Fujifilm XF23 mm F2 R Weather Resistant Lens, Black

Product Information

The f1.4 is also great for portrait photography, especially in studios. The extra bokeh may also provide stunning shots of events such as weddings. Fujifilm XF 23mm f/2 vs. XF 23mm f/1.4 Final Verdict The main issue that’s been documented with the Fuji 23mm is that it has a bit of softness at f2 and a close focus distance. Essentially, it means you won’t have as sharp of details if you focus super close to something and you’ve got the aperture set to f2.

In the crop above you’re looking at the XF 23mm f2 on the left and the XF 23mm f1.4 on the right; since the shooting distance remained the same, the slightly tighter coverage of the latter lens has delivered a slightly tighter view and crop as a result. I was taking pictures more carefully. My snapshots turned into more composed shots. Still, I was not focussing on a specific genre of photography. I really liked that camera, but within 5 years I had autofocus problems three times. So I thought it was time to get a new camera. I decided to buy a Fuji X-T3 with the 23mm F2 lens, which I never regretted a second yet. There’s no doubt in my mind that this is an excellent lens for street photography. It produces beautiful images and has industry leading autofocus speed. If you’re a Fuji X shooter and are looking for a 35mm full frame equivalent lens then this is the one to get. I started to watch YouTube Videos, bought my first street photography books and challenged myself on the streets with different topics: lines, reflections, light and shadow or a specific color. What I learned: small towns do also have plenty of possibilities for street photography, you just have to find and see them.Like the Fujifilm X100F, the XF 23mm f/2 R WR surprised with excellent image quality. I think perhaps I thought I owned the perfect image-making tool in the f/1.4 version. Almost at the end of our journey, in May 2019, we were in Hoi An, Vietnam. This town is well known for its tailoring and the lampshades which hang everywhere. My wife wanted to visit a class, where she can make her own lampshade. I decided to go on a walk through the town to do street photography intentionally. In this review, I’ll go over a bit more about what makes this lens great and why it might be a better option than the 23mm f1.4 for most people.

Here’s the latest XF 23 1.4 LM WR in the middle, joined by the original XF 23 1.4 on the left, and now the compact XF 23 f2 on the right. The f2 lens measures 60x52mm and is almost half the weight of the new model at just 180g. If you have one of the smaller Fujifilm bodies or simply desire the least obstructions through an X-Pro optical viewfinder, you’ll feel most comfortable using the smaller f2 lenses. When comparing it to its older and bigger brother, the f1.4, the differences are small – except in the price. Wondering how to get your hands on one? The Fujifilm XF 23mm f2 R WR is a compact, weather-resistant lens that offers a 35mm equivalent focal length in full frame, making it perfect for travel, street, and portrait photographers. It has a fast and bright f2 aperture that makes it suitable for lower lighting conditions. Furthermore, the f2 is comprised from 9 diaphragm blades that are able to deliver beautiful bokeh and shallow depth of field.

Do you have a big budget, and you want a wide angle lens with beautiful bokeh, and you don’t care about weather-resistance or weight? Get the 23mm f1.4. In the past, Fuji cameras have had notoriously inaccurate depth of field scales when shooting in manual focus mode. They’ve finally fixed this problem with the X-Pro2 (latest firmware) and the 23mm f2 lens! If you’re new to the Fuji X Series lens system, there’s a good chance you’re grappling with a decision between Fuji’s 23mm and 35mm lens offerings. You might be thinking f2 isn’t fast enough, but I’m starting to have this epiphany where I’m discovering slower lenses are better for a lot of things. The weather-resistant design of the f2 allows for great outdoor shooting. You can whip it out and take romantic photos in the soft summer drizzle or get amazing shots of snow falling in the streets. Fujifilm xf 23mm f2 Focal Length – Wide angle lens

Even though I’ll still reach for an f1.4 lens when I really need that look, the reality is that it’s not necessary every day. If I’m out and about, the 23mm lens is the one I’ll put in my bag.Tip: If you’re still looking at your options, take a look at my review of the Fujifilm 35mm f1.4 lens. Fuji 23mm f2 – At a Glance Out-of-focus rendering, otherwise known as the bokeh effect,can be a deal-breaker for travel photography. So how does the Fujifilm 23mm f2 fare in this? The small blue ghost seen at smaller apertures is due to the uncoated UV filter I was using. Remove the filter and it goes away, or use a multicoated filter. In terms of optical construction, the Fujifilm XF 23mm f2 employs ten elements in six groups, including two aspherical elements. The maximum focal ratio is f2, the aperture employs nine rounded blades and the closest focusing distance is 22cm for a reproduction of 0.13x. Like all of Fujifilm’s prime lenses to date, the XF 23mm f2 does not offer optical stabilisation, so since none of the bodies at the time of writing offered built-in stabilisation either, you’ll need to be aware of minimum shutter speeds to avoid camera-shake; videographers wanting to iron-out any wobbles will need to use third party stabilising rigs. Overall, the differences in performance between the f2 and the f1.4 are tiny. The price difference is larger, however. As is the weight.

The lens hood is also added to stop flare, but even without it, the lens doesn’t let much flare into your images which is a great positive. Colour and Contrast Generally speaking most autofocus systems are good enough at this point. But put the Fuji 23mm f2 lens on a Fuji X-Pro2 or X-T2 and you’ve got a speed champion. I tested the lens on an X-Pro2 using the latest firmware and focus was snappy and reliable in all lighting conditions. No hunting, no weirdness. Just instant focus in whatever direction I pointed the camera. There’s no question, one of the main selling points of the 23mm f/2 is the fact that it’s so small.

Both lenses are pretty well-behaved in both regards, at least for the out-of-camera JPEGs. The only thing to note is a minor difference in geometry, with a small pincushion from the XF 23mm f2 and a small barrel from the XF 23mm f1.4 – certainly nothing to be worried about. Otherwise, you might find yourself really happy with the f2 variety. Cons: What you’ll want to consider before buying