I did it! I went and got me another 18-55!

[jlmphotos]

Well my friends I went and done it!

 

Some of you guys who have been here a while may recall my daughter "borrowed" my X-T1 and my "don't leave home without it lens" the Fuji 18-55.  For the last several months I've been photographing using my primes only -- the fabulous 16 f1.4, the 23 1.4, 35 1.4, and 60 2.4 plus the 55-200 zoom.  And I loved doing that.  I've truly enjoyed making images as I have to be slower, and more thoughtful in the process plus, let's face reality, the primes will always beat a zoom with regards to sharpness, and micro-contrast among other things.

However, the 18-55 is a lens I cannot live without!  I love it.  There I said it.  If I loved it any more I'd have to name it and provide it it's own ss number for tax purposes.  

I do plan on continuing to use primes for most of my images as I really enjoyed using them and have weened myself off the zoom, but I will feel much better knowing my 18-55 is back in my bag just in case I need it!

 

To be completely honest:  I looked at the 16-55 2.8.  Many of you who "know me" know that I've said I would never purchase this lens, and it's brother the 50-140 2.8 due to 1) the weight  and 2) price.  I looked at the 16-55 2.8, i thought about it, but I just couldn't bring myself to purchase this heavy, and expensive lens when for a quarter of the price my 18-55 works wonders, is super tack sharp, and has provided me with YEARS of use -- my original 18-55 was the kit lens that came on my Fuji X-E1 I purchased back in February 2013!

 

This image below is one of over 16,000 images I have taken in various locations ranging from Key West, to Prince Edward Island in Northern Canada between mid-July, and early November.  I believe I "lost" the 18-55 to my daughter when I returned from the Keys and was prepping to head north -- this image was in fact taken with the 18-55 lens.

 

So, I'm now whole again and I couldn't be happier knowing it's there in case I need it.

 

PS:  Here in the Classifieds I'm offering for sale my Zeiss/Touit 12mm F2.8 lens.  Check it out if you are in the market for a wide-angle for your Fuji!

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Edited November 21, 2017 by jlmphotos

[glospete]

Hi Jorge

 

A very interesting topic! I hadn't done the calculation but using the excellent Jeffrey Friedl's “Megapixel Sort” Lightroom Plugin I can see that I've taken just over 25,000 shots with my XE-2 (now retired), my X-T1 and my recently acquired X-T2. I always thought I used the 18-55 a lot but I now see that it has been used for 71% of all my photos. My 10-24mm has been used for 21% and the remaining 8% is spread between the 35mm F1.4, and the 55-200mm. I now ask myself why did I buy these other lenses? But I totally agree that the 18-55mm is a fantastic lens - sharp, lightweight and inexpensive. What's not to like? 

[jlmphotos]

Hi Jorge

 

A very interesting topic! I hadn't done the calculation but using the excellent Jeffrey Friedl's “Megapixel Sort” Lightroom Plugin I can see that I've taken just over 25,000 shots with my XE-2 (now retired), my X-T1 and my recently acquired X-T2. I always thought I used the 18-55 a lot but I now see that it has been used for 71% of all my photos. My 10-24mm has been used for 21% and the remaining 8% is spread between the 35mm F1.4, and the 55-200mm. I now ask myself why did I buy these other lenses? But I totally agree that the 18-55mm is a fantastic lens - sharp, lightweight and inexpensive. What's not to like? 

 

Yup. Ice cold statistics never lie - in this case at least.  LR proves itself to me very useful in many cases, this being one of them.

[Mike G]

Jorge, you can stop taking the Valium now!

[jlmphotos]

Jorge, you can stop taking the Valium now!

 

I'm sitting here laughing out loud!  Thank you.  Though, with just over 12,000 images left to cull and edit, I may need MORE valium!

[Hermelin]

Great shot!

[jlmphotos]

Great shot!

 

Thank you sir.

[CDBC]

Yeah that is a good shot. May I ask where you're hosting it, I've not tried uploading any of my pictures to this forum now and then, but not sure what the shortest sharpest method would be. Sorry if I'm off topic, here.

[jlmphotos]

Yeah that is a good shot. May I ask where you're hosting it, I've not tried uploading any of my pictures to this forum now and then, but not sure what the shortest sharpest method would be. Sorry if I'm off topic, here.

 

Hey, no problem. 

I host my website through Photoshelter.  But for this image here,  just added it as part of my post.  Nothing out of the ordinary.  But I will say that adding images on here, say in the galleries is not the easiest thing to do.  Heck, after two years on here I never get it right!  You may want to get a hold of the admin for that specific info.  And, Thank you!

[frankinfuji]

Very nice image. For me, the 18-55 is my least used lens, but whenever I do use it, I wonder why I don't use it more!

 

I guess I just have an illogical prejudice against zooms. I use the 27mm and 35mm primes most the time, but of course the same range is covered by the excellent 18-55, but I end up using two lenses. Go figure.

[jlmphotos]

Very nice image. For me, the 18-55 is my least used lens, but whenever I do use it, I wonder why I don't use it more!

 

I guess I just have an illogical prejudice against zooms. I use the 27mm and 35mm primes most the time, but of course the same range is covered by the excellent 18-55, but I end up using two lenses. Go figure.

 

I'm telling ya.  USE the 18-55.  It's amazing!  I should be a Fuji spokesperson- I swear....   I shoot stock and travel, and the 18-55 nails the image whenever I use it!  That's why I bought another one.

[JanV]

Well my friends I went and done it!

 

Some of you guys who have been here a while may recall my daughter "borrowed" my X-T1 and my "don't leave home without it lens" the Fuji 18-55.  For the last several months I've been photographing using my primes only -- the fabulous 16 f1.4, the 23 1.4, 35 1.4, and 60 2.4 plus the 55-200 zoom.  And I loved doing that.  I've truly enjoyed making images as I have to be slower, and more thoughtful in the process plus, let's face reality, the primes will always beat a zoom with regards to sharpness, and micro-contrast among other things.

However, the 18-55 is a lens I cannot live without!  I love it.  There I said it.  If I loved it any more I'd have to name it and provide it it's own ss number for tax purposes.  

I do plan on continuing to use primes for most of my images as I really enjoyed using them and have weened myself off the zoom, but I will feel much better knowing my 18-55 is back in my bag just in case I need it!

 

To be completely honest:  I looked at the 16-55 2.8.  Many of you who "know me" know that I've said I would never purchase this lens, and it's brother the 50-140 2.8 due to 1) the weight  and 2) price.  I looked at the 16-55 2.8, i thought about it, but I just couldn't bring myself to purchase this heavy, and expensive lens when for a quarter of the price my 18-55 works wonders, is super tack sharp, and has provided me with YEARS of use -- my original 18-55 was the kit lens that came on my Fuji X-E1 I purchased back in February 2013!

 

This image below is one of over 16,000 images I have taken in various locations ranging from Key West, to Prince Edward Island in Northern Canada between mid-July, and early November.  I believe I "lost" the 18-55 to my daughter when I returned from the Keys and was prepping to head north -- this image was in fact taken with the 18-55 lens.

 

So, I'm now whole again and I couldn't be happier knowing it's there in case I need it.

 

PS:  Here in the Classifieds I'm offering for sale my Zeiss/Touit 12mm F2.8 lens.  Check it out if you are in the market for a wide-angle for your Fuji!

 

...and so did I for exactly the same reason.

My daughter borrowed my X-T10 with the 18-55.

The X-T10 I have replaced already.

Now I found a 18-55 for AUD 415 (Black Friday offer).

 

/ Jan

[jlmphotos]

I took the 18-55 for it's first "official" outing on Friday!  As expected, it performed oh so well!  You can read all about it in my blog - down in the signature block, but Patrick will be hosting my blog post in the near future on fujirumors.com.  But if you want a quick peek, click on my signature block...

[jlmphotos]

Hello friends and fellow Fuji shooters!

 

A quick update or two:

 

1.  My daughter who borrowed may X-T1 and my original, 2013 18-55 lens is on a five-month project working in a native indian village 330 miles NW of Anchorage.  Bush Plane access only!  This week, the warmest temperature will be negative 25 below zero.  That's the WARMEST.  She says the camera and lens are working perfectly in that weather, albeit the aperture ring tightens up.  Batteries of course being the exception.  Once I gave her a couple of tips on where to place the three batteries I let her leave with, she says she has experienced no other issues so far.  She returns end of May, so we have quite a bit of time to go.  So, there you go if you had any questions or issues about the reliability of the Fuji system and NON-sealed lenses.

 

2.  As you've read here you know I love me my 18-55 and have another one.  I love my 18-55.  In addition if you note in  my signature block I got very, very lucky and bought off eBay the 50-140 2.8.  Yes, I know. The lens I swore I would never, ever carry.  The guy who was selling it needed the $ and was clearing out his Fuji gear so for 1150.00 total price (yes, ALOT of money), I bought the spoils.  I gotta say I did not believe him when he said it was brand new but man oh man the lens is, well, brand new - no kidding.  I've been playing with it in and around the house, but this coming saturday I'm shooting a indoor Karate/KungFu exhibition and I plan on ONLY taking the 50-140, and the 23 1.4.

Now, if I were headed out into my landscape shooting territory there is no way I would pack that beast.  I'd take my 55-200 as it's much lighter, and being i'm shooting landscape I'm on a tripod anyway so speed isn't an issue.