Fujifilm’s digicam historical past has been form of like a sport of two halves. It made its title with compact retro-styled X-T, X-E, and X-Professional cameras with compact our bodies and exterior publicity controls. These got here with a variety of compact f/2 prime lenses designed for compactness and affordability, together with an 18mm f/2, 23mm f/2, 35mm f/2, and 50mm f/2. This XF16mm F2.8 got here alongside a little bit later to supply a 24mm equal prime no bigger than the remaining, and but with a bodily aperture ring and climate sealing.
These are among the many finest Fujifilm lenses, definitely for journey images and followers of old-school exterior publicity controls.
Since then, although, Fujifilm has shifted gears, aiming for a extra mainstream fanatic/hybrid market with the X-S10 and X-S20, and higher-end skilled customers, with the Fujifilm X-H2 and X-H2s. These are among the many finest Fujifilm cameras to purchase right this moment however have misplaced among the uniqueness of earlier fashions.
The X-T sequence carries on with the Fujifilm X-T5 and X-T50, however the X-E and X-Professional vary seem to have gone. Together with this has been a shift in the direction of bigger, skilled zooms and quick f1/4 primes which attraction to a wider market however don’t sit so effectively on the smaller cameras.
The XF16mm F2.8, nonetheless, will nonetheless have sturdy attraction for house owners of smaller or extra modest Fujifilm our bodies. Its most aperture could also be modest, but it surely’s compact, cheap, and sensible – and it might fill a spot in lots of customers’ prime lens line-up.
(Picture credit score: Rod Lawton)
Fujinon XF 16mm F2.8: Specs
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Focal size
16mm (24mm equal)
Most aperture
f/2.8
Building
10 components in 8 teams
Minimal focus distance
17cm
Most magnification
0.13x
Filter dimension
49mm
Dimension
60.0 x 45.4mm
Weight
55g
Fujinon XF 16mm F2.8: Value and availability
The Fujinon XF16mm F2.8 is extensively obtainable and prices round $399 / £339. Fujifilm additionally makes an XF16mm F1.4 R WR which is sort of tempting, as a result of it has a most aperture 2 stops quicker – although it does value virtually 3 times as a lot. The opposite various is the a lot newer Fujinon XF18mm F1.4 R LM WR, however that has a barely longer equal focal size of 27mm, and in addition to being much more costly, it’s bodily bigger and longer too. In the event you’re pleased with an f/2.8 most aperture, the little XF16mm F2.8 is terrific worth for cash.
Fujinon XF16mm F2.8: Design and dealing with
The XF16mm F2.8 is fairly low cost by prime lens requirements, particularly for one which has a bodily aperture ring and weather-sealed development. It feels very effectively made certainly, with a metallic mounting plate (in fact) and a petal-shaped lens hood included.
Every part about this lens feels well-designed. The aperture ring is clearly marked and is fantastically weighted with 1/3-stop clicks between the main aperture markings and an A (auto) setting previous f/22, the place the lens aperture is managed by the digicam physique.
The guide focus ring feels actually easy and is mounted forward of the aperture ring the place the lens barrel tapers in barely. This implies there’s no hazard of mistaking one ring for the opposite and yow will discover each simply by contact.
The Fujinon XF16mm F2.8 is good for Fujifilm’s retro-styled X-mount cameras just like the X-T5, however it could even be an ideal match for older X-E and X-Professional fashions. (Picture credit score: Rod Lawton)
Nevertheless, there’s no focus distance scale on this lens, and therefore no depth of discipline markings for zone or hyperfocal distances. These could be displayed on the digicam, although, so it’s nonetheless completely doable.
Past that, there’s not far more to say. This can be a easy, solid-feeling little lens that will get on with the job with none fuss or distractions. It additionally seems good and balances effectively on any Fujifilm our bodies.
The bodily aperture ring has a superb weight and really feel, and the lens itself feels extraordinarily effectively made. (Picture credit score: Rod Lawton)
Fujinon XF16mm F2.8: Efficiency
Optically, the XF16mm F2.8 is nice however not stellar. Fujifilm’s in-body corrections and embedded profiles successfully take away chromatic aberration, vignetting, and distortion, however whereas the edge-to-edge efficiency is nice on older Fujifilm our bodies, the 40MP sensor in my X-T5 does make the fall-off in decision in the direction of the perimeters of the body extra obvious.
That is the curse of high-resolution sensors. All these megapixels can flip anybody right into a pixel-peeper, and it’s solely human nature to zoom proper in to see how a lot element you’ve captured. Supplied you don’t zoom in too far – say 100% on a 4K monitor – the pictures from this lens look nice. Zoom in additional to 200%, say, and also you’ll see that whereas the middle decision is great, it does fall away considerably towards the perimeters.
The 24mm equal angle of view makes this an ideal walkaround lens to go away on the digicam. (Picture credit score: Rod Lawton)
There isn’t any distortion or nook shading, thanks partially to embedded correction profiles, although on a 40MP X-T5 you’ll be able to see some lack of element in the direction of the perimeters of the body. (Picture credit score: Rod Lawton)
Will this hassle you? On a 26MP, 24MP, or older 16MP Fujifilm digicam, I doubt it. It’s solely with the most recent 40MP sensors it begins to develop into obvious. That’s a little bit of a disgrace as a result of the little XF16mm 2.8 is such an exquisite match for an X-T5 physique, and particularly the brand new X-T50.
The autofocus efficiency is great. Fujifilm’s smaller lenses don’t get the corporate’s high-speed Linear Motor actuators but it surely doesn’t appear to matter right here. The XF16mm F2.8 is whisper quiet and focuses right away.
You may get a very good differential focus impact for blurring backgrounds and you do not even must shoot large open – this was shot at f/4. (Picture credit score: Rod Lawton)
The XF16mm F2.8 is not a nasty panorama lens both, as its angle of view means you’ll be able to exaggerate the dimensions of foreground objects towards their background. (Picture credit score: Rod Lawton)
Fujinon XF16mm F2.8: Pattern pictures
Right here’s a collection of pictures taken with the XF16mm F2.8. It’s a super walkaround lens for metropolis streets and structure, and landscapes too. The modest F2.8 most aperture solely turns into a limitation in dimly-lit interiors, however should you’re utilizing a later Fujifilm physique with IBIS, you may get round that with slower shutter speeds.
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(Picture credit score: Rod Lawton)
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Fujinon XF16mm F2.8: Verdict
The Fujinon 16mm F2.8 is an excellent little lens that’s very well made and good to deal with. The controls and end are so good that it feels as if it must value much more than it truly does. What retains the fee and the dimensions down is that most aperture of f/2.8, which isn’t a lot in a world the place 24mm equal primes are sometimes f/1.8 or f/1.4. But when that’s the value of compactness and affordability then I’m completely happy to pay for it. (I truly did pay for it – I personal this lens.)
Ideally I would love it to be a little bit sharper on the edges than it’s after I apply it to my X-T5, however that’s a difficulty raised by this digicam’s unprecedented decision. It’s proving fairly tough to seek out reasonably priced X-mount lenses that may stay as much as this sensor’s potential.
I don’t wish to overstate this, although. It’s a must to be a little bit of a pixel peeper to note within the first place, and should you’re utilizing a 26MP physique or decrease, then it’s just about a no-issue.
I say that as a result of it could be an actual disgrace if this lens was missed as a result of it’s not good. It’s small, reasonably priced, sensible and fantastically made.
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Options
This lens’s most aperture of f/2.8 is on the low facet, however its bodily aperture ring and climate sealed development are main plus factors
★★★★☆
Design
The XF16mm F2.8’s key attribute is its dimension. It is compact sufficient for any journey setup and balances effectively on any X-mount physique
★★★★★
Efficiency
The optical efficiency is mostly excellent, however definition does fall away on the edges considerably, and that is very noticeable on Fujifilm’s newer 40MP cameras
★★★★☆
Worth
This isn’t an costly lens, and but the end and the controls are first price. The specs could be modest, but it surely’s nice worth
★★★★☆
The Fujinon XF16mm F2.8 comes with a clip-on petal-shaped lens hood, and the lens cap can nonetheless be taken on and off simply with this fitted. (Picture credit score: Rod Lawton)
Do you have to purchase the Fujinon XF16mm F2.8?
✅ Purchase this…
If you need a compact wide-angle prime that doesn’t value the earth
In the event you frequently shoot in dusty or moist circumstances the place climate sealing turns into essential
If you wish to get again to fundamentals with arms on aperture management
🚫 Do not buy this…
In the event you’re searching for most edge to edge decision on a 40MP Fujifilm physique
In the event you want a large most aperture for low mild or astrophotography
In the event you want picture stabilization for an older, non-IBIS physique – this lens is just not stabilized
