The Fujifilm XF 18-55mm lens has been a staple kit lens with Fujifilm cameras for over a decade. However, Fujifilm has introduced a new replacement: the XF 16-50mm f/2.8-4.8 R LM WR. This new lens is already being bundled with the Fujifilm X-T5, X-S20, and the newly launched Fujifilm X-T50.
Fujifilm XF 16-50mm – Price and Value
The Fujifilm XF 16-50mm lens is priced the same as the XF 18-55mm, 549$. Even if more expensive than other kit lens, it definitely offer great value compared to other brands’ kit lens, as we will see below.
Design and Build
Fujifilm’s lenses are renowned for their build quality. The metal body feels premium and is well-constructed. The lens includes three rings for focus, zoom, and aperture, though the aperture ring is not marked and only focus when turned on, as it is a variable aperture lens
Weather Sealing
The lens is weather-sealed, providing protection against dust and moisture. This complements the weather-sealed body of the X-T5, although the X-S20 and X-T50 are not weather-sealed.
Fujifilm XF 16-50mm – Performance
The new focal length range of Fujifilm XF16-50mm provides a wider field of view at the wide end (24mm full-frame equivalent), which is great for video makers and travel photographers. However, it sacrifices some telephoto reach, reducing it to 50mm (75mm full-frame equivalent). Additionally, the maximum aperture narrows from f/4 to f/4.8 at the telephoto end.
Despite these changes, the XF 16-50mm maintains high image quality. Great image quality overall and sharpness maintained over the aperture range.
Optical Image Stabilization
The Fujifilm XF 16-50mm does not feature optical image stabilization (OIS), unlike its predecessor. This might be due to the new internal zoom design or confidence in Fujifilm’s in-body image stabilization (IBIS), which is available in most of their current cameras, including the X-T50 .
Conclusion
The Fujifilm XF 16-50mm f/2.8-4.8 R LM WR is a strong successor to the legendary XF 18-55mm. It offers a wider field of view, internal zoom, weather sealing, and excellent image quality, making it an ideal choice for both photographers and videographers.
