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Archive 2014 · Fujinon 18-55 vs 18/23/35...

  
 
GiovanniAprea
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p.1 #1 · p.1 #1 · Fujinon 18-55 vs 18/23/35...


Hello everybody,

I just got a Fuji X-Pro1 and the 35/1.4, I like the camera and the lens, obviously coming from a D-SLR there are flaws like AF speed/lock and so on but I knew that already so am not complaining; the idea was to have a light but quality setup and as such I thought of primes, I don't like 35mm equivalent so I never thought of the 23 but rather the 14 and the 60 (56 very out of budget even in my wildest dreams unless I find a rich wife...), in the meantime I'd like to use the camera for some landscaping along or on place of my D800 where I can't go wider than 28mm (even there am waiting for better times to get a nice prime for the purpose), given I can't afford the 14 now I was thinking at the 18-55 which now goes away at quite affordable cost (here in Italy everything is more expensive than in the US by the way), what do you think, I know it has lot of distortion at the low end and not a great bokeh at the long one, what when stopped down to f8/f11 for some landscape at the wide end and wide open on the tele end for some casual portraiture, would it work or I better save and wait (which is always the best option) to get the 14 for landscape and keep using the 35 for portrait and the D800 with the 85 if I want some more reach?

Grazie everybody


Giovanni



Nov 29, 2014 at 02:19 PM
jcolwell
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p.1 #2 · p.1 #2 · Fujinon 18-55 vs 18/23/35...


Hi Giovanni,

I think you can't go wrong with the 18-55 OIS. I have it as well as the 14mm, 18mm, 27mm, 35mm, and 60mm primes for my X-E2 (was X-Pro 1). You're right that the XF 14/2.8 is an excellent lens, and it should stay on your list for the future.

I use Canon 1DX and (mostly) 6D for landscapes, with Zeiss and Canon TS-E prime lenses, yet I don't mind using the 18-55 OIS and X-E2 for the same purpose, when it makes sense for the situation. The X Pro-1 and 18-55 OIS provide fine image quality, in a small and affordable package. That's not to say that you won't want something else later, but it's a great start.

BTW, I spent about two weeks in your beautiful country this past September and October, in Buonconvento and Venice. I took my X-E2 with 14/2.8 and 18-55 OIS, plus a Canon 100D + 70-200/4L IS.

Ciao,
Jim



Nov 29, 2014 at 06:24 PM
millsart
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p.1 #3 · p.1 #3 · Fujinon 18-55 vs 18/23/35...


If you really want the 14mm, don't like 35mm equiv, and already have the longer end covered pretty well with the 35/1.4, the 18-55 seems like kind of a silly choice.

Basically it sounds like you'd just be shooting it at 28mm equiv all the time, (since you don't like tighter 35mm equiv framing)

Also it sounds like you already have 28mm on the D800, and again wish you could go wider ? If so, the 18-55 isn't going to change that.

I'd wait for what you really want because the 18-55 doesn't sound like.

The 14 and 35 Fuji's are a fantastic 2 lens combo and my two favorites



Nov 29, 2014 at 06:55 PM
GiovanniAprea
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p.1 #4 · p.1 #4 · Fujinon 18-55 vs 18/23/35...


It's fun to post such questions cos of the very contradictory answers posted :-D

I made a choice to leave zooms home (I have a beautiful Nikon 80-200, an even older 35-70 and a new but almost unused 28-300) and to go primes both cos of looking for quality but also to go lighter since the camera along with the 28/50/85 primes covers a lot (still too narrow at the low end and a bit short at the long one but it's ok till now also given am not a pro but a simple amateur), I went (again) Fuji way (I used to shoot the S5 and actually still have not one but two of those) to be lighter and to look for quality in the lens lineup and as such going primes, I think the 35 is a good starting point, even back in the very first film days the 50mm was the standard lens so you really can't go wrong with it, even my dad, when he handed me the Nikon F there was a 50/2 attached and I still have and sometimes use it, this said there is no finances left to go wide (I would rather go wide with the Fuji cos I am finely covered long end with the D800), the only option would have been the compact 18/2 which, by the way, doesn't come for free and by browsing an italian forum I found a 18-55 for sale in Napoli, 40-60 minutes of sea in between (I live on an island in the gulf of Napoli) at the price of about 300US$ I think it might be a good bargain to cover the range of the 18 even if at expenses of bulk and weight (I personally hate zooms which extend during zooming!), distortion wise they should be very similar and once stopped down f8-f11 for landscape there should be sharpness al across the frame and for sure it can't be worse than my old Nikkor 28/2.8Ai which now is my one and only landscape lens.

I will take time till monday to think about it, in the meantime I hope to read more opinions.

Thank you so much for your comments, wishing you all a nice sunday!!!


Giovanni



Nov 30, 2014 at 04:23 AM
lexvo
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p.1 #5 · p.1 #5 · Fujinon 18-55 vs 18/23/35...


I don't think the 18-55 is that bulky, it is only 310 grams.

I love to shoot with primes too, but I also have the 18-55 because it is so versatile. For about $300 you can't go wrong!

Last september I travelled in Spain (Sevilla, Cordoba, Granada and some other places) with the 18-55 and the 14. That turned out to be a perfect combination for such a trip.



Nov 30, 2014 at 05:10 AM
jcolwell
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p.1 #6 · p.1 #6 · Fujinon 18-55 vs 18/23/35...


GiovanniAprea wrote:
It's fun to post such questions cos of the very contradictory answers ...


I think that proves two things; your decision is your own responsibility, and you get what you pay for.



Nov 30, 2014 at 07:18 AM
millsart
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p.1 #7 · p.1 #7 · Fujinon 18-55 vs 18/23/35...


How much can you get the 18/2 for ? It needs to be stopped down, but certainly smaller/lighter than the zoom if you'd just be using it at its widest end.

Here in the states you can find them really cheap as its not a super popular lens. Not a bad lens, but simply not as stellar as the 14/23/35/56/60



Nov 30, 2014 at 12:35 PM
GiovanniAprea
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p.1 #8 · p.1 #8 · Fujinon 18-55 vs 18/23/35...


Of course am not gonna get the 18-55 to use it just at 18mm, it would do as a nice all rounder, I guess that at about 300$ is a good deal if in good conditions (as far as it seems) even though, as said above, my preference would go towards fixed focal ones but at this moment in time I have no money to fund the 14, I could get the 60 to shoot people which I love (and actually do with the 85/1.8 on my D800) but, again, the 18-55 is cheaper and the 18 is not really what I am into, if I could I would go towards the 14 but that's way out of my budget.

I am just afraid that if at 18 the zoom might be competitive given it will be stopped down for landscapes it might be a little delusion on the longer end if I expect the out of focus the 35 can give or the 50-85 do give me on the D800 which, being a FF sensor, renders a wonderful booked and that's why I am debating if to go for this zoom till I can fund wide angle prime (which is not going to be before next summer) or just wait and enjoy the camera with the 35 until a better time or deal comes up.

By the way I gotta thank you all again for your comments and suggestions

Giovanni



Nov 30, 2014 at 01:14 PM
millsart
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p.1 #9 · p.1 #9 · Fujinon 18-55 vs 18/23/35...


Its a tough situation to be in, and there is one one "right" answer.

I will add a few last thoughts...1) even with the 18-55, I found the 14mm still very useful, so one obviously doesn't replace the other. I think most other users will also agree with this.

2) if you buy the 18-55, you'll be that much further away from the 14mm with regards to saving money for it.

3) have you considered the 16-55 lens ? It is not as fast or quite as good optically as the 18-55, but if you'd be using it stopped down it could work pretty well.

Its the "kit" lens for many of Fuji's bodies, and at least here in the states, you can find them super cheap, like $150.

Its wider, giving you 24mm equiv instead of 28mm, lighter in weight, and probably much, much cheaper

It could be a very nice temporary solution while you save most of your funds for the 14mm.



Nov 30, 2014 at 01:49 PM
GiovanniAprea
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p.1 #10 · p.1 #10 · Fujinon 18-55 vs 18/23/35...


millsart wrote:
Its a tough situation to be in, and there is one one "right" answer.

Eheheheh...

I will add a few last thoughts...

1) even with the 18-55, I found the 14mm still very useful, so one obviously doesn't replace the other. I think most other users will also agree with this.

I do agree too but it doesn't mean the two can't live together, the 14 would be "the landscape lens", the 18-55 just a palliative whilst I can eventually get the 14.

2) if you buy the 18-55, you'll be that much further away from the 14mm with regards to saving money for it.

True,
...Show more



Nov 30, 2014 at 02:02 PM
hauxon
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p.1 #11 · p.1 #11 · Fujinon 18-55 vs 18/23/35...


It the classic queston of primes vs zoom. I have the 14, 23, 35, 60, 18-55 and 55-200. I like the 18-55 but I almost never use it since I love the primes. I use the 55-200 every now and then, at least until they make longer primes. I'm debating with myself if I should sell the 14 for the 10-24 and buy a Samyng 12/2 for aurora and stars. ...so I will tell you to go with the primes.


Nov 30, 2014 at 02:48 PM
barisaxer
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p.1 #12 · p.1 #12 · Fujinon 18-55 vs 18/23/35...


18-55 is my most used lens. I have the primes but use this and the 14mm the most. It is my go to walk around kit.
The 35 and the 23 are very good but the versatility and ease of use with little loss of quality make me grab the zoom most of the time. I can hardly tell a prime from the zoom at 16*20 print size which is big for me.



Nov 30, 2014 at 04:03 PM
paulhodson
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p.1 #13 · p.1 #13 · Fujinon 18-55 vs 18/23/35...


I think I would go for the 10-24 - but it's very expensive at the moment anyway!


Dec 03, 2014 at 12:45 PM
FarmerJohn
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p.1 #14 · p.1 #14 · Fujinon 18-55 vs 18/23/35...


If you want inexpensive and landscapes, you should look into the Samyang 12mm f2.
I've got one, I've enjoyed it as a lightweight kit to use with the 23mm.
I'm renting the 35mm soon to try it out. I would think that 12mm + 35mm would make a great two lens landscape/general set.



Dec 03, 2014 at 01:21 PM
Jman13
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p.1 #15 · p.1 #15 · Fujinon 18-55 vs 18/23/35...




hauxon wrote:
It the classic queston of primes vs zoom. I have the 14, 23, 35, 60, 18-55 and 55-200. I like the 18-55 but I almost never use it since I love the primes. I use the 55-200 every now and then, at least until they make longer primes. I'm debating with myself if I should sell the 14 for the 10-24 and buy a Samyng 12/2 for aurora and stars. ...so I will tell you to go with the primes.


I have a similar lineup. I have the 14/23/35/56/60 as well as the 18-55 and 55-200. I use them all, but what I carry varies on the day. A typical day I'll bring the 14, 23, 56 and 55-200. I'll swap in the 60 if I know I'll be shooting close up.

If I'm going out for a landscape shoot or other type where subject isolation isn't primary, IL bring the 18-55 in lieu of the 23, and often just shoot with the 14, 18-55 and 55-200 in these situations. The 18-55 is good enough that I don't worry about the minor resolution change since the convenience works better for me in those situations.

The 35, BTW, gets most of its use as a single lens solution with my X-E2. I can slide that in a small hip bag and be good to go.



Dec 03, 2014 at 01:29 PM
timpdx
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p.1 #16 · p.1 #16 · Fujinon 18-55 vs 18/23/35...


I have the 14, 23 18-55 and 55-200. The 14 is there for wide shots, the 23 I just picked up and looking to use it for low light stuff, street photography, going to Paris at the end of the month and looking forward to giving it a workout.

Other than that, the 18-55 is a great performer, and I use it quite often. I just picked up a XE-2 so I have a second body now, The 18-55 will live on one body, and the other will be for a prime or the 55-200.



Dec 03, 2014 at 02:37 PM
GiovanniAprea
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p.1 #17 · p.1 #17 · Fujinon 18-55 vs 18/23/35...


Hello everybody, let me thank you all for your feedback, the guy who is selling the 18-55 didn't reply my messages so I just let it go, today I was in Napoli and in a shop's window there were both the 18-55, the 10-24 and the 14 side to side, the 14 is the smallest even though not that small, I think I should stick with the original idea behind my choice to get the X-Pro1, to stay on primes to keep it light and to get the best quality, I will end up with two similar kits, the Fuji and the Nikon D800 where I already have the 50/1.4 and the 85/1.8, I will later on add a 20/1.8 for landscaping and the Fuji will sometimes get the 14 in first place, in the meantime if I wanna shoot portraits I can carry the D800 with the 85 and the Fuji with the 35, they can both live in the same bag without to add much bulk or weight.
By the way, I still haven't had chance to test the camera with the 35 in good light and on some tricky situation like a sea storm, I can't wait!!!

Thank you all



Dec 03, 2014 at 02:49 PM
hauxon
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p.1 #18 · p.1 #18 · Fujinon 18-55 vs 18/23/35...


Sea storm in Capri. Maybe much like Iceland but warmer... I was for 2 weeks in Sorrento/Capri/Positano 14 years ago with my fiancé and I don't remember the wind moving ..at all.
Too bad I hadn't started shooting seriously back then, beautiful place.



Dec 03, 2014 at 05:50 PM
GiovanniAprea
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p.1 #19 · p.1 #19 · Fujinon 18-55 vs 18/23/35...


I guess you came in summer, in winter when wind blows from south-west or west I can tell you it's quite scary, for sure nothing to do with Iceland or ocean side locations but for us, used to smooth summers, it looks quite rough...



Capri off and on season



Dec 04, 2014 at 03:40 AM
johnahill
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p.1 #20 · p.1 #20 · Fujinon 18-55 vs 18/23/35...


wow, that is a great series of image :-)


Dec 04, 2014 at 04:17 AM
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