Last Updated on 10/05/2018 by Mark Beckenbach
Newcomers to the platform are spoiled for choice when it comes to Fujifilm lenses, especially fast primes and high quality telephotos.
Fujifilm lenses (whether prime or telephoto) all offer outstanding image quality, fantastic build quality, fast autofocus performance, and the vast majority of the lenses are incredibly affordable. Even the more expensive options in the Fuji lineup are usually less than lenses from companies such as Canon, Nikon, and Sony. When you start building your arsenal of Fuji glass though it can be a little bit of a challenge to know what to buy, especially when it comes to primes. Here’s a look at three Fujifilm lenses that are not only outstanding performers, they’re also under $600 and won’t break the bank.
With so many amazing Fujifilm lenses to choose from it can be hard to make a decision on which ones to buy. In this article we are going to take a look at three incredible Fuji Lenses that are under $600, and why you should add them to your kit.
Fujifilm 23mm F2 R WR Lens
When it comes to small, fast primes the lenses that Fuji offer are hard to beat, and the Fujifilm 23mm F2 R WR is a little cracker! When you take into consideration the crop factor of 1.5x, this lens will act like a 35mm would on a Full Frame camera. This focal length is perfect for street photographers, documentarians, and environmental portrait artists. The 23mm has small footprint and light weight which makes it a great walk around lens.
In our review we said:
“The speed when focusing with this lens on the X Pro 2 is very impressive. It’s by far the absolute best lens in Fujifilm’s lineup for street photography and candid shooting due to its autofocus speed. When the focusing point is at its smallest, it will be a bit slower. But increase it and what it become a complete speed demon. With that said, let the camera choose its own focusing point and it will seriously surprise you with how fast it focuses.”
Why should you buy this lens? The 23mm f2 weighs just 0.3lbs, you can slap this lens on your camera and you’ll forget it’s there, and autofocus is blisteringly fast even on older Fuji bodies. You’ll be able to pick up the camera, get focus, and shoot before you lose the moment, even in low light thanks to the maximum aperture of f2.
The 23mm f2 also has weather sealing. Pair this lens with a weather sealed body and you’ll be able to shoot in the rain or snow with no problems. Inside the lens are ten elements in six groups, and you’ll also find nine rounded aperture blades. When you combine all of these things together you get a lens that produces sharp images, beautiful colors, and smooth bokeh. At under $400 this Fuji lens is an absolute bargain, and should be one of the first you purchase.
Buy now ($399): Amazon
Fujifilm 23mm F2 R WR Image Samples
Pro Tip: Like many other Mirrorless cameras, battery life in Fuji cameras suffers quite a bit. You don’t have to spend a fortune though to get extra batteries. These ones are like for like replacements for the NP-W126S, and they work just like the original batteries do. Stock up and always be ready to shoot.
Fujifilm 35mm F2 R WR
The Fuji 35mm f2 R WR is an interesting lens as it sits firmly between the 23mm F2, and the 50mm F2, and while it may not seem like an obvious first choice, when you consider crop factor on APS-C cameras, it makes perfect sense.
The 35mm f2 has a focal equivalent of 53mm which means this lens is really a nifty fifty. Honestly, every photographer needs a nifty fifty in their bag. The 50mm focal range is close to what the human eye sees naturally which makes this lens very popular with street photographers and portrait shooters. 50mm lenses are also just excellent all around performers, and really do well in just about any genre of photography.
In our review we said:
“Let’s start these conclusions with the absolute truths about this lens. It is the fastest to focus Fujifilm lens to date and finally makes candid street photography with a Fujifilm camera really viable when it comes to using autofocus. For this reason alone, many photographers will greatly, greatly appreciate this lens and just how quickly it can perform.”
There are many reasons why you should buy this lens. Like it’s smaller brother (the 23mm) this lens is weather sealed, which means water, snow, and dust will not cause it any problems at all. It is slightly heavier than the 23mm, but at just 0.95lbs it balances perfectly on small, mirrorless Fuji bodies.
There are nine elements in six groups, and nine aperture blades which make up the optical components inside the lens, and they are the reason for corner-to-corner sharpness in images, nice overall color rendition, and bokeh that is very pleasing to the eye. Focus speeds are outstanding so you’ll have no trouble nailing whatever shot you go after, and low light performance is fantastic with this being an f2 lens. At the price point of $349, this Fuji lens is another bargain that will serve you well.
Buy now ($349): Amazon
Fujifilm 35mm F2 R WR Image Samples
Pro Tip: Mirrorless cameras are fantastic, but because their is no mirror covering the sensor, dust can collect on it a little easier than with traditional DSLR’S. The process of cleaning your sensor is incredibly easy though. Most dust will come right off with a blower, but some may be a little more stubborn. There is no need to spend a pretty penny paying someone else to clean your sensor for you when you can easily do it at home with this sensor cleaning kit.
Fujifilm 55-200mm F3.5-4.8 R LM OIS
We know Fujifilm prime lenses offer outstanding value for money, but what about their telephoto zoom lenses? When it comes to bang for your buck the Fujifilm 55-200mm f3.5-4.8 may just be one of the best value for money Fuji lenses around. The lens may be bulkier than the two primes listed above, but boy does it pack a punch.
In our review we said:
“This lens produced great results, and while it is a little bulky, it’s worth the weight with what it can give you out of the camera. On the street, in the studio or at an event, you’ll find that this lens can give you what you’re looking for.”
The Fujifilm 55-200m f3.5-4.8 is one incredibly versatile lens. When used it will have the equivalent focal range of a 82-300mm lens on a Full Frame camera, so this lens is great for wildlife, portraits, sports, and event photographers. The lens weighs 1.27lbs but still feels great on the smaller Mirrorless bodies that Fuji produce, and it feels nice in the hand due to the excellent build quality. Often telephoto lenses do not offer image quality that can match prime lenses, but the 55-200mm f3.5-4.8 is very sharp, and thanks to the optical image stabilization, Fuji claims you can expect an extra 4.5 stops which means really good low light performance.
The colors this lens produces are accurate, and the bokeh is really nice as you’ll see in the sample images below. As with many other Fuji lenses focus acquisition is fast and quiet thanks to the two linear stepper motors inside. This Fuji lens is a must have simply because of its versatility, not to mention its stellar image and excellent build quality. At under $600 you should definitely add this to your library of Fuji lenses.
Buy now ($599): Amazon
Fujifilm 55-200mm F3.5-4.8 R LM OIS Image Samples
These three Fujifilm lenses make the perfect starter kit for new Fuji shooters. You are covered from 35mm (equivalent) all the way through to a 300mm equivalent on a Full Frame camera. With these three Fuji lenses you will be ready to shoot just about any genre of photography you can think of, and you can have all of them for a combined price of under $1,350! That represents incredible value when you consider some lenses cost that much alone. Believe us when we tell you that you aren’t giving up anything in the area of build and image quality. All three of these Fuji lenses are must haves.
Are you a Fujifilm Shooter? What lenses did you start with when you moved to the system? Let us know in the comment section below