Since I sold my SLR gear and started shooting exclusively with X-series cameras I have started enjoying photography once again. I spend less time playing with menus and settings and focus instead on light and composition.
The biggest drawback of the system so far has been the lack of wide-angle lenses – my favourite perspective. But my problem has been solved. This weekend I picked up the latest Fuji lens – XF 14mm F2.8. What a lens it is!
I came from the pro-level Nikon and Canon gear and after one day of shooting, this lens has impressed me. In fact, after my initial assessment this is the best wide-angle lens I have ever shot with.
(To make it even more interesting, the very same day I borrowed a Nikon D800 with the AF-S 14-24mm 2.8 zoom lens and used it along with my Fuji X-Pro1 and XF 14mm F2.8. You will find the whole story of my “Camera Fever” episode in the next post. For now all I can say that the Nikon D800 and its super-heavy lens is back in a store).
Having said that, I am not going to give a scientific review (I prefer to spend time photographing); instead I would like to share a few images I shot yesterday with this newest lens.
Please note that these are sample images without any distortion correction applied. Processed in Capture One 7 and Lightroom 4.
.. and some B&W images:
© Kasia & Olaf Sztaba Photography. All Rights Reserved.
your pictures are beautiful
I like your post and your images! I was impressed by the X100 and I am not so impressed by the X-E1 as it is less “manual” and mecanic. But I also had the chance to shoot for 30 min with the 14mm and I am really impressed. I like whide angle lenses, but this one is whide enough and produces images that do not feel aritificial in the sense of distortion. Thanks for your comments.
Really nice shots Olaf
Considering the 14mm for my x pro 1 at the moment and was wondering if you could tell me about its use with he OVF? I can’t find any information about this.
Thanks
WOW is all I can say (Beautiful work) I recently purchased an XE-1 with the 35mm F1.4 Lens. The quality is astounding. I currently shoot with a Nikon D800. I am spending more time shooting with the XE-1 and less time shooting with the Nikon D800. The 14mm is my next purchase..Thanks a million for the review! 🙂 Pascal lephotograph.com
Pascal,
Thank you for visiting and your kind words. A few weeks ago I played with a Nikon D800. Sure, resolution is amazing but the camera itself is just not for me, too many buttons, menus and distractions. I wish one day someone start writing right software for cameras and will get rid of all the junk.
All the best,
Olaf
Thanks for sharing – your pictures are like advert for this camera and lens. Looking for more 🙂
I can recognize where most of these are shot in Vancouver, except for the one near the docks (the second picture from the top). Could you tell me where this is? Thanks so much! Your pictures of Vancouver and the surrounding area make me want to explore a bit more :).
Drooling! I currently have the X-E1 with kit lens. I wonder if I should get the 18mm or this lens. I think this may be less redundant.
Just sent a comment and realized forgot to tell you nice photos and enjoyed you site.
Tim Mize
Tim,
Thank you for visiting and your kind comments.
Olaf
I bought the xpro1 with the 60 and 18mm lenses. I too had the experience of slow focus. However, the latest firmware and a change to the size of the focus area have made a huge difference (not afs speed difference but still reportage friendly speeds).
I keep the at area in the middle of the selectable range so the are a few more pints for it to use but not enough to get confused on focus.
I’m not sure if it were the firmware or the at change but it is highly usable now!
It would be amazing if you could post a test of the same subjects taken at the same angle with both the 18mm vs the 14mm to really show off the framing of both of these lenses. I want one of them but not sure which.
Photo 8 is stunning.
Great photos.
I too sold my DSLR gear (a lot!) and went with the X-Pro 1. I bought the 35,18 and 60mm Fuji lenses as well. The 35 stays on about 80% of the time. The 60mm really has disappointed me. It is about the worst experience I’ve ever had with slow focusing. I am now looking to sell it. I’ve been considering the 18-55 since I like this range a lot. I’ve seen the initial reviews on this 14 though and am reconsidering. I have the 18 and it gives me f/2 and this 14 is f/2.8. Not that much wider and I lose f stops so I, like others, are wondering why Fuji wouldn’t at least go a bit wider. If you already have an 18 what’s to gain? Know what I mean?
How does it compare with the 18mm? I love primes very much but, considering I have the 18 and 35 already, if you were me would you sell the 60mm for the 14 or the 18-55 and why?
Thanks. Bookmarked your site. 😉
Greg,
Thank you for visiting. I also have the 60mm and optically it is an excellent glass. At the same time you are right, it is quite slow.
I bought the 14mm because this perspective is my favourite. I tried 18-55 and it is good lens, however, for me it doesn’t cut it (maybe because i don’t like zooms). The 18mm is also fine lens so as long as you don’t need wider view I would stick with it to save money. If money is no issue – go ahead and get 14mm.
All the best,
Olaf
I’ve been waiting for the 14mm since it’s announcement, I miss shooting wide (since a 21mm on a Pentax MX 35mm SLR 20yrs ago!!). I checked it out last week, my sensible money based side of my mind declined purchase…. the other side was saying ‘just get it!’
Really great inspiring images here, they are now twisting that other side and I feel myself drawn to my local store tho following week!
I know I won’t regret.
Deposit placed!!
Some very nice stuff. I like the way you work with the colours, and the perspective. You really know how to work that 14. Some of these would make very nice prints.
So far, which do you find better for your type of photography: Capture One or LR?
Stephen,
I am more familiar with LR4 but Capture One is a very nice software too. I would need to use Capture One longer to answer your question. So far, I found Capture One’s user interface cleaner.
Maybe, I will write a post about both in the future.
Thanks for visiting.
Olaf
Wow, gorgeous work! I’ve never been particularly interested in shooting side angle, but this new lens (and your photos) have got my interest piqued!
Terrific compositions and treatment. I particularly enjoyed numbers 1, 7 and 8. That 14 is very tempting but for now I make do with the glass I have adapted from other systems. Great work, thank you for posting these!
Thank you for visiting and your comments.
Olaf
Wonderful images!
Thanks for sharing
These are lovely images. You really know how to deal with the challenge that wide-angle lenses pose in terms of composition. Finally not another bunch of fence-in-front-of-a-field test photos.
Marc,
Thank you for visiting my blog and for your kind comments. Indeed, wide-angle perspective is the way I see the world.
All the best,
Olaf
The photos look lovely. I got the X-E1 with the 18-55 and the 35mm lenses. I prefer the output of the Fuji with these lenses compared to my old Nikon DSLR (a D7000) – I used to have a 10mm lens for the Nikon which I miss so the question for me is do I go for the 14mm or wait for the 10mm zoom on the roadmap. The 14mm certainly looks the business if these photos are anything to go by.
Dave,
Thank you for visiting. I appreciate sharing your comments with us.
Regards,
Olaf