The Magic Lens: Fujifilm 35mm F1.4
The widely adored Fujifilm XF 35mm f1.4… With newer alternatives today, why is this 13 year old lens STILL so highly praised and adored in the world of Fujifilm photographers? Despite the alternative 35mm f2 or the release of the newer 33mm f1.4, many Fujifilm photographers have stayed with or went back to this legendary lens. It was my first Fujifilm prime lens, and while many lenses have come and gone, I have not and cannot let go of this little beauty. What makes it so special?
It isn't perfect...
On paper, it certainly is not without its flaws. It lacks weather sealing, it is noisy when it focuses, and on the subject of focusing, the autofocus technology is not as good as newer models. So what makes it so special? Well, you’ll see it echoed online in forums and comment sections all over the place – this lens has character. Character?? What does that even mean??
I like to describe it this way when I’m asked the question; this lens has a unique way that it renders images. There’s a level of depth and softness that blends subject and background that is just so dreamy, making photos look like they’re out of a movie. It isn’t clinically sharp across the whole image. It also brings in much welcome light flares, adding subtle drama to the photos. Many photographers have used the same word to describe the images: magic. And I feel the same way. Sometimes I even feel that using this lens is cheating – it can take an “ordinary” photo and make it look stunning.
But why would you still choose this lens when the 35mm f2 and 33mm f1.4 exist, and are arguably the more sensible options?
Great question, and if you were to buy any of the three, I’m sure you’d be happy with your choice as they are all great lenses. But for me and my use cases for it (mainly client photography work and daily-life) this lens is my choice out of the three. The f2 version certainly has its benefits – it is slightly more compact (although the 35mm is not a big lens by any means), it is weather-sealed, and it has faster focusing capabilities. The trade-off is that you lose the f1.4 capabilities which is where the magic happens. Now the 33mm f1.4 is a superb lens with clinical performance all around. Super fast autofocus, weather-sealed, images are sharp across all four corners, and it is quieter which makes it a more suitable option for video shooters. However, at times it can almost feel “too perfect” and razor sharp. Don’t get me wrong, the 33mm is a fantastic lens no matter which way you look at it, but sometimes clinically sharp isn’t the goal. For my wedding work, I really try to go for an element of soul, imperfections, character, and candid-ness in the images, and the 35mm f1.4 delivers exactly that.
What do I use it for?
I find it particularly good for taking portraits and detail shots. The subject separation is absolutely gorgeous, and the tighter focal length is perfect for isolating the finer details. For everyday life, I prefer a wider focal length, usually opting for the 23mm f2 so I can get more in the shot. Also, there is a certain level of fun factor that I get when using this lens. It makes me want to find interesting things to shoot and I tend to pay more attention to the smaller, often unseen moments and things. I think any bit of camera gear that makes me WANT to go and shoot is a great bit of gear.
Final comments
I like soul. I like character. I like classic cars. I like art. I like antiques. I think imperfections can make things more beautiful. That’s why I like this lens so much, and as long as I have a Fujifilm camera in my kit, I think I will always have this little beauty of a lens. After writing all this, I’m itching to go and use it. Time to shoot 🙂
