Fuji 60mm, back for a second try

When I first purchased my XPRO1, I bought the three Fuji lenses available at the time, 18mm, 35mm and 60mm Macro.

I love the camera and the lenses, but foolishly allowed myself to sell my first 60mm because it was so D%#^@ slow in focusing and read all the bad reviews from others.

I should have waited. Fuji updated firmware for both their XPRO1 and Lenses, and that changed everything. We'll forget for a moment that I lost about $150 in the deal and had to purchase it again for the same price I bought it for originally. Or will we?

In any case even without the firmware updates, this is a great lens. As you can see from the samples, I have used it in a variety of situations, including taking photos of our dogs while they are running around in the yard.

Yes, focusing was a challenge, but I like the images and color rendering of this lens. Of course, being attached to the XPRO1 is a plus, right?

While the lens is listed as a macro, I found it to be good for just about anything, as long as you remember it's effectively a 90mm lens (I wish they would make the conversions and sell the lenses as they really are, not the way they were thought of on older 35mm cameras, but I digress). It's a good portrait lens and as you can see from the sunset photo, if you're far enough away from the subject, it makes great landscapes.

I think anyone purchasing any of Fuji's X-series of cameras....must have this lens. As you can see, it's versatile, sharp and by the way, like all of the X-series lenses, so light, you can carry the camera and a bunch of primes for half the weight of my Canon 5d MKII.

I'm a pixel peeper of the worst order, but when it comes to reviews, I hardly ever look at photos taken of test scenes. I want to see how a lens and camera work in the real world. I almost always look at shots taken of living things, because, in general, that's what I shoot. By the way, I give this lens 4-stars, not because I think it's deficient in some way, but because I believe that even an excellent product always has room for improvement. Otherwise, we'd never purchase the "next big thing."

If you're on the fence about getting this lens, jump off right now and head to Amazon, or Gearshop or B&H. Commit to Fuji-X and you won't regret it.

I am deciding which lens to purchase next ( I already have 18-55 and 35).  After seeing your pictures I think I have made my choice.

Haha, I love the shot of the two dogs. Whoever said the camera is no good for action shots?

I don't know if it is due to the image processing you used, but the first in the image, the bee is somewhat soft. I know that Macro has an extremely short DOF,  but if you were focusing on any part of the bee, I should see better sharpness on some part of the insect. The other shots are very sharp, but since they are not macro, they should be. Any comments from the shooter?

Did you use a tripod?

I have no doubts about the quality of that lens, and I was about to buy it, but...Since I do not do much macro and since the 55-200 came along, I went for that one and to a certain extent it can be used as a macro lens. It is faster, yes bulkier, but everthing is subjective to whether too big. And it has more flexibility. So the 18-55 is on one X-E1 and the 55-200 on its twin brother. The 35mm/1,4 is always at hand.But again I am a street and people photographer.

Not a macro, but still...

Cheers everyone.

eglt wrote:

<snip>I wish they would make the conversions and sell the lenses as they really are, not the way they were thought of on older 35mm cameras, but I digress)<snip>

Off topic, but I TOTALLY agree.  I have said this for many, many years--since my first Canon (original) Rebel.

BTW: I just bought this lens on FM forums for ~260.  I seemed like a very good deal. Will arrive next week, so looking forward to using it.  It should nicely compliment the other two original x primes in my x-arsenal.
—
Tony
Canon EOS 5D Mark III :: Canon EOS 30D :: Canon S95 :: Fuji X-T1 :: Fuji X-E2 :: Fuji x100s :: GoPro HERO2 :: GoPro Hero 3+ Black :: Fuji XP70 :: Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L :: Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS :: Canon EF 85mm f/1.8 USM :: EF 100mm f/2.8 Macro USM :: Canon EF 50mm f/1.4 USM :: Tokina AT-X 16-28 F2.8 PRO FX :: Canon Extender EF 1.4X II :: Fuji XF 18mm f/2 R :: Fuji XF 18-55mm f/2.8-4 R LM OIS :: Fuji XF 35mm f/1.4 R :: Fuji XF 55-200mm f/3.5-4.8 R LM OIS

I'm planning to get the X-PRO2 when it becomes available and about three primes. The ones I am thinking of are the 18, 35 f/2.0  and 56 or 60.

Do you people who own the 60 find it any faster with the latest firmware updates (compared to 2013 when this review was originally written)?

Is the autofocus of the 60 any faster with the X-T1 compared to a X-Pro1?

Of course there's the 56 f/1.2 which is a fantastic lens, but it is heavier and more expensive. Which one would you choose of the 56 and 60 if you were on a limited budget and which one if there was funds for any of them but didn't feel the need of both?

Do you think Fuji will update any of the above, the way they did with 35 somehow? (18 is not considered pin sharp, 60 is considered slow).

Bjrn SWE wrote:

I'm planning to get the X-PRO2 when it becomes available and about three primes. The ones I am thinking of are the 18, 35 f/2.0 and 56 or 60.

Do you people who own the 60 find it any faster with the latest firmware updates (compared to 2013 when this review was originally written)?

Is the autofocus of the 60 any faster with the X-T1 compared to a X-Pro1?

Of course there's the 56 f/1.2 which is a fantastic lens, but it is heavier and more expensive. Which one would you choose of the 56 and 60 if you were on a limited budget and which one if there was funds for any of them but didn't feel the need of both?

Do you think Fuji will update any of the above, the way they did with 35 somehow? (18 is not considered pin sharp, 60 is considered slow).

The 60 is much quicker now than it was in '13, especially if you're using it on one of the newer Fuji bodies. The 56, while faster to focus than the 60, doesn't have the fastest AF either, as you would expect for a lens of its nature.

I own both the 56 and the 60 and would have a very hard time letting either go. The 56 is absolutely amazing, and it's my go to lens for portraits. However, the 60 is incredible in its own right, and it's one of my most used lenses. Unless I'm going out specifically to take portraits, I use the 60 because of its compact size and close focus ability. I find the bokeh on the 60 to be a little bit nicer as well.