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Archive 2015 · Fuji 16-55mm f/2.8 rolling impressions.

Jman13
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p.2 #1 · p.2 #1 · Fuji 16-55mm f/2.8 rolling impressions.

A few more from today. Why did it have to be so cold this week? Ugh. Was 10F when out today, with a 20MPH wind. It's going to be -2F tomorrow morning and -12F Friday morning. I'd be good with 20s.

http://www.jordansteele.com/2015/cold_fence_city.jpg

http://www.jordansteele.com/2015/columbus_trellis.jpg

http://www.jordansteele.com/2015/snow_melt.jpg

Feb 18, 2015 at 09:14 PM

galenapass
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p.2 #2 · p.2 #2 · Fuji 16-55mm f/2.8 rolling impressions.

Jman13 wrote:
A few more from today. Why did it have to be so cold this week? Ugh. Was 10F when out today, with a 20MPH wind. It's going to be -2F tomorrow morning and -12F Friday morning. I'd be good with 20s.

Well...at least you won't have trouble with other people standing/walking/running in the way while you are trying to take nice shots of the city.

Looks like a clear shot of the Scioto Greenway walking path above.

Feb 18, 2015 at 09:20 PM

joychris
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p.2 #3 · p.2 #3 · Fuji 16-55mm f/2.8 rolling impressions.

What do you think of the Fuji vs the Samsung 16-50/2-2.8? Stay warm.

Feb 19, 2015 at 07:13 AM

lyleg
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p.2 #4 · p.2 #4 · Fuji 16-55mm f/2.8 rolling impressions.

In my week with this lens I can say without hesitation its beats the 18-55 hands down. Sharpness is better at all apertures and focal lengths, though its close in places. The big difference for me is the contrast, especially the micro contrast. The 16-55 destroys the kit lens here. Images have noticeably more depth with the 16-55. I have always found images from the kit to be very flat requiring extensive PP to look even decent. OIS is not a concern to me.

Feb 19, 2015 at 08:04 AM

Jman13
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p.2 #5 · p.2 #5 · Fuji 16-55mm f/2.8 rolling impressions.

joychris wrote:
What do you think of the Fuji vs the Samsung 16-50/2-2.8? Stay warm.

It's really hard to evaluate since I tested the Samsung on the NX1, which is a 28MP body. As a result, I saw significantly higher resolution on the Samsung, but that's likely largely because of the sensor.

Overall, the 16-55 is a really sharp lens, across the frame. I have gotten a few odd results though, in the 18-25mm range, where the edges are somewhat soft at certain focus distances. It's hard to pin down,but it does seem the lens performs better close up than it does near infinity. However, there are other longer distance shots that are really good. At 16mm it's sharper than at 18-20mm, and it's really really good at the long end of the range. Overall, a very impressive optic. As mentioned above, the contrast is exceptional...really deep rich contrast throughout the aperture and focal range.

I went out in the -3F cold this morning and got a few shots:

http://www.jordansteele.com/2015/cold_columbus_morning1.jpg

http://www.jordansteele.com/2015/cold_columbus_morning2.jpg

http://www.jordansteele.com/2015/cold_columbus_morning3.jpg

http://www.jordansteele.com/2015/cold_columbus_morning4.jpg

http://www.jordansteele.com/2015/cold_columbus_morning5.jpg

Feb 19, 2015 at 08:40 AM

hauxon
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p.2 #6 · p.2 #6 · Fuji 16-55mm f/2.8 rolling impressions.

The lens looks impressive from these websized images. I did handle one at the shop today and its not really that big, at least smaller than I expected.

Feb 19, 2015 at 05:09 PM

alba63
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p.2 #7 · p.2 #7 · Fuji 16-55mm f/2.8 rolling impressions.

Thank you for your effort. I guess I am the exception then. I think we're staring at 100% crops, and the real world differences in prints (except maybe huge ones) are going to be quite small, probably hardly visible, specially when applying a bit more sharpening to the kit zoom. The lens is 0-1 stop faster than the old zoom, and when the OIS ist counted in, smaller to non- existant, or even reversed.

The new lens is more than double the weight and size, and also the price. I personally love the Fuji system for the size and weigth, and everything less than a dramatic difference in IQ would most likely not make me buy such a heavy lens. I'd love to see Fuji make some more of those wonderful lenses like the first trio (18 - 35 - 60mm). They had charm, both in their outer values as in the way they render the images.

But that's just me :-)

Edited on Feb 19, 2015 at 05:46 PM · View previous versions

Feb 19, 2015 at 05:24 PM

galenapass
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p.2 #8 · p.2 #8 · Fuji 16-55mm f/2.8 rolling impressions.

Those are exactly my thoughts as well. I would rather travel with the smaller lens and maybe work a little more in post, than go with the bigger lens that is just "a little bit better". The big difference looks like it is on the long end, so one could keep that in mind while shooting.

As an aside, it's informative to think about the comments presented here and what we normally read everyday on forums such as this. One person say's the new lens is hands down better, whereas if you look at the crops posted by Jordan, the answer is more complicated. Yes, hands down in some cases, but not all. As always it is better to make a lens decision based upon actual results that can be assessed by everyone, rather than an opinion presented without data. That is why posts like this are so valuable. I sometimes wish that Fred could place these posts (with crop comparisons etc...) in a separate "holding bin" for later-easy reference

Edited on Feb 20, 2015 at 12:27 PM · View previous versions

Feb 19, 2015 at 05:40 PM

Jman13
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p.2 #9 · p.2 #9 · Fuji 16-55mm f/2.8 rolling impressions.

I agree. I really like the lens..it's a great optic, but I won't be buying one. The 18-55 serves my needs better when I need a standard zoom, but my daily carry is the 10-24, 55-200, 56/1.2 and either the 23 or 35. Those cover the same range with similar or better optical quality (the 16-55 is probably slightly better than the 10-24 in the overlapping range, but it's not a huge difference), and fits my needs better. However, if I shot primarily landscape work, I might get it, as the 10-24/16-55/55-200 combo would make for a relatively lightweight and very capable full range landscape kit.

Feb 19, 2015 at 06:13 PM

Jman13
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p.2 #10 · p.2 #10 · Fuji 16-55mm f/2.8 rolling impressions.

Today's my last day with the 16-55mm, and overall, it's a heck of an optic. Very sharp with relatively fast AF, good distortion control, good flare control and relatively rugged. Downsides are lateral CA and lack of OIS. Overall, I think it fares best when you want to carry one lens for high image quality to replace a few of the primes, as image quality is definitely good enough for critical work. However, I think for most people the 18-55 is going to make more sense due to its more compact size and optical stabilizer. However, it's clear the 16-55 is the better lens.

A few shots from the weekend and this morning:

http://www.jordansteele.com/2015/xander_snow1.jpg

http://www.jordansteele.com/2015/xander_snow2.jpg

http://www.jordansteele.com/2015/sunrise_snow.jpg

Feb 23, 2015 at 11:14 AM

Jman13
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p.2 #11 · p.2 #11 · Fuji 16-55mm f/2.8 rolling impressions.

My full review is up: http://admiringlight.com/blog/review-fujifilm-fujinon-xf-16-55mm-f2-8-r-lm-wr/

Feb 25, 2015 at 10:29 PM

rattymouse
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p.2 #12 · p.2 #12 · Fuji 16-55mm f/2.8 rolling impressions.

Jman13 wrote:
My full review is up: http://admiringlight.com/blog/review-fujifilm-fujinon-xf-16-55mm-f2-8-r-lm-wr/

Fuji's claim (" Fuji claims they removed the OIS system from the 16-55mm to allow for better image quality while still keeping the size manageable.") gave me a good chuckle. Canon and Tamron have lenses in this range with image stabilization and both are lighter or equal to the Fuji without IS. Tamron's is 570 grams (vs Fuji's 655g) while Canon's lens is 645 grams.

Your reviews are very pleasant to read. Well presented with excellent images to support the text.

Feb 25, 2015 at 11:36 PM

Jman13
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p.2 #13 · p.2 #13 · Fuji 16-55mm f/2.8 rolling impressions.

Thanks. Yeah, I'm curious what the size was with the OIS in the lens. It's definitely big. I won't be buying it, at least not any time soon (I could see picking one up in a year or two if the price drops considerably). It's a great lens, but my style of shooting makes the 18-55 more practical for the most part, and since the 18-55 isn't too far off when stopped down, it's not a big deal. I tend to use my 18-55 for landscape use more than anything else, so it's stopped down more often than not.

The size isn't a big deal if you're using it to replace a bunch of primes, but it's not a good lens for daily carry with a bunch of other lenses, and other smaller lenses make more sense for a walkaround.

Feb 25, 2015 at 11:42 PM

Mescalamba
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p.2 #14 · p.2 #14 · Fuji 16-55mm f/2.8 rolling impressions.

Well, Zeiss also believes that in lens stabilisation isnt good thing. From technical point of view it does make sense.

Even tho I wont buy anything from Fuji, I always like reading your reviews.

You do much better job than certain sites, which cant take a decent picture even if their life depended on it and their writing usually isnt much better either.

Feb 26, 2015 at 10:21 AM

FarmerJohn
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p.2 #15 · p.2 #15 · Fuji 16-55mm f/2.8 rolling impressions.

Jordan, thanks for the write up! Enjoyable read!

Did you do a stopped-down comparison with the 23mm or 56mm primes at all? Or, have an informed opinion? I have the 23mm and love it, and I've rented the 56 and liked it... but this would be a good "one lens" solution for Fuji. Not quite as wide aperture, but 2.8 with zoom and WR sounds pretty appealing for landscape/astro/people all in one.

The weight isn't more than the Canon 24-105... which is my other reference for a 'one lens' solution... so the weight doesn't bother me *too* much.

Feb 26, 2015 at 10:40 AM

Jman13
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p.2 #16 · p.2 #16 · Fuji 16-55mm f/2.8 rolling impressions.

I didn't shoot against the 23 and 56 directly, but by f/5.6, I don't think any difference would be readily discernible in almost any situation, aside from CA control, based on my experience with them. The 56 might be a little sharper near infinity stopped down, but it wouldn't be a huge lead.

Feb 26, 2015 at 12:21 PM

snapsy
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p.2 #17 · p.2 #17 · Fuji 16-55mm f/2.8 rolling impressions.

Jordon, quick question - how is the 18-55 at the extreme edges of the frame @ infinity distances?

Feb 26, 2015 at 03:33 PM

Dudewithoutape
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p.2 #18 · p.2 #18 · Fuji 16-55mm f/2.8 rolling impressions.

Were the images switched at 18mm corner f4? The 18-55 is clearly better.

Feb 26, 2015 at 03:55 PM

itai195
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p.2 #19 · p.2 #19 · Fuji 16-55mm f/2.8 rolling impressions.

A small thing I can say having now laid hands on this lens: it has easily the best feeling aperture ring of any fuji lens I've tried.

Feb 28, 2015 at 04:45 AM

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