{"id":1317,"date":"2021-12-10T10:21:09","date_gmt":"2021-12-10T15:21:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.brokenmount.com\/bm\/2021\/12\/10\/fujinon-xf-35mm-f-2-r-wr-review\/"},"modified":"2021-12-10T10:21:09","modified_gmt":"2021-12-10T15:21:09","slug":"fujinon-xf-35mm-f-2-r-wr-review","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.brokenmount.com\/bm\/2021\/12\/10\/fujinon-xf-35mm-f-2-r-wr-review\/","title":{"rendered":"Fujinon XF 35mm f\/2 R WR Review"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n

Fujinon XF 35mm f\/2 R WR Review \u2013 Introduction<\/h2>\n

Fujifilm has always been open about its plans for future lenses and the development of new optics. The manufacturer\u2019s roadmaps offer a great clue as to what we can expect to see in the future and one lens we\u2019ve been eager to get our hands on ever since the first rumours started circulating is the XF 35mm f\/2 WR. As many X-series users will be aware, Fujifilm already has a wide-aperture 35mm lens in its range of XF prime lenses, which begs the question, why the need for another?<\/p>\n

\"IMG_0043\"<\/a>
The Fujinon XF 35mm f\/2 R features a manual aperture ring spanning f\/2-f\/16<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

You\u2019ll instantly notice that the XF 35mm f\/2 R WR has a different design compared with the three-year-old XF 35mm f\/1.4 R. Although the maximum aperture is a stop slower, the lens is lighter and has been made smaller to make sure it\u2019s a good match with all cameras in Fujifilm\u2019s X-series, including the smallest entry-level models. As anyone who owns or has tried out the older XF 35mm f\/1.4 R will know, it\u2019ll take something truly special to beat this stellar lens, which at the time of writing has dropped below \u00a3300 thanks to a recent Fujifilm cashback promotion. With the XF 35mm f\/1.4 R at a tempting price and the arrival of the XF 35mm f\/2 R WR, X-series users searching for a 35mm prime lens have a tough decision to make.<\/p>\n

\"Web<\/a>
View our Fujinon XF 35mm f\/2 R WR sample image gallery<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Fujinon XF 35mm f\/2 R WR Review \u2013 Features<\/h2>\n

The attraction of the XF 35mm f\/2 R WR is its focal length, which presents a natural perspective. With the 1.5x crop factor taken into consideration, the lens is equivalent to 53mm in 35mm film terms, which sees it slot in-between the manufacturer\u2019s superb XF 23mm f\/1.4 R and XF 56mm f\/1.2 R lenses, which are equivalent to 34.5mm and 84mm respectively. As briefly touched upon, the aperture range doesn\u2019t open as widely as the older XF 35mm f\/1.4 R, but the motive behind making the front element smaller and limiting the maximum aperture to f\/2 has played its role in making sure it\u2019s compact and lighter, if only by a meager 17g.<\/p>\n

\"Fujinon<\/a>
The Fujinon XF 35mm f\/2 R is an excellent match with smaller Fujifilm X-series models such as the X-T10<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The construction of the lens is made up of nine elements in six groups, with two elements being the aspherical type. This is a more complex arrangement than the eight elements in six groups as found within the XF 35mm f\/1.4 R. It features a greater number of diaphragm blades, too (nine as opposed to seven), which should see it render rich circular bokeh when the lens is used at wide apertures.<\/p>\n

On the underside of the barrel, you\u2019ll find that it\u2019s labelled a weather-resistant lens. This is one of the key attributes of this lens and its weather-resistant design is made up of eight seals to protect it from rain, dust and humid environments that can often force us to stow our kit away to prevent damage. This also allows it to be used in temperatures as low as -10\u00baC.<\/p>\n

\"Fujinon<\/a>
It comes supplied with a lightweight and compact circular lens hood that screws into the front of the lens<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Like other Fujinon primes, it doesn\u2019t feature optical image stabilisation. This shouldn\u2019t be frowned upon, as optically stabilised 35mm lenses are fairly uncommon and it\u2019s a feature that\u2019s not always deemed entirely necessary on such a wideangle lens where minor movements of the camera cause fewer disturbances. Compare the minimum focusing distance of this lens to the XF 35mm f\/1.4 R and it\u2019s the latter that has the edge. While this lens has a near-focus limit of 35cm, the XF 35mm f\/1.4 R can focus slightly closer, to within 30cm.<\/p>\n

The internal focusing system prevents the front element from moving and the fact it accepts filters and adapters via a small 43mm thread means that any accessories you do buy for it are likely to be slightly cheaper. The lens comes supplied with a lightweight and compact circular lens hood that screws into the front of the lens, but for those who\u2019d prefer a more robust one there\u2019s also a stylish metal hood (LH-XF35-2) available for around \u00a340. Both hoods are designed in such a way they allow the front lens cap to be used when they\u2019re attached.<\/p>\n

Fujinon XF 35mm f\/2 R WR Review \u2013 Autofocus<\/h2>\n

The focusing performance on this lens is far superior to the XF 35mm f\/1.4 R. Internal focusing prevents the front of the barrel protruding like it does on the older lens and, unlike the XF 35mm f\/1.4 R, which is renowned for making some rather loud whirring noises as it focuses, this newer lens is much, much quieter.<\/p>\n

\"Fujinon<\/a>
The new Fujinon XF 35mm f\/2 R mounted to the X-T10<\/a> and the older XF 35mm f\/1.4 R alongside<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

It\u2019s not just quieter \u2013 it\u2019s faster, too. Switching back and forth between old and new revealed the focusing speed on this lens is in an entirely different league. When partnered with the X-T10<\/a>, it latched onto subjects accurately and responsively in a fraction of the time that it took to find focus using the XF 35mm f\/1.4 R. Fujifilm has rated the autofocus acquisition speed at 0.08secs and it feels just as rapid as this in use.<\/p>\n

Fujinon XF 35mm f\/2 R WR Review \u2013 Build and handling<\/h2>\n

Fujinon primes have a reputation for being engineered to a high standard and the XF 35mm f\/2 R WR is no exception. It\u2019s a solidly made optic and its metal and glass construction gives it the sort of premium feel you should always look for from a lens that you want to last. There\u2019s a difference in diameter between the rear and the front of the lens, resulting in the aperture ring being slightly larger than the manual focus ring in front. The lens looks smart attached to X-series cameras and doesn\u2019t look or feel out of place when it\u2019s coupled to the smallest entry-level models such as the X-A2. Our review sample was supplied in black, but those who chose their X-series camera in a silver finish will be glad to know this lens is also available in silver to match.<\/p>\n

\"Fujinon<\/a>
Fujifilm also make the Fujinon XF 35mm f\/2 R in an all-silver finish to compliment silver X-series models<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The quality doesn\u2019t just lie in its appearance; it\u2019s a lens that operates precisely and smoothly, too. The aperture ring clicks through its range in 1\/3-stop increments and rather than having little rotational resistance like there is on the XF 35mm f\/1.4 R, there\u2019s a firmer feel to it when it\u2019s turned. The same can be said about the manual focus ring. It\u2019s not as free turning as the 35mm f\/1.4 and just feels that little bit more refined despite it being smaller. One possible explanation for the improved feel of both the aperture and manual focus rings could be the addition of internal weather seals; when you uncouple the lens from the camera, you\u2019ll also notice a rubber ring at the rear that effectively seals it against the metal lens mount.<\/p>\n

\"IMG_0219\"<\/a>
The size difference between the XF 35mm f\/1.4 R (left) and new Fujinon XF 35mm f\/2 R (right) is obvious<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Rotating the aperture ring anti-clockwise to its further point will set it to its \u2018A\u2019 setting, and glancing down at the lens from above you\u2019ll notice the focal length is marked on the barrel, which wasn\u2019t on the older 35mm f\/4. The absence of switches on the barrel preserves a clean and minimalist appearance and though it is a smaller and more compact lens, I found the difference in weight to be negligible.<\/p>\n

Fujinon XF 35mm f\/2 R WR Review \u2013 Image quality<\/span><\/h2>\n

There will be Fujifilm X-series users out there looking at this lens wanting to know how well it fares against the XF 35mm f\/1.4 R. I\u2019m glad to report that it\u2019s an optically sound lens that delivers some seriously decent results. Running a series of comparison tests with both 35mm lenses set to the same aperture revealed the XF 35mm f\/2 R WR produces fractionally sharper results in the centre of the frame when the aperture value is set to f\/2. The excellent level of sharpness that\u2019s resolved at the maximum aperture is welcome news for those who\u2019d like to like to create a super-shallow depth of field. That said, corner sharpness struggles to match the same level of sharpness as the centre, so it\u2019s worth remembering to compose subjects as central to the frame as possible when shooting at f\/2. Repeating the comparison process after stopping both lenses down to f\/4 and f\/5.6, I found my results to be comparable and as sharp as each other across the frame. Diffraction starts to soften the finest detail at f\/11 and f\/16, so to preserve optimum sharpness from edge-to-edge users will ideally want to shoot between f\/4-5.6 on this lens.<\/p>\n

\"DSCF4154\"<\/a><\/p>\n

The lens vignettes slightly more than the XF 35mm f\/1.4 R wide open, with corners appearing approximately 0.9EV darker than the centre at f\/2. Even at f\/2, the vignetting isn\u2019t overly offensive and is quickly removed by stopping the lens down to f\/2.8. Chromatic aberrations are handled reasonably well, with only minor purple and green fringing being traced along some high-contrast edges. Both vignetting and chromatic aberrations should be a quick one-click fix as soon as a lens profile is created for the lens and made available as part of an Adobe update.<\/p>\n

\"DSCF4149\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Distortion was well controlled on the older XF 35mm f\/1.4 R, so how does it compare on this newer lens? Whereas the older 35mm f\/1.4 is prone to producing modest barrel distortion, this lens produces a negligible amount of pincushion distortion. This was corrected for in JPEG files thanks to the X-T10\u2019s<\/a> effective in-camera processing. Though it\u2019s not immediately obvious in real-world raw files, users will want to correct for it by applying the relevant lens profile in the future.<\/p>\n

Fujinon XF 35mm f\/2 R WR Review \u2013 Test Results<\/span><\/h2>\n

Resolution<\/h3>\n

The lens produces excellent sharpness in the centre of the frame wide open at f\/2, and continues to get sharper when the aperture is closed down by a few stops. There\u2019s a jump in sharpness by stopping the lens down to f\/2.8 and the centre of the frame remains consistently sharp up to f\/8. The sweet spot of edge-to-edge sharpness is found at f\/5.6 and it\u2019s only when you begin to push beyond f\/8 to f\/11 and f\/16 that diffraction gradually starts to have an affect on the level of sharpness.<\/p>\n

\"MTF<\/a><\/p>\n

Shading<\/h3>\n

Vignetting is apparent in images taken at f\/2, with corners appearing approximately 0.9EV darker than the centre of the frame. Corner shading improves very quickly and by stopping the lens down to f\/2.8 the edges appear less than 0.5EV darker than the centre, which I discovered to be barely noticeable in my real-world images. We\u2019re currently still awaiting a lens profile to be made available by Adobe for Lightroom, Photoshop and Camera Raw.<\/p>\n

\"Fujinon<\/a>
Fujifilm Fujinon XF 35mm f\/2 R WR shading 35mm, f\/2<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Fujinon<\/a>
Fujifilm Fujinon XF 35mm f\/2 R WR shading 35mm, f\/2.8<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Fujinon<\/a>
Fujifilm Fujinon XF 35mm f\/2 R WR shading 35mm, f\/4<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Fujinon<\/a>
Fujifilm Fujinon XF 35mm f\/2 R WR shading 35mm, f\/5.6<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Curvilinear distortion<\/h3>\n

A study of our distortion chart revealed the lens exhibits signs of pincushion distortion, whereby straight lines towards the edge of the frame bow inwards. This isn\u2019t a major issue, though, as you\u2019ll be hard pushed to notice it unless you go looking for it. Interestingly this is a different result to Fujifilm\u2019s XF 35mm f\/1.4 R lens, which produces a negligible amount of barrel distortion in its images.<\/p>\n

\"Fujinon<\/a>
Fujinon XF 35mm f\/2 R WR distortion TV SMIA = -1.2%<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Fujinon XF 35mm f\/2 R WR Review \u2013<\/span> Verdict<\/span><\/h2>\n

Having extensively tested this lens, I can say with confidence that it\u2019s up there as one of my favorite X-series lenses. Yes, it\u2019s a stop slower than the XF 35mm f\/1.4 R, but its petite size is perfectly matched to X-series cameras such as the X-T10<\/a> and X-T1<\/a>. The fact it\u2019s less bulky makes the camera feel just that little bit more comfortable to carry around, and the tactile feel of the aperture and manual focus rings makes it pleasing to operate.<\/p>\n

\"Having<\/a><\/p>\n

Centre sharpness and bokeh is magnificent at f\/2, and it goes about its business of focusing in an ultra-quiet and super responsive manner. Add weather-resistance to the mix and you\u2019ve got an incredibly powerful lens that looks great, feels great and has the performance to match. It\u2019s a multi-purpose lens that\u2019s perfect for street, portraiture and reportage photography, and at \u00a3300 it\u2019s a fantastic entry point for X-series users looking to purchase their first prime lens. Unless you really need the extra stop that the XF 35mm f\/1.4 R provides, I\u2019d settle for this lens ahead of it.<\/p>\n

Score: 5 out of 5<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"WDC<\/a><\/p>\n

The post Fujinon XF 35mm f\/2 R WR Review<\/a> appeared first on Trusted Reviews<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

Author: Michael Topham
\nThis article comes from Trusted Reviews<\/i> and can be read on the original site.<\/b><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Fujinon XF 35mm f\/2 R WR Review \u2013 Introduction Fujifilm has always been open about its plans for future lenses and the development of new…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_customify_content_layout":"","_customify_sidebar":"","_customify_page_header_display":"","_customify_disable_header":"","_customify_disable_header_top":"","_customify_disable_header_main":"","_customify_disable_header_bottom":"","_customify_disable_page_title":"","_customify_disable_content_vertical_padding":"","_customify_disable_footer_top":"","_customify_disable_footer_main":"","_customify_disable_footer_bottom":"","_customify_breadcrumb_display":"","_customify_header_transparent_display":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[32],"tags":[50,53,39,54],"class_list":["post-1317","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-camera-lens-reviews","tag-camera","tag-lens","tag-news","tag-reviews"],"rttpg_featured_image_url":null,"rttpg_author":{"display_name":"Brokenmount","author_link":"https:\/\/www.brokenmount.com\/bm\/author\/sysop\/"},"rttpg_comment":0,"rttpg_category":"Camera Lens Reviews<\/a>","rttpg_excerpt":"Fujinon XF 35mm f\/2 R WR Review \u2013 Introduction Fujifilm has always been open about its plans for future lenses and the development of new…","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.brokenmount.com\/bm\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1317","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.brokenmount.com\/bm\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.brokenmount.com\/bm\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.brokenmount.com\/bm\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.brokenmount.com\/bm\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1317"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.brokenmount.com\/bm\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1317\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.brokenmount.com\/bm\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1317"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.brokenmount.com\/bm\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1317"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.brokenmount.com\/bm\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1317"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}