Fujifilm Fujinon 23mm f/1.4 R LM WR Lens Review

It is now firmly established that Fujifilm produces excellent cameras and lenses, with a character of their own. The range continues to adapt and develop and here we have the XF 23mm f/1.4 R LM WR lens, another compact prime with the added benefit of weather resistance. On the APS-C crop format common to all Fujifilm X series lenses, the 23mm equates to a "35mm-equivalent" of 35mm, in other words, the classic wide standard lens and indeed one of the main, classic street photography lenses. Armed with the new lens and the 26MP Fujifilm X-S10 body, we were ready for the rain, but in the event, the sun shone. Let's see how the lens handled and also how it performed in the technical tests.

Fujifilm Fujinon XF 23mm F/1.4 R LM WR Handling and Features

Being an f/1.4 design, the lens is fairly chunky in appearance, but still only weighs in at a very reasonable 375g, or 404g including the provided petal lens hood. The hood bayonets cleanly into place and remains securely in place without the need for any locking catch. Within the bayonet fit for the hood is a standard 58mm filter thread.

The wide manual focus ring is electronic and super-silky-smooth in its action. There is just the right amount of friction to ensure it is not accidentally turned. AF is driven by an accurate and almost silent Linear Motor, and focus can be acquired in as little as 0.04s. Focusing is down to 0.19m, for a maximum magnification of 0.2x, or 1:5.

The aperture ring is, as is usually the case on Fujinon lenses, beautifully engineered, with click stops at one-third of a stop intervals that are pitched perfectly in terms of precision and tactile feel. The clicks are nicely damped but not totally silent, and there is no means of disengaging them. There is a release catch on the aperture ring that must be pressed to either enter or leave the “A” setting. This setting switches control of the aperture to the camera, although in terms of ergonomics in this instance changing the aperture on the lens seems the most efficient way of working. For those who prefer to use the camera to set apertures, the choice is there.

Optical construction is 15 elements in 10 groups, including 2 Aspherical and 3 ED (Extra-Low Dispersion). The diaphragm comprises 9 rounded blades, intended to improve bokeh. Weather resistance is a virtual necessity if we are to venture out in all weathers and conditions. There is no OIS (Optical Image Stabilisation) but there is in-body stabilisation in several Fuji bodies.

Finally, the metal bayonet mount is well made and the lens fits smoothly. There is absolutely no rotational play when the lens is mounted.

The benefits of prime lenses are being rediscovered, that is, the simplification of the shooting process that means there is nothing to interfere with the interaction between photographer and subject. Prime lenses are generally more compact than zooms, generally have faster maximum apertures and are generally capable of producing superior results. The 23mm is a classic focal length, similar to the 35mm on full-frame, and for very good reason. It is wide enough to include small groups of people and some architectural interiors and yet long enough to make portraiture possible without distorting the model's features. As a reportage/street/travel lens it proves itself to be one of the most useful focal lengths and this is clinched with the inclusion of the fast f/1.4 aperture and the weather-resistant construction.