Fujifilm X sequence digicam house owners who love the shallow-depth-of-field look are sure to be drawn to the Fujinon XF 50mm F1.0 R WR ($1,499). It is a massive prime lens with a shiny aperture for low-light images and easily defocused backgrounds. Bokeh-specialist photographers desirous about exploring the evening can take notice, however the XF 50mm F2 R WR is a extra sensible 50mm for the remainder of us, and is extra attainable at round $450.
An F1 With Autofocus
Lenses with extra-bright apertures (wider than F1.2) aren’t exceptional, however they’re sometimes restricted to guide focus and, until you are ready to lay our a fortune, they are not spectacularly sharp optics. That mentioned, photographers nonetheless attain for them for terribly shallow depth of discipline and low-light seize.
The XF 50mm F1.0 R WR contains autofocus, and there is little dangerous to say about it optically. It makes use of a fancy design to get there, with loads of heavy glass components. At 4.1 by 3.4 inches (HD) and 1.9 kilos, it dominates most X system cameras. I used it with the deep-gripped X-S10 and it was nonetheless a bit front-heavy. It is a greater match for the bigger entries within the sequence, the X-T4 and X-H1.
Like Fujifilm’s premium cameras, the XF 50mm incorporates climate safety. It may be utilized in inclement situations with out fear. The entrance factor would not embody anti-smudge fluorine safety, although, so you will wish to use the included hood to maintain it freed from raindrops and keep away from stray fingerprints. It does have Fujifilm Tremendous EBC safety to suppress flares. It does an excellent job—I had a tough time inducing the impact. Should you just like the look, although, you may get flares with the slimmer XF 50mm F2.
Filters are supported as properly. The 77mm thread measurement is a little bit giant amongst APS-C fashions, however not unusual. You will wish to put money into neutral-density filter, particularly if you happen to plan on utilizing the lens for video or flash images. Present-generation Fujifilm cameras have an digital shutter that is useful if you happen to go away the filter at residence and nonetheless wish to work at a large aperture.
On-lens controls cowl the fundamentals solely. The guide focus ring takes up many of the barrel; it is acquired a knurled texture however is not rubberized. It is a disappointing expertise, although. The main target adjusts extra choppily than easily, and the motor that drives the focusing components churns audibly as you flip the ring.
The motor is simply as audible when autofocusing. The DC focus motor drives the lens with some drive, and is okay for working with slower topics; if you happen to’re engaged on a portrait session each photographer and mannequin can transfer about. For topics coming on the digicam extra rapidly, anticipate some focus misses, particularly if you happen to’re fascinated about the lens for indoor motion or candids.
Focus respiratory, a change in angle of view when setting focus, is all however invisible. That is factor for videographers, particularly these wanting to make use of the lens for artistic photographs. You’ll be able to dramatically rack focus from one topic to a different with ease. The audible focus motor is a downer for recording sound in-camera, however not an issue for b-roll and cutaways.
On-lens aperture management is included, an indicator of X sequence lenses. The management ring turns and clicks into place at third-stop increments from f/1.0 by f/16. For in-body aperture management, swap the ring to its A place. There is not any strategy to swap to clean, silent management, one thing you will discover on premium lenses for the competing Sony mirrorless system.
The lens focuses as shut as 2.3 ft (0.7m), fairly customary for a lens optimized for wide-aperture portraits. It is not going to get near macro outcomes—magnification is a paltry 1:12.5 at greatest. That is according to Fujifilm’s different shiny portrait lens, the XF 56mm F1.2, which nets 1:11.1 outcomes by the use of a barely narrower angle of view.
The Full-Body Search for APS-C
The XF 50mm F1.0 R WR is made for the X mirrorless system and the APS-C sensor measurement. Its angle of view is much like a 75mm lens on a full-frame system. It is an angle that is a little bit underserved—Leica makes use of it for its full-frame rangefinder system, however most SLR and full-frame mirrorless methods go for 85mm because the quick telephoto prime.
It is pure to check the look you get from the XF 50mm F1.0 at its widest aperture with an 85mm F1.4 for a full-frame system. Their angles of view are pretty shut, and the additional compression netted by the 85mm lens means you get a equally shallow depth of discipline. The XF 50mm F1.0 actually nets the full-frame look within the APS-C format.
It is not the primary time Fujifilm has gone this route. It additionally provides two variations of its XF 56mm F1.2 prime. The usual version prices round $1,000, catches virtually as a lot mild because the XF 50mm F1.0, and nets photographs with a equally shallow look.
The 56mm can be accessible in a model with an built-in ADP filter, an optical factor that reduces mild transmission, however nets much more easily defocused backgrounds. It is a greater match for photographers who work in brighter mild, however nonetheless wish to internet full-frame high quality bokeh. Neither is blazingly quick for focus—the ADP model solely works with distinction detection—however they’re value fascinated about if you happen to’re purchasing for this kind of lens.
Within the Lab
I examined the XF 50mm F1.0’s resolving energy with the 26MP X-S10 and Imatest software program. It delivers decision in our excellent vary at wider apertures, displaying round 2,500 traces at f/1 and f/1.4. There is a bit much less element on the edges of the body when working at broad apertures, however the naturally shallow depth of discipline will disguise it once you’re not photographing completely flat take a look at charts or partitions. Stopped down, the lens delivers constant readability from middle to edge.
It ticks up at f/2, and crosses into the superb efficiency vary at f/2.8. Element is up with there with one of the best lenses for the system at f/4 by f/11 (3,000 traces), thought of excellent for the system. There is a slight dip in readability at f/16, a consequence of optical diffraction, however you will nonetheless get pleasure from sharp images stopped all the way in which down.
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Bokeh form is an enormous deal for a lens constructed for defocused backgrounds. At f/1 you will see rounded highlights towards the middle of the body, however anticipate a extra cat’s eye form towards edges and corners, typical of lenses with out built-in ADP filters.
You will get rounder outcomes throughout the body at f/1.4. The corners drop the cat’s eye look utterly by f/2, the place highlights are principally round, with a really slight polygonal form. Should you’re utilizing the lens for portraits on metropolis streets, I might strive for f/1.4 for the best-looking factors of sunshine within the background.
You may get some false shade in backgrounds—the technical time period is longitudinal chromatic aberration, or LoCa for brief. You will discover it within the transition from focus to blur. It is not one thing you will see in each picture, nevertheless it pops when there’s some distinction or backlight.
There is a slight vignette at f/1, seen on the corners when photographing evenly illuminated scenes. It is nothing to worry over, and it goes away rapidly, simply set the aperture to f/1.4. Distortion can be corrected—there’s none seen in photographs.
A Lens for Specialists
The Fujinon XF 50mm F1.0 R WR is a kind of lenses that is not nearly images, but in addition a press release in regards to the experience of the engineering crew behind a digicam system. We have seen brighter lenses for APS-C methods, however up till now you have needed to rigorously set focus manually when reaching for an F0.95 prime.
The XF 50mm F1.0 R WR delivers images with loads of character, easily defocused backgrounds, and the colours you anticipate from the movie appears to be like constructed into X system cameras. There are some drawbacks—the guide focus expertise leaves quite a bit to be desired, and it is larger than many zooms.
Should you’re after the ultra-thin depth of discipline you get from an F1.0 lens, although, there’s purpose so as to add this to your equipment. I might suggest you think about the XF 56mm F1.2 as properly—you may get it in two variations, one with an APD filter for a similar value, and a typical version that is higher for low-light use for round $1,000. You will wish to get the F1.0 if you happen to want an all-weather lens, because the 56mm would not embody mud or splash safety.
Fujifilm house owners purchasing for a lens on this focal size and trying to spend much less must also keep in mind the XF 50mm F2 R WR. It is accessible for round $450, provides climate safety, and is comparatively light-weight.