Fujifilm XF50mmF1.0 R WR Fujifilm - Review 🏆

The Fujifilm XF50mmF1.0 R WR is a fast prime lens designed for Fujifilm's X-Series mirrorless cameras. With an ultra-bright maximum aperture of f/1.0, this lens allows photographers to achieve beautifully blurred backgrounds and work in low light situations.

Key features of the XF50mmF1.0 include:

• Very fast f/1.0 maximum aperture for shallow depth of field and low light performance
• Weather resistant construction with dust and moisture sealing
• Fast and nearly silent autofocus performance
• Weighs in at around 845g
• Minimum focus distance of 40cm
• 9 blade rounded aperture for pleasing bokeh
• Nano GI coating to reduce ghosting and flare

This lens provides excellent low light capabilities along with the ability to isolate subjects with buttery smooth bokeh. The fast aperture makes it a versatile choice for portraits, street photography, events, and more.

Build Quality

The Fujifilm XF50mmF1.0 R WR lens features an extremely robust and durable construction that lives up to Fujifilm's reputation for quality. The lens barrel is made of metal and has a nice heft to it without being overly heavy. The metal construction not only feels premium, but also provides protection for the internal elements.

The lens has a weather resistant design that protects against dust, moisture and low temperatures. It has sealing at crucial points like the switches, focus ring, and mount. This makes the lens suitable for use in challenging weather conditions. Overall, the build quality provides confidence that the lens can stand up to professional use and travel.

The focus and aperture rings have a smooth dampened operation that feels high-end. The rings have the perfect amount of resistance, allowing for precise adjustments without being too stiff or loose. All markings are clearly engraved and easy to read. The lens mount also has rubber sealing to prevent dust and water getting into the camera.

In summary, the exceptionally sturdy metal construction, weather sealing, dampened control rings, and precise markings make the XF50mmF1.0 a very well-built lens that inspires confidence in its durability and ability to withstand professional use. The premium build quality matches the outstanding image quality that this lens delivers.

Additionally, the Fujifilm X-T30 II with XF18-55mm offers a remarkable combination of performance and portability. This compact camera features a 26.1MP X-Trans CMOS 4 sensor and X-Processor 4, enabling high-resolution imaging and fast operation. The included XF18-55mm lens provides versatile shooting options with its broad focal range. The ergonomic design and intuitive controls make it an excellent choice for both beginners and professionals looking for a lightweight yet powerful setup. For more details, visit Fujifilm X-T30 II with XF18-55mm.

Image Quality

The Fujifilm XF50mmF1.0 R WR lens delivers outstanding image quality and is renowned for its incredible sharpness. The lens utilizes an aspherical element and two extra-low dispersion elements to minimize chromatic and spherical aberrations, providing images with high resolution and clarity across the frame.

At its widest aperture of f/1.0, the lens produces beautiful bokeh and smooth out-of-focus areas thanks to its 11-blade diaphragm. When shooting wide open at f/1.0, the bokeh takes on a near-perfect circular shape which is very pleasing to the eye. As you stop down, the bokeh remains smooth and uniform.

The fast f/1.0 aperture also allows this lens to excel in low light situations. You can achieve beautiful shallow depth of field effects, especially when shooting portraits or still life scenes up close. The lens is impressively sharp even when used wide open at f/1.0. Stopping down just slightly to f/1.4 or f/2 provides a noticeable bump in sharpness across the frame. At its optimal apertures of f/2.8-f/5.6, the central and corner sharpness is outstanding.

Chromatic aberration is also very well controlled thanks to the specialized glass elements. There is minimal fringing along high contrast edges, even when shooting wide open. Distortion is also extremely low for such a fast prime lens. Images come out very true to life with hardly any visible barrel or pincushion distortion. Overall the image quality from this 50mm f/1.0 lens is stunning and sets a new standard for fast aperture prime lenses.

The Fujifilm X100V is another exceptional product from Fujifilm, boasting an advanced 26.1MP X-Trans CMOS 4 sensor and X-Processor 4. The compact camera offers outstanding image quality with rich detail and vibrant colors. Features like a hybrid viewfinder, weather resistance, and 4K video capabilities add to its versatility. The Fujifilm X100V's sleek design and intuitive controls make it a favorite among street and travel photographers who need a reliable, high-performance camera in a compact form. This combination of innovation and performance ensures that the X100V excels in various shooting conditions.

Autofocus Performance

The autofocus performance of the XF50mmF1.0 is incredibly fast and accurate thanks to its powerful focusing motor. The lens achieves focus in an instant, even in challenging low light conditions.

The speed of the autofocus is lightning quick, allowing you to capture fast-moving subjects with ease. There is no hunting whatsoever, just instantaneous lock-on focus. The accuracy is also spot-on, with the lens precisely acquiring focus exactly where you want it in the frame.

In addition to the speed and accuracy, the autofocus motor itself operates almost silently. It is very quiet when racking between near and far focus distances. This allows you to use the lens for video recording or at events without the autofocus sounds being picked up by the microphone.

Overall, the autofocus capabilities of the XF50mmF1.0 are superb. The instantaneous focus acquisition, pinpoint accuracy, and quiet operation make it a joy to use for stills or video. It's hard to imagine autofocus performance getting any better than this.

Aperture and Depth of Field

The Fujifilm XF50mmF1.0 R WR lens has an extremely bright maximum aperture of f/1.0, making it one of the fastest lenses available for Fujifilm X-mount mirrorless cameras. This fast f/1.0 aperture allows for incredible control over depth of field and background bokeh. When shot wide open at f/1.0, the lens can produce a very shallow depth of field, isolating subjects with a soft, creamy background blur. This allows photographers to emphasize their subject by separating it from distracting backgrounds. The wide f/1.0 aperture also enables shooting in low light conditions.

The nine-blade aperture diaphragm helps render smooth, rounded bokeh when shooting at the lens's widest apertures. Photographers can adjust the aperture to f/1.4 or f/1.8 to reduce the depth of field slightly if f/1.0 provides too shallow of a focus plane. Overall, the ultra fast f/1.0 maximum aperture grants immense creative control over depth of field, greatly benefiting portrait, low light, and selective focus photography.

Handling

The Fujifilm XF50mmF1.0 R WR lens features an all-metal construction that feels solid and durable in the hand. Despite its fast f/1.0 aperture, the lens is reasonably sized and weighted.

The lens measures 3.41 x 3.15 inches (87 x 80mm) and weighs 2.04 pounds (925g). While not petite, the lens is compact for an f/1.0 prime. The weight gives it a reassuring heft without being cumbersome.

The manual focus ring rotates smoothly with the right amount of damping and resistance. This allows for precise focus adjustments, especially useful when shooting at f/1.0 with the very shallow depth of field. There are no hard stops at infinity or the minimum focus distance.

The aperture ring has distinct clicks at each f/stop which provides satisfying tactile feedback when adjusting. The aperture range is f/1.0 to f/16. Having a dedicated aperture ring makes adjusting the f-stop quick and intuitive.

Overall, the XF50mmF1.0 R WR lens is well-balanced and comfortable to use thanks to its smart ergonomics and construction quality. The manual focus and aperture rings greatly enhance the handling experience.

Video Performance

The XF50mmF1.0 performs quite well for video recording, offering a few advantages along with some limitations.

In terms of sharpness, the lens is able to achieve a good level of detail when shooting video. The optics and coatings help maintain resolution when recording in 4K or 1080p. However, the lens does exhibit some focus breathing when adjusting focus, so the angle of view will shift slightly as you rack focus which can be distracting in some situations.

Autofocus during video recording is very fast and smooth thanks to the stepping motor AF system. It does a good job locking focus quickly and refocusing cleanly as your subject moves. Manual focus control is also smooth and precise for video.

The fast f/1.0 aperture gives you a lot of control over depth of field for bokeh effects in video. At wider apertures you can isolate your subject with a blurred background. Stopping down just slightly maintains that subject isolation. This allows you to achieve a cinematic look in your footage straight out of camera.

In terms of noise, the aperture blades are essentially silent so you don't have to worry about picking up any lens sounds. The AF motor is also quiet and unobtrusive during video recording. Overall the focusing system introduces minimal noise into your videos.

So in summary, the lens offers great sharpness, fast and smooth autofocus, and a super fast aperture for depth of field control. The focus breathing is a bit of a downside, but overall the XF50mmF1.0 provides strong video performance in a compact prime lens.

Pros

The Fujifilm XF50mmF1.0 R WR lens has many advantages that make it a great choice for photographers.

• Extremely fast f/1.0 maximum aperture allows shooting in very low light and provides shallow depth of field for great bokeh.

• Excellent sharpness when shooting wide open at f/1.0, with great clarity and detail in images.

• Weather resistant design protects the lens from dust, moisture and extreme temperatures.

• Fast, nearly silent autofocus motor provides quick and accurate focusing.

• Solid all-metal build quality feels sturdy and durable.

• Smooth aperture ring provides satisfying tactile control over exposure.

• Beautiful bokeh with rounded highlights when shooting wide open.

• Minimal focus breathing helps keep compositions stable when changing focus.

• Useful minimum focusing distance of 40cm allows close-up shots.

• Compatible with Fujifilm's fast phase detection autofocus on X-mount cameras.

• Weighs in at just 845g despite large maximum aperture.

Cons

The Fujifilm XF50mmF1.0 R WR lens has a few drawbacks to consider.

• The price is very high, around €1500, putting it out of reach for many enthusiasts. For that price, you could get a professional full-frame lens.

• It's large and heavy for a prime lens at around 2 lbs. Not very portable for street or travel photography. The weight is noticeable when carrying the camera all day.

• Autofocus performance is just okay. It's not as fast and accurate as some similarly priced primes, especially when shooting at the widest apertures.

• The manual focus ring feels stiff and lacks precision. Manual focus is not this lens's strength.

• The lens exhibits some focus breathing when racking focus. The field of view shifts slightly as you adjust focus.

• The bokeh is a bit nervous and busy at times. It doesn't produce the creamiest out of focus highlights.

• There is no image stabilization, so this lens requires good handholding technique to avoid blur from camera shake, especially at slower shutter speeds.

Overall, while the lens produces beautiful image quality, the high price, large size, average autofocus, and lack of stabilization hold it back from being a must-have option compared to alternatives. It suits certain photographers but may not justify the cost for everyone.

Conclusion

Overall, the Fujifilm XF50mmF1.0 R WR lens is an impressive piece of glass that lives up to its billing as a fast aperture prime lens. Its super-fast f/1.0 maximum aperture produces stunning bokeh and allows for incredible low-light performance. Additionally, the image quality is superb, with excellent sharpness and clarity.

The lens is very well built, feeling sturdy and durable. The autofocus, while not the fastest, is quick and accurate. The manual focus ring offers a pleasing dampened feel when turning.

The handling of the lens is excellent, with the aperture ring adding satisfying tactile control over exposure settings. The lens is also weather-sealed, enhancing its versatility for outdoor shooting.

There are some drawbacks, like the high price tag and large size/weight. The aperture ring can turn accidentally if not careful. Autofocus performance could be a bit snappier.

Overall though, for photographers looking for the absolute best image quality from a fast 50mm prime on Fujifilm X-mount cameras, the XF50mmF1.0 delivers the goods. Landscape, portrait, and low-light photographers will find this lens can handle any situation while producing stunning images. It earns a strong recommendation for those willing to pay the premium price to own what is arguably the best 50mm lens Fujifilm has ever produced.