XF 90mm F2 R LM WR (English)
Articles rarely fall short of superlatives when a Fujifilm lens shows its filter thread. For several months the Fujifilm XF 90mm F2 R LM WR came with its share of speculation and rumors. "Wait and you'll see" is typically the background noise which spread on the internet. Actually the pictures taken by Fujifilm Ambassador Fred Boehli were already making me drool weeks before I could get a chance to test the lens. He even warned me: "Don't touch the lens or you might suffer from serious GAS*". I'm not going to waste your time further, no need to dither; this 90mm is Fujifilm's best lens in their lineup. End of discussion. If you already own it you know what I'm talking about. If you don't, get one now.
Obviously everyone won't need such a fixed lens but for those of you who are searching for the best option to capture portraits, stop looking around! This 137mm full frame equivalent and its crazy sharpness will certainly please to wedding photographers as well. If you felt the 56mm was too short, you now have the perfect alternative.
Like all other Fujifilm lenses, the XF90mm F2 R LM WR is extremely well built, all metal, with smooth rings. Also it is weather resistant (Seven distinct weather seals) and comes with a new Quad Linear Motor autofocus system. Combined with the latest X-T1 firmware (v.4) I found it hard to miss a shot. For some, the only downside will be its weight (540 grams) and size. If you thought the XF 16-55mm F2.8 WR was already too big you've just been served.
Thanks to Fujifim France I was able to play with this marvel for ten days. I could test it in several environments (studio, outdoors, low light, ...) including for street photography (I know; it is not the ideal lens for street photography).
So, how did it perform? Well, I think the pictures below speak for themselves. Some have been edited, some weren't (you'll find the EXIF information for each of them). Let me tell you this, from f/2 to f/11 the lens is a dream to work with.
The XF16mm was already an amazing lens but it didn't manage to drive out my XF 16-55mm zoom. The 90mm knocked me out after a few test shots. My banker will pout but he'll understand. I hope....
*Gear Acquisition Syndrome
© Patrice Michellon | Self-Portrait . Exif: ISO 200, f/11, 1/180s
Portrait - outdoors with one flash
The picture below was taken from a balcony with one flash on the side (f/2, ISO 200, 1/180s). I used the provia setting. Then I exported the picture from Lightroom to Photoshop with the same profile in order to convert it to black and white and to crop it. I didn't tweak the sharpness. You can access the high def JPG files via the links:
Color version: http://j.mp/1JPSWPy
Black and white version: http://j.mp/1H9gVCn
Like all my files the pictures are not free to use nor to distribute on third party websites.
Portrait - indoors with one flash
The picture below was taken indoors. The background was a white wall (f/5, ISO 200, 1/180s). The color version on the right is the RAW file converted to JPG with the Provia profile. Nothing else was tweaked apart from its size in order to publish it. The version on the left is a black and white conversion, re-cropped in Photoshop.
Street Photography
The XF90mm will probably be rarely used for street photography. Although you never know. The focal length allows you to capture scenes without being seen. I managed to take a few pictures in Paris next to the Arc de Triomphe around 7pm. All the pictures below were shot at f/2. The first four ones at ISO 200. The last two at ISO 640 and ISO 2500 respectively. The edit was done in Lightroom using TotallyRad! Replichrome presets. Finally I exported them in JPG (width = 2500 pixels).
Portrait - Studio by Julien Apruzzese
While I had the XF90mm I paid a visit to Julien Apruzzese. If you don't know him and his amazing work now is the right time. Thanks to Julien I learned a huge amount of information on studio portrait photography. I thought I could take ok'ish pictures but got my a.... kicked. One does need such a kick once in a while. I got mine in July 2015 !
We used the 90mm to shoot my portrait (that's what happens when you want to mess with another photographer). You'll find below the final version, edited and retouched by Julien. The settings were f/5.6, 200 ISO and 1/180s. As you can see the original sharpness of the 90mm is getting even crazier once edited properly. I'll let you count the beard hairs...
© All rights reserved. Julien Apruzzese
© All rights reserved. Julien Apruzzese
XF 16mm f/1.4 R WR (English)
Note: Vous pouvez retrouver la version française de compte-rendu ici.
I’m not going to lie to you; I wasn't particularly excited to test the XF 16mm (equivalent to 24mm on full frame cameras) when Fujifilm announced its latest roadmap. Weird. Indeed I used to dream about Canon's L series and specifically the 24mm lens. But since I already own the XF 16-55mm zoom which flexibility, sharpness and f/2.8 aperture all work really well for me, I couldn't see how this fixed lens would find a place in my bag. Well, I was probably wrong.
© Patrice Michellon - f/14, 200 ISO, 1/45s
Before you read further I would like to point out a few things. My report will not contain any detailed technical analysis nor graphics to study. For this I would suggest you visit specialised websites like DP Review. Also you will not find any street photography pictures as I tested the lens for landscapes mainly. I rarely shoot in "documentary" mode and if I do so my go to camera remains the X100T.
Thanks to Fujifilm France I was able to use the lens for an entire week on the French Atlantic coast (Royan). I think both the camera body and the lens tasted a bit of everything: rain, wind, sand and sometimes sun. Therefore the lens' WR label (for Weather Resistant) was more than welcome. With both the X-T1 and the XF 16mm I could shoot outdoor everyday without having to worry about the weather conditions.
Like all X-Premium lenses, the XF 16mm benefits from a superb all-metal construction and finish. The focusing ring is extremely smooth and street photographers will love the addition of a depth of field scale. If you already use the XF 23mm then you will fill like home with its little brother. Two things immediately apparent are the size and weight of the lens. Both are specific and probably the "raison d'être" of Fujifilm's X series but it became even more obvious once I put back the XF 16-55mm zoom on my X-T1. Suddenly the zoom felt big and very heavy.
If like I did you use the XF 16mm in conjunction with the X-T1 and a carbon fiber tripod you will discover the joy of traveling photography without compromise. Add in a few filters and you're set for any situation, no matter what the weather forecast says. The best part of all? The whole kit fits in a small bag. I could barely hide a big smile when I arrived in Mornac to capture the sunset. I was surrounded by other photographers (as well as by their camera bags) with their big and heavy DSLRs and lenses. The ground was very wet and unstable because of all the rain we had for several days. Being able to move quickly and easily with small gear is invaluable. In some cases this is what makes the difference between getting the shot or not.
© Patrice Michellon - f/11, 200 ISO, 1/250s
The XF 16mm's autofocus is fast and reliable. It benefits from the internal focusing and worked perfectly. The time when the X-Pro 1 and the XF 18mm f/2 wouldn't focus properly are long gone.
© Patrice Michellon - f/7.1, 200 ISO, 1/150s
Even at f/1.4, the lens is tack sharp. The picture below was taken hand held with almost no light anymore, the sun had almost disappeared (around 9:10pm).
© Patrice Michellon - f/1.4, 200 ISO, 1/280s
OK, I’m testing a lens with a maximum aperture of f/1.4 and we don't see a single shot with blurred backgrounds? You've gotta be kidding? Relax, here they come. Don't worry about the bokeh, the XF 16mm f/1.4 gets 5/5. Creamy and crazy soft backgrounds.
© Patrice Michellon - f/1.4, 200 ISO, 1/350s
© Patrice Michellon - f/2.8, 200 ISO, 1/850s
The Nano-GI treatment works like a charm. It was already the case with the 16-55mm f/2.8 WR zoom. I almost never experienced significant flare issues even when shooting straight into the sun. Below is one example where I had the sun in front of me. It is the kind of shot where one realizes how much detail can be recovered in the dark areas during the post-processing. The X-Trans sensor is really great for this.
© Patrice Michellon - f/14, 200 ISO, 1/340s
Lightroom CC doesn't include a specific lens profile for the XF 16mm yet but even without applying any particular lens correction I would say that all shots are perfectly acceptable.
© Patrice Michellon - f/13, 200 ISO, 1/80s
Right when I get to test the XF 16mm, Adobe announces a new Lightroom version. I had to test the new HDR and Panorama functions. Both are so well implemented that photographers get fewer and fewer reasons to use Photoshop. Also I wouldn't be surprised if we see a lot of HDR and Pano work everywhere on the internet over the coming weeks. Anyway, you've been served; first a HDR shot and then a panoramic one (made of 5 pictures).
© Patrice Michellon - HDR edited in Lightroom CC
© Patrice Michellon - Panorama edited in Lightroom CC
Time for a few black and white shots.
© Patrice Michellon - f/13, 200 ISO, 1/240s
© Patrice Michellon - f/8, 200 ISO, 1/750s
© Patrice Michellon - f/13, 200 ISO, 1/170s
It is hard not to test the electronic shutter with such a lens before leaving the place. Window and sun reflections make perfect candidates. As you can see below the lens is sharp even at f/1.4.
© Patrice Michellon - f/1.4, 200 ISO, 1/10500s
What else can I tell you about this lens? Well, maybe that I found it difficult to use it for portraits. Nothing to do with the lens, it is more related to my shooting style. I tend to capture portraits at 50 or 85mm and use either the 16-55mm zoom or the XF 56mm (and I might use the XF 50-140mm at some point). I would probably need more time with the XF 16mm to get used to it.
Picture on the left: f/1.4, 1600 ISO, 1/32000s
If I had to chose? Tough. Basically you have two options now. On one side you get the great aperture and the best optical quality with both the 16mm and the 56mm fixed lenses. On the other side you get flexibility with an already amazing quality. Price is also on the + side for the zoom. Weight? Well taken individually the fixed lenses win. But if you need both for the job then the weight is the same. You guessed well. Photographers allergic to zooms will rush on this new XF 16mm R WR with no hesitation. As far as I'm concerned, reason still prevails (for now) and I will continue to use the XF 16-55mm f/2.8 WR zoom as my main kit lens (until I can afford the 16mm).
A lens review without pictures of the lens? Come on! Now way! Here are a few shots with one showing the lens on the X-T1 and another one with the lens next to the XF 16-55mm f/2.8 WR zoom.
POST PROCESSING
- Adobe Lightroom CC (2015)
- Adobe Photoshop CC
GEAR USED
- Camera: Fujifilm X-T1
- Lens: Fujifilm XF 16mm f/1.4 R WR
- Tripod: 3 Legged Thing Brian + Airhead 1