Fujifilm’s $799 8mm f/3.5 R WR is Its Widest XF Prime Lens
In addition to the new X-S20 mirrorless camera, Fujifilm has expanded its X Series lens lineup with the new XF 8mm f/3.5 R WR ultra-wide angle prime lens.
The Fujinon XF 8mm f/3.5 R WR lens is among the widest Fujifilm X Series lenses, joining the XF 8-16mm f/2.8 R LM WR lens. The lens offers a 12mm equivalent focal length in 35mm terms. Put another way, the lens captures a field of view just over 120 degrees.
Compared to the XF 8-16mm zoom, the XF 8mm prime is smaller and much lighter. In exchange for a slower aperture and the lack of versatility a zoom lens offers, the XF 8mm f/3.5 lens is 590 grams (20.8 ounces) lighter. At 216 grams (7.62 ounces), the XF 8mm f/3.5 is very lightweight. The XF 8mm f/3.5 lens is just 52.8mm (2.1 inches) long, whereas the XF 8-16mm f/2.8 is 121.2mm (4.8 inches) at its max length.
Another key difference is that the XF 8mm lens has a filter thread (62mm), whereas the XF 8-16mm zoom lens doesn’t support screw-on filters. This is a boon for landscape photographers and filmmakers using circular filters, including polarizers and neutral density (ND) filters.
The XF 8mm f/3.5 R WR lens includes a dozen elements organized across nine groups, including three aspherical and two ED lens elements. The lens promises “stunning sharpness” and has been designed with Fujifilm’s latest 40-megapixel image sensor in mind. The lens promises to suppress aberrations and deliver edge-to-edge sharpness. It’s also a rectilinear lens, meaning that distortion at the edge of the frame has been minimized.
Concerning autofocus, the lens utilizes an inner-focusing mechanism and promises low focus breathing for video applications. Fujifilm says that the lens can focus in as little as 0.02 seconds. The lens can focus as close as 0.18 meters (7.1 inches).
As evidenced by the “WR” in the model’s name, the XF 8mm f/3.5 R WR lens is weather resistant and features weather sealing at 10 locations to keep dust and moisture out of the lens. The “R” means that the lens includes a dedicated aperture control ring alongside its focus ring.
“XF 8mm f/3.5 is an incredibly compact, wide-angle lens that will help image makers unlock another way of creatively seeing the world. Its impressive wide angle of view and compact design makes it small enough to be an everyday carry item, which is critical for photographers with specialties including landscape, architecture, or real estate. We’re excited to see this lens become a must-have for everyone in the X Series family,” says Lisa Baxt, marketing director, Electronic Imaging Division, Fujifilm North America Corporation.
Pricing and Availability
The Fujifilm Fujinon XF 8mm f/3.5 R WR lens will be available at the end of June for $799.95 — just over half the price of the XF 8-16mm f/2.8 R LM WR lens, which retails for $1,500.
Image credits: Product images courtesy of Fujifilm | Lifestyle images © Ryan Tuttle
