CAVEIRA PHOTOGRAPHY
  • Portfolio
  • Blog

Manual Gear with the 7Artisans 35mm F1.2 & the Fujifilm X-T3: A Very Casual Review of a Rather Joyful Combo

2/20/2019

0 Comments

 
Picture
Stuck in a rut? Yeah, I've been feeling that way a bit until recently. As I've quietly wound down the work I was pursuing with weddings (still love 'em) and focused on other elements of my life and career, finding inspiration and a drive to challenge myself hasn't been easy.

I was hoping, though honestly doubtful, that picking up the new X-T3 at release was going to be a big a big kick in the backside to feel inspired and discover some newfound glory. As you would expect however, not much changed in my sense of inspiriation despite loving the new camera and its improved feature set.

Fast-forward a few months to 2019 and I stumbled across the rather awesome and inspiring artist Alik Griffin. I spent many evenings in January reading his various posts about camera gear along with his approach to photographing various subjects. A few of his reviews really stood out for me as a Fujifilm user – the Mitakon 35mm 0.95 and the 7Artistans 35mm 1.2.

With a weekend trip to Paris on the cards I knew that there was a golden opportunity to test out a dedicated manual lens with my X-T3. Unfortunately my budget on a U.K. income doesn't readily permit the flippant purchase of things like a £400 'might be alright' lens so I instead threw down a more modest £97 on the 7Artisans 35mm F1.2 lens.

At the time of writing this post I've only had the lens for 6 days so take everything you read and see here a good pinch of salt.

So is it any good? Did it help break the rut?

In one word — yes!
In several words — Heck yes it did and every Fuji user should grab one of these nifty little manual lenses that are loaded with flawed character.

For all the pictures included in this post I have shared JPEGs using my customised Acros and Chrome settings. They were imported into LR and reexported in a more manageable size with ~20+ clarity on most images. Nothing else other than a possible crop on some was added. Spot metering was used throughout the capturing process.
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
After tinkering with the lens a day before my travels I got the camera set up right and started to get the hang of shooting at F1.2 manually (what other F-stop would you use?). There's a lot to be said about being challenged by your gear in this age of advanced AF systems that, if I'm honest, can make creating a bit of a brainless affair. I sure to love the X-T3's focusing system that breathed new life into my beloved XF56 F1.2.
Picture
Picture
Picture
 I've found the lens extremely easy to get used to and have adjusted to its reversed focusing  and declicked aperture rings (they're opposite to Fujifilm's) which are solid and easy to keep in place whilst walking around cities and streets. I've generally been able to nail focus in a prompt manner, however, I have found that some images, which I thought were in focus, simply aren't and the whole image just seems 'off' with no discernable focus point. I'll be investigating this intermitent issue further. 

As far as the character of the lens is concerned, much like an interesting humanbeing, its the flaws that give it character and make it far more unique than what a lot of the photography industry is driven towards these days — perfection.
Is it soft up close? Yeah. Does it have a sweet spot? Sure does. Is it an inspiring piece of kit to go out and shoot with? Definitely!

In a time where many of us will bend over backwards to justify spening exorbatant amounts of money on that piece of gear there's a lot to be said with this lens and its price of admission. If you've been on the fence about purchasing one, just go and do it. If you're tinkering with vintage glass and adapters, go give this a shot whilst you're at it. Its compact size and features make for a fantastic combo that I'd like to think would inspire you like it did me. The folks at 7Artisans really nailed it with this bit of gear and I look forward to seeing what they come up with next.

Peace!
Mat
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
0 Comments



Leave a Reply.

    Archives

    February 2019
    August 2018
    October 2017
    August 2017
    March 2017
    January 2017
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014

    Categories

    All
    1.4
    56mm-12
    6D
    7 Artisans 35mm 1.2 FujiFilm
    7Artisans 35mm F1.2
    7Artisans Bokeh
    7Artisans Lens Review
    7Artisans Street Photography
    7D
    85mm 1.2
    Action
    Adelaide
    AF
    Ann Truong
    Art
    Astia
    Aussie Wedding
    Australia
    Auto Focus
    Autumn
    Bahia
    Ballingtagart House
    Battery
    Battery Life
    Beach Wedding
    Berlin Wedding
    BJJ
    Bokeh
    Brasil Fuji
    Brazil
    Buddha
    Bush
    Canon
    Canon 135 F2 L
    Chapada Diamantina
    Collingwood Childrens Farm Wedding
    Compare
    Concert
    Countryside
    Depth Of Field
    Destination Wedding
    Dingle
    #discoverireland
    #discovertasmania
    #discovervictoria
    Documentary Photography
    Engagement
    Engagement Shoot
    EOS Adapter
    Explore
    F2
    Fight
    Fight Photography
    Firmware 4.0
    Focus Speed
    Footscray
    Forum
    Fringe Festival
    Fuji
    FujiFilm
    FujiFIlm Astia
    FujiFilm Australia
    FujiFilm Brasil
    FujiFIlm Europe
    Fujifilm Landscape
    Fujifilm Macro
    FujiFIlm Photography
    Fujifilm Review
    Fujifilm Uk
    Fujifilm Wedding Photography
    FujiFilm X-Series
    Fujifilm Xt2
    Fujifilm X T2
    Fujifilm X-T2
    FujiFilm X-T2
    FujiFilm X-T3
    Fujinon
    Fuji Travel Photography
    Fuji Wedding Photography
    FUJI XT1
    Fuji XT2
    Goatwhore
    Great Ocean Road
    Hanging-rock
    Helios
    High ISO
    Hip Wedding
    Ho Chi Minh City
    Industrial Wedding
    Ireland
    Jacqui And Benson
    Kick Boxing
    Lake District
    Landscape
    Landscape Photography
    Lens Adapter
    Lenses
    Life
    Little Rundle Street
    Live
    Live Music
    Love
    Macro
    Malfunction
    Marriage
    Martial Arts
    MCEX-11
    Melbourne
    Melbourne Photographer
    Melbourne Wedding
    Melbourne Wedding Photography
    Mirrorless
    MMA
    Modern Engagement
    Muay Thai
    New South Wales
    Nissin I40
    Nobbies
    Norla Dome
    Old
    Olhao Portugal
    Ormond Hall
    Otways
    Outback
    Overheat
    Paris FujiFilm
    Performance
    Phillip Island
    Photography
    Portarlington Wedding
    Portrait
    Psyctoptic
    Radelaide Wedding
    Rainforest
    Review
    Rio2016
    Rio De Janeiro
    Saigon
    Seu Jorge
    Sigma 35mm
    Smart Artz
    South Melbourne
    Sports
    Street Photography
    Tasmania
    The Farm Cafe Melbourne
    Tild Shift
    Tild-shift
    Tilt Adapter
    Tilt-adapter
    Tips
    Tour
    Travel
    Travel Photography
    Twelve Apostles
    Uk Wedding Photographer
    Unique Wedding
    Victoria
    Vietnam
    Visit Melbourne
    #visitvictoria
    Wander Victoria
    Wedding
    Wedding Day
    Wedding Inspriation
    Weddingphotographer
    Wentworth Falls
    Werribee Mansion
    Wildlife
    X100
    X100s
    X100T
    XC50 230
    XC50-230
    XF16
    Xf16 55
    Xf16-55
    XF16-55 F2.8 R LM WR
    XF18
    Xf35
    XF35F2
    XF35mm F2 Review
    XF50 140
    XF50-140
    XF50mm F2 WR Review
    XF56
    XF56mmF1.2 R
    XF90
    XT 1
    Xt-1
    XT 10
    XT-10
    XT10 VS XT1
    XT2
    X T2
    X-T2
    X-T3
    Zone Focusing

    RSS Feed

  • Portfolio
  • Blog