Fuji Freedom aka small is beautiful and goodbye EVF lenses (X-Pro2)

Today I sold my EVF lenses (16-55 2.8 and 90 mm f2) and I feel free again, much like I felt when I first picked up a X-Pro1 and the 18/F2. I realise that it was a wrong path to go down the EVF route with my X-Pro2, I have only the 18/F2 and 35/F2 left. Since I blow some serious GAS, I need another lens, I want a fast lens with nice out of focus areas. I want the 56mm 1.2, but does it go well with the OVF? I wont go back to a EVF only lens like the two I just sold.

Freedom aka small ad high quality, is for me what the Fuji system is all about. I didn´t realise it until I sold the lenses and almost bought a 50-140mm. I love the small form-factor and the OVF (Thats why I have the X-Pro2, right?) and I want to retain that feeling. The 16-55 made me feel like lugging around a Canon somethingD with a 17-40. I see now that this took the joy out of photography for me. I took less and less shots. Now I want to run and feet-zoom my way across the world. All it took to get the joy back was a sale...think about it! Inputs anyone?
 
I ran into something similar shooting the 16-55/50-140. It is a great working combo. But due to the size, I found myself only picking up the camera on working shoots. Also, I was greatly missing something in my images that the zooms didn't give, as great as they are. So I sold them and returned to my beloved 16mm/56mm pair.

As for your question, I find the 56mm works well with the OVF. The only way to know for sure if it works for you is to try it. Good deals can be found in the used market.
 
Yes, I agree. In my opinion the 56mm is fine with with X Pro2 OVF, its just that the frame lines aren't huge, but it certainly is a personal "thing". I don't feel guilty at all switching over to the EVF if needed.
. . . David
 
Apologies if this is grandmother and eggs, but you do know you can magnify the framelines? If like me you are not big on manuals, this may have passed you by...
 
What specific advantage does the OVF give over the EVF? For me the whole point of mirrorless cameras is the EVF and the features that brings (constant view of exposure, overlaid camera settings, level, focus peak/magnify, over/under exposure warnings, ...).
 
Direct view, no lag, natural light, no clutter, no destruction of your night vision, the ability to shoot with both eyes open and to judge when things just outside the frame are about to intrude - to name but a few.
 
They're each excellent tools and I do use them both. For instance the 90mm in M focus the EVF with MF Assist is an absolute dream to use. Lightmancer outlined several reasons for the OVF above. For me it's the ability to see what's happening, and about to happen around the area covered by the sensor.

Like many I photograph several different types of subjects but I particularly enjoy activities with fast action, Roller Derby for instance. This low light indoor sport brings many challenges. Fast action, sudden movements, abrupt changes in direction really test a camera's AF abilities. The close proximity of the skaters to each other renders even the most sophisticated tracking systems virtually useless. The dimly lit arenas demand high ISO and of course, wide open apertures (minuscule depth of field). Manual focus isn't even a remote possibility.

I changed from full frame DSLR to the XP2 specifically because of the OVF. It adds such a useful extra advantage that benchmark differences in AF speeds between cameras are not an issue at all. Where I was most often playing "catch-up" with events that burst suddenly into my view and depending on the camera's AF abilities to get the shot, now I see things happening early and anticipate. The blinders are off...no more tunnel vision.

As far as IQ goes, I find the Fuji JPG's superior to the FF RAW files which I carefully processed and ran through DxO's Optics Pro so no problems for me in moving to the smaller sensor.

I too wondered about the interference of the lens in the OVF but as it turns out it's a minor inconvenience and I quickly adapted. In fact it's a convenient place in the viewfinder for the ERF if I chose to use it.
 
Well said. When using zooms, for example, I use the EVF exclusively, but when using primes it's 99% OVF. It's great to have the option.

Yupp, and thats the reason I sold the zoom and the 90. When using these lenses I could have used any mirrorless camera and it would feel the same (not entirely true, but you get my point). OVF is the reason I bought X-pro2 and I want to use it even more.
 
Yupp, and thats the reason I sold the zoom and the 90. When using these lenses I could have used any mirrorless camera and it would feel the same (not entirely true, but you get my point). OVF is the reason I bought X-pro2 and I want to use it even more.
Maybe I need to try it. Last OVF I used was on the Canon 5dii I sold back in 2012.
 
Maybe I need to try it. Last OVF I used was on the Canon 5dii I sold back in 2012.

Technically, that still wasn't an OVF, or at least not what I mean by the term. OVF for me is direct vision. That means a window to look through a la Leica and Fuji. I know that these days there are overlays but it's still more "direct" than an EVF or even a pentaprism like an SLR or DSLR. Do yourself a favour, beg borrow or steal an X-Pro or an X100 and give it a try.
 
I've been finding the OVF fantastic to use with my off camera flash kit. When using off camera flash I don't use the camera's light meter, and any advantage that the evf offers is actually a hindrance.
 
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