This, in my opinion, is the first lens that you've tested that really shows that your test chart needs parts with yet finer detail! Maybe some of the other Fuji GF lenses had similar results, it just became strikingly obvious in this test of yours. Any other crop / FF system will just show smearing with those ultra fine detail parts on your test charts, I'm sure...
@@adamzhang3028 It is pointless to compare zooms vs primes in terms of sharpness. Primes have undoubted advantage. Epsecially when the zoom is in the optically challenging UWA part of the FL range. And out of the curiosity, how do you force the GF 55mm to deliver a picture with the angle of view of 20mm lens, if it is "just as usable"? BTW the sharpest lens I've owned / tried on the GFX is the Sigma 40mm f/1.4. It is a fullframe lens but covers the 44x33mm sensor easily. It is clearly sharper at f/1.4 than the GF 55mm at f/1.7 while being considerably cheaper. I love that lens on my 100S II together with another Sigma, 105mm f/1.4.
The 'focus warping' in video mode when zooming in and out is just the internal correction for the heavy distortion that's kicking in when switching from strong barrel distortion to strong pincushion distortion occurs.
I would love to see a review on the TTArtisan 500mm F6.3 - I have heard it is rather sharp, but your videos show the sharpness best and since it is a rather cheap lens it would be one I want to buy :)
Oh this is definitely my daily workhorse for architectural photography! I wouldn't really use it for landscapes, maybe only at 35mm (24mm FF) as the widest feels like it's too wide even with the background compression you get with larger-than-full-frame sensors.
i wanted this lens so bad, there was no such lens yet in my country, so i started using the Tamron G2 15-30 f2.8 adapted. worked so well i don't need the 20-25 anymore.
this lens is like a mythical unicorn, it hasnt been available anywhere ive looked for months. at least ive got the 80mm for my gfx100s-ii to get me by.
I really wish that you had a standardised sharpness and contrast test that is at landscape/streetscape distances. The current test at 20mm would have the test chart at about a metre from the camera. Not really that much use for this lens at that distance. Otherwise, love the reviews!
@@Kliffot Well, it already is existing: the Sigma 14mm f/1.8 🙂. Althought a fullframe lens, it covers the 44x33mm sensor wide opened with some (correctable) vignetting. When stopped down the image needs to be cropped a bit to some 12mm (FF equiv.) but still the result is CRAZY wide and sharp.
This is the one of the very few internal zooming ultra wide zoom lens with top of the line weather sealing and non bulbous front element, perfect for landscape photography in the harshest of conditions I'd say Sony 16-35 f4 pz is another one that fits the bill EF 16-35 f2.8 mk3 is a bit outdated in terms of sharpness Sigma 16-28 f2.8 does not have proper weather sealing All other ultra wide zooms are external zooming
@quikee9195 front filter is attached to the lens hood instead of the lens main body, thus it is not getting full marks on weather sealing in my book. Not everybody needs the highest level of weather sealing but I used to live in a place where air quality and sand storm can get so bad that it rains mud. Even now I still always go out to sea where things can get salty.
It’s a nice feature too, very first Sony ultra-wide I had got absolutely wrecked in Arizona from a sandstorm and you could feel the grit every time you zoomed in. I’d still better protect it if I could but each layer that keeps out particles or moisture is an improvement.
The jerky manual focus you’re showing is much more than I’m used to on the GFX system. I think it may be because you’re testing this in video mode - try using the manual focus in stills mode.
How's this comparw to Hasselblad model, how is this release so soon after Hasselblad one, do they copy each other or know the competitor do and one of them just try to do the same thing to competite each other?
Typically 50-135 FF eqv are pretty square, but some have pincushion distortion. Put you will always have parallax. Minimize that by going with a longer lens.
Call me an old fart, but I'm not sure true "medium format" begins at 44x32. I'd like to see at least 6x4.5 sized sensors! :) But I have to admit - the detail that sucker can record is impressive!
Is a great lens and the GFX is a superb system. But a lens like this with an equivalent conservative aperture, is it even worth it comparing to what you get in FF now? If it's the "look" of a larger sensor you are looking for with lenses like this, you ain't getting it. In recent years as APSC offerings get better and FF are already endless and truly amazing at that, F4 equivalent lenses on a larger sensor simply don't cut it for me. There is just no advantage.. nor light gathering nor DOF wise. Again, is a great lens and system and wide aperture lenses on a MF body, yes by all means. But zooms like this? No cigar for me.
@@TheMetalButcher Yes and so does for example a 61MP Sony with endlessly added ease if use, weight advantages and portability matched with F2.8 zooms or F1.4 primes.
@@Bayonet1809 if you don't know anything about something called field of view and if you think for example that a 32mm focal distance on a GFX sensor "looks" the same as 25mm focal distance on a FF you might want to consider a different hobby.
Thank you Fuji for an exceptional lens. Oh By the way, are you planning to jump on a plane to Damascus to look out for your Brothers and Sisters in Syria?
This, in my opinion, is the first lens that you've tested that really shows that your test chart needs parts with yet finer detail! Maybe some of the other Fuji GF lenses had similar results, it just became strikingly obvious in this test of yours. Any other crop / FF system will just show smearing with those ultra fine detail parts on your test charts, I'm sure...
I hope we will see a XF 16-55m II review soon.
It is here…
I think this is the best lens among Fujifilm GF lenses. If you enjoy taking landscape photos with a GFX camera, this is a must-have lens.
If you haven’t tried the GF 55mm yet, that one is much sharper, and just as usable for many landscape scenarios, especially if you shoot in 65x24.
@@adamzhang3028 It is pointless to compare zooms vs primes in terms of sharpness. Primes have undoubted advantage. Epsecially when the zoom is in the optically challenging UWA part of the FL range.
And out of the curiosity, how do you force the GF 55mm to deliver a picture with the angle of view of 20mm lens, if it is "just as usable"?
BTW the sharpest lens I've owned / tried on the GFX is the Sigma 40mm f/1.4. It is a fullframe lens but covers the 44x33mm sensor easily. It is clearly sharper at f/1.4 than the GF 55mm at f/1.7 while being considerably cheaper. I love that lens on my 100S II together with another Sigma, 105mm f/1.4.
@@adamzhang3028 Much sharper? No. They don't even overlap in any way, why not have two at once?
@@thephenom6327 I do. That's why I know the 55mm is sharper, though its chromatic aberration is less contained.
I've used a lot of lenses, and this one is probably one of the absolute best. Paired with the 45-100, the GFX kit can deliver exceptional images
The thing with the 23mm however is that it can be bought for between £800-£900 on the used market which makes it still very relevant.
this is a fantastic lens kudos to Fujifilm
The 'focus warping' in video mode when zooming in and out is just the internal correction for the heavy distortion that's kicking in when switching from strong barrel distortion to strong pincushion distortion occurs.
Thanks, Chris, for reviewing this awesome lens. Sony 300mm F2.8 GM OSS review is coming up soon, I believe! 🤩
I like to watch Chris's reviews of lenses. This of course does not mean I will ever be able to afford this system.
I just find his voice calming.
A landscape photographer’s wet dream.
I would love to see a review on the TTArtisan 500mm F6.3 - I have heard it is rather sharp, but your videos show the sharpness best and since it is a rather cheap lens it would be one I want to buy :)
Oh this is definitely my daily workhorse for architectural photography! I wouldn't really use it for landscapes, maybe only at 35mm (24mm FF) as the widest feels like it's too wide even with the background compression you get with larger-than-full-frame sensors.
i wanted this lens so bad, there was no such lens yet in my country, so i started using the Tamron G2 15-30 f2.8 adapted. worked so well i don't need the 20-25 anymore.
this lens is like a mythical unicorn, it hasnt been available anywhere ive looked for months. at least ive got the 80mm for my gfx100s-ii to get me by.
I really wish that you had a standardised sharpness and contrast test that is at landscape/streetscape distances. The current test at 20mm would have the test chart at about a metre from the camera. Not really that much use for this lens at that distance. Otherwise, love the reviews!
Me: finally Chris reviewed this lens! It was about time!
Also me: I don't even own a GF camera, why do I care?! 😅
16-28mm f3.2
Thanks for doing the math
15.8-23.7 3.16
That’s a very sharp lens
Had it for 8 months now, amazing lens on the GFX 100 II. If only it were f/2.
Fujinon said a super fast ultra wide prime is on it's way
@@Kliffot Well, it already is existing: the Sigma 14mm f/1.8 🙂. Althought a fullframe lens, it covers the 44x33mm sensor wide opened with some (correctable) vignetting. When stopped down the image needs to be cropped a bit to some 12mm (FF equiv.) but still the result is CRAZY wide and sharp.
@@petrpohnan875 Oh yeah those EF Sigma Art & GFX 😍 I wonder what the dedicated Fujinon GF will be, could be smgh like 18mm f/1.7
This is the one of the very few internal zooming ultra wide zoom lens with top of the line weather sealing and non bulbous front element, perfect for landscape photography in the harshest of conditions
I'd say Sony 16-35 f4 pz is another one that fits the bill
EF 16-35 f2.8 mk3 is a bit outdated in terms of sharpness
Sigma 16-28 f2.8 does not have proper weather sealing
All other ultra wide zooms are external zooming
Nikon Z 14-28 f/2.8 maybe? Or would you call it has bulbous front element?
@quikee9195 front filter is attached to the lens hood instead of the lens main body, thus it is not getting full marks on weather sealing in my book.
Not everybody needs the highest level of weather sealing but I used to live in a place where air quality and sand storm can get so bad that it rains mud. Even now I still always go out to sea where things can get salty.
@@AzarathGirl123dear god, where is it that bad that it rains mud?
It’s a nice feature too, very first Sony ultra-wide I had got absolutely wrecked in Arizona from a sandstorm and you could feel the grit every time you zoomed in. I’d still better protect it if I could but each layer that keeps out particles or moisture is an improvement.
The jerky manual focus you’re showing is much more than I’m used to on the GFX system. I think it may be because you’re testing this in video mode - try using the manual focus in stills mode.
How did you get the exposure display on the screen?
Been waiting for the one I've ordered for 8 months now. It's been harder for me to get this than the X100 😢
Hey! It's you!
How's this comparw to Hasselblad model, how is this release so soon after Hasselblad one, do they copy each other or know the competitor do and one of them just try to do the same thing to competite each other?
This lens has been out for a while before Hasselblad, I had mine a year ago so the review is new but not the lens.
first of all Fuji made H system Glass for Hasselblad, second: this was out before the Hasselblad lens.
What's the focal length that would yield the least amount of distortion?
Typically 50-135 FF eqv are pretty square, but some have pincushion distortion. Put you will always have parallax. Minimize that by going with a longer lens.
FF > 100mm > +
I presume you mean on this lens? In which case it is at approximately 25mm, where it is 1% (the same as the GF23mm).
@@Bayonet1809 Thanks, this is actually what I meant.
1:23:It is not that big even compared to 36x24 F2.8 wide-angle zoom lenses
Call me an old fart, but I'm not sure true "medium format" begins at 44x32. I'd like to see at least 6x4.5 sized sensors! :)
But I have to admit - the detail that sucker can record is impressive!
You can get used H-series for a decent price if anyone is ready to cart those things around for landscape work 😅
This is a super all rounder - but over time does suffer from droop - it comes with age.....!!!!
Is a great lens and the GFX is a superb system. But a lens like this with an equivalent conservative aperture, is it even worth it comparing to what you get in FF now? If it's the "look" of a larger sensor you are looking for with lenses like this, you ain't getting it. In recent years as APSC offerings get better and FF are already endless and truly amazing at that, F4 equivalent lenses on a larger sensor simply don't cut it for me. There is just no advantage.. nor light gathering nor DOF wise. Again, is a great lens and system and wide aperture lenses on a MF body, yes by all means. But zooms like this? No cigar for me.
I'm assuming you aren't making massive prints... Sharpness at 100mpx means nothing to you? This isn't the camera for instagram.
@@TheMetalButcher Yes and so does 61MP Sony with endlessly added ease if use, weight and portability,
@@TheMetalButcher Yes and so does for example a 61MP Sony with endlessly added ease if use, weight advantages and portability matched with F2.8 zooms or F1.4 primes.
The advantages are resolution and dynamic range. There is no such thing as a special medium format "look"; not with this lens, or any other.
@@Bayonet1809 if you don't know anything about something called field of view and if you think for example that a 32mm focal distance on a GFX sensor "looks" the same as 25mm focal distance on a FF you might want to consider a different hobby.
Thank you Fuji for an exceptional lens. Oh By the way, are you planning to jump on a plane to Damascus to look out for your Brothers and Sisters in Syria?
?