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PRICE: £899
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Fujifilm XF18-120mm f/4 LM PZ WR
The latest XF zoom has a specific user in mind, but does it deliver? Tested by Will Cheung
Push the Z/F button to toggle between zoom and focus control, but this can also be assigned one of 75 other functions via the camera’s menu. That also applies to the pair of custom function controls under the Z/F button – as default, L-Fn1 and L-Fn2 are set to zoom towards wide-angle or telephoto at constant speed, with a second button push to stop. The Z/F button is easier to use than the function buttons, which are smaller and need a precise thumb push to engage. Having the option of both manual and powered zoom is excellent, but there is a third option on the X-H2. Touch the zoom lens icon to the bottom-right of the camera monitor to bring up a virtual slider and you can smoothly adjust zoom using your thumb. With the camera on a tripod, it’s possible to adjust the zoom lens without touching the lens. “AUTOFOCUS – INTERNAL LIKE THE ZOOM SYSTEM – IS SMOOTH, FAST AND SILENT THANKS TO A LINEAR MOTOR”
FUJIFILM HAS AN extensive lens range for its X Series cameras, but the XF18-120mm f/4 LM PZ WR is the first specifically targeted at videographers. A nearly silent power zoom, stepless aperture control and minimal focus breathing are all strong pointers to its moviemaking credentials – add an f/4 maximum aperture, 60cm minimum focusing throughout the focal range, weather resistance and three customisable function controls, and you’ve got an impressive spec. With an £899 price tag, it’s attractively priced, too. Covering such a broad range, you may expect the XF18-120mm to be a sizable optic, and indeed it’s rather long. However, on the three bodies I tried – the X-T2, X-S10 and X-H2 – balance was good. I did most testing on the X-H2, since this zoom is on Fujifilm’s list of optics that can make the most of the camera’s 40-megapixel resolution. The lens sports three customisable control rings. The one furthest from the body handles focusing, a broad middle ring is for zoom control and the last is a self-centering power zoom rocker ring. Zoom speed is proportional to the speed this latter control is rotated, and there is only a whisper as the electric motor does its job. Aperture settings are controlled from the camera body.
SPECS › Price £899
› In the box Front and rear caps, lens hood, lens wrapping cloth › Format APS-C › Compatibility Fujifilm X Series › Filter 72mm › Construction 15 elements in 12 groups › Special lens elements Three aspherical, three ED › Aperture range 16 steps in 1/3EV increments
› Diaphragm Seven blades › Max magnification 0.2x › Autofocus Linear motor › Minimum focus 0.6m
› Lens coatings Super EBC (Electron Beam Coating), fluorine-coated front element › Weather sealed Yes › Dimensions (dxl) 77.3x123.5mm › Weight 460g › Contact fujifilm-x.com
Autofocus – internal like the zoom mechanism – is smooth, fast and silent thanks to Fujifilm’s linear motor. The lens meshes well with the X-H2 and its array of advanced focus features. One feature not available, however, is an image stabiliser, so you are dependent upon the body for this functionality. The X-H2 has a 7EV IBIS system, avoiding problems at slower shutter speeds for either stills, smooth video panning or shooting on the move. Optically, it proved a capable performer, with no issues getting high-quality results. But there was a noticeable pattern to performance throughout the f/stops. At f/4 down to f/8, you will be rewarded with crisp, detail-rich images, especially with standard clarity and unsharp mask applied in post. However, performance dips from f/11 on. Our tests at f/16 and f/22 suffered from diffraction and looked quite soft at high magnification. Other optical factors such as flare, vignetting, chromatic aberration and distortion were well controlled and not a concern. PN
Verdict The XF18-120mm f/4 LM PZ WR covers a great focal length range and its constant f/4 maximum aperture is handy. Factor in decent performance, good handling and an attractive price, and you have a tempting proposition for Fujifilm X Series owners – whether shooting video, stills or both. PROS Useful focal range, solid optical performance at wider apertures, smooth power zoom for video, constant f/4 throughout, near-silent AF, internal zoom, zoom functions can be fine-tuned, weather resistant CONS Physically quite long, with no integral image stabiliser
AN EYE FOR DETAIL Intricate scenes work well with the 18-120mm lens. Here, the optic was used on the 40-megapixel Fujifilm X-H2 with an exposure of 1/80sec at f/8 and ISO 125
Issue 103 | Photography News 43
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