I’ve seen a lot of previews and reviews of the XF90mm f2, raving about it’s sharpness and bokeh and weather sealing and autofocus, most people using an XT1 with it. I wanted to know how well it performs with an X-Pro1 and the Fuji extension tubes. I wanted to know this because that’s what I’ve got, but no one seemed to run this lens with my set up. Olaf Sztaba has a nice blog post of the 90 with the MCEX 11, with some lovely images, but not with the MCEX 16 and with an XT1.
So, I went to the mountain. I’ve just taken a few shots with a fairly consistent setup, not the same every time because of the changing minimum focus distance, but pretty close. I did try to do this free hand, but quickly gave that up and bolted the rig to a tripod. I was too lazy to set up a flash, so window light on an objet d’art is the subject. I wanted to get the shutter speed up a bit so dialed this in at ISO 1600. For the testing I shot wide open at f2.0 and at f5.6, again too lazy to take more at f8 etc.
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First up, the lens on it’s own @f2.0 (Rent from Borrowlenses.com) (Buy from Amazon.com)
And f5.6
Then on with the MCEX 11 @ f2.0 (Buy from Amazon.com)
And @ f5.6
Next is the MCEX 16 @ f2.0 (Buy from Amazon.com)
Followed by f5.6
Then stacked, MCEX 11 +MCEX 16 @ f2.0
and the f5.6 version.
The dust is original. The images are raw, converted to jpeg straight out of LightRoom with no post processing.
My conclusion? It works. Look at the images and decide for yourself. The stacked tubes at f2 have a razor thin plane of focus, so not terribly usable. but where this setup is in focus, it’s bitingly sharp. And the out of focus areas are deliciously smooth. Stopped down a bit, the individual tubes on the lens work very well, and the stacked combination is really good
The set up was simple. For the curious, I have a cheap version of handgrip / quick release L-bracket (eBay), on a Kirk quick release clamp, on a Really Right Stuff MPR-192 rail, on a Sunwayfoto pano DDH-03 quick release, on a Giotto MH5400 ballhead (I swapped out the quick release), on a Gitzo GT1541T tripod. This happens to be my pano setup and kind of macro rail. Works beautifully.
More to come……
I was thinking about using the 90mm with my X-Pro1, thanks for the article.
Thank you. I have a 90/2 coming next week and, I too, will mount it to my X-Pro1. This was useful info. How about using the 90 for non-macro shots? Do you find the OVF works well or do you switch to EVF?
I hate to break it to you, but the OVF doesn’t work with this lens. It’s not even enabled. For this exercise, because I was shooting on a tripod, I used the rear LCD. In general shooting I use the EVF. I wish the camera supported it, but the OVF doesn’t work with lenses longer than 60mm.I just heard about it and checked on my 55-200. The OVF engages, but has a red box beyond 60mm, rendering it impractical for framing. With the 90, it doesn’t engage at all.
All my other lenses, I use the OVF 80% of the time, I just don’t get the choice with the 90…
Thanks, Jason, good to know in advance. I’ll content myself with the EVF.
Super helpful, thanks Jason.