The Best Fuji X Lenses for 2023

Fujifilm is one of the first names of photography, with a history that stretches back nearly a century. Photographers who are old enough to have used analog cameras best know the brand's film stocks—it served as Kodak's biggest rival before the digital revolution, gaining traction by selling good film for fewer dollars.

In the digital era, Fujifilm has transitioned into a more upmarket brand. It established its place with the X100, a fixed lens compact with a hybrid viewfinder and SLR-sized sensor—absolutely innovative features a decade ago—introducing a design philosophy with a strong emphasis on classic aesthetics and manual handling.

The same concept carries over to the X system, a camera line with style and handling inspired by the X100, but with swappable glass. It launched in early 2012 with the X-Pro1 and a handful of prime lenses.

Since then, the company has built out the system aggressively. There aren't any entry-level models available at press time—our favorite X-T200 is discontinued and hasn't been replaced. You need to budget around $900 to get started with the X-E4 or X-T30 II because they are the most affordable Fuji X cameras at the moment.

On the high end, the new stacked X-H2S is Fujifilm's current flagship, though you should also consider the excellent X-T5. Alternatively, you can turn to the X-Pro3, one of the few mirrorless cameras with an optical viewfinder.

All X system cameras sport the same sensor size, the APS-C format. The sensor format is smaller than full-frame alternatives, but lends itself to generally smaller, lighter lenses, and is a boon for action photographers who strive to get a bit more effective reach without having to grab an extreme telephoto lens.

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If you're used to thinking about focal lengths in full-frame terms, you just need to do a bit of quick math to understand equivalencies. Multiplying by 1.5 times gets you there—a 16mm lens on a Fuji X camera nets the same angle of view as a 24mm on a full-frame system. It's important to consider the angle of view when shopping for a lens—a smaller millimeter makes for a wider view, while bigger numbers indicate telephoto lenses.

Most models sport an X-Trans sensor, a type that filters color with a more complex filter array than rivals. Fujifilm couples it with an excellent image processing engine. With these cameras, you have the flexibility to make images that range in look from modern digital to vintage film, without having to spend time in Photoshop.

As you move beyond entry level, you can enjoy one of the best autofocus systems in any camera family, along with features like in-body image stabilization (IBIS) and weather protection. If you own a body without IBIS, look for lenses with an OIS designation—that tells you that a lens includes optical image stabilization.

Likewise, not all of the company's lenses are protected from dust and splashes. If you buy a Fujifilm camera with weather protection, make sure to reach for a lens with the "WR" designation to ensure that it's as well protected as your camera body.

For the most part, you should stick with Fujifilm Fujinon lenses for your camera. Make sure to shop for ones billed as XF or XC. Fujifilm also sells GF lenses for its medium format mirrorless system, but glass made for the 100MP GFX100 won't work with an X series camera.

Third-party support for the X mount is growing. Sigma has jumped in with its quartet of F1.4 Contemporary primes, and Tamron now offers its 18-300mm, 17-70mm F2.8, and 150-500mm zooms for the Fujifilm system. Brands like Viltrox and Zeiss also market autofocus options, and you can get manual focus lenses from 7Artisans, Venus Laowa, and others to expand your creative options.

The first lens you're likely to get with a camera is a standard zoom. If you're buying an entry-level or midrange model, you might even get one in a bundle along with the camera. Fujifilm typically offers a few different starter lenses.

The XC 15-45mm is the most basic—it's light, compact, and affordable, but it doesn't offer weather protection or gather the same amount of light as the XF 18-55mm or XF 16-80mm. All three include optical stabilization.

Fujifilm also markets the XF 16-55mm F2.8, a premium option for serious photographers. It has a fixed F2.8 optical design but doesn't include optical stabilization. It pairs best with a camera that sports an IBIS system. If you want an F2.8 zoom with stabilization, look to the Tamron 17-70mm F2.8 Di III-A VC RXD instead; originally just for Sony, a version for Fujifilm cameras is now available. We find the Tamron model to be a better value than the XF 16-55.

All of these lenses start at a moderate wide angle—about the same view a smartphone's main lens offers—and zoom in to capture a modest telephoto angle, ideal for portraiture.

The amount of zoom power varies, but remember that smaller focal lengths net wider views, while larger numbers indicate tighter ones.

The Fujifilm Fujinon XF 16-80mm F4 R OIS WR covers a bigger zoom range than basic starter lenses, but is still available as a discounted add-on in camera kits.

Tamron's 17-70mm F2.8 Di III-A VC RXD lens nets shots with blurred backgrounds and outstanding sharpness on both Fujifilm and Sony APS-C mirrorless cameras.

The Tamron 18-300mm F3.5-6.3 Di III-A VC VXD is an all-in-one zoom lens that nets crisp photos, focuses close for macros, and has the weather protection outdoor photographers are after.

The Fujinon XC 15-45mm F3.5-5.6 OIS PZ is a light, compact zoom for Fujifilm cameras, and a very good option as a starter lens.

The Fujifilm Fujinon XF 18-55mm F2.8-4 R LM OIS has a lot of appeal for photographers who want more than the very basic kit lens offers, but don't need the pro build (or price) of the XF 16-55mm f/2.8.

The Fujifilm XF 16-55mm F2.8 R WR delivers strong optical performance and an all-weather build, but it doesn't have the on-barrel controls we've come to expect from premium lenses.

The Fujifilm Fujinon XF 18-135mm F3.5-5.6 R LM OIS WR lens is well made and covers a long zoom range, but we expect more consistent performance at this price point.

There are times when a scene is just too vast for a standard zoom to cover. Wide-angle lenses come in handy here because their shorter focal length designs capture more of what's in front of them. Here, you should pick a lens that's 14mm or shorter—the smaller the focal length, the wider the angle of view.

First-party options are a little sparse but boast excellent optics overall. We love the XF 8-16mm F2.8 for its fixed aperture and all-weather build but understand that a $2,000 lens is not within all budgets. If you're looking to spend less, consider the Tamron 11-20mm F2.8 at $829 instead.

The Fuji XF 10-24mm F4 costs about half that of the 8-16mm and benefits from a recent fit-and-finish update that adds weather protection and an aperture lock. If you can find a good deal on the older R OIS version of the lens, you should consider it, but the R OIS WR edition is better for newcomers.

A handful of wide prime lenses are available, too. Fujifilm sells the XF 14mm with autofocus—it's a moderately wide lens (about the same as a 21mm for a full-frame system) and the Zeiss Touit 12mm is also available.

The third-party, manual focus Venus Laowa 9mm F2.8 Zero-D is a more interesting option. It's one of the widest lenses for the system and doesn't exhibit any sort of curved distortion.

Fish-eye lenses are available for the system, too, just not from Fujifilm. Venus offers one, the 4mm F2.8, and Meike sells a pair, the MK-6.5mm F2 and MK-6-11mm F3.5 fish-eye zoom.

There are other manual-focus wide options available for the system, from brands like Rokinon and 7artisans, but we've not yet had a chance to review them.

The Fujifilm Fujinon XF 8-16mm F2.8 R LM WR lens will broaden your perspective, capturing ultra-wide scenes that haven't been possible for X system photographers to this point.

The Fujifilm Fujinon XF 10-24mm F4 R OIS WR lens adds the weather protection missing from the original, but doesn't change the optics.

Tamron's 11-20mm F2.8 Di III-A RXD lens is a wide, weather-protected zoom for Fuji X and Sony E mirrorless cameras with sharp, but not stabilized, optics.

The Venus Laowa 9mm f/2.8 Zero-D is a compact, sharp, ultra-wide lens for mirrorless cameras. It does a great job curbing barrel distortion, even if it's not truly Zero-D as advertised.

The Fujifilm Fujinon XF 14mm F2.8 R is an impressively compact f/2.8 wide-angle lens with sharp optics.

The Carl Zeiss Touit 2.8/12 delivers an ultra-wide perspective for Fuji X and Sony NEX cameras. It's expensive, but performance matches the price.

If you're interested in photographing team sports, wildlife, or other distant action, a telephoto lens is in order. These optics capture a rather narrow angle of view, so you can get a better look at faraway subjects.

Most telephoto lenses for the system include optical stabilization—the XF 90mm F2, a prime that's better suited for portraiture than action, is the exception.

A few of these lenses are compatible with Fuji's XF 1.4x and XF 2x teleconverters that extend reach, including the XF 50-140mm, XF 70-300mm, XF 100-400mm, and XF 150-600mm, as well as the XF 80mm Macro; Fuji markets all of these lenses mostly for enthusiasts and pros. If you opt for the third-party Tamron 150-500mm instead, you miss out on teleconverter support.

The premium XF 200mm F2 prime also works with a custom 1.4x converter that Fuji includes with the lens. Sadly, there isn't a 2.0x converter available for the XF 200mm.

The Fujifilm Fujinon XF 50-140mm f/2.8 R LM OIS WR is a pro-grade telezoom lens for mirrorless cameras with excellent optics and a tough, weather-resistant build.

The Fujifilm Fujinon XC 50-230mm F4.5-6.7 OIS II is an affordable telezoom for the X system, but its narrow f-stop limits use in dim light.

There's not much bad to say about the Fujifilm Fujinon XF 55-200mm F3.5-4.8 R LM OIS—it's one of the best 55-200mm lenses we've seen, but it is on the pricey side.

The Fujifilm Fujinon XF 70-300mm F4-5.6 R LM OIS WR is the telephoto lens to get for an X system camera. It nets excellent results, is weather sealed, and won't break the bank.

The Fujifilm Fujinon XF 90mm F2 R LM WR is a short telephoto prime lens that delivers excellent image quality and has no significant weaknesses.

The Fujifilm Fujinon XF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 R LM OIS WR is a standout telephoto lens, but one that won't balance well on smaller cameras.

The Fujifilm XF 150-600mm F5.6-8 R LM OIS WR should please X System sports and wildlife specialists with its all-weather construction, internal zoom design, and tip-top image quality.

The Tamron 150-500mm F5-6.7 Di III VC VXD has the zoom power you'll want for sports and wildlife imaging, and a sturdy build to handle location work.

The Fujifilm Fujinon XF 200mm F2 R LM OIS WR lens delivers exceptional image quality, strong stabilization, and a bright f/2 aperture, but you pay for this level of quality.

The Fujifilm Fujinon Teleconverter XF 1.4x TC WR is an essential accessory for Fujifilm photographers who require more telephoto reach from their long lenses.

Lenses that don't zoom—called primes—are the keystone of the X lens system. Because optical designers have to worry only about a single focal length, they can make prime lenses smaller and more capable of gathering light.

The Fujifilm system covers the full range of focal lengths. You can opt for F1.2 and F1.4 lenses to get the brightest view, or an F2 or F2.8 lens when you want to pack light.

Optical quality is strong across the board, but you should be aware that a couple of options—the XF 18mm F2 and XF 35mm F1.4—are first-generation entries and don't quite match newer lenses in focus speed and handling.

We love the svelte XF 16mm F2.8 for starting photographers who want a wide view and recommend the affordable XC 35mm F2 if you want a standard lens to snap photos with naturally defocused backgrounds.

Portrait photographers shopping today might want to hold out for the just-announced XF 56mm F1.2 R WR, an update to an old favorite with a new optical formula; we've not yet had a chance to try the lens, but the original is excellent for capturing people. Fujifilm also sells the only autofocus F1 lens, the XF 50mm F1.0 R WR. It's a good fit for specialists, but a bit too bulky to recommend to everyone.

Sigma also offers its 16mm, 23mm, 30mm, and 56mm F1.4 Contemporary quartet for the X mount. We tested only the Sony versions of the lenses, but we expect them to perform similarly on Fujifilm cameras.

The Fujifilm XF 16mm F2.8 R WR is a lightweight, wide-angle prime lens for the X system. It's an excellent value, but not an optical match for the pricier XF 16mm F1.4.

If you don't mind spending the money, the Fujifilm Fujinon XF 16mm F1.4 R WR lens will wow you with its f/1.4 design and wide-angle field of view.

The Sigma 16mm F1.4 DC DN Contemporary lens, available for Micro Four Thirds and Sony APS-C mirrorless cameras, delivers tack sharp photos, even when shot at f/1.4.

The Fujifilm Fujinon XF 18mm F1.4 R LM WR is a fantastic prime lens for fans of moderately wide views, and we especially like its weather-protected build.

The Fujifilm Fujinon XF 23mm F2 R WR is an extremely crisp, compact lens for X mirrorless cameras. It's a fine choice for any photographer looking for a weather-sealed wide-angle prime.

The Fujifilm Fujinon XF 23mm F1.4 R LM WR sports a fresh optical formula that nets stunning image quality on newer cameras, along with the weather sealing that was missing from the original version of the lens.

The Sigma 23mm F1.4 DC DN Contemporary lens for APS-C cameras snaps exceptionally sharp photos and easily blurs backgrounds.

The Fujifilm Fujinon XF 27mm F2.8 R WR uses the same optics as an earlier edition of the lens, but adds weather protection and aperture control for $50 less.

The Sigma 30mm F1.4 DC DN Contemporary is a bright, crisp, standard-angle lens for Sony and Micro Four Thirds mirrorless cameras.

The Fujifilm Fujinon XF 33mm F1.4 R LM WR snaps photos with incredible detail and softly defocused backgrounds, but focus performance and on-lens controls don't quite live up to its premium positioning.

The Fujifilm Fujinon XF 35mm F1.4 R is a fast, compact standard-angle lens for Fuji mirrorless cameras, but focus is a little slow and edges are on the soft side.

The Fujifilm Fujinon XF 35mm F2 R WR is compact, sharp, and sealed against dust and moisture. It's a terrific lens for the price.

The excellent Fujifilm Fujinon XC 35mm F2 lens comes in at half the price of the weather-sealed XF 35mm, making it an easy choice if your camera lacks weather protection.

The Fujifilm XF 50mm F1.0 R WR has the widest f-stop of any modern, autofocus lens, but it's heavy to carry and slow to focus.

The Fujifilm Fujinon XF 50mm F2 R WR lens is the third entry in the compact F2 prime series for the X mirrorless system and boasts excellent image quality.

Sigma's 56mm F1.4 DC DN Contemporary lens captures crisp images with a shallow depth of field, and is a solid addition to your camera kit.

The Fujifilm Fujinon XF 56mm F1.2 R has more light-gathering capability than any lens in the Fuji mirrorless system, and captures images with crisp details.

If you're interested in making images of flowers and insects or crafting your own abstract worlds, you need a macro lens to focus in on the tiniest details. Fujifilm sells three.

The XF 60mm is one of the first lenses for the system and focuses close enough to capture images at only half life-size (1:2). The XF 80mm is a better lens all around—it's sharper, sports weather protection, and focuses close enough for 1:1 magnification—but it costs $1,200. The XF 30mm bridges the gap with 1:1 support and a more palatable $600 asking price.

To get macro results for less, you can reach for a manual focus lens. Venus Optics sells its 65mm F2.8 2x Macro(Opens in a new window) for X cameras for around $400. We've not yet had a chance to test it, but have been impressed with other lenses from Venus.

Another option for manual focus is to use a lens made for an SLR system via an adapter. The Rokinon 100mm Macro is a good lens if you go that route.

The Fujifilm Fujinon XF 80mm F2.8 R LM OIS WR Macro is the best macro lens we've seen for the X system, though it's too big for some of the smaller cameras in the line.

The Fujifilm Fujinon XF 30mm F2.8 R LM WR Macro lens supports extra-close capture in a standard angle, delivering speedy focus in a compact, weather-protected housing.

The Zeiss Touit 2.8/50M lens produces fantastic macro images, but the lack of a focus limiter switch can slow down its autofocus speed.

The Fujifilm Fujinon XF 60mm F2.4 R Macro is a sharp macro lens, but it doesn't offer 1:1 magnification and focus is on the slow side.

A new lens isn't the only add-on you should consider for a digital camera. If you're interested in landscape photography, a sturdy, lightweight tripod can be quite useful. Photographers with an artistic flair can consider an effects kit, and if portraiture and studio work is your forte, think about adding an on-camera flash or wireless monolight.

Videographers and vloggers will certainly want to add a good external microphone or handheld gimbal to a kit. If you're working on more advanced video projects where color grading and ProRes capture are key, consider an external video recorder.

The Lensbaby Omni Creative Filter System attaches to the front of your lens and includes attachments to bend light, add color, and more. It's a powerful tool when put in the hands of creative photographers.

The Godox V1 betters first-party flashes with its round head and rechargeable battery, and undercuts premium alternatives on price.

The Flashpoint Xplor 300 Pro TTL R2 offers enough power to be used in the studio and outdoors, and offers battery power to make on-location shoots a bit easier to manage.

The Peak Design Travel Tripod rethinks what a go-anywhere tripod looks like, eschewing the fold-up designs of competitors to more easily fit into your pack.

The DJI RSC 2 is a compact gimbal for mirrorless cameras with a smart, folding design and superbly smooth stabilization.

The Atomos Ninja V is an add-on recorder for digital cameras that opens up more video features when recording to a memory card, so you can get the absolute best video quality.

The easy-to-use Sennheiser MKE 200 microphone delivers a clear, crisp directional signal for cameras and mobile devices.