Fujifilm XF 23mm f/2 R WR Review

June 9, 2017 | Amy Davies | Rating star Rating star Rating star Rating star Half rating star

Conclusion

The Fujifilm XF 23mm f/2 R WR lens delivers some fantastic results. Although many will be tempted towards the f/1.4, it is actually the f/2 version which appears to produce the sharper results. Therefore, if you don’t need that extra wide aperture, you may be better off (financially, too) to plump for the f/2 version. 

As well as a cost saving, you’ll also be saving room in your kit bag, making the 23mm f/2 lens an ideal travel and walk around lens. The equivalent focal length of 35mm makes it great for street photography work, while the quick and quiet autofocusing also suits this subject particularly well. 

Bokeh is rendered pleasingly well when shooting at wide apertures, and while you won’t be able to get the same kind of extreme shallow depth of field effects that you will with the f/1.4 lens, f/2.0 should serve you well for the majority of situations. 

The lens construction is great, with the all-metal design being pleasing to the eye and working well with Fuji’s line-up of X series cameras. Although an XF lens, it would also work well with Fuji’s cheaper models, such as the X-A10, for those looking for a good quality prime lens to add to their collection. 

Just like the other f/2 prime lenses, this lens doesn’t feature optical image stabilisation. That’s a shame because bodies such as the X Pro2 and the X-T2 also don’t have it - you might therefore find that you have to up the ISO speed when shooting in dimmer conditions to keep shutter speeds quick enough to avoid blur. 

When you look at pricing, the Fujifilm XF 23mm f/2 R WR lens is reasonably priced (for a Fuji lens). It is nearly half the price of the 23mm f/1.4 lens, so you could look to pick up this along with one of the other prime lenses in this range for the same price as just one of the 23mm f/1.4 lenses. Considering you’re getting a sharper and smaller optic for your money, that would make great financial sense if you can live without a super wide aperture. 

Overall, the Fujifilm XF 23mm f/2 R WR lens is a great little lens to complement the bag of any Fuji shooter. The small and compact design makes it an ideal travel lens, while the image quality is excellent.

4.5 stars

Ratings (out of 5)
Design 4.5
Features 4
Ease-of-use 4.5
Image quality 4.5
Value for money 4