The Fujifilm Triad—Or Is It The Quadrad?

The 16-55mm Fuji lens is extraordinary, in my opinion.  Unfortunately, one can't get a good idea of
how well it performs from looking at images over the internet. (click to enlarge)
X-T1, 16-55mm f/2.8 lens @ 55mm; 1/7500th sec. @ f/2.8; ISO 200

I continue to be extremely pleased with the Fujifilm lenses for the X-cameras.  As Fuji has introduced some very useful lenses, both primes and zooms, I have an opportunity to purchase and use several of these with very satisfying results.

Nikon has its Triad (some say Trinity) of lenses that are somewhat legendary.  They are the 14-24mm f/2.8, 24-70mm f/2.8 and the 70-200mm f/2.8 lenses.  Well, I think that Fuji's triad are just as good if not somewhat better.  Fuji's lenses are the 10-24mm f/4, 16-55mm f/2.8 and the 50-140mm f/2.8.  If you want to create a word, I will add the Fuji 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 to those three to made up what I believe is an unbeatable "quadrad!"  The Fuji lenses are the latest design while Nikon's are now quite dated.

Black and white conversion in Lightroom CC 2015 (click to enlarge)
X-T1, 10-24mm f/4 lens @ 13.8mm; 1/1700th sec. @ f/5.6; ISO 200

When I stared using Fuji gear for my photography a couple of years ago, I first purchased the 18-55mm f/2.8-4 and the 55-200mm f/3.5-4.8 lenses.  For relatively inexpensive, lightweight general purpose lenses, these two will serve you very well.  In fact, there is absolutely nothing wrong with using these lenses for all of your photography, as long as they fit with the types of photography you practice.  They are excellent.  I soon added the 10-24mm f/4 and was very satisfied that these three lenses as an alternate to the Triad mentioned above, and still take these three as my travel lenses (at times I substitute the 14mm f/2.8 for the 10-24mm, if space is very tight, as it is much smaller). Small, lightweight and very high quality.  Great travel kit.

100% crop of overall image (click to enlarge)
X-T1, 50-140mm f/2.8 lens @ 115mm; 1/40th sec. @ f/8; ISO 400; handheld

If you want to spend a bit more money than the than 18-55 and 55-200, buy the Fuji Triad and what you will get are some of the best professional quality lenses available.  They will give you an edge in sharpness and resolution, build quality, color transmission consistency, contrast, and the image stabilization is second to none.  They focus fast and sure.  A nice bonus is they are very attractively priced when compared to other manufacturers' professional quality lenses.  In sum, you will be pleased with their imaging qualities.

(If you are a prime lens user, I can highly recommend the 14mm f/2.8 and the 23mm f/1.4 lenses.  I haven't yet used the 35mm f/2 or the 56mm f/1.2, but I have not found anything by anyone saying these lenses are not as good or even better than the zooms.)

I continue to be amazed at the images I can make with my Fuji lenses.  The technical image quality is superb.  The build quality is first class and the handling is balanced.  If you can't make a good image with any of these four lenses, it is your fault, not the fault of any of the lenses.

Now, add the 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 lens to your collection and the Fuji "Quadrad" gives you the versatility and quality to do most anything you need to do photographically.  Not everything, but most things.  Focal lengths with a 35mm equivalent to 15mm to 600mm will cover most all situations for most types of photography.  If you want even more versatility, add the Fuji 1.4X tele-converter.  In my tests with the 50-140mm and 100-400mm lenses, one has to look really, really hard to find any image degradation.

85% crop of overall image (click to enlarge)
X-T1, 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 lens @ 400mm; I/550th sec. @ f/5.6; ISO 400
Shot wide open and handheld

I am very happy with these four Fuji lenses.  I can't find fault with any of them.  I think Nikon's (and probably Canon's as well but I haven't used Canon gear in a long time) legendary status is in jeopardy

Thanks for looking. Enjoy! 

Dennis A. Mook 

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