Review: Fujifilm 16mm f1.4 R WR (X Mount) | Chris Gampat

The Fujifilm 16mm f1.4 is a lens that makes a lot of sense in the company’s lineup. Fujifilm’s strengths are with their primes, though their zoom lenses have started to become spectacular in the higher end category. However, very little else will appeal to the retro-smitten photographer like Fujifilm’s prime lenses–and the 16mm f1.4 is no exception. With nine aperture blades, a weather sealed body, metal exterior, a clicky aperture ring, and a depth of field scale that you can use for zone focusing, what’s not to like? While you can surely start off by saying that it costs a heck of a lot, you can also point out to a single major flaw that we found with the image quality. But overall, that’s just about all that you can hate about this lens. Even then, it’s very easy to stay in love with it.

Pros

  • Very sharp wide open
  • Very sharp overall
  • Excellent metal build quality
  • Focusing ring allows for zone focusing
  • Pretty decent bokeh for a lens of this type, despite having 9 aperture blades
  • Fast focusing performance
  • Weather sealed construction
  • Keeps distortion down pretty well

Cons

  • Depth of Field scale could have given us more focusing markers
  • More purple fringing than a modern lens should have despite it easily being removed in post-production
  • There are so many other things that you can do for just under $1,000.
  • Autofocus is just a hair too slow for street photography……..

Source: www.thephoblographer.com
 


Fujifilm Fujinon XF 16mm F1.4

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