In this guide, I’ll be discussing the best Fuji prime lenses, specifically for X-mount cameras.
Fuji Lenses Terminology & Abbreviations Guide
The model names you see throughout the article may seem a bit confusing at first. Fujifilm uses abbreviations to indicate what features a lens has just by reading the name of the product.
Below I’ve included a guide to help you understand what Fuji is talking about:
- Fujinon – Fujinon is the brand of optical lenses available from Fujifilm.
- XF – This is the range of expert optics, featuring metal finishes
- OIS – This stands for optical image stabilization.
- WR – This stands for weather resistant
- R – This indicates that the lens has a ring to adjust aperture
- LM – This indicates the lens has a linear motor for focusing
How I’ve Formatted These Top Recommended Lenses
I’ve broken down this guide into several categories to help you navigate easier. Each category features the best prime lenses for Fujifilm that I recommend, in the order I recommend them. While the best Fuji lenses may not fit into your budget, I hope this way of formatting gives you a good idea of what is available.
Let’s get started describing quite a few lenses from Fujifilm!
Best Fuji Wide-Angle Prime Lenses
There are two great options when it comes to the best wide-angle Fuji prime lens — one at 14mm and the other at 16mm. Ultimately, it’ll come down to whether you’ll want to go with the widest option or the one with a better maximum aperture and weather sealing. Let’s look at both in a bit more detail.
Fujinon XF 14mm f/2.8 R
The Fujifilm XF 14 mm f 2.8 R lens is a wide-angle prime lens that's compatible with Fujifilm's X-series of digital cameras. At just 2.8 ounces, it's also one of the lightest lenses in its class, making it perfect for travel. The lens produces sharp images with minimal distortion and chromatic aberration, and its fast maximum aperture of f/2.8 allows you to capture stunningly bright photos and videos in low-light conditions.
- Lightweight
- Minimal distortion
- Max aperture of f/2.8
- Sharp
- No weather sealing
- No optical image stabilization
The Fujifilm XF 14 mm f/2.8 R is a fantastic option for landscape or architectural photographers because it is the widest autofocus prime lens available for X-mount cameras at time of writing.
The lens has a maximum aperture of f/2.8, but that doesn’t matter much when you’re trying to get both the foreground and background in focus. However, f/2.8 will still allow you to capture great results in low light.
The main cons of this particular prime lens is its lack of weather sealing. If your landscapes frequently include water or dust, you may want to reconsider whether this lens is the right fit for you.
Fujifilm XF 16mm f/1.4 WR
The Fujifilm XF 16 mm f 1.4 R WR is a wide-angle prime lens for the Fujifilm X-series of cameras. It was announced in February 2016 and offers a field of view equivalent to 24 mm in 35 mm format. The lens is weather resistant and has an aperture range of f/1.4 to f/16.
- Max aperture of f/1.4
- Weather resistant design
- Sharp
- Low levels of chromatic aberration
- No optical image stabilization
While the Fujifilm XF 16mm f/1.4 R WR isn’t as wide as the 14mm, it has a few added benefits.
For one, this Fujinon lens is weather resistant — a welcomed feature for landscape photographers.
It has a larger aperture of f/1.4, so if you like wide-angle portraits with bokeh, it’s incredible. Combine that with its very short minimum focus distance and you can capture some stunning photographs.
It is bigger and heavier than the 14mm prime lens from Fujifilm, so if you are already carrying a significant amount of weight in your bag, these are important things to consider.
Best Fuji Prime Portrait Lenses
Fujifilm XF 50mm f/1.0 R WR
If you're looking for an ultra-fast prime lens with a classic focal length, the Fujifilm XF 50mm f 1.0 R WR should be at the top of your list. This optic is perfect for shooting in low light and produces beautiful bokeh thanks to its wide aperture. It's also weather-resistant, so you can take it out into inclement weather without worrying about it getting damaged.
- Super wide maximum aperture of f/1.0
- Weather-resistant design
- 9-bladed aperture for pleasing bokeh
- No optical image stabilization
- Heavy
The Fujifilm XF 50mm f/1.0 R WR lens was released in September 2020, making it the latest portrait lens in this section. It’s also the most expensive, but once we go through the details, you’ll see why.
You’ve probably already noticed that this lens has a maximum aperture of f/1.0. That’s insane! You’ll have little to worry about when faced with low-light situations if this lens is mounted on your camera.
The aperture diaphragm itself comprises nine blades, which delivers very rounded bokeh.
It provides a 76mm equivalent focal length, which is great for portraits and has 11 weather seals, allowing you to shoot in inclement weather or challenging conditions.
If you’ve got the money and want incredible control of depth of field, this is the best portrait lens and will make you one happy photographer.
Fujifilm XF 56mm f/1.2 R
The Fujifilm XF 56mm f 1.2 R lens is a portrait-length prime lens for the Fujifilm X-series of digital cameras. It has an angle of view of 29.0 degrees, and a minimum focus distance of 0.8 m / 2.6 ft. It features an aperture range of f/1.2 to f/16, and seven rounded diaphragm blades that produce pleasing out-of-focus highlights backgrounds when shooting wide open at maximum aperture. The lens construction comprises 9 elements in 6 groups, including 1 aspherical element, and has a Nano-GI (Gradient Index) coating to reduce flare and ghosting.
- Great portrait focal length
- Wide max aperture of f/1.2
- Great build quality
- No weather sealing
- No optical image stabilization
The Fujifilm XF 56mm f/1.2 R is one of my favorite lenses in my extensive collection. This 85mm-equivalent prime lens has an incredible maximum aperture of f/1.2 — providing a very shallow depth of field.
Combining the f/1.2 max aperture with Fuji’s eye focus feature on some cameras delivers stunning portraits with little effort. If you often work in low-light conditions and don’t want to shell out for the 50mm f/1.0, I can’t recommend this lens highly enough.
It came in clutch multiple times back when I was shooting event photography in dark nightclubs or nighttime music festivals.
In hand, this lens is pretty heavy, but the construction feels very solid and premium. The internal focusing mechanism is quick and silent, making this a joy to work with.
In terms of bokeh, there are seven blades that make up the aperture diaphragm, so while it isn’t as round as a nine-blade diaphragm, the results are still pleasing to me.
Since this is typically used as a portrait lens, the lack of weather sealing wasn’t a deal breaker for me. If that’s an issue for you, you might want to revisit the lens above or opt for one of the following models.
Fujifilm XF 50mm f/2 R WR
The Fujifilm XF 50mm f/2 R WR lens is a great option for anyone looking for a prime lens to use on their Fujifilm camera. This lens is weather-resistant and has a fast maximum aperture of f/2, which makes it perfect for low-light shooting. The lens also produces beautiful background blur effects, thanks to its nine rounded blades.
- Lightweight and portable
- Wide f/2 max aperture
- Weather resistant
- No optical image stabilization
Want something lighter and more affordable than the 50mm and 56mm models we’ve already covered? The Fujifilm XF 50mm f/2 R WR might be perfect for you. This 76mm-equivalent lens has the unique tapered look you’ll find on a couple of other Fujifilm prime lenses.
While the f/2 maximum aperture isn’t as stunning as f/1.0 or f/1.2, it still delivers decent depth of field and background separation for your subject.
The biggest pros for this lens are its size, weight, and price. You’ll hardly notice the lens on your Fujifilm body and you may even have some money left over to purchase another lens on this list.
Oh, and it is weather sealed and comes in black or silver color options!
Fujifilm XF 90mm f/2 R LM WR
The Fujifilm XF 90mm f/2 R LM WR is a prime lens that was designed for the Fujifilm X-series of cameras. It has a focal length of 90mm and a maximum aperture of f/2. This lens is weather resistant and has a fast autofocus system. It is capable of producing sharp images with great detail.
- Incredibly sharp
- Weather resistant
- Wide f/2 max aperture
- Fast linear motor focusing
- Heavy
- No optical image stabilization
If I had to choose my favorite XF lens in my collection, I’d be very tempted to select the Fujifilm XF 90mm f/2 R LM WR. There’s just something about the images I capture using this 137mm equivalent lens that excites me.
While I don’t feel close to a subject while having to stand so far away to take photographs, there’s something about this focal-length that I love.
And it’s not just portraits that I use this lens for. I frequently mount this to my camera when shooting cityscapes to capture clusters of buildings in the distance. I’d even go as far as to say that this is the sharpest Fuji lens out there.
I didn’t feel comfortable including this lens any higher up on the list because it isn’t one of the first prime lenses I’d recommend picking up for your Fuji camera. However, if you already have a decent collection and this focal length makes sense for what you shoot, definitely give it a closer look!
Best Fuji Prime Lenses for Street Photography
Fujifilm XF 23mm f/2 R WR
The Fujifilm XF 23mm f/2 R WR lens is a great addition to the Fujifilm X Series line up. This compact and lightweight lens is perfect for everyday use. The lens features an all-metal construction and a weather-resistant design, which makes it perfect for shooting in all weather conditions.
- Lightweight and portable
- Wide f/2 max aperture
- Weather resistant
- No optical image stabilization
My top recommendation for street photography would have to be the Fujifilm XF 23mm f/2 R WR lens because of its portability, speed, focal length, and image quality. This prime lens has a 35mm equivalence, which is a popular focal length for street photographers.
This lens has the iconic Fuji tapered style and almost goes unnoticed when I mount it to my XT body since it is so light and small.
The stepping motor for autofocus is incredibly quiet and quick. I frequently take it on walks and can quickly raise the camera to my eye, grab focus, and click the shutter to capture fleeting moments.
The f/2 maximum aperture is enough to include pleasing bokeh in my shots, especially since the diaphragm has nine blades.
On top of all of this, it’s weather-sealed, so I feel comfortable using it just about anywhere.
Fujifilm XF 35mm f/2 R WR
The Fujifilm XF 35mm f/2 R WR lens is a prime lens that has a focal length of 35mm and a maximum aperture of f/2. This lens is made for the Fujifilm X-series of cameras and is designed to be weather resistant. The lens has an angle of view of 44.3 degrees, and it is capable of producing sharp images with great color and contrast. The lens is also built with a metal barrel and a manual focus ring, which makes it feel sturdy in your hand.
- Lightweight and portable
- Weather resistant
- Wide f/2 max aperture
- No optical image stabilization
Next up is the Fujifilm XF 35mm f/2 R WR, which only differs from the lens above in focal length. It’s a 53mm equivalent focal length, allowing you to capture subjects a little closer while you walk the streets.
It has the same tapered design, weather sealing, stepping motor, and outstanding performance as the 23mm f/2.
Choosing between 23mm or 35mm is up to personal preference, so take a look at examples from both lenses and select whichever aligns more with your style.
It’s worth noting that Fujifilm also has the XF 35mm f/1.4 lens available, but be prepared for its added weight and increased price.
Fujifilm XF 23mm f/1.4 R
The Fujifilm XF 23mm f/1.4 R lens is a fast prime lens that offers a versatile field of view and excellent image quality. The lens has a bright maximum aperture of f/1.4 that allows you to capture stunning images in low light conditions and create beautiful bokeh effects. The lens also features an advanced optical design that minimizes distortion and chromatic aberration for sharp, clear images.
- Wide f/1.4 max aperture
- Beautiful bokeh
- Minimal distortion
- No weather sealing
- No optical image stabilization
The final street photography lens I’ll recommend from Fuji is very similar to the 23mm f/2 lens we covered above. The Fujifilm XF 23mm f/1.4 R is the same focal length, but has a maximum aperture of f/1.4.
The reason I’ve included this last is because it is heavier, pricier, lacks weather sealing, and doesn’t focus as quickly as the 23mm f/2 lens.
While it is still a great lens that many photographers are happy with, I personally opted for the smaller, cheaper version and haven’t looked back. My decision to choose the f/2 model was also influenced by the fact that I own several other Fuji prime lenses mentioned throughout this article.
Best Fuji Prime Macro Lenses
We’ve made it to the final section of this roundup of the best lenses for Fuji X-T4 — macro lenses. I personally don’t spend much time shooting macro photography, but if you do, Fujifilm has you covered with a couple great options.
Fujifilm XF 80mm f/2.8 R LM OIS WR Macro
The Fujinon XF 80mm f/2.8 R LM OIS WR Macro Lens is a weather-resistant medium telephoto macro lens that's designed for the Fujifilm X-Series mirrorless cameras. The lens is capable of capturing close-ups with stunning detail and clarity, and its advanced optical design and construction make it perfect for professional use.
- Great macro lens
- Wide f/2.8 max aperture
- Weather sealing
- Linear focusing motor
- Optical image stabilization
- Large and heavy
The Fujifilm XF 80mm f/2.8 R LM OIS WR Macro is a 122mm equivalent telephoto lens that was designed for close-up shooting. It has a maximum aperture of f/2.8, which helps separate subjects from backgrounds.
The minimum focusing distance is just 9.8 inches. Combine that with the focal length, and you’re left with a 1:1 life-size magnification.
Since this is a macro lens, it has a Floating Focus System. This uses two focusing groups to keep the image quality throughout the entire focus range. The motor is quick and quiet.
If you like to shoot macro photographer outdoors, the prime lens is weather-sealed so it stays protected.
While shooting subjects up close, camera shake easily can influence your shots. To help combat that, the lens also has optical image stabilization effective up to five stops.
To help you easily achieve focus up close, the lens has a focus range limiter switch. You can limit the range to minimum focus distance (9.8″) to 1.6′ or switch to the full range of 9.8″ to infinity.
Finally, the lens is compatible with the XF 1.4x TC WR and XF 2x TC WR teleconverters which bring your focal length to 171mm or 244mm, respectively.
Fujifilm XF 60mm f/2.4 R Macro
In the Fujifilm XF 60mm f/2.4 R Macro lens, Fujifilm has created a high-quality, versatile prime lens that is perfect for macro photography and more general shooting applications. With an angle of view equivalent to a 120mm lens in the 35mm format, it's ideal for portraits and medium telephoto shots, and its close focusing distance of just 11.8 inches allows you to get up close and personal with your subject for stunning macro photographs.
- Lightweight
- Wide f/2.4 max aperture
- Close focusing distance
- No weather sealing
- No optical image stabilization
If you want to save some cash and pick up a lens that’s significantly lighter, I recommend the Fujifilm XF 60mm f/2.4 R Macro. It delivers a 1:2 maximum magnification, compared to the 80mm’s 1:1 and has a maximum aperture of f/2.4.
The equivalent focal length for this macro lens is 91mm and has a minimum focusing distance of 10.5 inches. Unfortunately, there isn’t a focus limiter on this lens and the focus speed isn’t stellar.
The focal length of this lens makes it a good option for portraits — something to keep in mind if you’re weighing both Fujinon macro lens options from Fujifilm.
Best Fuji Prime Lenses (Not Made by Fujifilm)
I realize that Fuji’s branded lenses aren’t always very affordable, I figured I’d include some other Fuji prime lenses from other brands. Since I don’t have experience with these lenses, I’ve ordered them by focal length.
Last update on 2023-04-02 // More Information