Luminous Landscape Forum
Equipment & Techniques => Mirrorless Cameras => Topic started by: hasselbladfan on November 16, 2013, 05:27:41 am
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I am considering a Fuji X-E1 (and a 27mm) for my wife.
Might borrow it from time to time with my Leica M lenses.
What works? What doesn't?
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A forum search should pull up some recent discussion on this topic...not isolated just to the X-E1. Short answer in my experience: you'll be fine with any focal length 35mm & up. Corner performance, both in terms of spatial resolution and tonal fidelity, can be an issue with wider lenses.
-Dave-
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I use a Zeiss ZM 50 f2 with the Fuji L>X adapter, it works fine. I can not locate it now, but Fuji have issued a list of compatible M mount lenses (Leica, Zeiss, Voigtlander).
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I've found with both an X-Pro1 and a Nex-7 that legacy lenses are a pain from an operational standpoint. In particular, I don't like opening up to focus and then stopping down to shoot. With longer lenses you can generally focus stopped down, but it isn't ideal. Or you can shoot wide-open all the time...
Also, the native lenses from Fuji are very good; I don't think there are huge jumps in image quality to be had. If you're looking for better, I don't think adapted lenses will do it for you, even Leica's finest. If you're looking for different, then you might find the look of specialized, older or "bad" lenses gives you something different.
-m
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I use a Zeiss ZM 50 f2 with the Fuji L>X adapter, it works fine. I can not locate it now, but Fuji have issued a list of compatible M mount lenses (Leica, Zeiss, Voigtlander).
How do you like the Zeiss ZM 50/2 on the Fuji? How does it compare to the native Fuji lenses?
Also, are you shooting it on the Leica M as well? Any difference in performance on the Leica compared to on the Fuji?
Thanks, Joris.
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I've found with both an X-Pro1 and a Nex-7 that legacy lenses are a pain from an operational standpoint. In particular, I don't like opening up to focus and then stopping down to shoot. With longer lenses you can generally focus stopped down, but it isn't ideal. Or you can shoot wide-open all the time...
The early SLR systems worked like this...no auto-stopdown to shooting aperture. It's just a different method of taking photos. You quickly get used to it, provided you're invested in getting used to it. If not, no problem...Fuji's own AF lenses, along with the Zeiss Touits, are very good indeed.
-Dave-
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Michael,
I am not pretending that the old M's are so much better. I just have the whole range and since I still use them on an MM, i don't like to invest in a second line of glass.
Agree that opening it is not fast, but agree as Telecaster said that you get quickly used to it.
I will try to use one for a couple of hours.
Thanks for the advice.
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How do you like the Zeiss ZM 50/2 on the Fuji? How does it compare to the native Fuji lenses?
Also, are you shooting it on the Leica M as well? Any difference in performance on the Leica compared to on the Fuji?
Thanks, Joris.
This Zeiss is a fine lens, and there is no Fuji equivalent yet. Fuji will come out in early 2014 with a 56 f1.2 lens, but it is bound to be expensive. To me, the equivalent 75mm angle of view is fine for some portraits, tighter landscapes, and some walking around. Having said that, the Fuji X lenses are really good, I have the 35 f1.4 and the 14 f2.8. I do not shoot Leica M.
The other focal length I would like to have is the 75mm one, this would give me around 110mm equivalent. Leica makes very nice 75mm lenses in M mount, but they are too expensive for me.
As for using M mount lenses on the Fuji XPro1 or XE1, there is no problem at all. The EVF, with zooming in and focus peaking, works very well for manual focus. I normally use M or A modes, no problem a all. Even his last Saturday I shot my daughters volleyball game with the XE1 and the 50 ZM, with M exposure and MF, it was fun.
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Paulo,
I am not sure I understand. Is the EVf giving you a focus indicator?
Georges
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I am not sure I understand. Is the EVf giving you a focus indicator?
The EVF won't exactly tell you when you've achieved optimum focus...no green light or other such indication. You have to decide for yourself based on a magnified EVF image and/or focus peaking. Fortunately it's usually quite obvious when you've got it right.
-Dave-
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Hi,
Based on my experience on Sony Alphas I would not trust peaking, it may be that it works better on other cameras, but on the Sony it is nowhere exact enough. Magnified focusing is as exact you can get.
Best regards
Erik
The EVF won't exactly tell you when you've achieved optimum focus...no green light or other such indication. You have to decide for yourself based on a magnified EVF image and/or focus peaking. Fortunately it's usually quite obvious when you've got it right.
-Dave-
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The other focal length I would like to have is the 75mm one, this would give me around 110mm equivalent. Leica makes very nice 75mm lenses in M mount, but they are too expensive for me.
Paulo,
I have the Voigtlander 75mm 1.8, much cheaper than a Leica, and found it to be a very nice lens.
Martin
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Based on my experience on Sony Alphas I would not trust peaking, it may be that it works better on other cameras, but on the Sony it is nowhere exact enough. Magnified focusing is as exact you can get.
I've found this is true with the X-E1 too. Where peaking does come in handy is when you're focusing on a relatively 2D object at a diagonal to you. You can see the peaking highlights travel back & forth along the object as you focus in & out.
-Dave-
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Thanks!
Erik
I've found this is true with the X-E1 too. Where peaking does come in handy is when you're focusing on a relatively 2D object at a diagonal to you. You can see the peaking highlights travel back & forth along the object as you focus in & out.
-Dave-
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Paulo,
I have the Voigtlander 75mm 1.8, much cheaper than a Leica, and found it to be a very nice lens.
Martin
Martin, thanks for the tip. Indeed I am aware of this lens, and also an older 75 f2.5 from Voigtlander (M screw mount I think). All I have read about these lenses is positive. But... here in Portugal I am not even sure who the representative is, to be honest, so that chills me a bit...
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...Where peaking does come in handy is when you're focusing on a relatively 2D object at a diagonal to you. You can see the peaking highlights travel back & forth along the object as you focus in & out.
This is a little off topic for the OP, but has anyone reading this thread tried the old school split image focus with the XE2 or one of the other more recent X's? I only tried it on the X100s and thought I liked it better than the focus peaking I get with my X20 right now. It's not exactly like the old MF SLR prisms, but produces a vaguely familiar impression.
I guess a firmware update won't add this for the XE1 since it doesn't have the PDAF pixels used for the split image focussing?
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But... here in Portugal I am not even sure who the representative is, to be honest, so that chills me a bit...
Yes, that might be a problem. You would have to deal with customs, and if something goes wrong with the lens, it might be hassle, too.
Martin
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Yes, that might be a problem. You would have to deal with customs, and if something goes wrong with the lens, it might be hassle, too.
Martin
Buying from within EU means there will be no customs or duties at all. Fully mechanical manual lenses seldom have problems.
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This is a little off topic for the OP, but has anyone reading this thread tried the old school split image focus with the XE2 or one of the other more recent X's? I only tried it on the X100s and thought I liked it better than the focus peaking I get with my X20 right now. It's not exactly like the old MF SLR prisms, but produces a vaguely familiar impression.
This is the one thing that would cause me to consider getting an X-E2. But I'll wait for someone else to try it out and report on it. I've had my hands on an X100s but didn't think to investigate manual focusing.
I guess a firmware update won't add this for the XE1 since it doesn't have the PDAF pixels used for the split image focussing?
That is correct.
-Dave-