Fujinon XF 16mm F1.4 Review
Released in 2015, the Fujinon XF 16mm f/1.4 R WR is one of Fujifilm’s most highly regarded prime lenses, offering a wide-angle field of view with a full-frame equivalent focal length of 24mm. With its bright f/1.4 aperture, weather sealing, and exceptional optical performance, it is a go-to choice for landscape, street, environmental portrait, and astrophotography enthusiasts. This lens is known for its outstanding sharpness, beautiful bokeh, and excellent low-light capabilities.
Build and Design
The XF 16mm f/1.4 R WR is built to Fujifilm’s premium standards, featuring a solid all-metal construction while remaining relatively lightweight at 375g. The manual focus ring is smooth and well-damped, and it features a push-pull clutch mechanism for quick switching between autofocus and manual focus.
Weather resistance is a key feature of this lens, with multiple seals protecting it from dust, moisture, and freezing temperatures down to -10°C. This makes it an excellent option for photographers who frequently shoot outdoors in challenging conditions.
The aperture ring is precise, offering one-third stop adjustments with a satisfying click. The 67mm filter thread size is standard and allows easy use of ND and polarising filters.
Optical Performance
The XF 16mm f/1.4 delivers outstanding sharpness, even when shot wide open at f/1.4. Center sharpness is excellent, while the edges remain strong, particularly when stopped down to f/2.8 or f/4.
One of the highlights of this lens is its ability to create a shallow depth of field at a wide-angle focal length. Thanks to its f/1.4 aperture and close minimum focusing distance of just 15cm, it is capable of achieving impressive subject isolation with beautifully smooth bokeh.
Chromatic aberrations, ghosting, and flare are well controlled due to Fujifilm’s advanced coatings. The contrast and colour rendition are rich and natural, making this lens an excellent choice for both still photography and video work.
Autofocus Performance
The internal autofocus system is fast, silent, and highly accurate, making it well-suited for a variety of shooting situations. In good lighting conditions, autofocus is snappy and reliable. In lower light, it performs well, though like many f/1.4 lenses, it may hunt slightly in very dim environments.
The focus clutch mechanism allows for instant manual focus override, and the distance scale markings are useful for zone focusing, particularly for street photography.
Handling and Versatility
Despite its wide-angle focal length, the XF 16mm f/1.4 R WR is highly versatile. It is ideal for landscapes, astrophotography, environmental portraits, and even macro-style close-ups thanks to its 15cm minimum focusing distance. The combination of a wide field of view and a fast aperture makes it a great choice for low-light scenes and creative compositions.
The relatively compact size and lightweight design make it easy to carry, though it is larger than Fujifilm’s XF 16mm f/2.8 alternative. However, the superior optical quality and faster aperture make it worth the extra size and weight for many photographers.
My main issue with Fuji lenses though is how they feel in the hand. The paint or coating they use has a slightly greasy or slippery texture, which I find unpleasant compared to for instance Canon.
Drawbacks
- The f/1.4 aperture results in a slightly larger and heavier design compared to the XF 16mm f/2.8
- Autofocus, while generally fast, can hunt slightly in very low light
- Premium price compared to other Fujifilm wide-angle options
Conclusion
The Fujinon XF 16mm f/1.4 R WR is one of the best wide-angle lenses in the Fujifilm lineup, offering exceptional image quality, a bright f/1.4 aperture, and rugged weather-sealing. It is an excellent choice for photographers who need a high-performance lens for landscapes, astrophotography, street photography, and environmental portraits.
While the larger size and higher price may make it less appealing for casual shooters, those who prioritise image quality, low-light performance, and creative flexibility will find this to be a must-have lens. For anyone looking for a top-tier wide-angle prime for the Fujifilm X system, the XF 16mm f/1.4 R WR is an outstanding choice.
I absolutely loved mine, and it quickly became one of my favourite lenses during my short-lived stint with Fuji.
Samples
Here are some recent photos I captured using the Fujinon XF 16mm f/1.4 R WR. These sample shots highlight the lens’s performance across different conditions, settings, and subjects. To view the complete collection of photos taken with this lens, the link.