Has there ever been a better "kit" lens than the Fuji XF18-55mm f2.8-4 ?

Malfis

Malfis

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Malcolm
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To my uneducated eyes this lens never ceases to amaze me - in my opinion the quality is terrific. Sharpness, colour, contrast all fantastic.
Because I'm a bit of a fanatic for buying things (that I don't really need), I bought the XF16-50 f2.8 - and I couldn't see any difference. (I don't need constant f2.8 for my 'snaps').
There's a couple of images (Jpegs) attached to illustrate my point of view - please let me know if I'm right or wrong!

The first image is handheld 1/500 @ f8, iso 200 (32.9mm)
The second image is handheld 1/60 @ f6.4, iso 1600 (26.5mm)
Both taken with a Fuji X-T1.

Audley End House (1).jpg Luckenbach guitar pickin (1).jpg
 
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Arguably the LEICA D 14 - 50 mm ASPH (F2.8 - F3.5) 4/3 lens:

" The LEICA D VARIO–ELMARIT 2.8-3.5/14-50mm ASPH exchangeable lens comprises 16 lenses including three aspherical lenses in twelve groups. The maximum aperture of 2.8 and the large focal length range from 28 to 100 millimetres in small picture format impose hardly any restrictions on the possibilities for photographic composition. The high-performance optics give impressive reproduction of even the finest details and nuances, with minimal distortion and vignetting even at the shortest focal lengths. Further security for a successful picture is derived from the integral protection against camera shake (O.I.S.), which can be switched on and off at any time. This reliably protects against camera shake in all photographic situations, since small movements of the hand are systematically compensated. Whether at twilight, during indoor shots, for snapshots or in zoom operation – the result is always a sharp picture without the need for a tripod.
“With the LEICA D VARIO–ELMARIT 2.8-3.5/14-50mm ASPH, a wider target group of digital photographers can profit from the unique performance level of Leica lens technology. The combination of the most modern digital technology such as optical picture stabilisation and a quick and precise auto-focus with the well-known outstanding Leica reproduction performance is almost revolutionary” says Marius Eschweiler ."

Although I was never able to get my hands on one to verify this.
 
The Olympus 12-40 2.8 M4/3 lens is ridiculously good. I was amazed with its quality, although its quite an expensive kit lens. It equals my Leica and formern Sigma Art lenses for sharpness to my eye!

Glad to see you've also found a lens you adore. Enjoy!
 
rich_ said:
The Olympus 12-40 2.8 M4/3 lens is ridiculously good. I was amazed with its quality, although its quite an expensive kit lens. It equals my Leica and formern Sigma Art lenses for sharpness to my eye!

Glad to see you've also found a lens you adore. Enjoy!
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I agree the 12-40 is an amazing lens but it's not really a 'kit' lens. It's part of their pro lenses so you would put it on the same class as the Fuji 16-50 f2.8.
The Fuji 18-55 can be picked up very cheap these days for what is a high quality kit lens.
 
The zoom that comes with the new Leica SL PROBABLY isn't shabby ;)

The 18-55 Fuji is a great lens, imo likes to be stopped down a bit at 55, but at 18mm it outperforms the XF18 at the corners (I own both)

I'm quite tempted by the 16-55 2.8 though, it got good reviews! But I so prefer the Fuji primes, it's quite low on my GAS list!
 
I would say there have been a large number of optically superior kit lenses in the past.

At one time many cameras came with a 50mm kit lens...
 
Dave1 said:
I would say there have been a large number of optically superior kit lenses in the past.

At one time many cameras came with a 50mm kit lens...
Click to expand...

Yes, I should have stated that I meant kit ZOOM lenses!
 
I think the Samsung 16-50 f2-2.8 would join the argument if it hadn't have already left the country.

But yes, as the most commonly bundled lens with Fuji bodies the 18-55 definitely qualifies as a'kit' lens, and it's a great bit of kit. The 55-200 also punches quite a bit above its weight.
 
Panasonic 14-42mm my II punches way, way above its weight. Extremely sharp and contrasts from wide open right across the zoom range while being small and lightweight. An excellent optic.

Simon.
 
Sony 16-50mm f2.8 is a cracker.
 
Nikon 24-120mm f4 and the newer 24-85mm are far from shabby and IMO the f4 lens is better than the Fuji and I have owned four 18-55mm lenses. Still an excellent lens though and in DX format is probably one of the best kit lens around.
 
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The Fuji lens is useless on my D750, as is the 24-120 Nikkor on the X-T1! VERY hard to compare lenses from different manufacturers, although Hoppy uses a selection of converters on a 1 series Nikon when he does lens tests (IIRC!)
 
Alan Clogwyn said:
Arguably the LEICA D 14 - 50 mm ASPH (F2.8 - F3.5) 4/3 lens:

" The LEICA D VARIO–ELMARIT 2.8-3.5/14-50mm ASPH exchangeable lens comprises 16 lenses including three aspherical lenses in twelve groups. The maximum aperture of 2.8 and the large focal length range from 28 to 100 millimetres in small picture format impose hardly any restrictions on the possibilities for photographic composition. The high-performance optics give impressive reproduction of even the finest details and nuances, with minimal distortion and vignetting even at the shortest focal lengths. Further security for a successful picture is derived from the integral protection against camera shake (O.I.S.), which can be switched on and off at any time. This reliably protects against camera shake in all photographic situations, since small movements of the hand are systematically compensated. Whether at twilight, during indoor shots, for snapshots or in zoom operation – the result is always a sharp picture without the need for a tripod.
“With the LEICA D VARIO–ELMARIT 2.8-3.5/14-50mm ASPH, a wider target group of digital photographers can profit from the unique performance level of Leica lens technology. The combination of the most modern digital technology such as optical picture stabilisation and a quick and precise auto-focus with the well-known outstanding Leica reproduction performance is almost revolutionary” says Marius Eschweiler ."

Although I was never able to get my hands on one to verify this.
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The problem with these "Leica" lenses is that they aren't made by Leica, they're made by panasonic who own the rights to use the Leica name, Leica themselves aren't involved in the design or production of the lenses at all.
 
magicaxeman said:
The problem with these "Leica" lenses is that they aren't made by Leica, they're made by panasonic who own the rights to use the Leica name, Leica themselves aren't involved in the design or production of the lenses at all.
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How is that a problem?
 
Adzman808 said:
The zoom that comes with the new Leica SL PROBABLY isn't shabby ;)

The 18-55 Fuji is a great lens, imo likes to be stopped down a bit at 55, but at 18mm it outperforms the XF18 at the corners (I own both)

I'm quite tempted by the 16-55 2.8 though, it got good reviews! But I so prefer the Fuji primes, it's quite low on my GAS list!
Click to expand...

Agree with this. I also own both but will be selling the 18 for either the 14,16 or 12 (Samyang)
 
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