Hands on: Fujinon XC35mm F2 review

The Fujinon XC35mm F2 looks like a lens nobody needs… until you start doing the maths

Fujinon XC35mm F2 review
(Image: © Rod Lawton/Digital Camera World)

Early Verdict

This is the third 35mm lens Fujifilm has made for its X-mount cameras, which might sound confusing, but each has its place. At first, this one might seem unnecessary because the regular XF35mm F2 is hardly expensive – but at the entry-level end of the market, its new low price could make a considerable difference to photographers just starting out and with a restricted budget. We hope we see a few more low-cost XC lenses like this one!

Pros

  • +

    Light weight and low cost

  • +

    Same optics as XF50mm f/2

  • +

    f/2 maximum aperture

Cons

  • -

    Plastic construction

  • -

    No weather seals

  • -

    No aperture ring

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With the Fujinon XC35mm F2, Fujifilm has introduced the first low-price prime lens for its entry-level XA-series cameras and the new X-T200. The Fujinon XC35mm F2 offers the equivalent of a 50mm focal length in full frame camera terms, and a fast f/2 maximum aperture. 

Fujifilm already makes an XF35mm f/2 version of this lens, but the XC model will be half the price and is designed to tempt newcomers into trying new lenses. 

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Rod Lawton
Contributor

Rod is an independent photography journalist and editor, and a long-standing Digital Camera World contributor, having previously worked as DCW's Group Reviews editor. Before that he has been technique editor on N-Photo, Head of Testing for the photography division and Camera Channel editor on TechRadar, as well as contributing to many other publications. He has been writing about photography technique, photo editing and digital cameras since they first appeared, and before that began his career writing about film photography. He has used and reviewed practically every interchangeable lens camera launched in the past 20 years, from entry-level DSLRs to medium format cameras, together with lenses, tripods, gimbals, light meters, camera bags and more. Rod has his own camera gear blog at fotovolo.com but also writes about photo-editing applications and techniques at lifeafterphotoshop.com