18mm f/2 - Your experience/opinion on this lens?

[JRphoto]

One thing that is kinda weird. When ibput the aperture ring on f/8 it actually gives me f/7.1

 

I have go up a klick and then back to get to f/8

 

Probably a defective one. Mine works as expected.

[Hermelin]

Probably a defective one. Mine works as expected.

yeah I returned it in to the store where I bought it. Fuji says they will loan out a copy while I wait. Edited May 14, 2016 by Hermelin

[greatwhite]

I took a punt on this lens as it was on offer at Amazon new for £240 and I love using it. The results regarding colour and contrast are lovely even at f2. Yes it has a few optical flaws but most are caused by in camera corrections and can be bypassed by some raw converters. You get to know the flaws and work around them if you need to. I think that it is a great little lens and is on my Fuji camera a lot. Great results and nice definition for me anyway.

[vamp07]

People seem to have such strong opinions on lenses. Somehow if you detect any lack of  sharpness at the edges the lens is sh&^%. This is just silly. This lens is wonderful and given its size its a great match for the pro2. I'm really enjoying it. I also have the 16mm 1.4 which many claim to be the best fuji lens out there. I agree but I can take shots that are just as pleasing to me with this lens and it is much less conspicuous. Not to mention lighter.

[arty]

sunghosts, no filter on 

 

[aceflibble]

I've really come around on the 18mm. I always thought it was 'okay', a bit better than people gave it credit for, but these days it's my #1 always-with-me lens. It's still clearly the worst of the Fuji XF lenses, optically, but it's the most fun. If they ever make a mk II, and get rid of the AF noise and bring mid-frame sharpness up to the standards of the other lenses, that's going to end up being my favourite lens. 

[Alan Sircom]

One thing that is kinda weird. When ibput the aperture ring on f/8 it actually gives me f/7.1

 

I have go up a klick and then back to get to f/8

 

 

Mine has a stiffness around f/8 on the aperture ring. I can only describe it as being like 'muscle stiffness' - it feels like there is grit in the aperture ring at first, but 30 seconds or so of repeatedly moving the ring from 'A' to 'f/2' and back warms it up and the stiffness almost goes away. It's useable, but no-one's sure if it's standard issue for the 18mm (and I'm being fussy) and my sample is at the worst end of 'acceptable'. Fuji has offered to fix it, but the cost is almost as much as a new one.

 

I really like the lens, though. It seems to be gaining new friends as people try it on the X-Pro2, too.

 

What do other 18mm users get here? I've tried a couple of second-hand examples and I think it might be my lens is at the outer edges of what is acceptable. But it certainly doesn't feel as intrinsically 'right' as lenses like the 35/2.

 

I'd be keen to know the views of other 18mm users.

Edited June 12, 2016 by Alan Sircom

[wv64212]

My long story short: had the 18, sold it, missed it, bought it again and will hold on to it for dear life now. I also own the 14, 35 (1.4) and 90. I hardly ever use the 14 and might as well sell it. The 18 and 35 I adore and use most of the time. The 90 is simply magical. I sometimes deliberately take it out and try to find subjects for it.

 

Here's one taken with the 18mm.

 

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