Just get a manual-focus lens!

In over 20 years of photography, I ended up finding a nice balance between performance and user experience with Fujifilm. While other brands like Leica may be more popular in the user experience thing, Fujifilm cameras have always performed well for me and have a nostalgic feel when comes to those tactile dials that I love or the color rendering of film simulations.

However, when the matter comes to lenses, Fujifilm lenses are great but mostly auto-focus lenses. And here begins my journey of searching for manual-focus lenses on third party brands that could help me extend my experience getting closer to that analog photography shooting style.

Firstly, how does auto-focus lens differ from manual-focus lens?

Well, let’s just say that when using an auto-focus lens,  the photographer points at the subject and when pressing the camera shutter button the lens automatically focuses without any further user intervention. On the other hand, on a manual-focus lens, the photographer needs to create the focus before pressing the shutter button, this can be achieved by rotating the lens focusing ring in order to the image become focused and sharp, to get a successful focus indication on the equipment (usually a beep or a visual indication, or in some cases even both) and only then taking the picture. 

How difficult is to get good photos with a manual-focus lens?

As any manual task, practice makes perfection. Here comes the challenging part that makes the manual-focus lenses so exciting and rewarding (at least to me).

This type of lens and photography technique is becoming more popular among photographers given that it fully exposes the user to the challenge of getting a good picture by only having sometimes just a few seconds to manually setup the right camera settings.

It's like racing a manual car: No disc brakes, no power steering, no automatic shifting, no traction control. Hence, what makes all the difference is the driver´s skills and the way they control the power of their machine... in this case, how the photographer controls their camera.

How can perfect focusing be achieved with a manual lens?

In the past, the photographer, when looking through the camera optical viewfinder had to align the focus on the image with some elements in the center of the viewfinder (dots, squares, grids, etc…)

In today’s cameras, with digital displays, we simulate this process even though some brands keep using optical viewfinders (like Leica) or hybrid solutions (like Fujifilm).

In my particular case, with a Fujifilm Xpro-3 camera, I’ve chosen a technique called “focus peaking” where the image when focused shows a cut of red lines around the subject in order to focus on. Fujifilm allows other methods, however I highly prefer this one.

Does an image captured with a manual-focus lens shows better quality?

Not necessarily. Quality can sometimes be hard to measure as it can be a matter of personal taste. 

For the sake of this post, let’s just say all lenses have what is called clinical behaviour, and that depends on several technical aspects such as a good sharpness, true colours, image consistency, etc. On top of that, there is one more point identified as lens character, a sort of "signature" that may differentiate a lens from other lenses or producing images not so easily replicable by other lenses. Character may be inherent to the lens composition itself, to the brand, to a lens model, or even a particular lens or copy.

Some character shown by manual lenses may sometimes be taken as imperfections as well; a marked amber tone as a result of the coatings, a softer or creamy image rendering, a peculiar colour or background rendition, sometimes image flaring effects or other behaviours less typical of lenses with high-end production parameters. Trying to keep it simple, those imperfections may add a certain indescribable charm to photos; a sort of "je ne sais quoi" look. For some people those may be considered undesired attributes, for others those are pure joy and produce unique organic images.

It’s all about that “organic look”

Some brands of these lenses are in high demand these days precisely because “organic” images have become more popular. We can achieve this type of organic look by using older vintage lens or modern ones that are produced by brands focused on creating products with distinguish signature and character. Top quality brands such as Voigtlander keep growing on popularity producing lenses models like the Nokton or Color Scopar that are not inferior to (i.e.) a Sony G-Master or a Canon L lens. Although those are used by photographers who prefer not to risk on having to deal with that character and  prefer a more “reliable” lens who delivers faster that required result.

But I would say that when it comes to price, a manual-focus lens has that big advantage when compared to an auto-focus lens. So what's that price point like?

Well, let’s say any reasonable manual-focus lens in terms of its physical characteristics is always much affordable than a similar auto-focus lens. There are rare exceptions like a Carl Zeiss Jena or a Leica Summilux (among others) those are excepcional lenses but pricey ones. But back to this world, a Fujifilm 27mm f/2.8 auto-focus lens may cost around €400, a TTArtisan 25mm f/2 manual-focus lens may cost €100 (or less), some vintage lenses can be found on eBay starting on 50€.

Is the image quality so different?

I personally like to use this type of lens when doing street and documentary photography. To me, this genre is sometimes a sort of artistic expression, is about documenting life, is the spontaneity of capturing a moment showing visual intensity. To deal with the distinguishable and unpredictable is part of what passionates me on this process.

That’s why I prefer the more organic character and look produced by this type of lenses. So answering the question: yes, there may be flaws and unfocus, excessive lens character,  vignetting or image softness, all that may compromise the final image quality of course.

But it’s worth to say that lenses are not better or worse because they are manual-focus or auto-focus, those can behave better or worse due to the technology and optical investment made on their design and conception.

It’s challenges the photographer

We  can always try to minimize a lens weakness with a better and improved technique, like keeping a slower pace, or maybe using a flash, in some cases using a narrower aperture or just searching for a better angle to take the same picture, etc.

These are some of my thoughts about vintage or entry level manual-focus lenses. The message I would like to share is this process can be fun and at the same time enjoyable to experiment a different artistic path while using inexpensive manual-focus lenses and doing so, one can increase their lens collection or explore additional focal lengths without having to invest a fortune.

So now it’s up to you to just get a manual focus lens and start having fun.

FUJIFILM - imperfectly fun

Fujifilm cameras sometimes may look trendy or even lack some high-tech features to other brands but after sometime using an amazing Fujifilm camera (X-Pro3), here's what I've found out about my photography genre and my reasons for this path.

My Fujifilm journey may not be different from others: I wondered about the hype and loyalty for this brand or why did people remain for so long with this brand?

In our fast-paced world, many Fujifilm cameras from 5 to 10 years ago just remain popular (along all the X line). Why do people keep them for so long when new models with impressive features are released, and why do those cameras retain such high value over time aside amazing built quality?

At the time, as a Canon and Sony user, I wanted to try a lighter gear setup and rediscover the joy or explore full manual mode photography.

I wasn't sure if I'd be willing to give up my Canon camera and fine lenses but my back was in pain from carrying them all that time too.

So I bought a Fujifilm X-Pro3 camera giving it a try to a new experience and maybe change a bit my photography style and focus more on deeper connections with my subjects. My aim was to not worry so much about getting perfect shots or using fancy features, so this camera indeed helps me capture emotions and atmosphere with its analog feel. It's like driving a manual gear car on a mountain road, where the driver's judgment matters more than following empiric rules.

I wanted to enjoy the act of photographing rather than be obsessed over results. This camera made me want to go out and take photos, have fun, but also allowed me to discovered other interesting aspects of photography too: I could simulate old film trough film “recipes” (and that’s Fujifilm core), I started to use manual and vintage lenses on it, I started to enjoy more black and white photography alongside with color.

I shifted to a more dynamic style, exploring more urban life and cultures. I was in the pursuit of more real and organic images, not so clinical ones. My journey led me to a deeper purpose and more authentic results (or at least felt like it to me). A camera transformed me as a photographer and person, allowing me to see the world differently, to enjoy the present moment more, or just look to capture unique expressions. It's the Fujifilm character,  that  look and feel. Some may say is the hardware or the X-Trans sensor. I do believe it’s the sum of many aspects that turn to a concept; a product usability that changes you, a tool that inspires you to go out and be creative.

Do I get bad photos this way? Sure! Sometimes I don't set up my camera correctly on time; I may get wrongly exposed or unfocused results. But I also capture unique photos I couldn't get with any other method or camera, I would miss those for sure while searching for perfection, or I would be going too fast and those opportunities would be out of my scope. Or maybe having that images, those wouldn't have that look and feel if they were shot with clinical intention and processed to perfection.

Is my camera versatile for travel, portrait, events, other?

The X-Pro3 can attach (i.e) a Fujifilm zoom lens (XF 16-80F4 OIS WR) with 24-120mm coverage, 6 stops of image stabilisation, weather sealed (body and lens) and I do have a perfect auto-focus setup for travel, I just focus on my family and enjoy the trip. I do also setup my camera with a Godox TT350 speedlite flash and/or Godox X1 remote flash trigger. That allows me to be confident and shoot an event if needed (just switch from hybrid analog to fast digital). So yes, my camera is amazingly versatile and capable out of manual/semi-manual modes too. I just go full tech mode with single shoot mode or tracking, use continuous focus or face recognition, setup focus zone points, use dual card slot (JPG/RAW, Dual backup), use burst shooting when needed or when travelling I use GPS info on photos. I can use any other top functions that Sony, Canon or Nikon would promote on their flagships.

Without being much more technical, is there where the setup ends?

No, Fujifilm has a lot more to offer: We do also have a line of prime lenses that are amazingly light and small. Knowned as “fujicrons”: 16, 18, 23, 35, 50mm with auto-focus and weather sealed most of them with apertures between f/2 and f/2.8 and decently good for lowlight (fast) and sharp. Also if you want to go lightweight, inconspicuous, and want to be one man lens, I could suggest the Fujifilm 27mm 2.8 WR and there we are with a small walk-around pancake lens on a work horse camera.

So what’s about that manual focus story?

I’m tracing the manual focus path to develop personal knowledge and have fun on street and documentary photography. I do not consider myself adept of any particular style. I’m enjoying this moment while challenge myself mostly with brands such as TTArtisan where we can get amazing lenses for a fraction of the price of other brands and allowing lots of fun with consistent results (manual focus lenses are cheeper anyway).

As conclusion, a Fujifilm camera is not necessarily superior to other cameras and is not alone on this genre as brand (or yes, if price wise), but it allows you to manually adjust settings like no other camera and that by itself encourages and pushes you for creative freedom and that's when some magic starts to happen.

And all that just makes my journey imperfectly fun 📸