swansinflight

I recently celebrated surviving another pass around the sun, and I asked for a new lens when SWMBO asked what I wanted.

I gave her some options, because “you’re a fussy shit.” Her words.

Much to my surprise, she sourced my preferred option but didn’t get it from my usual shop as it wasn’t in stock there. She rang around though, and found a Fujinon XF18mm f/1.4 in stock for my birthday!

Also, a Weeylite S05! Stoked as, they do not exist in any store in NZ, so she ordered it from the online store direct and it shipped from Ireland. I particularly wanted this model as it has the controls on the back, instead of the S03 which you MUST use the phone app with. I am glad I got the S05, with the controls, as when I attempted several times to connect it with my phone…. it did nothing.

So I uninstalled the app and never bothered with it again. It works fine without it!
I plan on using it for light painting, I haven’t had a chance yet.

The lens, however, I have used for a few things, including SWMBO’s hockey game. In case you are not aware, 18mm is good for very limited shots on a hockey turf. As in… not a lot. Basically nothing. If it was on a remote behind the goal maybe hmm…. but it’s not. It’s in my hand. Well ok, maybe not nothing, but not much good as a single lens at a sports game, obviously. An interesting exercise, still.

Note that I added the vignette in post, as it doesn’t actually do that haha.

I also aimed it the ocean. Well, some islands plonked in the ocean, just off New Plymouth. This was… f/4 from memory.

But the cool part of this lens? I can shoot at night wide open, and ISO isn’t insanely high!

That was ISO 8000. Still nice.

The verdict? I am more than happy with the lens, I have a few more uses for it to try out yet, but this covers the majority of the short/wide stuff I need to cover. The few times I have managed to get some portraits, I am super impressed.

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