Best Fuji Lens For Travel Photography
Fujifilm mirrorless cameras are one of the most sought-after cameras for travel purposes as they are small, well-built, and use an APS-C sensor format. Do you own a Fujifilm camera? Well, then probably you're here wanting to get the best lens for your kit. Fuji's X- mount series has a wide variety of prime and zoom lenses that make it easy to shoot landscape shots while you travel.
Travel photography is a versatile platform. It involves street photography, natural photography, environmental photography and much more. So, before you dive in, you must know which lens will be the best fit for travel and also suits your budget and needs.
In this article, I will be providing an in-depth review of the ten best Fuji lenses for travel. I'll also be explaining the type of shots you can take with each lens so that you can choose the right one appropriately.
THE BEST FUJI LENS FOR TRAVEL
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10 BEST FUJI LENS FOR TRAVEL REVIEW
1. FUJINON XF 16MM F/1.4 R WR- BEST FUJI TRAVEL LENS
PRODUCT DETAILS:
FEATURES: The XF 16mm F/1.4 R WR Lens is a wide-angle lens primarily intended for Fujifilm X-mount cameras. Those of you who don't mind mounting a slightly bulky lens on your small Fujifilm camera can opt for this lens.
When image quality is concerned, it's excellent, no doubt! The images are super sharp. The 16mm focal length with the f1.4 wide-aperture allows you to shoot beautiful landscape shots even in low-light. The outdoor photography is also extra ordinary which makes FUJINON XF the best lens for travel.
DESIGN: The only thing that concerns me about the design is it's size. This Fujinon lens is little bulkier than a 16mm Canon or Sigma lens. Moreover the Fujifilm camera is small in size. So attaching a bigger lens may feel heavy. But, if you're used to working with heavy lenses, this wouldn't be a big issue to you.
Secondly, about the manual focus ring. It's more like a clutch mechanism. Are you able to see that black ribbed ring on the image? Yeah, you need to push it backward and rotate it for manual focusing, and when you move it front, MF turns off. People who love doing everything with a single touch or a single back button may find this a bit tricky while shooting videos.
The internal optics consists of 2 aspherical elements with 2 ED glasses to reduce the effects caused by aberrations. There's also a 9 bladed diaphragm to give you that superb bokeh.
PERFORMANCE: Now, I'll tell you what makes this lens occupy the first place in this list of best Fuji lenses for travel. As FUJINON XF is a wide angle lens, it's perfect for capturing a wide area of the sceneries during travel. Also this lens captures amazing photos with sunlight making it the best choice for shooting sightseeing spots throughout the travel.
Adding to that, Fujinon XF is an excellent night performer. Yes, I was stunned. I can bet you there's no better competitor. Try using any other Fuji lens for night photography; you can even try using the 16mm f/2.8 version, but still, it doesn't equal the f/1.4's performance.
I used this lens at night to capture a photograph of a person walking alongside the American museum of natural history. The image was super sharp. The lens allows you to have fast shutter speeds, which aids in handheld shots. I don't mind the slight image blurriness it gives me because it doesn't look awkward; you only get a realistic feel.
So, I would say a travel + night street photographer will love enjoying this lens performance. You get 4 times the image brightness that a 16mm f/2.8 can give you. At an ISO of 3200, you can get clear images in very low-light conditions. In contrast, you have to use an ISO 6400 or a 12800 in the f/2.8 version to get the same level of exposure as that of f/1.4.
Lastly, the autofocus is fast and smooth. It allows you to focus sharply in just 0.11 sec. Also the integration of an advanced field scale for presetting focus is beneficial for manual focusing. I give this lens a big thumbs up!.
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2. FUJIFILM XF 18-55MM F/2.8-4 R LM OIS- BEST FUJI ZOOM LENS FOR TRAVEL
PRODUCT DETAILS:
FEATURES: If you want to possess a lightweight (310 grams) lens for your Fujifilm X-mount cameras, then this is for you. If you're on vacation, there could be no better lens to capture beautiful environmental sceneries like mountains, waterfalls, lakes in bright light.
DESIGN: As said above, this lens is not bulky like the 16mm f/1.4 lens and also feels very solid. The lens body is primarily made of metal, while the lens hood is made of plastic. The LM tag indicates that the lens uses a linear motor for autofocus.
Some lenses become frustrating if the aperture and focus rings are flimsy. But that's not the case here. Both the aperture and manual focus rings are sturdy, neither too tight, nor too loose. So, I use this lens as my go-to lens for shooting videos as well.
There's a switch on the lens barrel for image stabilization so you can be confident of not getting shaky pictures. There is also a switch for manual/automatic aperture control. This is great; when you feel you need to tune the aperture manually, you can use the aperture ring. Otherwise, change the aperture value in the camera settings itself.
PERFORMANCE: All travel photographers and videographers owning an X mount Fujifilm camera should have their hands on this lens. With this lens, you can you can take memorable family photographs during your holiday trips/staycations. You will hardly notice any lens flare, so you take pictures in the bright sun as well, making it another best Fuji lens for travel.
I used this lens on my X-E3 Fujifilm camera, and I love the versatility of the lens. It can capture almost any landscape shot. Surprisingly, it doesn't feel like a normal kit lens; it's super sharp, lightweight, and affordable.
Overall, I recommend you use this lens on your X-E3 or any X mount Fuji camera the next time you're off for a journey. This has become my favorite lens for my outdoor shoots. However, in terms of low-light, it's not a massive performer like 16mm f/1.4 because it's 2 stops slower than the previous lens.
You can Checkout the twin version of this 18-55 f.2.8 lens. Which is the Fujinon XF16-55mmF2.8 R LM WR lens. This lens is weather resistant but lacks an IS feature.
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3. FUJINON XF 50MM F/2 R WR LENS - BEST FUJI PRIME LENS FOR TRAVEL
PRODUCT DETAILS:
FEATURES: This versatile lens can shoot landscapes like mountains, portraits, and natural scenes with perfect background isolation. I consider this a short-telephoto lens as it has a 76mm focal length equivalent in a full-frame format.
It gives you perfect focus on the subject while getting a background blur. Supreme for those who like their subjects to stand out! And most importantly, it's super lightweight (200grams), compact, and weather-sealed, making it a favorite choice among travelers.
DESIGN: Let me speak about the first impressions it gave me. Firstly it is pocket-friendly. It is very tiny, use it with any X-mount camera like X-T4, and you're good to go.
Speaking about its look, it's stylish and gives you a premium feel. The metal manual focus ring is silky smooth and provides just enough resistance. It might give a slight sound while rotating it but not a big flaw anyways!
The lens hood is extensive and offers a lot of safety. This lens also has a silent inner focus device that produces these fantastic results with the aid of a stepping motor. And users may use its dampened metal focus ring to focus the camera manually.
The lens is known for its out-of-focus backgrounds—the reason being the presence of the 9-bladed diaphragm. As the lens has only 1 ED element inside, the motor inside doesn't have to move so many glasses ; hence you get a faster AF.
PERFORMANCE: As a traveler, it's obvious that you'll be using the camera and lens in different climatic conditions. So, the lens must remain resistant to adverse conditions like rain, snow. Luckily this lens has a weather-resistant design.
Secondly, you know that wider the aperture, more promising the low-light performance would be. This is another advantage for travelers because you may want to use the lens in dim light. Say you want to capture the sunset. This short telephoto will help you get that done.
Even for capturing photographs inside a cave, this lens feels supreme. Well, you may notice some distortion when used directly under the sun, but if your camera is capable of handling distortion, then it becomes manageable. But I prefer using the lens in evenings and nights as it does wonders when used in dim lights.
I use this lens on my X-T3 for shooting videos because it gives me that dramatic effect with a shallow depth of field. I love that! So, for travel vloggers this lens is a miracle worker.
To conclude, many features in a small lens and it's a perfect travel-friendly lens.
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4. FUJIFILM XF 23MM F2 R WR - BEST FUJI LENS FOR LANDSCAPE PHOTOGRAPHY
PRODUCT DETAILS:
FEATURES: Do you do a lot of hiking? Then, I recommend this lens for you. Not only hikers, but all travel photographers who like a 35mm full-frame length must try using this 23mm X-mount lens. Its lightweight, sturdy, and also weather-resistant, making it another best Fuji lens for travel purposes.
DESIGN: Compact in both size and weight! It has got a metal mount with a marked aperture dial which produces clicks when rotated.
The lens is not flimsy, and it's weather-sealed both in the front and rear ends. So, You can capture amazing pictures even in rain or snow with this lens on your X-mount Fujifilm camera.
As it uses a stepper motor for AF, you get a faster and silent auto-focusing.
PERFORMANCE: If you're looking for a lens that works best in a studio setup, then this lens is not for you. This is a great outdoor lens. If you love exploring places, then this lens should be in your hand.
You can capture beautiful street photographs, pictures of mountains, or even use it for filming documentaries.
This lens doesn't have an image stabilization feature, so I prefer to use this lens on newer Fujifilm cameras like X-30, X-T4 as these have got in-body stabilization. If your camera doesn't have this feature, use can use a stabilizer to get rid of camera shakes.
I see this lens to be an affordable version of a 16-55 f/2.8 lens as it offers a color reproduction equal to this lens. Even the images are very sharp; you don't get too much saturation in the pictures.
Like the 50mm f/2 lens mentioned above, this lens also shows slight aberrations and fringing when directly used under the sun. Otherwise, I don't have any issues with the lens.
Overall, if your looking for a budget-friendly lightweight lens for your X-mount cameras, then this lens is a great choice. It's very travel-friendly and also gives you crisp results when stooped down to f/8.
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5. FUJINON XF10-24MM F4 R OIS WR - BEST ULTRA-WIDE FUJI LENS FOR TRAVEL
PRODUCT DETAILS:
FEATURES: All nature lovers out there! Here is an amazing lens that will help you capture wide-angle shots of natural sceneries perfectly. Yes, I'm speaking about the XF 10-24 f/4, the best ultra-wide angle lens for Fujifilm X-mount cameras.
DESIGN: I would say this lens is not as heavy as a 16mm f/1.4 lens, but it's slightly oversized. The lens feels solid in terms of build quality, and the WR tag indicates that the lens is weather-sealed both front and back.
This lens is an upgraded version of the XF 10-24 mm f/4 R OIS lens, having f markings on the aperture ring. The focus and zoom rings are smooth and also easy to rotate. There's a stepper motor technology inside to control the AF mechanism.
And most importantly, it's got an optical image stabilizer, so you don't have to worry about any camera shakes or jiggles disturbing your shoots.
PERFORMANCE: Last year, I was on a trip to Santa Maria Delle Grazie (Italy). The cathedral is known for its beautiful ceiling painted by the famous Leonardo Da Vinci. I wanted to capture stunning landscape shots of that ceiling, and this lens helped me get that done. I was able to capture everything in a single frame.
I have those photographs, and I would cherish them for my entire lifetime. So, if you're a person who wishes to capture detailed information inside a cathedral or even big museums, this is great.
Secondly, as I mentioned above, a great lens to capture wide-angle shots of mountains, trees and waterfalls. If you're someone who loves hiking, you'll definitely love the lens.
Though ultra-wide feels excellent for nature photography, sometimes, you may feel like it's too wide, especially while shooting videos. But, overall a great lens if you wish to project more of your background while you travel. Great for landscapes!
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6. FUJINON XF 80MM F/2.8 R LM OIS WR
PRODUCT DETAILS:
The Fujinon XF 80mm f/2.8 macro lens is a mid-telephoto lens that uses Fujifilm's X-trans CMOS sensor to deliver excellent performance. It has a semi-shiny black barrel with its dedicated focal point and opening rings. In addition to "A" at the extreme, the aperture ring feels fantastic and has graved total stop markings from f/2.8 to f/22.
Also, its 1:1 focusing range is fairly close to the end of the hood when it's connected. On the flip side, the hood is fantastic because the lens doesn't flare up in any remotely practical situation.
Moreover, this lens has a weather-resistant construction and is immune to fog, dust, and freezing. Similarly, angle and move shake is minimized by employing a high-precision gyro sensor and acceleration sensor, allowing for 5-stop image stabilization, thereby making it the best Fuji lens for travel.
Finally, the XF 80mm f/2.8 features 16 elements grouped into 12 classes, as well as a few unique glass elements. And in addition to the fluorite layer, this lens contains one aspheric element, one Super ED element, and a trio of ED elements. Plus, the lens has no diaphragm blades on the opening side of the stuff, which makes a circular opening.
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7. FUJINON GF 45-100MM F/4 R LM WR
PRODUCT DETAILS:
Next, up in my list is the Fujifilm GF 45-100mm f/4, a new standard zoom lens specially developed for Fujifilm's medium-size mirrorless cameras.
This 2.2x zoom lens has a flexible 36-79mm focus range of 35mm with f/4-f/32 apertures across the zoom range.
To help monitor spherical aberration, field curvature, and chromatic aberration, the lens has 16 elements in 12 classes, including three aspherical, one ED, and one Super ED element. Also, it uses metal threads to accept 82mm filters.
Plus, this camera features a 5-axis image stabilization system that offers five stops of image stabilization, as determined by CIPA standards, enabling you to hand-hold the camera in lower light and still get sharp results.
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8. FUJINON XF 50-140MM F/2.8 R LM OIS WR
PRODUCT DETAILS:
The Fujinon XF 50-140mm lens is a telephoto zoom lens with a maximum aperture of f/2.8 and the most commonly used telephoto focal length, equivalent to 76mm to 214mm.
It also includes the most up-to-date technologies, such as water and low-temperature resistance, as well as the world's best image stabilization technology in its class, ensuring that you don't miss a shot in any situation.
Also, this lens has completely advanced construction and high-quality glass with five ED and 1 Super ED components and dual traditional and Nanostructure coatings. Plus, the super-fast autofocus is powered by three-way engines and, with class-leading 5-stop efficiency, you can also achieve optical stabilization.
The lens barrel length remains constant during the zoom and has a weatherproof and dust proof finish, and can also be used at temperatures as low as 14°F. Handheld photography is possible under more diverse shooting conditions thanks to a high-efficiency sensor, an unusual image stabilization algorithm, and the bright F2.8 aperture.
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9. FUJINON XF 55-200MM F/3.5-4.8 R LM OIS
PRODUCT DETAILS:
FUJIFILM's XF 55-200mm f/3.5-4.8 lens is an 84-305mm equivalent zoom that's perfect for sports, event shooting, and portraiture. Two extra-low dispersion elements and one aspherical element are used in its optical design, which helps minimize the number of aberrations for better visibility and sharpness.
When operating in bright or backlit environments, a Super EBC coating helps suppress flare and ghosting for better contrast and color accuracy. Simultaneously, an optical image stabilization system works in tandem with the lenses to reduce the appearance of camera shake by 4.5 stops, resulting in sharper handheld images.
A linear AF motor also allows for fast and quiet focusing, which is beneficial for both stills and video. Moreover, to achieve high visibility and color fidelity across the zoom range, two extra-low dispersion components, including one Super ED element, are used to significantly minimize color fringing and chromatic aberrations.
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10. FUJINON XF 100-400MM F/4.5-5.6 R LM OIS WR- BEST FUJI TELEPHOTO LENS
PRODUCT DETAILS:
The Fujinon XF 100-400 mm F/4.5-5.6 is a weather-resistant splendid telephoto lens that encompasses a 35mm focal length equivalent of 152-609mm. The high-performance optical construction consists of 21 components in 14 classes and consists of five ED lenses and one Super ED lens to eliminate the chromatic aberration commonly occurring in telephoto lenses. As a consequence, it produces the highest-quality images in its class.
Plus, the lens has been developed for handheld image stabilization systems, with 5.0 stop and twin linear motors for rapid autofocus shooting, making it ideal for quick-moving shooting. Furthermore, the lens is both dust and water-resistant, and it can work in temperatures as low as 14°F, thus, making it ideal for a variety of outdoor shooting scenarios.
At last, its frontal lens part was also fitted with a fluorine mask, which repels water and dirt and enhances more lens durability and functionality.
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BUYING GUIDE FOR THE BEST FUJI LENS FOR TARVEL
Here, I have mentioned some of the important factors to look upon while purchasing a Fujifilm lens for travel.
Read them carefully, and make the right choice.
WEATHER SEALING
This factor means a lot to travelers because you will be using the lens in different climatic conditions. So, the lens should be capable enough to withstand very cold temperatures, rain, snow, and humid weather conditions as well. So, make sure the Fuji lens has a WR tag on it.
SIZE AND WEIGHT
The second important feature to look upon is the size and weight of the lens. Now, this is totally your choice. If you're a professional travel photographer shooting documentaries and stuff, bigger lenses shouldn't be a big issue for you.
But for people who do hiking and any kind of handheld shoots, choosing a lightweight lens is the best option. Also, keep in mind the size of your Fujifilm camera as I see most people purchasing a big lens for a small camera and then returning them back to the seller.
So, both the size and weight of the camera and lens should be taken into consideration while purchasing the lens.
Type of photography
You need to have a clear idea about the type of shots you're going to take as you know, each lens has a specific purpose.
For example, if you're a travel photographer, who would like to take more low-light shots, then you have to go for a wide-angle prime lens with a small f number. My best pick would be Fujinon XF 16mm f/1.4.
For taking quality videos, street photographs and architectural photographs, a wide-angle zoom lens like XF 18-55MM F/2.8-4 or XF10-24MM F4 is recommended. For bokeh lovers who wish to get a cinematic feel , a nifty-fifty lens is the best.
For nature photography, an ultra-wide prime or zoom lens is preferable. Most of you ask me if you can use a telephoto lens for landscapes. Yes, very well. If you wish to take close-up shots and capture subjects that are far from you, a telephoto lens works best. Use, the XF 100-400MM F/4.5-5.6 for wildlife photography.
IMAGE STABILIZATION
This feature is present in the lens, will help you get rid of shaky images and videos. If your Fujifilm camera has in-body stabilization, then you can overlook this feature if not present in the lens.
But for cameras like X-T20 that don't have any stabilization feature, then OIS is much needed.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
1. What is the difference between a Fuji XF and a XC lens?
The main difference lies in the material used in the lens construction. You will see a metal mount in an XF mount lens. Whereas an XC lens holds a plastic construction. One of the reasons for using plastic is to reduce the size and weight of the lens. Though XC lenses are compact and light for travel, XF mount lenses are the best because they are very sturdy and have wide apertures.
2. Is OIS important for a Fuji lens?
Yes. Optical image stabilization is very important if you want your videos to shake free. That too, for low-light photography, shutter speeds are fast, so it's necessary that the Fuji lens has an OIS feature; otherwise, your images will look blurry.
However, you can overlook this feature if your Fujifilm camera has in-body stabilization.
3. Is XF 18-55mm lens weather-sealed?
No. Unfortunately, the 18-55mm lens has no weather protection. So, avoid using the lens in rain and very cold temperatures. Try using the 16-55 mm lens if you want the similar features of an 18-55 lens in a weather resistant design.
CONCLUSION
Either you're filming a travel documentary or just desire to shoot your favorite holiday memories on video, you'll be carrying your camera with you at all times.
However, to get the finest shots, you'll require lenses that are designed specifically for travel photography. Furthermore, you'll desire to keep your gear as light as possible, which could mean departing from your macro lens at home and opting for a pancake lens or a flexible zoom instead.
As a result, if you use the Fujifilm device, this list includes some fantastic choices for the best Fuji lens for travel since all of these will come in handy on your next journey.
