Fujinon XF 35mm f/2 WR Long-Term Review

December 24, 2016

Introduction

When I decided to give Fujifilm a go as my primary camera system, I purchased the Fuji X-Pro2 and this 35mm f/2 WR lens (a 53mm full frame equivalent).

I’ve had this lens for about six months now, so here are my thoughts and experiences with it.

Size, Weight, and Feel

Of the five Fujinon lenses I now own, this one is the smallest and lightest. Although it’s no pancake lens (it sticks out a good bit), it really does feel nice and compact on the X-Pro2.

Both the focus and aperture ring feel great to use. Some people have mentioned that the aperture ring has a bit too much resistance, and while I can feel what they’re referring to, it’s not something that bothers me in the slightest. I prefer a slightly more resistant aperture ring over one that moves too easily and gets changed by accident (*cough* 14mm f/2.8 *cough*).

Overall, the lens simply feels high quality, well-machined, and expensive, even though it’s actually quite affordable.

Here you can see the size of the 35mm (left) compared to the 23mm (right):

Image Quality

The color, contrast, and sharpness this lens produces is excellent. At f/2 it can be a little hazy if you're focused very closely, but otherwise it is very sharp. Here are some sample photos, all shot with the Fujifilm X-Pro2.

Pros

  • Lightweight
  • Compact
  • Very sharp at f/2.8 and above
  • Reasonably fast f/2 minimum aperture

Cons

  • A slightly faster minimum aperture would be nice, but that would add size and weight, so I understand
  • Close-focused subjects can have a little haziness at f/2

Here are some more sample photos:

Wrap Up

For an everyday walk-around lens, I don’t think it gets much better than this. It can feel a little too tight at times, being a 53mm full frame equivalent, but usually that’s just if I’m indoors trying to capture more of the room at once.

It’s lightweight, compact, looks great, and feels super nice to shoot with, so I’m very happy with this lens. It’s always in my bag.

Fujinon 35mm f/2 WR Lens

You really can't beat this kind of quality for only $399 (on Amazon)!

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