Fuji So tell me your experience with the 56/1.2XF

Can't complain, it's a beautiful lens. There are complaints about auto-focus being slow; yes, it's not a fast-focusing lens but it's not dead slow either. It's quite adequate for my purposes, which is portraits and static subject isolation. Could it benefit from a linear motor update like the 90mm f2? Sure - it would also likely add cost, weight and size.

It is heavy and big for a prime, but a lot smaller than the 85/1.8s that I used to carry in DSLR land. That's the price you pay for the gorgeous optical performance.

When you get a chance, you should check out the Fuji 56/1.2R Showcase for examples by our members.
 
Feels like a pro lens. Sharp wide open. A little taller than my xe2, but should fit the xpro perfect. The AF is a bit clunky and slow , especially indoors.
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AF is faster than the 35 1.4, but slower than the 18-55, if that helps? I shoot sports with it sometimes, like bike races. I notice the AF speed in those cases (as in "I wish this were a little faster"), but it doesn't mean I don't get the shots. It's fast enough that, given how crisp the images are, you will 100% forgive it. Shooting it back to back with something newer like the f2 travel primes will make you think it's a little slow. But it's fine.

Optically you already know... just astoundingly good all over the place. Killer lens.
 
Great lens, very well built. Beautiful image quality. As others have stated, it’s not the fastest or slowest at autofocus. I can tell you it is fast enough for events and weddings. My only wish for the 56 is that it had weather sealing. The 16mm/56mm was all I shot with for a long while.
 
Sorry, I just re-read your thread title. I should’ve aimed my answer a little more at “my experiences with (it).” I would say this:

It gets billed as a portrait lens, and that’s fair. It’s great for that. But I have found it very, very useful for the following:

Indoor Events. It is -invaluable- for indoor events. Just enough reach to make on-stage subjects big (and enough detail to crop if needed). F1.2 means lower ISO and higher shutter speed in dark events. I don’t shoot events without it.

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by gordopuggy, on Flickr


Walking / biking around. Longer than a 35, but not so wide that you’re incredibly hemmed into a narrow window.

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At a red light, Somerville
by gordopuggy, on Flickr


Hell I’ve taken some of my favorite landscapes with it.

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by gordopuggy, on Flickr


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by gordopuggy, on Flickr
 
Is AF on par with say, a Nikon 85/1.8G or Sony 85/1.8FE?

I used the G on D7000; taking out the camera AF module briefly from the equation, the performance is just a little slower. If you've used the 85/1.8D, that's a closer analogy (I had both D & G), but much less noisy. The noise will not impact operations - I've been in scenarios where quiet and subtlety were paramount - it did not make me the center of attention.
 
The 50 is actually sharper than the 56. Which is part of the reason it isn’t billed as a portrait lens. Although I found it to be fine for portraits. In low light, that stop and a half difference really comes into play. Like jumping from iso3200 to iso8000. Which is still useable on the new sensors. But worth mentioning.
 
if you are really worried by the af speed you can just buy the 90 f2, which is a fantastic lens as well and about the same cost, however if you do plan to upgrade to the next gen body, I've seen comparisons that the 56 af works perfectly on the X-T3.
 
I would buy it and see if it works for you. Live with it for a bit. If you don't fall in love with it, you can sell it after it comes off sale and probably only lose about the cost of a two week rental.
 
I have FF Sonys (A9/A7Riii) for my limited remaining commercial work and the 85/1.8. I’m loving my X-Pro 2 and X-E2 for the mechanics, crazy unexpected sharpness and joy of using. There is just a “life” in the jpgs that I appreciate. I wanted the Fuji cameras for fun and travel.

After 30+ years as a commercial designer and photographer, I now teach high school students in our local arts academy. On day one I discovered we use X-T2 outfits to teach photography basics. Once I used it, I was hooked but prefer the “rangefinder” versions.

I see the different uses for the 50 and 56, that’s not an issue. I’d love a go-to portrait lens and 80/90 seems too long to me. I almost grabbed a 35/1.4, but that’s a little short for my tastes in portrait shooting. Hence my interest in the 56. Sorry for the long answer...
 
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I have FF Sonys (A9/A7Riii) for my limited remaining commercial work and the 85/1.8. I’m loving my X-Pro 2 and X-E2 for the mechanics, crazy unexpected sharpness and joy of using. There is just a “life” in the jpgs that I appreciate. I wanted the Fuji cameras for fun and travel.

After 30+ years as a commercial designer and photographer, I now teach high school students in our local arts academy. On day one I discovered we use X-T2 outfits to teach photography basics. Once I used it, I was hooked but prefer the “rangefinder” versions.

I see the different uses for the 50 and 56, that’s not an issue. I’d love a go-to portrait lens and 80/90 seems too long to me. I almost grabbed a 35/1.4, but that’s a little short for my tastes in portrait shooting. Hence my interest in the 56. Sorry for the long answer...
I would say build wise its better than the 85mm FE, but AF is behind, and it's not quite as sharp. The 85 is an amazing lens for $500.
 
I have the 56/1.2 and I've found it to be a really useful lens. It works great for portraits but it is also pretty handy for landscapes and general photography. I've never been troubled by the focus speed on it (but I do have low expectations since I spent quite a while using old Nikon manual focus lenses). One thing to note is that the newer bodies seem to get better results from the older lenses (my 35/1.4 on an X-T3 is like a completely different lens compared to when it is on my X-T1).
 
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