Great review. I’ve used both the 23mm f2 and 23mm 1.4 extensively and prefer the look and feel of the f2. It gives great results and is far more discrete. Most importantly the size and weight of the f2 lenses encourage me to go out and take photos-the 1.4 lenses are fantastic but their size and weight really can spoil the experience as you really know about it if you’ve got one round your neck or in your bag.
i was torn between the 23mm and 33mm 1.4 - and then the viltrox 27mm 1.2 came along - got it, never looked back. sure its big and heavy, but damn... the results are just insane
Hi Jason, great video, and loved your spontaneity. Used 23 f2 or new Viltrox 1.4, same price, what will you chose? I do street mostly and portraits every now and then.
I got into wedding photography, coming from sports photography. I’m used to HEAVY zoom lenses lol. So all of these prime lenses are so light to me lol, even the ones people say are heavy. Love shooting prime now!
Thanks for the comment!! Honestly, the Viltrox is amazing!! I used it for model shoots, weddings, families, portraits and you name it!! It wall get purple fringing with blown out highlights and white backgrounds, but for the money……ridiculous!! Also it is not weather sealed; tough but not sealed:)
Viltrox has CA and fringing wide open in high-contrast shots (outdoors-not a big issue indoors). Nice bokeh. AF very fast, but not quite as accurate. Softer images wide open. From F/2 on up, it’s super sharp and hard to tell apart from the Fuji plus fringing/CA not really an issue anymore. There is vignetting that I don’t think got corrected in-camera so if you don’t like that it needs tweaking in post. Basically, it’s a “character” lens like the original Fuji 23mm but with superior AF. FWIW I shoot my Fuji 1.4 LM WR around f/2 the most. However, the weather resistance, superior performance wide open, excellent AF, and closer focusing were all worth the extra $ I paid to get one used. It’s an awesome lens and definitely NOT big the Fujicron might be smaller but neither is a pancake and the cron is soft at MFD which is annoying.
The 18mm F2 is not a part of the Fujicrons. It is an old lens and a pancake. Not bad, but not so good as the newer 16mm F2.8, 23mm F2, 35mm F2 and 50mm F2.
Thanks for the comment!!! I haven't checked it out yet. I just love having an aperture ring, so I haven't had a sigma lens since the 18-35. I want to get that one again though. I think I just had a bad copy.... Try the Viltrox 23mm f1.4!! amazing for the price!! Have an awesome day!!!
I love the video but I think the 18mmf2 is not a Fujicron and is not weather sealed. All the mentioned are except the 18mmf2. Everybody is waiting for the new version of the lens on f2, eventually weather sealed (considering that the 27mm2.8 got a WR on the Ver 2) but even this last one is not Fujicron.
correct. the 18mm f2 is definitely not a fujicron. the 18mm f2 was one of the first lenses to release with the xf system back in Q1 2012. definitely is not weather sealed. but is definitely one of the "pancakiest" lenses you can slap on a fuji body. imo, the 18f2 has a lot of the gen 1 fuji glass character similar to the cult favorite 35 f1.4. but yeah, definitely shows its age on newer bodies but still to this day, is a very everyday-able lens especially for street/landscape/travel photography. the 35 f1.4 and 18 f2 are the two lenses that ALWAYS travel with me.
@@henlolneh thank you. I bet it’s a great leans. I do see some pretty great images taken with that lens. I would love to consider one myself but honestly, my xpro3 offers OVF limitations for lens wider than 23mm and I keep struggling with the fact that investing on lenses that “only” allow me the usage of the EVF seems to spoil (at least to me) the logic of owning an Xpro line camera (instead of I.e. an XE4). I own a cheap solution for fun on wider shots, a manual TTArtisan 17mm f/1.4 or when I’m travelling I also break the OVF rule with a xf16-80 that allows more versatility but the main point to me of choosing an xpro is using the OVF the most and that leaves us with the trilogy of the 23, 35 and 50mm f/2 on the xpro line. Going longer (such as the great 90mm f/2) I believe will be obtrusive in the lower right corner of the OVF, going wider than 23mm we lose the OVF frame lines … maybe an xpro4 hopefully on a near future.
You compared f2 with a hood to F1.4 without the hood (reversed). If compared "fairly" it would be much more accented. Regarding "Fujicron" - I hate that name. It's like when vegan is trying to emulate a meat. Either you are are fine and happy with Fuji, or you are craving for a Leica...
Great review. I’ve used both the 23mm f2 and 23mm 1.4 extensively and prefer the look and feel of the f2. It gives great results and is far more discrete. Most importantly the size and weight of the f2 lenses encourage me to go out and take photos-the 1.4 lenses are fantastic but their size and weight really can spoil the experience as you really know about it if you’ve got one round your neck or in your bag.
Great video, Jason!! I learned so much! Your photography inspires me!
Thank you so much Amanda!!!:):):)
This was great, just what I wanted to know. Thanks!
This is the best video about the difference between them, thank you, really, I made a decision.
The xt5 has breathed new light into the 23f2, I had been using it on an xt3, the difference is noticeable
Thanks for video ,really good! What film simulation do you like to use
I love my 23mm, 33mm, 56m WR's
I need the 33!! The 56 is my every day for portraits!!
You going to love the 33mm it stays on my xt5 almost all the time@@jasonberkmanphotography8672
i was torn between the 23mm and 33mm 1.4 - and then the viltrox 27mm 1.2 came along - got it, never looked back. sure its big and heavy, but damn... the results are just insane
All of this!! 👏
Hi Jason, great video, and loved your spontaneity. Used 23 f2 or new Viltrox 1.4, same price, what will you chose? I do street mostly and portraits every now and then.
get the viltrox 27 1.2 instead and don't look back
Nikkor Z 24mm f/1.7 compact, light, low cost, great quality. Easy choice.
Great video. Thank you. I’m currently putting money aside to buy a used 23mm f2 for my XT3. It will be my poor man’s X100V 😂
The XT-3 was my first Fujifilm camera!! Such an amazing camera! Actually better overall than the x100v!!;)
that is a way better combo than an x100v bro..
Nothing "poor man" about X-T3. In fact, it's a step up from the X100V
Is there a 23 mm with image stabilization?
Thank you for video,nreally helpful
I got into wedding photography, coming from sports photography. I’m used to HEAVY zoom lenses lol. So all of these prime lenses are so light to me lol, even the ones people say are heavy. Love shooting prime now!
Viltrox is same good?
How does the Viltrox compare to the two Fujis?
Thanks for the comment!! Honestly, the Viltrox is amazing!! I used it for model shoots, weddings, families, portraits and you name it!! It wall get purple fringing with blown out highlights and white backgrounds, but for the money……ridiculous!! Also it is not weather sealed; tough but not sealed:)
Viltrox has CA and fringing wide open in high-contrast shots (outdoors-not a big issue indoors). Nice bokeh. AF very fast, but not quite as accurate. Softer images wide open. From F/2 on up, it’s super sharp and hard to tell apart from the Fuji plus fringing/CA not really an issue anymore. There is vignetting that I don’t think got corrected in-camera so if you don’t like that it needs tweaking in post. Basically, it’s a “character” lens like the original Fuji 23mm but with superior AF.
FWIW I shoot my Fuji 1.4 LM WR around f/2 the most. However, the weather resistance, superior performance wide open, excellent AF, and closer focusing were all worth the extra $ I paid to get one used. It’s an awesome lens and definitely NOT big the Fujicron might be smaller but neither is a pancake and the cron is soft at MFD which is annoying.
The little WR’s do not have linear motors, they are stepping.
Awesome work as always my friend
how's the 23 f2 perform on xt5? still sharp?
You have also 30mm 2.8 macro lens
The 18mm F2 is not a part of the Fujicrons. It is an old lens and a pancake. Not bad, but not so good as the newer 16mm F2.8, 23mm F2, 35mm F2 and 50mm F2.
Nice video!
Have you considered sigma 23mm f/1.4?
Any thoughts about this?
Thanks for the comment!!! I haven't checked it out yet. I just love having an aperture ring, so I haven't had a sigma lens since the 18-35. I want to get that one again though. I think I just had a bad copy.... Try the Viltrox 23mm f1.4!! amazing for the price!!
Have an awesome day!!!
I just ordered one 😁
I love the video but I think the 18mmf2 is not a Fujicron and is not weather sealed. All the mentioned are except the 18mmf2. Everybody is waiting for the new version of the lens on f2, eventually weather sealed (considering that the 27mm2.8 got a WR on the Ver 2) but even this last one is not Fujicron.
correct. the 18mm f2 is definitely not a fujicron. the 18mm f2 was one of the first lenses to release with the xf system back in Q1 2012. definitely is not weather sealed. but is definitely one of the "pancakiest" lenses you can slap on a fuji body. imo, the 18f2 has a lot of the gen 1 fuji glass character similar to the cult favorite 35 f1.4. but yeah, definitely shows its age on newer bodies but still to this day, is a very everyday-able lens especially for street/landscape/travel photography. the 35 f1.4 and 18 f2 are the two lenses that ALWAYS travel with me.
@@henlolneh thank you. I bet it’s a great leans. I do see some pretty great images taken with that lens. I would love to consider one myself but honestly, my xpro3 offers OVF limitations for lens wider than 23mm and I keep struggling with the fact that investing on lenses that “only” allow me the usage of the EVF seems to spoil (at least to me) the logic of owning an Xpro line camera (instead of I.e. an XE4). I own a cheap solution for fun on wider shots, a manual TTArtisan 17mm f/1.4 or when I’m travelling I also break the OVF rule with a xf16-80 that allows more versatility but the main point to me of choosing an xpro is using the OVF the most and that leaves us with the trilogy of the 23, 35 and 50mm f/2 on the xpro line. Going longer (such as the great 90mm f/2) I believe will be obtrusive in the lower right corner of the OVF, going wider than 23mm we lose the OVF frame lines … maybe an xpro4 hopefully on a near future.
dont buy new, I have a excellent condition 23mm f1.4 the new edition. go it for $580 and it ROCKS
You compared f2 with a hood to F1.4 without the hood (reversed). If compared "fairly" it would be much more accented. Regarding "Fujicron" - I hate that name. It's like when vegan is trying to emulate a meat. Either you are are fine and happy with Fuji, or you are craving for a Leica...