Fuji Ultra-fast or ultra small?

[KillRamsey]

I just saw that there was a rumor over the summer that Fuji was thinking of making a 33 f1.0 lens. And in subsequent discussions, folks on another forum debated whether they'd want it or not, with some making a good point that got me thinking....

- Would you rather have a monstrously fast f1.0 33mm lens, or would you rather see some new, better performing pancakes?

I have and love the 27 f2.8 pancake, which I find to be sharp enough and fast enough not to make me wish I'd brought something else every single time, and I pick it up when I want to wear the camera all day and not feel a thing. I would really, really like a better version of the 18 f2 lens, as it's a very handy focal length, and everything I've seen of the current one is just not up to snuff with the other XF glass.

So how about you? If your two basic choices were a 33m f1.0 or a pancake that was

- f2.8, possibly even f2 depending on the focal length physics
- As small as the current 27
- focused FAST, better than the current 27 which is just decent
- Was weather resistant

...which would you rather get the engineering funds, and why?

 

[demiro]

high quality pancakes for me, and don't forget the maple syrup

 

[Amin]

I'm all about the middle ground. F/1.4-F/2 primes. And Fuji pretty well has me covered on that, so everything else would be icing.

 

[Biro]

The only Fuji primes that I own are the originals: the 18, 27, 35 and 60mm (all running the latest firmware just like all of my Fuji bodies). While I certainly would love to have the newer 14, 16, 23 and 56mm primes, I just can't afford them these days.

But - what's this? The new 35mm f/2.0 has WR and is readily available for $399 U.S. I'd love to see Mark II versions of the original series - all in the f/2.0 or f/2.8 range and with WR. Sell them to me at $399 or thereabouts and I'm there in a New York minute.

 

[Phoenix]

Quite happy with the 35 1.4, But I'd pick up a 33 f 1.0 if Fuji released one.

 

[Lightmancer]

If you'd asked me this a few years ago it would have been a short answer in favour of speed. Today, I am a little older and wiser so the answer is different. I have shot Leica Noctilux (f1.0) and the Canon f1.2 rangefinder lens as well as fast glass from Nikon and Contax over the years and I know that a fast Fuji would deliver lickable bokeh to die for and would be built like a Swiss watch (a proper one not that Rolex toot).

It would also be heavy enough to drown a medium-sized puppy and more cranky than my mother-in-law on a damp morning...

Fast glass is a demanding and cruel mistress. It is specialised, often optimised to be used wide open resulting in compromises at smaller apertures. In this day and age some corrections for optical aberrations can be done in software in camera, but ye cannae fight the laws of physics and bending light does not come cheap.

All that said, I have fast-for-the-focal-length Fuji glass with the 56 and the 90 and to a lesser extent the existing 35. What I would like to see is a focus(!) On some really good f2 glass (2.8 is just a little too slow for me); a recomputed 18, a new 23... Ideal for travel and fast enough for 90% of purposes.

 

[KillRamsey]

I think it's really size for me, as long as certain rules aren't broken...

- Must be small and light, ala the 27.
- Must not be slower than 2.8, and really 2 is STRONGLY preferred.
- I can live without the aperture ring on lenses like that, to keep them small.
- Shouldn't be more than $400.

Crank out some optically fine 2.8 or 2.0 pancakes, and you suddenly have compelling travel lenses that cut a pound or two out of your bag, not to mention all the extra space. I can see me taking an 18 f2 pancake for everyday walking shots, with the 35 f1.4 as my mid length / lowest light option. That's a TINY bag. If only the current 18 f2 pancake didn't sorta suck, compared to its stable mates.

 

[Biro]

If only the current 18 f2 pancake didn't sorta suck, compared to its stable mates.

You're right, of course, but the emphasis must be placed on "compared with its stable mates." The 18mm is actually quite serviceable. It's just not as strong as most of Fuji's other primes. This should be the next prime that gets an overhaul.

 

[Kay]

All I want from Fuji is a decent, weather sealed 23mm f2 pancake, preferably as 'sharp' as the 27mm. C'est ca. Period.

 

[Lightmancer]

I'd buy that in an instant...

 

[KillRamsey]

Yep, if it were similarly tiny, I'd be interested.

 

[Karl]

I'd want both..

Allthough, I'd probably buy the pancake first. I wonder though with the rumoured 33, depending on how we find the XPro-2 (and hopefully coming XT-2) perform, is there really a huge need for glass that fast (and large)? Suppose the smaller DoF might be useful, but that's gonna be a huge lens.

 

[stratokaster]

In particular I would love an 18mm f2.8 and a 70mm f2.8. Those would be excellent all purpose lengths and would be great for my hiking kit.

I think the current 18mm f/2.0 lens is way better than its reputation. It's also very small. I like it as it is.

But a hypothetical 70mm f/2.8 compact prime? I'd buy that in a heartbeat, especially if it's $500 or less.

 

[KillRamsey]

I think the current 18mm f/2.0 lens is way better than its reputation. It's also very small. I like it as it is.

But a hypothetical 70mm f/2.8 compact prime? I'd buy that in a heartbeat, especially if it's $500 or less.

70mm actual, or 70mm full frame equivalent? Either way, what an interesting focal length to go for...

 

[KillRamsey]

So a compact "short telephoto" lens... interesting.

 

[Lightmancer]

Mountain Elmar... just sayin'...

 

[Karl]

So a compact "short telephoto" lens... interesting.

My dream lens would be a short fast telephoto with a really close focusing distance. Rule of thumb is being able to shoot stuff in front of me at a late-night diner..

 

[KillRamsey]

Mountain Elmar... just sayin'...

That looks YUGE

 

[Lightmancer]

My dream lens would be a short fast telephoto with a really close focusing distance. Rule of thumb is being able to shoot stuff in front of me at a late-night diner..

Sounds like the 120 f2.8 macro coming from Fuji. It's roughly scheduled for this year.

 

[Lightmancer]

That looks YUGE

It's quite dinky actually. Bear in mind it was designed to go on a little screwmount Leica. It was mostly empty inside. Oscar Barnack designed it for mountaineering, hence the name, and it was intended to be light and portable for that reason. My Jumbo Junior Dot to Dot Book of Leica Optics says it weighed in at 240g or less than half an XF23mm 1.4 R. I never owned one but I have seen a few.