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

Hi all, I used to be active on this site almost a decade ago but I stopped posting and my handle apparently now belongs to someone else.

I always loved a single prime lens camera. I loved my OM2 + Zuiko 50mm 1.8 (although I did add a 24mm eventually.) The greatest camera I ever used was an all-mechanical Fujica GS645. The 80mm lens on this pullout bellow-lens camera was a 40mm full frame equivalent. That is an excellent focal length really. A Sigma DP2 has intervened. It had a good focal length and excellent image quality but was an absolute dog on usability and raw software.

Now I am convinced that I want to go Fuji again. I have looked at hundreds of images and I love the quality. I mostly intend shoot in-camera JPEGs with Raw that can be tweaked afterwards in-camera where necessary. I love the Fuji JPEGs and really believe in the purity of shooting the final picture on the spot where possible. I am also not too interested in going down the Lightroom rabbit hole.

I have of course been considering the X100F and I have played with it extensively. It is a beautiful camera, almost a perfect rangefinder design. However the 35mm equivalent is not really my focal length. (I had a Nikon 35Ti at one point. Great camera, lovely pictures but wrong perspective for my photography.) I want cleaner lines to do the portrait, portrait in scene, and landscape photography that I enjoy. Using a single prime lens is a challenge but I like it.

After also considering the X-Pro2, X-T2, X-T20 or X-E3, with the 35mm f1.4 , 35mm f2.0 or 27mm f2.8, I think that I am ready to jump...

I am close to buying the X-E3 + 35mm f1.4. It looks to be functionally excellent and the lens has a lot of character.

(It is also not too expensive an investment. So an eventual upgrade to an X-Pro3, 33mm f1.0 or [insert rumour here] would not be too painful.)

I appreciate any thoughts or suggestions. Thanks in advance.

I have both the 35 f/1.4 and f/2 lenses and a X-E2 camera. I suggest you get the f/2 model as it is faster focusing, smaller, weather sealed and has a more pleasing hood design (IMHO the hood on the f/1.4 is stupid). Whether the hood on the f/2 35mm lens is as effective as the one on the f/1.4 I don't know. I try not to shoot into the sun.

Thanks for the advice. That is the big choice really: which 35mm? I do not care too much about lens hoods. I care very much about image quality, in particular that intangible 'magic glass' quality that some lenses seem to have. From the images I have looked at, the f1.4 seems to have a more attractive rendering than the f2.0. (And I do pixel peep, so corner sharpness stopped down for landscapes matters to me.) But I am open-minded on the 'which 35mm' question...

35 1.4 is my favourite lens. The autofocus is not the fastest, but still is very useable. Otherwise, it is superior to 35 f2 in my opinion. And I would say that it can be used as the only lens, but this depends on your preferences. Some may find wider angle lenses such as 27 or 23mm to be more versatile.

I should add that speed of focus is not at the top of my list (although it does not hurt). I am an old-style manual camera guy. I expect to back button focus and manually tweak that as necessary on most pictures.

Artem Holstov wrote:

35 1.4 is my favourite lens. The autofocus is not the fastest, but still is very useable. Otherwise, it is superior to 35 f2 in my opinion. And I would say that it can be used as the only lens, but this depends on your preferences. Some may find wider angle lenses such as 27 or 23mm to be more versatile.

Thanks Artem.

colombiano wrote:

If you want magic, you'll buy 1.4 version.

Much appreciated.

I own both an original DP2 and a Fuji X-T1.

The DP2, under the right circumstances, delivers (in my opinion) nicer colours.

But anything where ISO 50 or 100 cannot be used, the DP2 is virtually useless. The Fuji is a real allround camera, and superior in all other circumstances.

Also, I prefer the more straightforward basic menus of the Sigma, with less bells and whistles. On the other hand, the physical dials on the Fuji are a great asset.

I didn't experience any problems with the Sigma-files, simply converted in SPP and then, if I want further tweaking, import them in Lightzone. But if the 2-step-processing is annoying you, then Fuji certainly has a plus here for you.

The 35 1.4 lens is highly regarded, and the extra stop adds a lot of versatility compared to an f/2 lens. The price is not that different, and both lenses are modest in size. Since you seem to prefer the 1.4-images, go with your gut feeling and get that lens.

If you prefer (full frame) 40mm field of view, then the Fuji 27mm 2.8 might be worth considering, although many here do not like the lack of aperture ring.

If initial investment is an important consideration, you could also a previous generation camera, such as X-E2(s) or X-T1. AF will be a bit slower under certain circumstances.

Sjak wrote:

I own both an original DP2 and a Fuji X-T1.

The DP2, under the right circumstances, delivers (in my opinion) nicer colours.

...

If you prefer (full frame) 40mm field of view, then the Fuji 27mm 2.8 might be worth considering, although many here do not like the lack of aperture ring.

If initial investment is an important consideration, you could also a previous generation camera, such as X-E2(s) or X-T1. AF will be a bit slower under certain circumstances.

The DP2 really does have wonderful colours. I still own it but I am ready to move on to something with better usability.

The 27mm f2.8 looks to be a great lens for Acros when stopped down but not much magic in the colours. (Not to even mention the aggravating bokeh...)

I can afford the X-E3 and the new generation of Fuji cameras are really nice. The reason I will not get the X-Pro2 (my favourite) is that it looks too 'long in the tooth' for its current price. The X-E3's EVF is about as good and the X-T2's so much better (mind blowing actually.) So my attitude is enjoy the X-E3 for now and perhaps a long time.

I cannot bring myself to buy the X-T2. It is a lot of money (and big), and I just prefer the rangefinder style.

Paul I'll post some images from both lenses sometime later today, Same subject, different and same f/stops.

Just Shoot Me wrote:

Paul I'll post some images from both lenses sometime later today, Same subject, different and same f/stops.

Please and thank you! (I am a Canadian based in China and will go to bed soon - at least eventually - but I will see them in the morning.)

PaulWC wrote:

I cannot bring myself to buy the X-T2. It is a lot of money (and big), and I just prefer the rangefinder style.

I am a rangefinder person too. Use Leica M cameras for years and only sold my last one, a M8, when my eye sight started to diminish. Bought the X-E2 to replace it.

I think the X-E3 and 35 f/1.4 will make an awesome combo. I plan on keeping that lens on my X-T2.

The 35f1.4 is a lovely lens, and it sounds perfect for what you are looking for.  I don’t have the f2.0 so I can’t say which is better.  However everything that they have written about the f1.4 is true in my opinion.

PaulWC wrote:

The DP2 really does have wonderful colours. I still own it but I am ready to move on to something with better usability.

If I take the DP2 on a trip, it is as a companion to another (less specialized / more versatile) camera. So I totally understand your considerations

Sounds like you more or less made up your mind re. the X-E3. I would say, go for it!

Echoing what most other seem to think, I absolutely love the X-E3 + 35 f1.4 combo. Just the right size and features that I need for almost everything.

I used the 35 f1.4 since it was first introduced and loved it, but was suckered in a few years later with the release of the 35f2. I shouldn't say 'suckered' really because the 35f2 is a fantastic lens; definitely faster to focus, great images, WR, good size, etc. I used it a lot as well. However a couple of months ago, looking back at older photos, I still see something a little more special from the images made with the 351.4. I went and bought it again, and I was absolutely right, it's just perfect on the X-E3.

Truthfully, with less hyperbole, there isn't a huge difference between them, but there is a difference that matters to my taste.

The 35f1.4 is slightly slower to focus but it has improved dramatically over the years as the camera bodies have improved (Xpro1-->X-T1-->X-T2/Xpro2-->X-E3). I don't feel I miss shots using it on the street or with taking pictures of my kids. Love it.

The 35f1.4 plus the 28f2 together make my perfect do-everything kit.

PaulWC wrote:

Hi all, I used to be active on this site almost a decade ago but I stopped posting and my handle apparently now belongs to someone else.

I always loved a single prime lens camera. I loved my OM2 + Zuiko 50mm 1.8 (although I did add a 24mm eventually.) The greatest camera I ever used was an all-mechanical Fujica GS645. The 80mm lens on this pullout bellow-lens camera was a 40mm full frame equivalent. That is an excellent focal length really. A Sigma DP2 has intervened. It had a good focal length and excellent image quality but was an absolute dog on usability and raw software.

Now I am convinced that I want to go Fuji again. I have looked at hundreds of images and I love the quality. I mostly intend shoot in-camera JPEGs with Raw that can be tweaked afterwards in-camera where necessary. I love the Fuji JPEGs and really believe in the purity of shooting the final picture on the spot where possible. I am also not too interested in going down the Lightroom rabbit hole.

I have of course been considering the X100F and I have played with it extensively. It is a beautiful camera, almost a perfect rangefinder design. However the 35mm equivalent is not really my focal length. (I had a Nikon 35Ti at one point. Great camera, lovely pictures but wrong perspective for my photography.) I want cleaner lines to do the portrait, portrait in scene, and landscape photography that I enjoy. Using a single prime lens is a challenge but I like it.

After also considering the X-Pro2, X-T2, X-T20 or X-E3, with the 35mm f1.4 , 35mm f2.0 or 27mm f2.8, I think that I am ready to jump...

I am close to buying the X-E3 + 35mm f1.4. It looks to be functionally excellent and the lens has a lot of character.

(It is also not too expensive an investment. So an eventual upgrade to an X-Pro3, 33mm f1.0 or [insert rumour here] would not be too painful.)

I appreciate any thoughts or suggestions. Thanks in advance.

PaulWC wrote:

Hi all, I used to be active on this site almost a decade ago but I stopped posting and my handle apparently now belongs to someone else.

I always loved a single prime lens camera. I loved my OM2 + Zuiko 50mm 1.8 (although I did add a 24mm eventually.) The greatest camera I ever used was an all-mechanical Fujica GS645. The 80mm lens on this pullout bellow-lens camera was a 40mm full frame equivalent. That is an excellent focal length really. A Sigma DP2 has intervened. It had a good focal length and excellent image quality but was an absolute dog on usability and raw software.

Now I am convinced that I want to go Fuji again. I have looked at hundreds of images and I love the quality. I mostly intend shoot in-camera JPEGs with Raw that can be tweaked afterwards in-camera where necessary. I love the Fuji JPEGs and really believe in the purity of shooting the final picture on the spot where possible. I am also not too interested in going down the Lightroom rabbit hole.

I have of course been considering the X100F and I have played with it extensively. It is a beautiful camera, almost a perfect rangefinder design. However the 35mm equivalent is not really my focal length. (I had a Nikon 35Ti at one point. Great camera, lovely pictures but wrong perspective for my photography.) I want cleaner lines to do the portrait, portrait in scene, and landscape photography that I enjoy. Using a single prime lens is a challenge but I like it.

After also considering the X-Pro2, X-T2, X-T20 or X-E3, with the 35mm f1.4 , 35mm f2.0 or 27mm f2.8, I think that I am ready to jump...

I am close to buying the X-E3 + 35mm f1.4. It looks to be functionally excellent and the lens has a lot of character.

(It is also not too expensive an investment. So an eventual upgrade to an X-Pro3, 33mm f1.0 or [insert rumour here] would not be too painful.)

I appreciate any thoughts or suggestions. Thanks in advance.

35f1,4 is possibly too big and heavy - compared to the lightweight body.

f2 lenses are smaller and perhaps more balanced with the smallish body.

X-E3 is on my shopping list i will probably buy it with 23f2. Or i just use my  pancake style 27f2,8  and sometimes the great 18-55 zoom. With 27f2,8 the camera is pocketable and weights almost nothing.