Conclusion
Pros
- Excellent image sharpness right from f/1.4 and across the entire image frame
- Smooth, even bokeh for pleasing out of focus areas
- Beautiful color and contrast at all apertures
- Very low distortion
- Works well against bright light with good resistance to flare
- Very low vignetting wide open
- Excellent build quality of metal and high-grade plastics
- Manual focus ring utilizes convenient clutch mechanism and is well damped and smooth
- Autofocus is decently fast in CDAF mode and extremely fast in PDAF mode
Cons
- Lens is a little large, though it balances well
- Autofocus would sometimes give up in certain situations
- Some longitudinal CA present in high contrast images
- Aperture ring is a little too easy to accidentally move
The wait has been long for the 23mm f/1.4. It’s one of the most anticipated lenses for the system, and Fuji did not disappoint. The XF 23mm f/1.4 is extremely sharp, and even provides high image sharpness at f/1.4 across the frame. Bokeh is excellent and the lens has surprisingly few flaws in any category, with only a bit of chromatic aberration worth noting. Autofocus is generally fast and accurate, though capable of hiccuping under the right circumstances.
All in all, the Fujinon XF 23mm f/1.4 R is a winner. Fuji continues to craft outstanding lenses for the X-System, and this lens is a standout among that group of top performers. In my opinion, it is worth every penny of the $899 asking price. If you own an X-Series camera and like the moderate wide-angle the lens provides, you owe it to yourself to pick one up. Simply top notch.
Image Samples
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