Fujifilm XF 18-55mm f/2.8-4.0 R LM OIS
Summary
The Fujifilm XF 18-55mm f/2.8-4.0 R LM OIS is a solid optical performer — a wide-angle zoom (27mm equivalent) with f/2.8 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: Landscape, Architecture, Travel
- Adequate for: Nightscape, Street, Portrait, Sport, Wildlife
- Avoid for: Macro
Strengths
- Good overall sharpness
- Smooth, pleasant bokeh
- Good flare resistance
- Negligible distortion
- Fast linear motor autofocus
- Built-in optical stabilization
Weaknesses
- Noticeable longitudinal CA on high-contrast edges
Specifications 20/20
| Optical construction | 14 elements in 10 groups (3 aspherical, 1 ED) |
| Coating | Super EBC |
| Focal length | 18-55mm |
| Max aperture | f/2.8 |
| Sweet spot | f/5.6 |
| Aperture blades | 7 (circular) |
| Sunstar points | 14 (soft — circular blades) |
| Max magnification | 0.15x |
| Min focus distance | 300mm |
| AF motor | LM |
| OIS | Yes |
| Weather sealed | No |
| Aperture ring | Yes |
| Clickless aperture | No |
| Focus ring | Yes |
| Focus by wire | Yes |
| Distance scale | No |
| Rotating front | No |
| Tripod mount | No |
| Weight | 310g |
| Diameter | 65mm |
| Length | 70.4mm |
| Filter thread | 58mm |
| Year | 2012 |
Optical Quality 12/14
| Center (wide open) | 1.0 |
| Center (stopped) | 2.0 |
| Corner (stopped) | 1.5 |
| Coma | 1.5 |
| Astigmatism | 1.5 |
| Longitudinal CA | 0.5 |
| Lateral CA | 1.0 |
| Distortion | 2.0 |
| Vignetting (wide open) | 1.0 |
| Vignetting (stopped) | 1.5 |
| Bokeh | 1.5 |
| Flare resistance | 1.5 |
Sharpness
- Acceptable center sharpness wide open
- Outstanding center resolution stopped down
- Good corner-to-corner sharpness stopped down
Aberrations
- Noticeable longitudinal CA on high-contrast edges
- Moderate lateral CA, auto-corrected by most software
- Well-controlled coma
- Well-controlled astigmatism
Rendering
- Smooth, pleasant bokeh
- Moderate vignetting wide open, typical for the aperture class
- Vignetting clears well when stopped down
- Good flare resistance
Distortion
- Negligible distortion — straight lines stay straight
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
~ Nightscape Photography 3/5
Nightscape Photography prioritizes coma control, astigmatism correction, and a fast aperture for short star exposures.
- Well-controlled coma
- Well-controlled astigmatism
- Slow f/2.8 aperture
- Moderate lateral CA, auto-corrected by most software
- Acceptable center sharpness wide open
- Noticeable longitudinal CA on high-contrast edges
- Moderate vignetting wide open, typical for the aperture class
✓ Landscape Photography 4/5
Landscape Photography prioritizes corner-to-corner sharpness at stopped-down apertures and good flare resistance.
- Good corner-to-corner sharpness stopped down
- Outstanding center resolution stopped down
- Negligible distortion — straight lines stay straight
- Moderate lateral CA, auto-corrected by most software
- Noticeable longitudinal CA on high-contrast edges
- Vignetting clears well when stopped down
- Good flare resistance
- Well-controlled astigmatism
- Well-controlled coma
✓ Architecture Photography 4/5
Architecture Photography prioritizes geometric precision with minimal distortion and even corner sharpness.
- Good corner-to-corner sharpness stopped down
- Outstanding center resolution stopped down
- Negligible distortion — straight lines stay straight
- Moderate lateral CA, auto-corrected by most software
- Vignetting clears well when stopped down
- Good flare resistance
~ Street Photography 3/5
Street Photography prioritizes sharp stopped-down performance and a fast enough aperture for low light.
- Outstanding center resolution stopped down
- Slow f/2.8 aperture
- Acceptable center sharpness wide open
- Good flare resistance
- Noticeable longitudinal CA on high-contrast edges
- Well-controlled coma
✓ Travel Photography 4/5
Travel Photography prioritizes balanced image quality in a lightweight package.
- Outstanding center resolution stopped down
- Lightweight at 310g
- Slow f/2.8 aperture
- Good flare resistance
- Noticeable longitudinal CA on high-contrast edges
~ Portrait Photography 3/5
Portrait Photography prioritizes smooth bokeh and critical center sharpness wide open for subject isolation.
- Smooth, pleasant bokeh
- Acceptable center sharpness wide open
- Noticeable longitudinal CA on high-contrast edges
- Moderate vignetting wide open, typical for the aperture class
~ Sport Photography 3/5
Sport Photography prioritizes sharp wide-open center performance to freeze action at fast shutter speeds.
- Acceptable center sharpness wide open
- Slow f/2.8 aperture
- Noticeable longitudinal CA on high-contrast edges
- Moderate lateral CA, auto-corrected by most software
~ Wildlife Photography 3/5
Wildlife Photography prioritizes center sharpness across apertures for distant subjects.
- Acceptable center sharpness wide open
- Outstanding center resolution stopped down
- Slow f/2.8 aperture
- Noticeable longitudinal CA on high-contrast edges
- Moderate lateral CA, auto-corrected by most software
✗ Macro Photography 2/5
Macro Photography prioritizes stopped-down center sharpness and high magnification for close-up detail.
- Outstanding center resolution stopped down
- Low magnification (0.15x)
- Negligible distortion — straight lines stay straight
- Moderate lateral CA, auto-corrected by most software
- Noticeable longitudinal CA on high-contrast edges
- Smooth, pleasant bokeh