Fujifilm XF 56mm F1.2 R WR Evaluation

Introduction

The Fujifilm XF 56mm F1.2 R WR is a quick mid-telephoto prime lens for Fujifilm’s X-series vary of APS-C format mirrorless cameras.

It replaces the unique XF 56mm F1.2 R lens, which was first launched again in 2014, providing a number of vital upgrades together with weather-resistance, nearer minimal focusing distance, extra aperture blades for higher bokeh, and improved image-resolving efficiency .

The Fuji 56mm offers a focal size which precisely matches that of a 85mm optic in a 35mm full-frame system, making it a basic head-and-shoulders portrait prime lens.

It has an optical formulation comprised of 13 parts in eight teams together with one ED factor to scale back flare and ghosting and two aspherical parts to assist restrict distortion and spherical aberrations.

Key options embrace built-in weather-resistance, a bodily aperture ring full with markings and an A (Auto) Place Lock, and a minimal focusing distance of 50cm.

There’s additionally an iris diaphragm with eleven rounded blades, Fuji’s proprietary Tremendous EBC Coating to scale back lens flare and ghosting, a flourine coating on the entrance factor to repel water and fingerprints, a robust DC motor for fast AF response, and a steel mount and focusing ring.

The Fujifilm XF 56mm F1.2 R WR lens is offered in black solely priced at £999 / $999 within the UK and the US, respectively. The XF 56mm F1.2 is manufactured in Thailand.

Ease of Use

The Fujifilm XF 56mm F1.2 R WR is likely one of the bigger prime lenses within the X-system line-up, weighing 445g and measuring 7.6cms in size, which is maybe comprehensible given the quantity of glass utilized in its building.

It weighs 40g extra and is 0.5cm longer than its predecessor, predominantly as a result of it includes a extra difficult optical building than the unique, plus it now affords built-in climate resistance and a extra subtle and quicker auto-focus system.

It is nonetheless comparatively compact and light-weight sufficient to really feel well-balanced on the X-H2 and X-H2S cameras that we examined it with, though they’re admittedly one of many largest X-series our bodies presently obtainable.

Climate-resistance has been newly built-in to the 56mm F1.2 lens at 9 totally different locations to assist shield it towards water and dirt and permit it to totally function in temperatures right down to -10°C (14°F).

In testing it complemented the brand new Fujifilm X-H2/S digicam very nicely, forming a well-balanced and comparatively light-weight bundle and greater than matching the physique by way of its construct high quality.

The Fujifilm 56mm lens boasts a steel mount and focusing and aperture rings, steel lens barrel and non-rotating 67mm filter thread. which is bigger than the unique model’s 62mm filter thread.

As with just about all Fuji lenses, the XF 56mm F1.2 R WR lens has a standard aperture ring on the lens barrel, which lets you set the aperture in 1/3 steps, full with full aperture markings operating from f/1.2 to f/16.

The present aperture can be proven within the digicam’s viewfinder or on the LCD display as you flip the aperture ring.

The aperture ring is properly damped and makes a particular click on as you alter the setting, and it is stiff sufficient to forestall it from being unintentionally turned when saved in a digicam bag.

It toggles between auto aperture management (the ring is ready to A) or handbook aperture management (the swap is ready to one of many aperture values).

Fujifilm have additionally included an A (Auto) Place Lock button. When the aperture ring is ready to the A place, it is routinely locked into place till you maintain down the A (Auto) Place Lock button and switch the ring to pick out one of many aperture values.

The fly-by-wire focus ring is easy in motion with out being unfastened, though it has no “onerous stops” at both finish of the main target vary, making it harder to concentrate on infinity.

The Fujifilm XF 56mm F1.2 R WR lens has an inner focusing (IF) system that makes use of a DC linear motor, which ends up in pleasingly quick and correct auto-focusing on the X-H2/S digicam that we examined it with.

It’s a little noisy in operation, although, with the DC motor audibly driving all the lens parts.

You definitely will not miss too many photographs when utilizing the AF on this lens, and it is definitely noticeably faster than the unique.

Due to the IF mechanism the entrance of the lens doesn’t rotate on focus, which is superb information for anybody wanting to make use of the lens together with a polariser or graduated impartial density filter.

The Fuji 56mm F1.2 has a easy handbook focusing ring that’s focus-by-wire, reasonably than utilizing a mechanical clutch-based focus ring, however that is additionally true of each different Fuji X-series lens.

The main focus ring on the 56mm F1.2 does not less than have a pleasant really feel because the elements within the handbook focusing ring meeting have been specifically engineered to reply with extra precision, particularly when the focusing ring is moved barely.

When it comes to equipment, the Fujifilm XF 56mm F1.2 R WR ships with customary lens and mount caps plus fairly a big plastic circular-shaped lens hood which snaps into place. There is no such thing as a bag or case included with this lens.

Focal Vary

The 56mm focal size offers an angle of view of 28.5 levels.

Chromatic Aberrations

Chromatic aberrations, usually seen as purple or blue fringes alongside contrasty edges, will not be actually an issue for the Fujifilm XF 56mm F1.2 R WR lens, besides in areas of very excessive distinction.

Vignetting

With the lens set to its most aperture of f/1.2, there may be just a bit mild fall-off within the corners, requiring you to cease down by at 2 f-stops to utterly stop it.

Distortion

The Fujifilm XF 56mm F1.2 R WR does not exhibit any barrel or pin-cushion distortion, as you possibly can see within the photograph beneath.

Macro

The Fujifilm XF 56mm F1.2 R isn’t actually a macro lens, with the close-focus level at 50cm from the sensor airplane and a most magnification of 0.14x.

It may focus 20cms nearer than its predecessor, and consequently has a bigger most magnification (0.9x on the unique model).

Be aware that the minimal distance from the entrance finish of the lens to the topic is roughly 41cm.

Bokeh

Bokeh is a phrase used for the out-of-focus areas of {a photograph}, and is often described in qualitative phrases, corresponding to easy / creamy / harsh and so forth.

Fujifilm have paid shut consideration to this facet of lens use, using a 11-segment diaphragm with rounded blades for some very pleasing bokeh. That is really the primary ever X-series lens to have an 11-blade aperture.

In our view, their efforts have been very profitable – see the examples beneath to guage for your self.