June 26, 2018
Lens review: Neweer 35mm f/1.2 fixed prime, for Fujifilm X mount. Purchased on Amazon.ca. A redesigned “clone” of the 7Artisans version. I feel like this little copycat lens had such potential to be a gem, but ultimately doesn't shine any more than it's predecessor. While it is “possible” to create a somewhat decent image with this lens, and with respect to the attempt, I remain hesitant to say anything more positive than that. While I immediately enjoyed the size and design of the lens (very light for a low-aperture lens, and it seems like they tried to emulate the modern appearance of current market Fujinon lenses), the “font” choice for lettering and numbering on the lens however, really left something to be desired.
The image quality, stopped up to f/2 or f/4, seemed to improve somewhat, but focus is generally very, very soft. It is inordinately difficult to achieve any sharpness at all, especially at the highest stop and the image center, which is really the only reason to buy this lens, for that creamy, pinpoint DOF “bokeh” you would expect at f1/.2 aperture.
While, unlike another reviewer, who ridiculously said he needed two hands just to pull focus on this lens, I actually enjoyed that aspect on mine. I believe he was over-exaggerating somewhat. It would be amazing for filming, just not so much for photography. But then, at such a low aperture on a Fujifilm mirrorless camera body, your subject can plausibly move out of focus too quickly anyway to worry yourself with focus pull. Rather, just move yourself back or forward until your focus peaking indicates the subject is sharp. Though, as aforementioned, trying to achieve sharpness with this lens is like trying to find a needle in a haystack. And it’s been suggested that there is a “glow” or “haze” when stopped down, this is an accurate description. It’s there. It’s not so glaringly bad that I am entirely unable to create something, anything, with this lens. But there is evidently not sufficient coating on the glass, and the experience does suffer, as a result. You get what you pay for, I suppose.
In that same vein, thee other annoyances, some of which are very serious issues: First, the aperture control wheel creaks and scratches quite badly, when turned. It literally sounds like metal is grinding against something else on the inside. Like “nails on chalkboard” and there is no way that a sound like that could be in any way a good thing for the inside components of this lens. Second, infinity focus on this lens is COMPLETELY useless at anything other than f/22. Yes, I said twenty two. Not that I’d really ever be using a lens like this for astrophotography. But when you pull focus to the ∞ symbol on any other aperture other than the highest, there is no focus whatsoever. None. You could focus on the stars above, or your hand right in front of your face, and it will be nothing but BOKEH. Lots and lots of creamy BOKEH. But... what is the point of that if there is no actual depth of field? No focal point that “pops” out of said bokeh? Turn focus the opposite direction, anywhere towards 0.3, and subject separation occurs well-enough, I suppose (pictures above, for reference). But only with painstaking patience and effort. But once again, sharpness is apparently not a luxury you afford when you have only paid $130 for an after-market, non-adapted, low-aperture lens.
Finally, It should be noted that close-focus on this lens is distractedly poor, also. I own the Fujinon 50mm f/2 lens which, compared to a 35mm, is nearing telephoto range on an APS-C sensor. And with it, I can nearly get right into the face of a subject, and still achieve focus. Which also makes the DOF on my 50mm a little better. I would expect at least the same with any 35mm lens, classically noted as the same POV as our eyesight on a cropped sensor, much less one that stops down to f/1.2. Unfortunately not so, here. It’s a little frustrating to be unable to get closer to my subject using a wider focal length, and in some ways defeats the point of such a low aperture.
I’m nonetheless “on the fence” about returning this lens, purely based on aesthetic appeal (though I may yet contact seller regarding potential replacement due to the aforementioned “grinding” issue). While it’s certainly no Fujinon 56mm f/1.2, nor does Neweer offer anything close to the effort employed by competing Chinese company Zhongyi with their Mitakon 35mm f/0.95, for example. This is literally a child’s toy, by comparison. But that said, and despite all the points noted above, this little 35mm f/1.2 still offers some lightweight, creative and fun depth of field.
Images shot on Fujifim X-T2 and Fujifilm X-H1 (4th image shot with triple 49mm diameter close-up lens filters attached).
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