Fujifilm XF 33mm f/1.4 R LM WR Review
Fuji XF 33mm f/1.4 R LM WR Review
Why not lead with a bold statement? I believe the Fujifilm XF 33mm f/1.4 R LM WR is one of the more important lens releases for the Fujifilm X Series in recent years for high-end users of APS-C sensor-based Fujifilm mirrorless cameras.
For years photographers have praised the XF 35mm f/1.4 R but I wonder how many of us, for a while now, deep down wished for a modern, updated, or similar lens to the XF 35mm f/1.4 R with up-to-date and improved specs.
Having used the XF 35mm f/1.4 R since its introduction in 2012 this focal length range has become a favorite of mine. At 35mm APS-C, we are actually at 53mm in full-frame terms and until now Fujifilm has not had a 50mm full-frame equivalent lens.
The XF 33mm f/1.4 R LM WR solves this problem and gives you a standard lens at a 50mm full-frame equivalent.
Why Is the XF 33mm f/1.4 R LM WR Important?
Having a high-performing marquee lens at this standard focal length instills confidence in the Fujifilm X Series as a whole. At times pro photographers and demanding enthusiasts who have chosen the X Series will look over the fence to see if the grass is greener with full-frame cameras and the overall competition is fierce.
As the number of options increases and Fujifilm creates lenses that give us fewer excuses to jump ship the better we are off in the Fujifilm camp. Let us see if the Fujifilm XF 33mm f/1.4 R LM WR lives up to the high expectations.
Fujifilm XF 33mm f/1.4 R LM WR - Introduction
Initially, Fujifilm set out to produce an XF 33mm f/1 lens but the plan was ditched and the f/1 lens became an XF 50mm f/1 R WR instead. The prototypes of an XF 33mm f/1 became unpractically big, heavy, and cumbersome.
Instead, Fujifilm released the XF 33mm f/1.4 R LM WR in September of 2021 and the lens became widely available in November.
The XF 33mm f/1.4 R LM WR joins a crowded field in this focal length range which counts lenses such as the XF 35mm f/2 R WR, XF 35mm f/1.4 R, and several third-party options.
At the time this review was posted the Fujifilm XF 33mm f/1.4 R LM WR was priced at $799.00.
Downtown, Vancouver, Fujifilm X-Pro3, XF 33mm f/1.4 R LM WR @ f/1.4. I love the color tones in this photo and the dreamy bokeh at f/1.4.
Fujifilm XF 33mm f/1.4 R LM WR - Handling and Specs
Fujifilm has continued the design trend from the recently released Fujifilm XF 18mm f/1.4 R LM WR and had it not been for the differently shaped lens hood they look almost identical.
The XF 33mm f/1.4 R LM WR is, however, a bit smaller with its 58mm filter size vs. 62mm for the XF 18mm f/1.4 R LM WR, and with a weight of 12.7 oz, 360 g, and dimensions of 2.6 x 2.9", 67 x 73.5 mm it feels denser than the XF 18mm f/1.4 R LM WR.
The XF 33mm f/1.4 R LM WR balances perfectly on the Fujifilm X-Pro3 although you may lose some of the stealthy looks you would get were you to pair the X-Pro3 with the XF 35mm f/2 R WR or XF 35mm f/1.4 R.
I do not find the added weight bothersome but taking the larger lens hood of XF 33mm f/1.4 R LM WR into account there is a noticeable visible difference.
The Fujifilm XF 33mm f/1.4 R LM WR and included lens hood are shown on the Fujifilm X-Pro3. It is nice to know that this camera/lens combination is weather-resistant, WR.
The XF 33mm f/1.4 R LM WR has 15 elements in 10 groups, 2 aspherical, and 3 ED elements, 9 rounded diaphragm blades, and a minimum focusing distance of 11.8", 30 cm.
The aperture ring is nice and wide, feels just about perfect with the right amount of friction, and is not easily bumped out of position inadvertently.
Overall the lens feels terrific and is a solid piece of kit. With its medium size, you may prefer the XF 33mm f/1.4 R LM WR on larger cameras such as the X-Pro, X-H, and X-T series cameras but I do not think it would completely dwarf a Fujifilm X-S10, or Fujifilm X-E4 either.
The XF 33mm f/1.4 R LM WR has a linear autofocus motor, LM, which provides fast and silent autofocus, and with its internal focus, the lens does not protrude when focused, which is very slick and a feature I really appreciate in a lens.
Fujifilm XF 33mm f/1.4 R LM WR in Action
I am usually not too concerned if a lens is weather-sealed or not but with the kind of rain we are getting in Vancouver this fall I am starting to feel differently about this.
In the pouring rain, I went for a long walk over the weekend and while I covered the camera and lens for periods of time with my arm, I did not carry an umbrella and nor was I worried about using my gear as I know the Fujifilm X-Pro3 and XF 33mm f/1.4 R LM WR are weather-resistant.
I tried using eye-tracking autofocus during a family gathering and while it is better with the XF 33mm f/1.4 R LM WR it is still not great in a dimly lit living room setting and it seems Fujifilm still has some work to do in this department.
For other scenarios and in general, I found the autofocus speed sufficiently fast and silent for my style of shooting, which usually is in the one-shot mode for either street photography or static topics. I have little doubt that the lens will handle tracking just fine with the linear autofocus motor.
On the topic of focal length, the 2mm difference from the XF 35mm f/1.4 R should be almost irrelevant but you notice it right away, and the XF 33mm f/1.4 R LM WR yields slightly wider images.
It is a matter of individual style and taste but I welcome the wider perspective as it appears to render a slightly more true-to-life look without any telephoto compression. The difference is not monumental but noticeable and worth mentioning.
Fujifilm XF 33mm f/1.4 R LM WR - Image Quality
Update: March 2022
I have used the XF 33mm f/1.4 R LM WR extensively for five months now and have a few observations to share. Bokeh, realism, and sharpness are areas in which I find the lens excels and again and again I am positively surprised by what this lens can deliver.
When it comes to bokeh, it is very pleasing and it renders nicely at a variety of distances, not just for close to medium range. This leads to my second keyword, realism.
The transition of the bokeh on the depth of field range is very smooth and it makes the whole image appear more realistic and pleasing with fewer distractions.
In the second image below the bokeh is slightly nervous-looking (bottom far in the distance) but it is better than most lenses I have tried for APS-C.
Sharpness is great, corner to corner, and do not hesitate to shoot the XF 33mm f/1.4 R LM WR wide open.
I have not noticed distracting or off-the-charts vignetting, even when shooting at f/1.4. Truth be told I do not mind a bit of vignetting as it can add emphasis to your focal point.
In the two examples below you will see the first photo at f/1.4 and the second at f/8. Notice also some flaring especially at f/8 when shooting almost straight into the morning sun.
Fujifilm XF 33mm f/1.4 vs. XF 35mm f/1.4
I contemplated writing this article as if the XF 35mm f/1.4 R did not exist as I wanted to view the XF 33mm f/1.4 R LM WR in its own right, but the XF 35mm f/1.4 R is impossible to ignore as it has been an excellent staple lens for many photographers for years.
Nor is the XF 35mm f/1.4 R about to disappear. Fujifilm is still selling it. The two lenses make for an interesting comparison and it is my intent to elaborate further on this topic in an upcoming head-to-head, XF 33mm vs. XF 35mm post.
At $599.00 for the XF 35mm f/1.4 R, you only save $200.00 compared to the XF 33mm f/1.4 R LM WR if buying a new lens.
I say only, as I find the value proposition better for the XF 33mm f/1.4 R LM WR considering it adds a more advanced optical formula, weather-sealing, the linear motor for fast and silent autofocus, and arguably has better image quality depending on your preference.
The XF 35mm f/1.4 R has been on the market for a long time, meaning should be fairly easy to find a used copy. If you are okay with buying a pre-owned lens the value proposition changes entirely.
I will be the first to admit having a long love affair with the XF 35mm f/1.4 R and the sudden appearance of a new model should not really change that. Or should it?
Luckily we are talking about inanimate objects and you should not feel disloyal if your eye strays in the direction of the XF 33mm f/1.4 R LM WR. I see this new lens as “more of something good”. It excels in several ways in comparison.
Picking between the two will come down to budget, size/weight preference, and finding out which lens will give you the preferred image quality and focal length. For an in-depth review of the XF 35mm f/1.4 R please check this link:
Fujifilm XF 35mm f/1.4 R - Review
Update:
You can now read my comparison review of the XF 33mm f/1.4 R LM WR vs. XF 35mm f/1.4 R here:
Fujifilm XF 33mm f/1.4 R LM WR - Conclusion
It will be interesting to see if I will gravitate more towards the XF 35mm f/1.4 R after some time or if the acquisition of the XF 33mm f/1.4 R LM WR signals a shift as to which lens I will prioritize. It is my plan to keep both.
If I had to pick one of the two for a trip around the world, and only had a split second to make a decision, I would pick the XF 33mm f/1.4 R LM WR.
I suspect the deciding factor when using the XF 35mm f/1.4 R from here onward will be size and weight driven and I know I will still be able to make great images with this lens.
If however the ultimate image quality and user experience are the priority the choice would be the XF 33mm f/1.4 R LM WR.
Fujifilm has already announced that 2022 will be the year where we will see 40-megapixel sensors in the Fujifilm X Series and they claim lenses such as the XF 33mm f/1.4 R LM WR, XF 23mm f/1.4 R LM WR, and XF 18mm f/1.4 R LM WR will be ready to resolve these higher megapixel sensors.
I am excited to see what this combination of new sensors and lenses will amount to. It is certainly something to look forward to, considering also that the XF 56mm f/1.2 R WR will be added to this list of lenses in late 2022.
As a reviewer, it is no secret that I am one of those photographers looking over the fence at the full-frame camera market and I also pay close attention to the Fujifilm GFX Series. At times I contemplate both platforms in addition to my trio of X-Pro cameras.
I mentioned the importance that Fujifilm is releasing new lenses such as the XF 33mm f/1.4 R LM WR and XF 23mm f/1.4 R LM WR. These are my two most frequently used focal lengths and having the option of using top-notch glass is paramount.
The XF 35mm f/1.4 R was the lens that got me into the X Series in the first place and a lens such as the XF 33mm f/1.4 R LM WR along with the promise of more high-quality lenses to come may result in keeping the X Series as my main platform for the foreseeable future.
Pros
Outstanding image quality even when shot wide-open at f/1.4
Build quality
Weather resistant
Fast and silent autofocus
Cons
Larger than the XF 35mm f/1.4 R
Please see more sample images below.
Price / Availability
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Fujifilm XF 33mm f/1.4 R LM WR - B&H Photo
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Fujifilm XF 33mm f/1.4 R LM WR Sample Images
Please see the sample images below. Editing was done in Capture One and I used Fujifilm film simulations for some of the photos. Some photos are slightly cropped.
Please click to view larger images.
English Bay, Vancouver, Fujifilm X-Pro3, XF 33mm f/1.4 R LM WR @ f/1.4. Check out those bokeh balls :)
Fujifilm XF Standard and Telephoto Lens Reviews
Fujifilm XF 35mm f/2 R WR
Fujifilm XF 35mm f/1.4 R
Fujifilm XF 50mm f/2 R WR
Fujifilm XF 50mm f/1 R WR
Fujifilm XF 56mm f/1.2 R WR
Fujifilm XF 56mm f/1.2 R
Fujifilm XF 80mm f/2.8 Macro
Fujifilm XF 90mm f/2 R LM WR
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