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

Since this has become a Mitakon F0.95 thread (I do not object), I somehow missed this good review of the Mitakon used by a professional wedding photographer:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=slewI8yq4Y8

I would summarize his perspective as: very nice and very specialized. He uses it only at f0.95, otherwise preferring other autofocus lenses. But for that purpose, he likes it a lot.

PaulWC wrote:

Since this has become a Mitakon F0.95 thread (I do not object), I somehow missed this good review of the Mitakon used by a professional wedding photographer:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=slewI8yq4Y8

I would summarize his perspective as: very nice and very specialized. He uses it only at f0.95, otherwise preferring other autofocus lenses. But for that purpose, he likes it a lot.

I think it will prove to be a good video lens on the X-H1.  It's stepless & silent aperture and focus rings, when coupled with the IBIS on the X-H1, should enable some great video capabilities.

ELSELS wrote:

Tom Schum wrote:

Superb review, Tony!

I guess I just need to be trash-talked. Mitakon on order!

Hello Tom:

If I may ask, when do you expect to take order (delivery) of this lens?

Curious to see what types of results you'll be able to achieve using it on your Fuji.

Thanks for mentioning you ordered it...

Have a nice day,

Ed,

Ordered that day, received yesterday, took it out shooting today in a museum, preparing results to present in a review today, maybe will have my review up in DPR as soon as tomorrow.

Overall, excellent lens.

It can be used for landscapes above F5.6 but edges are not completely sharp even then.

Excellent sharpness in the middle from F0.95 to F8.

Remember this is not a Sigma sensor but a 16mp Fuji X-trans sensor (in my X-E1). Demo images developed from raws are downsized to 1/4 original pixels by the Nearest Neighbor algorithm.

Here are a couple:

Shot at F0.95, raw developed to taste, downsized to 1/4 original pixels.

Shot at F0.95, raw developed to taste, downsized to 1/4 original pixels.

Grab shot, F-stop unknown.

georgehudetz wrote:

PaulWC wrote:

Since this has become a Mitakon F0.95 thread (I do not object), I somehow missed this good review of the Mitakon used by a professional wedding photographer:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=slewI8yq4Y8

I would summarize his perspective as: very nice and very specialized. He uses it only at f0.95, otherwise preferring other autofocus lenses. But for that purpose, he likes it a lot.

I think it will prove to be a good video lens on the X-H1. It's stepless & silent aperture and focus rings, when coupled with the IBIS on the X-H1, should enable some great video capabilities.

Should be great in low light at low ISO with X-H1 IBIS!  I was afraid to use mine below 1/50th sec shutter speed in my non stabilized X-E1.

Pan50 wrote:

The 35mm f2 is smaller than the 35mm f1.4 but for sure not in the same class. That 35 f1.4 is one of the best lenses I have ever used in the 35 years I have been shooting!! So what if the f2 version has faster autofocus. The bokeh is superior on the 1.4 as is overall image quality. And the lens hood is fine, also functions well on the 60mm f.2.4 as well.

As I go over my photos, it seems that just about every time I find a shot that I just love, I check the data and find that I shot it with the 35  1.4.  I own 12 different lenses for my FUJIFILM cameras, so that is saying something.

Unboxing now.  

Picture proof that I am up and running and happy. Astia jpeg shot at f1.4, ISO 320 and 1/5000 s.

And Astia jpeg shot at f5.6, ISO 250 and 1/27 s.

Enjoy your new camera.

The lens hood is not stupid at all, it blocks less area in the optical view finder of the Xpro series.

DocetLector wrote:

The lens hood is not stupid at all, it blocks less area in the optical view finder of the Xpro series.

Ok but what about all the other Fuji lenses. Or did Fuji think the only lens used by owners of the X-Pro would be the 35 f/1.4?

Really this is one of the lamest excuses I have ever heard for a poorly designed lens hood.

Fuji makes 9 different cameras this lens can be used on and there rationale was it blocked the viewfinder less on the X-Pro than say the 18-55, 23 f/1.4, 16 f/1.4, 14 f/2.8 with the petal lens hood attached.

Stupid is as stupid does.

Just Shoot Me wrote:

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.

I like the f1.4's hood but I'm not sure why it would even be a question as to the deep f1.4 hood being much more effective than the really shallow f2 hood.