Fujifilm XF 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 R LM OIS WR
Summary
The Fujifilm XF 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 R LM OIS WR is a solid optical performer — a wide-angle zoom (27mm equivalent) with f/3.5 maximum aperture. The lens is priced at approximately ~$1000 USD. Please check the official product page for sample images, manuals, and firmware updates.
Genre Suitability
- Excellent for: Wildlife
- Adequate for: Landscape, Architecture, Travel, Sport, Macro
- Avoid for: Street
Strengths
- Well-controlled aberrations
- Negligible distortion
- Weather-sealed construction
- Fast linear motor autofocus
- Built-in optical stabilization
Weaknesses
- Noticeably soft corners wide open
Specifications 20/20
| Optical construction | 16 elements in 12 groups (4 aspherical, 2 ED) |
| Coating | Super EBC, HT-EBC |
| Focal length | 18-135mm |
| Max aperture | f/3.5 |
| Sweet spot | f/8 |
| Aperture blades | 7 (circular) |
| Sunstar points | 14 (soft — circular blades) |
| Max magnification | 0.27x |
| Min focus distance | 450mm |
| AF motor | LM |
| OIS | Yes |
| Weather sealed | Yes |
| Aperture ring | Yes |
| Clickless aperture | No |
| Focus ring | Yes |
| Focus by wire | Yes |
| Distance scale | No |
| Rotating front | No |
| Tripod mount | No |
| Weight | 490g |
| Diameter | 75.7mm |
| Length | 97.8mm |
| Filter thread | 67mm |
| Year | 2014 |
Optical Quality 8/14
| Center (wide open) | 1.5 |
| Corner (wide open) | 0.5 |
| Center (stopped) | 1.5 |
| Corner (stopped) | 1.0 |
| Lateral CA | 1.5 |
| Distortion | 1.5 |
| Vignetting (wide open) | 1.0 |
| Vignetting (stopped) | 2.0 |
Sharpness
- Good center sharpness wide open
- Noticeably soft corners wide open
- Good center resolution stopped down
- Acceptable corner sharpness stopped down
Aberrations
- Well-controlled lateral CA
Rendering
- Moderate vignetting wide open, typical for the aperture class
- Vignetting essentially gone by f/5.6
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
~ Landscape Photography 3/5
Landscape Photography prioritizes corner-to-corner sharpness at stopped-down apertures and good flare resistance.
- Acceptable corner sharpness stopped down
- Good center resolution stopped down
- Minimal distortion
- Well-controlled lateral CA
- Vignetting essentially gone by f/5.6
~ Architecture Photography 3/5
Architecture Photography prioritizes geometric precision with minimal distortion and even corner sharpness.
- Acceptable corner sharpness stopped down
- Good center resolution stopped down
- Minimal distortion
- Well-controlled lateral CA
- Vignetting essentially gone by f/5.6
✗ Street Photography 2/5
Street Photography prioritizes sharp stopped-down performance and a fast enough aperture for low light.
- Good center resolution stopped down
- Slow f/3.5 aperture
- Good center sharpness wide open
~ Travel Photography 3/5
Travel Photography prioritizes balanced image quality in a lightweight package.
- Good center resolution stopped down
- Heavy at 490g
- Slow f/3.5 aperture
~ Sport Photography 3.5/5
Sport Photography prioritizes sharp wide-open center performance to freeze action at fast shutter speeds.
- Good center sharpness wide open
- Slow f/3.5 aperture
- Well-controlled lateral CA
✓ Wildlife Photography 4/5
Wildlife Photography prioritizes center sharpness across apertures for distant subjects.
- Good center sharpness wide open
- Good center resolution stopped down
- Slow f/3.5 aperture
- Well-controlled lateral CA
~ Macro Photography 3/5
Macro Photography prioritizes stopped-down center sharpness and high magnification for close-up detail.
- Good center resolution stopped down
- Low magnification (0.27x)
- Minimal distortion
- Well-controlled lateral CA