When Fujifilm announced the 16mm f2.8 my curiosity immediately piqued. I have been looking for an affordable X-Mount wide-angle lens for quite some time. In fact, I have been inches from buying the more expensive 16mm 1.4 on a few occasions…Just the same with the 10-24 f4. However, something always kept me from pulling the trigger on those two lenses.
With my existing love for Fujifilm’s smaller weather-resistant lenses, the 16mm 2.8 hit the spot for size, price and image quality. Let’s go ahead and dig into how I’m using this lens. Along with my thoughts about it since picking it up a month or so ago.
Fujifilm 16mm 2.8 Review
As I already mentioned, I love Fujifilm’s smaller, weather-resistant lenses. I do a fair bit of studio photography, but when I’m not in the studio, I’m in the field. So, weather resistance, size, and weight immediately become a factor in my decision making when purchasing new lenses.
I have personally loved pairing my new 16mm f2.8 lens with my all-time favorite Fujifilm Lens, the 50mm f2. These two lenses give me a ton of versatility while doing product photography for clients and landscape photography for myself…All while not weighing me down.
Fujifilm 16mm 2.8 Lens for Landscapes
The Fujifilm 16mm f2.8 Lens is a total blast to use for landscapes. Admittedly, the 16mm focal length has taken a bit of getting used to for me as I find my 23mm a bit easier to compose with. But, after a couple of weeks with the 16mm 2.8, my eyes & brain have adapted to it.
As for landscape shots: The 16mm field of view really opens things up and allows you to get some unique and fun perspectives. With this lens, I particularly enjoy blurring something in the immediate foreground for framing purposes and letting the background be in sharp focus.
Fujifilm 16mm f2.8 Close Focusing
One of the parts that I find most enjoyable about the Fujifilm 16mm 2.8 lens is how close it can focus. Now…Don’t be fooled – This is not a substitute for a macro lens. But it absolutely offers versatility for shooting in tight spaces. Or for those times when you want a close & unique feel for your shots.
And, because, a lot of people have asked me…Yes, you can get some nice separation from your background if you’re focusing close to your subject and using a wide aperture.
Fujifilm 16mm f2.8 for Product Photography
I love using the Fujifilm 16mm f2.8 for certain types of product photography. Top-down flat lays are a breeze with the 16mm. Since the focal length is wide you don’t have to extend a c-stand or tripod extremely far away from your subject. And when you crank your F-Stop up to f5.6 – f8 you are guaranteed to get a very sharp image.
One word of caution is to not get too close to your subject (ie: within a foot), whether that’s a product or person. Since this is a wider lens it can cause some slightly unpleasing distortion & bending in your image.
*note: I’m not able to share many product photography images from this lens as they belong to my clients and they haven’t released them yet.
Fujifilm Lens for Shooting in Tight Spaces
What you don’t see in the image above is how tight of a space I shot this image in (I had room for a simple LED light + my bag). The Fujifilm 16mm 2.8 allowed me to simply stand over my bag while getting everything in the frame. I didn’t have to climb around on a ladder or a chair. Which is such a great change of pace and it’s one of the reasons I’m coming to love the 16mm focal length.
My purpose for the Fujifilm 16mm 2.8
While the Fujifilm 16mm 2.8 is not my most frequently used lens, I do keep it in my bag for moments when my other beloved prime lens, the 23mm 1.4, just isn’t wide enough. I view it as a key component in my kit and it’s saved me due to its wide angle a few times so far. I also love the artistic and close-focus capabilities that this lens offers me.
And to reinstate what I’ve said above, I have found that the 16mm 2.8 is perfectly paired with a mid-range telephoto like the 50mm f2 or even the 80mm 2.8 Macro (which I’ve recently added to my gear bag). For about 90% of my photography, pairing two of these lenses give me as much versatility as I need for product photography, most landscapes, and lifestyle shots.
Would I recommend the Fujifilm 16mm F2.8?
Absolutely! If you’re in the market for a wide angle lens for your Fujifilm Cameras, I would without hesitation recommend the Fujifilm 16mm f2.8. This lens, like the rest of their weather-resistant lenses, is tack sharp, affordable, the colors are fantastic and the image quality is stunning.
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