Fujifilm XF35mmF1.4 R

3 reviews for Fujifilm XF35mmF1.4 R

1. 

   Rated 5 out of 5

   Dr. Roscoe Larson – June 27, 2025

   This is the fastest optic for the X family until the 23mm arrives mid-Oct. This is a great lens with roughly a 50mm field of view on 35mm eqiv. The lens is sharp and I like the aperture ring. The styling is great and the results are top notch.The only downers are the sluggish AF performance and the loudish AF motor. It reminds me of my 50mm D on my Nikon several years ago. Compared to the whisper quiet performance of, say, the 18-55 or even the 55-200, it’s noisy. But the images are worth the wait and the audible irritation. I’ve found it only a nuance when trying not to disturb those around me. It’s really not that bad, hence it still having 5 stars due to overall performance with image output. If you’re used to the likes of the Nikon AFS, Canon USM or even the Sigma HSM, this well feel slow and loud, but it does deliver on image quality.Bottom line, if you shoot with the interchangeable X series and need/want the 50mm equiv. that so many shooters enjoy, this is the ticket. Nothing else comes close nor is anything else this fast. The 18-55 is good at a similar focal point, but not as sharp in my book, and certainly nowhere near as fast.A great, light, fast (optically) lens for the X system.

2. 

   Rated 5 out of 5

   Cornell Johnson – August 26, 2025

   This Fuji 35mm prime lens for Fuji X-mount cameras takes photos that are just, wow .. AMAZING. It’s simply difficult to believe that a smaller format lens like this can hold its own against the larger Nikon and Canon lenses, and not in any way to take away from those, but after shooting for a good deal of time with this lens, I would have to say that it is every bit the peer of its more well-known brethren. The image clarity is simply astounding: sharp, rich photos that can achieve outstanding bokeh due to its very large F/1.4 aperture, and the defocusing effect is really nice due to the number of shutter petals used in its design. But this is a lens that you might just want to beyond portraits: use it outdoors, on the street, really anywhere, because the images are just simply that good.You’re not going to have a wide angle capability here because you are working at 35mm (about 52mm equivalent), but once you start seeing how the shots come out, you’ll start forgiving that shortcoming. Add to this that the lens is so light that once you’ve put it on your X-A1, X-E1, X-M1, or X-Pro, and you’ll nearly be working at point-and-shoot weights.This lens does not come with built-in image stabilization. But once you see the photos, it likely won’t matter to you. And because the Fuji X cameras shoot very low noise at very high ISO levels, coupled with the fact the lens opens up all the way to F/1.4, image stabilization really isn’t that important.The lens is a bit pricey, but most reviewers are coming down on the side that some of these Fuji X-mount lenses (and this is one of them) are comparable with professional brand lenses many times their price. This is simply an amazing set of lenses that deserve your investigation if you have not looked into them yet. This lens alone might be all you need to draw you into looking into the Fuji X-mount system. Five stars, and absolutely without hesitation!PLUSSES++ Very good image quality, with good color and sharpness++ HUGE aperture allows for low-light shooting and good bokeh++ Lightweight and generally small++ “XF” build quality puts it in the league of Fuji’s other amazing “XF” lensesMINUSES– A tad expensive for what it is (but it goes on sale, so keep your eye’s peeled)– Shutter blades pretty “clacky” during autofocus– Autofocus speed not the fastest– The newer XF 35mm F/2 is much faster, quieter, smaller, and much cheaper (so if you don’t need that extra F/1.4 aperture, go with the newer model)– No lens case supplied (I know I am harping on this, but all Fuji lenses should come with beautiful Fuji lens cases)Update after shooting with this lens for a month in France:This lens is just crispy good. Images can be so sharp as to be startling. I used this lens in museums, in cathedrals, in train stations, really just about anywhere without thought of low light in the setting, and just knocked off shot after shot of gorgeous images. You have to use your “built-in zoom” (i.e., your feet) when using the lens, but that’s just a matter of weening yourself off the convenience that zoom lenses provide (and that also account for their general inability to reach the image quality of primes; the world of camera equipment is a world of trade-offs!). And, because of the very wide aperture (F/1.4), you can pretty much not worry about the lack of image stabilization. Just take time to compose your shot, and the images can be just amazing. Coupled with the high-ISO/low noise performance of the Fuji X cameras, this wide-aperture lens just continues to amaze. After shooting with it for weeks, I can see firsthand why so many people rave about it, as they do for many of the Fuji primes. It’s light and small, too, so when you slap it on your X mount camera, you are at near point-and-shoot weight. The aperture blades and the focusing motor are a bit noisy at times (there is a firmware update for many of the Fuji cameras to help reduce this, as well as firmware updates for the lens itself; make sure you have updated both your camera AND your lens to the latest firmware from the Fuji support site), but in most settings, you’ll never notice it (also turning off continuous focusing will help with focusing noise will help). But this is an extraordinary lens that I say will compete with the best of the larger brands, and at a fraction of the weight. It’s easily a five-star lens on nearly all counts.

3. 

   Rated 5 out of 5

   Dr. Lawson Cremin – December 4, 2025

   I bought this lens to go with my Fujifilm XT-2 and I’m really loving it! Other reviews have commented on the outstanding build quality (which it is) so I’ll just focus on the image quality. This lens produces standout images. The F1.4 produces a beautiful bokeh and even wide open it produces extremely sharp images. It’s a perfect match for the lightning fast 1/32,000 electronic shutter speed on the XT-2 since at F1.4 the lens lets so much light in. I’m used to having to stop my lenses down in broad daylight, but I can shoot wide open at noon if I want on the XT-2. The AF is a tad slow as other reviews have mentioned, but it’s certainly fast enough for my needs. I was debating between this lens and the F2.0 and I’m glad I went with the F1.4 for everything that comes with a wider aperture (better low light performance, better bokeh, etc). It’s a great companion to the 18-55mm F2.8-4.0 R LM OIS Lens.Negative reviews addressed:AF Noise – The AF noise is not that bad. Based on some of the reviews I thought it was going to be noisy, inaccurate and just all around lousy and this has not been my experience. I can hear it, but it locks on fairly quickly and I hardly notice the little amount of noise it makes (just a faint clicking while it locks on). Now maybe if I was shooting a wedding in a church and I needed absolute silence this might become a factor, but that isn’t the case for me. Come on people this is a magnificent lens! Stop giving products 1 star because it isn’t 100% perfect (what product is?). This almost deterred me from this lens and I’m glad I went with my gut and purchased it anyways.AF Hunting – The AF does hunt a little (especially in low light), but it’s still perfectly acceptable for every day photography. Heck I can get it to lock onto stars in the night sky! I don’t have the F2 lens so I can’t directly compare, but I really can’t complain about it hunting too much. That being said I don’t shoot much action photography so that might be an issue for sports and such I just can’t say one way or another.Conclusion: If you are on the fence about this lens for everyday photography purposes you won’t be disappointed. Quite the contrary, you will be wowed by Fujinon’s meticulous attention to detail in all of their products. This lens deserves every single star I rated it.