I just purchased a used Fuji XE2s and was looking for an inexpensive pancake lens for street/abstract/architecture. Your review convinced me to pick one of these lenses up. Strong work, sir!
Update? Looking for a prime lens with a low f-stop for low-light photos. Really like the Panasonic/Leica 14mm but not sure if I can justify it, especially with no experience using a fixed focal length.
I have the 50mm version of this lens and for a super tiny 100mm equivalent, it's kinda amazing. My impression from reviews and samples is that they perform very similarly in a lot of ways and would make for a great standard and portrait combo.
I really like some of these cheap manual focus lenses. They are low element count and dont have that crunchy digital over sharp look to them. Like you mentioned, very reminiscent to the old Canon FD lenses. This one did a great job too of not giving a weird white balance like some cheap lenses can. This is the reason why I and many others prefer the rendering of the old Fuji 35mm and the old Nikon G lenses vs most of the new Z line. I wonder if you can find a cheap, small lens hood that would compliment this lens. Thanks for sharing the images and your thoughts.
It's $55, and doesn't suck. Not going to get you that National Geographic best photo award, but it will not have you saving for months to buy it. If you are on the fence, buy it. At least you can practice Manual Focus before plopping down $1,000 for a Zeiss prime. Update - EDIT - I ended up sending it back after using it for about a week. Something about it, I just didn't like how soft it was even at f2.8. I tried to work with it but this lens is just not in the same ball park of the entry level Fuji lenses. If it was maybe close to the 27mm 2.8 in sharpness I'd keep it for a walk around, but it is way to soft for me to think about keeping it in my bag. Some folks may like that it flares and makes some unique colors. But it's a novelty lens to me at this point. I loved the box it came in and the build, and small size of the lens. I never felt like I couldn't focus the lens properly. The Aperture ring being on the front did confuse me for a bit, but I got use to it. Also due to no connection to the Fuji body I had I didn't know what F-stop it was in so I felt like I was constantly looking at the aperture on the lens trying to be sure it was set to what I thought it was. Overall, it's a $55 lens, I wouldn't pay more than $70 for it.
Thanks for some very good info. Have this for my EDC on a Nikon ZFC. I wanted a small compact "35mm" so it hits the sweet spot for me. Compact was key for me as I find it makes a less intrusive package for street photography. Good stuff ... Just Subscribed :)
Your pictures look GOOD. I just got the same for Nikon Z and had my first use yesterday, and it was great fun. Very useable focal distance and easy to operate. Colors are not perfect, but seems correctable in post.
Have to say, the pancake body is one thing that attracts me to this over similar lenses from 7artisans or Meike, too. (Same way I'm eyeing up that weird conical 17mm they make) I have better, but bigger lenses, and this looks just right for 'bopping around'. That, and the clicky aperture ring. And with the money saved, I can go buy a clippy lens cap, and maybe a hood too. (And my M4/3 cameras will cut out a lot of that edge blur that APSC users complain about. 😆)
Eric, I bought it..... I am impressed with this little inexpensive lens... Thanks to you review I decided to purchased, and do not regret a dime of it!!!!!
This lens, and its 50mm f2 brother, are perfect on my Pen-F. Amazing quality (sharp/contrast) wide open... maybe I got lucky with great copies of these 2 lenses, but wow! The 50mm is great for portraits wide open. Yes, the color palette is great ... shot at -1/3ev, I get a deep rich (Kodachrome?) look and feel.
This one lives on my em10 II, I know a camera waaaay to old to satisfy your GAS 😂 For my use it’s great, I primarily shoot black and white with it and it just doesn’t disappoint. It’s also set like having a film camera just way cheaper. Also I dropped it on day 2 on concrete pavement and nothing happened, it just has a tiny, tiny chip on the paint of aperture ring. Really nice lens, and much smaller than all adapted vintage lenses, though I do love my Helios as well 😊
I picked this lens up a few months ago and it quickly became my go-to lens for street photography. I use zone focusing at f/8.0 and just walk around the city. I shoot with a Sony a6600, so the combo is very unobtrusive. If I could only use 1 lens, this would be it.
I bought this lens 2 weeks ago and was really surprised how SOFT the detents (clicks) are on the aperture ring. To me, it is nearly click-less. Any other TT owners experience this as well? I am wondering if I got a bad copy or if this is the way this lens is designed.
Does your GAS ever point back to a DSLR? I have an unreasonable hankering for an old Nikon now for some reason. Well, I know the reasons but I’m afraid I’ll come to regret the size.
You should have tried the Pergear 25mm f/1.8. It’s $50, stupid sharp wide open, and you get slightly more light gathering. Only con is it has a lot of ghosting but it’s literally optically perfect apart from that.
I have the same lens and it works well on all four of my Olympus cameras which are the EM1 ,EM1x,E-M10 Mark IIIs, PEN E-PL1, and the Panasonic LUMIX DMC-GX7C just use it for street Photography when out in town
I own E-M10 mark IIIs. I am a beginner and looking for Bokeh lens. Do you recommend this lens for Bokeh for E-M10 Mark IIIs? Also how is it for low light? Would appreciate it if you can answer my doubts?
@@M.A.K-1 Hello sorry I have only just seen your comment it works well with all my cameras but with regards to Bokeh it depends on how faraway you are from the subject you should put the camera in aperture priority with the ISO at between 200 and 400 and away you go good luck and have fun with your camera my friend
@@M.A.K-1 just hope you have fun with your camera and don't take any comments that people give to heart only think about if you like the photo's that you have taken with your camera because life is to short to worry about what people think never give up kind regards Howard
I just purchased a used Fuji XE2s and was looking for an inexpensive pancake lens for street/abstract/architecture. Your review convinced me to pick one of these lenses up. Strong work, sir!
Update? Looking for a prime lens with a low f-stop for low-light photos. Really like the Panasonic/Leica 14mm but not sure if I can justify it, especially with no experience using a fixed focal length.
@@averynape3334 Haven't taken it off my camera since I got it! Plenty sharp while imparting a very filmic quality.
Your photos are marvelous; those kids are such little cuties! Thank you for sharing what this lens can do 😀
Even vendors can't keep up with your system changes 🤣
Nobody can. I’m elusive
I have the 50mm version of this lens and for a super tiny 100mm equivalent, it's kinda amazing. My impression from reviews and samples is that they perform very similarly in a lot of ways and would make for a great standard and portrait combo.
Small pancake lenses are less intimidating to your subjects, too!
Nice review Eric. Photos were great. Looks like a nice little lens, especially considering the cost.
I really like some of these cheap manual focus lenses. They are low element count and dont have that crunchy digital over sharp look to them. Like you mentioned, very reminiscent to the old Canon FD lenses. This one did a great job too of not giving a weird white balance like some cheap lenses can. This is the reason why I and many others prefer the rendering of the old Fuji 35mm and the old Nikon G lenses vs most of the new Z line. I wonder if you can find a cheap, small lens hood that would compliment this lens. Thanks for sharing the images and your thoughts.
Video quality and colors looking very good.
It's $55, and doesn't suck. Not going to get you that National Geographic best photo award, but it will not have you saving for months to buy it. If you are on the fence, buy it. At least you can practice Manual Focus before plopping down $1,000 for a Zeiss prime.
Update - EDIT - I ended up sending it back after using it for about a week. Something about it, I just didn't like how soft it was even at f2.8. I tried to work with it but this lens is just not in the same ball park of the entry level Fuji lenses. If it was maybe close to the 27mm 2.8 in sharpness I'd keep it for a walk around, but it is way to soft for me to think about keeping it in my bag. Some folks may like that it flares and makes some unique colors. But it's a novelty lens to me at this point. I loved the box it came in and the build, and small size of the lens. I never felt like I couldn't focus the lens properly. The Aperture ring being on the front did confuse me for a bit, but I got use to it. Also due to no connection to the Fuji body I had I didn't know what F-stop it was in so I felt like I was constantly looking at the aperture on the lens trying to be sure it was set to what I thought it was. Overall, it's a $55 lens, I wouldn't pay more than $70 for it.
Looks like a fun little lens. You need to try a Helios lens on M43 for some crazy bokeh
Thanks for some very good info. Have this for my EDC on a Nikon ZFC. I wanted a small compact "35mm" so it hits the sweet spot for me. Compact was key for me as I find it makes a less intrusive package for street photography. Good stuff ... Just Subscribed :)
Nice review I have been thinking about getting their 50mm F2 similar size and not much more shot mu43 as well so 100 mm equivalent
Your pictures look GOOD. I just got the same for Nikon Z and had my first use yesterday, and it was great fun. Very useable focal distance and easy to operate. Colors are not perfect, but seems correctable in post.
Mine arrived today - first impressions are good.
Have to say, the pancake body is one thing that attracts me to this over similar lenses from 7artisans or Meike, too. (Same way I'm eyeing up that weird conical 17mm they make) I have better, but bigger lenses, and this looks just right for 'bopping around'.
That, and the clicky aperture ring.
And with the money saved, I can go buy a clippy lens cap, and maybe a hood too.
(And my M4/3 cameras will cut out a lot of that edge blur that APSC users complain about. 😆)
Eric, I bought it..... I am impressed with this little inexpensive lens... Thanks to you review I decided to purchased, and do not regret a dime of it!!!!!
Very ibteresting! How does this compare with the 20mm f1.4 in termsof subject isolation?
This lens, and its 50mm f2 brother, are perfect on my Pen-F. Amazing quality (sharp/contrast) wide open... maybe I got lucky with great copies of these 2 lenses, but wow! The 50mm is great for portraits wide open. Yes, the color palette is great ... shot at -1/3ev, I get a deep rich (Kodachrome?) look and feel.
This one lives on my em10 II, I know a camera waaaay to old to satisfy your GAS 😂 For my use it’s great, I primarily shoot black and white with it and it just doesn’t disappoint. It’s also set like having a film camera just way cheaper. Also I dropped it on day 2 on concrete pavement and nothing happened, it just has a tiny, tiny chip on the paint of aperture ring. Really nice lens, and much smaller than all adapted vintage lenses, though I do love my Helios as well 😊
I have old/cheap camera GAS too. You’ll see… very soon 😂
Have you had problems with light stains? Do you know if ttartisans have a lenscap
Will placing a mutti-coat filter infront of the lens help with the flare?
I picked this lens up a few months ago and it quickly became my go-to lens for street photography. I use zone focusing at f/8.0 and just walk around the city. I shoot with a Sony a6600, so the combo is very unobtrusive. If I could only use 1 lens, this would be it.
Good stuff. See you tomorrow over at Rob Trek channel. Oh wait! Today? Like in about an hour.
I bought this lens 2 weeks ago and was really surprised how SOFT the detents (clicks) are on the aperture ring. To me, it is nearly click-less. Any other TT owners experience this as well? I am wondering if I got a bad copy or if this is the way this lens is designed.
You could put a hood on it or use your hand to shade it into sun..good review.
Does your GAS ever point back to a DSLR? I have an unreasonable hankering for an old Nikon now for some reason. Well, I know the reasons but I’m afraid I’ll come to regret the size.
I love DSLR’s. I prefer them because of the OVF actually. Severely I’m having a hard time resistors a Pentax K3 Mark III Monochrome.
You should have tried the Pergear 25mm f/1.8. It’s $50, stupid sharp wide open, and you get slightly more light gathering. Only con is it has a lot of ghosting but it’s literally optically perfect apart from that.
No I haven’t. Interesting
I have that lens for fuji x mount and it's incredible!
I have the same lens and it works well on all four of my Olympus cameras which are the EM1 ,EM1x,E-M10 Mark IIIs, PEN E-PL1, and the Panasonic LUMIX DMC-GX7C just use it for street Photography when out in town
I own E-M10 mark IIIs. I am a beginner and looking for Bokeh lens. Do you recommend this lens for Bokeh for E-M10 Mark IIIs? Also how is it for low light? Would appreciate it if you can answer my doubts?
@@M.A.K-1 Hello sorry I have only just seen your comment it works well with all my cameras but with regards to Bokeh it depends on how faraway you are from the subject you should put the camera in aperture priority with the ISO at between 200 and 400 and away you go good luck and have fun with your camera my friend
@@howardrollinson3819 Thank You Howard for your detail reply.
@@M.A.K-1 just hope you have fun with your camera and don't take any comments that people give to heart only think about if you like the photo's that you have taken with your camera because life is to short to worry about what people think never give up kind regards Howard
I've got this lens for Fuji... great little compact lens so I can throw my camera into my jacket pocket!
I’m glad my opinion matches what others have experienced
Have one on my X-Pro 1 for a month, it‘s more fun than my Fujinon 16mm, 2.8....
Nicw Lego F1 👌
Mclaren. Took a while to put together
@@ericrjennings Good day for Mclaren today btw.. hope they can pull it off tomorrow.