Fuji XF 50mm f2 R WR Lens Review:
Ultra fast glass is always great to have but it can bring its own baggage at times. For one, it can often mean more complicated designs, and more hurt on the wallet. It can also mean a larger lens overall. Sometimes we don’t need the fastest version of a focal length. Sometimes a smaller lens that still has a reasonably fast wide open aperture is more preferable, and of course, it definitely never hurts if we save a little money as well. Fuji, being the good listeners that they are, have released some pretty awesome f2 versions of many of their most popular focal lengths. I reviewed all of them so far, and they are some of my favorite Fuji lenses. Now, they’ve added one more to the f2 range of lenses: the new XF 50mm f2 R WR lens. With a wide open aperture of f2, it’s still plenty fast for most purposes, and while this short tele doesn’t give you quite the same focal length as the ultra fast XF 56mm f1.2, which I’m sure many will compare it to, the XF 50mm f2 is a lot more compact. At $449, it is significantly cheaper than the XF 56mm f1.2 as well, so the question is, is it any good, and can it run in the same circle as the rest of the X Series lenses? Read below, and find out!
Fuji XF 50mm f2 R WR Lens Build Quality:
In terms of build quality, I have to say, Fuji lenses are just getting better and better. My personal collection of lenses include the XF 18-55mm, the XF 35mm f1.4, the XF 56mm f1.2 APD, and the Zeiss Touit 12mm f2. I love these lenses, which is why I’ve owned them for so long but the build quality is just not at the same level as these new f2 lenses.
↑ The XF 50mm f2 in silver with it’s lens hood.
The XF 50mm f2 is no exception. It’s a very solid, well-built lens that’s designed to impress. Gone are the days of the hollow feel we used to get from the first generation lenses like my XF 35mm f1.4, for example. The exterior is made out of metal not just to withstand more abuse but to also give you that premium feel and look. The focus ring is smooth, and I absolutely love the feel of the aperture ring. It glides along smoothly in third stops with its dampened feel. There is some resistance but a nice amount for added analog feel. The aperture ring has a very high end feel to it. Like the other f2 lenses, the XF 50mm is even weather and dust sealed making it a great match for all the new weather sealed bodies like the X-T2, for example. The XF 50mm can also operate in temperatures as low as -10°C.
It also doesn’t hurt that this is actually a good looking lens. The overall design is similar to the other f2 Fuji lenses. It has a little bit of a classic look to it, and in my opinion, the XF 50mm could be mistaken for an older rangefinder lens. It kind of looks like my Leica 50mm Summicron. It also comes in black or silver. I am a sucker for silver lenses, and I have to say, even if you don’t have a silver body, the XF 50mm f2 in silver still looks pretty darn good on one of the black bodies like the X-T2.
Now, here’s probably one of the biggest reasons to choose the XF 50mm f2 R WR lens over say the XF 56mm f1.2: size! Since the XF 50mm is a 76mm equivalent, it may not be an exact replacement for the XF 56mm given that it is an 85mm equivalent but for many it may be good enough considering how much smaller the XF 50mm is when compared to the XF 56mm. At f2, it’s still plenty fast for most purposes. Using the XF 50mm on the street is great simply because it doesn’t even feel like I’m using a short tele lens. It’s compactness makes it feel more like a standard or even a wide angle lens. Come to think of it, I believe it is even smaller than my XF 35mm f1.4. When I was shooting candids with it, no one really noticed the lens/camera combo because it doesn’t have that huge piece of glass in front like the XF 56mm. It has a 46mm filter thread versus the XF 56mm’s 62mm thread.
↑ Top view of the XF 50mm f2 R WR lens mounted on an X-T20.
Speaking of the filter thread, it might be a little inconvenient for those who already own the XF 35mm f2, the XF 23mm f2 or both, since those two lenses I just mentioned have a 43mm filter thread. It does suck if you are planning to share filters but it’s in the design, and the fact that the XF 50mm f2 is already such a compact lens, I can’t really fault it for this. Still, it’s worth mentioning in case some of you do own either or both of those other f2 lenses.
Getting back on point, in addition to the compact size, the XF 50mm f2 isn’t all that heavy. It’s the first characteristic that I notice about it. In fact, weighing in at 200g, it’s only 20g heavier than the XF 23mm f2. That’s quite amazing if you think about it. The weight of this lens, especially for this focal length, is just about perfect. It feels like a high end product, and it balances nicely with the Fuji bodies. It’s not too heavy or too light, and there’s none of that front heaviness we might normally get from a short tele. This balanced feel isn’t just with the higher end Fuji models like the X-T2. I was reviewing the X-T20 while I was reviewing this lens, and it felt great on the smaller body.
To top it off, I actually love the design of the lens hood that is included with the XF 50mm f2 R WR lens. For those who have not read my past Fuji reviews, I haven’t always been a fan of all the lens hoods that have been included with the Fuji lenses. However, the one included with the XF 50mm is perfect for it. Yes, it’s only plastic, and it doesn’t have a fancy, classic look to it or anything like that but the important thing is it’s very functional. It’s very compact. It’s nicely proportioned with the lens. It works, and it never makes the lens look overly huge.
↑ The lens is very proportional to the lens.
Fuji XF 50mm f2 R WR Lens Autofocus:
As for focusing capabilities, the XF 50mm f2 R WR lens follows in the same tradition as the previous two f2 lenses in having very fast autofocus. In fact, I shouldn’t even say very fast. Blazingly fast is probably better. Personally, I think this is one of the fastest autofocus lenses in the X Series system so far, and I do not say this lightly. It was so fast at times that it felt instantaneous. It didn’t seem to matter where I was in the aperture range either. It even did excellently in low light. Only in very, very dim lighting did the lens have to search but only for a little bit, and this is not out of the norm. We’re talking maybe half a second at most but keep in mind that this is shooting at very low light. This is light that is low enough that you probably won’t be getting a great picture. Overall, I had absolutely no issues with the autofocus system. It’s just about perfect, which is something we couldn’t even say about Fuji just a few years ago. It’s amazing how far Fuji have come in such a short amount of time.
Now, autofocus speed is great but accuracy can sometimes be even more important because let’s face it; what’s the point in having a fast autofocus system if it isn’t accurate, right? Well, in addition to the autofocus being fast, it is also very accurate. The XF 50mm f2 R WR lens will just lock on to a subject with its blazing speed, and then snap! You get the image. There’s no fuss, misstep or any issues. There’s no drama. The autofocus system overall was such a non-issue that most of the time, it wasn’t even a thought or concern in any way in my mind.
The accuracy, and autofocus speed of the XF 50mm f2 R WR lens are seriously impressive but the icing on the cake is the autofocus operates silently as well. You really have to try hard to hear it. If you’re at a venue where silence is key, this is the lens that you want by your side. Along with its compact nature, the silent autofocus is also great for street photography.
Fuji XF 50mm f2 R WR Lens Image Quality:
As for image quality, this might be the shortest section in this whole review because quite frankly, the XF 50mm f2 R WR lens produces absolutely superb images, and there’s not much more that needs to be said. If you ask me, this lens is truly something special. For one, it is sharp…bitingly sharp. Images taken at f2 are tack sharp in the center. Sharpness actually hold up quite well all the way into the corners at f2 with only a minimal loss of detail. If you’re not pixel peeping, I doubt you would even see any detail loss. It’s very impressive. Stopping down by just one stop doesn’t change too much because the quality is already so good at f2. By f4, things are pretty much near perfect.
↑ Taken at f5.6 with the X-T20.
↑ The XF 50mm f2 produces nice, sharp, and contrasty files. This was taken at f8.
↑ Here’s a 100% crop of the image above.
↑ This lens is also tack sharp at f2.
↑ Here’s a 100% crop of the image above. Keep in mind that this was taken at 1250 ISO as well.
↑ Here’s a photo taken at f4.
↑ Here’s a 100% crop of the photo above.
But sharpness isn’t the only reason why the XF 50mm f2 R WR lens is such a great lens. The images it produces are contrasty with excellent clarity, and the XF 50mm f2 renders colors absolutely beautifully. Photos have a very organic feel to them. They have depth. I have to say, this lens absolutely shines on the new X-Trans sensors in cameras like the X-T20 or X-T2. There’s definitely some magic happening here. The XF 50mm f2 does vignette at f2 but it’s nothing out of the norm, and truthfully, I feel it adds a bit of mystery to the image. Stopping down to just f2.8 reduces vignetting significantly, and by f4, it’s practically gone. In terms of flare, I found it to be highly resistant to it because as you can see here, I don’t even have a photo with any flare in this review. If I try hard enough, I suppose I can get this lens to flare but then again, what lens wouldn’t if forced to in the right conditions? In my normal use, I had no issues with flare.
↑ This lens has beautiful color rendering. This was taken at f2.
↑ This was taken at f8.
↑ Here’s a photo taken at f11.
↑ This was taken at f8.
Fuji XF 50mm f2 R WR Lens Bokeh:
As for bokeh, try as I might, I couldn’t get the XF 50mm f2 R WR lens to give me anything bad. I know, it may sound kind of weird when I say I’m trying to get this lens to produce something bad but this is a review. In addition to finding the lens’ strengths, I need to find its shortcomings as well. Also, we all have different tastes, and maybe what I think is good isn’t your cup of tea. With that said, the bokeh that is produced from this lens is quite pleasing to the eyes in my opinion. I tried several particularly difficult backgrounds to see if I could stump this lens or at least get it to produce something that was unpleasant in the background but it never took the bait. There are no weird shapes or anything distasteful in the background. The bokeh is buttery smooth in every way…absolutely beautiful, and very fitting for this lens. For an f2 lens, it really does an amazing job just melting the background away.
↑ The bokeh is nice and smooth. This was taken at f2.
↑ Here’s another taken at f2.
↑ Here’s one more shot wide open. Tree branches blend in so smoothly and melt away.
Fuji XF 50mm f2 R WR Lens vs. XF 56mm f1.2 R Lens:
I did not do a direct comparison between the XF 50mm and XF 56mm. I probably should’ve, since I own the XF 56mm f1.2 R APD lens, so I can easily access it but truthfully, I was having too much fun with the XF 50mm f2. But I’ve owned the XF 56mm f1.2 APD for a long time now, so I do have experience with it. I thought I’d share some of my thoughts, since many who are considering the XF 50mm f2 will likely look at the XF 56mm f1.2 as well. To me, the XF 50mm f2 can be a good alternative to the XF 56mm f1.2 but I don’t really consider it a direct replacement.
↑ There is definitely a big difference in size between these two lenses.
Both these lenses are great; you’re getting top image quality from both. But the differences are greater than what would appear at first glance. For one, while it may not seem like there’s much of a difference between a 76mm equivalent and a 85mm equivalent, in practice, it sure feels quite a bit different. I use the XF 56mm f1.2 APD a lot, and I definitely felt the change when I started using the XF 50mm f2. I felt myself having to get noticeably closer to my subject, for example. It actually took me a long time to get used to the XF 50mm f2.
These two lenses also render quite differently, especially if you’re talking about shooting them wide open. The XF 56mm f1.2 is such an amazing portrait lens. It has the ability to be insanely sharp when you’re focusing on your subject but then also throw the background into a beautiful blur. With the XF 56mm f1.2, you know that you’re going to get that super, dreamy portrait look. The images can be epic to say the least. With the XF 50mm f2, you’re going to get smooth looking bokeh, but it won’t give you that same magic wide open.
However, the XF 50mm f2 R WR lens is an easier lens to live with on a daily basis. The autofocus, for example, feels light years ahead of my XF 56mm f1.2 APD. It’s also smaller in just about every way. For example, the XF 56mm f1.2 uses a 62mm filter while the XF 50mm f2 uses a 46mm filter.
In terms of optical quality, I don’t really want to talk too much about that, since I have not done any direct comparisons. I will say this though: Both these lenses are very sharp, and I think it would be difficult to see much of a difference between the two unless you are viewing images from both zoomed in at 100% in a direct comparison. Both these lenses will produce top tier quality. As for their wide open apertures, I’ve actually gotten extremely sharp results from both lenses. But I think more attention needs to be paid when using the XF 56mm f1.2 wide open because with such a shallow depth of field, sometimes even the slightest movement on your part or even say the model’s could cause a slightly off focused image.
Overall, this is how I look at these two lenses. The XF 56mm f1.2 is more of a specialized tool. When you’re after that perfect portrait with all the trimmings, for example, you pull this lens out. What the XF 56mm f1.2 produces is pure magic. It’s an awesome, AWESOME lens. For the days you may not need that f1.2 aperture, the XF 50mm f2 R WR lens is probably a lens that you will want to carry instead. XF 50mm f2 is more of an everyday lens, not that that’s bad or anything. I mean it in a good way. It’s weather sealed, and it’s so compact that there’s no reason to ever leave it at home. Because of its size, and it’s blazingly fast autofocus, it’s also great for street, and it balances beautifully with the Fuji bodies. At f2, you may not have the same dreamy effect as the XF 56mm f1.2 but it’s still plenty fast for most purposes. It will still produce beautifully blurred backgrounds. Of course, this doesn’t mean that what I say here is true for everyone. For example, while I consider the XF 56mm f1.2 a more specialized lens, I bring it everywhere with me, and sometimes treat it like an everyday lens. It would just probably be more convenient if I owned the XF 50mm f2 for the days when I’m not looking for the XF 56mm f1.2’s unique rendering or its f1.2 aperture.
Fuji XF 50mm f2 R WR Lens Pros And Cons:
Fuji XF 50mm f2 R WR Lens Pros:
- Very well-built.
- Ultra compact.
- Lens hood compliments the XF 50mm f2 quite well.
- Blazingly fast autofocus; one of the fastest in the Fuji X Series line.
- Superb image quality.
- Ultra sharp.
- Beautiful, smooth bokeh.
- At $449, this lens is a steal.
Fuji XF 50mm f2 R WR Lens Cons:
- The XF 50mm f2’s 46mm filter thread might cause some inconvenience for those who own the other f2 lenses, since those lenses use 43mm filter threads.
Fuji XF 50mm f2 R WR Lens Verdict:
In my opinion, the XF 50mm f2 R WR lens is one of the best lenses that Fujifilm have released so far. For what it is, for what it’s designed for, and for the price, it’s really hard to find any reason not to recommend it. Think about it: this is a 76mm equivalent f2 lens that is more compact than a lot of standard lenses out there. In addition to its small size, the image quality is also fantastic, and the f2 aperture makes it fast enough for nearly everything you can throw at it. The autofocus is also insanely fast, and the XF 50mm f2 is weather sealed. To top it off, all of this can be bought for $449, which quite frankly, feels too good to be true. In comparison, the XF 56mm f1.2 is $999, and if you want the APD version, it’ll set you back $1,499. There’s definitely a big price difference, and while the XF 50mm f2, and XF 56mm f1.2 have characteristics that make them each distinct, if you’re looking for a lens around the focal range of the XF 56mm, the XF 50mm f2 can still prove to be a great alternative.
↑ This was taken at f2.
↑ This lens’ autofocus is fast. It is great for street work. This was taken at f2.
↑ This was taken at f8.
↑ Here’s one last one taken at f2 to demonstrate the bokeh.
Personally, I think the XF 50mm f2 is worth every single penny, and then some. It’s just about the perfect short tele. I highly recommend this lens; in my opinion, there’s no need to look any further, if all the qualities that I’ve mentioned in this review are what you’re looking for in a short tele for your Fuji X Series camera.
Thanks for taking the time to read my review! If you’re considering purchasing the XF 50mm f2, and my review helped you decide, please help support this site by purchasing from any of the links in this review. It will not cost you anything extra. Thank you for your support!
Excellent review and wonderful images! This lens is next on my list. It will be a nice pairing with my 23mm f2 lens
Thanks Ian!
It’s good to hear from you, and I really appreciate you taking the time to read it. This lens would make a fantastic pairing with the 23mm f2. Having a 35mm and 75mm covers so much ground. Take care!
Best,
Patrick
Hi Patrick,
Thanks for the review. I just have to decide if I really need it. I’m getting the Pro 2 + 23 f2 combo and that will give me the 14, 23, & 35. I find the 35 amazingly sharp and with the 24mp Pro2 I may cut something.
BTW, When you said the 56 f12. was $849 I checked the B&H site and it is $999 their and at amazon. When I checked Adorama they only listed the APD version. Strange.
Cheers,
Steve
Hi Steve,
Good to hear from you, and thanks for taking the time to read my review! Well, it’s definitely good to take your time to decide if you need a piece of gear. I do the same. The 35mm is an incredible lens. It’s one of my favorites, and it is truly exceptional, especially on one of the newer bodies.
Thanks for letting me know about the price. I really appreciate it. I just corrected it in my review. I did a quick Google search when I was writing up my review, and must’ve come up to an old pricing/rebate. That is strange that Adorama only had the APD listed. They still have it at B&H. It must be some kind of error or mistake.
Thanks for stopping by, Steve!
Best,
Patrick
Hi Patrick,
I forgot to ask. Did you stop by the Fuji Wonder Photo Shop when you took the shot of the Flat Iron Building?
Cheers,
Steve
Hi Steve!
I didn’t even know it was there hahaha :). I’m always around there too. I did a quick Google search, and I’ll check it out the next time I’m around there. Have you been there yet?
Best,
Patrick
Hi Patrick,
I was going to go there March 31but the weather got in the way. I’m now hoping to go April 28. That will be about a week before I get my X Pro 2.
Cheers
Steve
Hi Steve,
It looks pretty cool. Maybe I’ll stop by this week, if I get a chance.
Best,
Patrick
Hi Patrick,
Nice review. I added the 50mm f/2 to my daily carry kit and agree with your comments regarding the lens. It’s a great addition and I find myself using it more often than I expected. Combined with the 14mm f/2.8, the 23mm, and 35mm f/2, it makes a great small daily carry kit that fits into an Ona Bowery bag and still leaves room for spare batteries, etc. The f2 lenses are yet another set of stunning lenses from Fujifilm.
Thanks, Mark!
I really appreciate you taking the time to read it! The new f2 lenses are stellar in my opinion. I love the compact sizes too. For a while, Fuji were producing larger lenses, and while they are great optics, these were the kind of lenses I always wanted Fuji to produce. f2 is plenty fast, and the focusing, build quality, etc….all great. I hope you enjoy the new 50mm! Thanks for stopping by!
Best,
Patrick
Hello Patrick,
Quite a comprehensive & complimentary review for this new 50mm f2 lens from Fuji, which I think is well deserved. I agree with all that you have to say about this lens, having just recently got a hold of one of them myself for use on my X-Pro2. Its falls into just the right spot in between my other primes for the XP2: Zeiss 12mm f2.8, Fuji XF16mm f1.4, XF35mm f2, & XF90mm f2. In just the brief time I have been using it, I can find no fault with any of the results, including as you mentioned no flare even when shooting close to the sun. Like you say, it could probably be made to flare but the hood seems to do a very nice job & still allows some use of the optical finder. So thanks for this helpful report on this excellent little 50mm lens. Cheers,
Jed
Thanks Jed!
Good to hear from you! Yes, this lens would fit great into your collection. That’s a great collection of lenses I might add. I think they really priced the new 50mm well too. The funny thing is, I didn’t actually want this lens at first simply because I didn’t need this focal length. But after using the new 50mm, it is hard to deny how great it is overall. Now, I’m so tempted to buy one! It’s nice to have a focal length like this one that is so compact. It can be really handy. Thanks for stopping by, I really appreciate it!
Best,
Patrick
Great review and I think spot on. Agree with absolutely everything said and come from same point of view. Agree, it’s not a replacement for the 56mm f/1.2, but rather an alternative.. the 50mm f/2 is different enough, yet equally praise worthy in it’s own right, and I was excited by it’s announcement and purchased the 50mm f/2 exactly for more versatility because I often found the 56mm (I also considered it a daily lens sometimes and it is fun to shoot when you have the right opportunities to use it effectively) just a bit too long in enough of my situations where I’m either pushed to a corner or wall or have to reluctantly crop in tighter than I want to. If you can own both the 50mm f/2 & the 56mm f/1.2, you probably should.
Thanks Wing!
I greatly appreciate you taking the time to read it! I completely agree with you about owning both if possible. I’m seriously considering the 50mm myself now :)! I was really a bit surprised at how much I enjoyed using this lens. The quality is all there, and I just love the size of it. It’s so handy, and drama free. No autofocus issues, no IQ problems, fast enough for most purposes…the list goes on. It’s also priced really well. The 50mm in this review was a loaner, so I had to send it back already but truthfully, I miss it. Thanks for stopping by, and sharing your thoughts with us!
Best,
Patrick
Hello Patrick, I don’t recollect reading why you prefer APD version of 56mm. Could you shed some light? The pictures I have seen from APD else where and in one of your posts do show great sharpness and the colour. Is that why you got APD?
After trying out XT2, XT20 and X100f and XA3, I might opt for the dinky XA3 with the 16-50 kit lens and get some primes. I just don’t seem to get along with the x trans sensor. I already have A7ii, 50 zm 1.5 and an RX1R, but my hands are itching for something different (GAS!). I am not sure which primes yet. I do mostly shoot between 35-50. Love bokeh and rendering over sharpness, so might opt for 35/1.5 to start with. Liked XA3 when I tried it – https://flic.kr/s/aHskWkUMPp
Hi Mahesh!
It’s good to hear from you again! I never wrote a review for the APD version but I may do so in the near future. The APD version gives you slightly smoother bokeh. It is more expensive than the non-APD version but at the time, there was a really good rebate on the lens, so I went for it. My thinking was, if I was going to buy a lens specifically for its bokeh, I might as well get the one that delivers a smoother result even if it’s only by a little bit more. It’s a personal preference of mine. It doesn’t fit everyones needs because it does have some drawbacks. For instance, it does have slower focus speed but for my needs, that’s not all that important.
If you like the XA3’s results, by all means, go for it. All camera these days can produce excellent results, and from what I saw in your Flickr page, you can clearly produce excellent images! Get something that you are most comfortable with, and that you’ll know you want like shooting with long term. Thanks for sharing your images by the way.
As for lenses, if you want bokeh, then the 35mm f1.4 is a great choice in the range you were talking about. It’s a first generation lens, and therefore, it doesn’t have the build quality or the focusing speed of the newer stuff but personally, it is still one of my favorites. I own one myself. I love the rendering, and the bokeh is beautiful but it is also very sharp! I actually traded my first one in, and missed it so much that I bought it again last year haha :).
Thanks for stopping by, and let me know what you end up with!
Best,
Patrick
Hi Patrick, thanks very much for taking time to read and respond. Your posts with wonderful pictures and responses to any questions keep me coming back here. I keep checking everyday this site and a few others that I like. I’ll let you know what I end up with.
Thanks again.
Hi Mahesh!
Not a problem! I’m always happy to help, and thank you very much for the kind words! Yes, definitely let me know what you end up with! Talk soon!
Best,
Patrick
Hey Patrick.
First of all: fantastic shots! I have been in NYC last year and would be happy if I would have the same stunning pictures than you 😉
And I really enjoyed the review. You nailed it! Even I own the 50/2 already I loved to read your thoughts. Totally agree by 100% (also the thing with the silver lens on a black body 😉
Good for me I don’t own the fantastic 56/1.2 – so I don’t have to compare them to find out which one is better for me. Fact is: the 50/2 is just great for my needs!
My setup now is the X-Pro2 with the 14/2.8 – 23/2 – 35/2 – 50/2 … Small, light, perfect. The only “downside” is, that the 35mm lens is almost jobless now. Especially for travelling I leave the 35mm at home. The other 3 lenses give me everything I need. Especially for city trips.
Again: Great job, Patrick! Reviews like this are always a big help for people who are thinking about buying new gear!!!
Hi Markus!
Thanks for the very kind words! I really appreciate it, and thanks for taking the time to read my review! I can definitely appreciate what the f1.4 lenses bring to the table but these new f2 lenses are simply awesome. Fast, quiet, sharp, and best of all, very compact. There really isn’t a bad one in the bunch.
It sounds like you have an awesome setup! I think out of all the f2 lenses, the 35mm is still my favorite (mostly because the 50mm focal length is my favorite) but I can see how it’s almost jobless haha :). With the 23mm and 50mm, you have pretty much everything covered.
This new 50mm f2 is such a sweet lens! I no intentions of purchasing one when it was first announced but after using it, I’m so tempted to get one for myself. I hope you continue to enjoy it, and feel free to stop by from time to time to let me know how it works out for you! Thanks for stopping by, and leaving such a nice comment!
Best regards,
Patrick
Hi Markus,
You pretty much have the same lens set up I will have. Right now I have the 14/2.8 and 35/2. My camera is the X-Pro 1. The first week or so of April I’m getting the X-Pro 2 with the 23/2 and a month or two later probably complete the set up with the 50/2.
Cheers,
Steve
Thanks for the great review.
So I had a delima–and ended it quickly.
Had JUST purchased the 56 1.2. Seemed pretty good but a kind of wobble sound bothered me so I called Fuji and asked a bunch of questions. Well first let me say wobble is a bit too strong. But as I opened and closed the aperture I could hear and feel them work. A repair technician at Fuji assured me there was nothing defective going on. Believe it or not at that time I had not heard of the 50mm f/2. I “discovered” it serendipitously while discussing the virtues of the Fuji system with the technician. Consoled that my purchase of the 56 was not a waste allowed me to rethink and do a bit more researching .
I spent half a day reading about the 50 f2 and then quickly boxed up the 56mm and returned it. The 50 is on the way!
I SHOOT EXCLUSIVELY IN. s i l e n t MODE .
Don’t want to hear anything. Used the Sony and Olympus the same way.
Can’t wait to get the 50mm f2. !!!!
Thanks MJ!
I appreciate you taking the time to read my review, and to leave a comment! I actually had trouble initially when I bought the APD version of the XF 56mm. The non-APD version that I reviewed was excellent. I had no problems with it but when I bought the APD version, I ended up exchanging it twice because I found the aperture ring way to loose for my taste. My 56mm still works great, and I absolutely love the lens but the XF 50mm is definitely a nice lens as well. The build quality is much better, it’s fast, and of course, it’s silent! Let me know how it works out for you once you’ve had some time with it! Thanks for stopping by!
Best,
Patrick
Hi Patrick,
I got this lens in silver today and took it for a quick spin on my Pro 2. First I took two close-up shots with the 11mm extension tube between the body and the lens. Then I tried a few shots with just the lens and body. I did use a flash for all the shots. All the shots are technically top notch.
Outside of what a great lens it is, it really looks sharp on my Pro 1.
So, with my 14mm, 23mm, 35mm, and 50mm I’m all set for whatever gets thrown at me.
Cheers,
Steve
Hi Steve,
Yup, the XF 50mm is quite good :). It’s one of my favorites. I hope you continue to enjoy it!
Kit wise, I’ve been good with what I have for a while now but I’m mighty tempted to add this Mitakon 35mm f0.95 I’m almost done reviewing to my collection. It has proven to be a great lens in so many ways. The bokeh is wonderful but besides that, it’s also quite sharp. The build quality is also really good, and focusing isn’t that hard. I don’t know…mighty tempted haha although right now, I have plans of buying some strobes, so if I go for it, I will have to wait a bit.
By the way, I still haven’t had the chance to go to the Fuji store in the Flatiron district haha. I will have to make some time soon.
Best,
Patrick
Hi Patrick,
That Mitakon is very tempting. But since I have the 14mm, 23, 35, and 50, my travel kit would be all but the 35mm. Or should I just take the 23 and 50. Decision decisions.
Flash wise I just got the Nissin i40a for Fuji. It is a great little flash. Much better than the Fuji EF-20 that I will trade in. I also have two Yongnuo 460 ii units. When they were around they were $50 or so a piece. Now they are kind of rare. If I had to buy a new flash at this time I’d look very closely at the Neewer TT560 on Amazon. $32 and 2590 reviews, four stars.
I may have mentioned that if you go to the Wondershop on the last Friday of the month they will do a free cleaning and firmware update if needed. I think the limit is four items. The more you bring the more everyone has to wait. It took about an hour for my Pro 1and 14mm to go through the cleaning.
Cheers,
Steve
Hi Steve,
My review is coming up for the Mitakon. Just posted a quick first impressions on it. I am not looking forward to sending it back haha. I may seriously trade in my XF 35mm f1.4 for it.
I heard good things about the Yongnuo. I have the EF-20 but I never use it. My dad had an X-Pro1, and when he traded it in, he gave me the flash. It’s a nice size though. I mostly use my Leica SF-58 flash. I bought it originally because I wanted TTL function with my Leica but I use it off camera with both the Fuji and Leica. I’ve been wanting to get more into strobes for a long time now, so I will probably jump for the Profoto B1Xs either this month or next. The price is scary but for what I want to do, I think they are a perfect fit for me.
I definitely need a firmware update…I have not updated my camera since I bought it. I am generally pretty lazy when it comes to stuff like that haha. Wow, so I guess they must do a pretty thorough cleaning. An hour? Maybe I will check that out. My XF 18-55mm needs a major cleaning.
Best,
Patrick
I am a recently converted Canon (80d) to Fuji XT2 user and firstly have to save I have not regretted the switch one bit. I bought the Samyang 100mm macro to replace my Canon 100mm F2.8L lens and impressed with the IQ too. To get close to the Canon lens is an achievement especially at the price but the Canon Lens on any format is hard to beat regarding mtf charts.
I shot a local gig last week using a converted Pentax 50mm F1.7 which showed me how much I loved the focal range but manually focusing in poor light was a challenge so have been looking at a Fuji equivalent to hopefully get some autofocus in future. Really good review you have compiled and compares to many other reviews I have read about this lens. Thanks very much, seriously tempted with this due to price considering the 56mm F1.2 is double.
Stu
Hi Stuie,
Thanks for the kind words, and for taking the time to read my review! Sorry for the late reply, btw. Good to hear about your switch to an X-T2. It sounds like you’re definitely enjoying it. The XF 50mm is such an awesome lens, and a great match for it! Fast autofocus, sharp, and best of all, compact. If you end up getting it, I’d love to hear what you think about it once you’ve had some time with it. Feel free to leave me another message. Thanks again for reading my review!
Best,
Patrick
Thanks for the great review. Do you do much editing in the images features here please?
Hi Jon,
Thanks for the kind words, and for taking the time to read my review! I did not do much editing to these pics. They were all shot in RAW, and I spent a few minutes with each in Camera Raw in Photoshop CC. I didn’t do anything complex. I hope this helps!
Best,
Patrick
I have the 14mm f2.8. Is owing all F2 lenses are too much? Anyone who has all 23mm, 35mm and 50mm lenses, do you get to use all the lenses equally? Any one of the lens end up didn’t get use much?
Hi Alex,
I think it depends on the individual. You get lenses that will fit your style of photography even if you do not use all your lenses equally. There are lenses that you might use occasionally but you may feel they are still essential for your system. For instance, I own the 12mm Touit, 18-55mm, 35mm f1.4, and the 56mm f1.2 APD but the ones I use most are probably the 12mm and the 56mm. Even though I don’t use my zoom as much, there are days when I feel it’s a lens I can’t live without.
Best,
Patrick
I love this lens and the other 2 that make up the trio of small weather resistant lenses. I can put this on my X-H1 and the 23 and 35 in my pocket and I am ready to walk around my home city of Cincinnati Oh.
Thanks for writing a great review.
Hi Steve,
Thanks for the kind words! I love these three lenses as well! Compact, well-made, fast, and weather sealed…what more could anyone ask for :)? You sound like you have a great set up, and I hope you continue to enjoy them! Thanks for stopping by!
Best,
Patrick