Fujifilm GF 23mm f/4 R LM WR

Summary

The Fujifilm GF 23mm f/4 R LM WR is a strong optical performer — a ultra-wide prime (18mm equivalent) with f/4 maximum aperture. The lens is priced at approximately ~$1750 USD. Please check the official product page for sample images, manuals, and firmware updates.

Genre Suitability

  • Excellent for: Landscape, Architecture, Sport, Wildlife
  • Avoid for: Nightscape, Street, Travel, Macro

Strengths

  • Good flare resistance
  • Negligible distortion
  • Weather-sealed construction
  • Fast linear motor autofocus

Weaknesses

  • Noticeably soft corners wide open
  • Noticeable vignetting wide open
  • Low macro capability (0.09x magnification)

Specifications 20/20

Optical construction15 elements in 12 groups (2 aspherical, 3 ED, 1 Super ED)
CoatingSuper EBC, Nano-GI
Focal length23mm
Max aperturef/4
Sweet spotf/8
Aperture blades9 (circular)
Sunstar points18 (soft — circular blades)
Max magnification0.09x
Min focus distance380mm
AF motorLM
OISNo
Weather sealedYes
Aperture ringYes
Clickless apertureNo
Focus ringYes
Focus by wireYes
Distance scaleYes
Rotating frontNo
Tripod mountNo
Weight845g
Diameter89.8mm
Length103mm
Filter thread82mm
Year2017

MTF Charts

f/40.00.20.40.60.81.0C2.695.388.0710.7613.4516.1418.8321.5224.2126.9Image height (mm)
15 lp/mm S 15 lp/mm M 20 lp/mm S 20 lp/mm M 40 lp/mm S 40 lp/mm M
Position15S15M20S20M40S40M
Center0.990.990.970.970.890.89
2.69mm0.990.990.970.970.900.90
5.38mm0.990.990.970.950.880.86
8.07mm0.990.990.950.940.840.84
10.76mm0.980.980.940.920.790.82
13.45mm0.980.980.920.910.740.72
16.14mm0.970.970.890.900.710.73
18.83mm0.940.960.810.890.670.71
21.52mm0.880.960.710.890.600.74
24.21mm0.820.940.630.860.530.70
26.9mm0.760.920.580.790.480.56

Source: Official manufacturer specifications

Optical Quality 12/14

Center (wide open)
1.5
Corner (wide open)
0.5
Center (stopped)
2.0
Corner (stopped)
1.5
Coma
1.0
Astigmatism
1.0
Longitudinal CA
1.5
Lateral CA
2.0
Distortion
1.5
Vignetting (wide open)
0.5
Vignetting (stopped)
2.0
Flare resistance
1.5

Sharpness

  • Good center sharpness wide open
  • Noticeably soft corners wide open
  • Outstanding center resolution stopped down
  • Good corner-to-corner sharpness stopped down

Aberrations

  • Well-controlled longitudinal CA
  • Negligible lateral chromatic aberration
  • Moderate coma at the extreme corners
  • Moderate astigmatism

Rendering

  • Noticeable vignetting wide open
  • Vignetting essentially gone by f/5.6
  • Good flare resistance

Distortion

  • Minimal distortion

All optical scores are based on lab measurements and field tests from trusted review sources. For details on how we score lenses, see our scoring methodology.

Genre Fit

✗NightscapeAvoid✓LandscapeGood✓ArchitectureGood✗StreetAvoid✗TravelAvoid✓SportGood✓WildlifeGood✗MacroAvoid

✗Nightscape Photography2/5

Nightscape Photography prioritizes coma control, astigmatism correction, and a fast aperture for short star exposures.

Primary
  • Moderate coma at the extreme corners
  • Moderate astigmatism
  • Slow f/4 aperture
Secondary
  • Negligible lateral chromatic aberration
  • Good center sharpness wide open
  • Noticeably soft corners wide open
  • Well-controlled longitudinal CA
  • Noticeable vignetting wide open

✓Landscape Photography4/5

Landscape Photography prioritizes corner-to-corner sharpness at stopped-down apertures and good flare resistance.

Primary
  • Good corner-to-corner sharpness stopped down
  • Outstanding center resolution stopped down
Secondary
  • Minimal distortion
  • Negligible lateral chromatic aberration
  • Well-controlled longitudinal CA
  • Vignetting essentially gone by f/5.6
  • Good flare resistance
  • Moderate astigmatism
  • Moderate coma at the extreme corners

✓Architecture Photography4/5

Architecture Photography prioritizes geometric precision with minimal distortion and even corner sharpness.

Primary
  • Good corner-to-corner sharpness stopped down
  • Outstanding center resolution stopped down
  • Minimal distortion
Secondary
  • Negligible lateral chromatic aberration
  • Vignetting essentially gone by f/5.6
  • Good flare resistance

✗Street Photography2/5

Street Photography prioritizes sharp stopped-down performance and a fast enough aperture for low light.

Primary
  • Outstanding center resolution stopped down
  • Slow f/4 aperture
Secondary
  • Good center sharpness wide open
  • Good flare resistance
  • Well-controlled longitudinal CA
  • Moderate coma at the extreme corners

✗Travel Photography2/5

Travel Photography prioritizes balanced image quality in a lightweight package.

Primary
  • Outstanding center resolution stopped down
  • Heavy at 845g
Secondary
  • Slow f/4 aperture
  • Good flare resistance
  • Well-controlled longitudinal CA

✓Sport Photography4/5

Sport Photography prioritizes sharp wide-open center performance to freeze action at fast shutter speeds.

Primary
  • Good center sharpness wide open
Secondary
  • Slow f/4 aperture
  • Well-controlled longitudinal CA
  • Negligible lateral chromatic aberration

✓Wildlife Photography4/5

Wildlife Photography prioritizes center sharpness across apertures for distant subjects.

Primary
  • Good center sharpness wide open
  • Outstanding center resolution stopped down
Secondary
  • Slow f/4 aperture
  • Well-controlled longitudinal CA
  • Negligible lateral chromatic aberration

✗Macro Photography1/5

Macro Photography prioritizes stopped-down center sharpness and high magnification for close-up detail.

Primary
  • Outstanding center resolution stopped down
  • Low magnification (0.09x)
Secondary
  • Minimal distortion
  • Negligible lateral chromatic aberration
  • Well-controlled longitudinal CA

Reviews

Imaging Resource

Alternatives

Venus Laowa 19mm f/2.8 Zero-D GFXVenus Laowa 20mm f/4 Zero-D Shift GFXNiSi Athena Prime 25mm T1.9 GFXFujifilm GF 20-35mm f/4 R WR
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