…..and the answer is!
I got an email and I thought I should answer it for everyone;
“We know you own almost every one of Fujifilm’s lenses, why do you carry the ones in this case, and not others?” W.K. Pittsburgh
First and importantly this is the case I will use when I fly to locations to do landscape, travel, nature and closeup work. I will start from the widest and go to the longest lenses.
The XF 10-24 f4. This is my go to wide angle zoom. It covers an effective range of from 15mm to 36mm. It is razor sharp and has Image stabilization.
Next is the XF 16mm f 2.8. A very compact part of the Fujicron lens line. Compact, super sharp and very easy to carry.
My most used lens is the XF 18-135. It is very sharp, and focuses close. Among the most versatile of Fujifilm’s lenses I could travel with only this one lens if I had to!
In a Tenba lens pouch I carry the XF 23mm f 2, XF 35mm f 2, and the XF 50mm f 2. These compact lenses cover all the mid range focal lengths from 35mm to 75mm. Like all the Fujicrons (my term), these are all extremely sharp! They work perfectly for travel work.
For closeup work I cary the Fujifilm 80mm Macro f 2.8. This is the sharpest Macro lens I’ve ever used even sharper than the legendary Nikon 200mm Macro.
My long lens is the XF 100-400 which is an effective 150mm to 600mm lens, this is further stretch with TC-14 Teleconverter to an effect 840mm! The 100-400 is exceptionally sharp and the Image stabilization works remarkably well.
I own the 16mm f 1.4, but it is larger than the f 2.8, I have the 18-55 and 55-200 both of which are great for travel, but didn’t make the cut for this bag. The 56mm f 1.2 is incredible but large and the 50mm f 2 is still remarkable and compact!
So that is why I outfitted this bag with those lenses! My two bodies are the Fujifilm X-H1 and the X-T3.
In the fall, when it becomes available I may replace the 18-135 with the new 16-80 f 4, after I test it and see if it can replace the 18-135.
Blessings,
the pilgrim
This entry was posted on Thursday, June 20th, 2019 at 5:51 pm
You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed.
Not quite as much of a gear junkie (though I have the 10-24, 18-135, 100-400 and 1.4x, 80mm macro and the 18-55 and 55-200 kit lenses) but the 18-135 is my “go to” lens as well. (I have two of them. More on that in a moment.) Here’s something (well, two things) you may not know (and I think are worth sharing):
1. The 18-135 can be a decent macro lens. Yes, you can use the 16mm Fuji extension tube (you need to buy front and rear lens caps separately–unclear why Fuji does not supply them) but it works really well with the 67mm Marumi Achromat 200 and 330 closeup filters. They are similar to the Canon 500D which does not come in a 67mm version and the 77mm is kind of heavy on the lens when adapted with the 77-67 ring. A Dutch camera store recommended the Marumis and I have been satisfied since I bought them there. They are now available from Amazon here.
2. I wound up with two 18-135mm lenses. My first came crashing down when a weird sharp wind gust toppled my tripod, etc., at Multnomah Falls in Oregon. I bought a replacement because Fuji wanted an obscene amount of money for repairs. I was about to toss the old one when I on a lark tried Fuji’s only US-approved repair center, Photo Tech in NYC. They fixed it for under $300 and much faster than anything I ever had Fuji do. They also fixed my X-T2 when the shutter button literally fell off. The repairs cost way less half of what Fuji would have dinged me and were done much faster. The repaired 18-135 has now become even more of a “go to” lens as I don’t worry about being sidelined if it goes kaput. In addition to quick turnaround Photo Tech will give you an online “ball park estimate” if you give them adequate information followed up by the formal quote within a day of arrival in New York (Fuji sometimes takes a couple of days just to log your repair into their system). Since I’ve dealt with them twice I feel comfortable making the recommendation.
Thanks for the Marumi information! I will check them out!
For vacation, I’m still trying to decide if I should take the 10-24 or the 8-16. The 10-24 is better for video and I have filters for it but I love the 8mm perspective. I have a way to go even wider but that would require a completely different camera but a smaller prime; however, the sunstars are amazing with that lens.
The 14, LensBaby 56 Velvet, 18-135, and 100-400 are my four most important lenses because I have discovered that these lenses work very well for visible light and infrared. 🙂 Got a X-E2 converted to full spectrum and from testing all of my lenses those four don’t get hot spots and provides nice crisp images. The 50-140 is another one but don’t need the overlap. The 10-24 is very bad for IR so the 14 has to go.
The 18 and 27 for pocket-able camera carry usage.
The 80 for macro as well as the Velvet 56 and the EF-X500 flash attached to a Wimberley macro flash bracket and I have the plamp to assist holding plants more steady. Wind is normally an issue where I go on vacation.
Both of the teleconverters. The 1.4x works great on the 100-400 and the 2x is sometimes nice to have for the 80.
Four bodies, X-T3 with battery grip, X-H1 with battery grip and L plate, X-Pro2, and the IR X-E2. The battery grips also makes it possible for me to charge four batteries.
You certainly have your bases covered! I have not used the 8-16, it looks great, but large! Bet it would be spectacular for star filled skys!?
Hi Bill –
Have the XP2 and a bunch of lenses (10-24, 23/2, 35/1.4, 18-55, 27, 55-200, 18-135, 100-400, 56/1.2). Recently watched your vlog on the F2 lenses (23,35,50) and agree. Another slightly different approach on traveling with a small kit is with the X100F with WCL and TCL. I find traveling light has been liberating and I spend more time thinking about what I am feeling at a location then what gear I need to use. When traveling to places such as the UK where it is unlikely to need long lenses for wildlife. This small kit covers about 90% of my needs. I do a lot of multi-shot panos for extra wide shots, especially in places like Monument Valley and Big Bend. I do wish it were weathered sealed. though. When I need the weather sealing i enjoy the XP2 and the 18-135. I tend not to shot it wide open or at the absolute extremes but you are right that it is a very good lens. Feel free to check out the small Facebook page below. The cover pano is a 100M file from 9 shots of the x100f and TCL. Still hope to make a workshop with you.