List of Fujifilm X-mount lenses

As I said in the introduction, the choice of wide-angle/ultra-wide-angle lenses at Fuji is relatively limited. Here is what I can say globally. If you want to stick with Fuji to shoot with a very wide angle of view, you have for now only two wide-angle zooms available:

• The Fuji XF 8-16mm f/2.8 R LM WR remains the best lens offering the widest focal range (8mm!), a constant f/2.8 aperture, tropicalization, very good autofocus and superb image quality. Even if the latter appears more disappointing at 8mm and at full aperture (f/2.8), it has at least the advantage to offer 8mm on an APS-C sensor. A few shortcomings you should know about this bright lens in my opinion: it does not have stabilization (but with this type of focal length, it does not matter, especially if you use a tripod to shoot landscape photography), you cannot attach conventional screw-in filters and, finally, its price is very high for the average photographer. Nevertheless, it remains a superb lens, probably one of the best in the range.
• Which brings me to the other Fuji ultra-wide angle zoom: the Fujinon XF 10-24mm f/4 R OIS. Admittedly, you get a slightly smaller field of view (2mm more) and lose one aperture stop (f/4 vs f/2.8) compared to the previous lens. However, you gain an optical stabilization, the possibility to place classic screw-in filters and finally you get a much more compact and lighter lens (twice as light as the 8-16mm). The construction is also slightly less good than the 8-16mm. The optical quality remains very good (no vignetting and distortion, even at 10mm). The maximum aperture at f/4 may limit you when the light conditions are decreasing (compared to the 8-16mm), but we usually buy this type of lens to capture landscape pictures, often shot between f/8 – f/11. Finally, its price is a big positive point, almost half the price of the 8-16mm. In my opinion, it remains the best choice if you’re looking for a wide-angle zoom at Fuji.

On the other hand, you have a whole series of prime lenses, from 14mm to 23mm. You are free to choose the focal length that suits you best according to what you want to do with it. A few words about the possibilities:

• The shortest focal length offered as a fixed lens by Fuji is the 14mm (it’s a pity because 14mm is not “that wide angle” on an APS-C – equivalent to a 21mm on a full frame sensor). Fuji proposes indeed the Fujifilm XF 14mm f/2.8 R. It remains a very good lens, offering a homogeneous image quality. It is however not tropicalized and is more than 2 times more expensive than the 16mm f/2.8 (mentioned below). It will therefore be truly important to need these 2mm more.
• Otherwise, two 16mm exist at Fuji: the Fujinon XF 16mm f/2.8 R WR and the same in f/1.4 version. To each their own. In my opinion, the 16mm f/2.8 remains a better option. Sure, it is less bright than the f/1.4 version, but you rarely buy a 16mm to shoot at full aperture. Instead, this type of lens will be perfect for landscape/architecture/street photography. The f/2.8 version of the 16mm is much lighter, much cheaper and delivers very good image quality at apertures you’ll probably use. So, unless you absolutely need a very large aperture on a wide-angle lens (night/astrophotography = low light), I think the 16mm f/2.8 is more interesting,
• Finally, there is also an 18mm and two 23mm, for those who are interested in this type of focal length. I find them already way too long for landscape, but this is only a personal opinion.

As I said above, you will have the choice between several fixed focal lengths or zooms. Regarding zooms, I see it this way:

• • In kit with your camera, you will almost certainly get the Fujifilm XC 15-45mm f/3.5-5.6 OIS PZ or the Fujifilm XC 16-50mm f/3.5-5.6 OIS II. These are standard entry-level lenses, not very bright and offering an average image quality,
  • For those who want better quality camera equipment, there are basically three zooms to consider:
    • The best “affordable” option would be the Fujinon XF 18-55mm f/2.8-4 R LM OIS, which has the advantage of offering a stabilized lens and a larger aperture (at its shortest focal length), all in a compact and relatively light lens (compared to the other two). The image quality is much better than the two kit zooms and finally very close to the Fujifilm XF 16-55mm f/2.8 R LM WR (which remains much more expensive anyway). In my opinion, it is a very good choice,
    • The Fujinon XF 16-80mm f/4 R OIS WR is another alternative worth considering. The range is a bit wider (80mm), and the lens has a fixed maximum aperture at f/4. The reviews on the image quality of the lens are somewhat mixed but still very close to f/2.8. You do however get a stabilized lens (which will compensate for the loss of a stop of light compared to the f/2.8 version),
    • Finally, the Fujifilm XF 16-55mm f/2.8 R LM WR remains the standard lens designed for the wealthy amateur/pro, offering a fixed aperture at f/2.8 throughout its focal range. The image quality is said to be very good. If you can afford it and if you need a large aperture on a standard lens of this type, it is a very good choice then (at more than 1000€). A significant distortion of the image at 16mm and at full aperture is worth noting.
• Regarding prime lenses, you have access to a 27mm, 35mm and 50mm focal lengths. Depending on your budget and what you want to shoot, you can choose your ideal lens:
  • You are offered three 35mm (50mm equivalent on a full frame camera). The Fujifilm XC 35mm f/2 remains the cheapest and lightest lens, with a very good image quality. The Fujifilm XF 35mm f/2 R WR is a very good lens and has the same optical construction as the XC version. This version is however tropicalized and costs a little more. Finally, the Fujifilm XF 35mm f/1.4 R is still much more expensive (3 times more than the XC f/2 version) and I would not really recommend this version for its price, its construction or its optical quality. Moreover, you only gain one stop of speed,
  • If you are looking for a longer focal length (equivalent to a 75mm in FF), you can choose between two 50mm. My preference goes by far for the Fujifilm XF 50mm f/2 R WR. This lens is able to produce a superb background blur and an excellent image quality, already at full aperture. Finally, its price is still one time cheaper than the new f/1 version… It is a perfect lens for portraits, for example !

Broadly speaking, here is what I can say about Fuji telephoto lenses for now. Regarding prime telephoto lenses:

• The Fujifilm XF 56mm f/1.2 R remains an excellent lens offering very good image quality but is, in my opinion, too expensive, especially compared to the Fujifilm XF 50mm f/2 R WR – which is tropicalized and has a better AF, for half the price. You certainly benefit from a larger aperture (1 stop), but is it truly interesting for you?
• Another really interesting telephoto lens to consider is the Fujinon XF 90mm f/2 R LM WR, equivalent to a 150mm on an FF camera. It is a very interesting telephoto lens for example for outdoor portrait photography if you have some distance. The f/2 aperture will allow you to blur your background or unsightly foreground, and to make the subject stand out from it. Its build quality is very good, and the sharpness of this lens is said to be excellent and very consistent. Optical defects (chromatic aberration, vignetting) are almost non-existent. The price remains high, but it is a very high-quality lens,
• For sports and wildlife photographers, there is also the Fujinon XF 200mm f/2 R LM OIS WR which offers all the best, but at an extremely high price!

For those who feel more comfortable framing and shooting with a zoom lens, Fujifilm offers a whole range of them. I won’t detail all the lenses here, but here are the important things to remember in my opinion:

• For people looking for a longer focal length but who don’t have the budget to afford a wide aperture zoom lens, I usually recommended the Fujifilm XF 55-200mm f/3.5-4.8 R LM OIS, since it offers decent image quality, stabilization and a wide focal length range, equivalent to a 70-300mm in Full Frame. Of course, the autofocus is not the best in the world, and the maximum aperture is only f/4.8 at the longest focal length, but the price remains reasonable. More recently, Fuji has just released the Fujifilm XF 70-300mm f/4-5.6 R LM OIS WR (equivalent 100-400 in FF) which offers, according to the first feedback from users, a very good image quality for a price barely higher than the previous one. Note that you can add a teleconverter (TC x1.4 or X2) to this Fujifilm zoom lens. These zooms are ideal for those who want to start with “low cost” wildlife photography and a little bit of sport photography,
• For those who are looking for a better-quality standard zoom with a larger aperture, the reference is the Fujifilm XF 50-140mm f/2.8 R LM OIS WR. Often appreciated for sports photography, it has a good construction, a very good image quality (even if the sharpness is slightly behind at full aperture, and improves at f/4), a stabilization and a very good AF. All that comes at a price, since it costs twice as much as the two zooms mentioned above,
• For wildlife photography, the only reference to consider for me is the Fujifilm XF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 R LR OIS WR. The focal length range is very large and will allow you to shoot a lot of animals, even birds. Of course, the quality is below the 200mm f/2, but it remains in an acceptable price range.

If you want to stick with Fujifilm to learn more about macro photography, you don’t have much choice at the moment unfortunately. Indeed, there are only two fixed focal lengths available for macro photography. Be careful, because only the Fujifilm XF 80mm f/2.8 R LM OIS WR Macro is actually a true macro lens with a reproduction ratio of 1:1. This means that if your subject measures 1cm in the real world, it also measures 1cm on the image. The Fujifilm XF 60mm f/2.4 R Macro only has a 1:2 magnification ratio.

If you’re looking for the best macro lens from Fuji, the 80mm f/2.8 will be the best choice, although the 60mm f/2.4 gets on very well and offers outstanding image quality as well. Concerning the 80mm, here is what we have to remember: the image quality and build construction of the lens are remarkable (and right from full aperture), no worry about distortion, but there is a rather important vignetting at full aperture (which you can correct in post-processing), the lens is tropicalized and stabilized and will be able to help you very well for outdoor portrait photography. The focusing distance is 25cm. The only hitches are  its high price, since it’s almost twice as expensive as the 60mm, as well as his weight (almost 750g).

The 60mm f/2.4 also offers excellent image quality. The vignetting is better handled than on the 80mm. On this lens, no concern of distortion or chromatic aberration. The main positive points are its weight (215g) and its price, half cheaper than the 80mm. Of course, you don’t have access to the 1:1 magnification, but it’s up to you to see if it’s truly important for your use!