Best Fuji lenses - how to choose?

Susan Fernandez November 11 2021

In the global market, Fuji cameras take a special place. These high-quality gadgets attract more and more photographers every day (and we speak about not only the professionals but also about the amateurs). And when buying a camera, we need many additional components for it. So here, we will focus on lenses – we will discuss the critical aspects of finding the best lenses for Fuji cameras.

What are Fuji cameras?

At first glance, it might seem that these cameras are the same as all others. But it is not so.

First of all, we can note a powerful core – this is a hybrid system with interchangeable lenses and phase focus. Secondly, the Fuji camera has an APS-C size sensor (the same as for DSLR). Finally, we should mention its main feature: the ability to save both RAW and JPEG files (which many contemporary cameras do not have).

Is the Fuji camera better?

As you can see, the cameras are not really different. The only difference is that Fuji has more options to choose from, but it does not mean they are better in every sense.

What differences does Fuji's lens system have from traditional ones?

The first difference consists in the fact that there is no Full Frame option at all. The second difference: the only possible way to extend focal length ranges (zooming) is using.4x teleconverters. The third difference: a large number of lenses – no less than 15!

How are lenses for Fuji cameras different?

First of all, these are manual lenses with an aperture ring (manual focus as well). In addition, there is a large selection of adapters for third-party products. So if you already have an excellent lens from another manufacturer and want to use it on your Fuji camera, this will be possible without any restrictions.

However, Fuji users may find themselves in trouble – those who buy their first interchangeable camera often do not know what kind of optical device they need. It is difficult to decide which model to choose from a large number of different lenses. In addition, it is necessary to know what aperture and focal length to choose from the huge range that Fuji offers.

What lens do you need for your Fuji camera?

In order not to make mistakes in choosing a lens for yourself, we will divide all models into several basic categories: wide-angle, standard/mid-telephoto, and zoom lenses. You can look at them in more detail below:

Wide-angle lens

If you want to capture landscapes or architecture photographs in their full glory without distortion, this kind of optical device is exactly what you need. In addition, these lenses can be used by professionals if they want to create an unusual picture with a shallow depth of field (large area out-of-focus).

Standard/mid-telephoto lens

This kind of lenses is a universal option. It can be used for portraiture or daily photography – from weddings to news events. The mid-range focal length offers the ability to take detailed photographs without zooming, which means that it can be used as a standard lens as well.

In addition, you will need it if you want to take portraits with a blurred background (shallow depth of field) – only then will you get the desired quality.

Zoom lenses

These optical devices are perfect if you regularly shoot moving subjects and do not have time to change lenses between each shot. They will allow capturing any event in full detail without losing sight of the most important things happening around. However, bear in mind that these lenses (especially those for Fuji's APS-C cameras) may not be as sharp as their counterparts.

How to pick up the best one?

The first thing we need to know about Fuji lenses is how to read them correctly. Let’s learn it together. We will take one lens and review every component.

So, our lens is Fujifilm XF 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 R LM OIS WR. All its components mean the following:

  • the letters XF mean the Fuji lens series
  • 18-135mm indicate the length of the focus
  • f/3.5-5.6 is the top range of aperture that the lens can provide
  • the letter R means whether there’s an aperture ring to customize the aperture manually
  • the letters LM indicate the linear motor presence that improves the autofocus speed
  • OIS stands for Optical Image Stabilization feature
  • WR letters mean the Weather Resistance

 When looking for camera lenses, every customer will wonder – what features make Fuji lenses stand among others. So, Fuji knows what lenses the cameras should have. They provide extraordinary quality of pictures, outstanding clarity, and color reproduction. Moreover, the significant part of Fuji lenses are weather-resistant, so you can bravely take photos in any weather. 

These are general features that all Fuji lenses have. But when choosing lenses, it can not be enough. Now we’ll say some words about what aspects you should consider when selecting lenses for the Fuji camera.

There are several common features that we need to take into account – the aperture range that the lens provides, the focus length, its dimensions, and weight. But besides, we also need to consider other essential aspects.

Construction

Firstly, when choosing lenses for the Fuji camera, you need to look at its construction. It should be able to cope with any photo situation. That’s why the structure needs to be reliable and robust. The lens must be strong enough not to break or bend under certain conditions. That is why Fuji lenses are made of special materials such as magnesium alloy and other metals.

Quality

Secondly, the lens should provide excellent image quality. As we have already known, all Fuji lenses can offer excellent quality of images, plus incredible edge-to-edge sharpness, especially when the aperture is wide open. We have already reviewed this matter.

The aperture range is another important feature of the lens to consider. It determines how much light the lens can let in. The wider aperture produces a shallow depth of field, but it means that you need to use a tripod or camera support with larger exposure times for proper sharpness.

Your goals

The third thing (maybe, for someone, it can be the first) you should think about is the purpose. Carefully think about what photos you will take. Some do more portraits; the others opt for taking landscape pictures. Depending on your goal, Fuji offers great camera lenses that will satisfy your photo needs. For example, if you want to make high-quality portraits, Fuji has portrait lenses for you.

If you are interested in taking great landscape pictures with super clearness and vivid colors, Fuji’s wide-angle lens will be perfect for your needs. The wide aperture of this device enables the lens to deliver stunningly sharp images.

But remember! You can always succeed in choosing different lenses that won’t let you down either at the time of photographing still objects or fast-moving ones. And above all, don’t forget about Fujifilm camera support. It helps to take even better photos than ever before!

Price

And, of course, when choosing the camera lens, you should also consider the price and quality correspondence. You need to ensure that the Fuji lenses you opt for are worth the money you are going to pay. All of our Fuji lenses are the best in their price range, as chosen by our customers. That is why you should consider them!

TOP bestsellers of Fuji lenses

Fuji 55-200mm f/3.5-4.8

This lens is one of the best lenses for Fuji cameras. It has weather sealing and is capable of great image quality even when zoomed in. It has a great aperture range and deals with fast-moving subjects well. Stabilization works well and it produces sharp pictures.

Focal length 55-200mm

Aperture range f/3.5-4.8

Dimensions 77x77mm / 3.0×3.0"

Weight 475g / 1 lb 0 oz

Fuji 16-50mm f/2.8  

This is a mid-range lens for those who want good quality and don’t need ultra-wide-angle lenses. The optics are optimized for APS-C and it can zoom in to 50mm focal length. It has weather sealing and produces sharp images with vivid colors. The price/performance ratio of this lens is very high. Stabilization works well.

Focal length 16-50mm

Aperture range f/2.8-4

Dimensions 77x77mm / 3.0×3.0"

Weight 475g / 1 lb 0 oz

Fuji XF 18-55mm f/2.8-4 R LM OIS    

This is a more expensive option, but it delivers the best quality images you can get for this money and focal range for an APS-C sensor-sized camera from Fuji’s lens lineup. It offers an equivalent of 27–84 mm in 35 mm format or 33–88 mm in 135 film format depending on the mounted camera model and enables to take high-quality portraits with great bokeh effect.

Focal length 18-55mm

Aperture range f/2.8-4

Dimensions 73x80mm / 2.9×3.1"

Weight 535g / 1 lb 3 oz

Fuji XF 10-24mm f/4 R OIS  

The lens has a wide-angle with excellent image stabilization and is capable of good overall image quality including landscapes, wide angles, night shots, and close-ups. It also features weather-sealing which makes it even better for the price! Furthermore, the autofocus works really great too! This lens is an excellent choice if you’re looking for an all-around lens for your Fuji camera that will give you the best performance and high quality at a reasonable price.

Focal length 10-24 mm

Aperture range f/4

Dimensions 73x80mm / 2.9×3.1"

Weight 550g / 1 lb 4 oz

Fuji XF 14mm f/2.8 R

It’s one of the best lenses for Fuji cameras due to its small size, sharpness, and color rendition. This lens is great for night shots and wide-angle landscape photography as well as photojournalistic use thanks to the good bokeh effect! A fixed F2.8 aperture means this lens offers bright images even in darker environments and enables live view focusing which is very helpful when shooting with an EVF.

Focal length 14mm

Aperture range f/2.8

Dimensions 69x69mm / 2.7×2.7"

Weight 375g / 0 lb 16 oz

Fuji XC 16-50mm F3.5-5.6 OIS II  

This is the best budget lens for Fuji cameras which offers high-quality image stabilization, sharp images, and vibrant colors even in low light! Its small size makes it easy to take traveling or on holiday with you too! Stabilization works well and provides more ease when shooting video as well as stills images thanks to its wider aperture range than most other Fuji lenses! This lens helps you take great pictures in most environments and conditions!

Focal length 16-50mm

Aperture range f/3.5-5.6

Dimensions 70x62mm / 2.8×2.4"

Weight 280g / 9 oz

Fuji XC 50-230mm F4.5-6.7 OIS II  

This lens is the best choice for those that want to take wildlife or sports photos because of its long focal length, its zoom capability, and its OIS system which helps reduce shake in your images! The optical image stabilization (OIS) reduces motion blur caused by handheld camera shake allowing you to capture crisp clear images! It also has compact size and weather sealing. This lens is a good choice for Fuji fans that want to take sports or wildlife photos in a comfortable and lightweight package!

Focal length 50-230 mm

Aperture range f/4.5-6.7

Dimensions 77x91mm / 3×3.6"

Weight 565g / 1 lb 4 oz

Fuji XF 23mm f/1.4 R  

This is the best prime lens for Fuji cameras because it offers an ultra-bright F1.4 aperture which means you can shoot in low light environments without worrying about having to use a tripod! The autofocus works quickly and accurately thanks to its dual linear motors, making this lens great for street photographers who don’t want to miss that perfect moment!

It also offers beautiful bokeh effect images at maximum aperture which makes this lens worth its price! This lens is a great choice if you’re looking for a fast 35mm equivalent lens with decent optical image stabilization!

Focal length 23 mm

Aperture range f/1.4

Dimensions 77x80mm / 3×3.2"

Weight 530g / 1 lb 1 oz

Conclusion

So, those are some aspects that I’ve been thinking about when choosing a lens for my Fuji camera. When selecting a device from other manufacturers, it can be easy – just follow all the specs and characteristics without thinking twice about it. But with Fuji, this choice must be carefully considered – if you want to have reliable and efficient photo equipment that will never let you down even under pressure – these are only some advantages of Fujifilm cameras and lenses! The above information should be read critically and carefully considered before applying it practically.

So, these are all tips we have on how to choose Fuji lenses for cameras. We hope that when you choose the camera lenses one day, you will remember our recommendations, and they will help you make the right choice.