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I've own several 35mm equivalent (mirrorless) lens and this Fujifilm 23mm f/1.4 is the best of them all.
This is a well built, sturdy lens. Similar in style to the Fujifilm 35mm f/1.4 lens.
It's quite big actually, the filter size is 62mm. It weighs 300g so it's going be slightly front heavy on the camera but I've found that handling is comfortable so the weight is not an issue.
On the barrel, there's still the aperture ring. Additionally, it comes with a distance indicator and a depth of field scale on the barrel. You have to pull back the focus ring to reveal that. When the focus ring is back, the camera also engages the manual shooting mode automatically.
Focusing is internal, so there aren't moving parts.
The petal-style lens hood included is huge. In the X-Pro1 OVF, it blocks off 1/8 of the frame at the bottom right. It can be an issue because there are three focus cross hair there. I bought a third party metal hood (the round kind) and it blocks off even more. If you're shooting with EVF, then there's no blocking, of course.
At wide open f/1.4, the optical performance is close to perfection. It's sharp centre to edge, images are contrasty, has low to no vignetting, slight chromatic aberration (colour fringing). It's seriously good. Easily deserves 5 out of 5 stars.
Bokeh is nice creamy in most situations. I've read online some comments saying that bokeh can be busy. I see that sometimes especially with foliage in the background. Creamy and busy seems to be a bit contradicting but it really depends on what you're shooting. I don't really have an issue with it.
Depth of field is shallow enough that when you frame a full height standing person, you can still get a nice blurred background, and subject isolation.
If you've used the X100 before, which people say packs a wonderful lens, well, the 23mm f/1.4 lens is better in every aspect except the weight. It's also better than every one of the Micro Four Thirds lens I have that can shoot at or close to 35mm field of view. This 23mm f/1.4 lens is SIGNIFICANTLY better. I've not used full-frame 35mm lens before but I never will because of their size and weight.
Focusing is fast, not DSLR-instant fast, but fast enough, close or similar to the Fujifilm 35mm f/1.4 lens. I'll not be using this lens to shoot running subjects.
It's definitely value for money. Most highly recommended.
It's pricey, relatively speaking compared to other Fuji lens. But have you seen the prices of Canon and Nikon 35mm f/1.4 lens, and their weight?
Other notes -
I've included some photos I took, and other reviews I've found in the comments section below.
If you want to get an ND filter, get the 8X for 3 stops, e.g. Hoya 62mm HMC ND8 Filter
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