rollsman44
Well-known member
Just looking to see who is using 3rd party lens and which ones you feel give close to or better Image quality the the Fuji GF lenses. Thank you, Dennis
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Fuji GFX 50 #rd Party Lenses experiences
- Thread starter rollsman44
- Start date
thompsonkirk
Member
Hi Dennis,
It's mostly a matter of taste and convenience, so everyone's mileage will vary. We could be more helpful if you mentioned what subjects/styles/intentions you're selecting for.
Taste:
The new Fuji lenses are fine examples of modern resolution and sharpness, way out to the corners. They were designed for the GFX's sort of digital sensor (and presumably its successors).
If you're the sort of person who regards such lenses as rather 'clinical' and you're using MF with an emphasis less on resolution and more on dynamic range and smoother tonal transitions, then older Zeiss, Mamiya, Pentax, etc., are just as welcome, particularly for their lower contrast. You have to use these with manual focus and choose the older ones with manual aperture ring (unless you have MF Contax lenses to use with Fringer electronic adapter).
Convenience:
Do you need something longer than 110/120mm?
Do you have a legacy of MF lenses you can use with an adapter? If you don't mind manual focus and the aperture can also be set manually, then try these before you invest in more than one Fuji lens?
Do you have adaptable full frame DSLR lenses over 50mm focal length – long enough to use without vignetting?
Do you want to use FF TS/PC lenses with wide image circles? These communicate the aperture setting electronically, so you need an electronic adapter (now available for Canon).
Remember that when you use a lens designed for a DSLR and then use an adapter, you're in effect adding the length of a mirror box to your mirrorless camera. This will usually be bulkier than a lens designed for mirrorless in the first place.
Kirk
PS, my personal preference so far:
Taste: I make mid-sized BW landscape prints (up to 17x22" paper). I skipped the Fuji zoom lens because with zooms I tend to become lazy and shoot from the most convenient angle rather than the most carefully considered one. I'd been using Leica and Zeiss lenses with a Kolari-mod Sony, so I moved to MF/GFX not really for more resolution, but for possibly smoother tonal gradations with higher pixel pitch.
Convenience: I started with Fuji 63mm, which was all that was available besides the zoom. I began by stitching for wider angles, and then decided to try some older primes. I would have preferred Zeiss Contax 645 lenses but they were harder to find and more expensive. Second choices were 645 Mamiya N or Pentax-A (smaller than Pentax 6x7). I initially found Pentax 645 35mm and 55mm in 9+ condition, and their IQ feels just right to me, so I didn't look further for Zeiss. For wider angles I still stitch. I tend to use the Pentax lenses and leave the Fuji 63 home. I have the Pentax 645 45mm too, but it's a little less successful from the standpoints of sharpness and flare, so I might try the forthcoming Fuji 45.
I'm happy with what I have, but would have preferred to have stumbled upon a set of Contax 645 Zeiss lenses. I have Zeiss Contax C/Y lenses for Sony, and I do like that ol' fashioned Zeiss '3D' rendering.
I've heard that tilt-shift adapters for other MF lenses might be available in the not-too-distant future. I'd like to one this when the time comes, so I could shoot more of my landscapes at f8 instead of smaller apertures.
K
It's mostly a matter of taste and convenience, so everyone's mileage will vary. We could be more helpful if you mentioned what subjects/styles/intentions you're selecting for.
Taste:
The new Fuji lenses are fine examples of modern resolution and sharpness, way out to the corners. They were designed for the GFX's sort of digital sensor (and presumably its successors).
If you're the sort of person who regards such lenses as rather 'clinical' and you're using MF with an emphasis less on resolution and more on dynamic range and smoother tonal transitions, then older Zeiss, Mamiya, Pentax, etc., are just as welcome, particularly for their lower contrast. You have to use these with manual focus and choose the older ones with manual aperture ring (unless you have MF Contax lenses to use with Fringer electronic adapter).
Convenience:
Do you need something longer than 110/120mm?
Do you have a legacy of MF lenses you can use with an adapter? If you don't mind manual focus and the aperture can also be set manually, then try these before you invest in more than one Fuji lens?
Do you have adaptable full frame DSLR lenses over 50mm focal length – long enough to use without vignetting?
Do you want to use FF TS/PC lenses with wide image circles? These communicate the aperture setting electronically, so you need an electronic adapter (now available for Canon).
Remember that when you use a lens designed for a DSLR and then use an adapter, you're in effect adding the length of a mirror box to your mirrorless camera. This will usually be bulkier than a lens designed for mirrorless in the first place.
Kirk
PS, my personal preference so far:
Taste: I make mid-sized BW landscape prints (up to 17x22" paper). I skipped the Fuji zoom lens because with zooms I tend to become lazy and shoot from the most convenient angle rather than the most carefully considered one. I'd been using Leica and Zeiss lenses with a Kolari-mod Sony, so I moved to MF/GFX not really for more resolution, but for possibly smoother tonal gradations with higher pixel pitch.
Convenience: I started with Fuji 63mm, which was all that was available besides the zoom. I began by stitching for wider angles, and then decided to try some older primes. I would have preferred Zeiss Contax 645 lenses but they were harder to find and more expensive. Second choices were 645 Mamiya N or Pentax-A (smaller than Pentax 6x7). I initially found Pentax 645 35mm and 55mm in 9+ condition, and their IQ feels just right to me, so I didn't look further for Zeiss. For wider angles I still stitch. I tend to use the Pentax lenses and leave the Fuji 63 home. I have the Pentax 645 45mm too, but it's a little less successful from the standpoints of sharpness and flare, so I might try the forthcoming Fuji 45.
I'm happy with what I have, but would have preferred to have stumbled upon a set of Contax 645 Zeiss lenses. I have Zeiss Contax C/Y lenses for Sony, and I do like that ol' fashioned Zeiss '3D' rendering.
I've heard that tilt-shift adapters for other MF lenses might be available in the not-too-distant future. I'd like to one this when the time comes, so I could shoot more of my landscapes at f8 instead of smaller apertures.
K
Last edited:
rollsman44
Well-known member
Hi Kirk, thank you for the time and the experience you have had with 3rd party lenses. Ok, My only concern for now is a Nice Portrait lens for the GFX. I don't need Bokeh so F4 and 5.6 work for me. I don't mind MF as I now have the 645D with AF and MF lenses. So, MF is easy enough for me especially shooting portraits. The adaptors are many and hear pros and cons on them. I think Kippon was one of the better ones I read.
I own the Pentax 645 FA 150 lens. I know the AF won't work but I can sell it and get a MF one. Thats an option. Or, whatever other lens you can recommend is appreciated and adaptor as well. Thanks again, Dennis
I own the Pentax 645 FA 150 lens. I know the AF won't work but I can sell it and get a MF one. Thats an option. Or, whatever other lens you can recommend is appreciated and adaptor as well. Thanks again, Dennis