Fujifilm GF 30mm F5.6 T/S Overview for my review on GFX100S First thoughts - AMA - questions welcome

Unboxing for the medium format Fujifilm GF 30mm F5.6 T/S Tilt shift lens with ±15mm shift and ±8.5º of tilt. How the lens handles and AMA request for my upcoming review and testing.
What use is tilt/shift: Tilt/shift lenses & how to use them [50 mins.] Live webinar recording from Keith Cooper
• Tilt/shift lenses & ho...
My book about how to use such lenses is widely available from book stores.
PHOTOGRAPHY WITH TILT AND SHIFT LENSES
Publisher info: ISBN: 9781785007712
www.crowood.com/products/phot...
The FUJIFILM FUJINON GF30mm F5.6 T/S and GF110mm F5.6 T/S Macro lenses are each expected to be available later in 2023 at MRP’s of $3,999.95 USD and $3,499.95 USD respectively.
UK prices 30: £3899 | 110 £3499
For more information on the new GF tilt-shift lenses, please see:
fujifilm-x.com/en-gb/products...
All my articles/videos about using tilt shift lenses
www.northlight-images.co.uk/p...
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www.northlight-images.co.uk/k...
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[@sidenbladh]

Ooh, exciting! I’m going to be keeping a close eye on your channel for the next part of the test!

[@KeithCooper]

Thanks, I'll do some progress videos, but the main review will still be published with the written one, which may not be for several weeks

[@pannhandle]

looks a beast! eagerly waiting for your review Keith.

[@KeithCooper]

Thanks!

[@friendofarca6550]

you should really ask them for the 20-35mm too it is an absolute fantastic performer on the 100II and for the kind of work you do

[@KeithCooper]

Yes, but there is a limit on how many they will send me at the same time ;-)

[@thomaseriksson6256]

Looking forward to your test results

[@KeithCooper]

The main article will likely be next month... However I can say that this is the best quality wide tilt/shift lens I've tested to date

[@fepatton]

Can't wait to see sample images, and perhaps some comparisons with identical images from the adapted Canon lens? Just looking it up on BH, $4k doesn't seem _horribly_ expensive if it's a top quality lens.

[@KeithCooper]

Yes - very curious to see how poorly this make me think of my TS-E24 II ;-)

[@lohikarhu734]

Super! I laughed at that "you need a tripod to use tilt/shift lenses", since that's where they've been a lifessaver, for me! Able to shoot almost wide open, while getting enough depth of field, at a decent shutter speed... Back in " the bad old days", BIS, before image stabilized lenses.. But, with some attention to the tilt, and really, really needing shift, good results in St. Peter's... But, here I am, galloping on, while the maestro of maestros is right here!

[@KeithCooper]

Yes, there's part of me that has always believed automatic tripod use for landscape was a relic of the 19th century

[@lohikarhu734]

And, it is kind of useful with 5x4 (4x5) or larger... One of the reasons I, sadly, traded my ARCA Swiss camera, and a handful of Rodenstock glass, for the P67....

[@alexands1]

A comparison with the 24 TS-E II on the gfx 100s would be great (the 24 ts-E ii in crop mode and both shift and tilt tested)!

[@KeithCooper]

I'll be looking at the TS-E 24 in various settings - but not in crop mode on the 100 - more likely full frame and on my 5Ds

[@josephschimmer302]

Eagerly looking forward to your tests. At the moment I am using a Pentax RZ 45mm with a shift adapter. That’s a bit narrow and it isn’t nearly as good as the GF 20-35 - but it shifts…

[@KeithCooper]

I'm posting some quick tests to the medium format forum at DPReview This thread looks at vignetting www.dpreview.com/forums/post/67316214 I'll include all this stuff in the main review, but will be posting quick tests there [and a few as posts here on YT]

[@rj10548]

Kase makes clip on filters (NDs and night sky) that fit GF100, 100s and 100 II. I've used them and they are easily installed over the sensor and thereby work with all lenses. No need to 105mm filters.

[@KeithCooper]

Interesting idea - not seen them.

[@lynsmith1096]

Good first look video Keith. Will you be getting the Canon 10/20mm F4 wide angle to test.

[@KeithCooper]

Thanks Not any time soon I suspect - my only RF mount camera is the EOS RP

[@pedroparado60]

Great news Keith. I would like you to test tilt at all degrees and make a tilt chart of this lens, as you already made for canon lenses. If possible, make a comparison with the Nikon 19 mm f4.

[@KeithCooper]

Thanks - the tilt table is actually created using a spreadsheet - it just depends on the focal length - there is no testing/measurement. No chance of comparing to the PCE 19mm I'm afraid, unless someone sends me a camera body and lens ;-) I don't have any Nikon kit...

[@user-sb4xv6ob9s]

I read somewhere that the tilt and shift funcions can rotate independantly to that they can operate anywhere from zero to 90 degrees relative to each other. Did you find that to be true in your review?

[@KeithCooper]

Yes - see the main [written] review for far more info www.northlight-images.co.uk/fuji-30mm-ts-review/

[@johndunne]

Looking forward to your in depth review Keith. I use filters a lot for my work and that 105mm thread is dissapointing, as I've no desire to go and invest in a set of 150 Squares, and picking up a set of 112mm Circular filters adds another 25% to the cost of the lens and is more to carry in the bag. In your testing could you confirm that there is no option to use the 82mm diamter of the lens itself? I'm fine with a reduction in shift amount if it means I can continue to use my 100m Squares.

[@KeithCooper]

Yes - I do have several filters I've tested before with the TS-E24 II all at 82 mm fitting.

[@borromine]

Does the Lee 105 polarizer fit? 85mm image circle is BRILLIANT!! Very freeing to have that. I used to use the Schneider Super Symmar XL 110mm on a 69 camera that permitted endless shift. A pity this Fuji is so heavy. Schneider used 67mm filters and had image circle of 288mm, 435gram. Nonetheless this lens is a superb addition!!! Looking forward to pics and long review !!!

[@KeithCooper]

If I'd ever seen a 105mm Lee polariser I could try :-) No idea I'm afraid - it may fit, but might vignette with much shift

[@user-cl5uo2zc3b]

Can the Fujifilm GF 30mm F5.6 T/S be fitted to the Hasselblad X2D and if so, what adaptor do you recommend?

[@KeithCooper]

I don't know - I only had the 30mm here for a short while to test it.

[@protestagain]

Great price for a great lens. $4000 and possibly VAT, but those who buy one like this are probably not the hobby photographer, but I want one, but am very excited about your photos with it. By the way, have you seen Christopher Leggett's channel on KZbin? He has some very exciting interior and landscape photos taken with GFX and with T&S lenses.

[@KeithCooper]

Thanks - I'll be curious to see what I can get from it.

[@PedroKok]

Hi Keith, I’ve been checking Northlight for many years now. Thank you for the content. A couple of quick questions: how is the focus ring action? Is it mechanically connected or by wire? Does it focus past infinity like the Canon lenses (I’ve lost a fair amount of shots over the years due to focus getting accidentally nudged past infinity). Any concerns of moisture/water ingress where shifting plates slide? Is there any tilt play when in tilt-lock position? For the full review, I’m not really concerned about resolution and sharpness, but interested to see flare and sunstar behavior. Thanks!

[@KeithCooper]

The focus ring is electronic. I can't be sure, other than from the display, but the focus does seem to go past infinity a bit. This would actually be a good thing if you use tilt, and why all Canon lenses do it. Not doing it was a minor failing when I recently tested the TTA 50mm tilt No idea about 'weather-proofness'- this isn't my lens, so won't be going out in any rain ;-) I'll do some flare experiments for sure

[@PedroKok]

Thanks@@KeithCooper! Now this is something unique: a focus-by-wire lens without AF! The focus motors are then just coupled to the ring, but not the AF system. If this is true, the lens could get an AF update in the future (albeit a slow AF, as the motors are not made for fast action). Or am I missing something? Past-infinity focus is surely useful with tilt, but I wished there was some sort of lock/stop with my Canons. With the Fuji TS, maybe it could use the tilt sensors to detect and impose infinity focus limits. There should be a Fuji Kaizen telephone hotline for this kind of request!. On the Canon 24TSE2 I've had moisture ingress through the shift plate flacking on a shoot in dense fog; not asking you to replicate ;-). Many thanks.

[@KeithCooper]

Yes - it might well be capable of AF. I just don't know how the internals work... I've had some past infinity issues on occasions with my TS-E17, which is looser than the 24 I was out this morning with the 30mm - I found it slowed my work and the improved sharpness made it much easier to get good focus.

[@mamertobernal4460]

Not for me, but I will be following along and waiting for the Printer testing to come. :) Dave B.

[@KeithCooper]

Thanks

[@SD_Alias]

I would be very interested in a comparison of the GF120mm Macro with the GF TS 110mm in terms of sharpness and resolving power at close range (product/food photography).

[@KeithCooper]

I'll be getting the 110 ts at some point but not sure if I can get the other at the same time

[@SD_Alias]

@@KeithCooper Yes, getting both is quite expensive. May be i will rent both some day…

[@bobby350z]

Do you get that suitcase with it? Would be nice if we did. Like my old canon 300mm f2.8 or the 500mm f4 lenses.

[@KeithCooper]

Ah, no, that's because this one is a loan from Fujifilm UK - it has to go back in that case :-(

[@robr3621]

how did you get that thing so quickly?

[@KeithCooper]

Because it's a loan from Fujifilm UK ;-) It has to go back :-( Partly connected to the fact I've written a book about using such lenses...

[@Clint_the_Audio-Photo_Guy]

I wonder how long until they've got these in-stock with rebates on them? haha. A guy can dream.

[@KeithCooper]

A long while I fear...

[@fangzhou3235]

Auto lens correction for distortion and vignetting with shift or even tilt in LR?

[@KeithCooper]

Ah, that would require me to use lightroom - simply not happening ;-) However I will be looking at how the expanded EXIF data can be used - I believe that my GFX100S may require a firmware update for this though. Given how tilt works, I'd not expect to see any automated fixes there.

[@johndunne]

@KeithCooper Fuji released a firmware update a few days ago for the 100s record that telemetry data

[@fangzhou3235]

@@KeithCooper Oh I forget you use Photoshop only. Auto correction might need Adobe to modify the framework in ACR.

[@KeithCooper]

Just updated the firmware - the lens records shift and lens mount rotation data - not tilt. Will post an image of the rear screen

[@KeithCooper]

Just checked and Shift ±15mm is reported in 0.5mm increments Lens rotation ±90º is reported in 3º increments

[@michailxyntarakis1590]

I have the TSE-24 ad the TSE-50. Although it is not fair to compare 24 with 50mm there is no comparison in terms of sharpness, the 50mm is way way better. In fact, if you own modern wide angle lenses you will be very disappointed with the sharpness of the TSE-24. I was so surprised when I got it three years ago that I rented one just to check that my sample was not faulty. It wasn't. Don't get me wrong the TSE24 is indispensable, and will buy it again but not because of its sharpness. Resistance to flare is pretty bad and the same for sunstars. If the fuji is not a monumental flop there isn't going to be any comparison between them. Moving from full frame to GFX and using the tilt shift GFs would be quite an upgrade. Don't get me wrong I do like the 24mm and I use it a lot but it does show its age. The 50mm tilt shift released there years later in 2017 is amazing and maybe the best lens that I own. Keith I have your book. Very nice work!

[@KeithCooper]

Thanks Yes, the 50 is in a different league. I've been out this morning with the 30mm and you can use it at any shift without issue. If using the lens foot, you have to mentally change to 'rear shift' and tilting the back, but it works well. I will include a comparison with the TS-E24, but on my 5Ds, since lenses like these you get because of what you can do with them. Glad the book is of interest!

[@lohikarhu734]

15 mm of shift doesn't seem monstrous, how does it compare to the tse-24?

[@KeithCooper]

Proportionally, it's almost the same for the lens native sensor size. I need to get the graph-paper/calculator out to do some more looking at this... Something I'll cover more in the main [written] review.

[@bobby350z]

24mm TSE is only +/-12mm and more problematic at those shifts on GFX.

[@user-jp9js9th8o]

i don't like the two GFX shift jumbos: way too big, heavy, slow and too expensive - nothing I nearly can do with Canon TS-E and Laowa Lenses. And: their concept is not completed - why does the 110 mm lets miss the socket??? and gives mo possibility to mont one... so sad - and just in the case one could argue with the better cover sharpness: particularly when you mount panoramic pictures you won't have to go to the extremes, just take one more photo within the -at all - long taking process. again: 4.500 bucks;-((

[@KeithCooper]

Answer as per the other videos you posted this The 30 shows a significant improvement in quality over the [albeit 2007] TS-E24 on my 5Ds - as to whether the weight and price are issues, well that depends on what you want to do with it. For what it does it's superb - I don't care about f/5.6 since I wouldn't really use it wider - if you want wider aperture for really thin tilted DOF and strong OOF blur, then you likely wouldn't want what the more expensive Fuji brings. At wider apertures I can use adapted lenses of all sorts for stuff where the image quality of the 30 is not needed. As to the 110 - early days testing, but once again it's the image quality which shines through. However the TS-E90 ii and TS-E135 are much closer to it and perform well with adapters. The bracket is helpful on the 30 - more so than I thought it would be. For the 110, I'm less sure I'd have a use for it. Yes, they are heavy - once again, if it's a problem, it's a problem. I think they are very much aimed at a professional market where improvements help the bottom line. At the price they are, they were never going to be popular with some...