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First test

FujifilmXF50mm f/1.0 RWR PRICE: £1499

FUJIFILM-X.COM

SPECS › Price £1499 › Format APS-C

Fujifilm’s 35th lens in its X Series is an extra special one: the XF50mm f/1.0 R WR is the world’s first f/1.0 autofocus lens for mirrorless cameras

› Mount Fujifilm X › Autofocus Yes › Construction 12 elements in nine groups › Special lens elements One aspherical element and two ED elements › Coatings Super EBC › Filter size 77mm › Aperture range f/1.0-16 › Diaphragm Nine blades › Internal focus Yes › Manual focus Yes › Minimum focus 70cm › Focus limiter No › Maximummagnification 0.08x › Distance scale No › Depth-of-field scale No › Image stabiliser No › Tripod collar No › Lens hood Supplied › Weather-sealed Yes › Dimensions 87x103.5mm › Weight 845g Contact fujifilm-x.com

stabiliser, the camera does have a five-axis IBIS system built in. Shooting indoors, I found I could consistently shoot handheld down to 1/15sec, confident of pin-sharp shots. While there is no linear motor for silent AF, the lens’ DC motor is still very quiet and only really audible to the person behind the camera. Autofocus was fast and slick, and the lens is fully compatible with the camera’s focus features, such as face detect. Sensitivity is also good, and the working range in poor light is claimed to extend to -6EV when using the X-T4 or X-Pro3. Should you need to use the lens’ manual focus, the focusing ring is eight times more accurate than any previous XF lens and the whole focusing range is covered in 120° rotation. Manual focus on XF lenses can be a little woolly and slow, but it is much more precise on this lens.

IT WAS IN September 2019 when Fujifilm publicly declared it was binning its ambition of offering a XF33mm f1.0 lens in its range, because it was going to be too big – and probably too expensive – and instead its target was a much more trim XF50mm f/1.0 R WR. Trim is relative of course and the XF50mm f/1.0 is still a significant presence on the front of an X-T4. It weighs 845g and is 14.5cm long with the lens hood fitted. For comparison’s sake, the XF56mm f/1.2 R is under half the weight and about 3cm shorter – and £650 cheaper, too. In 35mm format terms, the XF50mm f/1.0 gives the equivalent view of a 76mm lens, so it’s a short telephoto, ideal for flattering perspective portraits. With its collection of wide apertures, the potential for some smooth but well- defined background bokeh is there, too. I used the lens on a Fujifilm X-T4, so while the lens does not have an image

IMAGE The XF50mm f/1.0 is bigger and heavier than the XF56mm f/1.2 – and it is more expensive, too. However, the XF50mm is an optically better performer at the wide apertures so if you like to shoot wide open, it’s worth the expense

of crisp, very sharp images even wide open with just a little vignetting that goes when you get beyond f/1.4. I’d be happy shooting at f/1.0 and you do get even better performance as you stop down. By f/2.8 and f/4, the overall sharpness is of an extremely high order. WC THE XF50MMF/1.0 ISATOP FLIGHT PERFORMER, CAPABLEOF CRISP,

Like many Fujifilm XF lenses, the XF 50mm f/1.0 has an aperture ring with 0.3EV click-stops and you can slip in and out of the A setting easily as there is no button lock. As you can see from the shots of my custom test chart, the XF 50mm f/1.0 is a top flight performer that’s capable

ONTEST

I shot my custom lens chart with the XF50mm f/1.0 lens fixed to a Fujifilm X-T4. The camera was fixed to a Gitzo tripod and the shutter released with the camera’s self- timer. The Raws were processed

VERY SHARP IMAGES EVEN WIDEOPEN

IMAGE Fixed to a Fujifilm X-T4, the XF50mm f/1.0 is a considerable presence, but the combination is balanced and works well

Verdict I got the chance try a pre-production sample of the Fujifilm XF50mm f/1.0 R WR for a short time before the lens was officially unveiled and I said it was a fabulous lens. In hindsight, that was rash because hyperbole can bite back. However, having spent more time with a final production version, I think I undersold it. It’s an incredible lens, great to use, a cutting-edge optical performer and for the money it’s a bargain. Fujifilm X Series owners keen to get a fast medium telephoto lens have the option of this lens or one of the two XF56mm f/1.2 lenses in the range. It’s a tough and much more expensive call, but I think I’d be sorely tempted to go for the new lens – and this is coming from an XF56mm f/1.2 owner. The XF50mm f/1.0 is a truly awesome performer and top value.

in Lightroom with no extra sharpening added

F/1.0

F/1.4

F/2

F/2.8

F/4

F/5.6

F/8

F/11

F/16

PROS Performance, price, great to use CONS It is a hefty lens

64 Photography News | Issue 83

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