Fujifilm XF35 mm F1.4 R Lens

Product Information

We run a range of lab tests under controlled conditions, using the Imatest Master testing suite. Photos of test charts are taken across the range of apertures and zooms (where available), then analyzed for sharpness, distortion and chromatic aberrations. Today, I’m pitting the original lens for the X-Series, the venerable XF 35mm f/1.4 R against the new normal prime, the XF 35mm f/2 R WR, a slightly more compact and weather resistant lens that has just been released for the X-Series of interchangeable lens cameras. The lenses carry the same field of view and have a one stop difference in aperture. Which should you get? Is the new lens better than the relatively good 35mm f/1.4? Let’s find out. X-E2 with 35mm f/2 WR and X-T1 with 35mm f/1.4 The Lenses The Fuji 35mm f/1.4 has two rings on the lens barrel – a focusing ring on the front of the barrel, and an aperture ring close to the mount of the lens. Since the Fuji X system uses a fly-by-wire system, which means that the focus ring is not mechanically tied to any of the lens elements, but rather controlled electronically, there is no focus scale on the lens and the ring will rotate in either direction without any hard stops or extra resistance. Basically, something is either wrong with your 35 f/1.4 or you need to find a better focusing point. We use Imatest SFR (spatial frequency response) charts and analysis software to plot lens resolution at the center of the image frame, corners and mid-point distances, across the range of aperture settings and, with zoom lenses, at four different focal lengths. The tests also measure distortion and color fringing (chromatic aberration).

The only reason I wouldn’t recommend this lens is if you are very concerned about weather resistance. In which case, either the Fuji 23mm f2 or the Fuji 35mm f2 will be a better fit for you. You can benchmark contrast or bokeh roundness, but sometimes, the marriage of certain optical elements produces a unique look and feel. The Fuji XF 35mm f/1.4 has scores of dedicated loyalists across the world who've fallen in love with the color reproduction and woozy mix of sharpness and creaminess produced specifically by this lens. Are you on a mid-level budget, and you want superior image quality, sharpness, bokeh, and you don’t care about weather-resistance? Get the 35mm f1.4. its “glass-molded aspheric lens at the 5th element, which minimizes spherical aberration” and (that’s what my gut feeling is telling me) is responsible for this unique image character I was writing above Bokeh is the quality of out-of-focus parts of any image. It’s the way the lens renders the light in these parts.

23mm vs 35mm: Which focal length is better and when?

Fuji clearly applies some funky optical corrections to its JPEG images. While it certainly helps push sharpness in the center all apertures, it strangely results in decreased mid-frame and corner performance between f/1.4 and f/2.0. In addition, Adobe software automatically applies optical corrections to Fuji’s RAW files, making it impossible to see what corrections do to images. Since I measure MTF performance using Imatest and DCRaw, the below results reflect lens performance without any corrections, so you can see what the real optical capabilities of a lens are. X-E1 + XF35mmF1.4 R @ 35mm, ISO 200, 1/250, f/5.6

As I have said several times now, both of these lenses are good choices. They both have their advantages and their disadvantages when compared to the other. But in the end, one has to be chosen as you likely don’t need two 35mm lenses in your kit. You may have guessed, based on what I said above, but my personal opinion is that for the vast majority of you, the XF 35mm F2 R WR is the better choice. It has newer and better technology inside of it and it performs better in most situations and by most criteria. In the end, my choice is the 35mm F2 R WR, but yours may be different If firmware updating fails, the camera may no longer operate correctly in some cases. Carefully read the notes provided here*Always use the fully-charged battery when updating the firmware as a basic manner. Never turn the camera off or attempt to use any of the camera controls while the firmware is being overwritten. While the contrast, micro contrast and color are very nice with both lenses, the effects of that focus falloff with the 35mm f1.4 is very unique and and it can really enhanced the transition between what’s in focus and what’s out of focus for an overall added sense of depth. Good review, but this conclusion has nothing to do with the reality of optical design. It’s just physical compromises and marketing decisions. Fuji knows how to design reference lenses since decades. They made trade offs to offer a compact f1.4 lens with the launch of the system. They could have done a bigger 1.4 with much improved corner sharpness, but it woudn’t have fit the size of the body. And they could have launched the system with this f2.0. But f2.0 doesn’t draw that much attention.I had the opportunity to try both, with an unprejudiced choice to make, cost irrelevant. I found the operation of the f2 to be in a whole different league, I think no-one disputes that, but optically they were closer than I thought. The f1.4 was really nice from f4 down into the corners, where the f2 stays a bit smeary until f8. In the centre the f2 was superb, especially at f2.8. With many modern lenses built with cheaper-feeling plastic, this is a reasonably uncommon feature and a very enjoyable one, especially for the price of this lens. And often this is the best option, as you can cater to the distinct styles carefully. But if you want an all-rounder, this is your lens.

The review of theFuji XF 35mm 1.4 lens, covers the pros and cons, and all the specs you need to consider when deciding if this is the right lens for you depending on your photography style.I think this has to do with field curvature. Only the very center of the 35mm f1.4 is giving us a full stop of extra separation, then along the edges it changes. As far as size is concerned, the f/2 is only slightly smaller from what I was seeing, it’s a bit awkwardly shaped which may matter to some. Also of note is the stupid lens hood that’s included isn’t even the GOOD one, which you have to buy separately. Overall for me, it wasn’t enough to convince me that it was worth a trade in or 400 of my dollars. Now that we’ve compared the specifics, it’s easy to identify which types of photography each lens is best suited for. The f/1.4 lens is ideal for portrait photography and photographing in low light conditions because of its large aperture. Honestly, everything you’ve ever read about the Fujifilm 35mm f/1.4 is true. It is extraordinary. I’ve had the lens for a couple of months now and it has not left my X-T2. I don’t think I could ever take it off.