XF50mm F2 have definitely draw quite a bit of attention.
Its small, light, fast AF and well built. Just like its other
2 siblings XF23mm F2 and XF35MM F2; its also a WR
lens. This makes the XF50mm a very good all rounder
lens.
Will XF 50mm F2 stack up against the XF60mm Macro F2.4
lens or even the creamy XF 56mm F1.2 APD? Its definitely
an unfair comparison but there are also surprises in my
unscientific shoot out.
Before we start here are some basic specification and prices
from B&H.
__________
XF50mm F2 WR (USD$449)
9 rounded diaphragm opening
200g
Minimum Focus Distance; 39cm
__________
XF56mm F1.2 APD (USD$1499)
7 rounded diaphragm opening
405g
Minimum Focus Distance; 70cm
__________
XF60mmF2.4 (USD$649)
9 rounded diaphragm opening
215g
Minimum Focus Distance; 27.7cm
There are no winner in the simple shoot out. Rather each lens
have its own strength and weakness. Be it how it renders the
bokeh, auto focus speed and even cost. For all the bokeh
hungry photograhers; the 56mm F1.2 APD is the clear choice
wide open. Bokehlicious!. But as you could see at F2 the
bokeh for XF50mm and XF 60mm renders a nicer round balls
effects of the fairy lights. Its is where the 9 rounded blades from
XF50mm and XF60mm comes into play.
Here is a day time shot with XF50mm and XF56mm APD. Both
shot at F2 and F2.8. In this sets it shows another different story.
The XF56mm F1.2 APD is the clear winner as it renders a creamier
bokeh.
Finally; if you are looking for a all rounder lens at this focal lenght,
XF50mm F2 WR truly shines the brightest. Its sharp. Auto focus
is the fastest among the 3 lenses here. Very well price and lovely
bokeh. It’s a WR lens; paired with any WR X-Series cameras you
can have the most fun shooting in the rain. Here are 2 pictures of
my daughter having fun in the rain. Now its time for you go and
have some fun with the XF50mm too.
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Great comparisons.
I don’t think you could lose much on either choice of lenses.
That being said, for the price and what you get, the 50mm f/2 looks pretty sweet. Sure, the 75mm equiv. focal length may throw some people off, but I think these people should free themselves of thinking in terms of absolute focal lengths and just judge by quality of the shots.
Of course as the photographer, we will see and notice the differences, but frankly the greater majority of viewers who will ever see images taken with either one of these 3 lenses, given you use them similarly, will never see the difference and I think they can all look equally good if thought is put into the photo to include good composition, lighting and content/story.
Thanks.
agreed with you. Thanks for sharing.
Great comparisons.
I don’t think you could lose much on either choice of lenses.
That being said, for the price and what you get, the 50mm f/2 looks pretty sweet. Sure, the 75mm equiv. focal length may throw some people off, but I think these people should free themselves of thinking in terms of absolute focal lengths and just judge by quality of the shots.
Of course as the photographer, we will see and notice the differences, but frankly the greater majority of viewers who will ever see images taken with either one of these 3 lenses, given you use them similarly, will never see the difference and I think they can all look equally good if thought is put into the photo to include good composition, lighting and content/story.
Thanks.
Good review and thanks for the taking the time. Hard to beat that creamy bokeh from the 1.2.
56mm is still the king in this class.As you mention; its hard to beat. cheers mate.
Thanks for this article. It has made the idea of the XF 50mm f/2 R WR more attractive. During my Leica analog days the Leica 75mm was a favourite focal length that I often borrowed for use on assignments to go with with my 28mm and 35mm lenses and it remains a favourite focal length. I am looking forward to trying Fujifilm’s 75mm equivalent out soon. I so wish Fujifilm would revamp its 18mm f/2 lens to the same standard.
I will certainly highlight to fujifilm on this. Would certainly be nice to have a new 18mm F2 WR!
Thanks. Have been saying this very thing about the need for an updated 18mm f/2 to anyone who will listen. Hopefully someone at Fujifilm will hear it and act.
Here is an article where I make a case for one, near the base of the page:
https://creativityinnovationsuccess.wordpress.com/2017/01/20/fujifilm-adds-fujinon-xf-50mm-f2-0-short-telephoto-to-complete-its-rangefinder-style-lens-trio/
Great article. I bought a 56/1.2 soon after it first came out and am happy with it. I find myself using f/1.2 or f/1.4 surprisingly often as I do natural light portraiture and I don’t like to push the sensor very far due to noise.
The depth of field of the 56 is razor thin wide open at f/1.2 and focus is critical! If I would be in the market to buy a short tele-photo now, I would ask myself the question if I need an aperture faster than f/2, truly, and buy the 50/2 if the answer was “not really” I would save myself the money, and weight in my camera bag. I would prefer the slightly shorter focal length as it allows far more “initimate” close-in shooting. On 6×6 medium format I used to prefer the 120mm focal length, for example, which was a little wider field of view than the Fuji 56.
Thanks for the great comparison! After some years of doing commissioned portrait & documentary work, I am currently only shooting personal/family stuff. I have the 23mm f/2, 35mm f/2, 56mm f/1.2 and 90mm f/2, but I actually hardly use the 56mm nowadays – mostly because of the weight in my bag, and partly because of the focus speed (e.g. for kids running around, I prefer my 35mm f/2).
The 50mm f/2 seems like a perfect light-weight alternative to the 56mm (I already have it on order) .
Question is: will I get myself to sell the 56mm f/1.2…?
Do you know if the lens hood will reverse mount on the lens to save space like the 56mm? Thnaks, Tom
It looks like it, if you look at the video from Palle Schultz at 1:36, he holds up the 50mm f2 with clearly reversed hood on it.
https://youtu.be/1Pf-DHzf6rg
Thank you so much for answering, no one seemed to know. I had seen that video but not full screen and missed the hood reversed appears it does. Thanks, peace my friend in this world of madness. Tom
Great review. For me the 50/2 represents fantastic proposition for me. Light, weatherproof. Great short portrait lens. Fuji seem to be so on the ball.
And the 60mm which you include in the intro and the photo?
I guess you have missed out. Please read again. The photo are in the blog. Cheers
I actually came here to compare 50mm vs 60mm. But it seems like the 60mm is a bit left behind in this review.
The 60mm, because it is macro lens, is clearly the sharpest (on pair with the 56mm). But only good for macro and portrait, things you don’t need a fast AF with.
If you compare the prices I think for portraits the 60mm is your best value. For an allround lens for sports or dogs etc 50mm is a wise choice.
If you have loads of money to spend just go with the 56mm.
Thanks anyways for the review.
thanks for the testing…..
i bougth a50mmf2 fujicron.
its dammend the ultimate fastest lens you can get and its perfect sharp for street and portrait fotography.
56 is much slower,louder and minimum double priced for an half aperture.
the fujicron ist perfect.
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