Fujifilm XF18mmF1.4 R LM WR Lens – First Impressions
When Fujifilm announced the XF 18mm F1.4, I instantly had ‘GAS’ for this release…
Fast forward until 27th May 2021, the Release date for this wide prime lens. My sample of this lens was delayed a few days, but I received a box with the text ‘XF18mmF1.4 R LM WR’ & the excitement was out of this world from reading the reviews from a few of my Fave guys out there.
Back in 2014, when I had used the 18mm f2 for a period of time, I loved the focal length and size of the lens, but the pull from the 16mm F1.4 WR was strong, so the 18mm was quickly sold as I lived in the hot & humid south Texas shooting beach weddings at the time. From 2015 to 2021, I shot everything wide with the amazing 16mm, from weddings to commercial work for local magazines.
Two months ago, I sold my 16mm F1.4 in anticipation for the XF18mm F1.4, plus to get as much return I could on the 16mm before the price drops closer to the release of the 18mm… this time was hell as I shoot with a minimal setup these days 16/50mm combo, so I was left with the 50mm F1.0 beast and a manual 12mm that I use for night work mainly. Luckily due to covid & restrictions still in place here in Northern Ireland, my wedding season starts in July, so having the above lenses until the 18mm arrived was not too bad. So onto the 18mm F1.4 WR, I’ll keep it short and brief.
Wow… that’s it 🙂
Ok, ok, if I had one word for this lens, that’s what it would be. I have been missing my 16mm lens so much in the past two months I started to doubt myself on selling that amazing lens. 20 minutes after using the 18mm F1.4, I can honestly say ’16mm? What 16mm?’.
The 18mm 1.4 ticks every box I need a wide lens to be ticked:
• Sharpness – my eyes are hurting even wide open from edge to edge.
• Auto Focus – excuse my French, Fuck this lens is blazing fast for stills photography; I don’t think my finger is fast enough or my brain functions that quick.
• Rendering – colours & look, yes yes yes
This lens is a must for your wide prime needs, yes the 18mm f2 is small etc, but in my opinion, this lens pisses all over it in every term.
More on this lens in the coming weeks, plus keep an eye out for my ‘Wall Art of NI’ blog, where I will be heading into the streets of Belfast to document all the wall art & murals that homes & businesses are graced with all over the city shot by the 18mm F1.4.
“My name is Paul Marshall, International Commercial, Fashion, Portrait & wedding photographer. Based in Belfast, UK with clientele in europe & the US. I am a full time Fujifilm X photographer.”
Albert Smith
August 9, 2021 @ 11:32 pm
Us Fujifilm shooters are certainly spoiled for choices, aren’t we?
I never bonded with 28mm (full frame) over my 50 years of photography, preferring to pair a 24mm and 35mm (16mm and 23mm f/1.4 in the Fuji world), but for those that do like the 28mm, it looks like you should be very happy.
Johan O E
July 27, 2022 @ 1:55 pm
For me the XF18mm f2 does the same.
As sharp as I want it to be and great rendering.
Currently working on a book where I use this lens for a year.
Only photographing in black and white and on 1:1 aspect ratio.
When it came out it was praised to be as good or even better than the Leica 28mm f2 summicron ( cost 4400 euros today)
One-camera-one-lens-one-year = OCOLOY
https://www.stayuntilforever.com/ocoloy