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Post by Kellen on Jan 11, 2024 0:48:38 GMT
Just picked up the recently released Fuji XF 8mm f/3.5 R WR (for use with an X-H2S). Why? Silly me, I read online reviews and comments by users and it juiced up my baser instincts to make an impulse buy. Always feel a tinge of self-disgust when that happens because I like to adhere to more rational behaviors. Ah well...
At least there was a modicum of rational thinking, that it is conveniently small for travel and could create more interesting pictures than other lenses I have on hand. But is that wishful thinking for an 8mm, to use such a specialized lens as part of a travel kit? I think it could be, depending on my creativity, but curious to know others' experiences along similar lines (not just that brand, but similar type lenses).
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Post by peterob on Jan 11, 2024 8:50:32 GMT
Too wide for me. I prefer the perspective of longer focal lengths, 16 mm on FF looks "more natural" than 11 mm on APS-C for a given field of view and I'd go larger format if I could.
There have been some posts on the Fuji forum relating to the latest camera firmware (v 5.03 for the X-H2) which addresses [automatic] focussing with extreme wide angle lenses using single point AF, although single point AF on Fuji seems a bit of a misnomer because the single point encompasses many pixel level AF groups. Whether the update makes things better or worse is moot but images seem to be soft if the plane of focus is set too deep in the frame. It makes no sense given the depth of field but I think I see it with the 10-24 at 10 mm on the X-H2S. Posts refer to both the 8 mm and the 10-24. In the latter case there was said to be no problem before installing the update [3.03 on an X-H2] and only afterward. For the 8 mm there was mention of "focussing problems" fixed by using manual focus. Personally I think the lenses hunt microscopically if asked to AF too far into the distance and this can cause vibration and softness in the image. Better to pick a subject that renders detail large enough in the viewfinder for the AF system to latch on to and allow depth of field to deal with the far-field. Reports say it is worse with a small AF-S focus area than a larger one. Presumably because the larger focus area makes it more likely the camera will find enough contrast/detail within it.
Edit: I have not installed firmware 5.03 yet.
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Post by spinno on Jan 11, 2024 9:15:46 GMT
Impulse buying, has been associated with GAS. I cannot condemn nor condone but I can wish you "happy snapping".
I loved the Pentax Q series with a fish-eye lens, not quite the same I know, but I enjoyed the challenge of making the distortion look normal
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Post by nimbus on Jan 11, 2024 9:28:30 GMT
So long as you can afford it it's not really a problem. You only live once.
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Post by peterob on Jan 11, 2024 10:08:12 GMT
So long as you can afford it it's not really a problem. You only live once. I'm beginning to tell myself that. I keep dithering about the expense of replacing the computer and not knowing how long the replacement will last. Actually it is immaterial. The likelihood is that it will outlast me even if doesn't meet my own criteria on obsolescence. edit: building on that I just ordered a mac studio. Final straw was the bank website not working with a no-longer-supported browser. |
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Post by Kellen on Jan 12, 2024 6:47:51 GMT
Too wide for me. I prefer the perspective of longer focal lengths, 16 mm on FF looks "more natural" than 11 mm on APS-C for a given field of view and I'd go larger format if I could. There have been some posts on the Fuji forum relating to the latest camera firmware (v 5.03 for the X-H2) which addresses [automatic] focussing with extreme wide angle lenses using single point AF, although single point AF on Fuji seems a bit of a misnomer because the single point encompasses many pixel level AF groups. Whether the update makes things better or worse is moot but images seem to be soft if the plane of focus is set too deep in the frame. It makes no sense given the depth of field but I think I see it with the 10-24 at 10 mm on the X-H2S. Posts refer to both the 8 mm and the 10-24. In the latter case there was said to be no problem before installing the update [3.03 on an X-H2] and only afterward. For the 8 mm there was mention of "focussing problems" fixed by using manual focus. Personally I think the lenses hunt microscopically if asked to AF too far into the distance and this can cause vibration and softness in the image. Better to pick a subject that renders detail large enough in the viewfinder for the AF system to latch on to and allow depth of field to deal with the far-field. Reports say it is worse with a small AF-S focus area than a larger one. Presumably because the larger focus area makes it more likely the camera will find enough contrast/detail within it. Edit: I have not installed firmware 5.03 yet. Great response, and thanks. Honestly, I have not done a firmware update yet on the X-H2S, or the 100S for that matter. I know, I probably should, but firmware updates haven't always been good experiences with other components (streamers, in particular, have been extraordinarily frustrating), so I'm in the habit of not doing it when the item seems to be functioning appropriately without it. Besides, the Fuji fine print said they would not be responsible if the firmware update resulted in a broken camera, which also gave me pause. That Fuji forum sounds like a good idea, will check it out. |
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Post by Kellen on Jan 12, 2024 6:49:59 GMT
Impulse buying, has been associated with GAS. I cannot condemn nor condone but I can wish you "happy snapping". I loved the Pentax Q series with a fish-eye lens, not quite the same I know, but I enjoyed the challenge of making the distortion look normal Is that "GAS" as in "guilty as sin"? |
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Post by peterob on Jan 12, 2024 7:16:56 GMT
Too wide for me. I prefer the perspective of longer focal lengths, 16 mm on FF looks "more natural" than 11 mm on APS-C for a given field of view and I'd go larger format if I could. There have been some posts on the Fuji forum relating to the latest camera firmware (v 5.03 for the X-H2) which addresses [automatic] focussing with extreme wide angle lenses using single point AF, although single point AF on Fuji seems a bit of a misnomer because the single point encompasses many pixel level AF groups. Whether the update makes things better or worse is moot but images seem to be soft if the plane of focus is set too deep in the frame. It makes no sense given the depth of field but I think I see it with the 10-24 at 10 mm on the X-H2S. Posts refer to both the 8 mm and the 10-24. In the latter case there was said to be no problem before installing the update [3.03 on an X-H2] and only afterward. For the 8 mm there was mention of "focussing problems" fixed by using manual focus. Personally I think the lenses hunt microscopically if asked to AF too far into the distance and this can cause vibration and softness in the image. Better to pick a subject that renders detail large enough in the viewfinder for the AF system to latch on to and allow depth of field to deal with the far-field. Reports say it is worse with a small AF-S focus area than a larger one. Presumably because the larger focus area makes it more likely the camera will find enough contrast/detail within it. Edit: I have not installed firmware 5.03 yet. Great response, and thanks. Honestly, I have not done a firmware update yet on the X-H2S, or the 100S for that matter. I know, I probably should, but firmware updates haven't always been good experiences with other components (streamers, in particular, have been extraordinarily frustrating), so I'm in the habit of not doing it when the item seems to be functioning appropriately without it. Besides, the Fuji fine print said they would not be responsible if the firmware update resulted in a broken camera, which also gave me pause. That Fuji forum sounds like a good idea, will check it out. I only install updates that seem useful to me. I had one "go bad" on me with the first Fuji I bought, an X-E2. Fuji fixed it but it did make me wary. If you follow the instructions then the chance of it going wrong is very small. I'd generally not update until the new version has been out a few months - to give time for problems to show. I updated my X-H2S at the firmware 3 stage - they altered the subject detection for the better over the original release. The AF takes "learning" - I'm happy with it now but for the first year almost I was getting a lot of AF misses - mainly bird photography - compared to Canon. Edit: I see I mistyped my original post. The wide-angle up-date is 3.03 on the X-H2 and 5.03 on the X-H2S. It turns up for other models too I think. The forum is the Fujix-forum. It tends to be very GAS-centric in general. I tend to follow "please help" threads which are useful. The forum was bought out. The new terms and conditions claim use of anything uploaded, which has caused a lot of upset, links via BBC code are best if you want to contribute to photo-discussion threads. Warning that posted images are considered Exhibition pieces very much not Appraisal unless explicitly stated. Folk get very upset if critiqued even accidentally. It uses the Xenforo software that APforum used, so it looks very familiar, but the culture is different. |
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Post by spinno on Jan 12, 2024 8:45:56 GMT
Impulse buying, has been associated with GAS. I cannot condemn nor condone but I can wish you "happy snapping". I loved the Pentax Q series with a fish-eye lens, not quite the same I know, but I enjoyed the challenge of making the distortion look normal Is that "GAS" as in "guilty as sin"? You choose... Gear acquisition syndrome Get another system Go and shoot and of course Gas - blame the dog  |
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Post by nimbus on Jan 12, 2024 15:00:20 GMT
Great response, and thanks. Honestly, I have not done a firmware update yet on the X-H2S, or the 100S for that matter. I know, I probably should, but firmware updates haven't always been good experiences with other components (streamers, in particular, have been extraordinarily frustrating), so I'm in the habit of not doing it when the item seems to be functioning appropriately without it. Besides, the Fuji fine print said they would not be responsible if the firmware update resulted in a broken camera, which also gave me pause. That Fuji forum sounds like a good idea, will check it out. I only install updates that seem useful to me. I had one "go bad" on me with the first Fuji I bought, an X-E2. Fuji fixed it but it did make me wary. If you follow the instructions then the chance of it going wrong is very small. I'd generally not update until the new version has been out a few months - to give time for problems to show. I updated my X-H2S at the firmware 3 stage - they altered the subject detection for the better over the original release. The AF takes "learning" - I'm happy with it now but for the first year almost I was getting a lot of AF misses - mainly bird photography - compared to Canon. Edit: I see I mistyped my original post. The wide-angle up-date is 3.03 on the X-H2 and 5.03 on the X-H2S. It turns up for other models too I think. The forum is the Fujix-forum. It tends to be very GAS-centric in general. I tend to follow "please help" threads which are useful. The forum was bought out. The new terms and conditions claim use of anything uploaded, which has caused a lot of upset, links via BBC code are best if you want to contribute to photo-discussion threads. Warning that posted images are considered Exhibition pieces very much not Appraisal unless explicitly stated. Folk get very upset if critiqued even accidentally. It uses the Xenforo software that APforum used, so it looks very familiar, but the culture is different. I am in a couple of Fujifilm groups on FB. Very gear centric indeed, in fact obsessed, more angst than a room full of 15 year olds. |
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Post by Kellen on Jan 19, 2024 0:48:39 GMT
To quote R.E.M., I think I'm losing my religion...
I've always been fairly religious about not buying used. No used cars, no used cameras, no used guns, no used audio gear, and certainly no used lenses. Yet I just bought a used Lensbaby Trio 28, and from that perspective it qualifies as an impulse buy. The Lensbaby comes two ways, as a stand alone or in a "kit" with three filters and case. The kit version was offered for a very attractive price used in (supposedly) "like new" condition. Well, for the low cost I figured what the hell. Should be fun for its creative opportunities. Perhaps more toy than serious tool, and I'd be somewhat surprised if any of you have heard of the Trio 28 before, it's just odd and peculiar. I have fairly low expectations about optical quality, but what the hell, worth a go and maybe it will surprise me.
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Post by Chester PB on Jan 19, 2024 23:07:40 GMT
To quote R.E.M., I think I'm losing my religion... I've always been fairly religious about not buying used. No used cars, no used cameras, no used guns, no used audio gear, and certainly no used lenses. Yet I just bought a used Lensbaby Trio 28, and from that perspective it qualifies as an impulse buy. The Lensbaby comes two ways, as a stand alone or in a "kit" with three filters and case. The kit version was offered for a very attractive price used in (supposedly) "like new" condition. Well, for the low cost I figured what the hell. Should be fun for its creative opportunities. Perhaps more toy than serious tool, and I'd be somewhat surprised if any of you have heard of the Trio 28 before, it's just odd and peculiar. I have fairly low expectations about optical quality, but what the hell, worth a go and maybe it will surprise me. With the excellent second hand market for good condition photographic hardware in the UK, I would never advise anybody to buy new unless the new kit enabled them to take pictures that they regularly tried to photograph with their current kit and found impossible to get, and that he new kit promised to make possible. I suspect these caveats narrow the market to a few sports and wildlife photographers.
I have never owned a new car, preferring to let somebody enjoy the dramatic depreciation in the first 2 or 3 years of life. Also, I have never owned a new house, knowing that its condition when older gives an indication of its original build quality, whereas with a new house one can only hope that it was decently built. Recent news stories about some 'new builds' (build quality and location) support this careful approach.
Fortunately guns, new or second hand, are not easily available in the UK, so schoolchildren should have a better life expectancy than in some countries where ownership appears to be almost compulsory and misuse is a regular tragedy.
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Post by don on Feb 16, 2024 23:10:59 GMT
So long as you can afford it it's not really a problem. You only live once. I'm beginning to tell myself that. I keep dithering about the expense of replacing the computer and not knowing how long the replacement will last. Actually it is immaterial. The likelihood is that it will outlast me even if doesn't meet my own criteria on obsolescence. edit: building on that I just ordered a mac studio. Final straw was the bank website not working with a no-longer-supported browser. There is not anyone who I envy but having just read the specs for a mac studioI might just have to make an exception. www.apple.com/mac-studio/ Twenty five years ago I’d have been able to use one now maybe not so much goodness I loved my Mac g4 now all I do is browse the web on my iPad and remember the good old days 🍾 |
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Post by peterob on Feb 17, 2024 7:21:11 GMT
I'm beginning to tell myself that. I keep dithering about the expense of replacing the computer and not knowing how long the replacement will last. Actually it is immaterial. The likelihood is that it will outlast me even if doesn't meet my own criteria on obsolescence. edit: building on that I just ordered a mac studio. Final straw was the bank website not working with a no-longer-supported browser. There is not anyone who I envy but having just read the specs for a mac studioI might just have to make an exception. www.apple.com/mac-studio/ Twenty five years ago I’d have been able to use one now maybe not so much goodness I loved my Mac g4 now all I do is browse the web on my iPad and remember the good old days 🍾 It is quite quick and it does run Lightroom OK but there is a problem with the USB ports that seems (from the internet) common to many Apple Silicon macs. It is very fussy about what can be connected to it. In particular the two USB-A ports, and of course it is those that made it attractive over a mac mini or new imac, since just about everything I own terminates in a USB-A socket. It really hates the wired keyboard and I have to say that being faced with the need to enter a password and having no keyboard is a right pain. I've had to buy three USB-C to USB-A adaptors. The front USB-C ports don't like anything that asks for power. It'll turn a port off. The only way to get it back is to reboot. The only way to get the keyboard to work after a reboot is to plug/unplug/plug the USB socket quickly. Get the timing wrong and it won't work. So a lot of fun and games. ... and the Bank website still says update your browser. |
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Post by don on Feb 17, 2024 8:17:07 GMT
There is not anyone who I envy but having just read the specs for a mac studioI might just have to make an exception. www.apple.com/mac-studio/ Twenty five years ago I’d have been able to use one now maybe not so much goodness I loved my Mac g4 now all I do is browse the web on my iPad and remember the good old days 🍾 It is quite quick and it does run Lightroom OK but there is a problem with the USB ports that seems (from the internet) common to many Apple Silicon macs. It is very fussy about what can be connected to it. In particular the two USB-A ports, and of course it is those that made it attractive over a mac mini or new imac, since just about everything I own terminates in a USB-A socket. It really hates the wired keyboard and I have to say that being faced with the need to enter a password and having no keyboard is a right pain. I've had to buy three USB-C to USB-A adaptors. The front USB-C ports don't like anything that asks for power. It'll turn a port off. The only way to get it back is to reboot. The only way to get the keyboard to work after a reboot is to plug/unplug/plug the USB socket quickly. Get the timing wrong and it won't work. So a lot of fun and games. ... and the Bank website still says update your browser. That sounds frustrating. Have you spoken to Apple yet..? I’m still sort of envious 😣 |
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