Is the 23mm F2 a bad lens?

My main system is Sony.

I have tried Fuji a few times - XE1, XT10, X100 and X100T are the bodies that I used in the past. All for a brief period of time though.

Got an XT20 with 18-55mm and want to try using it along side my Sony. Just for fun.

For family photos, I am considering the 23mm F2. The only Fuji lens that I used were the 18-55mm, if you don't count the 23mm in the X100/T.

Is the XF 23mm F2 a bad lens? I read that it's the same as X100 series where pictures are blurry when the objects are close.

The 23mm F1.4 looks nice, but it costs more than I can spare.

Should I consider the 35mm? On my Sony, I find the 55mm f1.8 too long.

If you shoot subjects at about 12" or closer, you get the softness that the lens was designed to provide.

No, it's an excellent lens. Also, the lens in the X100 series is not the same lens as the XF 23mm f2 R WR.

The 23/1.4 has MFD 28cm, and the 23/2 has MFD 22cm. So if you're focusing on a subject at 22-28cm, the 23/1.4 would not help with sharpness at that distance.

jor23 wrote:

My main system is Sony.

I have tried Fuji a few times - XE1, XT10, X100 and X100T are the bodies that I used in the past. All for a brief period of time though.

Got an XT20 with 18-55mm and want to try using it along side my Sony. Just for fun.

For family photos, I am considering the 23mm F2. The only Fuji lens that I used were the 18-55mm, if you don't count the 23mm in the X100/T.

Is the XF 23mm F2 a bad lens? I read that it's the same as X100 series where pictures are blurry when the objects are close.

The 23mm F1.4 looks nice, but it costs more than I can spare.

Should I consider the 35mm? On my Sony, I find the 55mm f1.8 too long.

For working within a budget, the 23mm f/2.0 is a great compact lens which performs very well.

No;-)

jor23 wrote:

Is the XF 23mm F2 a bad lens?

Bad if you are a pixel peeper, fine if you are into photography.

absolutely not. As already stated, when focusing close f2 will be a little soft. But same with the x100 lens and the 23 1.4 can not focus that close. Having said that, the 23f2 is beautifully built and a pleasure to use. The AF is fast and it's quiet. IQ is good!

I’d get the 23mm. I find it to be almost as sharp as my 56 APD wide open, and that’s saying something for such a small and fast-focusing lens. Don’t really see any difference between near and far subjects.

Spectacular lens! I enjoy the focal length for many different aspects of shooting. The weather sealing is an added bonus, it's well built, small, and has a great look about it.

acktown wrote:

Spectacular lens! I enjoy the focal length for many different aspects of shooting. The weather sealing is an added bonus, it's well built, small, and has a great look about it.

Lovely!

I’ve rented both 23mm.  They are both great lenses.  The f2 is a little quicker focusing.  Tha 1.4 has more “magic” IQ.  Don’t feel like you’re giving up much if you don’t want to pay the extra for the 1.4.

Very badly worded question but I'll give you the benefit of the doubt and answer it.  The answer is no, absoltely not.  Its a very fine lens.  The 23/35/50 F2s are all great little lenses.

Oh, and what are you talking about on that "blurry" comment?  The X100F has a great F2 prime and there is nothing even remotely blurry about it.  There are no blurry Fuji lenses.  There are no "bad" Fuji lenses.  Fuji makes some of the best, or perhaps the best, glass in the world.

Greg Johnson, San Antonio, Texas
https://www.flickr.com/photos/139148982@N02/albums

jor23 wrote:

I had an X100 and and an X100T. If you focus close and shoot at f2, the pictures are blurry ... I don't think this needs to be argued.

Hmmmm.  Hadn't heard that.  The X100F is a pro camera body with a pro 23 F2 lens permanently attached, so that surprises me.

Well then.  I am currently shooting in Rome and I brought 7 tac-sharp Fuji lenses with me (but I left the 23 F2 at home).

I also have the X100F with me but haven't gone out with it yet.  I'll go give it a try.  Close at F2.  I don't ever shoot close at F2 but I will go out today and see if it is blurry close at F2.

OK guys... Thread derailment time.  Is the X100F "blurry" close at F2 like the OP says?  I dont recall ever reading that when you guys made me buy that camera a few months ago on that X100F thread.

Greg Johnson, San Antonio, Texas
https://www.flickr.com/photos/139148982@N02/albums

jor23 wrote:

Is the XF 23mm F2 a bad lens?

It's almost unanimously held by all users that the XF23mm f2.0 is an excellent lens.

This review is just one of the many out there you may like to read.

I read that it's the same as X100 series

You need to be more careful about what you believe of what you read on the internet.

It is definitely not the same lens. In fact as per this statement from Fuji, it could hardly be more different.

You could have just asked what people thought about the lens, instead of asking what you did.

In my view, the way you put it reflects on you quite negatively. It tells people that you have very little idea, but plenty of prejudice. It makes me think you have made up your mind without knowing anything about the lens, and never bothered to check if the little you thought you knew was actually correct.

where pictures are blurry when the objects are close.

I am not sure this is the case, but admittedly, I have never had an X100T.

jor23 wrote:

I had an X100 and and an X100T. If you focus close and shoot at f2, the pictures are blurry ... I don't think this needs to be argued.

It's quite correct, that does not need to be argued. At least not in relation to the performance of the XF23mm f/2.0 lens

As I stated in my earlier post the XF23mm f/2.0 and the lens on the X100T are not the same lens.

Accordingly, it is totally irrelevant to this discussion how the lens of the X100T performs under the conditions you describe.

Greg7579 wrote:

jor23 wrote:

I had an X100 and and an X100T. If you focus close and shoot at f2, the pictures are blurry ... I don't think this needs to be argued.

Hmmmm. Hadn't heard that. The X100F is a pro camera body with a pro 23 F2 lens permanently attached, so that surprises me.

Well then. I am currently shooting in Rome and I brought 7 tac-sharp Fuji lenses with me (but I left the 23 F2 at home).

I also have the X100F with me but haven't gone out with it yet. I'll go give it a try. Close at F2. I don't ever shoot close at F2 but I will go out today and see if it is blurry close at F2.

OK guys... Thread derailment time. Is the X100F "blurry" close at F2 like the OP says? I dont recall ever reading that when you guys made me buy that camera a few months ago on that X100F thread.

Greg,

If you are so inclined, you can do lots of testing  with the X100F or the X100T. However, as far as the performance of the XF23mm f2.0 is concerned it will have very little relevance.

They are not the same lenses. Please see my earlier post in relation to that.