I’ve been a Fujifilm X collection shooter because the system began. And since then, I’ve purchased a minimum of one product per yr inside the digicam system. The corporate has launched so many nice lenses through the years, even just lately after they began to turn into uninspiring. However I by no means thought that the Fujifilm 16mm f1.4 R WR would turn into the sleeper hit. I, such as you, in all probability thought it was the corporate’s wonderful 18mm f2 or the 35mm f1.4. And people are nonetheless unimaginable lenses. However right here’s why the Fuji 16mm f1.4 R WR aged like a effective wine.
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What We Stated and Why We Stated It
We reviewed the Fuji 16mm f1.4 R WR again in 2015 and I bear in mind having issues with it. However our largest downside was the colour fringing. Usually, I wouldn’t thoughts it. But it surely was sufficient to be actually troublesome to work with. Do you bear in mind the previous Canon 85mm f1.8 EF lens? If you stopped it down, the colour fringing went away. But it surely was actually unhealthy broad open. That was the case with the Fuji 16mm f1.4.
Our huge downside: colour fringing. Even then we’re not going to say that it’s a large downside total as a result of Adobe Lightroom can simply repair this with a slider. However for a contemporary lens and an organization like Fujifilm, we didn’t anticipate this stage of fringing. Admittedly, we’ve eliminated most of it in these pictures to point out readers precisely what’s succesful with this digicam however we’ll present you a pattern later down within the put up.
Our Fuji 16mm f1.4 overview
I now understand certainly one of two issues occurred: we both acquired a nasty unit, or firmware has fastened the lens. Usually, after we get unhealthy overview items, we report on them as is. It replicates the shopper expertise since you don’t have entry to the identical reps that we do. After I purchased it afterward, I used to be actually shocked at how good it turned out to be.
At one level, it was the one lens I owned that was climate sealed, so it grew to become the lens I used probably the most. Then I acquired extra Fuji climate resistant lenses and I rotated by means of these. However nonetheless, after I put the Fuji 16mm f1.4 on my X Professional 3, I’m at all times in awe.
Why is the Fuji 16mm f1.4 So Good?
There’s a number of explanation why the Fuji 16mm f1.4 is so nice. First off, there’s the construct high quality. It’s a steel lens with a design that actually tries to deliver you again to retro days. There’s a focusing ring that pulls again to disclose a depth of subject scale for zone focusing. This function is one thing that we’re going to see so much much less of in Fujifilm lenses to come back.
Apart from the construct, there’s the texture of it. The Fuji 16mm f1.4 seems like a Zeiss Planar T* lens if it got autofocus. And I’d know as a result of I personal the Zeiss 50mm, and it lives on my Nikon F2. On a rangefinder fashion physique just like the X Professional 3, it seems like a stout, sturdy lens that’s meant to do work. It isn’t too lengthy although, and the width is what provides it the distinctive really feel.
If you take it out into the chilly climate, the lens will get chilly too. And this helps to remind you that you just’re holding a digicam and a lens; not an inexpensive telephone or an inexpensive lens. This can be a premium product.
On high of all this, it’s climate resistant. In order that signifies that it’s been round for some time and can proceed to carry out properly due to the sturdiness. I are inclined to take away the lens hood on mine and put a UV filter as an alternative. Mixed with Fuji’s movie simulations, it simply works. If I put a Glimmer Glass filter on it, the photographs simply are inclined to glow much more.
Let’s come again to the picture high quality, although. The Fuji 16mm f1.4 is sharp with out being too sharp. It’s like a Canon L lens that can by no means high the chart of DXOMark however will at all times nonetheless carry out with a mysterious, unexplainable magnificence that you may by no means put your finger on. I’ve used it many occasions and beloved it and what it does. Contemplating the truth that it’s such a large focal size, it additionally at all times focuses in a short time. So I really can’t complain about that.
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An Important Lens You Need to Have?
Is the Fuji 16mm f1.4 a lens that you just should have? Properly, I actually assume that each photographer ought to a minimum of strive it. It’s nice for landscapes, documentaries, avenue pictures, portraits, and a lot extra. It’s additionally sturdy sufficient to resist the weather and has the construct high quality of a lens that you just need to use every day. In the long run, that’s what issues probably the most.
