlist? It is FF eq. ~46mm. I did not do a deep dive into how good its AF is in a side-by-side comparison with the XF 35/2 and the Viltrox 33/1.4, but my impression is that the Sigma 30/1.4 also has STM motors, much like the Viltrox, so they may (or may not) be on par.

Yannis1976 said:

I can find the Fuji 35/f2 and Viltrox 33/f1.4 in good prices in the used market and the Air f1.7 is not that expensive new, even cheaper than the others. Which would you suggest?

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Speaking of Viltrox, I'd limit my search to lenses that feature their new Dual HyperVCM Motor for AF. At least one of their Pro series X lenses features it — the Viltrox AF 56mm F1.2 Pro, which has a well-respected reputation and positive reviews, but is not 35mm.

Cheap "Air" series? Isn't it a waste of money?

Yannis1976 said:

Use case would be street and portraits.

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Call me a heretic, but — two lenses: XF 33/1.4 for X-T5, XF 35/2 for X-E5. Is Sigma 30/1.4 a contender? I have no clear answer.

MrAndreas said:

MJ_Photo38 said:

The only weatehr sealed lens you mentioned here is the 35mm f/2, so I guess you answered you own question by citing weather sealing as a requirement.

It's decently affordable, and it's an excellent lens.

Click to expand...

XF 33mm F1.4 R LM WR is, umm, WR.

Click to expand...

well, this is what OP said about this very lens : "The Fuji 33/f1.4 is probably the best but had it and found it too heavy and big for my taste."

So if OP wants a small 35mm with WR, I only know one.

Yannis1976 said:

I want to get a 35mm lens for my XT5 (and maybe later for a XE5).

The Fuji 33/f1.4 is probably the best but had it and found it too heavy and big for my taste. I also had the 35/f2 and my only "complaint" was that is wasn't that fast, not much of a subject separation in portraits and this is why I am looking for the other two Viltrox alternatives.

Click to expand...

The XF 33mm/1.4 R LM WR is only 360g. When you said you tried it, was it on your X-T5? I have that combo and I find it extremely well balanced. I love it so much that I'm a bit heartbroken to hear you say that...

I'd vote for the Viltrox Air 35mm/1.7. If you can do without the aperture ring and WR, lenstip tested it and it's basically perfect.

MJ_Photo38 said:

MrAndreas said:

MJ_Photo38 said:

The only weatehr sealed lens you mentioned here is the 35mm f/2, so I guess you answered you own question by citing weather sealing as a requirement.

It's decently affordable, and it's an excellent lens.

Click to expand...

XF 33mm F1.4 R LM WR is, umm, WR.

Click to expand...

well, this is what OP said about this very lens : "The Fuji 33/f1.4 is probably the best but had it and found it too heavy and big for my taste."

So if OP wants a small 35mm with WR, I only know one.

Click to expand...

True. I own XF 23/2 & XF 50/2, and I am happy with both (35mm is not my favorite FL, so I skipped it). So, my suggestion is to get both: 33/1.4 for a heavier body, and 35/2 for a compact, lightweight one.

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Mountaingrapher said:

Yannis1976 said:

I want to get a 35mm lens for my XT5 (and maybe later for a XE5).

The Fuji 33/f1.4 is probably the best but had it and found it too heavy and big for my taste. I also had the 35/f2 and my only "complaint" was that is wasn't that fast, not much of a subject separation in portraits and this is why I am looking for the other two Viltrox alternatives.

Click to expand...

The XF 33mm/1.4 R LM WR is only 360g.

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Yes, not a big deal, TT 75/2 is ~365 g, on X-E3 it is somewhere near the edge of my personal perception and acceptance.

Mountaingrapher said:

When you said you tried it, was it on your X-T5? I have that combo and I find it extremely well balanced. I love it so much that I'm a bit heartbroken to hear you say that...

I'd vote for the Viltrox Air 35mm/1.7.

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I won't.

Mountaingrapher said:

If you can do without the aperture ring and WR, lenstip tested it and it's basically perfect.

Click to expand...

My first X lens, and still my only Fuji 35mm in regular use, is the old 35mm f/1.4. It has an aperture ring, is relatively small and quite light and can achieve beautiful subject separation, but it lacks a lot of modern qualities and features and it is not WR. Also, it makes a noise like a giant pair of scissors when it stops down. Bless its snippy-snappy little heart.

Still, I wouldn't have anything else at that focal length. Mine was very secondhand (or third, or fourth) when I bought it 9 or 10 years ago or so, and if something happened to it, I'd buy another and it might well be newer. But it would be a replacement, not an upgrade. You couldn't improve this lens without changing what makes it so cool. I'd gladly consider a 60mm mk2, though.

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Instagram: @yardcoyote

The 33 1.4 is the reason I'm struggling to let my xt3 go after buying into full frame equipment. it is just such a perfect lens and I've grabbed some gorgeous candid family shots with it along with some great cityscapes. I don't find it big and heavy at all. I had the 35f2 and sold it. the 33 is worth the cost, size and weight over the 35/2.

- F/1.4 lenses will always be larger than f/2 lenses.

- The two fuji lenses at f/1.4: one has a less clinical character (35), the other a more clinical one (33). One has faster AF (33). Both will serve you well.

- WR will not save your lens if the weather conditions are really bad. If they are not, even with some rain and/or dust, WR will not make a difference.

I "upgraded" from XC35 (same as XF35) to Viltrox Air 35. At the time, I "only" had 24mp (X-T20). Yet, the improvements were noticeable especially in the corners and wide open.

So, don't dismiss the Air just because it is cheap.

Now shooting Sony, considering returning to Fuji. I have the Viltrox 25/1.7 and 40/2.5. You get what you pay for, contrast and color rendering are weak vs any Fuji lenses I’ve ever owned other than an XC I returned. They sell because they're sharp and that’s all that matters these days. I was always torn between my 35/1.4 and 35/2. Different strengths: af, compatibility with OVF, WR, my f2 felt better built than my f1.4 vs a gorgeous render. Get them both.

yardcoyote said:

My first X lens, and still my only Fuji 35mm in regular use, is the old 35mm f/1.4. It has an aperture ring, is relatively small and quite light and can achieve beautiful subject separation, but it lacks a lot of modern qualities and features and it is not WR. Also, it makes a noise like a giant pair of scissors when it stops down. Bless its snippy-snappy little heart.

Still, I wouldn't have anything else at that focal length. Mine was very secondhand (or third, or fourth) when I bought it 9 or 10 years ago or so, and if something happened to it, I'd buy another and it might well be newer. But it would be a replacement, not an upgrade. You couldn't improve this lens without changing what makes it so cool.

Click to expand...

Replace the outdated AF with fast, accurate LM AF motors without changing anything else?

yardcoyote said:

I'd gladly consider a 60mm mk2, though.

Click to expand...

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