Fujifilm XF 35mm f/1.4 R

Summary

The Fujifilm XF 35mm f/1.4 R is a solid optical performer — a standard prime (53mm equivalent) with f/1.4 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: Landscape, Architecture, Street, Travel, Sport, Wildlife
  • Adequate for: Portrait
  • Avoid for: Nightscape, Macro

Strengths

  • Good flare resistance
  • Negligible distortion

Weaknesses

  • Noticeably soft corners wide open
  • Severe coma (point lights smear into wings at corners)
  • Noticeable vignetting wide open

Specifications 20/20

Optical construction 8 elements in 6 groups (1 aspherical)
Coating Super EBC
Focal length35mm
Max aperturef/1.4
Sweet spot f/4
Aperture blades 7 (circular)
Sunstar points 14 (soft — circular blades)
Max magnification 0.17x
Min focus distance280mm
AF motorDC
OISNo
Weather sealedNo
Aperture ringYes
Clickless apertureNo
Focus ringYes
Focus by wireNo
Distance scaleYes
Rotating frontNo
Tripod mountNo
Weight187g
Diameter65mm
Length54.9mm
Filter thread52mm
Year2012

Optical Quality 14/14

Center (wide open)
1.5
Corner (wide open)
0.5
Center (stopped)
2.0
Corner (stopped)
1.5
Coma
0.0
Astigmatism
2.0
Spherical aberration
1.0
Longitudinal CA
1.0
Lateral CA
1.5
Distortion
1.5
Vignetting (wide open)
0.5
Vignetting (stopped)
2.0
Bokeh
1.0
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

  • Moderate longitudinal CA, correctable in post
  • Well-controlled lateral CA
  • Severe coma (point lights smear into wings at corners)
  • Negligible astigmatism
  • Moderate spherical aberration

Rendering

  • Acceptable bokeh 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

✗ Nightscape Avoid ✓ Landscape Good ✓ Architecture Good ✓ Street Good ✓ Travel Excellent ~ Portrait Adequate ✓ Sport Good ✓ Wildlife Good ✗ Macro Avoid

✗ Nightscape Photography 1/5

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

Primary
  • Severe coma (point lights smear into wings at corners)
  • Negligible astigmatism
  • Fast f/1.4 aperture
Secondary
  • Well-controlled lateral CA
  • Good center sharpness wide open
  • Noticeably soft corners wide open
  • Moderate longitudinal CA, correctable in post
  • Noticeable vignetting wide open
  • Moderate spherical aberration

✓ Landscape Photography 4/5

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
  • Well-controlled lateral CA
  • Moderate longitudinal CA, correctable in post
  • Vignetting essentially gone by f/5.6
  • Good flare resistance
  • Negligible astigmatism
  • Severe coma (point lights smear into wings at corners)

✓ Architecture Photography 4/5

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
  • Well-controlled lateral CA
  • Vignetting essentially gone by f/5.6
  • Good flare resistance

✓ Street Photography 4/5

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

Primary
  • Outstanding center resolution stopped down
  • Fast f/1.4 aperture
Secondary
  • Good center sharpness wide open
  • Good flare resistance
  • Moderate longitudinal CA, correctable in post
  • Severe coma (point lights smear into wings at corners)

✓ Travel Photography 4.5/5

Travel Photography prioritizes balanced image quality in a lightweight package.

Primary
  • Outstanding center resolution stopped down
  • Lightweight at 187g
Secondary
  • Fast f/1.4 aperture
  • Good flare resistance
  • Moderate longitudinal CA, correctable in post

~ Portrait Photography 3/5

Portrait Photography prioritizes smooth bokeh and critical center sharpness wide open for subject isolation.

Primary
  • Acceptable bokeh rendering
  • Good center sharpness wide open
Secondary
  • Moderate longitudinal CA, correctable in post
  • Moderate spherical aberration
  • Noticeable vignetting wide open

✓ Sport Photography 4/5

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

Primary
  • Good center sharpness wide open
Secondary
  • Fast f/1.4 aperture
  • Moderate longitudinal CA, correctable in post
  • Well-controlled lateral CA

✓ Wildlife Photography 4/5

Wildlife Photography prioritizes center sharpness across apertures for distant subjects.

Primary
  • Good center sharpness wide open
  • Outstanding center resolution stopped down
Secondary
  • Fast f/1.4 aperture
  • Moderate longitudinal CA, correctable in post
  • Well-controlled lateral CA

✗ Macro Photography 2/5

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

Primary
  • Outstanding center resolution stopped down
  • Low magnification (0.17x)
Secondary
  • Minimal distortion
  • Well-controlled lateral CA
  • Moderate longitudinal CA, correctable in post
  • Moderate spherical aberration
  • Acceptable bokeh rendering

Reviews

LensTip

Alternatives

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