Fujifilm XF 23mm f/2.0 R WR
Summary
The Fujifilm XF 23mm f/2.0 R WR is a solid optical performer — a wide-angle prime (35mm equivalent) with f/2 maximum aperture. The lens is priced at approximately ~$750 USD. Please check the official product page for sample images, manuals, and firmware updates.
Genre Suitability
- Excellent for: Street, Travel
- Adequate for: Nightscape, Landscape, Architecture, Sport, Wildlife
- Avoid for: Portrait, Macro
Strengths
- Well-controlled aberrations
- Negligible distortion
- Weather-sealed construction
Weaknesses
- Noticeably soft corners wide open
- Heavy vignetting wide open (2+ stops in corners)
- Below-average bokeh quality
- Low macro capability (0.13x magnification)
Specifications 20/20
| Optical construction | 10 elements in 6 groups (2 aspherical) |
| Coating | Super EBC |
| Focal length | 23mm |
| Max aperture | f/2 |
| Sweet spot | f/4 |
| Aperture blades | 9 (circular) |
| Sunstar points | 18 (soft — circular blades) |
| Max magnification | 0.13x |
| Min focus distance | 220mm |
| AF motor | DC |
| OIS | No |
| Weather sealed | Yes |
| Aperture ring | Yes |
| Clickless aperture | No |
| Focus ring | Yes |
| Focus by wire | No |
| Distance scale | Yes |
| Rotating front | No |
| Tripod mount | No |
| Weight | 180g |
| Diameter | 60mm |
| Length | 51.9mm |
| Filter thread | 43mm |
| Year | 2016 |
Optical Quality 14/14
| Center (wide open) | 1.0 |
| Corner (wide open) | 0.5 |
| Center (stopped) | 2.0 |
| Corner (stopped) | 1.0 |
| Coma | 1.0 |
| Astigmatism | 1.5 |
| Spherical aberration | 1.5 |
| Longitudinal CA | 2.0 |
| Lateral CA | 1.5 |
| Distortion | 2.0 |
| Vignetting (wide open) | 0.0 |
| Vignetting (stopped) | 1.5 |
| Bokeh | 0.5 |
| Flare resistance | 1.0 |
Sharpness
- Acceptable 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
- Well-controlled lateral CA
- Moderate coma at the extreme corners
- Well-controlled astigmatism
- Well-corrected spherical aberration
Rendering
- Below-average bokeh quality
- Heavy vignetting wide open (2+ stops in corners)
- 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 3/5
Nightscape Photography prioritizes coma control, astigmatism correction, and a fast aperture for short star exposures.
- Moderate coma at the extreme corners
- Well-controlled astigmatism
- Fast f/2 aperture
- Well-controlled lateral CA
- Acceptable center sharpness wide open
- Noticeably soft corners wide open
- Virtually no longitudinal chromatic aberration
- Heavy vignetting wide open (2+ stops in corners)
- Well-corrected spherical aberration
~ 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
- Well-controlled lateral CA
- Virtually no longitudinal chromatic aberration
- Vignetting clears well when stopped down
- Acceptable flare resistance with modern coatings
- Well-controlled astigmatism
- Moderate coma at the extreme corners
~ 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
- Well-controlled lateral CA
- Vignetting clears well when stopped down
- Acceptable flare resistance with modern coatings
✓ Street Photography 4/5
Street Photography prioritizes sharp stopped-down performance and a fast enough aperture for low light.
- Outstanding center resolution stopped down
- Fast f/2 aperture
- Acceptable center sharpness wide open
- Acceptable flare resistance with modern coatings
- Virtually no longitudinal chromatic aberration
- Moderate coma at the extreme corners
✓ Travel Photography 4.5/5
Travel Photography prioritizes balanced image quality in a lightweight package.
- Outstanding center resolution stopped down
- Lightweight at 180g
- Fast f/2 aperture
- Acceptable flare resistance with modern coatings
- Virtually no longitudinal chromatic aberration
✗ Portrait Photography 2/5
Portrait Photography prioritizes smooth bokeh and critical center sharpness wide open for subject isolation.
- Below-average bokeh quality
- Acceptable center sharpness wide open
- Virtually no longitudinal chromatic aberration
- Well-corrected spherical aberration
- Heavy vignetting wide open (2+ stops in corners)
~ Sport Photography 3/5
Sport Photography prioritizes sharp wide-open center performance to freeze action at fast shutter speeds.
- Acceptable center sharpness wide open
- Fast f/2 aperture
- Virtually no longitudinal chromatic aberration
- Well-controlled lateral CA
~ Wildlife Photography 3/5
Wildlife Photography prioritizes center sharpness across apertures for distant subjects.
- Acceptable center sharpness wide open
- Outstanding center resolution stopped down
- Fast f/2 aperture
- Virtually no longitudinal chromatic aberration
- Well-controlled lateral CA
✗ Macro Photography 1/5
Macro Photography prioritizes stopped-down center sharpness and high magnification for close-up detail.
- Outstanding center resolution stopped down
- Low magnification (0.13x)
- Negligible distortion — straight lines stay straight
- Well-controlled lateral CA
- Virtually no longitudinal chromatic aberration
- Well-corrected spherical aberration
- Below-average bokeh quality