I’ve been a Fujifilm X series shooter since the system started. And since then, I’ve bought at least one product per year within the camera system. The company has released so many great lenses over the years, even recently when they started to become uninspiring. But I never thought that the Fujifilm 16mm f1.4 R WR would become the sleeper hit. I, like you, probably thought it was the company’s excellent 18mm f2 or the 35mm f1.4. And those are still incredible lenses. But here’s why the Fuji 16mm f1.4 R WR aged like a fine wine.
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What We Said and Why We Said It
We reviewed the Fuji 16mm f1.4 R WR back in 2015 and I remember having problems with it. But our biggest problem was the color fringing. Typically, I wouldn’t mind it. But it was enough to be really difficult to work with. Do you remember the old Canon 85mm f1.8 EF lens? When you stopped it down, the color fringing went away. But it was really bad wide open. That was the case with the Fuji 16mm f1.4.
Our big problem: color fringing. Even then we’re not going to say that it’s a giant problem overall because Adobe Lightroom can easily fix this with a slider. But for a modern lens and a company like Fujifilm, we didn’t expect this level of fringing. Admittedly, we’ve removed most of it in these images to show readers exactly what’s capable with this camera but we will show you a sample later down in the post.
Our Fuji 16mm f1.4 review
I now realize one of two things happened: we either got a bad unit, or firmware has fixed the lens. Typically, when we get bad review units, we report on them as is. It replicates the customer experience because you don’t have access to the same reps that we do. When I bought it later on, I was really shocked at how good it turned out to be.
At one point, it was the only lens I owned that was weather sealed, so it became the lens I used the most. Then I got more Fuji weather resistant lenses and I rotated through those. But still, when I put the Fuji 16mm f1.4 on my X Pro 3, I’m always in awe.
Why is the Fuji 16mm f1.4 So Good?
There’s several reasons why the Fuji 16mm f1.4 is so great. First off, there’s the build quality. It’s a metal lens with a design that truly tries to bring you back to retro days. There’s a focusing ring that pulls back to reveal a depth of field scale for zone focusing. This feature is something that we’re going to see a lot less of in Fujifilm lenses to come.
Besides the build, there’s the feel of it. The Fuji 16mm f1.4 feels like a Zeiss Planar T* lens if it were given autofocus. And I’d know because I own the Zeiss 50mm, and it lives on my Nikon F2. On a rangefinder style body like the X Pro 3, it feels like a stout, durable lens that’s meant to do work. It isn’t too long though, and the width is what gives it the unique feel.
When you take it out into the cold weather, the lens gets cold too. And this helps to remind you that you’re holding a camera and a lens; not a cheap phone or a cheap lens. This is a premium product.
On top of all this, it’s weather resistant. So that means that it’s been around for a while and will continue to perform well because of the durability. I tend to remove the lens hood on mine and put a UV filter instead. Combined with Fuji’s film simulations, it just works. If I put a Glimmer Glass filter on it, the photos just tend to glow even more.
Let’s come back to the image quality, though. The Fuji 16mm f1.4 is sharp without being too sharp. It’s like a Canon L lens that will never top the chart of DXOMark but will always still perform with a mysterious, unexplainable beauty that you can never put your finger on. I’ve used it many times and loved it and what it does. Considering the fact that it’s such a wide focal length, it also always focuses very quickly. So I truly can’t complain about that.
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An Essential Lens You Have to Have?
Is the Fuji 16mm f1.4 a lens that you have to have? Well, I really think that every photographer should at least try it. It’s great for landscapes, documentaries, street photography, portraits, and so much more. It’s also durable enough to withstand the elements and has the build quality of a lens that you want to use each and every day. In the end, that’s what matters the most.