Fujinon XF23mmF2 R WR - Black

Acquiring the 23mm f2.0 lens completes my trio of fast, weather proof primes (50 / 35 / 23). I was very pleased with the fit and finish of the 50 and 35, and the 23mm is of course just as well made. Fast focusing, and maybe just a fraction faster than its siblings, the quiet operation makes it a great video lens. Though be aware that in variable light it is noticeable in the footage when the aperture steps up and down. I must admit that I seldom shoot video at all, so if that's your intended use please look for a more videocentric review. Image quality: I find that I get very similar image capture across all three lenses with little distortion evident in uncorrected RAW files. The built-in lens profiles in platforms like ON1 or Lightroom easily eliminate any barrel or pincushion. Colors are as expected from a Fuji lens and sharpness is exceptional. Several reviews of the 23mm question the need for it when the shooter already has the 18-55mm lens, and for many photographers that may be a valid argument. But the 23mm f2.0 is 1 1/3 stops faster than the f3.2 max aperture of the 18-55 set to 23mm (the 35mm is 1 2/3 stops faster, the 50mm is a full 2 stops faster). Plus the 23mm is smaller, lighter, and weather resistant where the 18-55 is not. Having three primes that range between the wide side of normal to short tele isn't for every photographer or every situation. For myself, I mount the lens I think is going to be appropriate for the situation: 23mm for parties, small groups, or close up entertainment / performance. The 35mm is great as an everyday shooter and when I'm anticipating environmental shots / street shots. Really good at rendering faces from moderate distances to moderate close up. The 50mm for more formal headshots / party pics, and a really nice length when you want to portray close and intimate people shots without distracting them or invading their space. I use the 23mm f2.0 on an X-T2, X-E2, and X-Pro1 and get great results across the board. Focusing speed is different on each camera, but with the most current firmware I get snappy focus even on the X-Pro1. Conclusion: There are wider lenses, even wider lenses with faster apertures. But the 23mm f2.0 is a great choice if you are looking to fill out a compact, light, and weather resistant kit. The image quality is what we have come to expect from a Fuji lens. Not terribly wide, but wide enough without introducing distortion.

OVERALL: 4.5/5 stars. This lens, like the rest of the Fujinon weather sealed f/2 lenses, is a great addition to any Fuji shooter's camera bag. Like the 35/2, you can fit this nimble little lens in a jacket chest pocket, making it a nice travel or street photographer's lens. Landscape photographers will also be attracted to its weather sealing for those inclement weather hikes. CONSTRUCTION: 5/5 stars. Like all Fujinon lenses, this one is made of a solid feeling metal exterior that any photographer can appreciate. It's certainly a premium feeling lens in a world where everything is made of plastic. The focus ring has a tactical feeling finger grip that is slightly thicker than the one of the 35/2 and is smooth as butter. The aperture ring has a pleasant amount of tension. Not too much but enough not to move it. IMAGE QUALITY: 4/5 stars. On Fuji's APS-C size sensors, the 23mm focal length mimics a 28mm full frame equivalent. Image quality is excellent in the middle aperture range and decent wide open. However, like the 35/2, focus up close and wide open results in a softer image, which is typical of any lens wide open, really. This is not terribly noticeable unless you're pixel peeping and usually can be remedied by adding a little contrast in post. Bokeh is there with close focus but isn't extreme. The bokeh balls are smaller, as expected with a short focal length and shouldn't be a deal breaker. If you're a bokeh head, I suggest longer focal lengths. BEST USES: In my opinion, its features lends itself best to street photography but is also a fantastic choice for landscape and travel photographers. Street and travel photographers will rejoice in its small, inconspicuous size and its lightning fast and wicked silent autofocus. Landscape photographers will also benefit from that, as well as it's light weight and small size that takes up little room in a camera bag, and its weather sealing for inclement days. BOTTOM LINE: Yes, I highly recommend this lens to any Fuji shooter than shoots street, landscapes, or travels. It's just about everything you want in a camera lens for an entry lens price. Fujifilm also includes the lens hood and a soft pouch for this lens, which I appreciate. Most manufacturers don't include these things and will make you buy them separately so to have it included is a nice little plus. Thanks Fuji

This is a great lens. Don't listen to those who complain about it being soft near MFD, even though it has a close focus distance of 22cm it's not a macro lens - it needs to be stopped down when used like this. For everyday photography it's a great lens. PROS: Rendering is contrasty and excellent, and its really sharp corner to corner at almost all apertures. Flaring and ghosting are very well controlled. The included hood is very handy. Auto-focus is fast, accurate, and quiet. It has a very short MFD of 22cm (for reference, the 23mm 1.4 is 60cm). It's small, well built, and lightweight. No distortion! Coma is low and needs to be at ~2.8 for a great performance. I haven't noticed any significant issues with CA. CONS: Bokeh isn't very smooth in some situations - it shows some outlining and onion rings, with the corners being the most problematic due to mechanical vignetting (cats eye effect). Vignetting, while corrected in camera for JPEGs, is pretty high. Sharpness at MFD to about 50cm is lower at large apertures, the lens needs to be stopped down to at least 4.0 and maybe 5.6 for good sharpness depending on distance to your subject. There isn't much to dislike about this lens, there is in fact a lot to love about it. If you keep in mind the sharpness issues at MFD you can easily avoid them and get great pictures all the time. Most non-macro lenses have sharpness/contrast issues at MFD but because this lens allows you to focus so close it can exaggerate the issue. If you're after lovely smooth bokeh you may want to consider the 23mm 1.4.

The Fujinon 23mm f/2 R WR is a perfect prime for just about anything, and it is razor sharp. This lens is a perfect every day carry lens when you want to go light and shoot fast. It will cover everything from landscapes, street, to portraits - and do it fast, and beautifully. The auto focus is fast, not $5000 pro lens super fast, but fast. The build quality can be felt, it looks beautiful, it's metal, and sharp sharp sharp....just not at f/2 for closeups. Having an aperture ring is a huge deal, being weather resistant is a huge deal, it has everything I want, the insane image quality is a bonus. My only complaint is the included lens hood that makes the entire package sort of, phallic looking, it had to go. I replaced it with a Haoge square hood and it's now a piece of art. I have been shooting with this lens for about two weeks, it's the only lens I bought for my new X-T3, and I am in no hurry to buy another, I love this 23mm f/2 (35mm equivalent). It's an awesome lens, and a wonderful focal length for almost anything. This lens will not disappoint.

Great lens clear and fast. I have only bought third-party lenses until this one and what a difference in the quality of my photos. I suggest you always buy a lens by the manufacturer of your camera. You'll be amazed and it's worth the cost. High quality lenses will last a lifetime while camera bodies will come and go. Fuji Rocks!

The Fujinon 23mm f/2 is fantastic. Truly. It's small, lightweight, and weather resistant. The build quality feels top notch. It's one of those lenses which feels substantial without feeling heavy. The images it can produce are very pleasing, and the focal length (approx. 35mm in full-frame terms) is perfect for every day life, documentary style work, environmental portraits, street, landscape, and as a walk around lens. I find it to be sharp, but also smooth. It's great for travel due to its size and effective focal length, and also the WR (weather resistant) durability. If you like the 35mm full-frame field of view, and you appreciate top-notch optics, definitely consider this lens. It doesn't let in as much light or produce as much bokeh as its 23mm f/1.4 counterpart, but it makes up for it with faster autofocus, smaller size and weight, and rugged build quality.

I returned this item. Of course it is a good lens, so I cannot honestly rank it lower than a 4 stars... However, I ended up going with the 27mm pancake lens. I think this 23mm was still too large of a lens. It is weather proof, but so is my 18-55mm kit lens. From a side-by-side comparison, the 27mm is 2/3 the size of the 18-55mm kit lens as well. So overall, in comparison to the kit lens, the value of this lens is negligible-- its a prime, so its much more limited, and its only 1/3 smaller. The 27mm is a mighty awesome pancake lens. The benefits being 1/3 of the size (or smaller) than the 18-55mm lens, much lighter weight. It is not weather proof... but I dont mind. if I need weather proofing, I'll just use the kit lens. Final verdict: dont get this alongside the kit lens.

Great lens. Super compact and sharp. Really enjoying it so far. Great build quality