Fujifilm 33mm f1.4 First Impressions
It has been a month since I got the 33mm f1.4 and I have been using it pretty much non stop. Matter of fact I haven’t used any other lens since. Now after many photowalks and tones of photos, I can share my initial thoughts.
Disclaimers
Let’s first begin with some disclaimers and points to keep in mind so that you get the most out of this blog. This review is based on 1 month of use. Although the use was very frequent, I can’t talk about any durability & reliability topics till the 1 year follow up video in… 1 year. The first half is more of a discussion and my opinion on this lens and the second half is a POV photowalk around London with many sample photos. All the video footage other than this talking head and the obvious GoPro clips have been filmed with the 33 too. I’ve only used this lens with my XT4 so my opinion is based on how it works with the latest camera. I don’t have any affiliation with Fujifilm so my views are in not influenced, however I am a little biased towards Fuji cameras because I like using them and I like the company. I am not a pixel peeper nor am I very technical, so don’t expect photos of charts or any of that crap. I have owned and used the 35 f2 for the last 2-3 years and have no experience with the old 35 f1.4 so any comparisons will be to the f2. Finally all the photos have been edited in Lightroom.
Ergonomics
Let’s start with weight and it is heavier than the f2.... Nearly twice as heavy actually. Take this with a pinch of salt however because it is a bit like saying a metal spoon is twice as heavy as a plastic spoon. Either way they are both light and this is how I feel about the 33. Yes, it is nicer to use a lighter lens but honestly this is not a deal breaker for normal use. Last week one walked a total of 40 miles around London with the 33 and the XT4 round my shoulder on a strap and I was ok…. And I have a slipped disc so you will for sure have no issues. As for size it is a bit bigger and if you add the hood, it’s actually comical however personally I don’t use a hood for that reason. One positive of such a big hood is protection from the rain… less water hitting the glass means less missed shots. In terms of packing and storage, this lens will take up the same space as two f2 lenses. If that’s too much of a compromise, only you can answer. Aperture ring is nice, precise smooth with no play. Focus ring is the same. Overall no complaints.
Image Quality
Let me say that image quality is very subjective. A soft and flawed lens to one person can look artistic and painterly to another. Furthermore by the time photos are compressed and viewed on devices, you will be hard pressed to tell any meaningful difference. However, this is one of the sharpest fuji lenses I have used to date. Even gives the 50-140 a run for it’s money. There is absolutely no comparison between this and the f2 especially when wide open. Of course stopping down these lenses get a little closer together. Sun flares are reasonable and even somewhat pleasing. I think the colour rendering is spot on and this lens does have something about it with regards to image tone and colour which I can’t put into words but I notice right away when editing. Maybe it is a combination of sharpness, superior colour and tone rendering as well as being able to shoot at f1.4. Either way everyone who’s used this lens was left blown away with just how nice the image is.
Autofocus
This is another area where I have seen a decent improvement over the f2. Although there is a good improvement for both photos and video, I feel the video side is where the benefits seem to be greater. Basically the autofocus seems more stick. It sticks quicker and it takes more for it to lose focus or hunt compared to the f2. For photos I have not really experienced any issues and any photos where the focus was missed was my fault or the wrong focus mode. Overall no issues with the AF so far, but of course time will tell.
Who Is This For
So is this lens worth the money, am I happy with it, who is it for and should you buy it. Let’s start with the money side. In my opinion it is worth the price tag as you are getting a premium product with the latest tech inside. Furthermore this is a long term investment as these lenses are also aimed at future generations of camera with higher resolution sensors. However if money is tight, I suggest getting the 35mm f2 as it can be found for up to half the price and still have weather resistance, great image quality and a very good focusing system. Am I happy with the purchase? Yes… sure it would be nice to keep the form factor of the f2 but you can’t have everything.
Who is it for and should you buy it? Well if money is tight or you will travel out of one carry on backpack a lot or only shoot during the day, I think the f2 will be better. If you want the absolute best image quality and focusing as well as better low light performance, not too fussed on the larger form factor and have the cash to spare, then the 33 is a no brainer.
