Fujifilm Fujinon XF 16-55mm f/2.8 R LM WR review – Verdict
Fujifilm has an extensive lens line-up that is growing stronger by the year, but it has needed a fast standard zoom for some time. Although the Fujinon XF 18-55mm f/2.8-4 R LM OIS kit lens is well regarded, especially with consideration of the £400 price tag, it’s not quite the same.
The 16-55mm f/2.8 is a perfect walkabout lens that can be used for everything from landscapes to portraits. It covers a wide range of focal lengths and, although in weight it’s not far off carrying two of three Fujinon prime lenses, it’s far more convenient not to need to swap-out lenses and it doesn’t sacrifice a great deal optically in comparison. It’s a brilliant lens for most situations and it boasts superb sharpness.
The build quality matches that of the solidly built Fujifilm XT-1 and it will withstand some very harsh and challenging conditions. My only criticism of the lens would be the omission of optical stabilisation, but in its absence we get incredible image quality and sharpness that many users will consider to be the imperative lens attributes, making it a worthy trade-off.
