Fujinon XF 35mm F2 Review
Released in 2015, the Fujinon XF 35mm f/2 R WR is a compact and weather-sealed standard prime lens for Fujifilm’s X-series cameras. With a full-frame equivalent focal length of 53mm, it provides a classic normal perspective, making it ideal for street, portrait, documentary, and everyday photography. It offers a smaller, faster, and more durable alternative to the older XF 35mm f/1.4 R while maintaining excellent optical performance.
Build and Design
The XF 35mm f/2 R WR is one of Fujifilm’s best-built compact primes, featuring an all-metal construction that feels solid and durable. At only 170g, it is incredibly lightweight, making it an excellent choice for travel and everyday carry.
A major advantage of this lens is its weather resistance, with sealing in multiple areas to protect against dust, moisture, and low temperatures down to -10°C. This makes it one of the best choices for outdoor shooting in unpredictable conditions.
The aperture ring moves smoothly in one-third stop increments, providing precise control, while the 43mm filter thread makes it easy to find compatible ND and polarising filters.
Optical Performance
The XF 35mm f/2 delivers excellent sharpness, even wide open at f/2. Central sharpness is outstanding, and stopping down to f/4 further improves clarity across the frame.
Contrast and colour rendering are well-balanced, producing images with good depth and vibrancy. Chromatic aberrations and distortion are well controlled, with little to no visible fringing in high-contrast scenes.
The bokeh is smooth and natural, though slightly busier than what the XF 35mm f/1.4 R produces. While f/2 does not offer the extreme subject isolation of faster lenses, it still provides pleasing background separation, especially for portraits and close-up subjects.
Autofocus Performance
One of the key improvements over the older XF 35mm f/1.4 R is autofocus speed. The XF 35mm f/2 R WR uses an internal stepping motor (STM), which is fast, silent, and highly accurate.
Autofocus is quick and reliable in most lighting conditions, making this lens a great choice for street and candid photography. It also performs well in continuous autofocus mode, making it a better option for moving subjects than its f/1.4 counterpart.
Handling and Versatility
With its small size, light weight, and weather sealing, the XF 35mm f/2 R WR is one of the most versatile lenses in the Fujifilm lineup. It balances well on all Fujifilm X-series cameras, from compact bodies like the X-E4 to larger models like the X-T5.
The 35mm focal length (53mm equivalent) is perfect for a wide range of applications, from portraits and street photography to travel and everyday snapshots. The minimum focusing distance of 35cm allows for decent close-up performance, though it is not a macro lens.
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/2 aperture, while fast, does not provide the same subject isolation or low-light performance as the XF 35mm f/1.4 R
- Bokeh can be slightly less creamy compared to the f/1.4 version
- 43mm filter thread is less common than 52mm or 62mm, requiring specific filters
Conclusion
The Fujinon XF 35mm f/2 R WR is an outstanding compact prime lens that balances excellent image quality, fast autofocus, and rugged weather sealing in a lightweight package. Its sharp optics, smooth rendering, and reliable performance make it one of the best everyday lenses for Fujifilm shooters.
While some may prefer the XF 35mm f/1.4 R for its extra stop of light and softer bokeh, the XF 35mm f/2 R WR offers better autofocus, superior build quality, and weather resistance, making it the more practical choice for many photographers. Whether for travel, street, or portrait photography, this lens is a fantastic addition to any Fujifilm kit.
Samples
Here are some of the latest photos I captured using the XF 35mm f/2 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.
