Fujifilm Digital X Series
The Fujifilm X-T4 Camera is a hybrid camera, designed for both stills photography and videography. But this doesn't mean it's a jack of all trades but master of non. Quite the opposite, it's a fantastic stills camera, producing high quality images; wonderfully sharp with the right lenses, with excellent dynamic range and low noise at low ISO, and deep and engaging colours. Yes, every camera has its strong points, and we can argue the pros of full frame, then medium format, or the stronger autofocus of some competitors, but does that really matter. The camera is the tool enabling us to create and you can't go that wrong with most modern digital cameras. Image quality, autofocus and dynamic range has moved on so much in the last decade that we should worry less about how an A0 print looks like, and rather how engaging a camera is.
The Fujifilm X Series system is stand out for its compact size, small form factor, low weight, excellent build quality, great ergonomics, engaging functionality, and old style dials that keeps me simplifying my photography back to the exposure triangle. I use it as my primary camera even though I do also use it to take videos. When I looked at a camera as a non-professional, there were some compromises I had to make. I was looking for a camera that I could take on a family holiday, take a few snapshots of the boys, then pack it in a backpack and take it with me on a landscape photography hike. I wanted a mirrorless camera, a system with a good selection of quality lenses and something that had the quality to blow up the odd print but small enough to take on a family holiday.
Fujinon XF 18-55mm F2.8-4 R LM OIS
A standard zoom is 'standard' in the sense it's the closest to what we would see the real world with our own eyes. Landscape photographers tend to prefer a telephoto or wide angle zoom as changing the focal length to what we would usually see adds intrigue and interest to a photo. Giving an image something unfamiliar to what can be a familiar scene often enhances the overall experience for the viewer. But this doesn't make a standard zoom any less important to that of a telephoto or wide angle lens, we just need to be more inventive when using it. This is the standard Fujinon XF 'kit' lens; a standard zoom with a maximum aperture of F2.8 at its wide end and F4 at its long end. It's a compact do-it-all lens that spends a lot of time on my camera. The 16-55mm is sharper - yes the 18-55mm can be soft at times - and has the wider maximum aperture of F2.8 across the entire zoom range, but it is also much heavier. Additionally, the 18-55mm has 4 stops of OIS (optical image stabilisation) where the 16-55mm does not, but then OIS is usually turned off for landscape photography as I'll be using a tripod. The 16-55mm lens is an alternative to the 18-55mm but considering how often I use this smaller lens leaves me thinking, 'if it an't broken, don't fix it!'
The reason I love the Fujifilm X system is it's compact size, small form factor and low weight, with the build quality, ergonomics, engaging functionality, old style dials and good looks, all of which epitomises this so called 'kit' lens. It is disappointing that the aperture ring is not marked and clickable but it is a solid performer and I would say a must in anyone's Fujifilm X Series kit bag.
STARS
I have given the lens 4 stars, only losing a star due to it's variable aperture and softness versus the 18-55mm F2.8, but compact size, build quality and functionality are fantastic for the price.
Fujinon XF 55-200mm F3.5-4.8 R LM OIS
A long angle telephoto zoom is an essential part of the landscape photographer's kit, it enables the photographer to compress a scene and focus in on the detail. The photographer can 'crop' and simplify a scene with a telephoto lens. This is a valuable tool in forestscapes or mountainscapes but I will also use a telephoto in most other scenarios. Like the 18-55mm, this is the budget telephoto in the Fujifilm basic kit holy trinity of lenses. Even though it's seen as the budget option versus the red badged 50-140mm, it still has superb build quality. The lens has a maximum aperture of F3.5 at its wide end and F4.8 at its long end. Even though it has OIS (optical image stabilisation), it's still not a very fast or bright lens and, being an APSC set up, if used for wildlife photography it will leave you frustrated, looking for more bokeh, longer reach, and better low light performance. The size of a lens versus speed and image quality is much more pronounced for a telephoto lens versus a wide angle lens. This is why you can get better quality compact wide angle lenses and why professional wildlife photographers walk around with such large and ridiculously bulky lenses. However, when used for landscape photography - I'm usually using a tripod and shooting stopped down for better overall sharpness throughout the scene - it's a great little lens for it's weight, size and price.
Like the 18-55mm, I love the Fujifilm X system is it's compact size, engaging functionality and low weight, and this lens fulfils all of these qualities perfectly. It's reasonably sharp and has solid build quality, if a bit disappointing that its aperture ring is not marked and clickable. A solid performer if you are looking for a lightweight telephoto in your Fujifilm X Series kit bag.
STARS
I have given the lens 3 stars. I love it for it's compact size and light weight but there is a sharper alternative in the 50-140mm and it's too slow and short for wildlife photography.
Fujinon XF 10-24mm F4 R OIS WR
A wide angle zoom is an essential part of the landscape photographer's kit, allowing the photographer to compose the epic landscape with a detailed foreground. Like the 18-55mm and 55-200mm, this wide angle zoom forms part of basic kit holy trinity of lenses, however, it also has a fixed aperture of F4 and is weather sealed, both of which are lacking on the other two lenses. Like the 18-55mm and 55-200mm it also has 3.5 stops of OIS (optical image stabilisation). It is also sharper than the other two lenses, and for all these reasons it's widely considered as a stronger alternative to the red badged 8-16mm even though it's not as wide. The 8-16mm is much heavier and larger than the 10-24mm and also has no OIS.
Like the 18-55mm, I love the Fujifilm X system is it's compact size, engaging functionality and low weight, and this lens fulfils all of these qualities perfectly. It is a very sharp lens and has a solid build quality. It also has a relatively close focussing distance of just 24cm. Unfortunately, my version lacks a clickable and marked aperture scale ring but this has been remedied on the new updated version launched in 2021. A solid performer if you are looking for a lightweight wide angle zoom in your Fujifilm X Series kit bag.
STARS
I have given the lens 5 stars. For the landscape photographer it's a perfect wide angle zoom if you are looking for a compact and lightweight system. Images are sharp and autofocus is quick. The new version has added a clickable and marked aperture scale ring which is a positive addition.
Fujinon XF 16mm F1.4 R WR Prime
A prime lens is not what you would expect in a landscape photographers kit, but I love my primes. They force me to think on my feet, change my position, and make me reconsider a composition often with superior results. They also tend to be sharper and offer a larger and faster aperture than the equivalent zoom. This gives the photographer more opportunities for a blurred background or beautiful bokeh. But at the same time they are usually relatively compact and lightweight for that increase in speed and shallow depth of field. The 16mm is a wide angle prime but not ultra wide, which makes it wide enough without distorting the scene too much. The lens doesn't really have a place, like the Fujinon 23mm street and documentary lens, the Fujinon 35mm standard prime, the Fujinon 55mm portrait lens, or the Fujinon 80mm macro lens, but I love it even more for this reason. And this is a beautiful lens. It is very sharp and has character with a focusing distance of just 15cm. You can really get up close and personal with your subject, but at the same time capture such a wide expanse of the world around your subject. It doesn't have the autofocus speed of the smaller F2 equivalent, but the larger and faster aperture with the 9 aperture blades renders such beautiful bokeh. It has wonderful saturation and contrast.
This is my favourite prime lens for landscape photography and it's such a joy going out with it on my camera as you never know what you might come home with. The build quality is superb and is weather sealed. It has a marked and clickable aperture ring and a manual / auto focus clutch. This is fujifilm at their best and the reason I'm so in love with their cameras and lenses.
STARS
It deserves 6 stars. A prime lens is not what you would think when considering a landscape photographer's kit bag, but I dare you to give it a try. It's sharp, it has beautiful bokeh when needed, and it has so much character. You can get so close to your foreground it blurs the line between the landscape and macro genre. And unless you are blowing up prints larger than A0 size, crop it in post if needs be!
Fujinon XF 23mm F1.4 R Prime
A prime lens is not what you would expect in a landscape photographers kit, but I love my primes. They force me to think on my feet, change my position, and make me reconsider a composition often with superior results. They also tend to be sharper and offer a larger and faster aperture than the equivalent zoom. This gives the photographer more opportunities for a blurred background or beautiful bokeh. But at the same time they are usually relatively compact and lightweight for that increase in speed and shallow depth of field. The 23mm focal length (35mm FF) is probably the most usable focal length for general photography and the reason why it's the most common focal length on fixed focal length cameras. It's loved by documentary and street photographers as it still falls within the standard focal length with little distortion but it can capture a relatively wide angle of view. The Fujinon 23mm is a very good lens with excellent build quality but, unfortunately, is not weather sealed. Like the 16mm, it's also sharp and has wonderful saturation and contrast. Its auto focus is not that fast though and a lot slower than the smaller 23mm F2. It's min focusing distance of 28cm is reasonable but not as exciting as the 16mm. With its 7 aperture blades and fast aperture of f1.4 the lens does render a nice out of focus background and bokeh if needed.
This is a good lens and one of my favourite primes when on holiday, doing street photography, or for taking pictures of the family, but I don't find myself using that much for landscape photography. The build quality is superb and is weather sealed. It also has a marked and clickable aperture ring and a manual / auto focus clutch.
STARS
I have given it four stars. I do enjoy the 23mm (35mm FF) focal length but I don't find myself using it that much for landscape photography. It's a great lens for holidays and street photography and it's very well built, and sharp but it has lost a star due to it's slower autofocus and reasonable focusing distance. It doesn't have the character of the 16mm.
Fujinon XF 35mm F2 R WR Prime
A prime lens is not what you would expect in a landscape photographers kit, but I love my primes. They force me to think on my feet, change my position, and make me reconsider a composition, often with superior results. They also tend to be sharper and offer a larger and faster aperture than the equivalent zoom. This gives the photographer more opportunities for a blurred background or beautiful bokeh. But at the same time they are usually relatively compact and lightweight for that increase in speed and shallow depth of field. The 35mm focal length (50mm FF) is the focal length closest to the focal length of the human eye, and therefore gives us an image similar to what we see. For this reason the 35mm focal length is called a standard prime, and a common focal length for documentary photography. It is often the first prime a photographer ever buys. However, for the same reason, it has the reputation for being boring, and most photographers will have a sweet spot at either 23mm (35mm ff) or wider, or 55mm (80mm ff) or longer. That doesn't make this a bad lens. It's not as bright as the F1.4 equivalent, but it's similarly sharp at F4 and above, it's tiny, it's weather sealed and has lightning fast autofocus with its linear motors. I love this little lens and because of it's size, it usually finds a small space in my bag.
This is a good lens and one of my favourite primes when taking pictures of my family, or doing street photography, but I don't find myself using it that much for landscape photography. The build quality is superb and is weather sealed.
STARS
I have given it four stars. I do enjoy this little lens for it's size and weight. It's a great little lens for taking pictures of the family on holiday and street photography. It's very well built and has quick autofocus. It has lost a star as it's not as exciting as the 23mm (35mm ff) or 55mm (80mm ff) focal lengths, and is not that fast/bright for a prime. It can also be a bit soft at F2. But for anyone buying their first prime but not wanting to break the bank at the same time would not go that wrong with this little lens. Also consider the 23mm F2 and the 50mm F2.
Fujinon XF 35mm F2 R WR Prime
A prime lens is not what you would expect in a landscape photographers kit, but I love my primes. They force me to think on my feet, change my position, and make me reconsider a composition, often with superior results. They also tend to be sharper and offer a larger and faster aperture than the equivalent zoom. This gives the photographer more opportunities for a blurred background or beautiful bokeh. But at the same time they are usually relatively compact and lightweight for that increase in speed and shallow depth of field. The 35mm focal length (50mm FF) is the focal length closest to the focal length of the human eye, and therefore gives us an image similar to what we see. For this reason the 35mm focal length is called a standard prime, and a common focal length for documentary photography. It is often the first prime a photographer ever buys. However, for the same reason, it has the reputation for being boring, and most photographers will have a sweet spot at either 23mm (35mm ff) or wider, or 55mm (80mm ff) or longer. That doesn't make this a bad lens. It's not as bright as the F1.4 equivalent, but it's similarly sharp at F4 and above, it's tiny, it's weather sealed and has lightning fast autofocus with its linear motors. I love this little lens and because of it's size, it usually finds a small space in my bag.
This is a good lens and one of my favourite primes when taking pictures of my family, or doing street photography, but I don't find myself using it that much for landscape photography. The build quality is superb and is weather sealed.
STARS
I have given it four stars. I do enjoy this little lens for it's size and weight. It's a great little lens for taking pictures of the family on holiday and street photography. It's very well built and has quick autofocus. It has lost a star as it's not as exciting as the 23mm (35mm ff) or 55mm (80mm ff) focal lengths, and is not that fast/bright for a prime. It can also be a bit soft at F2. But for anyone buying their first prime but not wanting to break the bank at the same time would not go that wrong with this little lens. Also consider the 23mm F2 and the 50mm F2.