Fujifilm Fujinon XF 18mm 1.4 R LM WR

We had high expectations for the Fujinon XF 18mm f/1.4 R LM WR and the lens didn't disappoint. The lens is very sharp even at f/1.4. The center quality is excellent but the rest of the image field is pretty good as well. Stopped down to f/2.8 and the results are very impressive indeed. Images don't exhibit any distortions, so you don't have to fear some corner smearing from autocorrection. However, autocorrection is required for the vignetting which is on the high side. Lateral as well as axial CAs are low. The quality of the bokeh is fine, although we'd wish that out-of-focus highlights would be a bit cleaner. Just like with most of the higher-end Fujinon prime lenses, the build quality is exceptional. The all-metal outer shell and the extensive weather sealing are reassuringly solid. And the AF is snappy, too. However, videographers would have appreciated it if the aperture ring had a clickless mode. Overall, an easy recommendation despite the fairly high price tag.

Highly Recommended awardThe Fujifilm XF 18mm f1.4 is a high-performance wide-angle lens for X-series mirrorless cameras, with a flexible 27mm field of view and a bright aperture that allows attractive shallow depth of field effects. In my tests so far, the quality stayed sharp across most of the frame at the maximum aperture for subjects near and far, while the rendering of blurred areas was smooth and undistracting. Shooting at around 28mm with a prime lens also felt surprisingly fresh and reminded me why 28mm was, for a very long time, the second most common lens after a standard 50. As a premium Fujifilm lens, it’s not cheap, but priced similarly to the previous 16 1.4 which provides a wider alternative. If your budget demands something cheaper or you prefer a more compact lens, there’s the 18mm f2 pancake at around two thirds the price.

The Fujifilm XF 18mm F1.4 is a great option for a bright, fast walkaround prime for X-mount shooters. Equivalent to 27mm F2.1 on a full-frame camera, it's fast enough to offer a decent separation between foreground and background, despite its wide field-of-view. Optically it's sharp wide open, offers pleasing bokeh, and has minimal chromatic aberrations. Autofocus is fast thanks to the use of linear motors, though video shooters may find the manual focus experience limiting. For X-mount shooters, the XF 18mm F1.4 is worth the price premium over the XF 18mm F2.