I got the older one for half the price used. Hard to justify upgrading when I love the old school rendering of the old one. It has a lot of character. :) Thanks for the video I really enjoyed the comparison and your take on everything.
New one is better! People look so much better through the new one and portrait shoots are so much easier as the eye/face tracking is exponentially better on the new one. Only thing I liked better about the old one was the whirly bokeh, new one is definitely cleaner!
If I shoot anything but people, closed down to f2.8 or f4, my "old" 56mm has all the resolution and sharpness I need. If I do shoot people, there's instances where too much sharpness and detail is harmful to the image, especially with older individuals in it, if you catch my drift. If I however shoot in low light, than slight softness at f1.2 doesn't matter course the noise will eat image detail away anyway. The only two things I'd crave for my "old" 56/1.2 are weather sealing and better AF motor...
When the Viltrox 75 mm 1.2 Pro came out I sold the Fujifilm 56 mm 1.2 R. It seemed sharper wide open and the focal length suited perfectly for my needs.After a year, I was no longer so pleased with the Viltrox, the bokeh it didn't seem great to me anymore and the AF did a horrible hunting..after an unfortunate episode with Sony I switched back to Fuji..now I'm very indecisive and don't know what to choose between mki and mkii...especially now when i work with the XT-5
75mm field of view is one that I don't have much experience with. Perceptions sometimes change over time. Often, you have a honeymoon phase with new gear. Personally, though, I still use the Viltrox 27mm and still enjoy the lens a lot. Regarding the new and old 56mm, I would say if you want the best performance possible wide open, the new one is the way to go. If you want character, a smaller lens, and sometimes stop down the lens some, the older one is great.
I am with you on this lens comparison. I prefer the old original 56 1.2. Did a bunch of street photography with that lens. It’s sharp enough and for people it’s absolutely perfect! For those that have problems with its auto focus capability, I suggest using the limit focus, and there won’t be so much hunting. 🖖
@@lachycummings3765 No, without a linear motor it’s not worth the upgrade. If I compare it to the other lenses that have, linear motors are they only way to get really sharp images. I also have the 18 1.4 and 33 1.4. Both of these lenses are very quick. That’s the only way I get a higher percentage of shots sharp and in focus. Lenses like the 50 F2 and the 90 F2, both need the limiter used to get even close to lenses with the linear focus. Although the 90 F2 has a linear motor in it, it’s not as quick as the new lenses are. To me, it’s not worth buying the lens all over again. I only take it out once in a while, as it’s not my main glass.
@@simon359 I can guarantee you will change your mind if you actually use it. Even without the linear motor, the auto-focus is exceptionally better then the old one!
I own both lenses and found that there is no way to edit picture taken by new one to match the old lens's color rendering. I spent lot of time on it with no success. So old one remains special.
I felt like this was an mater if just chbage the WB and tint in capture one. Only thing I could replicate was the softness. While I could get rid of the aiftnes by adding some clarity and sharpness.
that's not quite right the new one is from certain point of bether. And they a quite different from each other on the way they render the image. They both does nice images but are different..
@@Kim_Alexander Imgot the old one for $359 used. New one is $999. I’ll take my different over the new. I LOVE the images the old one produces. Don’t need anything better or different.
Fuji fucked up by not giving the new one linear motors. LM would have been a reason for people to upgrade, but with slow AF it's not worth 1 grand when Sigma is €400, the old 56 1.2 is around €350-500 used and there are plenty of decent budget options around €200. I also don't like the cateyes on the new one and sharpness is not visible unless you zoom in which nobody bothers to do anyway. People will much rather notice round bokeh than sharpness. For creative hobby use, the old one is fantastic, for professional use I would get another camera brand, the slow AF isn't worth €1k in my opinion, Fuji should get back to the drawing board and get these LMs in there when asking for €1k
it's probably a good lens but it defently have a completely different character. Viktrox also have a 56mm 1.4 I enjoined my viktrox 23mm alot so that might be an option. check if Christofer frost youtube.com/@christopherfrost have a review of them. That will give you the answer about the performance. Personaly I'm more interesting how a lens renders the image in real world use and the look it create, the so called character.
@@Kim_Alexander I have the viltrox 23 and it’s glued on I love it. And the 13mm and 75mm viltox I was looking for the best 56mm there’s a lot to pick from also looking at the Fuji 50mm1.0 just not sure I have watched 20 reviews on these lens
The new lens is too sharp, the old one used to be sharp but now it has a lovely soft render to it that the new one cant replicate, darn it Fujifilm you wasted all that R&D money again!
@@faktografik5661 there is two kind of photographers, those who look at the edge to edge sharpness and decide if a lens is good, and those who look at what images the lens can render and decide if the lens I good. I suppose both are kind of right in their own way. A lot of a people highly regard the first version as one of the best fuji lenses ever made, same goes with the 35mm f1.4 not for the optical performance but for what kind of images they are able to render. This is lenses with character an other lens with a character is the Helios-44 and that lens was used in the latest Batman move.
@@sunflowerisland DO YOU REALLY HAVE TO USE CAPS? I use my gear daily, and everything is dusty when doing close ups.. It's a review not a comersial shoot.. Perhaps you should focus your energy on something more constructive than how dusty my gear is. Let me tell you a story of a dirty window in a photo studio where is worked when I was 18 years old. There was this dirty and greassy window facing north in a studio section where the photographer made food work.. Outside was a white building facing south. That means that the sun hit this wall most of the day and reflected the light into our studio. The dirty window diffuseed the light and this photographer had a unique look on his images. He was not happy when someone thought it would be a good idea to clean that window.
I am definitely keeping my older version of this lens the magic never dies.
I got the older one for half the price used. Hard to justify upgrading when I love the old school rendering of the old one. It has a lot of character. :) Thanks for the video I really enjoyed the comparison and your take on everything.
The older version is still one of the best. And works extremely well on XT-5.
New one is better! People look so much better through the new one and portrait shoots are so much easier as the eye/face tracking is exponentially better on the new one. Only thing I liked better about the old one was the whirly bokeh, new one is definitely cleaner!
If I shoot anything but people, closed down to f2.8 or f4, my "old" 56mm has all the resolution and sharpness I need. If I do shoot people, there's instances where too much sharpness and detail is harmful to the image, especially with older individuals in it, if you catch my drift.
If I however shoot in low light, than slight softness at f1.2 doesn't matter course the noise will eat image detail away anyway.
The only two things I'd crave for my "old" 56/1.2 are weather sealing and better AF motor...
When the Viltrox 75 mm 1.2 Pro came out I sold the Fujifilm 56 mm 1.2 R. It seemed sharper wide open and the focal length suited perfectly for my needs.After a year, I was no longer so pleased with the Viltrox, the bokeh it didn't seem great to me anymore and the AF did a horrible hunting..after an unfortunate episode with Sony I switched back to Fuji..now I'm very indecisive and don't know what to choose between mki and mkii...especially now when i work with the XT-5
75mm field of view is one that I don't have much experience with. Perceptions sometimes change over time. Often, you have a honeymoon phase with new gear. Personally, though, I still use the Viltrox 27mm and still enjoy the lens a lot.
Regarding the new and old 56mm, I would say if you want the best performance possible wide open, the new one is the way to go.
If you want character, a smaller lens, and sometimes stop down the lens some, the older one is great.
@@Kim_Alexander Thank you so much, wish you all the best!
75 is too heavy too and not fun to travel with
Exactly the points i was hoping someone could comment on - great video. Thanks
I am with you on this lens comparison. I prefer the old original 56 1.2. Did a bunch of street photography with that lens. It’s sharp enough and for people it’s absolutely perfect!
For those that have problems with its auto focus capability, I suggest using the limit focus, and there won’t be so much hunting. 🖖
Have you tried the new one though?
@@lachycummings3765
No, without a linear motor it’s not worth the upgrade. If I compare it to the other lenses that have, linear motors are they only way to get really sharp images. I also have the 18 1.4 and 33 1.4. Both of these lenses are very quick. That’s the only way I get a higher percentage of shots sharp and in focus. Lenses like the 50 F2 and the 90 F2, both need the limiter used to get even close to lenses with the linear focus. Although the 90 F2 has a linear motor in it, it’s not as quick as the new lenses are.
To me, it’s not worth buying the lens all over again. I only take it out once in a while, as it’s not my main glass.
@@simon359 I can guarantee you will change your mind if you actually use it. Even without the linear motor, the auto-focus is exceptionally better then the old one!
Thank you for this, you have addressed all the aspects well
I own both lenses and found that there is no way to edit picture taken by new one to match the old lens's color rendering. I spent lot of time on it with no success. So old one remains special.
I felt like this was an mater if just chbage the WB and tint in capture one.
Only thing I could replicate was the softness.
While I could get rid of the aiftnes by adding some clarity and sharpness.
Very nice images!
As long as you’re not using it for moving subjects the old one is every bit as good as the new one.
that's not quite right the new one is from certain point of bether. And they a quite different from each other on the way they render the image. They both does nice images but are different..
@@Kim_Alexander Imgot the old one for $359 used. New one is $999. I’ll take my different over the new. I LOVE the images the old one produces. Don’t need anything better or different.
Nice review, thank you
I prefer the older version; to me compactness, portabilility and weight are crucial.
@@anbar5675 good points!
Fuji fucked up by not giving the new one linear motors. LM would have been a reason for people to upgrade, but with slow AF it's not worth 1 grand when Sigma is €400, the old 56 1.2 is around €350-500 used and there are plenty of decent budget options around €200. I also don't like the cateyes on the new one and sharpness is not visible unless you zoom in which nobody bothers to do anyway. People will much rather notice round bokeh than sharpness. For creative hobby use, the old one is fantastic, for professional use I would get another camera brand, the slow AF isn't worth €1k in my opinion, Fuji should get back to the drawing board and get these LMs in there when asking for €1k
Do you think the sigma 56 1.4 at 1/2 the price is just as good and you keep 450.00 in your pocket
it's probably a good lens but it defently have a completely different character.
Viktrox also have a 56mm 1.4 I enjoined my viktrox 23mm alot so that might be an option.
check if Christofer frost youtube.com/@christopherfrost
have a review of them. That will give you the answer about the performance.
Personaly I'm more interesting how a lens renders the image in real world use and the look it create, the so called character.
@@Kim_Alexander I have the viltrox 23 and it’s glued on I love it. And the 13mm and 75mm viltox I was looking for the best 56mm there’s a lot to pick from also looking at the Fuji 50mm1.0 just not sure I have watched 20 reviews on these lens
Fair review with good points for both lenses … thanks!! 🙏🏼🫵🏼
The new lens is too sharp, the old one used to be sharp but now it has a lovely soft render to it that the new one cant replicate, darn it Fujifilm you wasted all that R&D money again!
soft feel lacking at 56WR? lol. Put your fingerprints on the glass. Solved!
Not quite theres high quality softness and low quality. This one have tma high quality. It's soft while it still have the datails and sharpness.
@@Kim_Alexander nope. The old one simply isn't sharp enough. This is actually disadvantage, not advantage. Check edge/corner sharpness too
@@faktografik5661 there is two kind of photographers, those who look at the edge to edge sharpness and decide if a lens is good, and those who look at what images the lens can render and decide if the lens I good. I suppose both are kind of right in their own way.
A lot of a people highly regard the first version as one of the best fuji lenses ever made, same goes with the 35mm f1.4 not for the optical performance but for what kind of images they are able to render.
This is lenses with character an other lens with a character is the Helios-44
and that lens was used in the latest Batman move.
@@Kim_Alexander artistic choice, or movie title doesn't make your lens any better.
@@faktografik5661 it all comes down to the definition of good...
WHAT THE HELL'S WITH ALL THE DUST PIG PEN?
gear that is being used get dusty...
@@Kim_Alexander DO YOU LIVE IN THE DESERT AND CLEAN YOUR GEAR ONCE A YEAR?
@@sunflowerisland DO YOU REALLY HAVE TO USE CAPS?
I use my gear daily, and everything is dusty when doing close ups..
It's a review not a comersial shoot..
Perhaps you should focus your energy on something more constructive than how dusty my gear is.
Let me tell you a story of a dirty window in a photo studio where is worked when I was 18 years old.
There was this dirty and greassy window facing north in a studio section where the photographer made food work..
Outside was a white building facing south. That means that the sun hit this wall most of the day and reflected the light into our studio.
The dirty window diffuseed the light and this photographer had a unique look on his images.
He was not happy when someone thought it would be a good idea to clean that window.