At $399, the Fujifilm Fujinon XC 16-50mm F3.5-5.6 OIS II is on the pricey side for a starter lens, but its image quality and optically stabilized design make the price of entry worthwhile. Fuji's X series of mirrorless cameras are on the pricey side themselves, and if you're looking at a model that's bundled with this lens, like the entry-level X-A2, you'll be happy to know that it's a very solid starter option. If you have a bit more to spend on a zoom, you should check out the Fujinon XF 18-55mm F2.8-4 R LM OIS for its wider aperture and better build quality.

The 16-50mm has a plastic barrel and lens mount—Fujifilm presumably decided to keep costs down by sacrificing build quality instead of optical quality. But even though it lacks high-grade construction, it doesn't feel cheap. The only real issue is some wobble when it is extended all the way out at its 50mm zoom setting. The lens measures 2.6 by 2.5 inches (HD) at its shortest and weighs 6.9 ounces. It supports 58mm front filters, includes a reversible lens hood, and can focus as close as 5.9 inches. The manual focus ring sits just behind the front element, with the larger zoom ring behind it. There's no manual aperture control ring, as you'll find in many other Fuji lenses.

I used Imatest to see how sharp the 16-50mm is when paired with the 16-megapixel X-A2. At 16mm f/3.5 it scores 2,051 lines per picture height on a center-weighted sharpness test, better than the 1,800 lines we look for in a photo. Performance is consistent across the frame, with even the outer edges showing 1,900 lines. Stopping down doesn't do much to improve image quality—even at f/8, the lens shows 2,090 lines. There's a bit of barrel distortion here, but it's just barely noticeable to the eye and can be corrected in software with ease if desired.

At 35mm the maximum aperture is f/5 and the lens shows 2,463 lines, again with pretty good performance up to the edges of the frame. At 50mm f/5.6 the lens scores 2,523 lines on our sharpness test. There's a little bit of pincushion distortion at 50mm, but nothing to worry too much about. The test numbers are in line with the first version of the lens, the Fujinon XC 16-50mm F3.5-5.6 OIS, which isn't a surprise as they are identical from an optical standpoint. The new version offers improved stabilization and can focus a bit closer, but those are the only differences.

If you're considering buying a Fuji mirrorless camera that's bundled with the 16-50mm, have no fear, as image quality is not an issue. The f/3.5-5.6 aperture won't set the world on fire, especially if you like to shoot in dim conditions, but it's in line with other starter lenses on the market, and it shows less distortion than many competitors. If you have a bit more money to spend, consider moving up to the Fujinon XF 18-55mm F2.8-4 LM OIS; it's not quite as wide, but it does capture more light throughout its zoom range and is more sturdily built.