I just got the new version of this yesturday. Fitted to my XT30, put a ‘retro’ recipe on and was well happy with the shots I got this morning. Exactly what I was looking for as a simple walk-about set up 👍
I really enjoy this type of lens. My favorite until now was the Olympus 15mm f8 on my E-M1. I tried the mark I version of this 18mm f6.3 and the experience was very disappointing. I guess I would get a lens that mistakenly passed the quality tests. The chromatic aberrations and lack of focus made it unusable. I hope the mark II version has improved.
I'm not a pixel peeper so the images look quite good even with yt's compression. A bit of nail varnish remover should get rid of the clock face decals :)
I like it, it will be good addition to two 16mm Fuji lenses I already have. I am down-sampling 1.5x or 2x anyway. It would be great if the clock worked :)
I’ve been looking at these cap lenses to have a play with but wasn’t sure if to go for this or the Pergear 10mm F8, did I see you also tested the 10mm one? If so how do they compare?
Seems a lot like a disposable camera lens--18mm f/6.3 is roughly the APS-C equivalent to the ~31mm f/10 (ish) you'd find on something like a FunSaver. I guess it depends on what you're looking for. As a tool to create detailed images, this ain't it. Yet particularly with the jpeg options of a Fuji, this would probably be fun for the right person. It provides a certain kind of shooting experience, and maybe that's the goal. Worth $70, tho?
@@DamianBrown I guess what I keep thinking about is $70 could get you something like the 7A 25mm/1.8, Pergear 10mm/8 fisheye, or TTA 35mm/1.4, which are going to be optically better and more flexible. Meanwhile, used Fuji lenses like the 16mm or 27mm aren't that much more ($250-$350, and used Fuji glass almost seems pricey compared to Pentax... just over $200 for a knockout like a 21mm Limited). My thoughts are really unfocused, since I'm at once amazed by the quality for the price of these budget manual lenses, but also stunned by the improvement in color rendition, sharpness, and contrast from adapting my Pentax glass to Fuji. Size differences become really noticeable, but with a bit more investment, so are the optics. And yet, that tiny, fixed-focus wide angle (hard to find wide budget manual lenses), with the feel of the cheap plastic point-and-shoot from childhood, does offer something special. If photography isn't a profession, and it isn't just using a phone to document friends and family, then it's a hobby, and what's important about a hobby is that you have fun doing it. And this is going to be an experience that's not like most other lenses. Mostly just rambling to try to put my thoughts in order.
Nice review. Seems like a good idea to pair with an X-E body. Likey you say though, the styling on the face of it, puts me right off. Plus the sixty quid could go towards a second hand 18mm...
About 2 meters till infinity. That's the beauty of a wide angle lens, cose the aperture a little bit and you get a massive depth of field. That's how cheap plastic point and shoots did it in the 90s
I have a 7-Artisans 7.5mm f/2.8 fish eye. I use it on my Lumix G80 for video as the Lumix tends to crop in vidoe mode. it lacks auto focus but apart fom that is an excellent lens !
I'm undecided between this and the Meike 28mm 2.8 pancake, or maybe even the 25mm 1.8. I need something more compact when I can't carry the 16-80 zoom.
@@DamianBrown the XM-FL is not officially sold outside Japan, but it's easy enough to get one from a Japanese eBay seller. They have existed for some years, but most outside Japan don't know of them.
I really can't recommend this thing. I'm interested in Lo Fi stuff, and I've shot with a plastic Lomo lens, and with lenses for CC TV video cameras, both with adapters. The security camera lenses were vignetting like crazy, and that was really interesting. They also were sharp in the center and super blurry in the corners, which can be fascinating. This lens is just okay, not very sharp, not very dull, not very anything. You're right, that clock face design is just silly and annoying, and the fact that it makes the camera easy to pocket is not that much of an advantage, especially if you have the amazing 27mm pancake Fuji lens, which continues to be my first choice for walking around. So, it's not a huge loss to have invested in this gadget, but I'll just give it to the first kid with a Fuji camera I run into. It's solidly meh.
Thanks for sharing. Someone else said it doesn't have anything that you could call character. It's just a bad lens. I detested the M43 Olympus 15mm f8 which is probably similar. Hopefully my lens cap lens with a Kodak disposable camera's glass will arrive soon. That should have a filmic reason to use it. Much cheaper at $20 on Ali Express too. But its 30mm f10.
@@DamianBrown The smart phone that most people already own and carry around with them will outperform this lens, it doesn't matter what camera its used on. Poor quality is poor quality, you can easily degrade a photo in post if that's what you want.
lol :) let's be honest. It's totally useless it could be a good thing to protect your sensor and still have the ability to shoot but it's too expensive. At this price point, smartphones make better picture than that
A smartphone costs a lot more than the lens and camera combined, especially if you've got the cheaper Fujifilm cameras. Realistically it's not a serious lens at all but some people like to have a bit of fun and prefer shooting with a camera than a phone. Horses for courses.
@@DamianBrown I was just trying to say that the quality is so poor and everything is in focus so it looks like pictures taken with a 60$ smartphone. Now you tell me that even with a body , it will be cheaper 😄😄😄
@@DamianBrown I didnt mean to be rude. I wouldnt spend more than 20 dollars for this piece of .... glass... you don't buy fuji for this kind of things. No control of aperture and focus? Yes it reminds me a lot of smartphone photo.
I just got the new version of this yesturday. Fitted to my XT30, put a ‘retro’ recipe on and was well happy with the shots I got this morning. Exactly what I was looking for as a simple walk-about set up 👍
Great to hear!
Mine arrived a couple of weeks back. Allows my X-E1 to fit in my back pocket and did a fine job outside on a recent sunny day!
Great idea Joe!
I really enjoy this type of lens. My favorite until now was the Olympus 15mm f8 on my E-M1.
I tried the mark I version of this 18mm f6.3 and the experience was very disappointing.
I guess I would get a lens that mistakenly passed the quality tests. The chromatic aberrations and lack of focus made it unusable.
I hope the mark II version has improved.
I've got a video coming out about the mkii. They should have made that instead of this
I'm not a pixel peeper so the images look quite good even with yt's compression. A bit of nail varnish remover should get rid of the clock face decals :)
Exactly! Good idea
Love the idea of this lens... Hate why my RUclips didn't notify me about this video! Keep to the good with Damien!!!
Probably why American channels get way more subs 😅 I appreciate it tho!
@@DamianBrown That should have said "Keep up the good work", stupid predictive text!!!! 😂
Wow this lens is INSANE!! Quality is decent but.. that's, by far, the fastest focusing lens I've seen in my life!! X-D ...18mm UFO nice name though.
Best focusing ever.
I really wanna try this lens. Could be just what I'm looking for... 🤔
Cheap enough to give it a try!
I like it, it will be good addition to two 16mm Fuji lenses I already have. I am down-sampling 1.5x or 2x anyway. It would be great if the clock worked :)
Late reply sorry, busy last few weeks! Have you bought it now? Might be a bit of fun.
@@DamianBrown Not yet, but I bought Voigtlander 35mm F/2 vintage line. Fun also, but I would love if it were 23mm instead... Nothing fits the frame:)
Distortion seems to be on the low side - very welcome. Thanks for the „review”!
Thanks Georg! I agree
Looks like an interesting street lens for a different perspective.
Definitely!
I see that "OPM" in your sample shots. Love that place!
Originals!
I’ve been looking at these cap lenses to have a play with but wasn’t sure if to go for this or the Pergear 10mm F8, did I see you also tested the 10mm one? If so how do they compare?
I've got a video coming out about that one soon. I don't really like to compare different focal lengths but it's also a useable and fun little lens!
@@DamianBrown fair enough, I will wait for that video and see how it gets on :)
@@leewphotography8316 this is definitely the more general purpose of the two, all shall be revealed though
Seems a lot like a disposable camera lens--18mm f/6.3 is roughly the APS-C equivalent to the ~31mm f/10 (ish) you'd find on something like a FunSaver. I guess it depends on what you're looking for. As a tool to create detailed images, this ain't it. Yet particularly with the jpeg options of a Fuji, this would probably be fun for the right person. It provides a certain kind of shooting experience, and maybe that's the goal. Worth $70, tho?
I think so, good bit of harmless fun for those with the spare cash
@@DamianBrown I guess what I keep thinking about is $70 could get you something like the 7A 25mm/1.8, Pergear 10mm/8 fisheye, or TTA 35mm/1.4, which are going to be optically better and more flexible. Meanwhile, used Fuji lenses like the 16mm or 27mm aren't that much more ($250-$350, and used Fuji glass almost seems pricey compared to Pentax... just over $200 for a knockout like a 21mm Limited).
My thoughts are really unfocused, since I'm at once amazed by the quality for the price of these budget manual lenses, but also stunned by the improvement in color rendition, sharpness, and contrast from adapting my Pentax glass to Fuji. Size differences become really noticeable, but with a bit more investment, so are the optics.
And yet, that tiny, fixed-focus wide angle (hard to find wide budget manual lenses), with the feel of the cheap plastic point-and-shoot from childhood, does offer something special. If photography isn't a profession, and it isn't just using a phone to document friends and family, then it's a hobby, and what's important about a hobby is that you have fun doing it. And this is going to be an experience that's not like most other lenses.
Mostly just rambling to try to put my thoughts in order.
Agreed with you
its a good lens as it is, any lens is better than no lens.
Exactly!
An appropriate type of review for this lens. I sure wish they hadn’t printed the clock face on the front.
Agreed!
It may not be a good lens but it surely is the best lens cap replacement
The quickest to shoot lens cap 😅
Thanks, I've been waiting for this review :)
Hope it was useful!
@@DamianBrown very, now I know I won't buy it however sizes are impressive :)
There's almost something for everyone these days.:)
Nice review. Seems like a good idea to pair with an X-E body. Likey you say though, the styling on the face of it, puts me right off. Plus the sixty quid could go towards a second hand 18mm...
I agree, it's ideal for an X-E body!
Nice video, please can you tell lens manufacturers especially Fuji, to give us an 18mm f1.2 lens I will be very grateful...
I definitely want to see some different focal lengths!!
But how do you handle it without focus ring ? Just by ensuring that your subject is in the focus range, but what is the focus range ?
About 2 meters till infinity.
That's the beauty of a wide angle lens, cose the aperture a little bit and you get a massive depth of field. That's how cheap plastic point and shoots did it in the 90s
As Otto said :)
You might be able to get some black laquer and paint those roman numerals out
That could work!
I have a 7-Artisans 7.5mm f/2.8 fish eye. I use it on my Lumix G80 for video as the Lumix tends to crop in vidoe mode. it lacks auto focus but apart fom that is an excellent lens !
It's a nice lens!
Hi Damian, i plugged the lens into my xpo3 but the camera isn’t shooting anything. Do i need to do set something for the shutter to work?
Set "shoot without lens" in the menus
@@DamianBrown thank you
I'm undecided between this and the Meike 28mm 2.8 pancake, or maybe even the 25mm 1.8.
I need something more compact when I can't carry the 16-80 zoom.
Those 25s are more practical overall so could be the way forward.
I've bought several 7Artisans lenses and returned every one of them. Vastly superior results can be obtained from adapted film SLR lenses.
Fair play :)
Looks like the same concept as the Fujifilm XM-FL, and around the same price. I have an XM-FL which I keep mounted on an X-M1.
Pretty much yes! I never got to use that one but same concept.
@@DamianBrown the XM-FL is not officially sold outside Japan, but it's easy enough to get one from a Japanese eBay seller. They have existed for some years, but most outside Japan don't know of them.
Nice review thanks for sharing enjoy and take care
Thanks Mariel, you too!
Ia this no focus & no aperture?
I thought I mentioned it in the video sorry
Interesting lens
Bit of fun ye :)
I really can't recommend this thing. I'm interested in Lo Fi stuff, and I've shot with a plastic Lomo lens, and with lenses for CC TV video cameras, both with adapters. The security camera lenses were vignetting like crazy, and that was really interesting. They also were sharp in the center and super blurry in the corners, which can be fascinating. This lens is just okay, not very sharp, not very dull, not very anything. You're right, that clock face design is just silly and annoying, and the fact that it makes the camera easy to pocket is not that much of an advantage, especially if you have the amazing 27mm pancake Fuji lens, which continues to be my first choice for walking around. So, it's not a huge loss to have invested in this gadget, but I'll just give it to the first kid with a Fuji camera I run into. It's solidly meh.
Fair play :)
Thanks for sharing. Someone else said it doesn't have anything that you could call character. It's just a bad lens. I detested the M43 Olympus 15mm f8 which is probably similar.
Hopefully my lens cap lens with a Kodak disposable camera's glass will arrive soon. That should have a filmic reason to use it. Much cheaper at $20 on Ali Express too. But its 30mm f10.
wow I actually enjoyed the photos from this lens. i have the fujifilm filter lens and this looks better
I'm finding the cheap lenses aren't so bad these days!
I've got too the Fujifilm filters lens. Good to know. Thx for the feedback.
Haha was just looking at this on b and h
Tempted? :D
This lens sound so completely for a daily shooting without keep focusing. Just shoot and you done. It's only €70 so it really inexpensively.
Worth a bash I think.
@@DamianBrown its almost a lomography setup. I wish you could do lomography with an mirorless
Damn i miss Birmingham...
Even in the grey it is home
Wow 3:09 - 3:12 what a beauty pictures!
I should've have put them on higher resolution, but thanks!
This seems like doing phone photography on the Fuji! Interesting...
Definitely a bit of fun.
@@DamianBrown but then have to miss playing with aperture
Nice & Thanks :)
Thanks Krishnan
It does look like a UFO 👽
Me or the lens? 😅😅
@@DamianBrown I forget what planet you're from 🤔🤣🤣
@@nerwin 👀 me too lately
I hated the design with the roman numerals and all
I still don't understand it :D
Shooting with open sensor makes more sense than this thing
I think it's much better than shooting with an open sensor
@@DamianBrown open sensor is the body without lens
exactly. This lens is obviously better than that.
@@DamianBrown i’d prefer my phone😂
The lens on a smart phone is way better than this and even more compact
Different lens, different sensor, different camera :) But ye, most smartphones can snap a decent image for social media stuff.
@@DamianBrown The smart phone that most people already own and carry around with them will outperform this lens, it doesn't matter what camera its used on. Poor quality is poor quality, you can easily degrade a photo in post if that's what you want.
lol :) let's be honest. It's totally useless
it could be a good thing to protect your sensor and still have the ability to shoot but it's too expensive. At this price point, smartphones make better picture than that
A smartphone costs a lot more than the lens and camera combined, especially if you've got the cheaper Fujifilm cameras. Realistically it's not a serious lens at all but some people like to have a bit of fun and prefer shooting with a camera than a phone. Horses for courses.
@@DamianBrown I was just trying to say that the quality is so poor and everything is in focus so it looks like pictures taken with a 60$ smartphone. Now you tell me that even with a body , it will be cheaper 😄😄😄
@@DamianBrown I didnt mean to be rude. I wouldnt spend more than 20 dollars for this piece of .... glass...
you don't buy fuji for this kind of things.
No control of aperture and focus? Yes it reminds me a lot of smartphone photo.