Fujifilm XF 8mm f/3.5 Assessment: Nice Issues Do Are available in Small Packages
A 12mm full-frame equal lens isn’t my thought of a flexible do-everything piece of equipment, however Fujifilm actually wants one thing like this to complement the very costly — and heavy — XR 8-16mm f/2.8 zoom. That could be a nice lens, but it surely’s past many individuals’s wants and budgets. Enter the Fujifilm 8mm f/3.5 prime.
Fujifilm XF 8mm f/3.5: The way it Handles within the Area
That is an cute lens, to say the least. The $799 rectilinear optic solely weighs 7.5 ounces (215 grams) and makes use of very easy-to-find 62mm filters. I just like the handbook focus ring; it has a well-dampened really feel. It’s properly constructed with full steel building and is totally climate to the identical commonplace as all Fujifilm WR lenses.
The 8mm could not have a state-of-the-art linear focusing motor, however who’re we kidding? It doesn’t want one. With the expansive depth of subject offered by such a large lens, it’s exhausting not to get all the pieces in focus. The stepping motor does a serviceable job of focusing this lens rapidly and quietly.
Shut-up efficiency is so-so. Positive, you may get fairly shut with it, however the extraordinarily wide-angle protection means your composition isn’t precisely microscopic. This isn’t to say which you can’t get attention-grabbing close-up pictures, nonetheless, as the best way that such a large lens handles perspective might be very attention-grabbing.
Fujifilm XF 8mm f/3.5: Picture High quality
With a lens this vast you’ll typically have the solar or different brilliant mild sources someplace within the body, or simply outdoors of it. The Fujifilm 8mm f/3.5 does handle flare very properly. Even with the solar within the shot it doesn’t lose a lot distinction or wash out the other nook. Nonetheless, there’s some minor ghosting current. Purple shapes and streaks are frequent reverse the sunshine supply, particularly when the lens is stopped down.
Sadly, though this lens may very well be in style for landscapes, it delivers somewhat lackluster sunstars. They exhibit pretty chunky factors with no actual definition. Not the pinpoint dramatic streaks we usually hope for. Nonetheless, I feel the 8mm handles brilliant mild sources properly all issues thought of, and I’d fortunately stroll round with it snapping away landscapes.
Bokeh efficiency isn’t actually one thing to fret about with such a wide-angle lens. Solely in very close-up conditions will you actually discover transitions from in-focus to out-of-focus areas. That being stated, the 8mm does have fairly easy transitions because the background falls out of focus. It has a satisfying search for the few conditions the place you might need shallower depth-of-field.
However can it sharp? That is the place the little 8mm carried out fantastically. The lens begins out with loads of element even capturing at f/3.5. I barely observed any enchancment in sharpness when stopping down, though actually, the sharpness throughout the entire body will get extra constant. The corners do look blurry capturing vast open, which is sort of frequent with ultra-wide lenses. Stopping the lens all the way down to f/8 improved issues within the corners, and if I had the sunshine, I might typically cease down most pictures taken with this lens.
Fujifilm XF 8mm f/3.5: There’s Nothing Like It
The Fujifilm XF 8mm f/3.5 R WR is a very enjoyable, easy-to-carry lens. Having such a large look isn’t one thing most of us want fairly often, however after we do, why not make it a compact and reasonably priced companion lens. I might love this lens for touring, or climbing journeys the place weight is a priority.
The look of a 12mm full-frame equal is at all times dramatic and can be utilized for music venues, structure, and pure landscapes. Fujifilm wanted a lens like this they usually delivered a great one at that.
Are There Options?
The factor is there aren’t actually every other choices like this. The aforementioned Fujifilm XR 8-16 f/2.8 Pro zoom is actually an choice, albeit it at a a lot larger value and with much more weight to hold.
There are some boutique third-party extremely vast lenses from varied producers however you danger shedding auto-focus and exif knowledge. And for the value of the Fujifilm, I’d go OEM on this explicit case.
Ought to You Purchase It?
Sure. It’s a pointy lens with good building and a take-anywhere measurement. If you really want this a lot wide-angle, the 8mm received’t allow you to down.