Fujifilm XF 18mm f/1.4 R LM WR
Summary
The Fujifilm XF 18mm f/1.4 R LM WR is a strong optical performer — a wide-angle prime (27mm equivalent) with f/1.4 maximum aperture. The lens is priced at approximately ~$1250 USD. Please check the official product page for sample images, manuals, and firmware updates.
Genre Suitability
- Excellent for: Street, Travel, Portrait, Sport, Wildlife
- Adequate for: Landscape, Architecture
- Avoid for: Nightscape, Macro
Strengths
- Well-controlled aberrations
- Smooth, pleasant bokeh
- Negligible distortion
- Weather-sealed construction
- Fast linear motor autofocus
Weaknesses
- Noticeably soft corners wide open
- Noticeable coma in the corners wide open
- Noticeable vignetting wide open
Specifications 20/20
| Optical construction | 15 elements in 9 groups (3 aspherical, 1 ED) |
| Coating | Super EBC |
| Focal length | 18mm |
| Max aperture | f/1.4 |
| Sweet spot | f/2.8 |
| Aperture blades | 9 (circular) |
| Sunstar points | 18 (soft — circular blades) |
| Max magnification | 0.15x |
| Min focus distance | 200mm |
| AF motor | LM |
| OIS | No |
| Weather sealed | Yes |
| Aperture ring | Yes |
| Clickless aperture | No |
| Focus ring | Yes |
| Focus by wire | Yes |
| Distance scale | Yes |
| Rotating front | No |
| Tripod mount | No |
| Weight | 370g |
| Diameter | 68.8mm |
| Length | 75.6mm |
| Filter thread | 62mm |
| Year | 2021 |
Optical Quality 14/14
| Center (wide open) | 2.0 |
| Corner (wide open) | 0.5 |
| Center (stopped) | 2.0 |
| Corner (stopped) | 1.0 |
| Coma | 0.5 |
| Astigmatism | 1.5 |
| Spherical aberration | 2.0 |
| Longitudinal CA | 2.0 |
| Lateral CA | 2.0 |
| Distortion | 2.0 |
| Vignetting (wide open) | 0.5 |
| Vignetting (stopped) | 1.5 |
| Bokeh | 1.5 |
| Flare resistance | 1.0 |
Sharpness
- Excellent center sharpness wide open
- Noticeably soft corners wide open
- Outstanding center resolution stopped down
- Acceptable corner sharpness stopped down
Aberrations
- Virtually no longitudinal chromatic aberration
- Negligible lateral chromatic aberration
- Noticeable coma in the corners wide open
- Well-controlled astigmatism
- Excellent spherical aberration correction
Rendering
- Smooth, pleasant bokeh
- Noticeable vignetting wide open
- Vignetting clears well when stopped down
- Acceptable flare resistance with modern coatings
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 2/5
Nightscape Photography prioritizes coma control, astigmatism correction, and a fast aperture for short star exposures.
- Noticeable coma in the corners wide open
- Well-controlled astigmatism
- Fast f/1.4 aperture
- Negligible lateral chromatic aberration
- Excellent center sharpness wide open
- Noticeably soft corners wide open
- Virtually no longitudinal chromatic aberration
- Noticeable vignetting wide open
- Excellent spherical aberration correction
~ Landscape Photography 3/5
Landscape Photography prioritizes corner-to-corner sharpness at stopped-down apertures and good flare resistance.
- Acceptable corner sharpness stopped down
- Outstanding center resolution stopped down
- Negligible distortion — straight lines stay straight
- Negligible lateral chromatic aberration
- Virtually no longitudinal chromatic aberration
- Vignetting clears well when stopped down
- Acceptable flare resistance with modern coatings
- Well-controlled astigmatism
- Noticeable coma in the corners wide open
~ Architecture Photography 3/5
Architecture Photography prioritizes geometric precision with minimal distortion and even corner sharpness.
- Acceptable corner sharpness stopped down
- Outstanding center resolution stopped down
- Negligible distortion — straight lines stay straight
- Negligible lateral chromatic aberration
- Vignetting clears well when stopped down
- Acceptable flare resistance with modern coatings
✓ Street Photography 4.5/5
Street Photography prioritizes sharp stopped-down performance and a fast enough aperture for low light.
- Outstanding center resolution stopped down
- Fast f/1.4 aperture
- Excellent center sharpness wide open
- Acceptable flare resistance with modern coatings
- Virtually no longitudinal chromatic aberration
- Noticeable coma in the corners wide open
✓ Travel Photography 4/5
Travel Photography prioritizes balanced image quality in a lightweight package.
- Outstanding center resolution stopped down
- Lightweight at 370g
- Fast f/1.4 aperture
- Acceptable flare resistance with modern coatings
- Virtually no longitudinal chromatic aberration
✓ Portrait Photography 4/5
Portrait Photography prioritizes smooth bokeh and critical center sharpness wide open for subject isolation.
- Smooth, pleasant bokeh
- Excellent center sharpness wide open
- Virtually no longitudinal chromatic aberration
- Excellent spherical aberration correction
- Noticeable vignetting wide open
✓ Sport Photography 5/5
Sport Photography prioritizes sharp wide-open center performance to freeze action at fast shutter speeds.
- Excellent center sharpness wide open
- Fast f/1.4 aperture
- Virtually no longitudinal chromatic aberration
- Negligible lateral chromatic aberration
✓ Wildlife Photography 5/5
Wildlife Photography prioritizes center sharpness across apertures for distant subjects.
- Excellent center sharpness wide open
- Outstanding center resolution stopped down
- Fast f/1.4 aperture
- Virtually no longitudinal chromatic aberration
- Negligible lateral chromatic aberration
✗ 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
- Negligible lateral chromatic aberration
- Virtually no longitudinal chromatic aberration
- Excellent spherical aberration correction
- Smooth, pleasant bokeh