Fuji 50mm f/2Fujinon EBC Aspherical XF R WRSample Images Introduction Specs Fujifilm Fujinon Aspherical Super EBC XF 50mm f/2 R WR (metal 46mm filter thread, 7.1 oz./200g, 1.3'/0.39m close focus, $449). bigger. I got mine at B&H in black, where it also comes in silver. I'd also get it at Adorama in black, at Adorama in silver, at Amazon in black, at Amazon in silver, or at Crutchfield in black. This 100% all-content, junk-free website's biggest source of support is when you use those or any of these links to my personally-approved sources when you get anything, regardless of the country in which you live. Fujifilm does not seal its boxes in any way, so never buy at retail or any other source not on my personally approved list since you'll have no way of knowing if you're missing accessories, getting a defective, damaged, returned, non-USA, gray-market, store demo or used lens. Get yours only from the trusted sources I've used personally for decades for the best prices, service, return policies and selection. Thanks for helping me help you! Ken.
February 2019 Better Pictures Fuji Fuji Lenses Sony LEICA Zeiss Nikon Canon All Reviews
Sample ImagesTop Sample Images Introduction Specs Performance Recommendations These are all shot hand-held as NORMAL JPGs; no RAW files or FINE JPGs or tripods were used or needed. Sun and Clouds, 16 February 2019. Fujifilm X-T3, Fujinon 50mm f/2 at f/13 at 1/4,700 at Auto Dynamic Range 200% at Auto ISO 320, split-toned print. bigger or full-resolution or camera-original © JPG file.
Palm Fronds lit by Dancing off the Water, 16 February 2019. Fujifilm X-T3, Fujinon 50mm f/2 at f/5.6 at 1/180 at Auto ISO 320, Perfectly Clear. bigger or full-resolution or camera-original © JPG file.
IntroductionTop Sample Images Introduction Specs Performance Recommendations
This Fuji 50/2 is all-purpose, weather-resistant, fast short telephoto for their APS-C X-mount cameras, equivalent to a 75mm lens on a 35mm or full-frame camera. It's almost all metal with engraved markings and made-in-Japan, just like a real lens. This isn't a plastic dog plop from China. It has excellent optics in a small, light package at a reasonable price. This tiny gem has more in common with LEICA M lenses than anything from Sony, Nikon or Canon, most of whose small lenses are bigger, 100% plastic and have no aperture rings. I got my Fuji 50mm f/2 at B&H in black, where it also comes in silver. I'd also get it at Adorama in black, at Adorama in silver, at Amazon in black, at Amazon in silver, or at Crutchfield in black.
GoodOutstanding optics, as we expect with short, fixed telephotos. All-metal construction. Real aperture ring. Low price. Small, light and compact. Exceptional build quality. Made in Japan.
BadManual focus ring is electronic, so it only works if you select MANUAL FOCUS (M) on your camera. Manual focus override only works if you have the shutter half-pressed and only during SINGLE (S) autofocus. The focus ring is completely ignored in CONTINUOUS autofocus (C) mode.
MissingNo aperture ring lock at "A," so it's easy to knock the ring one click from A and be shooting at f/16 and not realize it — even in the dark.
SpecificationsTop Sample Images Introduction Specs Performance Recommendations I got my Fuji 50mm f/2 at B&H in black, where it also comes in silver. I'd also get it at Adorama in black, at Adorama in silver, at Amazon in black, at Amazon in silver, or at Crutchfield in black.
NameFujifilm Fujinon XF 50mm f/2 R WR. bigger.
Fuji calls this the FUJIFILM FUJINON LENS SUPER EBC XF 50mm f/2 R WR or XF50mmF2 R WR. Fujinon is Fujifilm's brand name for their lenses. Super EBC is Fujinon's brand of multicoating, standing for Super Electron-Beam Coated. XF is Fuji's line of good lenses for their X-mount cameras. R means it has an aperture ring. WR means weather resistant. ∅ 46 means it takes 46mm filters.
OpticsFujinon 50mm f/2 internal optical construction. Aspherical ED element. 9 elements in 7 groups. One Aspherical ED element.
CoverageAPS-C.
DiaphragmFujifilm Fujinon XF 50mm f/2 R WR. bigger. 9 rounded blades. Electronically actuated. Stops down to f/16 in 1/3-stop clicks.
Focal Length50mm. When used on Fuji's APS-C cameras, it sees the same angle of view as a 75 mm lens sees when used on a 35mm or full-frame camera. See also Crop Factor.
Angle of View31.7º diagonal on APS-C.
AutofocusInternal focus. No external movement as focussed, so no air or dust is sucked in.
Focus ScaleNo.
Infinity Focus StopNo.
Depth of Field ScaleNo.
Reproduction Ratio ScaleNo. Infrared Focus IndexNo.
Close Focus1.3 feet (0.39 meters).
Maximum Reproduction Ratio1:6.7 (0.15×).
Image StabilizerNONE.
FiltersMetal 46mm filter thread.
HoodFujifilm 50mm f/2 hood. bigger. Plastic bayonet hood included.
Case"Lens wrapping cloth" included.
Size2.36" ø maximum diameter × 2.34" extension from flange. 60.0 mm ø maximum diameter × 59.4 mm extension from flange.
Weight7.070 oz. (200.4g) actual measured weight. Rated 7.1 oz. (200 g).
QualityMade in Japan.
EnvironmentRated to work as cold as -10ºC (14ºF).
Announced24 January 2017.
Fujifilm's Model NumbersBlack: XF50mmF2 R WR B or 16536611. Silver: XF50mmF2 R WR S or 16536623.
Included50mm f/2 lens in black or in silver. FLCP-46 46mm lens cap (p/n 16539819). RLCP-001 rear lens cap (p/n 16389783). Hood. "Lens wrapping cloth"
Price$449, February 2019. Fujifilm 50mm f/2 box. bigger.
PerformanceTop Sample Images Introduction Specs Performance Recommendations
Overall Autofocus Manual Focus Breathing Bokeh Distortion Ergonomics Falloff Filters Flare & Ghosts Lateral Color Fringes Macro Mechanics Sharpness Spherochromatism
I got my Fuji 50mm f/2 at B&H in black, where it also comes in silver. I'd also get it at Adorama in black, at Adorama in silver, at Amazon in black, at Amazon in silver, or at Crutchfield in black.
OverallThe Fujifilm Fujinon 50mm f/2 is very sharp and very well made. It's a great little performer at a bargain price.
AutofocusAutofocus is fast and almost silent. It sounds like a small stepping motor is inside.
Manual FocusThe manual focus ring is electronic, so it only works some of the time depending on how you have your camera set. In SINGLE (S) autofocus mode (selected on-camera) the focus ring works only if you have the shutter half-pressed. It's ignored if you aren't half-pressing the shutter. In CONTINUOUS (C) autofocus mode (selected on-camera) the focus ring is completely ignored. In MANUAL FOCUS (M) mode (selected on-camera) the focus ring works only if you don't have the shutter pressed. It's ignored if you half-press the shutter. Confused? Me too; this is why I prefer mechanically-coupled focus rings.
Focus BreathingFocus breathing is the image changing size as focused in and out. It's important to cinematographers because it looks funny if the image changes size as focus gets pulled back and forth between actors. If the lens does this, the image "breathes" by growing and contracting slightly as the dialog goes back and forth. The image from the Fujinon 50mm f/2 grows as focussed more closely.
BokehBokeh, the feel or quality of out-of-focus areas as opposed to how far out of focus they are, is beautiful. Backgrounds melt away: Davis 6250 weather station, 16 February 2019. Fujifilm X-T3, Fujinon 50mm f/2 wide-open at f/2 at 1/5,000 at ISO 80, Perfectly Clear. bigger or camera-original © JPG file As always, if you want to throw the background as far out of focus as possible, shoot at f/2 and get as close as possible.
DistortionThe Fuji 50 2 has no visible distortion, at least as shot on Fujifilm's cameras which correct any that might be there.
ErgonomicsFujifilm 50mm f/2. bigger. The manual focus ring only works half the time, but that's how it's designed. The aperture ring is big and overdamped. It's easy to move with a fingertip. It has third-stop detents and very slightly deeper detents at full stops. It has no ring lock at "A," so it's easy to knock one click from A and be shooting at f/16 all night.
FalloffFalloff is invisible. I'm sure the camera is correcting it, too. I've greatly exaggerated the falloff by shooting a gray field and placing these on a gray background; it will not look this bad in actual photos of real things:
Filters, use withThere's no need for thin filters. You can stack several 46mm filters with no vignetting. Go ahead and use your standard thick rotating polarizer and grad filters.
Flare & GhostsThere are no significant ghosts or flare.
Lateral Color FringesThere are no color fringes as shot on Fujifilm cameras, which by default correct for any that may be there.
Macro PerformanceThis 50/2 focuses reasonably close. It's ultra-sharp at f/5.6: Casio G-Shock Solar Atomic Watch photographed at f/5.6 at close-focus distance, 16 February 2019. bigger or camera-original © file.
1,200 × 900 pixel crop from above. bigger or camera-original © file. If this 1,200 × 900 pixel crop is about 6" (15cm) wide on your screen, then the complete image printed at this same high magnification would be about 21 × 31" (1.7 × 2.6 feet or 50 × 80 cm). If this 1,200 × 900 pixel crop is about 12" (30cm) wide on your screen, then the complete image printed at this same extreme magnification would be about 42 × 62" (3.5 × 5.2 feet or 1.05 × 1.6 meters).
And it's also very sharp wide-open at f/2 where many lenses get softer at macro distances. This is better than average performance: Casio G-Shock Solar Atomic Watch photographed wide-open at f/2 at close-focus distance, 16 February 2019. bigger or camera-original © file.
1,200 × 900 pixel crop from above. bigger or camera-original © file. Remember that this close at f/2 that almost nothing is in focus. If this 1,200 × 900 pixel crop is about 6" (15cm) wide on your screen, then the complete image printed at this same high magnification would be about 21 × 31" (1.7 × 2.6 feet or 50 × 80 cm). If this 1,200 × 900 pixel crop is about 12" (30cm) wide on your screen, then the complete image printed at this same extreme magnification would be about 42 × 62" (3.5 × 5.2 feet or 1.05 × 1.6 meters).
Mechanical QualityFujifilm 50mm f/2. bigger. The Fuji 50/2 is well made of alloy and made domestically in Japan.
HoodPlastic bayonet.
Lens Front BumperNone.
Filter ThreadsMetal.
Hood Bayonet MountMetal.
Front BarrelMetal.
Focus RingMetal.
Mid BarrelSection between focus and aperture rings: metal.
Aperture RingMetal.
Rear BarrelMetal.
IdentityEngraved in a metal ring around the front element.
InternalsSeem like all metal!
Dust Gasket at MountYes.
MountChromed metal.
MarkingsAll engraved and filled with paint or left as bare aluminium.
Serial NumberLASER-engraved into the metal barrel near the lens mount.
Date CodeNone found.
Noises When ShakenVery mild clicking; sounds like diaphragm blades.
Made inJapan.
SharpnessLens sharpness has nothing to do with picture sharpness; every lens made in the past 100 years is more than sharp enough to make super-sharp pictures if you know what you're doing. The only limitation to picture sharpness is your skill as a photographer. It's the least talented who spend the most time worrying about lens sharpness. Skilled photographers make great images with whatever camera is in their hands; I've made some of my best images of all time with an irreparably broken camera! Most pixels are thrown away before you see them, but camera makers don't want you to know that. If you're not getting ultra-sharp pictures with this, be sure not to shoot at f/11 or smaller where all lenses are softer due to diffraction, always shoot at ISO 160 because cameras become softer at higher ISOs, avoid shooting across long distances over land which can lead to atmospheric heat shimmer, be sure everything is in perfect focus, set your camera's sharpening as you want it and be sure nothing is moving, either camera or subject. If you want to ensure a soft image with any lens, shoot at f/16 at ISO 1,600 at default sharpening in daylight through heat shimmer of rapidly moving subjects at differing distances in the same picture. These caveats aside, this lens is very sharp even wide-open at f/2, although it's a tiny bit softer in the corners if you're looking with a microscope in the lab. It and sharpens up as stopped down a few stops. In actual pictures it's very sharp even wide-open, no worries here. Fuji's MTF curves confirm this:
15 and 45 cycles per millimeter on APS-C is the same as 10 and 30 cycles per millimeter on full frame.
SpherochromatismSpherochromatism, also called "color bokeh" by laymen, is an advanced form of chromatic aberration in a different dimension than lateral color. It can cause colored fringes on out-of-focus highlights, usually seen as green fringes on backgrounds and magenta fringes on foregrounds. Spherochromatism is common in fast lenses of moderate focal length when shooting contrasty items at full aperture. It goes away as stopped down. This lens is very good in that I see very little spherochromatism: Casio G-Shock Solar Atomic Watch, 16 February 2019. bigger or camera-original © file.
1,200 × 900 pixel crop from above. bigger or camera-original © file. If this 1,200 × 900 pixel crop is about 6" (15cm) wide on your screen, then the complete image printed at this same high magnification would be about 21 × 31" (1.7 × 2.6 feet or 50 × 80 cm). If this 1,200 × 900 pixel crop is about 12" (30cm) wide on your screen, then the complete image printed at this same extreme magnification would be about 42 × 62" (3.5 × 5.2 feet or 1.05 × 1.6 meters).
SunstarsWith a rounded diaphragm at large apertures I can get 18-pointed sunstars on brilliant points of light, but it takes some work and usually only at smaller apertures. What looks like a vertical line on the sun at f/2 isn't from the lens; it's the image sensor blooming from the extreme brightness of the sun at f/2. Click any to enlarge: Click any to enlarge.
RecommendationsTop Sample Images Introduction Specs Performance Recommendations This Fuji 50/2 is a great little lens at a tiny price, and it's super-well made to boot. If you don't feel like carrying a zoom or a clunky f/1.4 lens, this is a great addition to your gear. You can take it everywhere as a fantastic little portrait lens. Bring this and pop the tiny 23mm f/2 in your pocket and you're prepared for everything. I use a clear (UV) protective filter instead of a cap. I only use a cap when I throw this in my bag with other gear, otherwise I leave a clear protective filter on my lens at all times so I'm ready to shoot instantly. Use the excellent and inexpensive B+W 46mm 010 , or splurge on the multicoated B+W 010M or use a multicoated Hoya filter. If you want a fancy filter, go for the LEICA 13033 E46 UVa II in black, the LEICA 13034 E46 UVa II in silver or the Fujifilm PRF-46 Protector Filter. I got my Fuji 50mm f/2 at B&H in black, where it also comes in silver. I'd also get it at Adorama in black, at Adorama in silver, at Amazon in black, at Amazon in silver, or at Crutchfield in black. This 100% all-content website's biggest source of support is when you use those or any of these links to approved sources when you get anything, regardless of the country in which you live. Fujifilm does not seal its boxes in any way, so never buy at retail or any other source not on my personally approved list since you'll have no way of knowing if you're missing accessories, getting a defective, damaged, returned, non-USA, gray-market, store demo or used lens. Get yours only from the trusted sources I've used personally for decades for the best prices, service, return policies and selection. Thanks for helping me help you! Ken. Thanks for helping me help you! Ken, Mrs. Rockwell, Ryan and Katie.
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16 February 2019