Fujifilm Fujinon XF 35mm f/1.4 R

XF 35mm f/1.4 R

This standard lens for the Fujifilm X-Pro1 interchangeable lens camera provides a field of view equivalent to a 51mm lens on a 35mm camera, sports a bright f/1.4 maximum aperture and costs around £550.

Fujifilm Fujinon XF 35mm f/1.4 R Handling and Features

Fujifilm XF 35mm f/1.4 R

The combination of metal and high quality plastics has resulted in a very light weight, yet robust build. 187 grams for a lens with a f/1.4 maximum aperture is very lightweight indeed, and it compliments the Fujifilm X-Pro1 perfectly with its retro styling.

Focusing isn't performed internally and the lens extends by around seven millimetres at its closest focus. Even so, the 52mm filter thread does not rotate, making it perfect for use with polarising and graduated filters. A rectangular hood attaches to the bayonet around the front of the lens and there is space inside for one filter. The focusing ring is well damped, making fine adjustments easy to apply.


Fujifilm X-pro 1 With 35mm Lens

To compliment the retro styling of the X-Pro1, this 35mm lens has a manual aperture ring for selecting your desired aperture in a more traditional way. This aperture ring has each full stop marked, but has click stops for each intermediate 1/3 stop setting, and an 'A' setting for automatic operation. The aperture ring only requires a gentle touch to move through the aperture range, which is great for making quick adjustments, but requires care to be taken when changing lenses, as the aperture ring is easily moved.

Auto focus tend to hunt a little in all conditions and focusing accurately at wide apertures can be tricky. Even with the hunting, focus speeds are acceptable for static subjects, but the lens can struggle to keep up with moving subjects.

Fujifilm Fujinon XF 35mm f/1.4 R Performance

At maximum aperture, sharpness in the centre of the frame approaches very good levels, but the clarity towards the edges of the frame lags behind somewhat. At very wide apertures this phenomenon is rarely much of an issue, with greater importance being paced on sharpness in the centre of the image.

As the lens is stopped down, sharpness levels increase to lofty heights in the central portion of the image and reach very good levels of clarity towards the edges of the frame between f/5.6 and f/16.

Resolution @ 35mm

How to read our charts The blue column represents readings from the centre of the picture frame at the various apertures and the green is from the edges. Averaging them out gives the red weighted column. The scale on the left side is an indication of actual image resolution. The taller the column, the better the lens performance. Simple. For this review, the lens was tested on a Fujifilm X-Pro1 using Imatest.

Chromatic aberrations are generally well controlled, with any fringing being kept to an absolute minimum towards the edges of the frame, and to acceptable levels in the centre.

Chromatic aberration @ 35mm

How to read our charts Chromatic aberration is the lens' inability to focus on the sensor or film all colours of visible light at the same point. Severe chromatic aberration gives a noticeable fringing or a halo effect around sharp edges within the picture. It can be cured in software. Apochromatic lenses have special lens elements (aspheric, extra-low dispersion etc) to minimize the problem, hence they usually cost more. For this review, the lens was tested on a Fujifilm X-Pro1 using Imatest.

Falloff of illumination towards the edges of the frame is well controlled for a wide aperture lens, with the corners only being 0.989 stops darker than the image centre at f/1.4. Visually uniform illumination is achieved with the lens stopped down to f/4 or beyond.

Barrel distortion is quite prominent for a prime lens, with Imatest detecting a level of 1.48%. The distortion pattern is uniform across the frame, so this should be relatively simple to correct in image editing software if absolutely straight lines are required.

Fujifilm XF 35mm f/1.4 R Sample Photos

Sharpness levels in the centre are quite amazing when stopped down to between f/2.8 and f/8 | 1/75 sec | f/5.6 | 35.0 mm | ISO 200 High-Res	Out of focus areas are rendered smoothly | 1/150 sec | 1/150 sec | f/2.0 | 35.0 mm | ISO 200 High-Res
Flare isn't much of an issue with this lens| 1/250 sec | 1/250 sec | f/4.0 | 35.0 mm | ISO 200 High-Res	A minimum focus distance of 28cm makes frame-filling shots possible | 1/450 sec | f/4.0 | 35.0 mm | ISO 200 High-Res
1/125 sec | f/11 | 35.0 mm | ISO 200 High-Res	1/550 sec | f/2.8 | 35.0 mm | ISO 200 High-Res
1/140 sec | f/8.0 | 35.0 mm | ISO 200 High-Res	1/85 sec | f/4.0 | 35.0 mm | ISO 200 High-Res

With, or without, the rectangular hood attached, this lens is pretty resistant to flare, even in harsh backlit situations. Contrast levels remain good when shooting into the light also.

Fujifilm Fujinon XF 35mm f/1.4 R Verdict

With a field of view similar to the classic 50mm standard on a 35mm camera, this lens will already be on many X-Pro1 buyer's shopping lists. With this lenses ability to deliver extremely sharp images, it should win many fans amongst users of this new camera system.

Although the £550 price tag may seem a little on the high side, the build and handling are about right for the price. Add in this optic's ability to take images you could almost cut yourself on, and you have a winner here.

The Fujinon XF 35mm f/1.4 R is a cracker and delivers extremely sharp images with an excellent build.

Fujifilm Fujinon XF 35mm f/1.4 R Pros

Extremely sharp in the centre when stopped down
Very good sharpness towards the edges when stopped down
Very Lightweight
Traditional design
Excellent build

Fujifilm Fujinon XF 35mm f/1.4 R Cons

Auto focus is a little on the slow side
Can be tricky to get accurate focus at wide apertures

FEATURES
HANDLING
PERFORMANCE
VALUE FOR MONEY
OVERALL

Fujifilm XF 35mm f/1.4 R Specifications

Manufacturer	Fujifilm
General
Lens Mounts	Fujifilm X Mount
Lens
Focal Length	35mm
Angle of View	44.2°
Max Aperture	f/1.4 - f/16
Min Aperture	f/1.4 - f/16
Filter Size	52mm
35mm equivalent	53mm
Internal focusing	No
Focusing
Min Focus	28cm
Stabilised	No
Construction
Elements	8
Groups	6
Box Contents
Box Contents	Lens, Front Lens Cap, Rear Lens Cap, Lens Wrapping Cloth, Lens Hood, Owners Manual
Dimensions
Weight	187g
Width	65mm
Height	54.9mm