I bought a pre-owned lens for my Fujifilm X-E2 camera this week. If this sort of behaviour does not shock you, read on.
Pre-owned lenses used to be secondhand lenses here at the shop. Then there was a change in the computer designation. I am not sure if this made a practical difference to the goods, but it is more letters to type on the keyboard. Despite this, I am very glad I got the optic.
The 35mm f:1.4 lens n the X-E2 takes a view of the world very much like a 50mm lens on an old 35mm camera. A very, very good 50mm lens on an old camera, I might add. Actually in this case it is better than any 50 I ever had before. I am immensely pleased.
The big aperture allows plenty of light in for the autofocusing imps inside the Fujifilm camera to work - they work quickly, even in dim conditions. They work precisely - I was unable to catch them out in a mis-focus even in poorly-lit interior shots of my house*.
There it is - the "standard" lens refined to such a degree as to make it fashionable and useful - just as it used to be. The resolution of a prime lens is far above what can be done with a zoom, and the absence of distortion means I will not be trying vainly to move pixels in the computer to straighten door lintels. Or teeth. Never did feel comfortable straightening teeth, and neither did the patients...
I am not so certain whether I love the lens hood - that rectangular opening at the front is a little jangling to look at. It is effective, though - even with a Fong flash diffuser on the EF42 a little in advance of the front plate of the camera, I saw no contrast degradation.
Next acquisition? Well... I did put a lay-by on another pre-owned secondhand used Fujifilm lens yesterday. A zoom this time. I was able to justify it by reminding myself that it was actually making the world safe for democracy. I feel certain that you will support me in this.
* We keep it dark to avoid having to see the dust.
