Going Wide : The Fujinon 14mm

Although I love my Fujinon 18mm pancake lens I still couldn’t wait to get out with the new Fujifilm 14mm (21mm full frame Equivalent) lens. There has been quite a buzz about this ultra-wide lens and I couldn’t want to get out to see how it compared to my other wide angled glass. .

Please note this is not a definitive review but simply the documentation of my first hour with the lens. At f/2.8 I wanted to play with the depth of field / capturing action as well as using it for long exposure photography.

The output really is ultra sharp so I was able to snap away and then crop in Lightroom if I wanted to add focus on one particular aspect of the image.

I know a number of people have asked if the 14mm is really worth the investment over the 18mm. I personally think it is, 21mm (full frame equiv.) offers a fair bit more image than the 28mm. I’ve marked the approximate scale factors between the 14mm,18mm and 35mm lenses.

In addition, even after an hour I can see that the 14mm offers remarkable optical output and the only trade off appears to be physical size. The 14mm is obviously larger and and heavier than the 18mm pancake and although normally in photography terms a larger size and weight is normally a negative I really like the balance the lens has with the Fujifilm X-Pro1.

An ultra wide at f/2.8 offers a fantastic level of flexibility. I couldn’t wait to explore a few long exposure photographs at this wider ratio. On a positive note the filter size for the 14mm lens is the same as the 18-55mm Fujinon zoom lens which is great news for long exposure photography as the same ND filters fit both lens systems.

The Long Exposure (PDF eBook)
The eBook covers everything from the equipment you will need right through to post-production processing in Adobe Lightroom

The guide has been written with the beginner to the long exposure process in mind; however, the enthusiast and professional alike may find something of relevance also. The Book comes with 6 dedicated Lightroom Presets. The Long Exposure Ebook

I headed out to a local jetty and took four quick images from four different angles. I used the same technique as documented in The Long Exposure eBook (See above). The first long exposure at f/11 / ISO 200 was for 20 seconds.

I’ve shot long exposure images with the 35mm Fujinon lens and although I don’t believe you need to go ultra-wide for landscapes if you really want to capture the silence of space it is a massive help. This next image is at slightly different angle and a full 90 second exposure at f/22 / ISO 200 which then brings out the shadows on the water.

For the final image of the visit I want to maximise on the 14mm / 21mm view. The image is a 30 second exposure at f/10 / ISO 200.

I haven’t even scratched the surface of what this lens is capable of. There is a massive versatility of speed + ultra wide + stunning output and I can’t wait to get it know it better. The Fujinon 14mm lens looks like the perfect companion for both landscape photography as well as general street / documentary work.

Update : Landscape Monos

I managed to get out again today with the 14mm. This time it was a trip to Dundrum and Murlough Bay.

The 14mm is quick to focus and sharp throughout apertures.

The lens offers a real sense of space which is perfect for wide open beach spaces. It is just a shame the horses are following a set of vehicle tracks.

I suspect the 14mm will be locked to my X-Pro1 for some time to come.

Links:

The Long Exposure eBook
Northern Ireland Long Exposure Photography