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Anyone Compare Fuji 14mm f2.8 to Viltrox 13mm f1.4?
- Thread starter jpnwdc
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Samuraidog
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I just got the Viltrox and I don't find it bulky or heavy. It's actually smaller than I expected based on a few comments in these forums.
grey pilgrim
Leading Member
I've just ordered one to see how it does for Astro work. I've used the 14 at f2.8 for astro work; I generally have to use my Samyang 12f2 at 2.8 to get acceptable corners. I'm hoping I can use the Viltrox at f2 at least and thus gain a stop. It all depends on the weather as to when I can test it out.
Doug
Doug
Studio_Melon
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I've been using the Viltrox for about two months now.
While I don't have the XF14 2.8 to compare with I do have a Zeiss Touit 12mm f/2.8 (similar vintage, it was introduced as a direct competitor to the XF14) that I've had for years. To cut to the chase I'm pretty sure I'm going to be selling the Zeiss. Here's an outline of where I feel each lens's strengths lie / how I feel about them.
Zeiss Touit 12mm f/2.8:
+++widest FOV (12 vs 13 vs 14) // +lighter (270g vs 420g) // +smaller // -bulbous front element can be awkward in a bag
I don't find any of it's advantages vs Viltrox super noticeable in practice. I should note I've also never been a huge fan of the way it renders people.
Viltrox 13mm f/1.4:
+++f1.4 (2 extra stops of light /DOF) // +faster AF // +razor sharp center @f1.4 // +++value
The two extra stops of light/DOF opens up a lot of creative potential and makes this lens much more practical (and fun IMHO) as a general purpose lens, especially in low light.
Fujinon XF 14mm f/2.8 R:
++smallest by far // ++lightest by far (235g) // -narrowest FOV // -f2.8
The neat thing about this lens is that it is the smallest and lightest of the three (its also slightly sharper than Zeiss.) That said, it also has the narrowest FOV and is still only f2.8.
In the end what lens is "right" is probably going to come down to how you want to use it.
As a general purpose / walk around / low light lens I don't think either of the other two lenses hold a candle to the Viltrox IF you can manage the extra size and weight. It's also an absolutely incredible value.
For landscapes, architecture or if you only plan on using it occasionally as your emergency ultra wide however, it's not so clear cut. The Zeiss is noticeably wider, the Fuji much more compact, and both are noticeably lighter.
If you want to travel as light as possible, shoot primarily during the daytime or don't mind shooting at narrower apertures, the Zeiss and the Fuji are both excellent choices available at reasonable prices on the secondary market.
Addendum:
Edited to try and be a bit more objective. I personally really enjoy the Viltrox in a way I've struggled to enjoy the Zeiss (and many other lenses) but I'm not primarily a landscape or architecture photographer. I mostly shoot people (portraits, candid, action, street), travel, and events. I'll shoot landscapes or buildings if the opportunity for a cool shot arises but it's not my main focus.
For me, the Zeiss 12 has always been a lens I'll bring on vacation or to special events and take out maybe one or two times, but all too often it stayed at home or in the bag. It's good at what it does, but unlike the Viltrox 13 it's not something I'd feel comfortable taking as my only lens for the day.
One more thing I want to add, all of these lenses benefit immensely from IBIS. The Viltrox in particular when shooting at f1.4 with IBIS is an absolute monster in low light.
Finally, I think a good question to ask yourself is "what tends to make me want to take a lens out to shoot?" For me, the combination of ultra wide AND f1.4 paired with IBIS has become one answer to that question, but YMMV. If a smaller/lighter lens will end up in your bag more often buy that.
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Thanks for the thorough comparison! One reviewer commented that he thought the Fuji lens rendered color the best (vs the Viltrox). I may look at the Fuji 14mm again. The size and weight is an important factor for me.
gdanmitchell
Veteran Member
Like others responding to the thread, while I have a ton of experience with one of the lenses, I have none with the other. So, other than comparing known features, I'll just tell you about the lens I have. Perhaps folks can start to fill in the gaps by reading the various threads.
I have had the Fujifilm 14mm f/2.8 since I got my first x-trans camera (the XE1) a decade ago, and I've continued to use it as I have moved to the XPro2 and now the XT5. My primary use for the lens has been street, travel, and some architectural photography growing out of the first two subjects.
T/he pluses of the 14mm f/2.8
- it is quite small and light for a lens with this focal length, which is a virtue for street and travel.
- it is optically excellent — in my view among the very best lenses that Fujifilm has made.
- since I'm usually not looking for "ultra wide" but rather for wide, the 14mm focal length (angle-of-view equivalent to 21mm on full frame) is just right for a lot of work in constrained spaces in interiors and for street photography.
- With the high ISO performance of today's cameras, along with the inclusion of IBIS, the f/2.8 maximum aperture is much less of a concern that it might have been in the past. (And generally, in low light situations with such a lens I'm going to have to stop down anyway to ensure sufficient DOF.)
How small is it? Not tiny like the 27mm f/2.8, for sure. It is sort of midway between the rather compact 35mm f/1.4 and the much larger 23mm f/1.4. That's not bad for such a wide lens.
Things to think about when comparing to the Viltrox 13mm f/1.4 — and going purely on the basis of specs since I have no direct experience with it:
- the price of the Viltrox is quite attractive. (There is a sale on the Fujifilm 14mm f/2.8 right now that make it competitive, though even with that $300 savings, the Viltrox still costs less.)
- the Viltrox is more than an inch longer than the Fujifilm lens and about 1/3 inch thicker. The Fujifilm lens weighs 8 oz, while the Viltrox weighs about 15 oz, almost twice as much.
- if you need f/1.4 (and think this through carefully for such a lens, in the context of your particular use) then the Viltrox is going to get you the combination of wide angle and large aperture. You'd have to go with a 16mm Fujifilm lens to get f/1.4. (That may or may not be a good alternative.)
- from my personal perspective, if I'm on the fence I would always choose the lens from the same company as the camera since future compatibility issues are less likely.
Dan
A few photos with the 14mm f/2.8...
--
When in doubt, doubt.
www.gdanmitchell.com
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