Pros & Cons
-
- All-weather build
- Strong optical performance
- Aperture control ring
- 1:4 macro focus
- Minimal breathing
- Optical stabilization
-
- Front element omits anti-smudge coating
- Edge resolution suffers at f/4
Fujifilm Fujinon XF 16-80mm F4 R OIS WR Specs
| Dimensions | 3.5 by 3.1 inches |
| Filter Thread | 72 |
| Focal Length (Telephoto) | 80 |
| Focal Length (Wide) | 16 |
| Focus Type | Autofocus |
| Full-Frame Equivalent (Telephoto) | 120 |
| Full-Frame Equivalent (Wide) | 24 |
| Mount | Fujifilm X |
| Optical Stabilization | Optical |
| Weight | 15.5 |
| Zoom Ratio | 5 x |
The Fujifilm Fujinon XF 16-80mm F4 R OIS WR ($799.95) comes in between the basic starter zoom lenses for entry-level cameras and high-end f/2.8 options in both pricing and features. It's got a longer zoom range than the company's first lens of this type, the XF 18-55mm F2.8-4, but costs just $100 more. It's good enough for existing system owners to mull it over as an upgrade to replace their current zoom, and should be the first choice for most photographers buying into the Fujifilm X camera system.
A Sturdy, Weather-Protected Build
The XF 16-80mm is about average size for a standard zoom with its coverage range. It measures 3.5 by 3.1 inches (HD) and weighs 15.5 ounces. As with most zooms of this type, the lens features a telescoping design, extending out farther from the camera body as you zoom in.
It's purpose-built for Fujifilm's APS-C camera system, where it covers the wide end of a standard angle through a short telephoto focal range. Its angle of view matches a 24-120mm zoom mounted to a full-frame camera.
The barrel is a mix of polycarbonate and metal, and features internal seals to protect against dust and splashes. They work well to keep the elements away from the delicate electronics inside your camera, but you need to pair it with a sealed model, like the X-T3 or X-Pro3.
Despite including exceptional weather protection, Fujifilm doesn't use a fluorine or similar anti-smudge coating on the front element. If you do get it wet, you'll have to take care to clean it with a microfiber cloth. If you don't, you'll have a harder time removing the marks dried water drops leave behind.
Using the included lens hood will help keep the glass dry in the rain, assuming you're not angling it up to get a shot. The hood is plastic and can be mounted in reverse for storage. The front element supports 72mm threaded filters.
There are a total of three control rings, all with raised ridges so you can find them by feel and turn them easily, even if you're working in cold weather and wearing gloves. The aperture ring sits closest to the mount. It's finished in metal and fairly narrow. It supports third-stop precision from f/4 through f/22, and also includes an A position for automatic aperture adjustment.
The zoom ring is a bit wider than the aperture control, and finished in rubber. It turns comfortably, with about 90 degrees of rotation needed to zoom from the 16 to 80mm position. The manual focus ring is the farthest forward, at the front of the outer portion of the barrel, the part that doesn't extend.
The manual focus experience isn't spectacular. The focus ring turns without any resistance, so it's harder to dial in minute, precise adjustments. On the plus side, autofocus is quick and silent, and the angle of view is very steady when changing focus. The minimal amount of the focus breathing effect will make videographers happy, even if manual focus response doesn't.
The minimum focus distance is 13.8 inches, a figure measured from the image sensor. For wide-angle shots you may find yourself having to lean or step back to get a shot, but you can get macro results when zoomed all the way in. At the minimum focus distance it nets 1:4 life-size magnification at the 80mm focal length.
Optical stabilization is included too. A stabilized lens is useful for video, as well as for long exposure photography without a tripod. Most of Fujifilm's cameras don't include in-body stabilization, but the lens works in conjunction with models that include IBIS, currently just the X-H1 and X-T4.
In the Lab
Our labs-based resolution tests are performed using Imatest software and an X-T4 camera body. At 16mm f/4, the lens nets excellent resolution on average (2,650 lines), the result of outstanding central resolution that drops as you move off center. Edge clarity here isn't great—you'll want to use a narrow f-stop for landscapes and other shots where peripheral clarity is a concern. Resolution ticks up at f/5.6 (2,765 lines), and edges are a little better, but you'll want to use f/8 or f/16 to get the clearest details from center to edge.
See How We Test LensesSee How We Test Lenses
You can use f/22 if you'd like, but you'll see a big drop in image quality due to diffraction. This is true at all focal lengths. Stopping a lens down all the way can net pointed sunstars when the sun is visible in the frame, and does the same for street lamps in urban landscapes, Christmas lights in interiors, and similar bright circles of light, but the XF 16-80mm does a good job making them at f/16.
Image quality is a bit better when the lens is zoomed to its mid points. I tested it at 35mm and 50mm and noted that resolution is excellent at f/4, without a significant drop from center to edge. Image quality holds up well through f/11 and drops off a little bit at f/16.
Performance at 80mm is similar to what you get at 16mm. At f/4 the lens has outstanding central sharpness, and excellent resolution through most of the frame, but the edges are rather soft. The 80mm focal length is more suited for portraits with background blur, not traditional landscape or architectural work, so it's not worrisome.
Edges tick up at smaller f-stops, as does the overall resolution. At f/5.6 and f/8 you'll net excellent performance through most of the frame, and at f/11 the periphery is excellent and the overall resolution is outstanding.
Distortion is controlled—it's not apparent in JPG or Raw images processed using Adobe Lightroom software. The same is true for vignetting—there's basically none—and chromatic aberrations. I wasn't able to spot any unnatural color fringing in images.
The Best Zoom for Most X System Photogs
Fujifilm system owners have a good range of choices when shopping for a standard zoom. At the low end, the XC 16-50mm F3.5-5.6 and XC 15-45mm F3.5-5.6 offer a lot of quality given their price and size, but their variable aperture designs and lack of weather protection make them less appealing to more serious photographers.
We give preference to the XF 16-80mm versus its closest competitors in the lineup, the XF 18-55mm F2.8-4 and the XF 18-135mm F3.5-5.6. All three include optical stabilization, but the 16-80mm offers the best balance of zoom range, maximum aperture, and optical quality, and nets our Editors' Choice recommendation in the process.
It's worth its full price, and is an even better value when bought along with a camera—Fujifilm currently offers a $300 discount when getting it in a kit with an X-T3 or X-T4.
Pro users will still want to consider the premium XF 16-55mm F2.8 as an alternative. Its brighter aperture is a better fit for photographers covering events, and it also sports weather protection and a sturdy build, though it omits optical stabilization.