Fujifilm Fujinon XF 60mm f/2.4 R Macro Lens Review

Handling and features
Performance
Verdict
Specification


XF 60mm f/2.4 R Macro

This telephoto macro lens for the Fujifilm X-Pro1 camera provides a field of view equivalent to a 91mm lens on a 35mm camera, has a bright f/2.4 maximum aperture, produces half life size magnification at its closest focusing distance and costs around £600.

Fujifilm Fujinon XF 60mm f/2.4 R Macro Lens Handling and features

Fujifilm X-pro 1 60mm Rear

Although this lens only weighs 215g, the combination of metal and high quality plastics gives this lens a reassuringly robust feel. Although it is currently the largest of the three lenses released at the same time as the X-Pro1, it balances very well on the camera.

Focusing isn't performed internally and a central lens barrel lens extends by around two centimetres at its closest focus. Even so, the 39mm filter thread does not rotate, making it perfect for use with polarising and graduated filters. A large circular hood attaches to the bayonet around the front of the lens and the lens extends inside this when focusing. The wide focusing ring is well damped, making fine adjustments easy to apply, although it takes over three full turns of the ring to move the lens from infinity to its closest focus distance.


Fujifilm XF 60mm f/2.4 R Macro Mounted

To compliment the retro styling of the X-Pro1, this 60mm macro lens has a manual aperture ring for selecting the desired aperture in a more traditional way. This aperture ring has each full stop marked, but has click stops for each intermediate 1/3 stop setting, and an 'A' setting for automatic operation. The aperture ring only requires a gentle touch to move through the aperture range, which is great for making quick adjustments, but requires care to be taken when changing lenses, as the aperture ring is easily moved.

At normal distances, autofocus is pretty quick, and should be more than adequate for candid portraiture. At close distances focusing is very slow and hunts a lot, therefore it is probably best to use manual focusing for any serious macro work.

Fujifilm Fujinon XF 60mm f/2.4 R Macro Lens Performance

In terms of sharpness across the frame, this Fuji 60mm lens is one of the best performers tested so far. Sharpness at maximum aperture is already excellent in the centre and very good towards the edges of the frame. Peak quality is achieved between f/5.6 and f/8, where clarity is outstanding in the centre and not far behind towards the edges.

Resolution @ 60mm

How to read our charts The blue column represents readings from the centre of the picture frame at the various apertures and the green is from the edges. Averaging them out gives the red weighted column. The scale on the left side is an indication of actual image resolution. The taller the column, the better the lens performance. Simple. For this review, the lens was tested on a Fujifilm X-Pro1 using Imatest.

As far as chromatic aberrations are concerned it is one of the best behaved lenses tested to date, with Imatest barely registering any fringing at all.

Chromatic aberration @ 60mm

How to read our charts Chromatic aberration is the lens' inability to focus on the sensor or film all colours of visible light at the same point. Severe chromatic aberration gives a noticeable fringing or a halo effect around sharp edges within the picture. It can be cured in software. Apochromatic lenses have special lens elements (aspheric, extra-low dispersion etc) to minimize the problem, hence they usually cost more. For this review, the lens was tested on a Fujifilm X-Pro1 using Imatest.

Falloff of illumination towards the corners of the frame is well controlled for a wide aperture lens. At f/2.4 the corners are 0.896 stops darker than the image centre and visually uniform illumination is achieved at f/4.

A very slight amount of pincushion distortion is detected by Imatest. With only 0.534% pincushion distortion, this shouldn't pose too many issues. If absolutely straight lines are required, the distortion is easy to correct in image editing software afterwards as the pattern is uniform across the frame.

Fujifilm XF 60mm f/2.4 R Macro Sample Photos

1/125 sec | f/8.0 | 60.0 mm | ISO 200 High-Res	1/90 sec | f/4.0 | 60.0 mm | ISO 1000 High-Res
Fuji60mm033 | 1/50 sec | f/8.0 | 60.0 mm | ISO 200 High-Res	1/200 sec | f/5.6 | 60.0 mm | ISO 200 High-Res
1/90 sec | f/8.0 | 60.0 mm | ISO 400 High-Res	1/20 sec | f/8.0 | 60.0 mm | ISO 200 High-Res
1/600 sec | f/2.8 | 60.0 mm | ISO 200 High-Res	1/170 sec | f/5.6 | 60.0 mm | ISO 200 High-Res

At normal focusing distances, flare is rarely an issue, even when shooting into the light. At these distances the supplied hood does an excellent job of shielding the front element of the lens. At close focusing distances, this lens has quite a severe issue with internal reflections, causing bright flare spots and reduced contrast in the centre of the image. This tends to occur in situations where the background is relatively bright, or if the light source is perpendicular to the lens. This issue get worse as the lens is stopped down, which may prove to be very frustrating for macro work where depth of field is at a premium.

With a large diffused light source perpendicular to the lens a loss of contrast and a magenta tinge can be seen in the centre of this image | 1/10 sec | f/11.0 | 60.0 mm | ISO 200

A more extreme example to show how bad the issue can get if care isn't taken to avoid the circumstance which cause the internal reflections | 1/125 sec | f/16.0 | 60.0 mm | ISO 200

Fujifilm Fujinon XF 60mm f/2.4 R Macro Lens Verdict

Those wishing to use this lens for portraiture and the occasional bit of macro work will find the performance of the Fuji 60mm pretty much perfect. Sharpness is excellent from corner to corner, CA is pretty much non-existent, and other optical problems like distortion and falloff are also very well controlled.

Unfortunately those wishing to use this lens primarily for macro work may find the issue with internal reflections a little too frustrating. The price is about right for the excellent build quality and features, but this lens will really sell itself on its near-perfect optical performance.

The Fujinon XF 60mm f/2.4 R Macro lens gives near-perfect optical performance with excellent sharpness.

Fujifilm Fujinon XF 60mm f/2.4 R Macro Lens Pros

Excellent sharpness from edge to edge, even at wide apertures
Low distortion
Very Lightweight
Traditional design
Excellent build

Fujifilm Fujinon XF 60mm f/2.4 R Macro Lens Cons

Issue with internal reflections under certain conditions
Slow autofocus at close distances

FEATURES
HANDLING
PERFORMANCE
VALUE FOR MONEY
OVERALL

Fujifilm XF 60mm f/2.4 R Macro Specifications

Manufacturer	Fujifilm
General
	Lens Mounts	Fujifilm X Mount
Lens
	Focal Length	60mm
	Angle of View	26.6°
	Max Aperture	f/2.4 - f/22
	Min Aperture	f/2.4 - f/22
	Filter Size	39mm
	35mm equivalent	91mm
	Internal focusing	No
Focusing
	Min Focus	26.7cm
	Stabilised	No
Construction
	Blades	9
	Elements	10
	Groups	8
Box Contents
	Box Contents	Lens, Front Lens Cap, Rear Lens Cap, Lens Wrapping Cloth, Lens Hood, Owners Manual
Dimensions
	Weight	215g
	Height	70.9mm

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