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Fujifilm is one of the first names of photography, with a history that stretches back nearly a century. Photographers who are old enough to have used analog cameras best know the brand’s film stocks—it was Kodak’s biggest rival before the digital revolution, gaining traction by selling good film for fewer dollars.In the digital era, Fujifilm has transitioned into a more upmarket brand. It established its place with the X100, a fixed lens compact with a hybrid viewfinder and SLR-sized sensor—absolutely innovative features a decade ago—introducing a design philosophy with a strong emphasis on classic aesthetics and manual handling.The Fuji X SystemThe same concept carries over to the X system, a camera line with style and handling inspired by the X100, but with swappable glass. It launched in early 2012 with the X-Pro1 and a handful of prime lenses.
Fujifilm X-T5 with XF 30mm F2.8 Macro lens (Credit: Jim Fisher)
Since then, the company has built out the system aggressively. There aren’t any entry-level models available at press time—our favorite X-T200 is long discontinued and hasn’t been replaced. You need to budget around $900 to get started with the X-T30 II as it is the most affordable Fuji X camera at the moment. Step-up models include the X-S20 ($1,299) and X-T50 ($1,399), both include in-body image stabilization, a feature missing from the X-T30 II.On the high end, the stacked X-H2S is Fujifilm’s current flagship, though you should also consider the excellent X-T5 or X-H2 if you want to spend less. If you prefer an X-Pro style body with a hybrid optical-electronic viewfinder, you’re out of luck at the moment since the X-Pro3 is discontinued. You need to turn to the used market if that’s your cup of tea.
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All X system cameras sport the same sensor size, the APS-C format. The sensor format is smaller than full-frame alternatives but lends itself to generally smaller, lighter lenses. It’s a boon for action photographers who strive to get a bit more effective reach without having to grab an extreme telephoto lens.Which Fuji X Lens Is Right for Me?If you’re used to thinking about focal lengths in full-frame terms, you just need to do a bit of quick math to understand equivalencies. Multiplying by 1.5 times gets you there—a 16mm lens on a Fuji X camera nets the same angle of view as a 24mm on a full-frame system. It’s important to consider the angle of view when shopping for a lens—a smaller millimeter makes for a wider view, while bigger numbers indicate telephoto lenses.
The Fujifilm X-H2S is shown here with the weather-sealed XF 16-80mm zoom (Credit: Jim Fisher)
All current models sport an X-Trans sensor, a type that filters color with a more complex filter array than rivals. Fujifilm couples it with an excellent image-processing engine. With these cameras, you have the flexibility to make images that range in look from modern digital to vintage film, without having to spend time in Photoshop.As you move beyond entry level, you can enjoy one of the best autofocus systems in any camera family, along with features like in-body image stabilization (IBIS) and weather protection. If you own a body without IBIS, look for lenses with an OIS designation—that tells you that a lens includes optical image stabilization.Likewise, not all of the company’s lenses can resist dust and splashes of water. If you buy a Fujifilm camera with weather protection, make sure to reach for a lens with the “WR” designation to ensure that it’s as well-protected as your camera.
The GFX100 II is a medium format camera that works with Fujinon GF lenses, but it isn’t compatible with the XF and XC lenses used by the X system (Credit: Jim Fisher)
For the most part, you should stick with Fujifilm Fujinon lenses for your camera. Make sure to shop for ones billed as XF or XC. Fujifilm also sells GF lenses for its medium format mirrorless system, but glass made for the 100MP GFX100 II won’t work with an X series camera.However, you don’t have to buy a Fujinon lens. Third-party support for the X mount is growing. Sigma has jumped in with its quartet of f/1.4 Contemporary primes, and Tamron now offers several zooms for the Fujifilm system. Brands like Viltrox and Zeiss also market autofocus options, and you can get manual focus lenses from 7Artisans, Venus Laowa, and others to expand your creative options.
Standard Zoom
Fujifilm XF 16-80mm / X-T4 (Credit: Jim Fisher)
The first lens you’re likely to get with a camera is a standard zoom. If you’re buying an entry-level or midrange model, you might even get one in a bundle along with the camera. Fujifilm typically offers a few different starter lenses.The XC 15-45mm F3.5-5.6 is the most basic—it’s light, compact, and affordable but doesn’t offer weather protection or gather the same amount of light as others. Fuji’s better starter lenses, the XF 16-50mm F2.8-4.8 and XF 16-80mm F4, include weather protection. The XF 16-50mm is a recent addition to the catalog and replaces the long-running XF 18-55mm F2.8-4 as the mid-priced kit option. It includes upgraded optics that are better suited for use on 40MP-sensor models and a wider starting angle but omits optical stabilization.Fujifilm also markets the XF 16-55mm F2.8, a premium option for serious photographers. It has a fixed f/2.8 optical design but doesn’t include optical stabilization. It pairs best with a camera that sports an IBIS system. If you want an F2.8 zoom with stabilization, look to the Tamron 17-70mm F2.8 Di III-A VC RXD instead. We consider the Tamron to be a better value than the XF 16-55.All of these lenses start at a moderately wide angle—about the same view a smartphone’s main lens offers—and zoom in to capture a modest telephoto angle, ideal for portraiture.The amount of zoom power varies, but remember that smaller focal lengths net wider views, while larger numbers indicate tighter ones. If you want a longer lens, we like the Tamron 18-300mm more than Fuji’s XF 18-135mm. as we didn’t love the latter’s optical performance or value for the dollar when we reviewed it.
Fujifilm Fujinon XF 16-80mm F4 R OIS WR
MSRP $799.95
Tamron 17-70mm F2.8 Di III-A VC RXD
MSRP $799.99
Tamron 18-300mm F3.5-6.3 Di III-A VC VXD
MSRP $699.00
Fujifilm Fujinon XF 16-55mm F2.8 R LM WR
MSRP $1,199.95
Wide Angle
XF 8-16mm/X-T3 (Credit: Jim Fisher)
There are times when a scene is just too vast for a standard zoom to cover. Wide-angle lenses come in handy here because their shorter focal length designs capture more of what’s in front of them. Here, you should pick a lens that’s 14mm or shorter—the smaller the focal length, the wider the angle of view.There are quite a few wide-angle options for the Fuji X system. We love the XF 8-16mm F2.8 for its fixed aperture and all-weather build but understand that a $2,000 lens is not within all budgets. It’s also a very big lens. If you’re looking to spend less, consider the Tamron 11-20mm F2.8 at $829 instead.The Fuji XF 10-24mm F4 costs about half that of the 8-16mm and benefits from a recent fit-and-finish update that adds weather protection and an aperture lock. If you can find a good deal on the older R OIS version of the lens, you should consider it, but the R OIS WR edition is better for newcomers and outdoor photographers.A handful of wide prime lenses are available, too. While we generally recommend zooms to cover wide angles as they’re a more versatile option, primes tend to run smaller. The compact XF 8mm F3.5 R WR is a good match for landscapes, architecture, travel, and vlogs. For a more moderate wide view, look at the XF 14mm or Zeiss Touit 12mm.The third-party, manual focus Venus Laowa 9mm F2.8 Zero-D is a more interesting option. It’s one of the widest lenses for the system, avoids any sort of curved distortion, and doesn’t cost as much as autofocus lenses. It’s not too hard to manually focus a wide lens either, so don’t be intimidated if you’re used to autofocus.Manual-focus fish-eye lenses are available for the system, too, just not from Fujifilm. Venus offers one, the 4mm F2.8, and Meike sells a pair, the MK-6.5mm F2 and MK-6-11mm F3.5 fish-eye zoom. There are other manual-focus wide options available for the system, from brands like Rokinon and 7artisans, but we’ve not yet had a chance to review them.
Fujifilm Fujinon XF 8-16mm F2.8 R LM WR
MSRP $1,999.95
Fujifilm Fujinon XF 8mm F3.5 R WR
MSRP $799.95
Fujifilm Fujinon XF 10-24mm F4 R OIS WR
MSRP $999.95
Tamron 11-20mm F2.8 Di III-A RXD
MSRP $829.00
Venus Laowa 9mm F2.8 Zero-D
MSRP $499.00
Telephoto
XF 100-400mm / X-T4 (Credit: Jim Fisher)
If you’re interested in photographing team sports, wildlife, or other distant action, a telephoto lens is in order. These optics capture a rather narrow angle of view, so you can get a better look at faraway subjects.Telephoto lenses trend toward expensive, but Fuji has some affordable options in its catalog. The XC 50-230mm F4.5-6.7 II is a good example that sells for around $400 but you can sometimes get it for a discount in kits. If you’re buying it at full price, it’s worth getting the XF 55-200mm F3.5-4.8 if you can afford its $700 asking price. For the extra money, you get a wider aperture for better pictures in tough light and weather sealing. Event photographers should look at the XF 50-140mm F2.8 as its optics are bright enough for use indoors and can blur backgrounds away for portraiture.If you’re interested in snapping shots of sports and wildlife, you should pick a telezoom that reaches at least 300mm. The XF 75-300mm F4-5.6 is the most affordable entry among them in the catalog and is quite compact given its range. If you don’t mind carrying more weight and have a larger budget, the XF 100-400mm, Tamron 150-500mm, and XF 150-600mm are among our top recommendations. They are what to get for a trip to a national park or photos of team sports from the sidelines and stands. If you require more reach, you can add an XF 1.4x or XF 2x teleconverter to many Fuji lenses but not third-party glass.There are a couple of telephoto primes in the catalog, too. The XF 90mm F2 is a little short for sports but perfect for portraits and event photography thanks to its bright aperture. If you need to capture sports or animals in dim light, the XF 200mm F2 is a worthwhile splurge. It’s an impeccable performer but carries a $6,000 asking price, placing it out of reach for many hobbyists. On the plus side, that price includes a special version of the 1.4x rear teleconverter with optics tuned to work with f/2 glass; it turns the lens into a 300mm F2.8.
Fujifilm Fujinon XF 50-140mm F2.8 R LM OIS WR
MSRP $1,599.95
Fujifilm Fujinon XF 55-200mm F3.5-4.8 R LM OIS
MSRP $699.95
Fujifilm Fujinon XF 70-300mm F4-5.6 R LM OIS WR
MSRP $799.99
Fujifilm Fujinon XF 100-400mm F4.5-5.6 R LM OIS WR
MSRP $1,899.00
Fujifilm Fujinon XF 150-600mm F5.6-8 R LM OIS WR
MSRP $1,999.95
Fujifilm Fujinon XF 200mm F2 R LM WR OIS
MSRP $5,999.95
Fixed Focal Length Primes
XC 35mm F2 / X-T200 (Credit: Jim Fisher)
Lenses that don’t zoom—called primes—are the keystone of the X lens system. Because optical designers have to worry only about a single focal length, they can make prime lenses smaller, more capable of gathering light, and optically better than zoom lenses. Because of the non-zooming nature, there are plenty of prime options available. The ones we list here are among the best for the system, but don’t count out others not featured. It’s difficult to find a bad Fujinon prime.The Fujifilm system covers the full range of focal lengths. You can opt for F1.0, F1.2, or F1.4 lenses to get the brightest view or get an F2 or F2.8 lens when you want to pack light. Generally speaking, the brighter lenses tend to cost more, so consider the F2 options as value picks.Optical quality is strong across the board, but you should be aware that a couple of options—the XF 18mm F2 and XF 35mm F1.4—are first-generation entries and don’t quite match newer lenses in focus speed and handling. Both of these have been supplanted by newer editions, the XF 18mm F1.4 and XF 33mm F1.4 respectively.Typically speaking, wider angle primes are good fits for landscapes and cityscapes, documentary and street photography, and parties and events. Look for one in the 16-27mm focal range if you like to take those kinds of photos. Primes with tighter angles (30-56mm) are better for photos that concentrate on a single subject with a blurred background. If you’re more into portraiture, stick within this range.Prices run the gamut, but we find strong value in affordable lenses like the XC 35mm F2, which drops weather protection and on-barrel aperture control but is otherwise the same lens as the mid-priced XF 35mm F2. The XF 16mm F2.8 and Sigma 56mm F1.4 are other good options for photographers who want to start out with either a wider or tighter prime.Photogs who want to take pictures in dim light or get the dreamiest blurred-out backgrounds should look for a lens with an F1.4 or wider aperture. Fuji has several options you won’t find for other APS-C camera systems, including the XF 50mm F1.0 R WR and XF 56mm F1.2 R WR, both of which capture far more light than an F2 or even an F1.4 lens.Most autofocus options are from Fujifilm, but Sigma also offers its 16mm, 23mm, 30mm, and 56mm F1.4 Contemporary quartet for the X mount. We’ve tested only the Sony versions of the lenses, but expect them to perform similarly on Fujifilm cameras.
Fujifilm Fujinon XF 16mm F2.8 R WR
MSRP $399.00
Fujifilm Fujinon XF 16mm F1.4 R WR
MSRP $999.00
Fujifilm Fujinon XF 23mm F2 R WR
MSRP $449.00
Fujifilm Fujinon XF 23mm F1.4 R LM WR
MSRP $899.95
Fujifilm Fujinon XF 27mm F2.8 R WR
MSRP $399.95
Sigma 30mm F1.4 DC DN Contemporary
MSRP $339.00
Fujifilm Fujinon XC 35mm F2
MSRP $199.99
Fujifilm Fujinon XF 50mm F2 R WR
MSRP $449.00
Sigma 56mm F1.4 DC DN Contemporary
MSRP $479.00
Macro and Close Focus
XF 80mm Macro / X-Pro2 (Credit: Jim Fisher)
If you’re interested in making images of flowers and insects or crafting abstract worlds, you need a macro lens to focus in on the tiniest details. Fujifilm sells three.The XF 60mm is one of the first lenses for the system and focuses close enough to capture images at only half life-size (1:2). The XF 80mm is a better lens all-around—it’s sharper, sports weather protection, and focuses close enough for 1:1 magnification—but it costs $1,200. The XF 30mm bridges the gap with 1:1 support and a more palatable $600 asking price.The Zeiss Touit 2.8/50M is another 1:1 option, but keep in mind that it’s an older lens and we’ve not tried it on newer cameras, and Zeiss has seemingly abandoned the development of the series. We recommend it with more hesitation than we did when we reviewed it, especially since the XF 80mm doesn’t cost that much more.To get macro results for less, you can reach for a manual focus lens. Venus Optics sells its 65mm F2.8 2x Macro for X cameras for around $400. We’ve not yet had a chance to test it but have been impressed with other lenses from Venus.Another option for manual focus is to use a lens made for an SLR system via an adapter. The Rokinon 100mm Macro is a good lens if you go that route.
Fujifilm Fujinon XF 80mm F2.8 R LM OIS WR Macro
MSRP $1,199.00
Fujifilm Fujinon XF 30mm F2.8 R LM WR Macro
MSRP $599.95
Fujifilm Fujinon XF 60mm F2.4 R Macro
MSRP $649.95
Other Accessories to Consider
Lensbaby Omni Creative Filter System (Credit: Lensbaby)
A new lens isn’t the only add-on you should consider for a digital camera. If you’re interested in landscape photography, a sturdy, lightweight tripod can be quite useful. Photographers with an artistic flair can consider an effects kit, and if portraiture and studio work are your forte, think about adding an on-camera flash or wireless monolight.Videographers and vloggers should add a good external microphone or handheld gimbal to a kit. If you’re working on more advanced video projects where color grading and ProRes capture are key, consider an external video recorder.
Lensbaby Omni Creative Filter System
MSRP $99.95
MSRP $259.00
Flashpoint Xplor 300 Pro TTL R2
MSRP $499.00
Peak Design Travel Tripod
MSRP $599.99
MSRP $549.00
MSRP $695.00
MSRP $99.95
