Fuji 18 f/2: Soft as warm jello - Bad unit?

[andrewv8]

Hey guys!

 

I'm new to the forum.  I had an X100s, x10, and now I have an X-T10.  I originally bought a 35 1/4 with the camera and man, couldn't be happier with that lens.  Lots of detail, tack sharp.  Two days ago I got a 18mm.  I'm not sure if I got a bad copy or something but the images are about as soft as warm jello, even stopped down to 5.6, the centers are just not sharp.  JPEG's seem to look a little sharper than the RAW images which also seems odd to me and the aperture ring doesn't feel quite as solid as the one on my 35 1.4.  I read review after review and every says the 18 is sharp at 2.8, or comparable to the 35.  Do you all think it's a bad copy or just softer than I'm used to with the 35 or my x100s?

 

Andrew

[Max_Elmar]

It's broken. Send it back. A good 18 only looks "bad" compared to the 14 or the 23.

[darknj]

Plus, it should only have softness on the edges, the center is usually quite sharp.

[frod]

As others say, whilst it's not the greatest lens in the lineup, the lineup is pretty formidable and it's still a great lens. Maybe post a sample shot with exif intact?

[andrewv8]

Thanks for the replies guys, what's the best way to post a pic here?

[Phil]

Thanks for the replies guys, what's the best way to post a pic here?

 

I upload the full res JPG to Flickr, and post from there using the Share arrow. For posting on forums you want to use the BBCode.

 

I like Flickr because most forums don't have a hard time resizing it, the mobile app makes it easy to download a photo to my phone to share on Instagram, and on the computer you can download multiple resolutions (small, medium, large, and full res). I use that as a quick fix for when I need to resize a photo to meet upload limits.

 

I have the 18mm and have never had an issue with its sharpness, other than when looking at the entire frame for a landscape (I really need to get a better landscape lens ). To me it seems more or less as sharp as the 35 in the centre - definitely at normal viewing sizes.

[andrewv8]

Thanks for the flickr tip.  Here's a few sample shots.  

 

https://www.flickr.com/gp/22215079@N02/785D8p

 

https://www.flickr.com/photos/22215079@N02/shares/76r0fM

[frod]

Yep, that needs attention.

[andrewv8]

I emailed B&H about an exchange as soon as I saw the images on Monday, they still haven't gotten back to me and they're closed for a week and a half starting tomorrow.  Really wishing I got this thing from amazon.  Think they'll be good about it?

[andrewv8]

Follow up... B&H sent me a replacement... Not sure if it's sharper yet but the lens construction is much more solid.  

[frod]

Hi Andrew, just curious if your replacement lens met expectations?

[andrewv8]

Yea.  The new lens is sooo much better.  It feels much tighter, the construction is as good as my 35.  I also think the images are much sharper.

[Martin G]

Great you got it sorted out my 18 f2 is a cracking lens and very sharp! You were just unlucky.

[andrewv8]

Yea.  It happens sometimes.  When I shot Canon I had a similar experience with my first 24-70 f/2.8

[L135M]

I've got one. It's sharp. Send yours back.

[johant]

I've got one. It's sharp. Send yours back.

He already did.

 

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[milandro]

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