Fujinon XF16-55mmF2.8 R LM WR

The Fuji 18-55 is lighter and smaller, less expensive, has OIS, is only one stop slower at the telephoto end, and produces images that are sharp and have wonderful color. I have had the 18-55 since day one with the X-mount system and have been more than satisfied with it. So, I thought long and hard about buying this lens. When the price went down with a recent promotion, I took the plunge and have not looked back. While the lens is large and heavy, it looks and handles just fine with the X-T1 and the Fuji handgrip. The lack of OIS has not been an issue, but one wonders why Fuji can equip their 10-24 f4 and 50-140 f2.8 with it, but not include it in this lens. In any event, the crucial thing for me is that, as good as the 18-55 is, this 16-55 will produce images that are so sharp and exhibit such beautiful color that your jaw will drop. The photos I have been getting with it are just spectacular. I could go on and on about the quality of the photos this lens will produce but I would run out of superlatives. Suffice to say that if you want the very best photo quality you can get with the Fuji system in a zoom (or prime lens for that matter) in this focal range, get this lens. You will never regret it. I certainly havent.

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I came of age in the 90s and took up photography as a young adult. Ive been seriously shooting now, off-and-on professionally, for about 20 years—precisely over the period during which the world made the shift from film to digital. As a result, Ive shot with a lot of gear. Olympus OM system. Canon EF. Nikon F-mount. Four Thirds. Micro Four Thirds. And of course Fuji X-mount. Ive had occasion to own some very good wide aperture "standard zoom" lenses, from Olympus, Nikon, Canon, Sigma, and Fuji. In terms of image quality and focus performance and accuracy, this is probably the best all-around lens Ive ever owned. It is an impressive, impressive piece of equipment in every way. Im currently using it with Fuji X-T2 bodies. THE GOOD - Amazing sharpness at every focal length all the way open - Blink-of-eye focus lock apparently limited only by the body you shoot with - Rugged all-metal build construction - Actual, mechanical, notched aperture ring, not a fly-by-wire imitation - Smooth-as-silk zoom and focus action - Very sound weather sealing that Ive had several occasions to depend on It is pure, rock-solid competence in every way, utterly dependable and predictable in terms of durability, in terms of handling, and in terms of output. I wouldnt be without it. THE BAD - It is very long and heavy for a dedicated APS-C lens, essentially double the size of its other direct competitors - The front element is huge - All of this makes it vulnerable to damage but also requiring of very large filters and cases for protection It would appear that the basic trade-off that enabled Fuji to come up with such a technically brilliant lens is that its an APS-C lens thats the size of a full-frame f/2.8 zoom. Whether or not this works for you will depend on your own circumstances. IN COMPARISON vs. Olympus 12.40mm f/2.8 Pro: The Fuji 16-55mm has more pleasing and more effective DOF control/bokeh, even at what should be equivalently adjusted settings that compensate for the smaller sensor size of the MFT system. The Olympus 12-40mm f/2.8 lens is a fine lens that matches this one for build quality, sharpness, and focus speed, yet design compromises mean that it the Olympus 12-40mm is lacking in the DOF control department in comparison to the Fuji 16-55mm, or even in comparison to Olympus non-pro offerings like the 14-54mm zoom. vs. Canon L and Nikon f/2.8 pro standard zooms: I only ever used the versions of these lenses that predate the advent of "designed during the APS-C era" equipment, but nonetheless, the Fuji 16-55mm is far sharper across the frame—especially at corners—and far less prone to distortion and chromatic aberration than either Canon or Nikon versions of an f/2.8 standard zoom that I shout with during the 00s. It is also noticeably faster to focus. The Fuji 16-55mm is admittedly somewhat smaller than the Canon and Nikon f/2.8 offerings for full-frame, but if you sit it down next to these on the one side and an Olympus 12-40mm or Sigma 18-50mm on the other side, the Fuji is clearly closer in size to the former (full-frame f/2.8 zooms) than the latter (other mirrorless or DX f/2.8 zooms). It really cant claim to have a tremendous size advantage vs. full-frame fixed-aperture zooms. Youre not going to go Fuji XF with this lens for the weight savings. vs. Sigma 18-50mm f/2.8 EX: Immensely better build quality, with better sharpness both at edge and center—as well as immensely faster focus. Dont get me wrong, the Sigma is in an entirely different price class and about half the size, an amazing lens in its own right for the cost, but when the output and build quality of the two is compared, the Fuji 16-55mm simply destroys the Sigma. Its like comparing a Honda Accord, which is a fine car in its own right, to a Tesla Roadster. If you can put up with the size and cost and have a body like the X-T2 that can take advantage of what this lens is able to offer, youll find that this lens is really at the top of what photography currently has (or probably ever will have) to offer. Its really just a fully achieved product in every way. Hats off to Fuji for making a lens with few obvious compromises, and none in the image quality department.

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The only thing I wish this lens had is OIS. That being said, its already pretty heavy if youre using the x-t2 like I am, so it really doesnt need extra weight. I cant wait to get an x-h1, because as Tony Northrup suggests, and I agree, this lens is the perfect mate for the x-h1 because of the larger grip and built in image stabilization. I am now starting to assist shooting weddings and when I am done taking portraits with my 56f1.2, this lens is typically what I use next. Its simply too versatile not to use it for everything else. The weight and size makes me want to use my fantastic fuji primes (16f1.4, 23f2, 35f2) but I get frustrated at not getting the shot I want at the right focal length when the moment passes. In these moments I say, thats it- Im putting on the 16-55, and I sigh in relief. Simply put, it is a wonderful lens. The zoom is often compared to 24-70mm f4 full frame zoom- and rightfully so- its the closest equivalent. But the 16-55 is even better than that- its a 24-84mm! You get an extra bit of zoom! Its great for getting candid wedding shots from across the room. The quality of the build is fantastic, along with the IQ (image quality). The internal barrel extends the total length of the lens as you zoom- it isnt very long and it only starts really expanding after 23mm, but it does extend. This is important because as the internal volume of the lens expands, it wants to stay at a constant pressure, so, air gets sucked inside. This is an issue for dust/moisture/humidity, especially when temperature changes a lot. Now, many reading this might already know that, but Im mentioning it specifically because I took this lens on a two week trip, with 4 day trek through the jungle in Colombia, South America. For those that are curious, I went to see the Ciudad Perdida, among other places. It was dusty, hot, humid, and I (not the camera) definitely got rained on- hard. With the exception of the one downpour I experienced and a small handful of times that I used other lenses, this lens was deployed during the entire trek, *light* rain or no. Lens cap was off (read tony northrups "Stunning Digital Photography", he elaborates on why lens caps dont matter), and I was using the peak design capture clip to secure my fuji x-t2 and this 16-55mm to my pack strap. At no point did this lens let me down. It put up with much more movement, dust, rain, and humidity than I would ever expose any of my other sensitive electronics to. Honestly, I am completely amazed by it. Believe me when I say, this was no ordinary stroll through the woods. The terrain was extremely steep at times, the conditions were very trying/primitive, and I was on foot the whole time. And I also routinely take this lens out backpacking in the Appalachian region. The fact that this lens easily shrugged off everything I put it through and took great photos while doing it, is a testament to its durability, craftsmanship, and engineering- well done Fuji.

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This is a superb zoom lens. Its sharp & fast. Its metal construction makes it sturdy. The fit & finish on this lens is superior to anything made by Canon & Nikon. If you buy only one zoom for your Fuji X, this is the one.

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When researching the 16-55mm most forums (looking at you, Reddit) recommended the 18-55mm over the 16-55mm given price and the negligible quality difference. Some would even go so far as to say that the 18-55mm had better IQ overall. This is completely not true. A big 18-55mm fan myself, rest assured that your hard earned dollarydoos are going towards IQ that slightly encroaches on prime territory (coming from an owner of the 16mm f1.4, 23mm f1.4, and 56mm f1.2) on a zoom lens. To me, so long as you are happy trading off OIS and size (no, "the brick" is NOT unwieldy; no, it is NOT stealthy) for WR and speed at the long end, the IQ is absolutely better than the 18-55mm. **goes without saying: if this is outside your budget, you shouldnt be debating between the two in the first place

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I too thought quite a bit about buying the xf16-55 f/2.8 before finally clicking the mouse. Yes, this lens is expensive, bit on the large side (size and weight) for a mirrorless camera lens, and does not have OIS. Still this lens is weather resistant and will give you the same superb sharp, colorful and contrasty photos as with the equivalent Fujifilm primes in this zoom range. So instead of carrying three (or more) primes you can take one that will suit practically any occasion. As far as OIS goes, Fujirumors has it that Fuji is working on an In-Body Stabilizer for a future "X-T2S" model. That would be fantastic.

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Solidly built, awesome focal length range, great low light performance producing clear, quality photographs. The only reason I am not giving it 5 stars, is the lack of OIS. However, I have had little if any problems with blur even when photographing school basketball in poorly lit gyms. This lens replaces the venerable 23mm, 35mm and 50mm primes for me. With the weather resistance, I am not worried about taking it out in the unpredictable New England weather, and am looking forward to using it for street photography and travel photography this spring, summer and fall. It is heavier than the Fuji primes, however, after coming from full frames, it is still small enough, light enough and comfortable enough for me to take for any occasion. I use it on both my X-T2 and X-T20 without issue. From street photography, to sports to portraits, this 16-55mm is knocking it out of the park for me.

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I decide to post this review right now just in case fellow photographers want to read while the current Fuji sale is going on (sale started on May 22, 2016). It is a little bit on the heavy side and definitely it would be better if it has optical image stabilizer. However, because it is not very long, the balance on the X-T1 is fine. The lens focus fast both in bright light and in dim light. It focus quietly; there is just a little noise. Its minimum focus distance is about 1 foot (30 cm) from the sensor plane. This is very good. Im very impressed. Perfect for things like flowers, etc. For subjects not too far (flowers, leaves, people portraits, etc.), the lens is very sharp. Color and contrast are very similar to other Fuji prime lenses. I am very impressed. For this kind of photos, this lens beats the 18-55 by a wide margin. 18-55 is a good lens. This lens is a VERY good one. It is not as GREAT as the Fuji primes (I have 35 mm f1.4, 56 mm f1.2, and 16 mm f1.4). The photos are sharp, great color and contrast, but it seems to feel "a little forced"; it lacks subtle, sublime, or something like that. For landscape and subjects that are near and far, the lens does a good job. The color and contrast is there. Sharpness seems to be fine. Compare to 18-55, this lens much sharper at wide aperture. It has better color and contrast. The weight is not too much an issue. Thus, the only two negatives are 1) no stabilizer and 2) price.

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I have an X-T1 and demand weather resistance when travelling to exotic locations. I caught this lens at a steal as a return on Amazon for a three week trip to Egypt and did not regret it. The lens survived heat, dust, and moisture and allowed me to great shots in tombs at low light due to the constant aperture. Apart from night shots, for which I use my 16mm 1.4, this lens was on my camera the whole time. Now when I travel, this is my first choice. It is a bit big, but with the lens hood reversed and inside of a nylon camera sleeve the camera still fits in my very small camelbak. I am a very happy customer.

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This bombproof lens is sharp as a tack and produces superior images to the 18-55 Fuji lens. Distortion is minimal. The F2.8 aperture mean you can shoot even indoors. As others have noted, it is sometimes possible to accidentally change the setting on the aperture ring, especially from Automatic setting. But, this is not a big deal. The lens does not overwhelm the camera, and balance in your hand is quite good.

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