I need to correct an error in the commentary of this video. I said the Fuji XF 35 f1.4 had a focusing clutch and it does not. Sorry for this I have not used this lens so it was an oversight.
I had several Fuji lenses, including the 16mm f1.4, but on my XPro3 it was the 35mm f1.4 that was practically glued on. Other than on paid gigs that required that focal length I always found the 16mm too heavy on my XPro3. It was certainly a sharp lens and loved the clutch, but could be a daily carry because of the weight.
If it only did have a focus clutch! That would be great. The focus clutch lenses provide the best of both AF and manual worlds. Fujifilm should re-introduce a line of lenses with focus clutch.
I'm super glad you made this video, Kirk, lately I've been reading all the worst about the 16 1.4 (a great lens, my absolute favourite for landscape and woodland photography) and someone needed to talk again about all the good aspects this lens has and what it can achieve. Thanks for your time doing this!
At the 00:45 mark, you say the 35mm f/1.4 has the clutch, it doesn't. The 14mm f/2.8 does, as does the 23mm f/1.4 which you mentioned. The clutch is very valuable to me. I came up old school with manual focus and comprehensive DOF scales. I'm able to use hyperfocal settings with my 16mm and get deep focus with ease with no guess work and without even needing to use the finder, just looking down at the lens barrel. I'm keeping my 16mm and 23mm f/1.4 lenses just because of the clutch.
I spent about a year, sometime around 2007, with a Nikon F100 and a 24mm f/2.8 D Nikkor as my only camera and lens. I bought body and lens separately, both used from my local camera store. I saw the 24mm in the case and decided I wanted to learn to work the wide angle. The first photo I ever licensed for publication came out of this combo, shot on Tri-X 400 pushed to 1200. It was a shot of my wife and one of our twin daughters in the hospital emergency room: Becky was in first grade at the time, and had suffered an asthma attack at school. I saw a moment, raised the camera to my eye, and pressed the shutter. I printed it for myself and posted the image to my online gallery. A couple of years later, Getty contacted me on behalf of a client who wanted to license the photo. Bottom line: I'm adding this to my kit soon. I have an X-T3 and 18-55 on their way to me now. And even though I've not shot with this lens, I agree with you that Fujifilm shouldn't mess with it. I feel the same way about "upgraded" lenses that I do about the classics of literature now being homogenized into woke rubbish and classic B&W movies being colorized. I was using that F100 when I heard what was going to be done to the new edition of Fowler's _Dictionary of Modern English Usage,_ so I quickly added another copy of the then-current version to my library.
Daryl - I'm with you!!! I used the Canon 24 f2.8 for my early years as a photojournalist until Canon came out with their trio of high quality zoom lenses. I loved it and it never came off one of F1 bodies. Some of my best NPPA award photos were done with that lens. Long live the 24 FF.
I have stayed away from this focal length due to the distortion issues, but I am curious, regarding the photo of the man at the drafting table-do you attempt to fix the bloated hand before delivering this photo or do you let it go as many non-photographers/clients won't notice it like you and I would. Great photo and this is the type of photography I would like to do more of. I'm intrigued by this lens and considering buying it used. Will need to practice with it for sure - I also want to do some nighttime Christmas photos outside around town--this should be a good one to try on the X-T5. Thanks so much for your inspiring videos
In the tight space I was in the distortion of his hand was unavoidable so I would just leave it. The distortion with this focal length can be a problem with the lens tilted up or down and at the edges you just have to be careful and practice with it.
The old 16mm f/1.4, the 35mm f1.8, the original 56mm f/1.2 and the 90mm f/2 are what's keeping me from selling off all my Fuji gear. An honorable mention to go with the X-Pro and X-E series bodies is the original 18mm f/2, as much hate that lens got it is actually a fantastic street lens. The 16mm is one I need to use more, such a great lens for all the reasons you mentioned... Love that focus clutch and center sharpness.
Good morning! I agree, please leave this one alone! It is one of the greatest lenses in the line of many great lenses! I was a life long Nikon user, even was a NPS Rep for 11 years, but age, and full frame equipment weight, moved me to the Compact Fujifilm X-Series. I feel Fujifilm XF lenses, with very few exceptions, are among the best glass being made today. Yes Leica still has the best glass out there but so are the costs, out there! Keep up the great videos my friend, and I hope Fujifilm Is listening!
Have it, and the edge to edge is excellent. I'll shoot stopped down to guarantee some subject sharpness and then reshoot the scene wide open and combine how I like it. Or even deliberately go further out of focus to use that. Too many years working in Photoshop in a custom lab so I'm pretty fearless in tidying up. The 16-50 VII 3.5 has outstanding center sharpness and great macro. It also is a user for me. With it's OIS and my X-H1's IBIS, and it's ultra fast focus, I highly recommend it for everyday use. Not enough bokeh at 3.5? Photoshop.
Hello! Amazing video as always! I do have one question though. I own a x-t1. Would this lens and my XT1 be a good combo? Or will the body "drag it down"? Thank you!
I own it and totally agree! I own all of the fixed focal length Fujifilm 1.4 lenses. One correction, the 35mm is not a focus clutch. It is one of my favourites.
Thanks for this video! I saw you are using the JJC lens hood which looks absolutely great on this lens! I have the exact same one for the 18mm f/1.4 and I love how it looks on the camera! But the lens with the hood feels pretty front-heavy on my X-T cameras which makes me seldomly use it on photowalks... What is your opinion about it?
When the XPro3 was released, I bought it second hand new with the 23mm 1.4, I bought the pack cheaper than new and only bought it because it came with the 23mm and it's clutch. I knew I'd love it to use with zone focusing and hyperfocal.
I just bought a used (like new) x-pro 2 graphite edition that came with the 23mm f2 and the 16mm f1.4. I gotta say that I’ve been extremely pleased! Amazing lenses.
i can't agree more... it is my favorite lens of all time. No other lens gave me the magic that i get from this one (Nikon & Fuji user). I love the possibility to get an almost "macro" shot while keeping so wide background in the frame.
I purchased a refurbished one from Fuji a few months ago. What an amazing lens. I use it recently at a concert venue and it was incredible on my XH2. Even the video at 4k was impressive. Thank you for another fine video!
Once again, I also have this lens in my inventory and love it for its character just as you do, but in this case I'm also struggeling a bit with its wide angle of view. I feel more comfortable with 28mm/75° in most cases.The old XF 1.4/23m in my mind is also a nice and sharp lens but quite different from Fujis well rergarded XF 2/23mm with higher resolution but a littlle longer focal length (the 2/23 is wider than advertised, that is) but the colors are bit muted and less punchy with the 1.4/23mm non-WR in comparison. This can be a good thing but I would have preferred if the 2/23mm was a bit less punchy, the 1,4/23 a bit more vivid and both more like the wonderfull 2/23mm in the X100V which is kind of on a middle ground between the 1,4/23mm and 2/23mm with respect to character. To me that one really hits a sweet-spot and maybe is one of the reasons for the success of the X100V without many users ever realizing how well-rounded that lens really is. It has been quite an improvement compared to lens in the V's predecessors, which didn't really impress me much at any f-stop except for dead-on-center sharpness.
As I said I got used to this focal length shooting everyday for a daily paper. That said, my walk around lens now is the 23 f2 on the Fuji and the 35 f2 on the Leica.
I had a very good experience with the 16mm f1.4 for 2 years glued on my ex x-t3 . The 18mm f1.4 is everything the 16mm is nowadays missing , sunstars at apertures as closed as f5.6 , corrected CA, very high sharpness even at f1.4 ...but! The 16mm f1.4 AF precision (not speed) was way better, I used to have much less missed focus photos with the 16mm
I have no interest in the 18. The focal length of 27 mm ff has never been a favorite of mine. For me it’s either 16/24 or 23/35. But I seen that the 18 is a great lens!
Really like yiu showa and thia looks like a nice lens. But I haven't a question about a different lens. I'm look to buy my first lens. It's either the 23 f4 or 23 f1.4. Im thinking street, city photography. If you were in my shoes knowing what you know abiut these two lens, what would you pick?
On my 35mm Nikon SLR, I normally shot: 24mm f/2 35mm f/1.4 85mm f/1.4 On my 35mm Leica rangefinder, I normally shot: 21mm f/1.4 35mm f/1.4 90mm f/2 On my APS-C Fuji mirrorless, I normally shoot: 16mm f/1.4 23mm f/1.4 56mm f/1.2 Love all three lens kits. Love the auto focus, the weather resistance and the fast lens speed of the Fuji 16mm f/1.4 Wish the 16mm had a focal length of 14mm instead of 16mm because I prefer an equivalent 21mm focal length instead of an equivalent 24mm focal length. Do not like the manual focus clutch of my 16mm Fuji or my 23mm Fuji because twice I have lost images due to accidently switching the clutch from auto focus to manual focus while shooting.
The fundraiser shot with the chess set and the trio of musicians---do you remember if you used a flash? I am intimidated by flash so always impressed by fast lenses that allow enough light in to avoid flash. Thanks for helping all of us to improve. You have inspired me to keep practicing and will definitely get this lens. BTW, being in the Detroit area, I don't have the inspiring scenery you have over there (I know, bad excuse, there are interesting shots everywhere, right?). If I'm ever in your area, I would love to do the photo tour.
No flash involved in anything I post. As a photojournalist over the years using strobes was part of the job. Now that I am semi retired I have no not used them if I absolutely have to. Thanks so much for your kind words. Yes there are images everywhere you just have to look for light that inspires a photo. Good luck!
You mention it as a text correction, but it's really worth underlining that the 23mm 1.4 LM WR has practically the same magnification as the 16 1.4, yet never gets the plaudits for it or referred to as a pseudo-macro etc. And it does so without the optical limitations of what is after all quite an old lens today. As for not replacing. Well they kind of did - but in the same way the 33 succeeds the 35. Fuji clearly recognised the fan base for the lens to keep it going, but the 18mm is more the successor to the 16, which is closer to a 17mm anyway, than the 18 f2. And the IQ for the 16 1.4 is somewhat lacking today - not the sharpest, but more importantly the borders and corners can be a horrible mess and not just wide open. If you just use it for its party piece - close up wide open - you won't see it so much, but on the streets or shooting landscape you sure do. And combined with the distortion the extremities of the image can be very distracting if the wrong kind of background is there. Of course there's then the chromatic aberration and poor AF close to subjects. The only reason now to go for the 16 1.4 today is the close focussing and because there are some great deals on it new and used. Fuji is repeating this feature on other lenses, and is not alone in doing so, but I do think the 16 is the sweet spot for the combination of perspective, focussing distance and thus separation. With the 18mm the defacto replacement, and the 14mm still waiting on an upgrade, too, I'd actually welcome Fuji running down the stock and killing the 14 and 16 birds with one stone with a 15mm 1.4.
Ian - I agree with some of what you said but my copy is outstanding at the edges at wide open and even better stopped down just a little. Anything but a horrible mess. Otherwise I would not have purchased it. Even the one I borrowed for about a week was outstanding.
My personal guess is the biggest change on an upgraded version of this lens would just be improved autofocus. Autofocus is really the killer for Fujifilm; every time I see people switch to other systems from X it seems like it's always because of AF issues, as opposed to optical quality or lens selection (besides APSC lenses tending to be on the higher depth of field side).
I also have this lens and use it on an XT-3, love the lens for anything from street, landscape and close focus as well, im a wide angle guy and also love the 10-24 Fuji lens
such a comprehensive review. I love how you share photos with different styles so we get a good feel for different uses of the lens. I don't own this lens but like many of your videos, i enjoy your commentary, insights, and reviews. keep up the great work.
Hi, Kirk. Great video and shots. I love my 16/1.4, and despite its larger size, I use it over my 23 and 35 f/2 primes; go figure. Keep up the excellent job. Regards from Whyalla, South Australia.
So you are using it with your X-T5 despite fujifilm rating its resolution as inadequate for their 40.2 MP? Can you comment on whether you noticed any issues
Andrew - So far I have seen very little issue. I did a video on it and did notice some slight issues at the corners but in real life I have not seen any issues.
@@KirkWilliamsonphotography the f16 1.4 is the favorite lens of so many fuji users. I am surprised that more people will are not creating videos on their experience with the X-T5. Are you loving your X-T5 still? I gave my X-T2 to my daughter after I got my X-T5 and I kind of miss it in some ways. The X-T5 is really a superior camera in many ways, but there was something about the X-T2 that I miss. I can't put my finger on it. I tend to take lots of panorama photos and stitch them together with the MERGE function in LightRoom. With the huge resolution of the X-T5, those files get awfully big when you start merging photos.
Yea gorgeous photos Kirk and what a fabulous lens. From all the many lenses I owned over the years (even that fantastic 90mm), this was the best lens by from Fuji by far. Though I've swapped over to Nikon now for all my weddings and paid gigs, I miss that lens the most and should never have sold it. In fact a goodly portion of my favourite images on my website and those that get the most attention, have all been taken on this lens. I think you are wrong, fuji does not need to update this lens, they should leave it alone. Though it is well known that the new Nikon Z lenses are extremely sharp and wonderful, and clinical, but none of them have the magic sauce of this special Fuji lens.
Hi Phillip - I’m up for some minor changes but not to the optical design. I love the clutch and the look this lens gives but want them to leave the character along.
Don’t have optical problems using protector filters? It happens with 18mm 1.4 and 10-24mm, specially with artificial light. I am going to get it one day, right now I am quite happy using the 14mm and it’s focusing clutch, sometimes I use the hiperfocal scale for Street, but the AF it is performing…
Never once in over 40 years as a photojournalist have I ever had a problem using a UVa filter. Resale on lenses that I used for over 20 years were top notch because the optics were still intact. No scratches!!! Every pro I know that uses cameras and lenses outside (not studio work) uses a UVa filter and only takes it off shooting into the sun. Sounds like the 14 is working well for you that's great. I love the 21mm ff focal length.
@@KirkWilliamsonphotography In my Canon gear never had a problem, but with the 10-24 using the Canon Protect, so zero color dominance there was flare with artificial lighting, well with my Canon EF 85mm f1.2L sometimes in concerts I got problems at full aperture.
I love this lens on my XT3 etc. But on my XH2 it is just rubbish. It is way too soft especially as you move towards the edges. 16-55mm kills it for sharpness. Ideally it will be the same lens layout with better optics.
@@KirkWilliamsonphotography That's interesting to know. On so many forums there appears to be discrepancies between quality of Fujifilm gear. I sold all my Nikon gear years ago and invested heavily into Fuji. I am wondering if they have QA issues? I'll have to have another go with the 16mm as I love this lens but might have to look for a sample that is sharp.
People say that this lens doesnt resolve 40 megapixel if you use with X T 5. I have this amazing lens and I dont want to change it because of this reason. I would like to hear your suggestions.
Never tried 16f1.4, is the focus ring work same as on lenses which do not have clutch mechanism? I think there is hard stops but I'm interested about feel of rotation and steppes in focus? If no - then why just not to enable af+mf in settings?
Vlad - For me it’s easier to use. No hard stops. Yes I could go the af+MF route but that means as soon as you touch the manual ring it will go manual this way you don’t need to worry about it.
Had this one. Gives worst flares in the world... Try Voigtlander Ultron 21mm f/1.8. Much better, in all respects... Of course close focusing was not an issue for me, never shoot closer than 1 meter.
@@KirkWilliamsonphotography I have encountered flares only once around Christmas time, in the evening on the street. There were bright street lights in the frame, closer to the edge, main subject, a building was 15 meters away. I believe I was shooting at f/4 slow shutter speed with IS. In the photo I could see the lens internals, at least, I thought they were... The thing is the next day, I took the Voightlander lens mentioned above, and tried to reproduce the shot in the same exact location, same time. There were no flares, it was clean. I was going to keep only one of these lenses anyway, so I sold the Fuji. Also, the Voightlander gives narrower angle on Fuji X body, about 30mm equivalent. That was also a plus for me. With this angle, I can shoot the whole event with one lens, event where I can mingle in the crowd. For larger events, I take Voightlander 50mm f/1.2, or even Nikkor 105mm f/2.5 AIS with me. All manual focus, with 21mm zone works great at f/3.5 and distance >= 2m. I had many Fuji lenses, sold them all, only one left, 90mm.
I traded mine for the Sigma 18-50 because I had bought it second hand and it was getting really loose and sometimes wouldn't want to autofocus. That being said the images were nice and the close focus was great. I would prefer a linear motor version while ditching the focus clutch. MAYBE sharpen the optics, but they are fine as is. Since it is so close to 18 however I feel that maybe the Viltrox 13 would give me more versatility? Does anybody need the Fujifilm square metal hood for the XF16? :)
I’m down for an new version. More options are always welcome IMO. The old ones aren’t gonna just disappear. There’s plenty of them floating around to always pop up used somewhere. I really enjoy my 16 1.4, but there are things that could be improved and I find the manual focus to be just okay, especially compared to actual manual lenses. It’s nice to have but it’s still a bit clunky in execution.
For me I enjoy using the clutch for manual it works for me. Using actual manual lenses has escaped me so far. I refuse to buy a Chinese manual focus lens. I might consider a Voigtlander (Cosina) made in Japan.
@@KirkWilliamsonphotography I’ve used a lot of the Voigtlander M mount lenses and they’re incredible. Some of the best manual designs and glass on the market - especially the faster nokton line up. They also adapt very well to Fuji. Those are a great place to start.
@@KirkWilliamsonphotography I haven’t tried Voigtlanders fuji lenses, but if they’re as good as their m-mount lenses, then I’d be surprised by anything less than excellent. Having that said, I’d probably just go with their m-mount lenses and get a close focusing Fuji adapter to overcome the rangefinder focus distance. The Voigtlander 21mm f1.2 is one of the best lenses I’ve ever used across any system. Their 35 f1.2 models and 40 f1.2 are also excellent. And the 75 1.8 Heliar is fantastic. All of them adapt well to Fujis system.
![[ENG] Fujifilm 16mm F1.4 Vs. 18mm F1.4 - Should you Upgrade?](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/nsYcVuKYga0/mqdefault.jpg)
![Jack Harlow - Hello Miss Johnson [Official Music Video]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/Q86_nlRoIGw/mqdefault.jpg)
I need to correct an error in the commentary of this video. I said the Fuji XF 35 f1.4 had a focusing clutch and it does not. Sorry for this I have not used this lens so it was an oversight.
definitely recommend picking up the 35 1.4; everything (the good stuff) you see online about it is true
I had several Fuji lenses, including the 16mm f1.4, but on my XPro3 it was the 35mm f1.4 that was practically glued on. Other than on paid gigs that required that focal length I always found the 16mm too heavy on my XPro3. It was certainly a sharp lens and loved the clutch, but could be a daily carry because of the weight.
Was going to pick you up on that Kirk, as I own one!🤣🤭Great shots by the way, loving the channel👍Max.
I believe the MK 1 version of the 23mm F1.4 had the focus clutch as well.
If it only did have a focus clutch! That would be great. The focus clutch lenses provide the best of both AF and manual worlds. Fujifilm should re-introduce a line of lenses with focus clutch.
I'm super glad you made this video, Kirk, lately I've been reading all the worst about the 16 1.4 (a great lens, my absolute favourite for landscape and woodland photography) and someone needed to talk again about all the good aspects this lens has and what it can achieve. Thanks for your time doing this!
At the 00:45 mark, you say the 35mm f/1.4 has the clutch, it doesn't. The 14mm f/2.8 does, as does the 23mm f/1.4 which you mentioned.
The clutch is very valuable to me. I came up old school with manual focus and comprehensive DOF scales. I'm able to use hyperfocal settings with my 16mm and get deep focus with ease with no guess work and without even needing to use the finder, just looking down at the lens barrel.
I'm keeping my 16mm and 23mm f/1.4 lenses just because of the clutch.
Thanks I did mention that I messed up saying that in the comments above.
I spent about a year, sometime around 2007, with a Nikon F100 and a 24mm f/2.8 D Nikkor as my only camera and lens. I bought body and lens separately, both used from my local camera store. I saw the 24mm in the case and decided I wanted to learn to work the wide angle. The first photo I ever licensed for publication came out of this combo, shot on Tri-X 400 pushed to 1200. It was a shot of my wife and one of our twin daughters in the hospital emergency room: Becky was in first grade at the time, and had suffered an asthma attack at school. I saw a moment, raised the camera to my eye, and pressed the shutter. I printed it for myself and posted the image to my online gallery. A couple of years later, Getty contacted me on behalf of a client who wanted to license the photo.
Bottom line: I'm adding this to my kit soon. I have an X-T3 and 18-55 on their way to me now. And even though I've not shot with this lens, I agree with you that Fujifilm shouldn't mess with it. I feel the same way about "upgraded" lenses that I do about the classics of literature now being homogenized into woke rubbish and classic B&W movies being colorized. I was using that F100 when I heard what was going to be done to the new edition of Fowler's _Dictionary of Modern English Usage,_ so I quickly added another copy of the then-current version to my library.
Daryl - I'm with you!!! I used the Canon 24 f2.8 for my early years as a photojournalist until Canon came out with their trio of high quality zoom lenses. I loved it and it never came off one of F1 bodies. Some of my best NPPA award photos were done with that lens. Long live the 24 FF.
I have stayed away from this focal length due to the distortion issues, but I am curious, regarding the photo of the man at the drafting table-do you attempt to fix the bloated hand before delivering this photo or do you let it go as many non-photographers/clients won't notice it like you and I would. Great photo and this is the type of photography I would like to do more of. I'm intrigued by this lens and considering buying it used. Will need to practice with it for sure - I also want to do some nighttime Christmas photos outside around town--this should be a good one to try on the X-T5. Thanks so much for your inspiring videos
In the tight space I was in the distortion of his hand was unavoidable so I would just leave it. The distortion with this focal length can be a problem with the lens tilted up or down and at the edges you just have to be careful and practice with it.
The old 16mm f/1.4, the 35mm f1.8, the original 56mm f/1.2 and the 90mm f/2 are what's keeping me from selling off all my Fuji gear. An honorable mention to go with the X-Pro and X-E series bodies is the original 18mm f/2, as much hate that lens got it is actually a fantastic street lens.
The 16mm is one I need to use more, such a great lens for all the reasons you mentioned... Love that focus clutch and center sharpness.
Art - Yes keep it all. The gear just begs you to go out and use it.
Good morning! I agree, please leave this one alone! It is one of the greatest lenses in the line of many great lenses!
I was a life long Nikon user, even was a NPS Rep for 11 years, but age, and full frame equipment weight, moved me to the
Compact Fujifilm X-Series. I feel Fujifilm XF lenses, with very few exceptions, are among the best glass being made today.
Yes Leica still has the best glass out there but so are the costs, out there! Keep up the great videos my friend, and I hope Fujifilm
Is listening!
Bill - I love this lens! But I guess you can tell.
Have it, and the edge to edge is excellent. I'll shoot stopped down to guarantee some subject sharpness and then reshoot the scene wide open and combine how I like it. Or even deliberately go further out of focus to use that. Too many years working in Photoshop in a custom lab so I'm pretty fearless in tidying up. The 16-50 VII 3.5 has outstanding center sharpness and great macro. It also is a user for me. With it's OIS and my X-H1's IBIS, and it's ultra fast focus, I highly recommend it for everyday use. Not enough bokeh at 3.5? Photoshop.
I used the 16 last night and again was astounded at the results in near pitch black conditions. Amazing lens.
That is my favorite Fuji lens and one of my favorites of all time. I love the minimum focus distance and the creativity options of this lens!
Hello! Amazing video as always! I do have one question though. I own a x-t1. Would this lens and my XT1 be a good combo? Or will the body "drag it down"? Thank you!
Yes it would be awesome on that camera!
I own it and totally agree! I own all of the fixed focal length Fujifilm 1.4 lenses. One correction, the 35mm is not a focus clutch. It is one of my favourites.
Yes Ben thanks my mistake on the 35. I corrected it in a pinned comment. Thanks for the heads up though.
I picked up one of these used on eBay and have never regretted it.
Ok you talked me into getting the 16 f1.4.
I love my 35mm 1.4 and It is my most used lens.
Thanks for all you do.
Haha you will be hooked! Thanks Russell
Great video!! Fantastic lens but I sold it for the 18mm 1.4 as the 16mm is a bit of a niche focal length
For me I never fell in love with the 28 it was either the 24 or 35.
Great shots, Kirk! I haven't tried the 16 1.4 but now it's on my list haha
Yes it's great you need to try it.
Thanks for this video! I saw you are using the JJC lens hood which looks absolutely great on this lens! I have the exact same one for the 18mm f/1.4 and I love how it looks on the camera! But the lens with the hood feels pretty front-heavy on my X-T cameras which makes me seldomly use it on photowalks... What is your opinion about it?
Yes the JJC hood is heavy and I tend not to use it for my assignment work. I use the plastic one that came with it for that stuff.
When the XPro3 was released, I bought it second hand new with the 23mm 1.4, I bought the pack cheaper than new and only bought it because it came with the 23mm and it's clutch. I knew I'd love it to use with zone focusing and hyperfocal.
Excellent!!!
I just bought a used (like new) x-pro 2 graphite edition that came with the 23mm f2 and the 16mm f1.4. I gotta say that I’ve been extremely pleased! Amazing lenses.
Collin - I'm jealous as hell you found a minty graphite X-Pro 2. Nice setup.
@@KirkWilliamsonphotography thank you sir! Love the videos.
i can't agree more... it is my favorite lens of all time. No other lens gave me the magic that i get from this one (Nikon & Fuji user). I love the possibility to get an almost "macro" shot while keeping so wide background in the frame.
Yes a beautiful lens it is.
I loved my 23mm f1.4 with clutch. I'm sorry I ever sold it. The pictures with it has something special I've not seen with my newer lenses.
Bill it is a special lens! It's never leaving the stable.
Another interesting video Kirk. Managed to shoot today here in magical weather. A nice day in the hills again.
Colin I’m glad you had some weather that lends itself to great photography.
@@KirkWilliamsonphotography it’s sure makes shooting over here and managed to shoot a video today while I was out and about.
I purchased a refurbished one from Fuji a few months ago. What an amazing lens. I use it recently at a concert venue and it was incredible on my XH2. Even the video at 4k was impressive. Thank you for another fine video!
Thanks Gary I’m glad you have one. It’s a great one for sure.
Once again, I also have this lens in my inventory and love it for its character just as you do, but in this case I'm also struggeling a bit with its wide angle of view. I feel more comfortable with 28mm/75° in most cases.The old XF 1.4/23m in my mind is also a nice and sharp lens but quite different from Fujis well rergarded XF 2/23mm with higher resolution but a littlle longer focal length (the 2/23 is wider than advertised, that is) but the colors are bit muted and less punchy with the 1.4/23mm non-WR in comparison. This can be a good thing but I would have preferred if the 2/23mm was a bit less punchy, the 1,4/23 a bit more vivid and both more like the wonderfull 2/23mm in the X100V which is kind of on a middle ground between the 1,4/23mm and 2/23mm with respect to character. To me that one really hits a sweet-spot and maybe is one of the reasons for the success of the X100V without many users ever realizing how well-rounded that lens really is. It has been quite an improvement compared to lens in the V's predecessors, which didn't really impress me much at any f-stop except for dead-on-center sharpness.
As I said I got used to this focal length shooting everyday for a daily paper. That said, my walk around lens now is the 23 f2 on the Fuji and the 35 f2 on the Leica.
Thank you for the lens tour - your photos are wonderful! So is your video style!
Many Thanks Steven!
I had a very good experience with the 16mm f1.4 for 2 years glued on my ex x-t3 . The 18mm f1.4 is everything the 16mm is nowadays missing , sunstars at apertures as closed as f5.6 , corrected CA, very high sharpness even at f1.4 ...but! The 16mm f1.4 AF precision (not speed) was way better, I used to have much less missed focus photos with the 16mm
I have no interest in the 18. The focal length of 27 mm ff has never been a favorite of mine. For me it’s either 16/24 or 23/35. But I seen that the 18 is a great lens!
By far and away my favorite Fujifilm prime lens -- but I'm saving up for the new 23mm f1.4 too since it shares a similar close focusing distance!
Austin - That lens is supposed to be awesome, especially the close focus.
Really like yiu showa and thia looks like a nice lens. But I haven't a question about a different lens. I'm look to buy my first lens. It's either the 23 f4 or 23 f1.4. Im thinking street, city photography. If you were in my shoes knowing what you know abiut these two lens, what would you pick?
I would get the 23 f2 for street. It's small, light, WR and focuses very fast.
@@KirkWilliamsonphotography excellent. I watched your video with that lens in it. Thnx, I'll take your advice.
On my 35mm Nikon SLR, I normally shot:
24mm f/2
35mm f/1.4
85mm f/1.4
On my 35mm Leica rangefinder, I normally shot:
21mm f/1.4
35mm f/1.4
90mm f/2
On my APS-C Fuji mirrorless, I normally shoot:
16mm f/1.4
23mm f/1.4
56mm f/1.2
Love all three lens kits.
Love the auto focus, the weather resistance and the fast lens speed of the Fuji 16mm f/1.4
Wish the 16mm had a focal length of 14mm instead of 16mm because I prefer an equivalent 21mm focal length instead of an equivalent 24mm focal length.
Do not like the manual focus clutch of my 16mm Fuji or my 23mm Fuji because twice I have lost images due to accidently switching the clutch from auto focus to manual focus while shooting.
The clutch needs some getting used to.
Fantastic shots, Kirk! I love this lens - you can do anything with it. Greetings from Germany, Tom.
Yes it’s a beauty !
The fundraiser shot with the chess set and the trio of musicians---do you remember if you used a flash? I am intimidated by flash so always impressed by fast lenses that allow enough light in to avoid flash. Thanks for helping all of us to improve. You have inspired me to keep practicing and will definitely get this lens. BTW, being in the Detroit area, I don't have the inspiring scenery you have over there (I know, bad excuse, there are interesting shots everywhere, right?). If I'm ever in your area, I would love to do the photo tour.
No flash involved in anything I post. As a photojournalist over the years using strobes was part of the job. Now that I am semi retired I have no not used them if I absolutely have to. Thanks so much for your kind words. Yes there are images everywhere you just have to look for light that inspires a photo. Good luck!
You mention it as a text correction, but it's really worth underlining that the 23mm 1.4 LM WR has practically the same magnification as the 16 1.4, yet never gets the plaudits for it or referred to as a pseudo-macro etc. And it does so without the optical limitations of what is after all quite an old lens today.
As for not replacing. Well they kind of did - but in the same way the 33 succeeds the 35. Fuji clearly recognised the fan base for the lens to keep it going, but the 18mm is more the successor to the 16, which is closer to a 17mm anyway, than the 18 f2. And the IQ for the 16 1.4 is somewhat lacking today - not the sharpest, but more importantly the borders and corners can be a horrible mess and not just wide open. If you just use it for its party piece - close up wide open - you won't see it so much, but on the streets or shooting landscape you sure do. And combined with the distortion the extremities of the image can be very distracting if the wrong kind of background is there. Of course there's then the chromatic aberration and poor AF close to subjects.
The only reason now to go for the 16 1.4 today is the close focussing and because there are some great deals on it new and used. Fuji is repeating this feature on other lenses, and is not alone in doing so, but I do think the 16 is the sweet spot for the combination of perspective, focussing distance and thus separation.
With the 18mm the defacto replacement, and the 14mm still waiting on an upgrade, too, I'd actually welcome Fuji running down the stock and killing the 14 and 16 birds with one stone with a 15mm 1.4.
Ian - I agree with some of what you said but my copy is outstanding at the edges at wide open and even better stopped down just a little. Anything but a horrible mess. Otherwise I would not have purchased it. Even the one I borrowed for about a week was outstanding.
My personal guess is the biggest change on an upgraded version of this lens would just be improved autofocus. Autofocus is really the killer for Fujifilm; every time I see people switch to other systems from X it seems like it's always because of AF issues, as opposed to optical quality or lens selection (besides APSC lenses tending to be on the higher depth of field side).
Yes I tend to agree with you. Although for what I use this lens for autofocus speed is not a big deal.
I also have this lens and use it on an XT-3, love the lens for anything from street, landscape and close focus as well, im a wide angle guy and also love the 10-24 Fuji lens
@B Basleigh it depends on what you shoot with it, architecture yes, landscapes which is what I use it for it's not as bad, I shoot seascapes with it
Jim yes a great lens for all of that. I too use the 10-24 for landscapes
I have the 23mm 1.4 version of this with the clutch system, i agree these 2 lenses are simply AMAZING. I opted for the older version of the 23mm 1.4.
The older version of the 23 is very nice. That maybe the one I go for.
@@KirkWilliamsonphotography To me it has more character than the newer version, I put the square hood on it as well. 👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼
such a comprehensive review. I love how you share photos with different styles so we get a good feel for different uses of the lens. I don't own this lens but like many of your videos, i enjoy your commentary, insights, and reviews. keep up the great work.
Many thanks Zachary!
Kirk, great review on the Fuji XF 16mm f1.4. I've never used that lens, but you make it shine.
Mike if you ever get the chance you will be hooked - well maybe.
Hi, Kirk. Great video and shots. I love my 16/1.4, and despite its larger size, I use it over my 23 and 35 f/2 primes; go figure. Keep up the excellent job. Regards from Whyalla, South Australia.
Many thanks Bugs! Glad you are using it.
the 35mm 1.4 R doesn't have that clutch. unless i'm missing something?
Yes you are correct! I mentioned it in the comments above.
I wish this was the first lens I bought. This lens has amazing character I was actually using it yesterday.
Just curious if these are straight out of camera or edited?
I normally shoot raw for the channel. So they have gone through LR before being exported to jpg.
I speak from experience after sadly no longer being with it. That shotgun lock-to-lock focus is a manual focus street shooter's weapon. Deadly lens...
Yes great for that.
Magical shots, all of them!!👍It's really helpful as my only prime is the 35mm f2 (Which I love) but I'm in the market for a wide angle prime.
Thanks Bill - This lens is outstanding and you can find them used at great prices.
No problem I have with 16 mm is it’s not really wide enough to shoot wide epic scenes …. I actually prefer the Viltrox 13mm 1.4
Hi, Kirk! I just learned that Fuji's 16-80mm lens got an update. If u updated yours, would u let me know if it works better with x-t5?
I’ll give it a whirl. Send a note to my email and I’ll let you know when I do it. I’ve been using it right along and it’s been fine.
@@KirkWilliamsonphotography Thanks! I'm worried about the corners.
The update is for aperture control and exposure during video shooting.
@@KirkWilliamsonphotography Thank you so much, Kirk! I think I'll try Tamron 17-70. I need the corners.
Having a hard time finding square and slotted lens hoods, can you point me in the right direction?
Found one for my 18mm 1.4 on B&H just recently.
Bob B&H is where I found this one made by JJC.
So you are using it with your X-T5 despite fujifilm rating its resolution as inadequate for their 40.2 MP? Can you comment on whether you noticed any issues
Andrew - So far I have seen very little issue. I did a video on it and did notice some slight issues at the corners but in real life I have not seen any issues.
@@KirkWilliamsonphotography the f16 1.4 is the favorite lens of so many fuji users. I am surprised that more people will are not creating videos on their experience with the X-T5. Are you loving your X-T5 still? I gave my X-T2 to my daughter after I got my X-T5 and I kind of miss it in some ways. The X-T5 is really a superior camera in many ways, but there was something about the X-T2 that I miss. I can't put my finger on it. I tend to take lots of panorama photos and stitch them together with the MERGE function in LightRoom. With the huge resolution of the X-T5, those files get awfully big when you start merging photos.
I love the camera!
I agree Kirk! Its my favorite lens together with the 200 mm
Wish I had the 200 f2 it would see a lot of sports use.
Yea gorgeous photos Kirk and what a fabulous lens. From all the many lenses I owned over the years (even that fantastic 90mm), this was the best lens by from Fuji by far. Though I've swapped over to Nikon now for all my weddings and paid gigs, I miss that lens the most and should never have sold it. In fact a goodly portion of my favourite images on my website and those that get the most attention, have all been taken on this lens. I think you are wrong, fuji does not need to update this lens, they should leave it alone. Though it is well known that the new Nikon Z lenses are extremely sharp and wonderful, and clinical, but none of them have the magic sauce of this special Fuji lens.
Hi Phillip - I’m up for some minor changes but not to the optical design. I love the clutch and the look this lens gives but want them to leave the character along.
Don’t have optical problems using protector filters? It happens with 18mm 1.4 and 10-24mm, specially with artificial light. I am going to get it one day, right now I am quite happy using the 14mm and it’s focusing clutch, sometimes I use the hiperfocal scale for Street, but the AF it is performing…
Never once in over 40 years as a photojournalist have I ever had a problem using a UVa filter. Resale on lenses that I used for over 20 years were top notch because the optics were still intact. No scratches!!! Every pro I know that uses cameras and lenses outside (not studio work) uses a UVa filter and only takes it off shooting into the sun. Sounds like the 14 is working well for you that's great. I love the 21mm ff focal length.
@@KirkWilliamsonphotography In my Canon gear never had a problem, but with the 10-24 using the Canon Protect, so zero color dominance there was flare with artificial lighting, well with my Canon EF 85mm f1.2L sometimes in concerts I got problems at full aperture.
What a sweet lens. Absolute butter. What are your impressions of the Fuji 14 mm f/2.8?
Bruce I have not tried it hopefully I can.
@@KirkWilliamsonphotography that would be interesting. Thank you for the consideration.
This lens is excellent as is the 18mm 1.4. Another great video, Kirk.
yep 18mm 1.4 is my favorite now
I need to try it.
Gréât pictures thanks,, I'm going to get it ! For sûre !
It’s a great lens! I used it the other night for a news assignment and shot mostly at f1.4-2 and it was great
I love this lens on my XT3 etc. But on my XH2 it is just rubbish. It is way too soft especially as you move towards the edges. 16-55mm kills it for sharpness. Ideally it will be the same lens layout with better optics.
That’s very interesting because on my X-T5 it is outstanding as many of the shots in this video except the first three were made with it.
@@KirkWilliamsonphotography That's interesting to know. On so many forums there appears to be discrepancies between quality of Fujifilm gear. I sold all my Nikon gear years ago and invested heavily into Fuji. I am wondering if they have QA issues? I'll have to have another go with the 16mm as I love this lens but might have to look for a sample that is sharp.
People say that this lens doesnt resolve 40 megapixel if you use with X T 5. I have this amazing lens and I dont want to change it because of this reason. I would like to hear your suggestions.
In my testing I can’t tell the difference so I’m keeping it.
@@KirkWilliamsonphotography Thank you ! I also want to keep it when I change it to X T 5.
I have this lens, but I just use it twice in last 2 years. Its very heavy. Just planning to trade it off
I will say it’s heavy especially if you have one of the off market lens hoods
'A lot of people don't understand a focusing clutch'!!! Really, a switch from auto to manual is not at all difficult to understand.
For some reason they don’t. I’ve had people ask me the purpose and how it works a lot!
Magnífico. Gracias.
Thanks - still love the lens.
Never tried 16f1.4, is the focus ring work same as on lenses which do not have clutch mechanism? I think there is hard stops but I'm interested about feel of rotation and steppes in focus? If no - then why just not to enable af+mf in settings?
Vlad - For me it’s easier to use. No hard stops. Yes I could go the af+MF route but that means as soon as you touch the manual ring it will go manual this way you don’t need to worry about it.
That was my first Fuji lens!! Great!!
It was my second one Marco. The first was the 18-55 which came with the X-T3
very informative, thank you very much.
Glad it helped - It's a great lens.
I first read your title as meaning that we Fuji shooters should not touch this lens….
No Fuji should not touch this lens
Had this one. Gives worst flares in the world... Try Voigtlander Ultron 21mm f/1.8. Much better, in all respects... Of course close focusing was not an issue for me, never shoot closer than 1 meter.
Never had a flare problem
@@KirkWilliamsonphotography I have encountered flares only once around Christmas time, in the evening on the street. There were bright street lights in the frame, closer to the edge, main subject, a building was 15 meters away. I believe I was shooting at f/4 slow shutter speed with IS. In the photo I could see the lens internals, at least, I thought they were... The thing is the next day, I took the Voightlander lens mentioned above, and tried to reproduce the shot in the same exact location, same time. There were no flares, it was clean. I was going to keep only one of these lenses anyway, so I sold the Fuji. Also, the Voightlander gives narrower angle on Fuji X body, about 30mm equivalent. That was also a plus for me. With this angle, I can shoot the whole event with one lens, event where I can mingle in the crowd. For larger events, I take Voightlander 50mm f/1.2, or even Nikkor 105mm f/2.5 AIS with me. All manual focus, with 21mm zone works great at f/3.5 and distance >= 2m. I had many Fuji lenses, sold them all, only one left, 90mm.
It is perfect!
Love it so much too
I traded mine for the Sigma 18-50 because I had bought it second hand and it was getting really loose and sometimes wouldn't want to autofocus. That being said the images were nice and the close focus was great. I would prefer a linear motor version while ditching the focus clutch. MAYBE sharpen the optics, but they are fine as is. Since it is so close to 18 however I feel that maybe the Viltrox 13 would give me more versatility? Does anybody need the Fujifilm square metal hood for the XF16? :)
I understand your point. I am just so used to the 24 mm FF focal length that any wider for normal stuff would throw me off a bit.
I’m down for an new version. More options are always welcome IMO. The old ones aren’t gonna just disappear. There’s plenty of them floating around to always pop up used somewhere. I really enjoy my 16 1.4, but there are things that could be improved and I find the manual focus to be just okay, especially compared to actual manual lenses. It’s nice to have but it’s still a bit clunky in execution.
For me I enjoy using the clutch for manual it works for me. Using actual manual lenses has escaped me so far. I refuse to buy a Chinese manual focus lens. I might consider a Voigtlander (Cosina) made in Japan.
@@KirkWilliamsonphotography I’ve used a lot of the Voigtlander M mount lenses and they’re incredible. Some of the best manual designs and glass on the market - especially the faster nokton line up. They also adapt very well to Fuji. Those are a great place to start.
@@KirkWilliamsonphotography if you are going to try a Chinese manual lens you should try the ones made by Laowa
How is the 23 1.2 for Fuji? I have seen good an bad.
@@KirkWilliamsonphotography I haven’t tried Voigtlanders fuji lenses, but if they’re as good as their m-mount lenses, then I’d be surprised by anything less than excellent.
Having that said, I’d probably just go with their m-mount lenses and get a close focusing Fuji adapter to overcome the rangefinder focus distance.
The Voigtlander 21mm f1.2 is one of the best lenses I’ve ever used across any system. Their 35 f1.2 models and 40 f1.2 are also excellent. And the 75 1.8 Heliar is fantastic. All of them adapt well to Fujis system.
Does this lens focus by wire?
Yes it does as do all the Fuji lenses.
@@KirkWilliamsonphotography Ah I see. I was thinking the clutch maybe meant that this one didn’t.
I love this lens so much too.
Its a great one. Never giving it up.
That green little one is Grogu not Yoda 😊
Thanks Eric! My kids are the Star Wars experts not me. 😀
Will never own big and heavy lenses like this. Not worth it. If you don't want to carry it all day, you WON'T carry it someday.
I use it for work mostly! Still a superb lens.