TLDR Review: Mitakon Speedmaster 65mm f/1.4 Lens
Pros
- •Produces warm colors and surprising sharpness, even at wide open apertures like f/1.4.
- •Ideal for the GFX 100s, providing better performance compared to older adapted lenses.
- •Solid build with smooth and welampened aperture and focus rings.
- •Offers an impressive shallow depth of field and smooth, pleasing bokeh.
- •Capable of achieving a unique film look, making it highly suitable for artistic photography.
- •Higuality print results with exceptional sharpness and color.
- •Offers excellent value for the price, despite being heavy.
- •Manual focus is enhanced with the focus peaking feature on Fuji GFX bodies.
- •Delivers superb image quality at f/1.4, maintaining sharpness and character akin to vintage lenses.
Cons
- •Significant weight may be cumbersome, especially for prolonged use or travel.
- •Lacks weather sealing, limiting use in diverse environments.
- •The absence of EXIF data can hinder detailed metadata recording.
- •Focus throw is lengthy and challenging, particularly below f/2.2.
- •Lacks electronic communication with the camera due to missing pins.
- •The lens hood design is deemed cumbersome and inconvenient.
- •Exhibits typical issues like lens flares and chromatic aberrations.
- •The continuously adjustable aperture ring may feel unusual without identifiable stops.
- •Corneo-corner sharpness is lacking, which may be a concern for some users.
- •Price can be a consideration, especially with newer versions available.
Bottom Line
The Mitakon Zhongyi Speedmaster 65mm f/1.4 Lens for Fujifilm GF is a solid contender for those seeking artistic photography with a penchant for a vintage look. Its impressive sharpness, color quality, and aesthetics deliver fantastic results, especially at f/1.4. However, the lens' heft and lack of electronic features might deter users accustomed to lighter, highly adaptive lenses. Despite these drawbacks, its value remains significant for GFX 100s users, though weighing a potential new version could offer a more contemporary solution.
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