Fuji 18 f1.4 Long Term Review
I’ve owned the Fujifilm 18mm f1.4 since its release back in 2021 and this has been one of my most used lenses. It has travelled all round the world and used in every condition imaginable, therefore treat this as an extensive long term review.
Build
The build quality is great and I’ve never had any issues or malfunctions. The lens has performed flawlessly in dusty environments, heavy rain and even after getting soaked in sea spray. The paint finish does scuff and scratch easily however I haven’t had any major deep scratches. I personally find a well worn lens more attractive than a brand new one so these marks only add to it in my opinion. As for the glass, it has zero marks even though I don’t use a protective filter and often throw the lens into my bag without the lens cap when in a hurry. There is no dust inside and all weather seals still work as they should. The focus dial is great however the aperture dial is a little too loose. It was like that from new and seems other copies are the same. Whether this is a design choice or a manufacturing issue I’m not sure. This is where I have a criticism regarding the f1.4 line up as a whole. On some lenses like this 18mm f1.4, the aperture dial is very light while on the 33 and the 23 it’s a bit heavier. Although this isn’t a deal breaker, it’s surprising nonetheless given the premium positioning of these lenses.
Ergonomics
This lens is bigger and heavier than some of the alternatives however if you’re using an XT or an XH body, you will not face any issues. I will say that it feels more at home on the XH due to the larger grip as on the XT it can be a little front heavy. If you plan on using it with smaller bodies such as an XT30 or an XE, keep in mind that the camera will feel front heavy and probably not very comfortable to use. The aperture dial is ok but should be a bit tighter with more defined clicks. The focus dial is as good as you can get for a fly by wire system.
Image Quality
This is where the 18mm really shines because the image quality is outstanding. Even at f1.4 the photos are sharp throughout and have a pleasing contrast too. When stopped down to f4 the image gets even sharper. The colour rendering is great and all in all there is nothing bad to say about the image quality. It’s some of the best that Fuji has to offer. I personally don’t mess around with technicals, charts or taking photos of brick walls while examining them at 500%. Instead I let the photos do the talking so below is a selection of images taken with this lens.
Autofocus
The second standout quality is the linear motor AF system. It’s quiet, reliable, smooth and without external moving parts. Compared to older systems, this is a game changer for action, video and general speed. In video the focus racking is smooth and reliable without hunting or any other weird behaviour. When it comes to photography, the focusing is instant and accurate even if shooting a still life subject in AF-C. There is nothing bad to say about the AF. When it comes to manual focusing, as expected the experience leaves a lot to be desired given there is no actual manual focusing. Instead you’re simply moving the focus motors with the dial which results in a very bland experience. If you plan to mostly use manual focus, this lens is not for you.
Summary
To summarise this is a great lens however it comes at a cost. It’s bigger, heavier and more expensive than the other options (excluding the 16mm f1.4) which means it’s not for everyone. If you shoot a lot of video, rely on AF, need f1.4 and want the best image quality possible, then this lens is for you. Otherwise consider looking at the 16mm f2.8 or 18mm f2.
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