fuji 18mm 1.4 travel

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Fujifilm 18mm f/1.4 Lens Review: Spoiler, It’s Exceptional!

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Alongside the Fujifilm X-T5, I picked up quite possibly the sharpest lens I have ever owned; the Fujifilm 18mm f/1.4. After several months of solid use, it’s time to set out my thoughts here in my Fujifilm 18mm f/1.4 lens review.

Released in May 2021, the Fujifilm 18mm f/1.4 was the first of Fujifilm’s new and updated trilogy of ultra-fast primes and a lens that I have long had my eye on. The new 23mm f/1.4 hasn’t yet done enough to replace my old 23mm f/1.4 and long term readers will know that I won’t ever replace the Fujifilm 35mm f/1.4 ; my favourite ever lens.

Prior to picking up the Fujifilm 18mm f/1.4, my go-to lens combination for travel/street/day to day life photography was the Fujifilm 16mm f/1.4 alongside the 35mm f/1.4. These two lenses are exceptional and produce beautiful imagery and so it was a tough decision to spend more money on a lens so close in focal length but, let me tell you now, the Fujifilm 18mm f/1.4 is well worth it. This lens has become my standard day to day walk-around lens as it’s just so much more versatile than the 35mm f/1.4 particularly when I’m grabbing quick shots of my family on days out.

I’ve waited quite a while to pull together all of my thoughts on this lens as I wanted to be sure I could provide something worthwhile. Having shot well over 2,500 images across my travels and across my ordinary life as well as shooting weddings with it as my main lens, I think that it’s now the right time to share my thoughts and plenty of images in my Fujifilm 18mm f/1.4 lens review to showcase just how good this lens is!

FUJIFILM 18MM F/1.4 LENS REVIEW

The 18mm f/2 was one of three lenses initially released by Fujifilm all the way back in 2012 and so many fell in love with the lens despite its flaws. The 18mm focal length (28mm full frame) has long been extremely popular with reportage/documentary style photographers so you can imagine how exciting it was when Fujifilm announced a brand-new version with an impressive f/1.4!

I didn’t jump on the lens straight away to be fair when it was finally released in May 2021. I’ve done well not to get too wrapped up in the marketing campaigns meaning that I never really buy a lens brand new so I’m more likely to wait a year or two before picking up a copy second-hand if it feels right.

Fast forward to September 2022 and the time felt right to pick up the Fujifilm 18mm f/1.4. It was more than worth the wait.

VERSATILITY

Straight up this is an extremely versatile prime lens that is practically perfect for ‘storytelling’ photography. The focal length is quite wide so you can really add to the frame even if you get close to your subject. It’s obviously not as wide as the Fujifilm 16mm f/1.4 but there’s just something about the 18mm focal length that feels comforting. It might have something to do with the fact that this focal length is the standard for smartphones these days. It also means I can still absolutely nail those hand-hold shots that feature so routinely across this site.

As I said above, I’ve used this lens when travelling both at home and abroad, I’ve failed at a 365 photography challenge where this was the lens I primarily used and I’ve shot weddings and pretty much everything in my day to day life especially my family. If you’re looking for an all-round lens, and you’re a prime lover, this is the lens for you.

OTHER PLUS POINTS

Whilst the previous incarnation of the 18mm was tiny, this version is completely the opposite – it’s a pretty large lens if not a little elongated if that’s the right word. However, even with all of that glass, the autofocus is instantaneous even in low light and completely silent. With the weather resistance too, there’s literally nothing not to like with this lens.

IMAGE QUALITY / SHARPNESS

Image quality and sharpness kind of goes hand in hand for me and I’ll come onto sharpness in a minute. Honestly, anything I’ve thrown at this lens it has handled superbly. Hopefully you’ll get a good sense of what this lens can produce through the sample images below but the image quality really is insane. It also fully resolves the 40mp sensor of the Fujifilm X-T5.

I’ve never ordinarily been someone striving for the sharpest possible lens. I’m more of a photographer that is happy with slightly less than perfect as long as the moment is captured. However, once I tried this lens and found just how sharp it is, I will forever be raving about how much I love the sharpness. Jesus, some of my images absolutely pop.

For example, let’s take this photo below which was taken at a recent wedding I shot. It’s late in the day in September in England, half way through the wedding breakfast, when chaos ensues and pretty much all of the guests including myself are having a little dance. The lights not great in the barn but I’m snapping away getting into the swing of things and then BOOM somehow the photography gods are on my side and I capture the below photo that has to be one of the sharpest I’ve taken especially given the circumstances. For me, this photo is the perfect representation of why I love this lens; shot wide open to make the subject pop with lightning fast autofocus to capture those fleeting moments. Sure I have plenty of great photographs taken with this lens, many of which I’m sharing here (though not all of course), but this is probably my favourite.

OVERALL THOUGHTS

As you will have seen, there’s not a bad thing I can say about this lens. It’s fast, it’s sharp and it produces breathtaking images. This is the perfect lens to combine with the Fujifilm X-T5 and has essentially replaced the Fujifilm 16mm f/1.4 – I’ve barely used it ever since though I’m not sure I could ever get rid of that either.

I’ve recently picked up the Fujifilm 18-55mm f/2.8-4 lens too as it’s something that really helps when travelling but obviously and unexpectedly the 18mm f/1.4 blows it out of the water.

So, let’s wrap this up before I ramble any more, the Fujifilm 18mm f/1.4 is exceptional. Well done Fujifilm!

SAMPLE IMAGES TAKEN WITH THE FUJIFILM 18MM F/1.4

MY 2024 TRAVEL PHOTOGRAPHY GEAR

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jonasrask | photography

When waiting is worth it! – The Fujinon XF 18mm f1.4 R WR FIRST LOOK

I cannot begin to describe how long I have waited for Fujifilm to do a fresh take on an 18mm XF lens. I won’t lie, I have been requesting a complete optical makeover refresh of the XF18mm f/2 for as long as I have been in close contact with Fujifilm. But it sometimes seemed as if they were much more keen on the 16mm focal length, since they have made a lot of 16’s over the years. (16mm f/1.4, 16mm f/2.8, 16-55mm, 16-80mm) But why keep on insisting on the 18mm focal length then? Why not just use the excellent range of 16mm lenses? – Well, in Fullframe terms the equivalent focal length of 16mm is 24mm and the 18mm equivalent is 28mm. It doesn’t seem like a whole lot, but that 2mm (4mm eq) difference in focal length is actually close to a 9° difference in field of view, and it does have a BIG impact on hov an image looks and feels. Heck, it even impact how the photographer frames and composes the images more than one should think. These two focal lengths does indeed require completely different mindsets, which is why any given camera and lens manufacturer throughout the past many years always have both focal lengths in their lineup.

But for now, let’s just celebrate the fact that FINALLY Fujifilm has put out the XF18mm f/1.4 R WR – And let me warn you right now, I’m completely blown away by the quality of this lens. In fact I will go so far as to state that this lens is Fujifilms best optical achievement for the XF system next to the XF90mm f/2 – Yes, that even means better than the 16mm f/1.4R WR!

But before we get going as always, I’ll be courteous and write down my usual disclaimers.

Feel free to skip everything but number 3 Disclaimer 1:  I’m an X-photographer. That’s spelled brand ambassador for Fujifilm. I don’t get paid for doing these write ups (and I have been doing them even before getting involved with Fujifilm). This means that I’m just about as biased as I can get, and whether you choose to believe my views or not is entirely up to you. I expect you to be adults, capable of forming your own opinions based on presented information. Disclaimer 2:  All the images in this article has been shot using an early prototype of the XF18mm f/1.4R WR. Image quality might therefore not be final. Disclaimer 3:  All shots with- and of the product has been shot by me, and is not to be used without my explicit permission.

Fujifilms dance with the 18mm focal length

In 2012 with the release of the original X-Pro1, Fujifilm released the original trilogy of lenses.

The XF18mm f/2R The XF35mm f/1.4R The XF60mm f/2.4R Macro

This trilogy of lenses looked as if they followed what Contax put to market when they released their Contax G system. The 28mm F/2.8, The 45mm f/2 and the 90mm f/2.8. All semi-equivalent focal lengths to what Fujifilm decided to put to market. (Given how influenced the X-Pro1 was by the Contax G, this doesn’t surprise me one bit)

While the XF35mm f/1.4R quickly achieved a cult following because of how good it was (and still is! – My favourite Fujifilm lens of all time), the XF60mm F/2.4R quickly got a reputation as being too slow to even use, although having some of the best IQ ever in an XF lens to date. And then there was the 18mm f/2R. Touted as the reportage and documentary lens it soon became clear that this lens was not Fujinon best IQ effort to date. It lacked serious corner sharpness, and the bokeh was rather busy-looking and not at all anything to brag about. A lot of early adopters bought the lens and lived with it, and later jumped to the XF18-55mm zoom for a much improved 18mm focal length IQ. – I have owned and sold the 18mm f/2R three times by now. It’s a love/hate kinda thing.

So ever since the XF18mm f/2R was launched as part of the original X series effort, a lot of people including me have been looking for an 18mm lens that was up to the incredible standard of lenses that has come to define the XF lens lineup.

During the past 9 years Fujifilm have shown us that they are more than capable of making an improved 18mm lens. The two zooms 18-55mm and 18-135mm both have way better 18mm performance than the 18mm f/2. They also max out at slower apertures (f/2.8 and f/3.5 respectively), and they are considerably larger than the XF18mm f/2R. Then came the little pocket rocket, The Fujifilm X70 – which launched with a super compact 18,5mm f/2.8 lens that was super sharp wide open even at close distances! A lens that retained the corner sharpness and the lack of distortion that the XF18mm was missing. I thought it would only be a matter of short time before we would see a nice compact XF version of the 18,5mm f/2.8. – But no! Instead we got a 16mm f/2.8R WR lens (which I really love though…) So here we are. 9 years out from Fujifilms original 18mm prime offering for the XF system….. FINALLY they have made a new 18mm.

And damnit was it worth the wait!!!

Build and Feel

As I wrote further on up, my bet was always on a new version of the XF18mm f/2R – The reason being its incredibly small formfactor which makes it really nice on the X-Pro bodies. I’m not an imbecile however, and I know that part of the XF18mm f/2’s IQ issue is from the fact that it is indeed very compact. It’s physics. There are always trade-offs!

So don’t expect this new XF18mm f/1.4 R WR to be as small a lens as the old f/2. Again, because….physics!

But how big is it then? (that’s what she said….or something…)

When lined up against, and compared to, the size of the other f/1.4 lenses it’s actually one of the smallest of the pack. It’s way smaller than the XF16mm f/1.4 and XF56mm f/1.2 and also smaller than the XF23mm f/1.4. Well, actually let me define smaller. The 18/1.4 is the longest of the bunch, but because of its smaller width it does seem a lot smaller. Optical illusion maybe, but it feels way smaller. The 16, and 23 seem especially large and front heavy because of their “clutch pull back” manual focus mechanism. The lens that actually compares the best to the size of the new XF18mm f/1.4 R WR is the XF18-55mm f/2.8-4.

The XF18mm f/1.4 R WR REALLY feels at home on the X-Pro1-2-3 bodies. On this particular series of camera bodies it feels just right. Not at all front heavy. The lens has a front filter thread of 62mm, it weighs 370g and measures 68.8mm in width and 75.6mm in length. Not too bad for a large aperture wideangle prime.

Obviously it is built to the usual XF lens build quality standards. This means metal mount, metal barrel, metal focus ring and metal aperture ring. It’s really well built and really sturdy. Even though it’s an all metal construction Fujifilm managed to keep the weight down while keeping the lens sturdy and solid. It feels absolutely great.

The focus ring is super smooth. It turns infinitely since its still focus by wire. Just as smooth is the aperture ring. It clicks firmly, but NOT as firmly and perfect as the new XF27mm f/2.8R WR – The aperture ring of that little rocket is puuuuurfect. The aperture “stiffness” on the XF18mm f/1.4 R WR is more akin that of the XF16mm f/1.4R WR.

All in all the new XF18mm f/1.4R WR is very very well built, it has the perfect balance on the X-Pro bodies and it just feels like a very premium product through and through!

Technical specifications

Below are the technical specifications for the XF18mm f/1.4 R WR lens. Worth noting is the close focus ability, the Linear Motor build, the 3 ASPH elements lens configuration as well as the WR build. Fujifilm threw ALL the good stuff into this lens.

There are some core features from that spec sheet above that I would like to discuss a little further, since they kind of define what this lens is all about. Extreme versatility. For the longest time the 28mm eq focal length has been used in a documentary setting because of its way of being very versatile. Being very intimate while still preserving a wide FOV to include as much “story” to the frame as possible. This is probably why it’s been the preferred focal length for the main lens on every smartphone for the past many years. It’s just a very very versatile focal length.

In that regard, its absolutely crucial that a lens such as the XF18mm f/1.4 R WR has all the features that makes it a great all-round prime. It needs fast autofocus to not miss the spontaneous moments. It needs corner to corner sharpness and excellent IQ so it can be used for landscapes. It needs to control distortion so it can be used for environmental portraits and it needs to be able to focus close so you can get objects singled out and separated. To make all of the above happen Fujifilm designed a lens with some technical traits that makes all of the above possible.

Autofocus – Linear motor build

It’s quite nice that Fujifilm built this lens around a very fast and silent linear motor. Usually this type of motor is used in the way bigger lenses within the Fujifilm X series where the amount of glass that needs to be pushed to attain focus is way bigger. What this means to the quite small XF18mm f/1.4 R WR is an autofocus performance that is absolutely incredible. This lens is probably one of the fastest lenses within the XF lens lineup to lock focus. I actually only think it’s surpassed by the XF35mm f/2 which still holds the benchmark AF speed for me. I must say that the autofocus capabilities of the XF18mm f/1.4 R WR is nothing less than amazing. And of course it blows the old XF18mm f/2R right out of the water!

Close Focus ability

This is something that I know so many people enjoy from the XF16mm f/1.4R WR. That super close focus ability combined with a wide FOV and a shallow aperture option gives the images a completely unique look and feel that I have yet to see outside the Fujifilm ecosystem. The XF18mm f/1.4 R WR doesn’t focus as close as the XF16mm, but it does focus rather close. And add to that the slightly longer focal length the look isn’t as pronounced on the 18 as it is on the 16. It does focus close enough so that you can bring subjects into 11 cm from the front element of the lens. (effectively about 20cm from the sensor plane) – And combined with that f/1.4 aperture you can really get creative with your close up photography.

Optical performance

Well, actually I’m not going to dive too far into this trait in this section since the big analysis of image quality is straight below. But just note this, from looking at the optical diagram of this lens you know that it’s bound to be good. 15 elements. 9 groups. 3 ASPH elements and one Extra low dispersion element. This lens is so optically corrected for any distortion and stray rays that it’s not even funny. It’s quite literally insane!

Image Quality

Let’s discuss IQ, shall we? No, not the IQ of the Fujinon engineers who created this lens, which must break the chart somehow. But rather the Image Quality of this new 18mm F/1.4 lens. It’s breathtakingly good.

With the XF14mm f/2.8 Fujifilm made a wide angle lens that was virtually free of any form of distortion. Everything was entirely optically corrected. In many of the lenses within the system Fujifilm relies on software to do the correction, but when that happens you actually “lose” some of the FOV. So obviously we want the lenses to be optically corrected instead of software corrected. What that usually means is a lot more glass, hence larger lenses. So, again, as with so many thing in life, it’s a matter of compromises.

But not this time…..

The XF18mm f/1.4 is to the best of my testing virtually distortion free as well. All the way from f/1.4 to f/16. It renders straight lines from corner to corner, edge to edge. It’s incredible.

Bokeh and flares

The out of focus areas from a wide angle lens doesn’t seem to be an area of interest to many of its potential buyers. But as with everything from this lens, it’s definitely something worth directing your attention towards. With the close focus abilities as well as the f/1.4 aperture you can actually blur your backgrounds quite a lot under the right circumstances. And when you do it looks absolutely incredible. The quality of the bokeh reminds me a lot of that of the XF23mm f/1.4R which is widely regarded as some of the best bokeh from any wideangle(‘ish) lens of the XF system. It has nice smooth specular highlights with no onion rings, hard edges or anything like that. It’s just super smooth and very pleasing. The bokeh does exhibit a little bit of optical vignetting meaning that the specular highlights will get a little more cat-eye shaped the further you move from the center of the frame.

The 9 aperture blades makes for some stupidly nice looking solar sunstar flares. They look a lot like the sunstar flares you can achieve on the 23mm f/2 mk2 lens on the X100V – and I LOVE those sunstars! – Well, atually they look better on the 18mm f/1.4R WR. The coating of the lens makes damn sure that irregular flares doesn’t interfere much and cause lowered contrast. I was actually worried about flare resistance since Fujifilm didn’t use the Nano GI coating like on the XF16mm f/1.4, but there is absolutely no ghosting and unwanted flaring with this lens. Just look at the examples below shot at f/16. They really speak for them selves. Obviously directly into the sun, but also at a bit of an angle. Those are some very well controlled flares!!

This lens has 3 aspherical lenses(!!!!!!) and one ED lens among its 15 lens elements, spread across 9 groups, to minimize chromatic- and comatic aberrations. Furthermore, the focusing group consisting of 6 lens elements moves in unison to reduce aberration fluctuations, which can be caused by focusing, to deliver some amazingly consistent sharpness at any focusing position of the lens.

It really doesn’t matter if you shoot this lens at f/1.4 or at f/16. Sharpness is very very good, clean and consistent. Given that obviously at f/16 you will start to see spherical abberations which are largely inevitable. The sharpness is very very good at the center of the frame, losing only a tiny bit of sharpness towards the corners. But already at f/2 the corners clean up and gets close to center sharpness.

Make no mistake, the XF18mm f/1.4R WR is among the top 3 of the sharpest lenses in the entire XF lineup.

Conclusion and sample images

I have waited so long for Fujifilm to bring a well designed, good performing 18mm prime lens to the XF system. In the midst of all the 16mm lens releases I started losing hope that it would ever happen. But it did. And I must say that the XF18mm f/1.4 R WR was worth the wait many times over. It has a perfect balance on my X-Pro3 camera, it is sturdy, yet lightweight and it looks and feels absolutely great.

It has incredible autofocus speed thanks to the linear motor build, and the image quality is breathtakingly good from corner to corner. Close to zero distortion, very good sharpness across the frame even wide open and great quality out of focus areas. Its a true around lens that you throw at virtually anything, and still get good results. I must say that Fujifilm has made yet another stellar lens as its 35th XF series lens. The XF18mm f1.4R WR has a suggested retail price of USD999$ and will be widely available in May

Sample images

Below you’ll find a lot of images in the sample gallery. I tried to use this lens as much as I could these past two months, so the sample gallery ended up quite big (again!! – so sorry). However, this probably gives a good indication of just how versatile the XF18mm f/1.4R WR is in day-to-day use.

All images can be viewed by clicking the gallery below. Download them at will and look at the EXIF. Everything is there. Knock yourselves out.

41 comments

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Some really spectacular imagery as always, always pleasing to read your reviews and see the photos you produce rather than test images and static wall photos on other reviews.

Now I’ve got to justify the cost for another lens, why do I always pick expensive hobbies…

You’re so very kind man. Indeed photography can be a very expensive hobby. NOt as expensive as collecting cars though 😉 All is relative 😀

My hobbies are Photography and Magic: The Gathering! God Bless Me! 😀

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Dang these shots look great. I’m super curious on side-by-side spec/performance comparison to the 16mm f/1.4.

Thank you Daniel. I will try and find time to make some comparison shots. Maybe keep an eye out in the Fuji X Photography Facebook group.

Your wonderful photos, in reality, demontrate how good of a photographer you are and not how good the lens is. I wonder how many of the hundreds of people that will shed one grand for this lens will even come close to your competence as a photographer. I guess less that a dozen.

What an incredibly kind thing to write Christos. Thank you. However, the lens is actually quite good 😀

Superb lens and very good item as usual! I would like fujifilm to release new lenses more often to have the chance to read you and see new photos … Are the photos retouched jpegs or RAF retouched on lightroom or C1? I came to Fuji for the quality of the jpegs taken out of the camera and today I have an existential question: do I adjust the already excellent jpegs a little bit on lightroom (high lights, clarity, curve) or I edit the RAF from lightroom? How do you generally go about editing your photos? Missing an article on your editing that so many of us have been waiting for so long … as long as you for the new XF18 1.4 WR in fact! With all the money you made us spend on Fuji equipment after we had dreamed of reading you, you owe us this article! just kidding … though … Mathieu

Hey man. Thank you so much.

THese are edited RAW files. I do shoot a lot of SOOC jpegs though. But mostly my personal images. My review/preview of the X-Pro3 (You can serach for it in the upper right corner) used only jpegs that I tweaked slightly in post.

One general rule I alwyas live by is “repect the file” – Don’t overcook it. Just edit a little bit.

And one day I will make an editing post….hopefully 😀

Have a great day man.

• Pingback: Fujinon XF18mm f/1.4 R LM WR Announced: Reviews, Samples, Pre-orders and More - Global Photography News

Excellent review, as always. I love to hear the subjective part, the personal impressions. This lens is on my wishlist; it will fit my street-travel needs, especially in low light situations. I have the 14mm F2.8 which is fantastic and better than 16mm F1.4, but 18mm at F1.4 sounds like the ideal travel lens, especially after the sunset. Great story!

Thank you so much man. Thanks for reading.

Your article with its writing and pictures is… again… outstanding! I actually always just wait for your article about new Fuji products and skip all the others 🙂 I was so hoping that the XE4 has water resistance too to have the smallest, most versatile package with this lens and to fight the elements. Or am I too scared about some rain on the XE4?

Do you edit with Capture One or Lightroom? (of course I would love to find that article about your editing one day… as mentioned above)

Thanks for your work and your shared passion about Fuji! I really can feel it every time you post stuff 🙂

Cheers Daniel

Hi Daniel. Thank you so much for your kind words. It would indeed have been lovely if the XE4 was weather sealed…But I guess we can’t have it all 😀

I edited these shots in Lightroom. But I have and use both CO and LR.

Have a great weekend man.

At last indeed!! And yes I’ve also sold and re-bought the 18 f2 version too, simply because I love the 28mm FF equivalent. I feel the 23 (35 in FF) is a bit tight and 16 (24 FF) is a bit too wide for my photography style. Plus it’s smaller with a 62mm filter size over the 16 f1.4’s 67mm which is quite large for a mirrorless system IMO. Great review and images as always. 🙂

Thank you so much buddy. It sounds like EXACTLY the dilemma I’ve seen myself in many times now 😀

Great review. Fills a gap for me. Sign me up! 🙂

Thank you so much Morten. Appreciate your comment!

Excellent review and pictures. I’ve been a Sony user for years but this lens is tempting me to switch, as I love 28mm and Sony’s equivalent lens is not very good!

Thank you so much Daniel

Very, very interesting Jonas … and (as usual) some cracking images you made there. Love the silhouette shot of the guy against the white ‘flash’ shape you cleverly found to compose him against. Let’s hope Fuji will also get round to doing an updated version of the XF 35mm f/1.4 soon too. I would have thought this is on the cards seen as it’s one of the oldest and they have steadily done updated versions of so many others. Though, in stark contrast the original 18mm, the 35mm f1.4 is far from being as disappointing (as you found the old 18mm); yes, it is slow to focus (by relative standards) and noisy but, like many photographers, it is one of my absolute favourites despite these shortcomings (but I guess I’m not alone in wishing for an updated version). I know many really like the weather sealed 35mm f/2, but if Fuji can preserve the ‘magic’ they created in the original design of the 35mm f1.4 and improve the autofocus motors and lack of weather sealing, they would sell out in a heartbeat.

Fantastic review. No need to apologize on length or surplus of images! First time I’ve read your posts/reviews and I’ve bookmarked it as you’ve earned a reader! Question: on 0235 (cars in garage) did you use any filter for that amount of halation of the lights or is that simply what the distance from focal point made the lights do at that speed? It’s lovely. I now really want this lens..

(And how the heck do you become a brand ambassador for fuji??? Sounds like a dream)

Thanks for your detailed review and enthusiasm. Your sample images are wonderful. It’s always great when you see a skilled photographer discussing new equipment rather than a camera nerd who routinely excuses their appalling sample shots while enthusing about fractional metric improvements.

I’m rather surprised by the lack of image stabilisation, especially given the size of the lens, but I expect it’s for newer stabilised bodies. Personally, for me, the 18mm f2 pancake lens offers some real advantages, and the small 18-55mm zoom with 18mm at f2.8 and offering image stabilisation with an overall more versatile lens easily compensates for the faster aperture and perhaps perceivable image quality.

But I’m not a professional, just someone who wants a versatile kit with still impressive Fuji quality.

Thank you so much man!! – I agree. Lets hope for a 35/1.4 revamp! – That would be killer. But ONLY if they leave the optical formula alone.

Absolutely! That why I never swapped for the 35mm f2 WR. Whilst I know it’s super fast etc, I hear it’s missing the ‘magic’ ingredients of the original (and I’m an absolute sucker for the widest f stop I can get!)

I always enjoy when you get a new toy to play with, Jonas, as it means the rest of us can enjoy the great images that always accompany your reviews. Always an inspiration, thanks for sharing.

Absolutely awesome review and sample gallery! Thank you so much! I’m very tempted to test this lens. Very interested in its performance on VIDEO too…

Thanks Jonas, your photography never fails to impress!

In terms of an overall system, I am wondering on the implications of this with respect to the X100V. I typically carry my X-T3 + 50mm f1 with the X100V as my secondary, pretty much always with the WCL-X100.

I suspect that if one were to add this lens to my arsenal, perhaps it would be best to use the X100V its portable and discrete form without the adapter, where it would also be optically strongest. Unless on occasions where one would only carry the X100V on its own.

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Non of your images show smooth transition from focus to out of focus. Do you think, it renders like other fujicrons? Or, it renders more like a 16/1.4, or other F1.4 primes? Wondering, how it renders on X-Trans I & II cams, as opposed to newer, more MP sensors. Is it optically, or digitally corrected? It seems, too many elements, and groups in this lens!

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Excellent review and images Jonas. I believe Fujifilm will sell a lot more 18 1.4’s thanks to this review. But more importantly, where did Brian get the hat?

Great review, again! You are doing a fantastic job! Just like you, I am a huge fan of the 28mm look. I shoot with both Fuji and Leica and currently mainly use my Leica Q2 (with 28mm summilux) precisely for that reason. Do you have an idea how the Fuji 18mm 1.4 performs compared to the Q2?

Ook voor mij is dit een van de belangrijkste vragen, hoe staat de nieuwe fuji 18mm f1.4 op een xt4 tegenover de leica q2 ? vooral betreft scherpte vind ik belangrijk.

Thanks for your excellent review. Did you try the lens with OVF on the pro2 ?

Moving to Fuji at the moment. The lens comes in at the right moment. Will be my new standard prime lens for weddings (as a wedding photographer 😉 )

Best regards ALEXANDER

Wonderful review of the new lens, and awesome photos, as always. I just received my new Fuji XF 18 f/1.4, a beautiful lens. I was wondering, is is normal to hear the element move inside the lens, until you turn the camera on? If you move the lens up and down, you can hear it, once the camera is on, it’s steady.

Thank you Jonas, Alan

Great review! Got my copy last week, loving it so far, balances really well on the x-t4.

I have a question, the metal lenshood for this lens (out of stock everywhere) 62mm, is interesting, you tried it on the 90mm?

Thanks for the review! I just picked it up. I am super excited to use with the 35/1.4 as a two lens travel setup. Just realized that with the XT5, I can use crop feature in camera and get 18, 23, 35 and 50 equiv in a very small kit and have amazing IQ and low light.

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The Fujifilm XF 18mm F/1.4 Review | Best Fujifilm Lens Ever Made?

Here are my top reasons why everyone needs to add this lens to their camera bag.

I sold four of my Fujifilm lenses (the 12mm f.2.0, my 18mm f/2.0, 23mm f/1.4, and my 50mm f/2.0) to fund what is perhaps the best Fujifilm lens ever made — the 18mm f/1.4 . I’ll come out of the gate saying this will not be a technical review. No pixel peeping, brick wall distortion tests, or bokeh comparisons will exist. This article will demonstrate my overall shooting experience and initial impressions of the 18mm f/1.4 from a perspective of a wedding, portraits, and family photographer. It is, by far, my absolute favorite Fujifilm lens to date, which completely overhauled any opinion made on the 16mm f/1.4 . Why? Let’s jump in.

XF 18mm F1.4 R LM WR Lens

Get up close and wide open with Fujifilm’s versatile new prime lens – the high-quality, portable, and weather-resistant FUJINON XF18mmF1.4 R LM WR. With a focal length equivalent to 27mm, it’s the per...

Get up close and wide open with Fujifilm’s versatile new prime lens – the high-quality, portable, and weather-resistant 18mm f/1.4 R LM WR . With a focal length equivalent to 27mm, it’s the perfect choice for sprawling landscapes, the sights and sounds of the street, and everything else in between. Be ready for any creative outburst with lightning-fast autofocus, a wide f/1.4 aperture, and weather resistance to allow for continued operation in dusty, moist, and freezing conditions. The 18mm f/1.4 is ready to be a constant companion, wherever your adventures take you, capable of extracting every last bit of detail from any X Series mirrorless camera.

What We Love:

• Greater Resolving Power to Offer Best Possible Image Quality

Never sacrifice a good image with cheap alternatives.

• Less Chromatic/Comatic Aberration and Beautiful Bokeh

Creamy yet sharp in detail.

• Fast, Quiet, and Smooth Focus

The perfect companion on fast paced wedding days.

The Details:

Brand: Fujifilm

Product Type: Primary Lens

Best For : The 18mm is better suited for capturing dynamic situations like weddings, street, action, or planning on shooting a healthy amount of video.

Captures the Entire Scene Effortlessly And Sharply…

When I started photographing weddings, I realized that I gravitated toward the broader end of the focal length spectrum. Upon switching to Fujifilm, I tried to make the 18mm f/2.0 happen, knowing that I like that 28mm field of view, but I needed an f/1.4 lens to satisfy my low light and high ISO preferences.

Additionally, I appreciate camera lenses with unique optical characteristics: wide-angle, close focus, and magnification. I shoot a lot of Lego portraits with my Nikon 28mm f/1.8G, and my previously owned 16 mm f/1.4 was pretty mediocre at recreating this look. I always felt that the background was too warped for my liking. After trying the 18mm f/1.4 for these Lego portraits, I found that it led to more pleasing results as the compression smoothly smooths out the blanketed background. And contrary to what you might think, the 18mm f/1.4 does, in fact, focus closer than my previous 23mm f/1.4. For me? That's perfectly enough.

The 18mm f/1.4 autofocus blows every other wide-angle lens out of the water that I used before. From my many months of experience, I can confidently say that it handles various versatile situations. Additionally, I can feel comfortable not having to stop down as much, knowing that the autofocus will keep up. I appreciate its mild distortion compared to the 16mm f/1.4 and its overall ability to capture human portraits better. While experimental warping along the edges of a frame has its place, I find that the 18mm powerfully encapsulates a more refined shooting experience. Overall — I would describe the 18mm f/1.4 to have distortion closer to the 23mm f/1.4 but offers the feeling of the 16mm f/1.4. The perfect happy medium.

The 8 Best Fujifilm Lenses For Portraits, Landscape, & More

From novice kit lenses to ground-breaking prime lengths that cover a vast range of focal lengths, sizes, and prices — there's a Fujifilm lens for everyone.

I want to caution that despite the 18mm f/1.4 having less distortion, that doesn't mean it's easier to compose any photos with its broader framing. You will have to correctly manage more elements in the frame to make the image pop within a lawful composition. Similar to my 18mm f/2.0 review, many people describe the 18mm focal length as a "snapshot" focal link, as most standard cameras on cell phones are of this equivalent 28mm focal length. Though, for me, the snapshot feels and looks more of a testament to the photographer's eye rather than the capability of the focal length itself. So, for me as a photographer, I like to be challenged because I get bored far too quickly. Anybody can bokeh the hell out of an image using a 50mm f/1.0 or the 90mm f/2.0 because of the blurred background, but the 18mm f/1.4 will keep your shooting honest.

This lens is wildly sharp. I'm talking next-level detail and crisp clarity (but in the best sense possible). I like to compare the 18mm f/1.4 with the 90mm f/2.0 's wide-angle cousin. If Fujifilm's X-series lenses are already this perfect, I'm ecstatic to see what the future lineups will visually accomplish.

Comparisons

I wouldn't be a good reviewer if I didn't leave you with various comparisons to other lenses that exist in the Fujifilm lineup, now would I?

18mm f/1.4 vs. The 18mm f/2.0

The deciding factor is going to be size and price. Do you want a pocketable lens? Do you want a cheaper lens and prefer the 28mm field-of-view? I love the 18mm f/2.0 as a travel lens but immediately sold it when they announced the 18mm f/1.4. I travel with the 18mm f/1.4 as my go-anywhere lens, along with the X100VI being that 23mm equivalent. The 18mm f/1.4 is a bit larger than the f/2.0, but indeed not anything I can't stuff in a light bag or a stroller.

18mm f/1.4 vs. The 16mm f/1.4

Everybody wants to know this, like which f/1.4 wide lens should you buy? If you're shooting cityscapes and landscapes requiring a broader angled perspective, I'd only keep the 16mm f/1.4 . However, once you start adding people into the mix, that's when the distortion will depend on how you'll document these human scenes. The 16mm f/1.4 certainly limits the photographer to the center of the frame, whereas the 18mm f/1.4 holds a more forgiving composition. And if you prefer the best sharpness — the 18mm hands down will be the winner.

What We Rate

• Just getting started
• Understands manual settings
• Shoots regularly
• Professional
• Pretty Good
• Really good
• Best Out There
• Always hunting
• It Works Quickly
• Quick and Locked In
• Crisp And Clean
• Leave it in the studio
• Daily Carry
• Mountain Goat
• What You’d Expect
• Top Of The Line

This new 27mm equivalent lens has three aspherical elements, translating to fantastic sharpness corner to corner, even at wide apertures. The XF 18mm is smaller, lighter, and inherits an aperture ring alongside a traditional focus ring. The 18mm has a linear focusing motor that translates to stupid-fast focusing speeds noticeably faster than the 16mm. It's a modern lens that can take advantage of current FujiFilm bodies. Though sharing the same price as the XF 16mm F1.4, this lens sometimes feels light years ahead. The 4mm gap in equivalent focal lengths may not feel like much; however, the difference is more in practice. While it most likely has to do with the higher angle of view, the 18mm feels less distorted in many situations and primarily when focusing at equal distances.

Be sure to follow me on Instagram and @reggiebphoto , as I post new tips, tricks, and tutorials every day. Subscribe to my YouTube channel for even more reviews and videos on everything photo and video.

What It Has:

• Compact Size F1.4 Lens
• Weather-Resistant Design with A Position Lock on Aperture Ring
• Filter size: 62mm

What It Does:

Focal Length: 18mm (35mm Equivalent Focal Length: 27mm)

Maximum Aperture: f/1.4

Minimum Aperture: f/1.4

Minimum Aperture: f/16

Lens Mount: FUJIFILM X

Format Compatibility: APS-C

Angle of View: 76.5°

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Fujifilm XF 18mm f/1.4 Lens Review – The Best Wide Prime?

Read our Fujifilm XF 18mm f/1.4 lens review to discover why it might be the best wide prime lens for photographers seeking sharpness and versatility.

Fujifilm Lens Reviews | Lens Reviews | Photography Gear Reviews | By Greg Cromie

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In our Fujifilm XF 18mm f/1.4 lens review, we’ll look at one of Fujifilm’s best wide-angle prime lenses.

An 18mm fast wide prime is an excellent multipurpose lens, ideal for landscape, street, food, or astrophotography.

Fujifilm has a reputation for exceptional optics, and the Fujifilm XF 18mm f/1.4 lens is another example – though it wasn’t the first!

Durable, versatile lens offering stunning sharpness and beautiful background blur.

The original Fujifilm XF 18mm f/2 lens was launched in 2012 alongside two other Fujifilm lenses.

While it was optically sharp, the autofocus performance was slow.

The newer, faster, and optically brilliant Fujifilm XF 18mm f/1.4 R LM WR lens has inherited the throne as one of Fujifilm’s best and most versatile lens options .

Table of Contents

Fujifilm XF 18mm f/1.4 R LM WR Specs

• Fast maximum aperture
• Strong build
• Weather sealing
• Superb focusing performance
• Responsive manual aperture and focus
• Lightweight
• Lens flare in bright sun
• Front heavy as a vlogging lens
• Focal length – 18mm (27mm full-frame equivalent focal length)
• Angle of view – 76.5°
• Maximum aperture – f/1.4
• Minimum aperture – f/16
• Minimum focus distance – 20cm (7.87″)
• Maximum magnification – 0.15x
• Filter size – Ø62mm filter thread
• Lens configuration – 15 elements in 9 groups
• Dimensions – Ø68.8mm×75.6mm (2.71″x2.98″)
• Weight – 370g (0.82lb)

Build & Ergonomics

Fuji X-S20 + XF 18mm f/1.4

The Fujifilm XF 18mm f/1.4 lens is another example of Fujifilm’s dedication to building lenses that can be used to hammer nails.

This sturdy, weather-sealed lens features a robust metal build quality and isn’t overly heavy at 370g (0.82lb).

Landscape photographers prefer weather resistance over lightning-fast autofocus, and this lens won’t fail even when shooting sprawling landscapes in freezing conditions.

Manual aperture control is another Fujifilm tradition, and it’s a welcome addition here.

Stops are marked on the manual aperture ring, and clicky feedback aids in fine control.

The aperture ring also features an aperture lock to retain the Auto setting.

With its ridged surface, the manual focus ring is well-dampened and provides an excellent grip even when utilizing autofocus.

The Fujifilm XF 18mm f/1.4 R LM WR boasts a 9-rounded blade diaphragm for pleasing background blur.

Furthermore, the internal optical wizardry includes 15 lens elements in 9 groups, including three aspherical elements and 1 ED element.

Linear motors quickly shift focusing elements for fast and effective autofocus performance.

It feels well-balanced paired with an X Mount X-E4 or a heavier X-H2.

A rigid plastic lens hood is included in the box.

Focus Performance

Hazel | X-E4 + XF 18mm f/1.4 | 1/250 SS | 100 ISO | f/4

The Fujifilm XF 18mm f/1.4 is surprisingly quick, thanks to Fuji’s linear motor autofocus system.

Combine it with the latest Fuji X Processor 5 powered camera, and autofocus is lightning quick.

The Fujifilm XF 18mm f/1.4 R LM WR has a minimal focusing distance of 20cm (7.87″) and a 0.15 maximum magnification.

The lens’ autofocus is just as responsive and sticky when using subject tracking in low light.

I utilized this fine lens to test the Fujifilm X-S20 X Series mirrorless camera for photos and vlogging. With eye-tracking activated, the linear motor lens kept pace with my erratic actions and stayed focused on my eye.

Image Quality

Melbourne Docklands | X-T3 + XF 18mm f/1.4 | 1/250 SS | 200 ISO | f/8

While Fujifilm started in 1934 as a film manufacturer, they’re renowned today for their precision optics and mirrorless cameras.

The Fujifilm XF 18mm f/1.4 R LM WR delivers exceptional resolution and quality across the aperture range and in all lighting conditions.

Shooting wide open at f/1.4, center sharpness is excellent, and background blur and bokeh are well controlled.

It won’t deliver the same beautiful bokeh as an XF 56mm f/1.2, but then it’s not a portrait lens.

From f/5.6 to f/16, the aperture features edge-to-edge and corner sharpness, and optical aberrations are effectively corrected.

I did notice the weather-resistant lenses flaring when shooting skywards in bright, sunny conditions.

Fujifilm XF 18mm f/1.4 Sample Images

Here are sample images taken with the Fujifilm XF 18mm f/1.4 R LM WR using the Fujifilm X-T3 , X-E4 , and X-S20.

X-E4 + XF 18mm f/1.4 | 1/250 SS | 80 ISO | f/6.4

X-E4 + XF 18mm f/1.4 | 1/400 SS | 200 ISO | f/1.4

X-T3 + XF 18mm f/1.4 | 1/125 SS | 800 ISO | f/8

X-E4 + XF 18mm f/1.4 | 1/500 SS | 100 ISO | f/1.4

X-E4 + XF 18mm f/1.4 | 1/500 SS | 200 ISO | f/8

X-E4 + XF 18mm f/1.4 | 1/250 SS | 200 ISO | f/8

X-S20 + XF 18mm f/1.4 | 1/320 SS | 800 ISO | f/8

X-T3 + XF 18mm f/1.4 | 1/250 SS | 200 ISO | f/8

How I Tested the Fujifiilm XF 18mm f/1.4

I shot street photography with the Fujifilm XF 18mm f/1.4 R LM WR  and X-S20 around my hometown of Melbourne, Australia.

While it’s a lightweight lens, it feels a bit front-heavy when you flip the camera for vlogging.

I also paired the lens with the Fuji X-E4 and felt comfortable carrying the combo as a constant companion.

Weight is a huge deciding factor for me when choosing a kit for my next creative outburst.

The wide-angle lens faithfully captured the fast-paced street scenes thanks to its optical sharpness and fast focus.

Alternatives

An excellent alternative to the Fujifilm XF 18mm f/1.4 R LM WR is the XF 16mm. f/1.4 .

It’s considered one of their best thanks to its solid weather-sealed build, good autofocus performance, and exceptional image outcomes.

I stood in the pouring rain with the XF 16mm f/1.4 capturing a busy day at a Tokyo fish market. The focal length was perfect, and the lens never let me down, regardless of the lighting or weather.

Alternatively, the 12-year-old Fuji XF 18mm f/2 lens delivers good, but not fast, autofocus and good sharpness.

Many photographers shooting X Series seek this out over other lenses with similar focal lengths.

Wide open at f/2, it captures great light across the sensor plane.

It isn’t weather-resistant, but the older lens is tiny at ø64.5mm x 33.7mm (2.54″x1.33″) and weighs 116g (0.26 lbs).

It captures great images and is still an amazing choice for environmental portraits.

Value for Money

The Fujifilm XF 18mm f/1.4 retails for around US$1,000.

It’s excellent value considering the optical construction, linear motor autofocus performance, and image quality.

Fuji equipment holds its value and will last a lifetime of continued operation if cared for.

For comparison, the XF 16mm f/1.4 sells for around US$970, and the original XF 18mm f/2 at around US$614.

Primes of this quality rarely sell at the same price as the Fujifilm XF 18mm f/1.4 R LM WR.

FAQ’s

What is the difference between f/1.4 and f/2?

The Fujifilm XF 18mm f/1.4 features a fast and wide maximum f/1.4 aperture. It allows more light to hit the camera’s image sensor and is ideal for subject separation and background blur.

What is the minimum focus distance for Fujifilm 18mm f/1.4?

The Fujifilm XF 18mm f/1.4 has a minimum focusing distance of 20cm (7.87″). As a result, you can get in close to subjects to achieve sharp photos with gorgeous color rendering and appealing background blur.

What is the Fujifilm 18mm f/1.4 equivalent to?

The Fujifilm X Series digital mirrorless cameras utilize a 1.5x crop sensor, giving the XF 18mm f/1.4 R LM WR a 27mm full-frame equivalent.

Fujifilm XF 18mm f/1.4 Review | Conclusion

Fuji X-T3 + XF 18mm f/1.4 | 1/250 SS | 800 ISO | f/8

I had trepidations about the Fujifilm XF 18mm f/1.4 R LM WR lens after shooting with the original Fuji XF 18mm f/2.

Despite being older, it didn’t boast the fastest autofocus performance.

However, I’m pleased to say that the Fujifilm XF 18mm f/1.4 is fast and delivers exceptional image quality.

This lens is highly beneficial for landscape, astro, architectural, and street photographers.

Thanks to its 27mm full-frame equivalent focal distance, it also makes for an excellent travel lens.

If you’re looking for a new prime lens to add to your camera bag, an 18mm focal length delivering excellent images is a very easy choice.

What are your thoughts on the XF 18mm f/1.4 R LM WR? Have you shot with this or any other X Series wide-angle primes?

Disclaimer: All recommendations are impartial and based on user experience, with no bias to the products or the brand. The products in this post may contain affiliate links.

I’m a Melbourne-based street photographer and blogger. I love to travel to Japan to photograph and document its dynamic people and culture.

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Fujifilm XF 18mm f/1.4 Hands-on Review: An excellent, if expensive, super-fast wide-angle prime lens

by William Brawley

posted Thursday, August 12, 2021 at 3:00 PM EDT

Click here to read our Fuji XF 18mm f/1.4 WR Hands-on Review

Back in the spring, Fujifilm announced a new addition to the already-expansive X-mount lens lineup, the Fujinon XF 18mm f/1.4 R WR lens. This super-fast wide-angle prime lens is Fuji's fourth f/1.4 prime lens, sitting right in between the 16mm f/1.4 and 23mm f/1.4 primes. The XF 18mm f/1.4 lens also serves as an upgrade or an alternative to Fuji's existing 18mm prime, the pancake-shaped XF 18mm f/2. This new lens offers not only a slightly faster aperture but also an updated autofocus system and a fully weather-sealed construction. It's also quite a bit more expensive.

When the lens was first announced, we received hands-on with an early prototype of this new 27mm-eq. prime lens, but we couldn't share images from the lens at that time. We've since swapped it out for a full-production sample. I shared a batch of real-world sample images a while back, but I've now had an opportunity to assess and analyze my shooting experience after having used the lens out in the field.

As always, the Hands-on Review goes into much more detail, but suffice it to say, this new fast prime is another outstanding lens for Fujifilm's crop-sensor mirrorless platform. The XF 18mm f/1.4 is very sharp, even wide open -- though stopping down does help. The AF system is swift and quiet, and the lens also focuses quite closely on subjects. Combined with the wide maximum aperture, you can create some striking close-up wide-angle images with a very pleasing shallow depth of field. The build quality is also top-notch, much like I've experienced with other recent Fujifilm XF-series lenses.

The drawbacks with this lens are minimal, with the main concern being its $1000 price tag. That's a solid chunk of change for a lens, especially with an existing, fast 18mm prime already in the lineup. But this lens has features and upgrades the earlier 18mm does not, and if you're looking for a weather-sealed fast and versatile prime lens for your Fuji X Series camera, the new XF 18mm f/1.4 is worth considering.

For all the details of how the new XF 18mm f/1.4 lens performs in the field, head over to the in-depth  Fujifilm XF 18mm f/1.4 WR Hands-on Review !

• Fujifilm XF 18mm f/1.4 WR Hands-on Review • Gallery •

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Home » Reviews » Fujifilm XF 18mm F1.4 R LM WR Review

Fujifilm XF 18mm F1.4 R LM WR Review

Overall Rating

: 5 out of 5

Pros: + Impressively sharp + Circular bokeh + Close focus distance + Fast, snappy focus + Great build quality

Cons: - Improved lens commands a higher price

Manufacturer:

Richard sibley reviews the fujifilm fujinon xf 18mm f/1.4 r lm wr, a large-aperture wide-angle lens for fujifilm x-series cameras.

It was nine years ago, back in 2012 when Fujifilm announced the X-Pro1 camera. This was the first of a new line of mirrorless X-system models, and along with it came a new range of Fujinon lenses, including the XF 18mm F/2 R. This compact and lightweight wideangle prime was a great match for the equally agile X-Pro1.

Fujifilm XF 18mm f/1.4 R LM WR Lens

Like some other manufacturers, Fujifilm is now at a stage where it is updating some of those original focal lengths to create faster lenses, as the technology and the demand has increased. It is also a sign of the times that mirrorless systems no longer stand for simply being ‘smaller and lighter’ than their DSLR counterparts; instead they’ve evolved to be judged on their own merit. With that in mind, Fujifilm has introduced the new Fujifilm Fujinon XF 18mm f/1.4 R LM WR – a lens that is brighter, but also significantly larger than the original 18mm f/2.

Fujinon XF 18mm f/1.4 R LM WR Features

As a 18mm lens on the APS-C format Fujifilm X-Series, this provides the equivalent field of view to a 27mm lens on a full frame camera. A quick look at its designations reveals a few more details. Firstly, it is an R series lens, which means that it has a built-in aperture ring, while the WR designation indicates that it boasts weather resistant construction. The Super EBC designation tells us that it exploits Fujifilm’s Electron Beam Coating to reduce ghosting and flare. Finally, the LM designation indicates that this lens employs a linear motor for focusing. Such designs can push lens elements back and forth very quickly, rather than relying on a ring type motor where the lenses are moved by turning them on a helicoid. The result is the 18mm f/1.4 lens should focus extremely quickly, accurately, smoothly, and, for those interested in shooting video, quietly.

Fujifilm XF 18mm f/1.4 R LM WR Lens with hood

One thing that you will see missing from the lens designation is OIS, for Optical Image Stabilisation. Instead, photographers and videographers will have to rely on in-body image stabilisation which is only provided by a few Fujifilm cameras, including the X-H1, X-S10 and X-T4 . That said, this is a fairly wide-angle lens with a large aperture, so there shouldn’t be too many issues shooting handheld with no stabilisation.

In terms of optical design, the lens is composed of 15 elements in 9 groups, including three aspherical elements and one extra low dispersion element. There are nine rounded aperture blades, which should produce nice smooth round bokeh, and the aperture ring itself is clickable in one-third stop increments, not just full stops.

Fujifilm XF 18mm f/1.4 R LM WR Lens Top

The lens has a 62mm filter thread, which is the same as a few of Fujifilm’s other popular prime lenses, such as the 56mm f/1.2 and the 23mm f/1.4. Finally those wanting to take close-up shots should be pleased with the 20cm minimum focus distance, which when the lens and sensor position is taken in to consideration, means that you can get the front element around 11cm from the subject. Don’t expect macro performance, but for some shots of flowers in situ, it’s a nice lens.

Fujinon XF 18mm f/1.4 R LM WR  Build and Handling

Handling-wise the lens feels very much like the Fujifilm lenses that we have come to love over the past decade. The barrel is solid metal with plastic aperture and focusing rings. The aperture settings are clearly marked in a style that is reminiscent of the Zeiss DIN lettering, which helps give Fujifilm lenses that classic camera feel. A small button the locks the aperture ring in the ‘A’ position for when you want the camera to automatically change the aperture in Program or Shutter Priority mode.

At the rear of the lens is a very thin rubber O ring seal that should help prevent dust and moisture getting between the lens and the camera mount itself. And whilst we obviously can’t see inside the lens, Fujifilm has said that there are eight points of weather sealing around the barrel to prevent dust and moisture ingress, so it should cope in all but the very harshest conditions.

In terms of its size, the 18mm lens is obviously a lot bigger than the original 18mm f/2 lens because of its larger f/1.4 maximum aperture. It weighs 370 grams, as opposed to just 116g for the f/2 optic, and is also nearly twice as long, at 75.6mm as opposed to 40.6mm. As a result, the 18mm f/1.4 is probably better paired, in terms of balance, with the SLR-style bodies in Fujifilm’s X range. Not that it would be bulky or cumbersome with an X-Pro camera, but street photographers, for example, tend to favour reduced size and weight for discretion.

Fujinon XF 18mm f/1.4 R LM WR  Autofocus

When it comes to autofocus, the Fujifilm 18mm f/1.4 works exactly as you would expect it to. It’s fast and very snappy in single AF mode and when switched to continuous it does a great job of tracking the subject the camera is following, especially when it is using Eye AF.

Fujifilm XF 18mm f/1.4 lens, X-T4, 1/1900s, f/1.4, ISO160, Flowers

The linear motors are very fast and also very quiet, which is great when you are shooting video.  When in the video mode the focusing slows down slightly, it isn’t as snappy, but instead it is very smooth as you switch focus from one subject to another. Again, Eye and Face AF work well when shooting video.

Fujinon XF 18mm f/1.4 R LM WR Image Quality

Having an f/1.4 aperture on a lens that is a 27mm equivalent is fantastic for getting a shallow depth of field on subjects like flowers, especially as you can get in very close. Details in the centre of the frame are incredibly sharp even with the aperture wide open. Out-of-focus areas look smoothly blurred at f/1.4, making this a lovely lens to use wide open. When stopped down to f/2.8 the nine aperture blades do their job, creating nice circular bokeh with smooth out-of-focus transitions.

Fujifilm XF 18mm f/1.4 lens, X-T4, 1/240s, f/4.5, ISO160, Green Scenary

It will come as no surprise that the lens performs best at around f/5.6 to f/8, and again, the details in the centre of the image at f/8 are impressively sharp. Towards the extreme corners there is some drop off in the sharpness, but there is still more than enough detail here for landscapes, particularly if you are clever with hyperfocal focusing to make sure that the foreground is in focus.

By the time you reach the smallest aperture of f/16, there is, obviously a loss of the very finest detail due to diffraction. However as the lens comes from such a good place regarding sharpness in the first place, I would be perfectly happy to shoot at this aperture if I really needed to maximise the depth-of-field. That said stick with f/11 if you can for sharper results.

Fujifilm XF 18mm f/1.4 lens, X-T4, 1/100s, f/11, ISO160, Landscape

The smaller apertures also produce great looking sun stars for those who like shooting directly into the light. There weren’t any really noticeable flares and the lens does come with a hood so light from acute angles should be shaded anyway. I shot quite a lot in bright midday sunlight and when looking at my shots taken either wide open or a stop or two down, I have struggled to see any chromatic aberration in either JPEG or raw files opened in Adobe Lightroom . Whether this is the result of the coatings on the lens, or some processing to both the JPEGs and the raw files, or indeed a bit of both, I’m not too sure. But either way, chromatic aberration shouldn’t be an issue with this lens.

Similarly, vignetting isn’t really an issue. It’s clearly visible at f/1.4 but is very smooth in gradation. By the time you’ve closed the aperture down one or two stops, it has largely gone and probably won’t be noticeable unless you happen to be photographing evenly-lit white walls.

Fujifilm XF 18mm f/1.4 lens, X-T4, 1/5800s, f/1.4, ISO160, Close Focus

It’s a similar story with distortion. Using the standard photographer’s test of photographing a brick wall, I couldn’t see any barrel distortion in either the JPEG or raw images. Overall it seems to be optically crafted extremely well, maximising image quality whilst at the same time keeping lens distortions to an absolute minimum.

Fujinon XF 18mm f/1.4 R LM WR  Verdict

The Fujifilm XF 18mm F1.4 R LM WR is a great option for landscape and street photographers and also for videographers. With many smartphone manufacturers opting to use a 27mm focal length for their main cameras, it is become a more popular focal length over the last few years for all different styles and subjects.

However, at £879 it is a serious chunk of money for what is a seriously good lens. The older 18mm f/2 lens can be found for around £500 new or just £250 used, and it is obviously smaller and lighter. This makes it a compelling alternative for street photography.

In terms of the optics and autofocus, though, there is absolutely nothing to complain about with the 18mm f/1.4. It is sharp throughout the range, showing just a touch of softness at the very edges. And all the aberrations that we might expect to see from a lens of this type aren’t noticeable at all.

Overall, it’s hard to find fault with the lens whatsoever, with everything from the build quality and image quality being of a very high standard. I would wholeheartedly recommend this lens to photographers and videographers who are in demand of a 27mm equivalent focal length.

Fujinon XF 18mm f/1.4 R LM WR Specifications

Specifications

Filter diameter, lens elements, aperture blades, maximum aperture, minimum aperture, minimum focus distance.

75.6x68.8mm (Length x Diameter)

Richard Sibley was formerly Deputy Editor of Amateur Photographer. He now writes about cameras, lenses, editing and photography. Find him on Instagram at @richsibley

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A Long-term Review of the Fujifilm XF 18mm f/1.4 R LM WR and XF 33mm f/1.4 R LM WR Lenses

For Fujifilm photographers, the XF 18mm f/1.4 R LM WR and XF 33mm f/1.4 R LM WR offer both a wide angle and a normal focal length in tandem with a wide maximum aperture, making them versatile options for a wide range of genres, including wedding work, street photography, portraiture, and much more. How do they hold up over time? This excellent video review takes a look at the sort of performance and image quality you can expect from them.

Coming to you from Roman Fox , this great video review takes a long-term look at the Fujifilm XF 18mm f/1.4 R LM WR and XF 33mm f/1.4 R LM WR lenses. Both these lenses feature advanced designs, with features like:

• Aspherical elements and ED elements for reduced distortion and spherical aberrations and increased sharpness
• Linear autofocus motors for quick and quiet autofocus suitable for both photo and video applications
• Rounded nine-blade diaphragms for smoother bokeh
• Weather-resistant designs for working in a range of scenarios

Altogether, both these lenses look like impressive performers that offer nice image quality and rugged construction that you can trust in a wide range of situations. Check out the video above for Fox's full thoughts on both lenses. 

Alex Cooke is a Cleveland-based portrait, events, and landscape photographer. He holds an M.S. in Applied Mathematics and a doctorate in Music Composition. He is also an avid equestrian.

Why is the XF23mm LM WR omitted from this article?

Fujifilm XF 18mm F1.4 vs XF 18mm F2 - Head-to-head Comparison

Latest reviews.

The XF 18mm F2 lens was released way back in 2012. It was one of the very first lenses for Fuji's brand new APS-C sensor X-series mirrorless system, which debuted with the X-Pro 1 camera.

Fast forward 9 years to April 2021, and Fujifilm have released a much faster, F1.4 18mm lens that is markedly different from the F2 version.

Note that the new F1.4 lens doesn't actually replace the older F2 version - you'll still be able to buy that lens if you prefer what it has to offer.

So what are the main difference between these two Fuji 18mm lenses, and which is the best one for you?

We take a closer look in our detailed head-to-head comparison of the Fujifilm XF 18mm F1.4 versus the XF 18mm F2 to find out more...

You can also check out our Fujifilm XF 18mm F1.4 R LM WR Sample Photos , Fujifilm XF 18mm F1.4 First Impressions and Fujifilm XF 18mm F1.4 R LM WR Hands-on Photos

You can also read our detailed Fujifilm XF 18mm F1.4 review and Fujifilm XF 18mm F2 R review to find out exactly what we think of each one.

Size and Weight

Viewed side by side, it's obvious that, as you'd expect because of the difference in maximum aperture, the XF 18mm F1.4 is a much larger lens than the 18mm F2.

Having said that, the new 18mm is actually relatively compact for what is a fast F1.4 optic.

Weighing just 370g and measuring 68.8mm x 75.6mm with a reasonable 62mm filter size, the Fuji 18mm F1.4 proved to be a good fit even on a smaller camera body like the X-S10 that we tested it with.

The pancake style 18mm F2 is tiny though, weighing only 116g and measuring just 3.3cms in length, so if size is all-important and you don't mind sacrificing the maximum aperture speed, it's clearly the better option.

Optical Construction

Being a faster lens, the XF 18mm F1.4 has a much more complicated optical construction than its predecessor - 15 elements in 9 groups including 3 aspherical and 1 ED elements.

By contrast, the XF 18mm F2 has a much simpler design - just 8 elements in 7 groups including 2 aspherical elements.

Aperture Ring

Both lenses have physical aperture rings which, given the tiny size of the F2 version, is a remarkable achievement!

The aperture range runs from the maximum value of f1.4/f2 in 1/3-stop increments to f/16 on both lenses, with an Auto setting available if you prefer to set the aperture via the camera body.

The aperture ring on the F2 lens has quite a stiff, notchy feel, though, whereas the one on the new F1.4 is much smoother and much more like the majority of other X-series lenses.

The XF 18mm F1.4 additionally benefits from having an A (Auto) Position Lock which locks the aperture ring into the A position, preventing accidental movement. The XF 18mm F2 lens doesn't have this feature.

Build Quality

Despite their different price points, both lenses commendably have barrels that are made from metal, rather than plastic.

The main difference between them is their level of weather-proofing.

Weather Resistance

As the "WR" in the Fuji product name denotes, the new 18mm is weather-resistant thanks to seals at eight locations along the lens barrel, making it resistant to dust, moisture, and temperatures as low as -10°C (14°F).

The 18mm F2, on the other hand, has no such designation or protection, so you need to use it much more carefully in inclement conditions.

Filter Size

The XF 18mm F2 uses 52mm and the 18mm F1.4 uses 62mm filters. Both are common filter sizes.

Autofocusing

The XF 18mm F1.4 benefits from having an internal AF system that's driven by a powerful linear motor, which results in fast, accurate, and virtually silent auto-focusing

In stark contrast the 18mm F2 suffers from having a noisy, rather sluggish autofocus system that's very similar to the one on the XF 35mm F1.4 lens.

When used side-by-side with the new 18mm, you can really notice the difference between the two in terms of their AF speed, noise and performance, so if auto-focusing is an important consideration, the XF 18mm F1.4 is the clear winner.

Manual Focusing

Both lenses have smooth manual focusing rings that are focus-by-wire, rather than using mechanical clutch-based focus rings, just like every other Fujifilm lens.

What the XF 18mm F1.4 doesn't have is the manual focus clutch that's on the similar 16mm and 23mm F1.4 lense, complete with a depth of field scale, which is a real missed opportunity on this lens.

Minimum Focusing Distance and Maximum Magnification

The old 18mm F2 can actually focus slightly closer than the new F1.4 version - 18cms versus 20cm - although the difference is so small that it makes little difference.

Likewise, the maximum magnification of the two lenses is also virtually indistinguishable - 0.15x on the F1.4 versus 0.14x on the F2.

The new XF 18mm F1.4 has 9 rounded aperture blades, whereas the older F2 only has 7 blades.

Coupled with the faster maximum aperture offered by the F1.4 lens, this means that it's much easier to completely blur the background with the 18mm F1.4, and it also produces the most appealing bokeh effects too.

In the UK the Fujifilm XF 18mm F1.4 costs £879 / $999 in the UK and the US, respectively.

When is was first launched in 2012, the Fujifilm XF 18mm F2 lens was priced at £449 / $599. Nowadays, it actually costs a little more in the UK - £499 - but is still the same in the US.

So the price difference between the two is a not inconsiderable £380 / $400.

The XF 18mm F2 is one of Fujifilm's less popular lenses, though, so you may be able to find a lightly-used second-hand one for much less than the new price.

The new XF 18mm F1.4 is faster, optically better, creates more appealing bokeh, focuses more quickly and quietly, and is more weather resistant than the old XF 18mm F2, but it's also bigger, heavier and costs almost double the price.

So what do you think? Would you choose the new XF 18mm F1.4 or the old XF 18mm F2? Leave a comment below!

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For Fujifilm photographers, the XF 18mm f/1.4 R LM WR and XF 33mm f/1.4 R LM WR be offering each a large perspective and an ordinary focal duration in tandem with a large most aperture, making them flexible choices for quite a lot of genres, together with marriage ceremony paintings, side road pictures, portraiture, and a lot more. How do they hang up over the years? This superb video overview takes a take a look at any such efficiency and symbol high quality you’ll be expecting from them.

Coming to you from Roman Fox, this nice video overview takes a long-term take a look at the Fujifilm XF 18mm f/1.4 R LM WR and XF 33mm f/1.4 R LM WR lenses. Each those lenses function complicated designs, with options like:

• Aspherical parts and ED parts for lowered distortion and round aberrations and larger sharpness
• Linear autofocus motors for speedy and quiet autofocus appropriate for each photograph and video programs
• Rounded nine-blade diaphragms for smoother bokeh
• Climate-resistant designs for running in a variety of eventualities

Altogether, each those lenses appear to be spectacular performers that provide great symbol high quality and rugged building that you’ll accept as true with in quite a lot of eventualities. Take a look at the video above for Fox’s complete ideas on each lenses. 

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Russian and DDR lenses worth buying in Moscow

• Thread starter spopkin
• Start date Apr 18, 2016
• Apr 18, 2016

A good friend who uses Fuji cameras lives in Moscow and will buy test any lens I want to buy and then bring on his next trip back to US. I own most of the Fuji primes and am interested in lenses with particularly good micro contrast, color and bokeh. I shoot mainly landscape and street photography. Which lenses in the 18-24mm range or the 50-75mm range are worthwhile for the quality? There are so many Jenas, Flektogons, Jupiters and Mirs, that I am unsure which are desirable for their image quality and personality and which are mainly appreciated as good, inexpensive approximations of fuji glass. Right now I mainly want to try because I see so many great images on this forum and so much praise for some of the vintage glass. On a visit to see him 15 years ago I bought a WWII version of a Hasselblad, It was fabulous and I wish I had kept the lens when I went digital. I don't think I was ready then to appreciate the ways different lenses have differing personalities and I think I am ready for that now  

Well-Known Member

None will approximate Fuji XF glass. There is a lot of love for 35mm f2.4 Flek, Helios 44's and Jupiter 9 (?) 85mm f2, Jena 135mm f3.5 on this site. I'm not aware of any good wide angles from the FSU.  

battery sherpa

spopkin said: ... am interested in lenses with particularly good micro contrast, color and bokeh. There are so many Jenas, Flektogons, Jupiters and Mirs, ... Click to expand...

• Apr 19, 2016

for starters... A Guide to Russian & Soviet / Former Soviet Cameras Then for more info, follow some of these results, lots of good info and images. Google ..  

Alex Cremers

There's a lot of interest in the Helios 40-2 85mm 1.5 and it's probably much cheaper when purchased in Russia itself.  

juangrande said: None will approximate Fuji XF glass. Click to expand...

Alex Cremers said: That may very well be the point. Click to expand...

gduncanson said: hmmm, I think, in my limited understanding, that your parameters equal the east block versions of zeiss lenses. That would be the jenas and fleks. the jupiters and mirs tend to have more imperfections in the color and bokeh department but that variety also makes them interesting. I tried several mirs and a jupiter and I still have a couple of zenitons (made in japan versions of east block brands). The mir-24n I have is a marvelous lens. The zeiss lenses are contrasty, the mir-24n colors are more true to life, very muted, but the skin rendering is amazing. so much so that a friend who does professional video monopolizes it (he has it now for an interview project) on a7ii. It's also very sharp. Click to expand...

gduncanson said: for starters... A Guide to Russian & Soviet / Former Soviet Cameras Then for more info, follow some of these results, lots of good info and images. Google .. Click to expand...

spopkin said: Are Mir 24 and Mir 24n the same lens with different mounts or two different models of the lens? Click to expand...