Fujifilm 35mm f/1.4 Review – Is It The Best Fuji Lens?

Fujifilm 35mm f/1.4 Lens Review, everything you need to know about the Fuji 35mm f/1.4 and what makes this a great lens to add to your Fuji lenses line-up.

Fujifilm Xf 35mm F1.4

With a sleek metal body that can fit comfortably in your coat pocket, the Fuji XF 35mm f/1.4 lens may be the perfect go-to lens. 

After owning this lens for a few years now, I have taken it with me on many of my travels, capturing everything from epic cityscapes to street photography in my home city of London.

The lens was designed with both professionals and enthusiasts in mind, as part of the Fuji X line (this was the 3rd Fuji lens I brought and my first prime).

So, while it’s reasonably old, released in 2011, it’s one of the best products for its image quality, construction and price on the market.

Fujifilm 35mm f/1.4 Lens Review

The review of the Fuji XF 35mm 1.4 lens, covers the pros and cons, and all the specs you need to consider when deciding if this is the right lens for you depending on your photography style.

I’ve also included a comparison to the newer and lighter Fujifilm XF 35mm f/2 WR lens, later in this review.

Editor’s Choice
Fujifilm XF35mmF1.4 R
  • Best for General use / Street photography
  • Lightweight and compact
  • Sharp images
  • Wide field of view
  • Great bokeh and high-quality images
  • Great built quality, All-metal barrel
  • Wide maximum aperture
  • Versatile focal length
  • Great for low-light photography
Pros
  • Very wide maximum aperture
  • Brilliant image quality
  • Top-notch build quality
  • Lightweight and compact
  • Versatile focal length
  • Great for low light photography
Cons
  • Not weather resistant
  • No image stabilisation
  • The aperture ring can feel a little loose

Fujifilm 35mm f/1.4 Lens – At a Glance

Compatible with the Fujifilm X-Pro1 and X-series camera bodies, this lens is brilliant, producing high-quality images from a robust small frame. I have found it a joy to shoot with the Fujifilm XF 35mm 1.4 lens.

fujifilm 35mm f1.4

But it also has some downsides which, depending on the type of photography you intend to use it for, may impact your decision. Here’s a brief overview of the pros and cons of the Fuji 35mm f/1.4 lens.

Fuji XF 35mm 1.4 Technical Specs

  • Lens Mount Type: Fujifilm X
  • Focal Length: 35mm format (35mm equivalent focal length 53mm)
  • Lens Format Coverage: APS-C
  • Lens Type: Standard Prime
  • Lens elements: 8 Elements in 6 Groups
  • Angle of view: 44.2°
  • Number of diaphragm blades: 7
  • Maximum aperture: f/1.4
  • Minimum aperture: f/16
  • Focus range (normal): 0.8m – ∞
  • Focus range (macro): 28cm – 2.0m
  • Maxium magnification: 0.17x
  • Weight: 187g
  • Dia. x length (approx): 65.0mm x 50.4mm (distance from camera lens mount flange)
  • Filter size: 52mm (front)

Features of the Fujifilm 35mm f/1.4 lens

The first thing you need to consider when choosing your lens is its features. A lens can be of perfect quality, but wrong for your purpose or style.

So let’s break down the Fujifilm 35mm f/1.4 lens’ features, with a look at why these make it such a brilliant camera lens for travel photography and street photography.

Fujifilm XF 35mm Handling / Build Quality – Fuji 35mm 1.4 Lens Hood

Piccadilly Christmas Lights

This lens is one of Fujifilm’s original prime and one of my favourites Fuji lenses. The build quality is excellent. It has a compact metal frame, a metal mount and a metal hood.

With many modern lenses built with cheaper-feeling plastic, this is a reasonably uncommon feature and a very enjoyable one, especially for the price of this lens.

Its compact size makes it very easy to handle. One issue is that the lens hood is a little harder to handle and carry.

It’s built square to preserve space and keep everything compact. However, it does not fit comfortably onto the lens, and the rubber cap that attaches the hood to the lens does not fit snuggly and can fall off. 

Additionally, the lens cap cannot be attached while the hood is on. This isn’t a problem for most photographers, but if you make a lot of use of your lens cap, it’s something to keep in mind.

Fujifilm 35mm 1.4 Size and Weight

The Fujifilm XF 35mm 1.4 lens is extremely light, weighing in at only 187g. This makes it a great choice for travel and street photography when you may be carrying your camera around all day.

It’s also compact, with a 35mm focal length (53mm equivalent focal length). Making the lens and mirrorless camera combo like the Fuji X-T2 or X-T4 the perfect duo.

35mm F2.8

The size of your lens cap is super important. It’s light and easy to carry on your person if like me you prefer to move with your camera slung around your neck with no bag. It’s pocketable and portable. Won’t weigh you down even after hours of walking around a city, capturing images.

To be specific, the lens is 2.56″ (65 mm) in diameter x 2.16″ (55 mm) long. It’s nice and snug, weighing 187g (6.6 oz), 205g with caps, and 218 with caps and hood.

These are all minimal differences, but it’s good to know all the little details to make an informed decision.

Fujifilm XF35mmF1.4 R
  • Fast prime lens with impressive F1.4 aperture
  • Perfect for low light shooting and portraits
  • Razor Sharp
  • Beautiful bokeh

Fujinon XF 35 Weather Sealing

This lens has no weather sealing and is vulnerable to moisture, dust, and humidity. This means that when you’re not using the lens, it needs to be tightly capped.

This can be an inconvenience, as weather sealing can give you peace of mind in all conditions. And if you do most of your photography in harsh conditions, you may want to opt for a lens like the Fujifilm 23mm f/2, the Fuji XF 35mm f1.4 younger sister – the Fuji XF 35mm f/2.

👉 Note: If you need no further convincing, buy the Fuji 35mm 1.4f lens here

Fuji 35mm 1.4 Lens Construction & Build Quality

The lens has 8 elements in 6 groups with one aspherical element. The aperture has 7 rounded blades, with its closest focusing distance at 28cm and a magnification ratio of 0.17x. 

The manual focus ring has no clear stop markings. Instead, the increments are shown electronically on the camera screen as you adjust. The aperture ring has 22 stops marked in ⅓ of a stop increments.

Fuji 35mm Sample Photos

FUJINON 35MM LENS
FUJINON 35MM LENS

Fuji 35mm Lens Autofocus and Manual Focus

If you prefer to photograph on autofocus, this lens is a great option. In good lighting conditions, it focuses fast and accurately. In poor lighting, it does have a tendency to hunt a little, but not for very long. 

Fuji 35mm sample images
Fuji 35mm sample images

If, however, you do prefer manual focus, keep in mind that this lens is pretty slow and precise. The focus ring is controlled electronically rather than mechanically, so there’s no focus scale on the focusing ring and not enough resistance. 

The aperture ring can feel a little loose, and you may find yourself wishing there was a little more tension. But the clicks are smooth and exact. It’s definitely preferable for those who prefer autofocus, like myself.

If you’re still looking around for your photography gear, check out the best travel cameras for beginners and read on for a full review of the Fujifilm 35mm f/1.4 lens.

Fujinon 35mm Lens Image Quality

Of course, the most important thing to consider when buying a new lens is the image quality. It can be light and beautifully constructed, but if the distortion is off and the focus all wrong, it’s not a good lens or worth your cash. So, let’s look at the image quality of the Fuji 35mm f/1.4 lens.  

Fuji 35mm f1.4 Review Sharpness and distortion

This lens takes very sharp photos, with an angle of view similar to that of the human eye. The lens is the equivalent to a 53mm focal length on a full-frame camera.

35mm F1.4 Lens

The optics are impressively good, and photos can be shot wide open at 1.4 without sacrificing sharpness. It does decline a little around the edges when it’s fully open like that, but the difference is so minimal you’re not likely to see it. 

I think this lens is excellent for street photography and lifestyle images as it’s very flattering to facial features and produces colours that are true to life. 

I even use it for food photography as well as I like the way it brings out the texture and colour of food. And with the F/1.4 maximum aperture lets in enough light in dimly-like restaurants and adds beautiful bokeh to dishes.

Let’s just say the Fuji scientist got their colour science on lock.

There is no visible distortion with this lens, and you can focus super close up without seeing the distortion that can make macro photography so tricky. 

Fujifilm 35mm Lens Review Bokeh

Bokeh is the quality of out-of-focus parts of any image. It’s the way the lens renders the light in these parts.

Bokeh is not easily definable as you look at individual images – but a lens with great bokeh makes a surprising difference in the overall atmosphere of your pictures.

This lens has fantastic bokeh and makes your images look dreamy. It blends creaminess and sharpness in a way that’s earned it many fans in the professional photography field.

Kudu Peckham

Best for What Type of Travel Photography

The XF 35mm f/1.4 lens is ideal for street, landscape, portrait and everyday photography, making it some of the best travel gear to have on hand. Now, you may be the type of photographer who likes to have a lens for each photography style.

And often this is the best option, as you can cater to the distinct styles carefully. But if you want an all-rounder, this is your lens.

The great bokeh, clear sharpness, lack of distortion, and robust build make it the perfect lens to have around when compared with other Fuji lenses.

The prime lens can do wide landscape shots that capture the beauty of the moment, leaving nothing out. Street photography doesn’t need to be shot from too close in order to perfectly capture the detail. And the quick autofocus will mean that you don’t miss out on the moment.

The only travel photography this may not be suited to is wildlife photography. Most wild animals have very good ears and could be startled by the soft whirring sound of the focus rings. Some lenses are totally silent – so if your focus is wildlife photography and you don’t want to take the risk, it may be better to go for one of these. 

Fujifilm 35mm Lens Price Range

The Fuji XF 35mm f1.4 lens typically costs around £549. This is on the cheap end of the scale, as lens prices can get really hefty. 

This is a fantastic all-round lens. You don’t need to invest a large amount of money, and you can use it for many purposes, from macro photography and portraits to street and landscape photography.

Having an all-rounder to start with is ideal, as you’ll get a real feel for what you like and how you prefer to photograph. I personally prefer this lens for my street photography, as this little lens produces excellent images even wide-open and has quick autofocus speed, once you get the hang of using the lens.

Fujifilm XF 35mm f/2 R WR vs. XF 35mm f/1.4 R

img 6075bc05f1c7e

Another, later 35mm prime lens from Fuji is the Fujifilm XF 35mm f/2. Released in 2015, it was a more affordable alternative to the f/1.4. 

How do these two lenses compare, and is the f/2 WR better suited to some types of photography than the f/1.4 R? Let’s look at their specs, and do a comparison of the two.

General Use/Street Photography
Fujifilm XF35mmF1.4 R
Video/Travel Photography
Fujifilm XF35mmF2 R WR
Product
Aperture Blades
Aperture Blades
7
9
Weight [g]
Weight [g]
187 g
170.00
Maximum Aperture
Maximum Aperture
f/1.4
f/2.0
Minimum Focus Distance [m]
Minimum Focus Distance [m]
0.30
0.35
Optical Design
Optical Design
8 Elements in 6 Groups
9 Elements in 6 Groups
Weather Resistance
Weather Resistance
No
No
Filter Thread [mm]
Filter Thread [mm]
52
43

Fuji 35mm f2 Image Quality

The quality of the image for the f/2 lens is outstanding. It’s got a decent aperture range and takes clear beautiful photos. Bokeh is excellent, and distortion is minimal even fully open. The Fuji 35mm F/2 is also weather resistant lens.

However, image quality is not entirely on par with the 35mm f/1.4 lens (she is the superior of the two lenses, and I am not basis at all). It doesn’t shoot as well in low light, and if you prefer to shoot at a shallow depth of field, the f/1.4 is definitely the better option. If not, though, the 35mm f/2 is definitely worth considering.

👉 Read Fujifilm 23mm f2 Review

Fuji 35mm f2 Review Weight

Excluding cap and hood, the Fujifilm 35mm f2 WR weighs only 170g. This makes it a fair bit lighter than the f/1.4 R – and it also has a full metal exterior, so you’re not sacrificing quality on the build.

Fuji XF 35mm f2 Price Range

The f/2 WR is a good deal cheaper than its older cousin, at about £389. This makes it an affordable option, and while it doesn’t work quite as well for quite as many types of travel photography, it’s a very well-priced general-use lens.

Weather Sealing

The Fujifilm XF 35mm f/2 WR has weather sealing, while the XF 35mm f/1.4 R does not. So if you’re shooting in more unpredictable weather, the newer option may put you more at ease. Water-resistance, in particular, can be very helpful in Europe. 

Rapid Autofocus

The XF35mmF2 R WR uses an inner focus system and stepping motor, so it can lock onto a target in as little as 0.08 seconds. This makes it the perfect tool for capturing spontaneous moments when you need to work quickly and efficiently. The sizable ring of the camera makes it easy to focus manually, and you can also focus as close as 35cm to your subject. This way, it is possible to fill the frame with smaller objects. 

I mentioned earlier that the f/1.4’s autofocus is not entirely silent. This camera lens, developed 4 years after the other, is. The silence makes only a very little difference, but if it’s something you’re specifically looking for in a lens, then this is the better option. This is also great if you will be using 35mm for video.

PeckhamRyeParkLondon
Fuji 35mm sample photos

Photography Types

Now that we’ve compared the specifics, it’s easy to identify which types of photography each lens is best suited for. The f/1.4 lens is ideal for portrait photography and photographing in low light conditions because of its large aperture. 

The f/2 WR is better suited to photographing in poor weather conditions and is great for video. So street photography in all conditions – as long as the lighting remains decent – is great with this lens. 

Final Verdict – Fuji XF 35mm f/2 R WR vs. XF 35mm f/1.4 R

Differences between the two Fujinon 35mm lenses are relatively minimal. Both lenses have excellent bokeh, minimal distortion, and generally great specs. Both have a lens construction of 8 elements in 6 groups and a metal frame. 

If you’re looking for something cheaper to start out with, the f/2 WR is the better lens. Its lower price and weather resistance makes it a great starting lens for anyone getting into the field.

The lens is also compatible with all Fuji X-mount cameras, making it a convenient option for anyone with more than one camera from this series. 

However, for owners of the Fujifilm X-Pro1, X-T/X-T3/X-T4, the F/1.4 lens is the greater investment, due to its better range and perfect shots.

In my humble opinion and after using the Fuji 35mm f/1.4 for over 3 years now. It’s the far superior lens of the two.

👉 Read Fuji 23mm vs 35mm Review

Fuji 35mm f/1.4 Frequently Asked Questions

What is a 35mm 1.4 lens good for?

The 35mm f/1.4 lens is a popular and versatile prime lens for Fujifilm cameras, particularly for portrait photography and low-light shooting. Its fast aperture makes it ideal for shooting in difficult lighting conditions, while its wide field of view also makes it great for capturing a large scene with great depth and clarity. This lens can also be used for street photography, landscape photography, and more.

Why is the Fuji 35mm 1.4 so good?

The Fuji 35mm f/1.4 lens is widely regarded as one of the best lenses for Fujifilm cameras, particularly due to its outstanding quaulity of image and sharpness. Its fast aperture allows you to capture great detail even in low-light situations, while its wide field of view lets you capture a lot of your scene in a single shot.

Additionally, the lens is well-built and durable, making it a great option for photographers who want a reliable camera lens that will last for many years. Overall, the Fuji 35mm f/1.4 is one of the best lenses available for Fujifilm cameras, offering excellent image and performance in all shooting conditions.

Does the Fuji XF 35mm f/1.4 Flare?

You might occasionally get flare with the Fuji 35mm f/1.4 lens when shooting into direct light sources, such as the sun or a strong light source. However, most photographers report minimal flare with this lens, making it an excellent option for most shooting conditions and lighting situations. If you are concerned about potential flare issues with the Fuji 35mm f/1.4, you may want to consider using a lens hood or other flare prevention techniques, such as shooting from different angles.

Is the Fuji XF 35mm f/1.4 Sharp?

Yes, the Fuji 35mm f/1.4 is an exceptionally sharp lens, making it a great option for capturing high-quality images with great detail and clarity. Many photographers also report excellent performance when shooting at wider apertures, such as f/2 or f/1.4, further highlighting the sharpness of this lens.

Fuji 35mm f/1.4 Review Recap

This compact, affordable lens is one of the three original Fuji X prime lenses and is compatible with the Fujifilm X-Pro1 and Fuji’s flagship X series system (such as the Fujifilm X-T2 and the Fujifilm X-T4).

It’s the ideal all-purpose lens for travel photographers, beginners, and photography enthusiasts.

Whether you prefer long-distance street photography, wide landscapes, or complex portraits with minute details, the f/1.4 lens is a treat to have on you. Just toss it in your jacket pocket or your camera bag, and set out to capture those unique moments and candid shots. 

Compared to the younger f/2 WR lens, the f/1.4 has some definite strengths and weaknesses. It isn’t weather-resistant, and it’s costlier. But with such great specs and a long history of top image quality, the cost is well worth it. It’s one of the best lenses in the Fuji X-mount range.

Buy the Fujifilm 35mm 1.4f lens here, and head out to take your own gorgeous travel photos


Sharing is caring!

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *