Conclusion
Pros
- Impeccable image quality
- Very sharp right from f/2 over almost the entire frame and brilliantly sharp from corner to corner stopped down
- Exceptional bokeh: smooth and even with no outlining or other bokeh faults
- Brilliant color and contrast provides images that pop
- Extremely well corrected for lens aberrations: minimal CA, low vignetting and good distortion control
- Fast, silent and accurate autofocus
- Excellent close-focus capabilities
- Solidly constructed with excellent damping on the focus and aperture rings
- Weathersealing provides protection against dust and moisture
- Price
Cons
- It’s a moderately large and heavy lens
- No image stabilization
Fuji’s outdone themselves with the 90mm f/2 R LM WR. I actually don’t generally like reviewing lenses this good. I mean, I do: it’s great to use such exceptional glass, but it’s hard to write the reviews for such excellent glass without coming off as a shill. But with the 90mm f/2, it really has to be said: the lens is exceptional. I really only have two complaints: it’s a bit big and heavy for a mirrorless lens, but to be honest, it’s not that much bigger than most fast 85/90mm lenses. I also did very much miss image stabilization, and the lack of it does limit the lens’ usefulness in low light, especially for indoor candid photography.
However, everything else is about as good as can possibly be. The lens focuses quickly and quietly, is brilliantly sharp right from f/2, has beautifully even and smooth bokeh, has virtually zero CA, no distortion and outstanding color and contrast. I noted the $949 price as a Pro above, and that’s because typically lenses this good cost a fair bit more than this. It’s hands down the best lens Fuji has created for the X-Series and one of the finest lenses I’ve used for any system. If you like the medium telephoto focal length and shoot Fuji, simply get it.
Image Samples
Click on an image to enlarge
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