Lens ReviewMorten ByskovOctober 27, 2021Fuji XF 16mm review, Fuji XF 16 f2.8 reveiw, Fuji XF 16mm f/2.8 R WR review, Fujifilm XF 16mm f/2.8 R WR review, fuji xf 16, Fuji XF 16mm f/2.8 sample images, Fujifilm XF 16mm f/2.8 sample images, Fujifilm XF 16mm f/2.8 R WR sample images, Fuji XF 16 f2.8 sample photos, Fujifilm XF 16mm f/2.8 R WR - Handling and Specs, Fujifilm XF 16mm f/2.8 R WR in Action, Fujifilm XF 16mm f/2.8 vs. XF 16mm f/1.4, Fujifilm XF 16mm f/2.8 vs. XF 14mm f/2.8, Fuji XF 16mm f/2.8 R WR - Image Quality, fuji 16mm f2.8 sample imagesComment

Fujifilm XF 16mm f/2.8 R WR Review

Fujifilm XF 16mm f/2.8 R WR shown on a Fujifilm X-Pro3. Fujifilm XF 16mm f/2.8 review. — The Fujifilm XF 16mm f/2.8 R WR shown on the Fujifilm X-Pro3

Fuji XF 16mm f/2.8 R WR Review

Chris Screech has helped me out again with another lens of his that he kindly let me borrow for a review.

The XF 16mm f/2.8 R WR hit the market in the spring of 2019, but I had not had a chance to properly take it out for a spin. I briefly tried it out side by side with the Fujifilm XF 16mm f/1.4 R WR a couple of years ago.

While both of these lenses are at the 16mm focal length they are entirely different and I wanted to see and feel what the XF 16mm f/2.8 R WR was all about in its own right without putting too much emphasis on comparisons.

Fujifilm XF 16mm f/2.8 R WR shown on a Fujifilm X-Pro3. — The Fujifilm XF 16mm f/2.8 R WR shown on the Fujifilm X-Pro3

Fujifilm XF 16mm f/2.8 R WR - Introduction

The biggest surprise when the XF 16mm f/2.8 R WR was released was the fact that Fujifilm chose to make it a max f/2.8 lens instead of f/2.

The XF 16mm f/2.8 R WR came out as the last in a line of lenses nicknamed the Fujicrons (after Leica’s f/2 Summicron lenses), which all have a max f/2 f-stop with similar design features and specs. This line of lenses counts the Fujifilm XF 23mm f/2 R WR, Fujifilm XF 35mm f/2 R WR, and Fujifilm XF 50mm f/2 R WR.

The decision to make it an f/2.8 lens meant it would be even more compact and it is in fact the most compact of the above-mentioned lenses. While some loved this fact others cried foul as they had hoped for an f/2 version of the new 16mm lens.

The Fujifilm XF 16mm f/2.8 R WR currently retails for $399.00 and is available in either black or silver.

A group of people and hanging out on the benches at English Bay Beach in Vancouver to view a fall sunset. Sample image from a Fujifilm XF 16mm f/2.8 R WR. — English Bay Beach, Vancouver, Fujifilm X-Pro3, XF 16mm f/2.8 R WR @ f/11

Fujifilm XF 16mm f/2.8 R WR - Handling and Specs

What sets the XF 16mm f/2.8 R WR apart from almost all Fujifilm lenses is its compact nature with a nimble weight of 5.5 oz. 155 g, and a tiny dimension footprint of 2.36 x 1.79", 60 x 45.4 mm.

Combine this with silent and fast autofocus, a very good build quality, and weather sealing (WR), and you have quite a powerful wide-angle lens.

As an added bonus the XF 16mm f/2.8 R WR has one of the best aperture rings in the Fujifilm XF lens lineup clickable in thirds of a stop. The aperture ring has just the right amount of resistance, feels very well put together, and is a joy to use.

The filter size is 49mm and the XF 16mm f/2.8 R WR has 10 elements in 8 groups with two lens elements being aspherical. The minimum focus distance is 6.69", 17 cm. It has 9 rounded diaphragm blades.

The Fujifilm XF 16mm f/2.8 R WR shown on the Fujifilm X-Pro3

Fujifilm XF 16mm f/2.8 R WR in Action

Overall the XF 16mm f/2.8 R WR is a joy to use and is very unobtrusive on my Fujifilm X-Pro3. The lens barely adds any weight to the camera and makes for a stealthy combination. It would be an excellent fit for any of the smaller Fujifilm cameras such as the Fujifilm X-E4, X-E3, or Fujifilm X-S10.

I took it out in a downpour and it was good to know that the lens is weather-sealed. Don’t worry Chris. I had it covered under an umbrella. But boy, we had a lot of rain during my test period.

We did have a reprieve for one day with decent fall weather and I took the lens to Queen Elizabeth Park, Everett Crowley Park, and for a walk through downtown Vancouver for some street photography.

The intersection of W. Georgia and Burrard in Vancouver, Canada. Sample image from a Fuji XF 16mm f/2.8 R WR. — Downtown, Vancouver, Fujifilm X-Pro3, XF 16mm f/2.8 R WR @ f/5.6

As an all-around carry-all-day lens, the XF 16mm f/2.8 R WR is so easy to bring along and it would be quite ideal for travel.

I tested it alongside a Viltrox 56mm f/1.4 and switched frequently between the two carrying the other lens in a jacket pocket when not in use. Again, the XF 16mm f/2.8 R WR is so light that it never became bothersome.

Fujifilm XF 16mm f/2.8 vs. XF 16mm f/1.4

At $999.00, the XF 16mm f/1.4 R WR is a significant step up in price, weight, and bulk but it is also regarded as one of Fujifilm’s finest lenses.

If you are looking for the best 16mm lens optically, a wide-angle lens where you can shoot in low light or with a shallow depth of field, and do not mind the extra expense and weight, take a close look at the XF 16mm f/1.4 R WR or perhaps even the new XF 18mm f/1.4 R LM WR.

The XF 16mm f/2.8 R WR at $399.00, however, is in a different category, and with that said it is not a fair comparison optically or performance-wise. The goal with the XF 16mm f/2.8 R WR is entirely different, to create an inexpensive, compact alternative.

You can read my review of the XF 16mm f/1.4 R WR here:

Fujifilm XF 16mm f/1.4 R WR - Review

The Fujifilm XF 16mm f/2.8 R WR shown on the Fujifilm X-Pro3. Fuji XF 16mm f/2.8 R WR review. — The Fujifilm XF 16mm f/2.8 R WR shown on the Fujifilm X-Pro3

Fujifilm XF 16mm f/2.8 vs. XF 14mm f/2.8

At $899.00, The XF 14mm f/2.8 R, has been my personal choice of wide-angle lens in this range for a number of years. I tend to prefer the slighter wider perspective but with that said, the XF 16mm f/2.8 R WR was not available at the time I purchased my lens.

If budget is a concern and you are happy with the 16mm focal length and want a more compact lens, again the savings of picking the XF 16mm f/2.8 R WR are considerable.

As far as I can see the image quality is not drastically different between these two lenses. It appears the XF 14mm f/2.8 R has a slight edge and it may handle chromatic aberration a tad better.

Please see the two sample images below. One from the XF 16mm f/2.8 R WR and one from the XF 14mm f/2.8 R. You can read my XF 14mm f/2.8 R review here:

Fujifilm XF 14mm f/2.8 R - Review

English Bay Beach, Vancouver. Sample image from a Fujifilm XF 16mm f/2.8 — Fujifilm XF 16mm f/2.8 R WR @ f/5.6

English Bay Beach in fall. Sample image from a Fujifilm XF 14mm f/2.8 R — Fujifilm XF 14mm f/2.8 R WR @ f/5.6

Fujifilm XF 16mm f/2.8 R WR - Image Quality

Images produced by the Fujifilm XF 16mm f/2.8 R WR fall in line with what I have come to expect from the above-mentioned Fujicrons. Colors are pleasant and typical for Fujifilm XF lenses, and images are plenty sharp.

Bokeh is okay without being over-the-top gorgeous but we are also talking about an f/2.8 wide-angle lens. The Bokeh performance may not be on top of your priority list for a wide-angle lens.

I often allude to that extra magic that a lens can produce from time to time and while images from the XF 16mm f/2.8 R WR are more than satisfactory the magic is kept under wraps.

Maybe I did not find the sweet spot but it could also be a simple equation, that this kind of magic does not pop out from a four-hundred-dollar lens. And as usual, blaming the photographer is out of the question. :)

In my first paragraph, I mentioned I did not want to put too much emphasis on comparisons, and yet, here I go, comparing the XF 16mm f/2.8 R costing more than double, such as the XF 16mm f/1.4 R WR and XF 18mm f/1.4 R LM WR.

Conclusion

My goal is always to demonstrate the kind of images you can expect to create with a certain lens and I hope I have succeeded in doing so with the XF 16mm f/2.8 R WR.

For the sample images, I have used a variety of film simulations this time, from Velvia to, Classic Neg., Classic Chrome, and Acros.

Quite a few of the sample images are captured at f/5.6. This was deliberate to a certain extent. I used auto ISO and was trying not to worry about the technical aspects of the exposures. Instead, I wanted to photograph freely without worries about the lens, camera, or tech.

The XF 16mm f/2.8 R WR allowed me to do this with its low weight and compact nature, and nothing about the lens ever got in the way of that experience. If you want to travel light with an inconspicuous lens, and without breaking the bank, the XF 16mm f/2.8 R WR is worth a close look.

Pros

Compact and lightweight
The wonderful feeling aperture ring
Weather resistant
Inconspicuous

Cons

Hard mention any at this price point

Please see more sample images below.

Price / Availability

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Fujifilm XF 16mm f/2.8 R WR - B&H Photo

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Fujifilm XF 16mm f/2.8 R 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.