First Impressions of the Fujinon XF10-24mm f4R OIS
Ever since I have became a professional photographer, back in 1996, I have had an ultra wide angle lens in my camera bag. In recent years I have used the Sigma 10-20mm f4.5/5.6 for the Nikon D300S / Nikon D90 and when I moved to full frame I used the superb Nikon 17-35mm f2.8 AF-S for the Nikon D700 / D800.
Now, as part of the move exclusively to the Fujifilm X-Series system, the Nikon 17-35mm has been sold to fund the new Fujinon XF10-24mm f4R, which is the equivalent of 15-36mm in full frame terms. I picked up the new lens from Park Cameras' London store on Friday morning and took it along to St Paul's Cathedral to test it out with the X-T1 before heading to the press conference for Nissan's LMP1 announcement.
Firstly the 10-24mm is not a small lens, in fact only the 55-200mm is larger in the Fuji XF inventory. BUT the widest XF lens has the same high build quality as all the other Fujinon lens and I am pleased to report that the reviews and test results of the optical quality seem to be spot on.
The two images above show the zoom range of the 10-24mm, the top image being taken at 10mm and the bottom image at the long end. There is a temptation to use these type of lenses at one end of the zoom or the other but I tend to use what works for the composition.
When fitted to the X-T1 you realise that this is a big lump of glass but with the grip fitted to the camera the lens feels balanced. The good thing is the all the zoom movements are internal to the lens, the lens doesn't change shape like the 18-55 or the 55-200.
As a size comparison here is the 10-24 alongside the 14mm f2.8. some of the bulk of the new zoom can be put down to the fact that Fuji have incorporated an Optical Image Stabilisation (OIS) system into the lens. I haven't had the opportunity to put this to the test yet, but if it works as well as the OIS system in the 55-200mm, which allows me to shoot at 1/8 at 200mm, I will be very happy.
Anyway back to the images around St Paul's Cathedral. The lens performed extremely well, the focus was fast and locked on with ease. I shot at various apertures from f4 up to f11 and, without pixel peeping, the images appear sharp across the frame at all the apertures I used.
One gripe I have is the fact that the aperture ring is unmarked like the aperture rings on the other Fujinon zooms, you have to look in the viewfinder to see what the aperture is set.
Now with the 55-200 and 18-55 zooms I understand the reason for this is because those lenses have a variable maximum aperture but this isn't the case with the 10-24mm, it is a constant f4. So why couldn't the aperture settings be marked on the lens? This is one thing I love about the Fuji prime lenses, I can set the aperture just by looking at the lens and I think this is an oversight to not include this on the 10-24. Maybe Fuji should change this in the future.
Images taken on a Fujifilm X-T1 and a Fujinon XF10-24mm f4R OIS lens
Now, as part of the move exclusively to the Fujifilm X-Series system, the Nikon 17-35mm has been sold to fund the new Fujinon XF10-24mm f4R, which is the equivalent of 15-36mm in full frame terms. I picked up the new lens from Park Cameras' London store on Friday morning and took it along to St Paul's Cathedral to test it out with the X-T1 before heading to the press conference for Nissan's LMP1 announcement.
Firstly the 10-24mm is not a small lens, in fact only the 55-200mm is larger in the Fuji XF inventory. BUT the widest XF lens has the same high build quality as all the other Fujinon lens and I am pleased to report that the reviews and test results of the optical quality seem to be spot on.
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| Paternoster Square @ 10mm |
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| St Paul's Cathedral from Paternoster Square @ 24mm |
The two images above show the zoom range of the 10-24mm, the top image being taken at 10mm and the bottom image at the long end. There is a temptation to use these type of lenses at one end of the zoom or the other but I tend to use what works for the composition.
When fitted to the X-T1 you realise that this is a big lump of glass but with the grip fitted to the camera the lens feels balanced. The good thing is the all the zoom movements are internal to the lens, the lens doesn't change shape like the 18-55 or the 55-200.
As a size comparison here is the 10-24 alongside the 14mm f2.8. some of the bulk of the new zoom can be put down to the fact that Fuji have incorporated an Optical Image Stabilisation (OIS) system into the lens. I haven't had the opportunity to put this to the test yet, but if it works as well as the OIS system in the 55-200mm, which allows me to shoot at 1/8 at 200mm, I will be very happy.
Anyway back to the images around St Paul's Cathedral. The lens performed extremely well, the focus was fast and locked on with ease. I shot at various apertures from f4 up to f11 and, without pixel peeping, the images appear sharp across the frame at all the apertures I used.
One gripe I have is the fact that the aperture ring is unmarked like the aperture rings on the other Fujinon zooms, you have to look in the viewfinder to see what the aperture is set.
Now with the 55-200 and 18-55 zooms I understand the reason for this is because those lenses have a variable maximum aperture but this isn't the case with the 10-24mm, it is a constant f4. So why couldn't the aperture settings be marked on the lens? This is one thing I love about the Fuji prime lenses, I can set the aperture just by looking at the lens and I think this is an oversight to not include this on the 10-24. Maybe Fuji should change this in the future.
The first impressions of the Fujinon 10-24mm f4 are this lens deserves it's premium XF badge and it's place in the Fuji X Series line up. I am pleased I have added one to the camera bag.
The price reflects the premium quality of this lens and at £849 it cannot be considered cheap but it is good value for money. By comparison Nikon's two f4 wide angle zooms, the full frame 16-35mm and the crop frame 12-24mm, both have a street price at around the same level and, while the Nikkors are capable of producing top quality images, neither of these offer the same angle of view or build quality of the Fujinon.
Next weekend I will be heading to Le Mans for the 24 Hours of Le Mans test weekend and then a week later I will be heading back for 10 days for the greatest race in the world. I will have the opportunity to give this new addition to the MacLean Photographic lens arsenal a good workout. Keep checking back for further updates.
The price reflects the premium quality of this lens and at £849 it cannot be considered cheap but it is good value for money. By comparison Nikon's two f4 wide angle zooms, the full frame 16-35mm and the crop frame 12-24mm, both have a street price at around the same level and, while the Nikkors are capable of producing top quality images, neither of these offer the same angle of view or build quality of the Fujinon.
Next weekend I will be heading to Le Mans for the 24 Hours of Le Mans test weekend and then a week later I will be heading back for 10 days for the greatest race in the world. I will have the opportunity to give this new addition to the MacLean Photographic lens arsenal a good workout. Keep checking back for further updates.
Images taken on a Fujifilm X-T1 and a Fujinon XF10-24mm f4R OIS lens
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