I have this lens and I love it! It's not really sharp at all, it vignettes like nobody's business and it has pretty bad smearing in the corners (oh, and it can't handle any source of light aimed at it at all xD) but it has a really cool feel to it! Paired with a vintage-looking film recipe, it tugs at the nostalgia because it looks like the photo comes from a point-and-shoot and/or a disposable camera from the 90s, which is what I grew up with. Some photos I took with it looked like they could have been from my childhood photo album xD
Wow! What a lens! Its awesome .... Who cares for the sharpness ....pictures were intoxicating and author took great care to upload the best of best pictures in this video.. that I kept replaying the slide show with beautiful music in the background. I am ordering it straightaway. Big Thank you for making this video.
I was looking for a walk around lens for my X-A1. My first attempt was a Pergear 25mm f/1.8 but there is an issue going past infinity (which seems rather paradoxical). This lens allows for effortless street shooting, with decent IQ. Also, it's more subtle than pulling out my iPhone, especially with waist level shooting on the X-A1.
Same combo here. I bought the X-a1 a month ago and just mounted this 18mm/f6.3 lens. Trying to get used to the results. Really hard to do. Will probably send it back and get the Fuji 18mm glass.
I have the version 1, which doesn't have focus adjustment. I also have a few pro grade lenses with really good glass, but for some reason this $50 'toy' lens seems to be getting used for around 25% of my work! (not paid work I should add). Its a bit of a revelation in use, running on a Panasonic GX800 (tiny) M4/3 body it is completely spontaneous. Keep it in the pocket so you don't cut any profile, pull and shoot, back in pocket, done. Using auto ISO with a sensible minimum shutter speed (say 1/60), silent shutter mode there is nothing to do except point and shoot. It's optimised for the middle distance, ideal for street candids. Sure, optically it is kind of rubbish, but its ok in the centre, low resolution and low contrast, but fairly three dimensional I guess due to small element count. The images clean up quite well if you process the raw files, never good in the corners, but somehow the images are always pleasing. I've just ordered the version II, as so cheap, may as well have both. The ability to adjust the focus would be welcome on some occasions!
Has anyone else noticed the X-Pro3 has disappeared from both WEX Photo Video & Park Cameras websites? (for those who live outside the UK these are stores that sell photography & video cameras). Makes me think there is an X-Pro4 on the horizon at May's X-Summit.
I ordered one of these a few days ago, haven't took out the box yet. I have the previous version, which I hate the appearance of, but it literally takes up no space, and I'll put it on the camera instead of a cap.
Interesting - looking at your samples, the images have a glaze over them preventing real sharpness - almost filmic without any special 'mist'' filters. Perhaps some of our film shooting friends should give this a look - Fuji 16 1.4 or 18 1.4 replacement it isn't but still lots of fun.
Ahhh. Based on your video, and several others, I bought one of these little lenses with rather high hopes. Challenging image quality is right! I cannot say my results were similar to what I've seen; I've perhaps got a "bad" copy. Mine is not only not at all sharp off-centre, the vingnetting is rather uneven, and if there's bright light anywhere in the scene, the flare is so bad as to make it unusuable unless I shield the lens with my hand. I'd love to know what your film simulation and highlight and shadow settings were for these images. I've tried several of my usual "film recipes" with this lens, and none of them resulted in results that were satisfying. Again, perhaps just a bad copy. I always enjoy your videos. Informative and engaging, without the tedium of lens charts ubiquitous brick walls! 😎
Thanks a lot! Yes sounds like your copy is definitely not right. Heres'a link showing my camera set up: ua-cam.com/video/IoS2mOmFuOc/v-deo.htmlfeature=shared&t=133 Hopefully it helps, my settings are in that vid.
Looks fun for shooting parties with your mates to give the total crap disposable camera look, but every review is just wondering shots of random buildings.
Not sure what I think about this. Is it strange to say it looks too sharp? It's not "real lens" sharp, but it seems more than "toy lens" sharp. But if what I want is a toy lens, I don't know whether this does that. Seems like the original UFO was a bit mushier, and thus a bit more of a disposable camera/plastic point and shoot vibe, which is what I'd want out of a lens like this. I certainly like the design of the lens more, since the original UFO was so ugly. I also appreciate that the straight lines look reasonably straight, rather than having heavy barrel distortion. I've seen worse on real lenses. But I worry that with non-fixed focus it might lead to too much thinking. I guess what I want is just a tiny 20mm or 21mm f/8 focus-free lens, to copy the FunSaver style (they're often 31mm, halfway between 28mm and 35mm focal lengths common on real lenses), so long as the lens body design isn't ugly.
Why does this even exist? Sure it seems like it could be fun to play around with but surely they can't expect to sell many, will they even break even on the RD it took to design it.
I just got one of these for my Canon EOS-M6 (MK-1). At £30 here in Shanghai, it's a no-brainer. Looking forward to getting out and about with it.
Bargain!
I have this lens and I love it! It's not really sharp at all, it vignettes like nobody's business and it has pretty bad smearing in the corners (oh, and it can't handle any source of light aimed at it at all xD) but it has a really cool feel to it! Paired with a vintage-looking film recipe, it tugs at the nostalgia because it looks like the photo comes from a point-and-shoot and/or a disposable camera from the 90s, which is what I grew up with. Some photos I took with it looked like they could have been from my childhood photo album xD
Brilliant, this is good to hear!!
Wow! What a lens! Its awesome .... Who cares for the sharpness ....pictures were intoxicating and author took great care to upload the best of best pictures in this video.. that I kept replaying the slide show with beautiful music in the background. I am ordering it straightaway.
Big Thank you for making this video.
Thanks Claudio!!
I was looking for a walk around lens for my X-A1. My first attempt was a Pergear 25mm f/1.8 but there is an issue going past infinity (which seems rather paradoxical). This lens allows for effortless street shooting, with decent IQ. Also, it's more subtle than pulling out my iPhone, especially with waist level shooting on the X-A1.
Sounds like a brilliant combination!
Same combo here. I bought the X-a1 a month ago and just mounted this 18mm/f6.3 lens. Trying to get used to the results. Really hard to do. Will probably send it back and get the Fuji 18mm glass.
I have the version 1, which doesn't have focus adjustment. I also have a few pro grade lenses with really good glass, but for some reason this $50 'toy' lens seems to be getting used for around 25% of my work! (not paid work I should add). Its a bit of a revelation in use, running on a Panasonic GX800 (tiny) M4/3 body it is completely spontaneous. Keep it in the pocket so you don't cut any profile, pull and shoot, back in pocket, done. Using auto ISO with a sensible minimum shutter speed (say 1/60), silent shutter mode there is nothing to do except point and shoot. It's optimised for the middle distance, ideal for street candids. Sure, optically it is kind of rubbish, but its ok in the centre, low resolution and low contrast, but fairly three dimensional I guess due to small element count. The images clean up quite well if you process the raw files, never good in the corners, but somehow the images are always pleasing. I've just ordered the version II, as so cheap, may as well have both. The ability to adjust the focus would be welcome on some occasions!
It's good old fashioned cheap fun and I'm all for it!
Has anyone else noticed the X-Pro3 has disappeared from both WEX Photo Video & Park Cameras websites? (for those who live outside the UK these are stores that sell photography & video cameras). Makes me think there is an X-Pro4 on the horizon at May's X-Summit.
This year maybe :)
I ordered one of these a few days ago, haven't took out the box yet. I have the previous version, which I hate the appearance of, but it literally takes up no space, and I'll put it on the camera instead of a cap.
Let us know how you get on
Interesting - looking at your samples, the images have a glaze over them preventing real sharpness - almost filmic without any special 'mist'' filters. Perhaps some of our film shooting friends should give this a look - Fuji 16 1.4 or 18 1.4 replacement it isn't but still lots of fun.
Fun is the key word yes!
Great video man 😊👍🏻
Thanks Mark
It's a safe way to try out if you like the focal length before buying anything pricey.
Exactly!
i just bought mine. but it doesnt work i cant capture
Have you set the option in your menu to Shoot without lens?
not yet how to do that@@DamianBrown
sorry im new
Looks interesting....................thanks for sharing
Thanks!
@@DamianBrown got one, so far so good, better than expected, thanks for your valued opinion.
Ahhh. Based on your video, and several others, I bought one of these little lenses with rather high hopes. Challenging image quality is right! I cannot say my results were similar to what I've seen; I've perhaps got a "bad" copy. Mine is not only not at all sharp off-centre, the vingnetting is rather uneven, and if there's bright light anywhere in the scene, the flare is so bad as to make it unusuable unless I shield the lens with my hand.
I'd love to know what your film simulation and highlight and shadow settings were for these images. I've tried several of my usual "film recipes" with this lens, and none of them resulted in results that were satisfying. Again, perhaps just a bad copy. I always enjoy your videos. Informative and engaging, without the tedium of lens charts ubiquitous brick walls! 😎
Thanks a lot!
Yes sounds like your copy is definitely not right. Heres'a link showing my camera set up: ua-cam.com/video/IoS2mOmFuOc/v-deo.htmlfeature=shared&t=133
Hopefully it helps, my settings are in that vid.
I've been curious about this one. I have the MK I and had fun with it. I might pick up the MKII now, cheers :-)
Make sure to update this once you've got it and can compare!
@@DamianBrown Will do :-)
Looks fun for shooting parties with your mates to give the total crap disposable camera look, but every review is just wondering shots of random buildings.
Sounds like a great video for you to do mate! :)
Fantastic lens. I love all the bad stuff. I never look at the edges of my pictures anyway.
love it!
Not sure what I think about this. Is it strange to say it looks too sharp? It's not "real lens" sharp, but it seems more than "toy lens" sharp. But if what I want is a toy lens, I don't know whether this does that. Seems like the original UFO was a bit mushier, and thus a bit more of a disposable camera/plastic point and shoot vibe, which is what I'd want out of a lens like this.
I certainly like the design of the lens more, since the original UFO was so ugly. I also appreciate that the straight lines look reasonably straight, rather than having heavy barrel distortion. I've seen worse on real lenses. But I worry that with non-fixed focus it might lead to too much thinking. I guess what I want is just a tiny 20mm or 21mm f/8 focus-free lens, to copy the FunSaver style (they're often 31mm, halfway between 28mm and 35mm focal lengths common on real lenses), so long as the lens body design isn't ugly.
I think that would be fun!
Why does this even exist? Sure it seems like it could be fun to play around with but surely they can't expect to sell many, will they even break even on the RD it took to design it.
Seems some love it 😃
It looks ( both physically and in reproduced image ) like my Olympus 15mm f/8.0 . Similar focal length too. 😎
Are you saying they copied it? :D I mean.. you could be right.
@@DamianBrown not 💯 but they certainly were inspired by it 😂
@@vic_the_roman inspired is such a great word mi hermano 🤩
Your out of focus intro was misleading, the actual images had an organic, almost analogue look to them... And no, I don't want one 😂
Ye the intro was to highlight what's basically new about the lens from the off 🤣