XF56 APD F1.2 for Free

[Tom H.]

At this point, I can live with most things about the XF56 APD. My only concern now is the WB produced by it.

 

All opinions are greatly appreciated.

 

I never have white balance issues with any Fuji lens. The Auto setting is used most of the time, when shooting flash I just keep 5600K set. When Auto WB doesn't cut it, I correct in lightroom afterwards...

 

Colour rendition between bodies and lenses is where Fuji shines. You should see how far my old Canon gear was apart in rendition...

[Aswald]

I never have white balance issues with any Fuji lens. The Auto setting is used most of the time, when shooting flash I just keep 5600K set. When Auto WB doesn't cut it, I correct in lightroom afterwards...

 

Colour rendition between bodies and lenses is where Fuji shines. You should see how far my old Canon gear was apart in rendition...

 

I'm sure on it's own, the APD will not pose any WB issues. I was just surprised that there is such a noticeable difference between the standard and APD lenses.

 

What I wanted to ascertain was whether both will produce the same results after "correcting" the WB and in this case, I can say that they aren't identical. So, it becomes a deciding factor when posed with the decision to swap to the APD version.

 

Despite the trade offs, there is no denying that the quality of the pictures from the APD is very good.

[Aswald]

Just an update.

 

I went ahead with the swap to the XF56 F1.2 APD lens. I decided to swap as I shoot mostly F1.2 to F4 with these portrait lenses.

 

Having just owned it for a day, and having had the standard version for a little over a year now, I must say, it's a bittersweet feeling at best.

 

What I like about the APD,

1. Bokeh.

2. Somehow pics turning out slightly "darker".

3. Somewhat "richer" in color due to no. 2, I guess, making pictures feel somewhat "denser".

4. Perceivably sharper (or I could be getting a better copy than my standard)

 

What I miss,

1. That BRIGHT and lively pictures time and again from the standard version.

2. Lower ISO for the same shot.

3. That super bright light transmission when you shine a torch through the glass.....for inspection of course.

 

Somehow I feel as if I took a step towards the "dark side".....indoor pictures are perceivably "darker"...having used both lenses, I can say that both of them affect the camera's WB differently. On shots that were a bit magenta on the standard, the APD version looks better without that magenta tint. However, the APD may be slightly too warm on some other scenarios.

 

Here's a pic I took with a busy background in the garden. The way that this lens melts away background and foreground detail is just amazing.

 

1/4000s F1.4, ISO320. The butterfly was about half an inch and camera was about 3 feet away. So, pic is pretty heavily cropped. I'm no macro shooter so please pardon the pic.

 

 

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[bhu]

I use the 56 non-APD for low light shots that push the sensor's capability so no trade for me. The APD filter would slow it up a bit. Maybe when the next generation of sensor arrives the trade space will change.

[Aswald]

For sure, the APD version isn't the light monster like the standard 56mm. In difficult lighting, the AF hunts half the time but it does lock on eventually. Overall, the APD version feels markedly slower than the standard version.

 

However, I still manage to get quite a number of keepers and the bokeh makes it all worthwhile.

 

After getting the hang of this lens over the past week or so, I'm pleased to say, I much prefer the picture IQ of the APD over the standard lens.

[T-Man]

If you had a chance to trade your XF56 F1.2 to the XF56 APD F1.2 for almost next to nothing..........would you? Why?

 

I do have both. As far as 'bokeh' is concerned, I am not sure if I can discern between the images produced by either. They look almost identical. However, the APD is approximately 2-stop slower in light transmission and has a f1:1.2 and t1:1.7. Below are couple of pictures. The APD lens picture was shot using a non-APD lens, and vice versa.

 

https://flic.kr/p/wxTPCj

https://flic.kr/p/wwgqXS

[Dis]

However, the APD is approximately 2-stop slower in light transmission and has a f1:1.2 and t1:1.7.

That's precisely one stop. I totally agree with the rest. 

[T-Man]

Thanks, Dis. You are correct; theoretically it is 1 f-stop difference. I could be wrong but from a lay perspective and through experience, I have found that I need to compensate the APD lens by +1.33 to +2ev on the camera to get the same exposure condition at f/1.2 as I would get on the non-APD. By the way, I have found contradicting information on the effect of exposure compensation on depth of field; does it? Will appreciate some insight.

 

Omer...

[Dis]

I have found that I need to compensate the APD lens by +1.33 to +2ev on the camera to get the same exposure condition at f/1.2 as I would get on the non-APD.

That's an interesting opinion. Unfortunately I don't have an APD. It would be great if one of our forum members that has both STD and APD could prove or disprove your observation. This could be your sample particularity.