I've been eyeing getting this Lens long ago, but because of the bad reviews about the Lens being slow to Focus, I stayed away. But now with these newer bodies, the focusing is fast enough and there are now good reviews surfacing about this Lens since I'm using an X-T30ii with the same focusing as that X-T4, I ordered one from an Authorized Fuji seller for a very good price (no tax). I just love this focal length for streets, Environmental portraits, landscapes, architecture, etc. And also the size and weight. I just love it, love it, love it!!
I like the lens for street and "life" photography. Very compact and fast enough on my XPRO3. I prefer size and weight over complete perfection. Same actually with the 1.4 35, which I prefer to the new one.
After reading a lot of reviews, I picked the Fuji 16/2.8 for my street photography lens. My 16 is mounted on an X-E3 and is producing wonderful images. In addition, being small and black, it is a stealth camera/lens that is never noticed.
gaopa wrote:
After reading a lot of reviews, I picked the Fuji 16/2.8 for my street photography lens. My 16 is mounted on an X-E3 and is producing wonderful images. In addition, being small and black, it is a stealth camera/lens that is never noticed.
Good choice. I have one of those on my X-T2 for a lightweight, weather-sealed outdoors combo.
icharlie wrote:
I've been eyeing getting this Lens long ago, but because of the bad reviews about the Lens being slow to Focus, I stayed away. But now with these newer bodies, the focusing is fast enough and there are now good reviews surfacing about this Lens since I'm using an X-T30ii with the same focusing as that X-T4, I ordered one from an Authorized Fuji seller for a very good price (no tax). I just love this focal length for streets, Environmental portraits, landscapes, architecture, etc. And also the size and weight. I just love it, love it, love it!!
It's not bad honestly. No it isn't the same as a silent wave motor or anything like that, but it will acquire focus at a decent speed. I can't say that I would use it for action, but landscape, street, and some portraits it would work fine for.
Oh and I heard bad things about it too, but I still wanted to try it. Honestly I find the optical quality similar to that of the 35 F/1.4 when stopped down a little bit (the 35 F/1.4 is the same way).
I really wanted to love the 18/2, but I've never gotten along with it. It looks good on paper - it's small, light, affordable, has an aperture ring, and it's fast. But the look/rendering is just so bleh to my eye. The flaring around light/dark transition zones like window/wall is ugly. I haven't touched mine since getting the TTArtisans 17/1.4. It's not perfect, but the rendering is generally more pleasing and interesting to me.
The AF motor is more a problem for me than I expected. I dismissed complaints because I don't do video. It's ruined some candid shots, where subject suddenly looks toward the sudden grinding noise. It wouldn't matter so much in a 60mm lens, but in an 18mm you're close enough that it can get someone's attention.
Recently been searching high and low for a 28mm lens for one of my cameras for some indoor events coming up, mostly for possible group photos.
The Fuji 18mm F2 seems to check most of the boxes except every review says it's soft around the edges... so where some people could be at in group photos.
Looking for an inexpensive option to not break my budget. Could end up getting a Sony 28mm F2 or busting out my Ricoh GR or Fuji X70 for those shots.
I have both the Sony FE 28/2 and the Fuji 18/2. The Sony 28/2 is one lens I miss a lot since moving to Fuji. The rendering is beautiful, especially for people and there's nothing like for Fuji that I've found. The 18/1.4 looks a bit sterile, though better sharpness numbers. You def pay for it in size, weight, and cost though. I've never used it and that may not be fair.
That said - I don't think you're going to get much better edge/corner sharpness on the Sony than the Fuji. The Fuji is marginally better than the Sony wide open and stopped down the Sony marginally better, though it's hard to say too much in an apples to apples comparison like this. It does seem in line with my experience, though. I think they'd both be fine for a group photo at an event, the edges won't be smeary or fuzzy, just less detailed.
Thanks for the info! Very helpful since you have both lenses. A tough choice between the two.
arduluth wrote:
I have both the Sony FE 28/2 and the Fuji 18/2. The Sony 28/2 is one lens I miss a lot since moving to Fuji. The rendering is beautiful, especially for people and there's nothing like for Fuji that I've found. The 18/1.4 looks a bit sterile, though better sharpness numbers. You def pay for it in size, weight, and cost though. I've never used it and that may not be fair.
That said - I don't think you're going to get much better edge/corner sharpness on the Sony than the Fuji. The Fuji is marginally better than the Sony wide open and stopped down the Sony marginally better, though it's hard to say too much in an apples to apples comparison like this. It does seem in line with my experience, though. I think they'd both be fine for a group photo at an event, the edges won't be smeary or fuzzy, just less detailed.
Reviving an older thread to share some love for the 18/2. I just picked up a well-loved copy for a fantastic price and I am smitten. An "old" lens with a few warts, yes. However, it is small, light, fast, sharp enough at all apertures, and I absolutely love the "28mm" focal length.
I have learned to ignore modern statements about lens sharpness. My expectations and needs seem to be far lower than the current crop of pixel peepers out there. I often wonder how large those folks are printing (billboards??!!).
Note: I agree with one reviewer that this is not a great lens for video, which I am not concerned with.
P.S. ...and it is a perfect match to my new (to me) X-E3.
When I hear about all the bad reviews of the XF 18mm f2, I get the impression there was one bad copy of the lens that got passed around to all the reviewers.
In actual use it's a very good lens, aside from the slightly noisy AF motor (which all of the early Fuji primes suffered from).
X-Pro2XF18mmF2 R lens18mmf/5.61/600s200 ISO-0.3 EV
Despite all the negative press and reviews, I just got a copy myself recently to downsize/replace my 16 f/1.4. It's more than sharp enough for anything I'm using it for (family snaps), great little size for easy carry, and while it doesn't quite have the rendering of it's 35 f/1.4 brother, it still has a nice look to it. It does have the same AF motor noise though, and that's perfectly fine since the 35 1.4 is a non-issue.
While the 16 f/1.4 was absolutely perfect, it never went anywhere with me due to its size, weight, and as much as I want to love 24mm, I just never jived with it. So, I think I'm going to get a lot more use and fun out of this little "imperfect" 18 f/2.
MatthewK wrote:
...and as much as I want to love 24mm, I just never jived with it...
Same. I've made several attempts over the past 20 or so years to warm up to 24mm. It just never clicked, regardless of which lens I tried. I do still own the Canon FD 24/2 (which I converted to Canon EF mount for use on FF Canon bodies long ago). It is an excellent lens in almost every way, but it went mostly unused due to 24mm being somehow incompatible with my brain. Back in those days, the little Zuiko 28/3.5 (+adaptor) got a lot more use.
It's definitely not the sharpest and contrastiest Fuji prime but for its size it can deliver punches.
I used this lens on an X-E2 and X-T2 years ago and if I was to go back to Fuji, I wouldn't hesitate getting another one
I have this printed 24x36 at home, at that size it lost a lot of details but still enjoy looking at it at home DSCF6080 by earl dieta, on Flickr
I have been thinking about picking one of these up. I love both 28 and 35mm, but I like the size/design of this 18 more than any of the small 23's in the FX lineup. I just sold my 23/1.4 (replaced with 7artisan 24/1.4) and I will keep an eye out for a deal on the 18. I had one years ago and enjoyed it on the XE1.
ISO1600 wrote:
I have been thinking about picking one of these up. I love both 28 and 35mm, but I like the size/design of this 18 more than any of the small 23's in the FX lineup. I just sold my 23/1.4 (replaced with 7artisan 24/1.4) and I will keep an eye out for a deal on the 18. I had one years ago and enjoyed it on the XE1.
Deals on the 18/2 are out there for those who are patient. I've been looking for a few months, and the one I ended up buying was one of those "meant to be" moments. I arranged to meet up with a local guy to buy his X-E3. He brought along the 18/2 so I could test out the camera. I said "oh, the 18/2, nice... do you want to sell it?"
He said he wanted to think about it. Later he texted and said yes, he wanted $300 CAD for it (~$225 USD) !
SOLD!
On another note, I have discovered this lens's biggest wart. Lateral CA / fringe. Especially high contrast edges in the corners of the frame (typical tree branches/leaves against sky situation). Quite abysmal, in fact. Stopping down helps, but it never goes away entirely. This wart only makes me love the lens a tiny bit less, though.
I often wonder how large those folks are printing (billboards??!!).
