Fuji's Best Lens? // The 56mm f1.2 WR review

[@UP209D]

When he doesn't juggling the lens, you know that lens is precious :)))

[@nataliepayne9365]

Thanks!

[@erenjam]

Huge thanks! Really appreciate the support

[@fabiospata]

Amazing video !

[@albrechtn]

..another great review...and the photos are real masterpieces..

[@sergheivelescu]

I literally bought today the old version for 300€ as you are an inspiration for me and love your style. As said in another comment, i purchased your presets and will try to inspire from your style and see what i can do 😄

[@erenjam]

Huge thanks for the support 🙏🏼 £300 is a great price for the original, such a good lens

[@malfunkt]

I too just picked up a 56 1.2R. Happy 56th!

[@MavScientific]

Beautiful photos man!

[@erenjam]

🙏🏼 thank you

[@chazlyle41]

The closer focus distance alone is why I’m swapping. I bounce off that minimum distance constantly with the old. I LOVE to shoot wide. The 14 was my most used lenses traveling overseas. But that 56 has made me the most money :)

[@erenjam]

I will probably stick with the new one too

[@gordonbunker3272]

Thanks Eren, agree with all your points. I have the WR version, was shooting with it yesterday - @1.2, love the falloff from focus to out of focus, also handles chromatic aberration pretty well. It's all matters of degree, but I'd stay with the WR - improved optics and AF are there when you need them, but mostly for the weather resistance.

[@bartazare]

Great video! ❤

[@erenjam]

Thank you!

[@ufukalan]

i own the old version and i absolutely love it. apart from lack of WR it's an amazing lens.

[@erenjam]

Its gotta be one of Fuji's best value lenses (second hand price)

[@DanielMenn]

Love your work so much! Will you edit pictures made from the community? Would love to see that

[@erenjam]

Thank you! good idea, maybe Ill make an episode like that 🤔

[@TopshelfJunior]

First off, great images man.. Really loved the photo at 1:49 !!! Second, I'm gonna have to get on the hunt for a 56mm OG version.. Seems like it has sumthin' for sure.

[@thecooldude0071]

Lovely stuff 🙌🙌

[@erenjam]

Thank you bro!

[@thecooldude0071]

@@erenjam 😁😁🫶

[@oc2phish07]

I have the new version and am very pleased with its performance for my needs. I was lucky to get it though, as I paid for the new one but the dealer, a very well known, large company with a lot of branches here in the UK, tried to give me the old one saying that the two were identical. When I pointed out the WR designation they said that did not mean anything, and even when I pointed out the difference in filter size they were reluctant to give me the lens I had actually paid for. Eventually I made enough fuss for them to give me the right one claiming it was ‘a mistake’. Yeah, right! Needless to say I will never deal with them again.

[@erenjam]

Of that is insane! I wonder who it was 👀

[@oc2phish07]

@@erenjam I am so tempted to tell you. I made a formal complaint to their head office and got a mealy-mouthed apology but I am happy to leave it at that and ever since I have bought my kit at a different, smaller and much better dealer in a different town. Since my experience with the bad dealer I think I have spent £15,000.00p or so which they obviously lost out on.

[@treharris1677]

Agreed! I sold the new for the old but will one day buy the new back. It's probably my favorite lens. Sharp but full of character.

[@erenjam]

Tbh, WR aside, the original is pretty much just as good

[@boradoesphoto]

dude i love your type of videos so much, fucking dope

[@erenjam]

Huge thanks 🙏🏼 Really appreciate the support!

[@jurrevandermeer4857]

Loved this video! 56mm on fuji apsc so 85mm ish full frame equivalent right?😊

[@erenjam]

yep, exactly 🙏🏼

[@jurrevandermeer4857]

@erenjam thanks so much for confirming :))) I just got the sony 85mm 1.4 gmii, and cannot wait to start practicing w this focal length when I move back to japan next year! Your work is such an inspiration and I always learn a lot by studying it. Thanks a lot for all your efforts!!

[@Chrizzowski]

Great pictures and a great points. It's a tricky one for me though ... I have the new WR version and I absolutely love it, but I just find myself not reaching for the focal length as often as I'd like. If 56mm is going to be an occasional use length for me, then I'm tempted to maybe part with it to finance the new 16-55 mk2 instead if it proves to be any good.

[@marooned2614]

How is the autofocus in the new one compared to the Sigma 56?

[@tiborvargaart]

Hi Eren, thanks for the video. I’m debating between the two 56mm. Can’t make my mind up about the WR… have you had issues with the old version in the rain? Would you take it out if it’s raining or its a total no go? Thanks

[@erenjam]

🙏🏼I mean, I've taken it out a couple times under light rain with an umbrella and it's been fine. If its been raining hard (before I picked up the WR) id take the 50f2 instead

[@phil488pista9]

I am going to look for the old version while I am in Japan.

[@chromosound]

Great video!!! Is it that hard to focus manually for video? I know it is not mechanical but i do focus manually on the 23mm. How is the focus breathing?

[@erenjam]

Thank you! Manual focus on fuji lenses is never fun, the ones with the scale made it a little better. For video its fine but I use manual / single point in video so don't experience any issues with breathing, even with the older lenses

[@malfunkt]

Excellent application of the lens Eren! I've been shooting with a manual KamLan 50mm F1.1 mkII for years, and have come to rely on that lens for events and low-light photography. I find it's manual focus very quick and reliable to track subjects for low-light work. It compared well against the 56mm 1.2 in AlikGriffin's review, with the KamLan being a bit creamier in bokeh and softer at its widest aperture. I just today picked up a XF 56mm 1.2 R for 1/5th of a new WR version with the small defect of a declicked aperture ring. This is a lens I've wanted for years and I'm interested to see how well it performs in low-light in terms of AF. How responsive is the manual focus ring on the 1.2R?

[@Irenefloridia]

How much editing do you do on your photos? Great video! I have the old 56mm and it's my favorite lens. I do wish it was lighter but the picture quality is great.

[@rakoksy]

Hi Eren, in another video in comparison with the old one I saw you suggest 50f2 for street. Do you think still so and you would consider 56 1.2 just for night shot or you changed your mind because you prefer the rendering of 56? I own both but I feel that maybe 50 f2 is enough because at 1.2-1.4 56 1.2 r shows a bit halo and from f2 they seem quite the same after the same postproduction workflow. What’s your advice respect to the old one? Thanks

[@homecareful]

I have the original version. I want to say that I agree with you, but I have never tried the new version. Loved your photos, and this is a great way to get your photos out there. I was a TV marketing director for 30 years or so. The depressing reason that Fujifilm is updating their original lenses rather than bringing out new lenses is that they think their market has peaked. Cameras will become video cameraa and cell phones will morph even more into being complete cameras.

[@vladimir_filipas]

Great photos and legendary lenses! I love the output of both versions but curently own new mk2 WR version which is in my case superior in every scenario :) I like that more “muscular” look and better build quality, weather resistance and shorter minimum focus! It feels really great on my X-T’s… The image quality is perfect, the sharpness, details, clarity, bokeh, colors and contrast and highlight rolloff are nailed perfectly…and the AF is sufficient but could be little bit faster in continous mode, but it is more accurate than the old version…

[@EarthbendR]

Had the original 56mm and used it on my Xt5. Excellent photos, but AF was rough

[@tomislavmiletic_]

The old version was always more than sharp enough for me. I've made a ton of portraits with it, no problem. And making some type of rain cover for it isn't so hard. However, the main problem that I have with it is that you can't use it in the winter, course if in sub zero cold long enough, that auto focussing motor will freeze, and the lens will be dead, until it's warm enough agin. Ask me how I know...

[@mehmetunay]

I bought viltrox 56mm 1.7 for budget. Maybe fuji is better but when it comes to price and performance i recommend viltrox 1.7 56mm. It is sharp works fast and silent. Colors are better compared with viltrox 85mm.

[@erenjam]

Yep! Viltrox make some really good lenses

[@Shiromania]

I wonder how the WR compares to the APD version of the old 56

[@ChrisThe1]

Really well-done video. If money was absolutely no object, which one would you rather have?

[@pifilos]

First of all great shots. Old version owner here. In my opinion it has the best output of any other Fujifilm's lens. No complains at all, no reason to replace it. A bargain in the used market nowadays. A true classic/vintag-ish lens with autofocus, best of both worlds. However, I have tried the new one as well and it is a lovely piece of gear.

[@erenjam]

Thank you! Totally agree

[@TheZieloo]

Weight, slow AF, purple fringing, easily catching flares just to name a few. Definitely not the best/most universal lens.

[@pifilos]

@@TheZieloo quoting "In my opinion it has the best output of any other Fujifilm's lens." so for me the points you mention aren't issues. I like its flare a lot, I intentionally introduce it in shots sometimes, fringing isn't an issue in PP. Weight is fine for an all-metal f/1.2 autofocus lens. AF again is ok even on my X-T2, let alone now that I use it on an X-T4. For someone else it might be a bad lens or not suitable. Fine by me. If someone wants to shoot sports with it at f/1.2 yeah it is probably the wrong lens for that.

[@SummersSnaps]

I think the most frustrating thing about Fuji is that we rely on them to provide glass with Linear Motors, so its a bit of a kick in the teeth for them to release a second version of the lens and omit this. What is doubly annoying is the coverage of this lens is huge, you can put a lot of step down rings on this lens without ill effect, so its over engineered for APS-C. They basically made a portrait astro lens, kinda odd. If they relaxed a little on the edges and corners wide open, we'd have a smaller, lighter 56 with LM. They chose pin sharp edges and corners wide open and because of that we got hit on cost, size, weight and AF performance. Wrong choice here imo. And so now we have nowhere to go for a decent AF 56 (85mm equivalent) for X Mount in terms of AF, the rest of the third party are stepping motors, which can be ok but still not the same as LM. The SIRUI 56/1.2 for example is stepping, noticeably better AF than the 56RWR but still not ideal. And when you consider a APS-C 56/1.2 is rendering like a 85/1.8 in full frame, you can pick up plenty of full frame 85/1.8's with lighting fast AF performance on other systems. I feel Fuji really let down their user base on core lenses, a bit of a shame.

[@matt88169]

I feel your pain regarding linear motors vs. DC motor, but Fuji clearly prioritized top notch optics + compact size with this lens and they obviously delivered. The IQ coming out of this lens is by far the best I've seen from the system (but I'd love to get my hands on the 90mm f/2 as a portrait option). What the AF lacks in raw speed/smoothness I think it gets back in accuracy. Provided I put 6 feet or so between me and the subject I have had no trouble getting lots of keepers while dong short high speed bursts. It is working closer to that MFD and particularly indoors when lighting is weaker where it can frustrate me at times. I had the Viltrox 56mm and it was a fast lens that hunted at times, but also looked excellent at about f/2 and still very, very good wide open. Lots of character. I actually sort of miss it but the Fuji is just next level overall.

[@lionheart4424]

Yo, where did you buy used lenses? I struggled to even find a used X-T2 in Tokyo and if it were not for Map Camera I might have spent like 4 days without a camera in Japan and many amazing shots I got. I was looking for a cheap bright prime but could not even find manual lenses. Thanfully the OIS of the 16-80mm F4 saved me for some nights.

[@Ramon_Oaktree]

I love your Videos!

[@michamilka]

Great FOLO's man, I agree. I prefer the old version too!

[@erenjam]

Thank you! The original has aged like fine wine

[@coomb]

Tricked me into thinking I was about to watch a GxAce video based on the thumbnail.

[@okyeabuddyguy]

Fuji had winners already with the character of the 35 and 56 lenses. All the modern WR lenses are just a hair too clean, and slightly too big, and slightly too heavy. I think in terms of design ethics, they took a step back. Everyone would have preferred if they kept the size small, optics the same, and simply added quieter focus motors and weather sealing and not such a massive price increase.

[@matt88169]

Not me. I want the best optics, fastest AF, and whatever weight it takes to keep it a premium metal build. Fuji's pro-quality f/1.4 / f/1.2 glass at half the cost of going FF is a main reason I stick around and IMO they are still adorably light and easy to live with. But if you want the best image quality/performance, you typically have to tolerate big glass. The whole line of f/2 primes accommodates those that want excellent small, light, quiet, and affordable lenses well worth owning. If mkii versions of those lenses come out, I don't think there is much to do but refine the optics / close focusing etc.

[@geedee3817]

all your photos taken with this lens could be scenes from a movie. So much character

[@Simon-Simon-Simon]

I have a original 56mm Love it mint condition original owner

[@Vartan297]

Man… love your reviews. Only problem is… you can make great images with probably any lens, so mine would look nothing like your samples 😂😂💪🏻💪🏻 I’d buy one and the pics would be rubbish 🥹🥹🥹😂😂

[@incharliewetrust]

Have u tried the sigma 18 50mm?

[@erenjam]

Yep, I really like it, will have a review out in the next couple weeks

[@ernesto_creativo]

Hi Eren, I appreciate your videos! My legendary lens with a lot of character is the old xf35mm 1.4. But for daily use I love the xf 16-80 and the 70-300. For street at night I use the new xf23,1.4,wr for great images.

[@erenjam]

Thats a great set up!

[@df0rce]

AF fail is unacceptable - imho. What does it actually bring to the table other than WR. Bummer Thanks for the review though.

[@matt88169]

I have the WR and it is the best IQ I've seen from the Fuji system thus far, and the IQ is what won me over in the end. The added refinement over the old 56 particularly wide open is worth it to me, especially since I plan to own the lens for a long long time and probably eventually on a 40mp body. In terms of handling, I think the aperture ring is a little too loose, and it as well as the focus ring is too easy to bump when I'm really working shots quickly. I much prefer the feel and shapes of the new f/1.4s - the spacing between rings and damping cause me fewer mistakes. AF is a bit of a let down, but for me it comes with a big asterisk (*). Primarily, it can be frustrating indoors, in "low light" or working closer to the MFD (if the subject is moving, anyway, static shooting obviously I don't care). Ya, that is pretty much true of all lenses, but in my personal hierarchy, this lens still smokes, say, the 18-55mm with its "superior" LM. With some distance to the subject (say, 6 feet or so), when dealing with strong backlight, when doing high speed bursts etc. I think the accuracy and hit rate has been very high or at least surprisingly high at times. This lens will hit shots that my faster LM lenses also struggle with (low light indoors with the mighty red badge lenses isn't always much of an upgrade, for example), so it is not all bad. Still, I feel like I'm using a cheat code when the 23mm LM WR is on my camera by comparison, so I really wish Fuji had stuffed multiple LMs in there and created something similar, even if it ended up looking a bit boring. If they had, I know the 56 WR would be basically glued to my camera, because I love the focal length and the look. I'd recommend anyone buy it - but I definitely don't think it should be your ONLY Fuji lens.

[@Rumplestiltskin7]

So... is it the best Fuji lens?🤔

[@erenjam]

I think so, the 56 and the 35 are my favourites

[@lumberjack3008]

Returned my immediately. AF too noisy and slow. Unacceptable at this price point.