Time for a prime refresh?

[Naddan28]

Hi All,

 

I've spent the past week or so on holiday in Morocco and decided to take a lightweight prime setup (56mm, 35mm f1.4 & 14mm) and over the course of today in particular, the AF in these lenses is really showing its age, when compared to my 16-55mm.

 

Don't get me wrong, I love the lenses and they're great but with the leap forward we've seen in AF from the latest bodies plus the into of WR in the cheaper f2 lenses, it got me thinking these lenses need a reboot or new premium lenses launched aside them. It seems illogical that the more expensive, exotic glass should be less versatile than the cheaper, slower lenses.

 

What do others think?

[Warwick]

I have the new primes and love them.

These were taken with the 35mm f2

These were taken with the 23mm f2

 

 

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[RM_Photog]

Great Pictures Warwick, shows what the 35 F2 can do nicely! 

 

 

Naddan28, I agree and I would love to see some of the older primes updated with WR and faster focusing. My favorite lens right now is still the 56 1.2 for weddings. I would love have an updated version of that lens with the motors and WR that's in my 90 F2.

 

The newer 23 F2 and 50 F2 don't appeal to me. I want the best IQ and widest aperture and I don't care if the lens is a little bigger. Since I'm paying more for the 1.4 or 1.2 aperture, it would be nice if it focused as fast as the less expensive lenses and was weather resistant as well. 

[Naddan28]

Glad I'm not the only one! If you think the 56mm is slow try the original 35mm in CAF! In some ways I don't get why the 56mm and 23mm were not made with WR to start with...

[Warwick]

I'd love a 16mm f2 - that would make a good set with the 23 and 35

 

 

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[RM_Photog]

Glad I'm not the only one! If you think the 56mm is slow try the original 35mm in CAF! In some ways I don't get why the 56mm and 23mm were not made with WR to start with...

 

 I have the 35 1.4 also. It is painfully slow in low light compared to the others. I'm still hoping they bring out the 33 F1.0 sometime next year with much faster AF. I'm okay with waiting until they finish the current round of F2 lenses because the newer tech can go into the 33 F1.0 lol.

 

I get why they didn't come with WR to start, I don't think the bodies even had WR when those lenses came out. They used the fastest tech Fuji had at the time. I think it's just unfortunate that the premium lenses came out before they knew how to make them focus as fast as they can now. 

 

Personally I'd rather have better IQ and a wider aperture, even if the lens is slightly bigger. The smaller F2 lenses don't excite me. Even if the 33 1.0 is the size of the 56 1.2 and costs twice as much I'll still be waiting in line with money in hand!

 

 

I'd love a 16mm f2 - that would make a good set with the 23 and 35

 

 

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They already have an 18 F2. If they bring out a 16 F2 before refreshing the 56 1.2 or before announcing a 33 1.0, I'll be pretty upset. At that point I will feel like they've given up on the professional photographers and they're catering only to street & travel shooters. 

[bhu]

I agree some of the older lenses could use a refresh. However,

 

the 56 is still fairly new,

the 35 just had a new version (f/2) released,

the 14 is in a tight spot between 16, 18, 10-24, and the rumored 8-16,

and the 60 may be discontinued and replaced by the upcoming 80.

 

The remaining first-generation lens, the 18-55 kit zoom, looks more likely to gain a refresh. This lens is sold with many new bodies so production volume for a new version will be high for new body+kit shipments while the number of original kit zooms previously sold offers the largest upgrade market.

 

The 55-200 may be refreshed, too, but it has been somewhat marginalized, like the 14, by the 90, 18-135, 50-230, 50-140, and 100-400 all covering part of the same range. Granted, the longer prime and zooms all target different uses but they also slice the revenue pie into smaller portions. Some people will buy all of the available lenses but others will compete them against each other. If the 55-200 gets refreshed, it may not be anytime soon. Then, again, I am often wrong.