Contents
Conclusion
Pros
- Solid construciton with well damped focus ring
- Fast autofocus in good light
- Very sharp across the frame at any aperture and focus distance
- Bokeh is very nice at closer focus distances and still reasonably good at further distances
- Zero distortion
- Low chromatic aberration
- Excellent color and contrast
- Effective image stabilizer
Cons
- Autofocus slows down considerably in dim light
- Bokeh can get a bit chunky at medium focus distances, with pronounced onion ring highlights
- Aperture ring could use stronger detents
The Fuji 80mm f/2.8 R LM OIS WR Macro is an outstanding addition to the Fuji XF lens lineup. It’s a solidly built lens with good autofucus, excellent sharpness, good bokeh for the most part, and extremely low distortion and chromatic aberration. The bokeh isn’t perfect at moderate distances, but that’s about the only optical knock I can really give the lens, and even then it’s still pretty good. The autofocus is good overall, but could be speedier in dimmer light, as it slows down considerably as light levels drop.
The lens is a bit large and heavy, but that’s not uncommon for 1:1 macro lenses. If you are using one of the smaller Fuji bodies, you will likely want to get one of the accessory grips to enable better handling with the lens.
Still, there’s very little to complain about with the Fuji 80mm f/2.8 Macro. At $1049, the lens is priced as a premium macro lens, and it delivers in nearly every way possible. If you need a 1:1 macro lens for your Fuji kit, it’s well worth the addition to your bag.
Image Samples
Click on an image to enlarge.
Nice comprehensive review sir! As a landscape and product Fujifilm X-System photographer, I use this XF80mm f/2.8 Macro, and honestly, I find it to be the absolute SHARPEST lens I’ve used in 40 years of photography! Though you do say it is “very sharp”, perhaps you should have made the point more emphatically, since a macro lens, after all, is all about sharpness and image detail at 1:1, and, IMHO, not so much about bokeh rendering in a protrait background. (For that, I’d get something like a 56 or 90mm anyway.) This is the first lens I’ve used with which image sharpening in Post is actually optional! And if I use focus stacking, I obtain results that rival FF and even medium format in sharpness and detail rendition! Thank again!
How to use focus stacking with Fujifilm cameras? I’m new to the concept.
Jordan, I know I’m asking this long after this review was posted, but hoping you can reply. I’ve looked at your other macro lens reviews, and am wondering your thoughts on this Fuji 80mm vs Olympus 60mm vs Sony 90mm. They all sound quite good, but I’m a bit bewildered by the large size and weight of the Fuji lens compared to the others. The Olympus is quite small and light (and much less expensive as well), and the Sony is similar in size/weight but covers a much bigger image circle. Seems like the Fuji is oddly large for its spec.
For someone choosing a new mirrorless camera system today, who considers a good long macro lens a must-have, which do you think offers the best overall macro ability?
I think they are all excellent, and I don’t think I’d choose a system based on small differences in one lens. That said, if I had to pick, I’d probably say the Sony 90 is the best of the three, but they’re all very good.
The m4/3 system is the easiest to handle for macro shooting, though.
I’m also curious about the Macro options for L-Mount, as the Sigma Macros are nice.
Hi Mr. Jordan
Thank you for the reviews and useful insights!
I own a FujiFilm X camera and I am trying to decide which Macro lens to buy. After reading your reviews I am still undecided between the ZEISS Touit 50mm and the Fujinon XF 80mm. They are both dedictaed Macro Lens and have very similar pros and cons. I also realized that none of them show on your “Best Macro” review… however, in terms of sharpness and image quality which is the best?
Thank you
I know I’m answering this nearly two years after you asked (sorry about the lack of response). However, between these two I’d take the Fuji all day long due to the much better working distance and the focus limiter. The Zeiss is extremely difficult to use for macro work with autofocus. Image quality wise you don’t need to worry about either lens…they’re both excellent.