Fujifilm Fujinon XF 50mm f/2 R WR Review

Fujifilm Fujinon XF 50mm f/2 R WR Performance

Like the 23mm f/2 already looked at, the 50mm f/2 lens gives an exemplary performance in the resolution chart. Centrally, sharpness is outstanding from f/2 to f/4, excellent from f/5.6 to f/11 and very good even at the smallest aperture of f/16. The edges are excellent from f/2 to f/11 and very good at f/16. This is a superb result by any measure and shows the lens to be critically sharp throughout.

CA (Chromatic Aberration) is moot with some MFT and with the Fuji X cameras, as there is software at work in the cameras in both the RAW and JPEG output. This means that correction of CA is almost perfect, both centre and edge. Using Fuji lenses on Fuji cameras this doesn't have a downside, but the thought does occur that results using the lenses on other marques might well need some attention in software as well. That is, always assuming that suitable adapters can be sourced. The SLR lens manufacturer does not have quite the same freedom to enhance corrections in camera as the lenses might be used on many different bodies via the plethora of possible adapters available.

Distortion likewise is corrected before we become involved, and hence measures a very low -0.16% barrelling, as near perfect as makes little difference.

Flare is not a problem either, images shot against the light showing no sign of loss of sharpness or contrast.

Bokeh is pleasing, helped by the telephoto reach of the lens and the reduced depth of field. It is smooth, although not a gorgeously smooth as the STF (Smooth Transition Focus) lenses that are starting to appear.

Overall, a beautifully made lens with outstanding results technically. It is compact, convenient to use and a very desirable addition to the Fuji X range.

Value For Money

The Fujinon Super EBC XF 50mm f/2 R WR lens is priced at £449, which seems to be a reasonable cost for a high quality prime lens.

There are quite a few alternatives available in Fuji X fit. Fuji themselves offer the Fujinon XF 56mm f/1.2 R (£768) and the APD version of the same lens (£1159) that boasts an apodization filter and the promise of superb bokeh.

The Fujinon 60mm f/2.4 R Macro is another possibility at £579 as is the Zeiss 50mm f/2.8 Makro Touit at £749.

In manual focus, Samyang has two offerings, the Samyang 50mm f/1.2 AS UMC CS (£309) and the Samyang 50mm T1.3 AS UMC CS Video lens (£329).

For more options have a look at the Top 10 Best Fujifilm Lenses.

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