Initial impressions of the Fujifilm XF 18mm f1.4 R LM WR Lens

A forgotten focal range

So earlier this year, I photographed a wedding and for some reason, I decided to shoot the reception with my old Fujifilm 18mm f2.0. Now, this was the first Fujifilm lens I bought, back when I got my old X-Pro 1.

The lens had been sitting in the cupboard for a few months, and aside from a few family photos I took during the lockdowns, it hadn’t seen the light of day in a professional capacity for at least 3 years.

Anyhow, I took it along to the wedding and when it came to the first dance, I decided to fire off a few shots and then later, take some portraits of the couple outside. Aside from the fact it took an age to focus, I was quite pleased with the photos.

A few weeks later, the new and updated Fujifilm 23mm f1.4 was announced. Now, the original version of 23mm f1.4 is generally my go to lens. I’d say a good 80% of my work is shot at this range. However, like the original 18mm f2.0, it’s getting a bit long in the tooth. It’s sometimes slow to focus, it’s a bit soft around the edges in the photos and is beginning to show it’s age.

Naturally, my first inclination was to pre-order the new 23mm. But, with shipping issues being what they are and stock levels of everything being low, I decided to take a look at the new 18mm. Since finding a new level of enthusiam after that wedding and the fact it is weather resistant (I do a lot of work outside these days), I figured it would be a wise purchase.

Initial impressions

I’ve had the 18mm f1.4 R LM WR for around a month now, and in that time I’ve taken it with me to a sporting event, an awards show, a wedding, a few family gatherings and not to mention, a few trips around the garden with my daughter on her skates.

It’s solidly built, focuses fast – insanely fast in fact, and produces images as sharp as you can imagine, at all apertures, in all conditions.

Overall, I’m very impressed with the 18mm, in fact I don’t think it has come off my Fujifilm X-T3 since I’ve put it on. It’s durable, not too heavy and most importantly, it’s reliable.

Here’s a selection of photos I’ve recently taken using the lens on my Fujifilm X-T3.