I came of age in the '90s and took up photography as a young adult. I've been seriously shooting now, off-and-on professionally, for about 20 years—precisely over the period during which the world made the shift from film to digital.
As a result, I've shot with a lot of gear. Olympus OM system. Canon EF. Nikon F-mount. Four Thirds. Micro Four Thirds. And of course Fuji X-mount. I've had occasion to own some very good wide aperture "standard zoom" lenses, from Olympus, Nikon, Canon, Sigma, and Fuji.
In terms of image quality and focus performance and accuracy, this is probably the best all-around lens I've ever owned. It is an impressive, impressive piece of equipment in every way. I'm currently using it with Fuji X-T2 bodies.
THE GOOD
- Amazing sharpness at every focal length all the way open
- Blink-of-eye focus lock apparently limited only by the body you shoot with
- Rugged all-metal build construction
- Actual, mechanical, notched aperture ring, not a fly-by-wire imitation
- Smooth-as-silk zoom and focus action
- Very sound weather sealing that I've had several occasions to depend on
It is pure, rock-solid competence in every way, utterly dependable and predictable in terms of durability, in terms of handling, and in terms of output. I wouldn't be without it.
THE BAD
- It is very long and heavy for a dedicated APS-C lens, essentially double the size of its other direct competitors
- The front element is huge
- All of this makes it vulnerable to damage but also requiring of very large filters and cases for protection
It would appear that the basic trade-off that enabled Fuji to come up with such a technically brilliant lens is that it's an APS-C lens that's the size of a full-frame f/2.8 zoom. Whether or not this works for you will depend on your own circumstances.
IN COMPARISON
vs. Olympus 12.40mm f/2.8 Pro: The Fuji 16-55mm has more pleasing and more effective DOF control/bokeh, even at what should be equivalently adjusted settings that compensate for the smaller sensor size of the MFT system. The Olympus 12-40mm f/2.8 lens is a fine lens that matches this one for build quality, sharpness, and focus speed, yet design compromises mean that it the Olympus 12-40mm is lacking in the DOF control department in comparison to the Fuji 16-55mm, or even in comparison to Olympus non-pro offerings like the 14-54mm zoom.
vs. Canon L and Nikon f/2.8 pro standard zooms: I only ever used the versions of these lenses that predate the advent of "designed during the APS-C era" equipment, but nonetheless, the Fuji 16-55mm is far sharper across the frame—especially at corners—and far less prone to distortion and chromatic aberration than either Canon or Nikon versions of an f/2.8 standard zoom that I shout with during the '00s. It is also noticeably faster to focus. The Fuji 16-55mm is admittedly somewhat smaller than the Canon and Nikon f/2.8 offerings for full-frame, but if you sit it down next to these on the one side and an Olympus 12-40mm or Sigma 18-50mm on the other side, the Fuji is clearly closer in size to the former (full-frame f/2.8 zooms) than the latter (other mirrorless or DX f/2.8 zooms). It really can't claim to have a tremendous size advantage vs. full-frame fixed-aperture zooms. You're not going to go Fuji XF with this lens for the weight savings.
vs. Sigma 18-50mm f/2.8 EX: Immensely better build quality, with better sharpness both at edge and center—as well as immensely faster focus. Don't get me wrong, the Sigma is in an entirely different price class and about half the size, an amazing lens in its own right for the cost, but when the output and build quality of the two is compared, the Fuji 16-55mm simply destroys the Sigma. It's like comparing a Honda Accord, which is a fine car in its own right, to a Tesla Roadster.
If you can put up with the size and cost and have a body like the X-T2 that can take advantage of what this lens is able to offer, you'll find that this lens is really at the top of what photography currently has (or probably ever will have) to offer. It's really just a fully achieved product in every way. Hats off to Fuji for making a lens with few obvious compromises, and none in the image quality department.
Fujinon XF16-55mmF2.8 R LM WR
4.7 | 344 ratings
Price: 1199
Last update: 07-25-2024
About this item
Optically designed to draw out the maximum image quality of a flagship standard zoom lens Angle of view 83 2°- 29°
Focal length(35mm format equivalent) f=16-55mm (24-84mm) Focus range Normal - 0 6m - ∞(whole zoom position) Macro - 30cm - 10m (Wide) 40cm - 10m (Telephoto)
High-speed, quiet auto focus thanks to the Linear Motor Weight, excluding caps and hoods 1 44 pounds (655g)
Weather resistant design with 14 sealing points dust-resistant and -10 Degree low-temperature operation
Nano-Gi coating technology 9 rounded blade aperture diaphragm help create smooth and circular bokeh Max Magnification 0 16x (telephoto)
Focal length(35mm format equivalent) f=16-55mm (24-84mm) Focus range Normal - 0 6m - ∞(whole zoom position) Macro - 30cm - 10m (Wide) 40cm - 10m (Telephoto)
High-speed, quiet auto focus thanks to the Linear Motor Weight, excluding caps and hoods 1 44 pounds (655g)
Weather resistant design with 14 sealing points dust-resistant and -10 Degree low-temperature operation
Nano-Gi coating technology 9 rounded blade aperture diaphragm help create smooth and circular bokeh Max Magnification 0 16x (telephoto)
Product information
| Product Dimensions | 4.17 x 3.27 x 3.27 inches |
|---|---|
| Item Weight | 1.44 pounds |
| ASIN | B00RSQTDMA |
| Item model number | XF16-55mmF2.8 R LM WR |
| Batteries | 1 Lithium Ion batteries required. |
| Customer Reviews |
4.7 4.7 out of 5 stars
344 ratings
4.7 out of 5 stars |
| Best Sellers Rank | #455 in SLR Camera Lenses |
| Is Discontinued By Manufacturer | No |
| Date First Available | January 5, 2015 |
| Manufacturer | Fujifilm |
Top reviews from the United States
PRNLM
Probably the best all-around lens I've ever owned.
Reviewed in the United States on September 8, 2018
AsSiMiLaTeD
An amazing zoom and a bag of pretty good Primes
Reviewed in the United States on February 14, 2023Thy Yem
Very Good Lens
Reviewed in the United States on May 25, 2016