My GO TO Fujfilm Lenses (Fuji 18mm f2 & Fuji 23mm f2)

Fujifilm Photographers! Head over to squarespace.com/kingjvpes for 10% off your first purchase of a website or domain using discount code: KingJvpes at checkout!
In this episode I briefly review the Fujifilm XF 18mm F2 and the 23mm F2 and talk about why they are my go to lenses for things like street photography and portraits. Both of these lenses produce quality results and if you're looking for the best Fujifilm lenses to pair with your new camera these are two very solid options! Please subscribe if you are new to the4 channel and drop a like for more Fujifilm gear videos!
Amazon affiliate links - Any purchase made through these links will give me a small amount)
RANGEFINDER ACCESSORIES:
Lens Hood 1 - amzn.to/3LyBBhD
Lens Hood 2 - amzn.to/3xszlSS
Rope Strap - amzn.to/3LyBS49
Soft Shutter release - amzn.to/3eUt6RD
Light Meter - www.kekscameras.com/store/p12...
ACCESSORIES:
Kodak film holder - amzn.to/3uGbCO4
Tiffen ND filter set - amzn.to/37fdQuY
Peak Design Strap - amzn.to/3O7d2sT
Go Pro Hot shoe mount - amzn.to/3uF4ZM9
Go pro hero 10 - amzn.to/38CQmQP
28mm Viewfinder - amzn.to/3M6h16X
MY FILM RECOMMENDATIONS!:
Portra 400 - amzn.to/3IM530u
Portra 400 (pro-pack) - amzn(Amazon affiliate links - Any purchase made through these links will give me a small amount)
MY FILM RECOMMENDATIONS!:
Portra 400 - amzn.to/3IM530u
Portra 400 (pro-pack) - amzn.to/3iGQVLl
Kodak Gold 200 - amzn.to/3IKnDWA
Kodak Gold 200 (3-pack) - amzn.to/3Llo0bQ
Fuji Superia 400 - amzn.to/3wI5Vkc
Lomography 800 - amzn.to/3IJjsuj
Ilford HP5 - amzn.to/3JMMc6M
Buy the Ricoh GRIII - Ricoh GRIII - amzn.to/3rT3WnK
Fuji Xpro 3 - amzn.to/37ptwLT
Camera Bag (small) - amzn.to/3n9iJtq
Camera Bag (Large) - amzn.to/3b2jU8B
Sigma 35mm 1.4 DG DN Art - amzn.to/3pR5Oxj
Ricoh GRII - amzn.to/3ajPfnO
Ricoh GRIII - amzn.to/3rT3WnK
DEALS:
Rope Camera Strap - amzn.to/36CZuk1
Rope Strap (cheaper) - amzn.to/3ptnZZi
Bulk Loader (the one I use) - amzn.to/32FMMzu
100ft Ilford HP5 - amzn.to/3nlBZ5r
Voigtlander Light Meter - amzn.to/3nnZdYI
ND Filter/step down rings (The one I use) - amzn.to/38FAHOJ
My favorite Film Stocks:
KODAK COLOR PLUS - amzn.to/2PRUu2J
PORTRA 160 - amzn.to/3cQdrfi
KODAK GOLD 200 - amzn.to/2xocWdO
PORTRA 400 - amzn.to/2Q0MbCi
LOMO 400 - amzn.to/2XuVten
FUJI SUPERIA 400 - amzn.to/2XGWlwL
ILFORD HP5 - amzn.to/2Xxadcv
CINESTILL 800T - amzn.to/37jYlO1
TMAX P3200 - amzn.to/30pEc7U
DELTA 3200amzn.to/3feAuls
MY EDITING RIG:
My computer - amzn.to/3eWDz9j
Editing mouse - amzn.to/2CPwQ3Z
Clicky Mechanical Keyboard - amzn.to/2WXuyXp
4k Monitor - amzn.to/30KAAvS
SSD (for editing) - amzn.to/3jGNS56
Landscape Essentials:
ND Filter/step down rings (The one I use) - amzn.to/2WAKv5N
Shutter Release Cable - amzn.to/2OC0mMS
My favorite Landscape Film - amzn.to/2ODPDSi

[@kk4pqr]

Excellent video my friend. Love how detailed are your pointers. Will go hunting for that setup now. Thank you.

[@lawrencehorowitz9291]

Very well done informative video. I've been shooting street and travel with the 23f2 for about two years. I love the pictures I get with this lens: perfect focal length, great image quality.

[@sebastianvarela5658]

Dude! This is the exact video I needed, I’ve been looking for this for a couple of weeks but haven’t found a video that compares these specific lenses/focal lengths. These 2 and the 18-55 are on the wishlist

[@Benjaminjohansson93]

The 35mm f2 is also a super good performer and I think i little bit shorter/smaller than the 23. And an underrated fuji lens is their 18-55 f2.8-4, its actually really good, better than most other kit lenses i would guess and great build quality with mostly metall and glass. So if you like zooms i would really recommend that lens, perfect for traveling!

[@juliascamp2175]

Perfect timing as I’ve been thinking about getting the x-pro3

[@Jennifer-wr9si]

I bought the 18 f2 as my first Fuji lens a decade ago for it's 'pancake-ness' and the f2. Ended up becoming my fave Fuji lens. If you like a small kit and are not hung up on edge-to-edge sharpness, this is a fantastic lens. The manual focusing does *really* suck though.

[@noartifacts1983]

Awesome I have the 23 but i now really want an 18 mm since i do mostly street photography

[@HartponderJr]

I recommend a vented lens hood for the 23 F2… it visually rocks!

[@jmtphotographymedia]

I have all the f2/2.8 Fujicrons including the 18 f2 and minus 90mm f2. They are excellent lenses that are too often in the shadows of the 1.4 or faster lens. However I bet anyone can get great results with these for the same use case.

[@user-ky6lo2xi4h]

I've got almost all Fuji's primes. But 18/2 is my favorite lens

[@acmdv]

That 23mm F2 is super sharp, I'm thinking of getting the 35mm F2 & the 50mm F2.

[@MarcLerchs]

Fantastic. Thanks. You should try to make a test about Zeiss Touit 32mm... You could have a huge surprise...

[@gordonwill6885]

Ah, the 23mm f2, my favourite.. (well my only since I broke the 18-55) can't imagine life without it..

[@gregoryoutdoors]

I used to have both 23 & 35mm f2 - sold them......now Im using 18 f2 & 35mm 1.4 + xt1 and cannot be more happy. They are so much better, fun to use, more magic and not boring like those new lenses.

[@hellni79]

got 23, 35 and 50 f2. they all give me a "flat" sensation, they were amazing size/builtwise, silent fast focus,WR, but in the end the image was lacking something. Now I have the 35 1.4 and I'm getting far better feelings straight out of camera. Old had the new 23 1.4, that was crazy good but too big for me, now I'm looking to give a companion to the 35...maybe this 18?

[@darianharris9735]

Gotta try that original 35mm 1.4 on that xpro

[@aljoschawolff4069]

Its lovely! Perfect for portraits and the smallest and sexiest looking of all 1.4 fuji lenses. Nothing for video, but for photographers who look for aestetics of a camera....

[@awake780]

Really nice photos, man!

[@heres_the_sauce]

Have and love both these lenses

[@musabbirchowdhury6678]

Can you please give the link of the lenshood attached with ur 23mm f2 lens?

[@ASH7388]

X100V with the WCL then you’ll get both focal length for cheaper and can share the filters between the two focal length, minus the ND filter which was built into the camera.

[@smartassjust4u]

Where do I get the hood for the 23mm?

[@TRISTRAMY]

I'm new on my Fujifilm journey this month. I bought the X-T5 with the 18-80mm kit lens and was honestly a bit puzzled what people were raving about. Not that the 18-80 is a bad lens, its fine, it just wasn't what i expected. I then picked up the 23mm, I was put off the 18mm due to comments on reviews. I agree that the 23mm looks weird. I then saw some more balanced reviews of the 18mm f/2, picked it up and immediately understood the fun of the fuji system. Images from the 18mm are just so good, modern and nostalgic at the same time. It hasn't left the camera since getting it.

[@boxing3241]

Do you use a nd filter or filter for the 23mm? Thanks!

[@Geert890]

Was that seagull really there in the golden gate bridge shot or did you PS it in?

[@reptilespantoso]

Nice pictures! You have a good eye. The esthetics of larger lenses on smaller bodies.... I think that's your personal idea, I don't see that, not worried about that really. But I'm used to seeing film/videocameras, microphones with odd shapes. It's just tools to me, and overall, fujifilm has a nice (no nonsense) esthetic about it.

[@stefankoen]

Does the 18mm have frame lines in the OVF?

[@theosanchez8914]

Link for 23mm square hood i dont see it 😢

[@albertsmith9315]

I have both of these lenses plus too many more (12 XF lenses). Today I went out to cover an art festival in town and after some thinking, I chose the 18mm f/2 on my X-T3 and an XF 50mm f/2 in my waist bag. The 18mm never left the camera, I was just in the zone for that angle of view today. Funny, in my film days I never bonded with the 28mm lens, preferring the 24mm. With Fujifilm I have both 16mm lenses (f/1.4 and f/2.8), but for some reason I tried the 18mm and really like it on the street. If you are thinking of what lens to get, with primes I think you should really NEED to change lenses. I'd never have both the 18mm and 23mm on an outing, too close. Maybe look at the 50mm f/2 which would form a good duo with either of your other lenses. It would offer a tighter framing, a bit of compression and much better selective focus if that is needed. It is from the same generation as your 23mm f/2 so all the operational aspects are the same, but it is a tiny bit longer and has a deeper reversible hood. It is brilliant from f/2 with nice blur in the background.

[@jmtphotographymedia]

I typically use the following combos 18/35 f2, 23/50 f2, 16 2.8/35 f2, 16/35/50 Works out well.

[@guyseide]

the lens hood link you shared is the wrong lens hood. Like the video truly insightful

[@ahaka2022]

i also have both lenses. most of the time i use the 18mm. 23mm only when its raining heavy. 18mm, i find the the af faster. i also prefer the colour, contrast, and sharpness on the 18. 23mm, wr only when it is raining. for some reason i find the 18mm's af more reliable than the 23.

[@ahaka2022]

i just used my 23mm a few days ago. and when i checked the fotos on the computer. i realized most fotos are out of focus. either my 23mm is defective. or its just terrible at autofocus. 23mm is a big no for me. only advantage is weather sealing.

[@theagen3js371]

If i already had 18mm f2, im going to buy my second lens. Now i had sigma 30mm on my bucket list, but i used have 35mm f1.4, i don’t like it’s not wide enough for me. But LOVEE ift for portrait photo… i like & still leadn street photography btw😅

[@adrianbaron8033]

Super! 23mm... 🎉

[@marcratner9477]

The lens hood is the only camera component I prefer to be plastic. Plastic shields and protects the lens as well as metal. It absorbs shock, and if dropped will tend to snap off or break without damaging the lens. Aesthetically the ‘square’ lens hoods look cool, but practically I’ll go with plastic.

[@bellvuehillapart9782]

Fully agree. I use the OM lens hood on my 23mm - it’s small so doesn’t make the lens stick out & protects the front element perfectly.

[@historyoneonone9690]

Range focusing vs zone metering 😊

[@FalandoJones]

Alright, so I have the 23mm 1.4 original and I'm thinking about trading it in for the 23mm f2. But now I'm considering the 18mm f2. Obviously, you can use either one but which one would you choose if you had to pick one? Professionally I shoot Lifestyle family and portraits. Personally, I shoot around the house and occasionally do street photography. I have the 35mm 1.4 and although I wish it were faster focusing I love the image quality and I get over how loud that focusing system is. I want to 28mm focal length but the 23 is quick and sharp. What would you do?

[@juliascamp2175]

Have you reviewed / compared any “budget” lenses to these? I’m thinking about buying a Fuji lens in my fave focal length and then supplementing with some budget lenses until I’m ready to start purchasing some more expensive one.

[@brycericci]

A good budget lens that Ive personally used is the TTArtisans 23mm F1.4. It’s a completely manual lens but with zone focusing it’s pretty easy to nail focus. For the price you can’t beat it. I wouldn’t say it’s the best lens or is the most sharp (especially at F1.4) but it’s still a great lens considering it’s only $100.

[@Haxinate]

I find the 27mm 2.8 v2 very tight due to the 40mm apsc equivalence but the sharpness and AF is fast and reliable. Is the 18mm f2 on par with the AF if I use it on the fujifilm XE3? My worries is that the lens would struggle to autofocus during street photography

[@tf-ok]

18mm is wide enough that you won't have trouble with autofocus

[@shivamnema05]

Been using 18f2 since last two years and so statisfied. It's perfect for the street and travel.

[@shivamnema05]

You put a ND filter on top of 18f2 and it's weather resistant.

[@artsilva]

A lot of pixel peeper YT reviewers in the past has talked negative of the 18mm f2. I've had mine since 2012 and I cant see myself parting with it for something "better". Like you said, it's all about the story telling and composition and this lens has been perfect for that, plus I feel it gives a great 28mm equiv. character that new "upgraded" lenses are lacking imo. Do I wish it was WR same as my beloved original XF35mm f1.4 I also got in 2012? Hell yes but it is what it is... I am seriously trying to figure out how to apply some sort of DIY ring gasket to these lens' outer ring. Speaking of the 35mm, I also have the f2 (WR) version but don't use it much as I always reach for the older and magical f1.4

[@Zainphotography]

35 f2 is so freaking sharp

[@ScrappyPoontachat]

I've been watching Fuji videos, as I'm thinking of getting a second camera. I use a Sony A7iii with a pancake 35mm as my everyday carry, I don't bother with a lens hood as I always have a polarizing or diffusion filter attached which protects the lens. I wear a baseball cap outdoors which gives the lens protection from the sun also.

[@sonpois]

Dude did you go to the academy of Art in SF?

[@sonpois]

btw those are also my go-to lenses :) i might add the 35mm if I'm traveling abroad

[@HOYITZPOY]

I had both of those lenses and I shoot a lot of images close up so these 2 failed miserably. Other than that the focal lengths are perfect. The 35mm, 50 and 90 f2 lenses are the best ones from that time period.

[@TheeManWIthNoLife]

The 23mm with the original lens hood on looks like a wang!

[@VinceDae]

18 x 1.5 = 27 mm

[@sam-ww1wk]

My son has a 22mm f2 on his Canon. Wish fuji had that, but hey..

[@ILGenius]

So if they are the ONLY 2 lenses you own for your camera, these aren't your "GO TO" as your title says. Should the Video be titled My ONLY Fuji Lenses?

[@SurrealExposure12]

Why in the world would you buy 500 dollar lenses that aren’t your go to 🤡