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The Fujifilm 16-55mm f2.8 lens is often hailed as a versatile workhorse, which is usually said by those who work at these focal lengths (it’s the equivalent of 24-84 on full frame) and want the versatility of a zoom lens with a decent aperture.
My workhorse for travel photography is the Fujifilm XF 50-140mm f2.8 because I often work at longer focal lengths, so I wouldn’t regard it as a workhorse.
However, if you often shoot at these focal lengths and want top-quality optics with excellent build quality, weather sealing, and the versatility of a zoom lens, this is the one for you.
If not, and you prefer a shallower depth of field and are okay with the lack of versatility, it may be worth skipping this lens and getting something else that suits you better.
Except for the lens pictures, the rest of the shots in the post were all taken with the Fujifilm 16-55mm f2.8.
Here are some other Fujifilm body and lens reviews:
Fujifilm 16-55mm f2.8 Review
I’ve used this lens a lot over the years in a professional capacity, photographing weddings on it and using it during my tenure at 10 Downing Street as the Official Photographer of the UK Prime Minister.
I’ve not used it much in my personal life, but a friend was selling one, and I decided to buy it because it was an absolute bargain at £300.
Buying it at this price was a no-brainer, but it begs the question—would I have purchased it if the offer hadn’t been as good?
I’ll answer that under the Summary at the end of the post, so keep reading.
I question whether I’d have bought it because it’s not my favourite or most used lens.
My favourite lens is the Fujifilm XF 35mm f1.4, and my most used lens is the Fujifilm 50-140mm f2.8.
The former is my favourite because it offers wider apertures, and the latter because it provides the reach.
The problem with the Fujifilm 16-55mm f2.8 is that it sits in the range where I would prefer to shoot with prime lenses.
Primes suit my shooting style better, as their wider apertures result in a shallower depth of field.
Despite all that, the lens felt immediately familiar when it arrived, and although I don’t use it very often, it’s a pleasure when I do.
That’s because it’s a great lens.
The Fuji 16-55 is an excellent lens if you want high-quality optics, a zoom function, and a good aperture throughout the focal range.
It’s also a better option than the Fujifilm XF 18-55mm lens because the optics are far better, and the aperture is wider and constant all the way through at f2.8 instead of f2.8-4.
I’ve owned the 18-55mm for many years, but it never gets a run out these days because it’s outdone by all the lenses I’ve bought since, including the 16-50mm.
The only downsides to the 16-55mm, when compared to the Fujifilm XF 18-55mm, are its lack of image stabilisation and weight.
However, both compromises are worth it if you can accept the higher price tag.
Where the 16-55 has been particularly useful to me is shooting close-up stuff.
It is not a macro lens, but when coupled with extension tubes, it becomes convenient for shooting close-up imagery!
Fuji 16-55mm Pros
- Great optical quality
- Constant f2.8 aperture
- High build quality
- good autofocus
- Versatile focal range
& Cons
- Big & Weighty
- Expensive
- No image stabilisation
Body & Build Quality
This lens was released in 2015. Since then, lens technology has advanced significantly and should be considered for the Fuji 16-55 lens.
However, with that in mind, things still need to be mentioned about the lens.
With little difference between cameras and their quality these days, weight is my most significant consideration, given that most of what I shoot these days is travel photography. So, I consider this lens relatively big and heavy (at 655g) for its focal range. Plus, it lacks image stabilisation, which you would expect in a lens like this today.
However, you won’t notice it’s missing if you pair it with a decent body, like the Fujifilm X-T5, which has in-body image stabilisation.
As for the build quality, the lens is bomb-proof.
It’s built as well as you would expect for the professional end of Fujifilm’s range and is dust—and moisture-resistant, meaning it can withstand some of Mother Nature’s wrath.
Image Quality
Fujifilm claims this “…lens has been designed with no compromise, so the image quality is comparable to that of a prime lens.”
To be fair to Fujifilm, they aren’t far off the mark with this bold statement.
The optical quality is excellent.
I do not doubt if you start poking around at the very edges of the frame, you might find something you don’t like, but unless you are a pixel-peeper, you won’t notice a thing.
Autofocus
The same goes for the autofocus.
It’s fast and accurate, and paired with a decent camera body (because AF isn’t just about the lens), it will perform as you want it to: well.
Summary
I asked if I would have bought this lens if it wasn’t such a bargain.
I would have bought it.
There have been times when the wider end of the lens has been helpful, or I just wanted a bit more versatility, and I’ve no doubt it will prove useful in the coming years.
The lenses are much better value for money in the second-hand market, where they can be picked up for a decent price, certainly closer to what I paid than the retail price.
So, although it’s not my favourite lens, it sits well within the Fujifilm X-Series lens line-up, has the optical prowess I’d expect from Fujifilm, and you won’t go far wrong with it.
Sample Imagery
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