Big Fujifilm lens test: Fujinon XF 18-55mm F2.8-4 R LM OIS

Fujinon XF 18-55mm F2.8-4 R LM OIS lens test

Read also:

Fujifilm X-T1: a week with an expert Fujinon XF 16mm F1.4 R WR lens test Big test lens Fujifilm: Fujinon XF 14mm F2.8 R Big test lens Fujifilm: Fujinon XF 18mm F2 R Big test lens Fujifilm: Fujinon XF 23 mm F1.4 R Big test lens Fujifilm: Fujinon XF 27mm F2.8 Big test lens Fujifilm: Fujinon XF 35mm F1.4 R Big test lens Fujifilm: Fujinon XF 56mm F1.2 R Big Fujifilm lens test: Fujinon XF 60mm F2.4 R Macro Fujinon XF 90mm F2 R LM WR lens test Fujifilm Big Test Lenses: Fujinon XF 10-24mm F4 R OIS Fujinon XF 16-55mm F / 2.8 R LM WR lens test Big test lens Fujifilm: Fujinon XF 18-135mm F / 3.5-5.6 R LM OIS WR Fujinon XF 50-140mm F / 2.8 R LM OIS WR lens test Big Fujifilm lens test: Fujinon XF 55-200mm F / 3.5-4.8 OIS R LM Big Fujifilm lens test: Fujinon XC 16-50mm F / 3.5-5.6 OIS Big Fujifilm lens test: Fujinon XC 50-230 mm F4.5-6.7 OIS Zeiss Touit 2.8 / 12 X-mount lens test Zeiss Touit 1.8 / 32 X-mount lens test Zeiss Touit 2.8 / 50 X-mount lens test Fujifilm X is a photosystem clearly focused on quality fixes. But this does not mean that it should not have zooms. Earlier we tested two telephoto lenses and one super wide angle zoom. Today we will focus on a regular zoom with a range of focal lengths of 18-55 mm. Through the efforts of other photographers, this focal length for many is now associated exclusively with not-so-high-quality “whale” lenses. At its core, the Fujinon XF 18-55mm F2.8-4 R LM OIS is also “whale”: it is sold complete with a number of Fujifilm cameras. But on this his resemblance to other “whales” ends, and the differences begin ...

Learn Price Fujinon XF 18-55mm F2.8-4 R LM OIS

Lens Focusing - Internal

When zooming, the size of the lens increases

Take at least aperture: Fujinon XF 18-55mm is one step faster than standard “whale” lenses. Moreover, in the wide-angle position, its aperture is generally f / 2.8, which is, if not maximum, then at least a very high figure for zooms. When zooming, the aperture decreases: by 20 mm - f / 3.2; 30 mm - f / 3.6; 40 mm - f / 4. If we are talking about shooting static scenes with hands, then an optical stabilizer can come to the rescue of the photographer. From experience with Fujinon XF 18-55mm F2.8-4 R LM OIS, I can say that the stabilizer is able to provide a good shooting result at shutter speeds up to 1/15 s at maximum zoom without using a tripod.

The stabilizer allows you to get sharp shots with a focal length of 55 mm when shooting handheld with a shutter speed of 1/15

X-T1 Installations: ISO 200, F6.4, 1/15 s, 83.0 mm equiv.

The lens is perfectly assembled: there are no backlashes, zooming is smooth and moderately tight. Many metal elements are used in the design: for example, the zoom ring, focus ring and aperture ring. The aperture ring has a continuous discrete stroke, it is not graduated with specific values: the current aperture setting can only be seen on the screen or in the camera viewfinder. Nevertheless, this governing body remains extremely convenient in work. Manual focus ring - electronic, not having a mechanical connection with the lenses.

By the way, about focusing: in Fujinon XF 18-55mm F2.8-4 R LM OIS, autofocus works absolutely silently, focusing is internal - during focusing, no external parts of the lens rotate or move. In addition, the Fujinon XF 18-55mm F2.8-4 R LM OIS is one of the fastest lenses in the line. In terms of focusing speed, it can compete with many fast lenses.

Maximum shooting scale allows you to take large-scale shots

X-T1 Installations: ISO 200, F5.6, 1/280 s, 83.0 mm equiv.

The minimum focusing distance allows you to conduct large-scale shooting. In the wide-angle position - from 18 cm (naturally, counting is from the plane of the matrix), in the tele-position - from 40 cm. But you will have to forget about macro photography: Fujinon XF 18-55mm F2.8-4 R LM OIS is not capable of this - there is a certain limit of versatility. In addition, the system for macro photography already has two real macro lenses.

The aperture of the lens is enough to blur the background when shooting from a short distance

X-T1 Installations: ISO 2500, F4, 1/60 s, 83.0 mm equiv.

Shooting from a short distance - up to one meter - you can quite blur the background in the pictures: the Fujinon XF 18-55mm F2.8-4 R LM OIS aperture is sufficient for this both in wide-angle and in telephoto position. At longer distances, the blurriness of the background becomes weaker: nevertheless, you do not have a fast fix in your hands.

The lens bokeh cannot be called ideal, especially in the near zone: glare has contrasting hard borders and inhomogeneous filling

X-T1 Settings: ISO 200, F4, 1/750 s, 83.0 mm equiv.Download RAW

X-T1 Settings: ISO 200, F4, 1/950 s, 83.0 mm equiv.Download RAW

Like most zoom lenses, the Fujinon XF 18-55mm F2.8-4 R LM OIS is not distinguished by its sophisticated bokeh, especially in the near field. Despite its affiliation with the top line of optics, you should not expect miracles in the blur zone. Obviously, when developing the lens, priority was still given to compactness, sharpness and a low level of aberrations. By the way, the optical design of the Fujinon XF 18-55mm F2.8-4 R LM OIS is quite complex: 14 elements in 10 groups, three of which are aspherical, and one is made of low-disperse glass. Perhaps this is one of the most optically sophisticated “whale” lenses to date ...

X-T1 Installations: ISO 200, F4, 1/340 s, 83.0 mm equiv.Download RAW

The use of such a complex optical scheme has its own logic: the lens turned out to be very sharp even at an open aperture. Only in the wide-angle position along the edges of the frame does the detailing somewhat decrease. However, after aperture to f / 5,6-f, 8 and the edges become quite sharp. That is why most of the landscape shots I shot on a slightly covered aperture. We obtained similar results during studio testing of this lens earlier.

X-T1 Installations: ISO 200, F4, 1/340 s, 83.0 mm equiv.Download RAW

X-T1 Settings: ISO 200, F5.6, 1/150 s, 83.0 mm equiv.Download RAW

X-T1 Settings: ISO 200, F8, 1/85 s, 83.0 mm equiv.Download RAW

X-T1 Settings: ISO 200, F5.6, 1/150 s, 83.0 mm equiv.Download RAW

X-T1 Installations: ISO 250, F11, 1/60 s, 83.0 mm equiv.Download RAW

X-T1 Settings: ISO 640, F16, 1/60 s, 83.0 mm equiv.Download RAW

Fujinon XF 18-55mm F2.8-4 R LM OIS also demonstrates good glare protection. The lights of the night city do not provoke it to the appearance of unwanted reflections and glare, the sun in the frame is only slightly able to reduce contrast, and even then only in certain cases. Chromatic aberrations are present in small quantities. You can find them only on some subjects with a diligent search.

X-T1 Installations: ISO 100, F13, 4 s, 42.0 mm equiv.

conclusions

The “whale” lens of the Fujinon XF 18-55mm F2.8-4 R LM OIS can only be called formally: it is sold complete with some Fujifilm cameras. For all other signs, this is an excellent full-time zoom for every day. Its aperture is a step higher than that of the “whale” lenses of other manufacturers, and the image quality does not go into any comparison at all. Thanks to the complex optical design, the developers managed to make the Fujinon XF 18-55mm F2.8-4 R LM OIS compact, sharp, and even get rid of most of the distortions. The built-in optical stabilizer confidently compensates for up to two shutter speeds for handheld shooting. But the main thing is that the lens is simply nice to hold in your hands: high-quality assembly, metal elements in the design, a separate ring for installing the diaphragm - a real luxury in our age of plastic toys.

Pros:

metal elements in the structure;
separate aperture ring;
effective optical stabilizer;
fast silent focusing;
high sharpness;
good glare protection;
low chromatic aberration.

Minuses:

aperture is not always enough for a strong background blur;
bokeh is not too good, especially in the near zone;
a drop in sharpness at the edges of the frame in a wide-angle position on the open aperture.

Learn Price Fujinon XF 18-55mm F2.8-4 R LM OIS