23mm vs 23mm vs 23mm Shootout

The 23mm focal length is probably the most popular focal length for Fujifilm community. I personally learn to love this focal length and have been my gold standard for years. With the arrival of the amazing X100V and its new mark II lens, the bar have been raised. How does it fare with the older XF23mm F1.4 and the WR XF23mm F2? In the name of non scientific fun. Below are comparison between the 3 lenses. All photo taken are SOOC.

F2-b — XF23mm F2 WR @F2 ( I think I may have missed the focus point) SOOC

Group F4 — 100% Zoom. All shot @F4 (SOOC)

The following three sets of photos showcase how the bokeh renders between the 3 lenses. From F2, F2.8 and F4. As you could see, the new X100V actually holds up very well versus the other 2 siblings in this area. Well done X100V. Of course the best bokeh result will certainly be the XF23mm F1.4 at F1.4. On the other spectrum XF23mm F2 and X100V are both WR. Which is a joy to use when photographing sexy bikini babe splashing water at you. All this fun without a single worry. Hope I am right.

F1.4-cc — XF23mm F1.4 @1.4 (SOOC) This lens at F1.4 obviously has the most “pop”.

DSCF9626 — Which is your fav lens set-up?

In conclusion, we are spoilt for choice. Personally my choice will still be XF23mm F1.4 over the XF23mm F2 WR. I needed the ‘Pop” more over the faster AF and WR.

We all know that X100 series has 2 conversion lenses. TCL which basically convert its to a 35mm lens and the WCL will give you a 18mm focal length from the original 23mm. In a nutshell, in 135 format you get a versatile 50mm, 35mm and 28mm focal length. Now, what if you needed a wider focal length? This may not be the best option but in the name of fun again I added the X70’s WCL-X70 conversion lens on the X100V. Will I be able to get a wider view? Even though when attached to X70, it gives the X70 an amazing 21mm wide(135 format), with X100V it’s not going to be the case as the X100V fixed lens is a 35mm (135 format) vs X70 which is a 28mm fixed lens (135 format). Below are 2 photos shot with X100V layered to show how much wider we get vs the X100 WCL.

X100V + WCL-X70

The Trio. WCL,TCL + WCL-X70

DSCF7365 — Inner frame is WCL and full frame is WCL-X70. We do get that extra bit.

DSCF7364 — Inner frame is WCL and full frame is WCL-X70

DSCF4697 — Are you a fan of the Fujifilm’s Conversion Lens?

Here are another few shots of X100V with the WCL X70. I think its doing pretty well if you needed that extra 1-2mm wider focal length. What do you think?