The best Fujifilm lenses in 2020: the best lenses for X-mount cameras

(Image credit: Fujifilm)

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Telephoto zooms
Wide-angle zooms
Standard zooms
Wide/standard primes
Portrait lenses
Macro lenses

This is where we pick the best Fujifilm lenses for X-mount cameras. We've got all the latest models, all our long-time favorites and, whatever your needs, whatever your budget, this guide should help you find the best Fujifilm lens(es) for your style of photography videography.

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Fujifilm now makes some of the best mirrorless cameras in the business. It has a storming reputation among photographers, and while rival makers branch out into full frame mirrorless cameras, Fujifilm has straddled these with its APS-C X-mount camera lineup and rather awesome medium format GFX models, which are themselves amongst the best medium format cameras on the market.

Picking your model from among the best Fujifilm cameras is a daunting enough task in itself. The new Fujifilm X-T4 trumps even the excellent Fujifilm X-T3 at the top of the X-series range, while the X-Pro3 and its brave and revolutionary 'hidden' screen offers a completely new-yet-old shooting experience for fans of traditional cameras.

Fujifilm has been steadily expanding the X-system lens catalogue for almost a decade now. Whether you're looking for zooms or primes, wide-angles or telephotos, the system has you covered with multiple options for a range of budgets. The firm is continuing to innovate as well; we're eagerly awaiting the arrival of the promised 50mm f/1.0 for the X system, and we've already reviewed the amazing-value Fujinon XC 35mm f/2.

To make it easier to find. the lens you need, we've divided our guide into categories. We've got telephoto zooms for those who need a bit of reach, wide-angle zooms for landscape shooters who like a wider view, standard zooms for your do-it-all day-to-day photography, a selection of different primes for those who value pristine image quality over the ability to zoom,– and finally a macro lens for getting closer than close to your subjects. You can use our one-click navigation bar to go straight to the section you need.

Fujifilm lens acronyms explained

The two main classifications of lenses are XC and XF (we have a separate guide to medium format GFX lenses).

XC lenses are designed to be compact and ultra-portable, and are generally cheaper to buy. They're the sort of lenses you'd use with Fujifilm's entry-level mirrorless cameras like the Fujifilm X-A7 and X-T200.

XF lenses aim for the finest image quality and overall performance, and have a more robust construction typically based on metal barrels and mounting plates. At the top of the tree, there are currently three ‘Red Badge’ XF zoom lenses, which represent the best of the breed.

Fujifilm’s X-mount lenses often have a string of letters after their names as well. The letter ‘R’ signifies that the lens has a manual aperture ring, enabling quick and intuitive aperture control in manual and aperture-priority shooting modes. Additional lettering might include WR (Weather-Resistant), OIS (Optical Image Stabilization) and LM (Linear Motor) autofocus which tends to be faster and virtually silent in operation.

The best Fujifilm lenses in 2020

Telephoto zooms

Fujifilm XF50-140mm f/2.8 R LM OIS WR lens

1. Fujifilm XF50-140mm f/2.8 R LM OIS WR

A pro-grade telephoto zoom with powerful features

Constant f/2.8 aperture

Super-fast triple autofocus

Fairly heavy

Expensive

Most professional and enthusiast photographers who use full-frame cameras grab a 70-200mm f/2.8 lens for telephoto shooting. The Fujifilm XF50-140mm f/2.8 R LM OIS WR is the equivalent X-mount lens with an effective 105-210mm zoom range and the same fast, constant f/2.8 aperture. It also happens to be full of ‘red badge’ finery. Like its sibling 16-55mm optic, this one has fully pro-grade build quality and high-grade glass including five ED elements and one Super ED element, plus dual conventional and nano-structure coatings. Super-fast autofocus is driven by a triple linear motor and, this time, you also get optical stabilisation with class-leading 5-stop performance. The focal length range and wide aperture result in a relatively heavy build but the lens is nevertheless only two-thirds of the weight of most 70-200mm f/2.8 full-frame zooms.

2. Fujifilm XC50-230mm f/4.5-6.7 OIS II

An inexpensive telephoto zoom with an impressive zoom range

Affordable telephoto lens

Good sharpness across frame

Little change from predecessor

Narrow max aperture

Remarkably compact and lightweight for a telephoto zoom, the Fujifilm XC50-230mm f/4.5-6.7 OIS II keeps things simple and only costs a quarter of the price of the much larger 50-140mm. Even so, it features an aspherical element and an ED element, and boasts an ‘effective’ zoom range of 75-345mm. A 3.5-stop optical stabilizer is also on hand to fend off camera-shake. Sharpness is decent across the frame, with minimal distortion or aberration, and the lens is constructed to a pleasing standard. This 'II' version is a pretty minimal upgrade over its predecessor.

Fujifilm XF100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 R LM OIS WR lens

3. Fujifilm XF100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 R LM OIS WR

This lens gives you huge telephoto reach for your X-mount camera

Massive effective focal length

Excellent 5-stop stabilizer

Heavy (as you'd expect)

Expensive

The Fujifilm XF100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 R LM OIS WR has all the usual pro-grade attractions and weather-sealed build quality. It’s typically heavy for a super-telephoto zoom, although many on the market are substantially heavier, weighing up to twice as much. Highlights include twin linear motors for super-fast and virtually silent autofocus, a class-leading 5-stop image stabilizer, and top quality optics that include five ED elements and one Super ED element. The lens comes complete with a tripod mounting ring and an Arca-Swiss compatible tripod plate is also available as an optional extra. And if 600mm of ‘effective’ telephoto reach isn’t enough for you, the lens is also compatible with Fujifilm’s 1.4x and 2.0x teleconverters, which boost the maximum focal length to 853mm and 1,219mm in full-frame terms.

Wide-angle zooms

4. Fujifilm 8-16mm f2.8 XF R LM WR Fujinon Lens

It's the widest lens in Fujifilm's X stable but it has a hefty price tag

Amazing wide field of view

Fully weather sealed

Big and hefty

Can't take screw-in filters

In 2019, Fujifilm debuted its widest lens yet, the Fujifilm 8-16mm f2.8 XF R LM WR Fujinon Lens. Its size and price tag put it firmly in the same camp as the pro optics; weighing more than 800g, when it's paired with one of the larger cameras like the X-T3, this lens makes for a setup that calls the mirrorless reputation for lightness into question. Don't get us wrong though, this is a fantastic lens. A sophisticated optical construction ensures pin-sharp image quality, while it also has an extra f-stop over its nearest comparison point in the X stable, the 10-24mm (see below). It's worth being aware that the lens lacks optical image stabilisation of any kind, and its wide front makes it incompatible with screw-in filters. Nevertheless, this is as wide as ultra-wide zooms get, with a full frame equivalent focal length of just 12mm at its widest setting!

5. Fujifilm XF10-24mm f/4 R OIS

Almost as 'wide' as the 8-16mm but cheaper and with optical stabilisation

Wide maximum viewing angle

Constant f/4 aperture

Pricier than competitors

It can be a struggle to get really wide viewing angles on crop-sensor cameras, but Fujifilm XF10-24mm f/4 R OIS delivers a generous 110-degree maximum viewing along with a powerful 2.4x zoom range. It’s a brilliant lens for everything from sweeping landscapes to cramped interiors, benefitting from a constant f/4 aperture and 3-stop optical stabilization. Some say you don’t really need stabilization in wide-angle lenses, but it definitely comes in handy toward the long end of the zoom range, and for handheld shooting at twilight or indoors. A complex optical path that includes four aspherical elements and four ED elements is reflected in the relatively high price, but performance and image quality are absolutely excellent.

Standard zooms

6. Fujifilm XF16-55mm f/2.8 R LM WR

It’s the ideal standard zoom for experts and pros, but pretty big

Supreme build quality

Constant f/2.8 aperture

No image stabilizer

Relatively big and heavy

This top-drawer ‘red badge’ lens is Fujifilm’s answer to pro-grade 24-70mm f/2.8 lenses for full-frame DSLRs. The Fujifilm XF 16-55mm f/2.8 R LM WR actually beats them for zoom range, with an ‘effective’ 24-84mm focal length, and has a similarly robust, weather-resistant construction. Performance is fabulous in all respects, with super-fast and highly accurate autofocus enabled by a twin linear motor, plus a feast of glassware that includes three aspherical elements and three ED (Extra-low Dispersion) elements. Sharpness and contrast are spectacular, bokeh is beautiful and there’s excellent resistance to ghosting and flare, thanks to dual conventional and nano-structure coatings. The only real minus points are that there’s no image stabilization, and the lens is relatively heavy for an X-mount standard zoom.

7. Fujinon XF16-80mm F4 R OIS WR

'Only' an f/4 lens, but with a good zoom range and image stabilization

High-quality optical construction

Close focusing prowess

Relatively expensive

A recent addition to Fujifilm's lens line-up, the Fujinon XF16-80mm F4 R OIS WR not only boasts a 6-stop image stabilisation system but also extensive weather-sealing, making it a solid choice for outdoor shooting. A sophisticated internal construction produces images with exceptional sharpness and clarity all across the frame, while the all-metal build makes the lens durable and reliable even in sub-zero temperatures. With the f/4 aperture running all the way through the zoom range, this lens is a versatile and dependable performers. As it's new it's still a little on the expensive size, but if your budget can stretch (and when this lens finally reaches the dealers' shelves) it looks like this could be the perfect standard lens upgrade.

Fujifilm XF18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 R LM OIS WR lens

8. Fujifilm XF 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 R LM OIS WR

An ideal longer-zoom travel lens with tremendous versatility

Large zoom range

Impressively consistent quality

Middling max aperture

Even though most Fujifilm X-mount lenses are comparatively compact and lightweight, it can still be a chore if you need to carry multiple lenses around with you. Ideal for travel and walkabout photography, this ‘superzoom’ XF18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 R LM OIS WR takes you all the way from wide-angle coverage to serious telephoto reach, equivalent to 27-206mm on a full-frame camera. Naturally, if you like to travel light, you won’t want to be lugging a tripod around either, so the 5-stop optical stabilizer is another bonus. Not just versatile in terms of zoom range, the lens is great for everything from landscape and architectural shots to action sports and wildlife, thanks to a very fast linear motor autofocus system. You needn’t let rain stop play either, as the lens has comprehensive weather-seals applied to no fewer than 20 areas.

9. Fujifilm XC15-45mm f/3.5-5.6 OIS PZ

Compact and portable, Fujifilm's latest power-zoom kit lens is very handy

Extremely light

Pleasingly sharp

Stabilisation could be better

Electronic zoom only

Typical of Fujifilm’s ‘XC’ lenses, this one is very compact and lightweight. It’s actually only a third of the weight of the 10-24mm lens, and it's one of the lightest lenses in Fujifilm's entire stable. Again, it features optical image stabilization but adds a dual-speed ‘power zoom’ feature which is great for movie capture. Naturally, the widest angle of view is much reduced, compared with the 10-24mm lens, making it a solid choice for those who want to try their hand at capturing landscapes. Handling can be a little fiddly, as you might expect from a lens so physically small, with no option for manual zoom. Lightness has clearly been the number-one priority throughout the lens's entire development, so it does end up feeling a little plasticky compared to Fujifilm's other offerings. If this doesn't bother you, you'll find the Fujifilm XC15-45mm f/3.5-5.6 OIS PZ to be a rewarding and enjoyable lens to use.

Wide/standard primes

10. Fujifilm XF16mm F2.8 R WR Lens

Well-priced and lightweight, this little lens is a real winner

Extremely portable

Sharp across frame

No stabilization

No fluorine coating

This new-for-2019 lens plays to all the X-series' strengths, producing images of excellent quality in a tiny package, and finishing it off with a stylish build. For the price, its results are reliably solid, with decent edge-to-edge sharpness at all aperture settings. That friendly price does necessitate a few omissions: there's no stabilisation to speak of, though you likely won't miss it too much on a lens of this type. More disappointing is that Fujifilm skips the fluorine coating for outer elements, a layer of protection against oil and dust that tends to be present on all other X-series lens. It might be worth pairing this one with a UV filter if you're planning on taking it on outdoor adventures.

11. Fujifilm XF35mm f/1.4 R

A fast lens with a standard perspective

Fast f/1.4 aperture

Great sharpness and smooth bokeh

No image stabilizer

Lacks weather-seals

One of the biggest attractions of APS-C format cameras is that they boost the ‘effective’ focal length of lenses, giving you longer telephoto reach for any given size of lens. The flipside is that it’s more difficult to get a tight depth of field when you want to blur the background, for example in portraiture or still-life photography. With a similar viewing angle and perspective to using a standard 50mm prime on a full-frame camera, the extra-wide aperture rating of f/1.4 comes to your aid in the Fujifilm XF35mm f/1.4 R, enabling a tighter depth of field as well as boosting shutter speeds under dull lighting conditions. Contrast and sharpness are excellent and, equally important, bokeh (the quality of defocused areas within images) is pleasantly smooth.

Best Fujifilm lens: Fujinon XC35mm F2 — (Image credit: Fujifilm)

12. Fujinon XC35mm F2

A budget price prime that performs like a lens twice the price

This is another Fujifilm 35mm prime lens (50mm equivalent) but right at the opposite end of the scale to the XF35mm f/1.4 R above. The XC35mm F2 is actually a cut-price version of Fujifilm's XF35mm F2, without the metal barrel and mounting plate, weather sealing and aperture ring. What you do get, though, is the same optical construction (and optical performance) in a lens that's far lighter and far cheaper. Fujifilm has designed this as a low-cost lightweight companion to its cheaper X-A7 and X-T200 cameras, and while it does feel quite plasticky compared to Fujifilm's XF lenses, its performance and its value for money are pretty exceptional.

Read more: Hands on: Fujinon XC35mm F2 review

Portrait lenses

13. Fujifilm XF56mm f/1.2 R APD

The perfect portrait lens for Fujifilm cameras

Sublime bokeh

Ideal for portraiture

No optical stabilizer

Expensive to buy

The focal length and aperture rating of the Fujifilm XF56mm f/1.2 R APD is equivalent to using an 85mm f/1.2 lens on a full-frame camera. It’s an ideal combination for portraiture, enabling you to maintain a natural shooting distance from your subject, while also blurring the background with a tight depth of field. Even so, the depth of field isn’t as tight as when using a lens with an ‘actual’ rather than ‘effective’ 85mm focal length. This lens fights back with a nanotechnology-engineered ‘apodization’ filter. This special element in the lens’s optical path smooths the outlines of shapes in defocused areas, making the bokeh look more soft and creamy. However, you have to pay a hefty price for the added attraction, as the non-APD version of the lens only costs about two-thirds as much.

14. Fujinon 50mm f/2.0 XF R WR Lens

A cheaper alternative for the portrait shooter

Nice bokeh

Affordable

f/2 isn't the widest

No stabilisation

This lens won’t give you such a tight depth of field as either edition of Fujifilm’s 56mm f/1.2 lens, but it’s relatively inexpensive lens and is the next best thing for portraiture. If budget is your major issue, you'll find this lens to be more than capable for your portrait needs; f/2 isn't the widest aperture, but will still produce great bokeh for memorable images. The all-metal design helps the lens feel premium (arguably more premium than it actually is) and the full-frame equivalent focal length is about 76mm. The lack of optical image stabilisation is a shame, and this combined with the slightly narrower aperture may mean you're using higher ISOs to get the shots you want.

Macro lenses

Fujifilm XF80mm f/2.8 R LM OIS WR Macro lens

15. Fujifilm XF80mm f/2.8 R LM OIS WR Macro

An incredible lens for extreme close-ups

Full 1.0x magnification

5-stop ‘hybrid’ optical stabilizer

Relatively heavy

Expensive

This ‘full macro’ lens delivers 1.0x magnification when shooting at its closest focus distance of 0.25m. It therefore reproduces small objects at full life size on the camera’s image sensor, and gives even greater ‘effective’ magnification than when using a similar lens on a full-frame camera, thanks to the APS-C format crop factor. The ability to massively enlarge tiny objects and very fine detail is immense. Innovative features include a newly developed autofocus system that utilizes ceramic balls on a guide rail to ensure the greatest possible accuracy and fidelity across the entire image frame. There’s also a ‘hybrid’ 5-stop stabilizer that corrects for horizontal and vertical shift as well as the usual camera vibration or ‘wobble’. This makes it much more effective during close-up shooting, although you’ll want to ensure you're using a good tripod at or near the shortest focus distance.

Read more:

• These are the best mirrorless cameras you can get right now
• We choose the best Fujifilm cameras
• Looking to turn pro? We check out the best cameras for professionals

See more Buying Guides articles

More lens guides

Fujifilm lens acronyms explained

The best Fujifilm lenses in 2020

Telephoto zooms

1. Fujifilm XF50-140mm f/2.8 R LM OIS WR

2. Fujifilm XC50-230mm f/4.5-6.7 OIS II

3. Fujifilm XF100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 R LM OIS WR

Wide-angle zooms

4. Fujifilm 8-16mm f2.8 XF R LM WR Fujinon Lens

5. Fujifilm XF10-24mm f/4 R OIS

Standard zooms

6. Fujifilm XF16-55mm f/2.8 R LM WR

7. Fujinon XF16-80mm F4 R OIS WR

8. Fujifilm XF 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 R LM OIS WR

9. Fujifilm XC15-45mm f/3.5-5.6 OIS PZ

Wide/standard primes

10. Fujifilm XF16mm F2.8 R WR Lens

11. Fujifilm XF35mm f/1.4 R

12. Fujinon XC35mm F2

Portrait lenses

13. Fujifilm XF56mm f/1.2 R APD

14. Fujinon 50mm f/2.0 XF R WR Lens

Macro lenses

15. Fujifilm XF80mm f/2.8 R LM OIS WR Macro

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