Introduction
The Fujifilm XF 23mm F1.4 R LM WR is a quick reasonably wide-angle prime lens for Fujifilm’s X-series vary of APS-C format mirrorless cameras.
It joins the older XF 23mm F1.4 R lens within the vary, which was first launched again in 2013. There’s additionally the marginally slower, extra compact XF 23mm F2 R WR lens to think about.
The Fuji 23mm offers a focal size which precisely matches that of a 35mm optic in a 35mm full-frame system, making it a basic wide-angle prime lens.
It has an optical components comprised of 15 parts in 10 teams together with two aspherical parts to assist restrict distortion and spherical aberrations and three ED parts to cut back flare and ghosting.
Key options embrace built-in weather-resistance, a bodily aperture ring full with markings and an A (Auto) Place Lock, and a minimal focusing distance of 19cm.
There’s additionally an iris diaphragm with 9 rounded blades, Fuji’s proprietary HT-EBC Coating to cut back lens flare and ghosting, a robust linear motor for fast AF response, and a steel mount and focusing ring.
The Fujifilm XF 23mm F1.4 R LM WR lens is obtainable in black solely priced at £819 / $899 within the UK and the US, respectively. The XF 23mm F1.4 is manufactured within the Philippines.
Ease of Use
The XF 23mm F1.4 weighs 375g / 0.84lb and measures 67mm x 77.8mm with a wonderfully cheap 58mm filter measurement
The brand new XF 23mm is barely heavier and greater than the lens that it successfully replaces, the outdated XF 23mm F1.4 from 2013, which weighs 300g and measures 63mm in size.
That is predominantly as a result of it contains a extra difficult optical building than the unique XF 23mm, plus it gives built-in climate resistance and a extra refined and sooner auto-focus system.
The brand new XF 23mm F1.4 is a a lot bigger lens than the choice XF 23mm F2 pancake, which weighs a mere 180g and measures 52mm in size, as a consequence of having a one-stop sooner most aperture plus a extra difficult optical building.
The newcomer to the Fuji lens vary continues to be comparatively compact and lightweight sufficient to really feel well-balanced on the X-S10 digital camera that we examined it with, although, which is among the smaller X-series our bodies at the moment accessible.
The brand new 23mm is similar to the 16mm, 18mm and 33mm f/1.4 lenses – collectively they might make an ideal set of F1.4 primes, though some folks could choose simply having the 16mm and never bothering with the 18mm, or vice versa.
Climate-resistance has been built-in to the 23mm F1.4 lens to assist shield it in opposition to water and mud and permit it to totally function in temperatures right down to -10°C (14°F).
In testing it complemented the brand new Fujifilm X-S10 digital camera very effectively, forming a well-balanced and light-weight bundle and greater than matching the physique when it comes to its construct high quality.
The Fujifilm 23mm lens boasts a steel mount and focusing and aperture rings, steel lens barrel and non-rotating 58mm filter thread.
As with most Fuji lenses, the XF 23mm F1.4 R LM WR lens has a standard aperture ring on the lens barrel, which lets you set the aperture in 1/3 steps, full with full aperture markings operating from f/1.4 to f/16.
The aperture can also be proven within the digital camera’s viewfinder or on the LCD display screen as you flip the ring.
The aperture ring is properly damped and makes a particular click on as you alter the setting, and it is stiff sufficient to stop it from being by accident turned when saved in a digital camera bag.
It toggles between auto aperture management (the ring is ready to A) or guide aperture management (the swap is ready to one of many aperture values).
Fujifilm have additionally included an A (Auto) Place Lock button. When the aperture ring is ready to the A place, it is robotically locked into place till you maintain down the A (Auto) Place Lock button and switch the ring to pick out one of many aperture values.
The main focus ring is clean in motion with out being free, though it has no “arduous stops” at both finish of the main focus vary, making it harder to give attention to infinity.
The Fujifilm XF 23mm F1.4 R LM WR lens has an inner focusing (IF) system that makes use of a linear motor, which ends up in quick, correct, and just about silent auto-focusing on the X-S10 digital camera that we examined it with.
You definitely will not miss many pictures when utilizing the AF on this lens.
Due to the IF mechanism the entrance of the lens doesn’t rotate on focus, which is superb information for anybody wanting to make use of the lens along side a polariser or graduated impartial density filter.
The Fuji 23mm F1.4 has a clean guide focusing ring that’s focus-by-wire, relatively than utilizing a mechanical clutch-based focus ring, however that is additionally true of each different Fuji X-series lens.
The main focus ring on the 23mm F1.4 does at the very least have a pleasant really feel because the parts within the guide focusing ring meeting have been specifically engineered to reply with extra precision, particularly when the focusing ring is moved barely.
We’re probably not positive why, however for some motive Fujifilm have determined to not embrace the guide focus collar/clutch that is on the 16mm and 23mm F1.4 lenses (however not on the 18mm and 33mm F1.4 lenses).
On these two F1.4 primes, when the focusing ring is pushed ahead, the lens is locked into autofocus mode. When the focusing ring is pulled again, the focusing distance scale with depth-of-field markings is revealed and you’ll manually focus with the lens – very neat.
It might have been nice to have seen this characteristic included on the brand new Fuji 23mm F1.4 – it is an actual disgrace that it is lacking.
By way of equipment, the Fujifilm XF 23mm F1.4 R LM WR ships with customary lens and mount caps plus fairly a big plastic circular-shaped lens hood which snaps into place. There isn’t any bag or case included with this lens.
Focal Vary
The 23mm focal size offers an angle of view of 63.4 levels.
Chromatic Aberrations
Chromatic aberrations, sometimes seen as purple or blue fringes alongside contrasty edges, will not be an excessive amount of an issue with the Fujifilm XF 23mm F1.4 R LM WR lens, besides in areas of very excessive distinction.
Vignetting
With the lens set to its most aperture of f/1.4, there’s some gentle fall-off within the corners, requiring you to cease down by at the very least 3 f-stops to fully stop it.
Distortion
The Fujifilm XF 23mm F1.4 R LM WR would not exhibit any barrel distortion, as you possibly can see within the picture beneath.
Sunstars and Flare
The Fujifilm XF 23mm F1.4 R LM WR is able to producing fairly good sunstars when stopped-down to f/16, as proven beneath, and flare is effectively managed even when capturing straight into the solar, as you possibly can see within the following photographs.
Macro
The Fujifilm XF 23mm F1.4 R LM WR just isn’t actually a macro lens, but it surely does supply a usefully close-focus level of 19cm / 7.48in from the sensor aircraft and a most magnification of 0.2x.
Bokeh
Bokeh is a phrase used for the out-of-focus areas of {a photograph}, and is often described in qualitative phrases, reminiscent of clean / creamy / harsh and so on.
Fujifilm have paid shut consideration to this facet of lens use, using a 9-segment diaphragm with rounded blades for some very pleasing bokeh.
In our view, their efforts have been profitable for a average wide-angle prime lens – see the examples beneath to guage for your self
Sharpness
As a way to present you ways sharp the Fujifilm XF 23mm F1.4 R LM WR lens is, we’re offering 100% crops on the next web page.
