Fuji vs. Fuji’s FUJINON XF 14mm F2.8 Review
April, 2014: Originally published
December, 2016: Minor updates
May, 2020: Minor edits
Introduction
The FUJINON XF 14mm F2.8 is a 21mm equivalent and was the first ultra-wide angle lens available from Fuji. It barely ekes out the “ultra” denotation, and has been superseded by the XF 10-24mm F4 OIS (Review) and XF 8-16mm F2.8 WR in overall width, but it remains the widest X-mount Fujifilm prime available. It is significantly wider than the tiny XF 18mm F2 (Review), and is made for a very different use; the XF 14mm F2.8 is more of a landscape or architecture lens with it’s minimal distortion, f/2.8 aperture, edge to edge sharpness, and engraved depth of field markings.
The XF 14mm F2.8 once held a place in my Ultimate Prime Kit along with the XF 23mm F1.4 (Review) and XF 56mm F1.2 (Review) at the time. In the years since writing this review, all three lenses have been supplanted.
Specifications | |
| Lens Construction | 10 elements in 7 groups (2 aspherical, 3 extra low dispersion elements) |
|---|---|
| Focal Length (35mm format equivalent) | 14mm (21mm) |
| Aperture Range | f/2.8 – f/22 in ⅓ stop increments |
| Aperture Type | 7 blades (rounded diaphragm opening) |
| Focus Range | Approximately 18cm - ∞ (infinity) |
| Maximum Magnification | 0.12× |
| External Dimensions | 65mm diameter × 58.4mm long |
| Weight | 235g 273g with caps and hood |
| Filter Size | ø58mm |
Features | |
| Weather Sealing | No |
| Optical Image Stabilization (OIS) | None |
| Focus Motor | Stepping |
| Push/Pull Clutch Manual Focus Ring | Yes |
| Nano GI Coating | No |
| Fluorine Coating | No |
Handling
Build Quality
While the actual construction materials of Fujifilm’s lenses has largely remained the same, the moving parts steadily improved until the XF 35mm F2 WR (Review), which Fuji has said is the standard by which all other aperture and focus rings will be measured.
The XF 14mm F2.8 unfortunately has some serious sample variation in regard to the aperture ring. After rejecting one copy, the one I ended up with is pretty good, but by comparison to recent lenses, it is still very loose. If you are buying in-store, check the rings before you leave, and if you buy online, buy from a company with a liberal return policy.
The focus ring knurls on the XF 14mm F2.8 are so grippy and sharp, they almost feel like they might cut you.
Size and Weight
The XF 14mm F2.8 is small to medium-sized relative to other Fuji lenses, but it’s a good size for a wide angle f/2.8. Out of the box it was quite a bit lighter than I expected.
Manual Focus
Pull the manual focus ring in towards you and you’re focusing manually. I love this, but unfortunately there are just three lenses in Fuji’s lineup that offer it, with the XF 16mm F1.4 WR (Review), and XF 23mm F1.4 being the others.
Engraved Depth of Field Markings
Another feature restricted to just the 14, 16, and 23mm primes. The more I use lenses with a proper depth of field scale, the more I miss them on lenses that don’t have them.
Hood
The hood that ships with the XF 14mm F2.8 is marked “14/18-55.” This leaves me wondering just how much the hood has been optimized for the XF 14mm F2.8 since the XF 18-55mm F2.8-4 OIS (Review) has been around quite a bit longer.
The XF 14mm F2.8 is a prime candidate for an add-on metal hood. I’m surprised we haven’t seen one yet.
The FUJINON XF 14mm F2.8, and hood also suitable for the 18-55mm.
Image Quality
Sharpness
The XF 14mm F2.8 leaves little to be desired in the sharpness department. It’s fantastically sharp, edge to edge, especially once stopped down to f/5.6 to f/11. Diffraction starts to set in by f/16 and is heavy by f/22. Fujifilm’s Lens Modulation Optimizer helps here for JPEG shooters.
Distortion
Remarkably minimal. Horizons and architecture lines are kept mostly straight, and distortion isn’t complex. I haven’t had any issues shooting RAW.
Bokeh
Bokeh can actually be achieved with this lens, but as seen in my Wide Angle Primes article, if you want an out of focus background with a wide angle lens, you should really look at the either the XF 16mm F1.4 WR or XF 18mm F2.
Vignetting
There is some minor vignetting at f/2.8. It’s mostly gone by f/4. Vignetting on this lens is remarkably light even when I’ve had two neutral density filters stacked on it, and the lens stopped down.
Flare
In my experience, you have to really work at getting flare in your images with this lens, even without the hood.
Aberrations
Chromatic aberration is minimal. A photo of a shadowed cliff in front of a bight blue sky could produce a small amount, but these are fairly extreme circumstances.
Conclusion and Rating
Before the XF 10-24mm F4 OIS was available, the XF 14mm F2.8 was the best and only way to go wider than 18mm. If size and weight are important to you, it might still be. The newer XF 16mm F1.4 WR has stolen the wide angle crown in many respects, but just barely, and 2mm in added width can make a significant difference to your composition.
The XF 14mm F2.8 is one of the faster focusing lenses in Fujifilm’s early lineup, it’s sharp, and it handles great. Excelling in both auto and manual focus makes it perfect for landscapes, and zone-focused street shooting for those who like to go wide. No matter what kind of shooter you are, if wide is your game, this is a lens to look at.
Recommended.
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