Hi Mike. Thank you so much for this great reviev. I also shoot with the x100s. I bought the 55mm, and am looking forward to test it when i am in my holidays in the middle of march. Regards from Switzerland. Semih
My goal is to provide my findings and honest reviews, but never to help your wallet! 😅😅😅 I absolutely love this lens. After purchasing I just did a corporate portrait on site shoot for my client. The lens is phenomenal!
Thanks for this one! My own thoughts (if it's of any help to anyone) Pros: - Quality of image. Super super sharp even at wide apertures - It's fast. Makes it ideal for low light scenarios - Nice, usable bokeh that is not over the top, like the 80mm and 110mm - Auto focus is good and accurate, no problems Cons: - Size. It is a BIG lens, especially compared to the 50mm and 45mm. Same size as 80mm and both are almost the same as 110mm, just a bit shorter - Focus breathing. Not ideal for video or focus stacking My verdict: I would personally go with the 45mm. Cheaper, smaller, lighter and more versatile focal length. It's slower, but you can definitely compensate with superb ISO performance. I would choose 55mm if I would be going out at night with this monster of a setup (who would do this!?? :P) and/or leaning more heavily towards portraiture and want to fill that gap in your setup in a more versatile way. Of course you know who you are and what you need... Ideally you should own both :P
Fully agreed on the size! Haven't tried focus stacking yet 😅 Interesting that you'd go with the 45mm! Makes sense if you want a lighter lens though. Such a big diff with weight! Thanks as always for your input and comment sir!
Thanks for watching and taking the time to comment! Yeahhh. I used to own the 50/3.5. Sold it after I got this. This is by far my most used 'studio' lens. I couldnt recommend it enough honestly.
@@MikeBanom That is such bad news for my bank account, lol. One question: I shot a large group of people the other day for which I had to stop down to F16 on the 50mm. The image was not sharp enough due to diffraction. Have you tried the 55 at F16 or F11?
JUST KIDDING YOU NEED IT BAD! Thanks for the kind words! I'm really behind on videos due to my wedding coming up! But I have 1 video roughly 85% ready to go, and 2 more already recorded.
Hi Mike! Nice review! Despite all the positive feedback for the 55 ultimately I decided to go with the 45 + 80 instead. First and foremost I was able to get these 2 used in mint conditions basically for the price of a new 55. Second I find the 55 to be 'neither here nor there' type of lens. If I want to shoot portraits the 80 is simply more appropriate due the more flattering compression and If I want ot do street (even at night) the 45 is quicker, wider, lighter and more than fast enough in terms of aperture for me. I get the appeal of the 55 though and it if price and weight is not an issue it is certainly a nice-to-have. :)
IMO you made a solid choice! I really love the GF45. And its a bit wider, so you get a bit more coverage with the 45 & 80 vs the 55 and 80. And… you cant go wrong with a solid deal!! You touched on a great point. I don't LOVE the focal length, well I do. But I think its a bit here nor there as well. I have a video 90% done talking about my GFX kit - I mention that I would really love to see a 27mm or 18mm f1.7 lens 😅. Would buy immediately.
I have the 120, 80 and 35-70. I was really worried about the 80, switched to the monopod every time with the 100s my hit rate is 90% with slow moving models. Gfx autofocus just isn’t very forgiving handheld. Fine with me, monopod is worth it. Just annihilates my a7rv with all the gms
@@MikeBanom I just find the images must more excited and pleasing on the 100s than with the Sony. Sony is a workhorse that will get the job done but once you get that big sensor it’s so hard to go back
Good question sir! So I did buy the lens. I was thinking of making a part 2 honestly. I use this lens a TON. I find the AF to be really solid. Talking GFX standards on the 100s. But IMO it performs very solid.
I am not sure what you think you are showing, but it isn't the quality of the lens. Instead your video shows in an elaborate way, that depth of field gets bigger, when you close the aperture. Which probably isn't what you wanted to show? If you are trying to show sharpness and contrast of the lens, you need a plane subject that's filling out the frame. I thought id tell you that, since you already made that mistake in another video, where you showed a plant in a similar way.
i'm far from impressed by these modern lenses rendition ... they make lenses faster and faster cause they lost their ability to seperate each plan of the image ...
@@MikeBanom smaller lenses with simpler lens design with less elements … a tradoff can easily be made on vigneting and distorsion that can be corrected in post easily … I’d rather have simple formulas with smaller lenses and aperture not that fast and mostly a capacity to render depth with a shallow fall of
Hi Mike.
Thank you so much for this great reviev. I also shoot with the x100s. I bought the 55mm, and am looking forward to test it when i am in my holidays in the middle of march.
Regards from Switzerland.
Semih
Glad you enjoyed the review Semih! Thanks for taking the time to comment and best of luck with your testing!
Hi Mike, great video. Thanks for sharing your thoughts, great pictures
Thanks so much for watching as always sir!
You are not helping my financial situation with this video 🤩 great review, also I love the f1.7 or nothing approach 😂 🔥
My goal is to provide my findings and honest reviews, but never to help your wallet! 😅😅😅 I absolutely love this lens. After purchasing I just did a corporate portrait on site shoot for my client. The lens is phenomenal!
Thanks for this one! My own thoughts (if it's of any help to anyone)
Pros:
- Quality of image. Super super sharp even at wide apertures
- It's fast. Makes it ideal for low light scenarios
- Nice, usable bokeh that is not over the top, like the 80mm and 110mm
- Auto focus is good and accurate, no problems
Cons:
- Size. It is a BIG lens, especially compared to the 50mm and 45mm. Same size as 80mm and both are almost the same as 110mm, just a bit shorter
- Focus breathing. Not ideal for video or focus stacking
My verdict:
I would personally go with the 45mm. Cheaper, smaller, lighter and more versatile focal length. It's slower, but you can definitely compensate with superb ISO performance. I would choose 55mm if I would be going out at night with this monster of a setup (who would do this!?? :P) and/or leaning more heavily towards portraiture and want to fill that gap in your setup in a more versatile way.
Of course you know who you are and what you need... Ideally you should own both :P
Fully agreed on the size! Haven't tried focus stacking yet 😅
Interesting that you'd go with the 45mm! Makes sense if you want a lighter lens though. Such a big diff with weight!
Thanks as always for your input and comment sir!
I enjoy this review. Thanks mate.
Thanks for watching and taking the time to leave a comment!
Wow, that performance wide open is something else! Blows my 50/3.5 out of the water, for sure! Excellent, super useful review!
Thanks for watching and taking the time to comment! Yeahhh. I used to own the 50/3.5. Sold it after I got this. This is by far my most used 'studio' lens. I couldnt recommend it enough honestly.
@@MikeBanom That is such bad news for my bank account, lol. One question: I shot a large group of people the other day for which I had to stop down to F16 on the 50mm. The image was not sharp enough due to diffraction. Have you tried the 55 at F16 or F11?
Best review so far... and particularly the section about your British punk style suit !!
Genuinely asking - what do you mean test review? Maybe it's a British style tie?! Lol
@@MikeBanom I meant best review so far... see correction Thx for the hint
@@user-jp9js9th8o Hey just wanted to make sure! Thanks for the kind words sir
great looking suit, sharp
Thank you sir!
I don't need it, I don't need it, I don't need it but those lowlight shots though... Great job on the video, man! And the suit is looking slick!
Nah you dont need it.
JUST KIDDING YOU NEED IT BAD! Thanks for the kind words! I'm really behind on videos due to my wedding coming up! But I have 1 video roughly 85% ready to go, and 2 more already recorded.
@@MikeBanomDuuude, congratulations on the upcoming wedding! Take all the time you need, and just enjoy it!
@@Alex_SMK Thank you sir!
Hi Mike! Nice review! Despite all the positive feedback for the 55 ultimately I decided to go with the 45 + 80 instead. First and foremost I was able to get these 2 used in mint conditions basically for the price of a new 55. Second I find the 55 to be 'neither here nor there' type of lens. If I want to shoot portraits the 80 is simply more appropriate due the more flattering compression and If I want ot do street (even at night) the 45 is quicker, wider, lighter and more than fast enough in terms of aperture for me. I get the appeal of the 55 though and it if price and weight is not an issue it is certainly a nice-to-have. :)
IMO you made a solid choice! I really love the GF45. And its a bit wider, so you get a bit more coverage with the 45 & 80 vs the 55 and 80. And… you cant go wrong with a solid deal!!
You touched on a great point. I don't LOVE the focal length, well I do. But I think its a bit here nor there as well. I have a video 90% done talking about my GFX kit - I mention that I would really love to see a 27mm or 18mm f1.7 lens 😅. Would buy immediately.
@@MikeBanom A wide 1.7 lens will be something truly special indeed! Hopefully Fuji are working on it! 😊
@dimitarkotsev9234 I can dream!!! hahahaha
My choice for Street Photography at night. 😊
Yesssssss
Looking good in a suit! 👌 Just some advice. Drop the tie and add a blue silk hankechief in the breast poket. Then you are ready to make a killing. 👍
You know, when I was recording that segment, I had the thought of recording all videos in a suit! HA.
I have the 120, 80 and 35-70. I was really worried about the 80, switched to the monopod every time with the 100s my hit rate is 90% with slow moving models.
Gfx autofocus just isn’t very forgiving handheld. Fine with me, monopod is worth it. Just annihilates my a7rv with all the gms
Good recommendation! I will have to give the monopod a try! What did you mean on the last comment with the A7RV?
@@MikeBanom I just find the images must more excited and pleasing on the 100s than with the Sony. Sony is a workhorse that will get the job done but once you get that big sensor it’s so hard to go back
How thoroughly did you test the auto focus as this review seems to contradict most of the other reviews of this lens?
Good question sir! So I did buy the lens. I was thinking of making a part 2 honestly. I use this lens a TON. I find the AF to be really solid. Talking GFX standards on the 100s. But IMO it performs very solid.
@@MikeBanom Thanks for the reply Mike. Look forward to part 2!
I am not sure what you think you are showing, but it isn't the quality of the lens. Instead your video shows in an elaborate way, that depth of field gets bigger, when you close the aperture. Which probably isn't what you wanted to show? If you are trying to show sharpness and contrast of the lens, you need a plane subject that's filling out the frame. I thought id tell you that, since you already made that mistake in another video, where you showed a plant in a similar way.
Thanks for the feedback
i'm far from impressed by these modern lenses rendition ... they make lenses faster and faster cause they lost their ability to seperate each plan of the image ...
What direction do you think Fuji should go in for GF glass?
@@MikeBanom smaller lenses with simpler lens design with less elements … a tradoff can easily be made on vigneting and distorsion that can be corrected in post easily … I’d rather have simple formulas with smaller lenses and aperture not that fast and mostly a capacity to render depth with a shallow fall of
@@pixelmixture3067seems like this is what Hasselblad are doing with their new V lenses