First Look: Fujifilm XF90mmF2 R LM WR
Talk to Rico (open forum for questions & feedback)
Rico’s Books at Rocky Nook – Fuji X Secrets Workshops – Rico’s Flickr Sets
XF90mmF2 R LM WR Official Specs and Information
Rico’s XF90mmF2 R LM WR Sample Images – Rico’s XF90mmF2 R LM WR Bokeh Test
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My XF90mmF2 R LM WR pre-production sample is probably the most amazing lens I’ve every used. This is weird, because in their notes accompanying the lens, Fujifilm emphasized that hardware, firmware and image quality weren’t quite final. Well, if this ain’t final—how in the world are they going to top it?
The XF90mmF2 R LM WR delivers extremely sharp, three-dimensional images with attractive bokeh, and it does so even at its maximum aperture setting of f/2.
The construction of 11 elements in 8 groups (including three ED glass elements) is optically corrected for distortion and delivers little vignetting (which is digitally corrected, anyway).
Obviously, this is a portrait lens, but thanks to its minimum focus distance of 60cm, you can also use it to get close to other things—up to a magnification of about 0.2.
The lens weighs 540g and features what Fuji calls a “Quad Linear Motor” for fast (and also very accurate) autofocus. It’s weather and dust resistant and specified to work in temperatures down to -10°C.
As of now, I wasn’t able to spot any chromatic aberrations, and the rounded aperture blades combined with an optical construction designed to minimize vignetting create a beautiful (I think) bokeh right to the edge of the image. Check it out in my bokeh test sample album which includes SOOC JPEGs and RAW-processed versions of two series covering all apertures from f/2 down to f/16.
The autofocus of my lens was fast enough to catch fleeting moments and expressions of people attending two different garden parties, and it was pretty much always spot-on, which is important given the often very small depth-of-field at open aperture.
The results are simply stunning with regards to sharpness, detail, three-dimensional rendering and bokeh. Obviously, talk is cheap, so here’s a link to an album with 45 of my own sample images.
I’m already looking up countries that have no extradition treaty with Germany. You know, just in case someone from Fuji calls and wants me to return their lens.
XF 90mmF2 WR Pre-order Options
XF 90mmF2 WR: USA: AmazonUS / BHphoto / Adorama EU: AmazonDE / AmazonUK / AmazonFR / WexUK / Cameraworld / PCHstore / AUS: Camerapro
(*) pre-order available in any moment
For your convenience, here’s a TOC with links to my previous X-PERT CORNER articles:
- First Look: Fujifilm X-T10
- Using Firmware 4
- First Look: XF16mmF1.4 R WR
- Film Simulations in RAW File Converter EX Version 2
- X-T1: Tethering with Adobe Lightroom and Fujifilm HS-V5
- First Look: Fujinon XF16-55mmF2.8 R LM WR
- XF 56mm APD vs. XF 56mm
- New Firmware Features (3): X-T1 Firmware Version 3.00
- New Firmware Features (2): Using Camera Remote
- New Firmware Features (1): Using AF+MF
- First Look: Fujinon XF 50-140mm F2.8 R LM OIS WR
- Using the Fujifilm X100T
- First Look: Fujifilm X30
- First Look: XF18-135mmF3.5-5.6 R LM OIS WR
- X-E2: Behind Firmware 2.00
- First Look: Fujifilm TCL-X100 Teleconverter for X100(S) Cameras
- First Look: Fujinon XF10-24mmF4 R OIS
- First Look: Fujifilm X-T1
- First Look: Fujinon XF56mmF1.2 R
- Exposing Right
- Using Auto-ISO
- Using Face Detection
- First Look: Fujifilm XQ1
- PDAF & LMO Lens Firmware Updates Coming in November
- First Look: Fujifilm X-E2
- How Fuji could save the X-M1
- X-A1 vs. X-M1: Photo Ninja Edition
- X-A1 vs. X-M1: the Shootout
- Using the Fujifilm X-A1 [& X-M1]
- First Look: Fujinon XF23mmF1.4 R
- RAW Converter Shootout Results
- Ultimate RAW Converter Shootout
- First Look: X-M1 with New Kit Zoom and Pancake Lens
- Zeiss Touit vs. Fujinon XF
- Remote Shutter Control for X Series Cameras
- Apple Camera RAW, X-Trans and EXR
- First Look: XF55-200mmF3.5-4.8 R LM OIS
- Studio X
- Using the X100S
- Using the X20
- X100S vs. X100
- X20 vs. X10
- RAW, JPEG, Silkypix and “Fuji Colors”
- Adapting Third-Party Lenses (updated with Speed Booster)
- RAW for JPEG Shooters…
- Tips for Updating your Firmware
- How to Clean the X-Trans Sensor
- Using the XF14mmF2.8 R
- Decoding XF18-55mmF2.8-4 R LM OIS
- Comparing RAW converters: JPEG vs. Lightroom, Capture One, Silkypix & RPP
- XF14mmF2.8 R appears to be almost distortion free
- How to Expand Dynamic Range
- How to Use Extended ISO
- EXR, anyone?
- Capture One – When the Going Gets Tough…
- Using Shooting Profiles and the Quick Menu
Rico Pfirstinger studied communications and has been working as journalist, publicist, and photographer since the mid-80s. He has written a number of books on topics as diverse as Adobe PageMaker and sled dogs, and produced a beautiful book of photographs titled Huskies in Action (German version). He has spent time working as the head of a department with the German Burda-Publishing Company and served as chief editor for a winter sports website. After eight years as a freelance film critic and entertainment writer in Los Angeles, Rico now lives in Germany and devotes his time to digital photography and compact camera systems. His new ebook The Fujifilm X-T1: 111 X-Pert Tips is available at Rocky Nook.
70 Responses
Rico, thanks for sharing these. The lens is indeed able to produce stunning images. I have one question about practicality that I’d appreciate your thoughts on. In terms of keeper rate, how well do you think the lens will do handheld at speeds around 1/125th and 1/180th of a second? I realise this is something of a user specific variable but I do find that I need much faster shutter speeds with focal lengths that are over 100mm FF equivalent. That is, the 1/focal length x crop factor doesn’t always produce images as crisp as I would like.
I’ve been practicing a little with my 55-200 at around 90mm and OIS off. It’s slightly heavier and I suspect at that length slightly longer so the balance is different but I’d say my rate is 50% tack 30% borderline and 20% unacceptable at 1/125th, improving somewhat at 1/180th (important when I want to include flash).
I love what the lens is producing and want to combine it with the 16-55 and 351.4 as the core of a travel kit, adding other lenses as needed specific to where I am headed but this issue is one I need to think through.
Many thanks for your input
The next most amazing lens. What will be the “mostest” amazing? 😉
The mostest amazing ones aren’t on the official roadmap, yet, but I’m already saving money for them. 🙂 I most certainly hope that Fuji will build them.
Wow! You’ve truly caught my attention on this)
yeah, because this is the Roadmap for Mortals, with “mortal wallets”
No room for 300mm f/2.8, 200mm f/2.0, or stuff like that in there. However I’d get weak if they would build a real cream machine 🙂
still: what Fuji is building is awesome. One “must have” lens after the other.
I mean: Quad linear motor. Wasn’t the Tripple in the 50-140 good enough? :O
A 200mmF2 is definitely on my wish list. After all, I used to love my 200mmF1.8 during my Canon days in the 90s.
guess saving money wouldn’t be enough. I would probably have to sell my (non existing) car for that lens 🙂
5000 bucks is probably a realistic price for that one, basically like Canikon’s similar offerings. Personally, I do expect lenses like this in concert with an X-T2 next year. Let’s hope that Fuji listens. In concert with 1.4x and 2x teleconverters, such a lens would be quite versatile. Looking at the 16mmF1.4 and 90mmF2, these lenses are a perfect match for the next sensor generation.
5000 would be fair (still too much for me) since such a lens needs to be outstanding (already wide open) to work with a 2x teleconverter.
The 16mm and 90mm fell like a new generation of lenses.
To me it looks like they finished the “Standard Lineup” within 3 years – look at how long the competition needed for that (and some are still working on it :P)
That’s the point where I start wondering, when Fuji will start to work over their old lenses (I mean they produce outstanding images, but some lack on AF speed and some just don’t fit the “Fuji way” anymore).
Or maybe they will build some slower but smaller lenses – back to the rangefinder and small&light philosophy.
But who knows – probably not even the guys at Fuji HQ ^^
From what I hear, Fuji wants to bring 2 new lenses every year after the (official and unofficial) roadmap has been completed in 2017, so new versions of existing lenses are always an option. A prime candidate would be a new 18mmF2, IMHO.
sounds good. however there are just 2 different focal length (3 lenses with the 35mm) lenses left for those year until then. Hope they don’t get bored 😛
Isn’t there also the 100-400mm zoom and the teleconverter?
did I miss any? 120mm, 35mm, 100-400mm
and of course the 1.4x tc, I really forgot about that.
Since it’s said to work with the 50-140, 120mm and 100-400 you could of course argue, that the TC alone is 3 lenses (any word/idea if it is supposed to work with the 90mm too?
No go, won’t fit.
that’s what I thought. Damn. Waiting for the 120mm anyway, but thought I could get this focal length with the TC until then. Too bad
That’s really unfortunate. I wish the TC worked with their prime lenses… I’d love to put it on the 56mm.
Rico, do you see Fujifilm looking into specialty lenses like 11mm and 16mm tilt/shift lenses? I know these are niche lenses but would make the system truly complete.
Of course. Those speciality lenses (fish-eye, tilt/shift, super-wide zoom, superfast telephoto lens, noctilux-style standard lens etc.) are currently missing on the official roadmap, so Fujifilm is looking at them. So they are conducting global research about prioritizing which lenses to do first in order to please as many customers as early as possible. Once a decision has been made, such lenses will eventually appear on the roadmap to complete it. Obviously, research also covers new versions of existing lenses. Such decisions are all based on customer feedback.
However, Nikon bodies plus those monstrous lens are way more attractive than what Fuji can offer at the same price point.
probably the fully optical corrected, rumored Fujinon XF 10-400 f1.0 R OIS WR 😉
is it just me or are the sooc way sharper and “3d” looking than the lr ones..
I sometime use smaller radiuses for LR portraits, as they give you more detail. As you know, sharpening destroys detail, and many viewers hate oversharpened images, so I have to be careful. Still, 45% of my viewers complain about oversharpening, another 45% complain about the very same images being too soft. The remaining 10% may find them hardly bearable. 🙂
Have you tried putting it in a drive mode and firing off 2-3 shots at a time, that helps a lot IMO.
Thanks for the idea purpleacky. I did try an 8 shot burst with 7 very acceptable so that does work but not, sadly, if I am employing flash. Perhaps there will be a faster synch speed on later models or even in body stabilisation. As I mentioned in my reply to Rico. I think photographing people rather than bookcases it looks like I will be able to achieve a reasonable keeper rate. I have probably become spoiled with the focus accuracy on the Fuji’s compare with my Canon experiences where I had to focus and recompose.
I think a can produce a pretty good keeper rate at 1/125s – 1/180s (3 out of 4). The most relevant issue here is subject movement, as people usually move. So I’m glad that the AF is quick and extremely accurate, even with the older firmware 3.11. Of course, firmware 4 improves things even more with the much better face recognition and eye-detection.
Rico, Many thanks. I’ve done a few more trials with the kids now back from school and it looks like in real life I too may be able to get a 75% keeper rate at 1/180th at around 90mm using flash. Maybe a little less at 1/125th, but I have benign tremors so others should be able to do better. My preference would be to use this lens for ‘head shot’ portraits and the 55-200 for landscape compression.
Glad to hear of the AF improvements and better face/eye detection. Really looking forward to that update.
It does not convince me. I guess the focus motors are amazing to use. An I can understand that it is in need for an strong accurate drives for quick shallow DOF focusing actions.
Your pre production copy has an serious problem with infinite focus.
The overall sharpnes does not put me into excitement. I just got the XF16mmF1.4 who is a true stunning lens.
If I compaire prices of the XF90mmF2 to the XF50-140mmF2.8, for 350 USD more I can get the XF50-140F2.8 it’s just one stop slower but has an very good OIS system.
Lets wait till the production lens is out I think there is a lot of room for improvement.
I have no issues with infinite focus, but of course the 50-140mm and the 90mm are strong competitors, though the zoom is much heavier and bulkier and of course not fully optically corrected.
I just seen this on the one picture you provided infinite focus. it’s oocj but I do mis details and sharpnes.It’s simply terrible.
None of the samples did convince me realy.
Excuse me if I am to direct, there is little you can do wrong with OOCJ, so it’s the lens.
Your samples of the XF16mm where perfect. One of the reason to confirm my wish to buy the lens which I did.
Since it’s pre production there is aire to improve.
Therfore I guess I have to wait for the production samples.
But as of now, from what I have seen at 100% there is no way i’m going to buy this prime.
My plan was to replace the XF50-140mm with primes.
I do agree with the XF50-140mm (bulkier) I’m using it only if I have no other way to do it.
The 50-140 is a large aperture general purpose zoom, the 90 mm is principally designed as a specialist portrait lens, and it’s already clear that it has met that criterion as well as, and in nearly all cases, any existing lens of that that type in any other camera range.
Rico, I have ordered mine though my local camera shop as I always support them, but by getting the rumour out there you persuaded me to wait instead of buying another, different, lens so I have sent you a coffee as a thank you.
Sorry, should have had ‘better than’ after ‘cases’
I have a feeling I will be using F/2.8 on 90mm. So I agree with you that the 50-140 is going to be more popular.
Rico, it seems you’ve spent all your passion on X-T10. This review is less detailed than your usual lens first looks. But I understand it’s hard to make more detailed reviews as all new Fuji lenses are just perfect.
There’s really not much more to tell w/o wasting readers’ time with blah. The full specs are on the Fuji website (no need to repeat them here), so the only really unique stuff I can contribute are image samples and my personal opinion and experiences wrt handling, AF and IQ, which happen to be the same among everybody who has been able to test this lens (we had a little German X forum user gathering here in my backyard this Saturday).
There’s also the issue that I need 2-3 hours of sleep every 2 days, so I had to put a break between writing the X-T10 text between 2 and 4 AM and the XF90 preview between 7 and 8 AM this morning.
Rico: I’m happy with your work. What’s great about your writing and subject matter is that it is consistent. If you review one lens, you review all lenses in a similar manner, making it easy to judge rendering style, sharpness, etc.
Thank you.
That’s the idea. I’m also trying to stay on-topic and don’t want to fuel controversy, meaning that in X-Pert Corner, no cameras will enter a bar. 😉 X-Pert Corner will hopefully never be popular/controversial click-bait that’s shared and discussed in every forum on the planet just because it’s controversial and infuriating. I’m not making a single cent with advertising or referral links (all that goes to the hosting site), and even if every X-T1 user on the planet bought my X-T1 book, I still couldn’t make a living from those proceedings, because even the global market is too small for that. So all of this remains a hobby and free service for those who appreciate it. Let’s enjoy it together and have fun with our Fuji gear.
While I’m not a _big_ Fujifilm X fan, I appreciate reviews like yours that aren’t overly technical, showing _how_ renders, and doesn’t do what certain reviewers do and shows perfectly focused sports shots at F11.
Dingo dongo, thanks all around.
I agree with that. Precisely what we need to read and know.
In an earlier post in one of the earlier rumour posts I gave the comparison of a Ford Mondeo to a Jaguar XF regarding lens quality/price, with the 90 mm being the Jaguar. Having seen the sample images from the 90 mm f2, I would now like to correct that; by replacing the Jaguar with a Bentley Mulsanne 🙂
These new Fujinons are boringly predictable in both IQ and their ability to jump straight from a press release to the shopping cart. Same applies to their reviews. Stunning. Stunning. Stunning. Next!…
Indeed. Next time I’ll simply do an auto-replace of the lens name.
A dpreview way?! Nooooooooooo!
By the way… did you have a chance to try that 90mm with extension tubes? Should be a very interesting macro option!
I could, but I’m really not much of a macro guy. But I know the tubes are here somewhere.
that would be awesome 🙂
Bill Fortney did on his blog.
Trenton, how many tubes you are going to add to 90mm to get the 0.2x lens to 1:1? 😉
Not interested )
I believe passion and love can solve that problem for him.
yeah I hate that. Why can’t they just build 1 or 2 bad lenses like other manufacturers too. That would mean Rico gets something to talk about in his Pre/Reviews too 😉
Remember 18mm? Slow focusing 60mm pseudo-macro?
Have you ever shot with those lenses? macro is best shot in MF and the 60 is very sharp. As for the 18 I love mine. It is small and light, very nice for taking pictures in real world situations, maybe not test charts, but they are no fun to photograph anyway. BTW I have the 12(zeiss) 18 23 25 56 60 16-50 and 50-140.
I agree with the 18mm. 60mm is fine though, as long as you are smart enough to read the specs and not have misplaced expectations of its macro capability. FWIW, up until about 10-15 years ago, Macro never implied 1:1, just, unusually close focus capabilities, usually around 1:2, occasionally a little more or less.
And why can’t Sony even deliver one APSC lens of this quality. Yet the A6000 rocks, apparently, and so do their sensors. Menus: not so much.
Definitely on my to-buy list at some point. Just gotta wait for the money to hit my wallet, hah.
with so many lenses without optic stabilization, could we hope for IBIS in the X-PRO2 and following cameras?
Will the 90mm work on an X-E1 or will fuji need to update its firmware first?
It will work fine. The only things it might not get are idealistic shading corrections and distortion corrections. The X-E1 doesn’t have OSPDAF so that’s not a concern, whereas cameras that have it need a profile for every supported lens.
So yeah, X-E1 should be fine even without a firmware update.
seeing the sample images of not yet “final” lens …i gotta feeling this is probably best of all fuji lens..to me its even better than 56mm….
Fuji may disappoint with their cameras…but till now they never disappointed with their lens..that’s why people respect them…period..
Regarding OIS I dont really care..within 2 years…every top end [ this lens is aimed at big photographers only] mirrorless camera sensor will have IBIS..
pre ordered with your WEX link thank you
thanks a lot 🙂
Wow. Just . . wow.
Does this lens use clutch-style manual focus like the XF 23mm?
No.
Great review. I too went and and pre-ordered one (through your link Patrick) to add to my 14/23/56 collection
Great collection
Superb Pictures. I have to start saving for 35mm. Hopefully It costs between $599-$699
I’d personally love that. With a physical switch on the camera body (somewhat firm selection to avoid accidental change).
Ok so here is a question: how far away would you need to be to get a full body shot with the 90? How about the 56? Which would have the better background separation/thinner DOF look?
That is beautiful. Great images! How lucky are you to be able to test drive the Fuji gear! Do you have any idea when the next Fuji lens sale is going to be. I was told it was to be extended through tomorrow. Obviously, that didn’t happen and I was planning to buy the 56 mm. After looking at your images and knowing the 90mm is WR, I want to buy it. Please let me know about the next Fuji sale. $950.00 is a little rich for me in my current circumstances, so I want to wait until it goes on sale. Thank you and thank you for the great work. I really appreciate it! I admire your exxcitement for your work. It comes out in your reviews.