Fuji XF 18mm f/1.4 lens review with samples

This lens seems to have arrived with rave reviews in tow: let's put it through my own tests and see if they're justified.

Find it here (Amazon affiliate link - thank you for the support):

All pictures taken by me on a Fuji X-T3 camera.

Equipment I use to make my videos (Amazon affiliate links):

Music:
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

[cesarebonazza]

I have checked your lens test now for a while, and you have saved me so much time on trying lenses with rentals fees. Thank you for what you are doing for this insane photographer community.

[sclogse]

That closeup sharpness of your clock at 1.4 and no perceivable L.C.A. seen on your textbook shot was holy grail stuff.

[InvertedHermit]

Finally! Some more Fuji lenses. Thank you! :D Really interested in you doing the revised Fuji 10-24mm WR lens and the recent 70-300mm. It would be greatly appreciated.

[JoaquimGonsalves]

Probably the only channel on YT where the theme song never gets old.😍 Also, the outtro theme reminds me of the old days of Digital REV TV when Kai & Lok were still with them. That was one of the first channels I started watching when I got interested in photography during YT's emergence.

[awake]

So glad to see Fuji lens reviews from Christopher Frost.

[PixPete]

This is the ONLY YouTube channel I trust before buying any lens, and thank you again Chris - you've helped me make my decision on the Fuji 18mm! I was almost going to get the 16mm.

[Zenfiren]

Thanks for the Fuji review Christopher, I actually requested one some months ago, so I am really pleased to see one. Hopefully we will see a review of the new 33mm F1.4 and 23mm F1.4 lenses also in the future. Cheers ❤️

[tomapaunovic]

Finally it's great to see that Fuji lenses are again playing at the highest possible level, without any weakness. Looking forward for reviews of their other updated primes, like 33mm 1.4.

Price seems pretty fair for this quality, but I'm not happy that this lens (and other new primes) are about the same size (or bigger) as FF equivalents.

[brianfitzrealty]

I sold my 16 1.4 and 23 1.4 and used those funds to purchase this lens about a month ago. ZERO REGRETS!! It does everything so much better than either one of those lenses - especially when shooting video. Gone is the glass grinding noise from those old stepper motors and instead it's nearly silent when focusing (and much quicker). When paired with my X-T4 and mounted on a gimbal, it is the perfect focal length to capture an outside environment - not too wide, but not too tight. My only concern was that it was not built in Japan like the other premium primes, but so far it has performed perfectly and appears to be just as durable. Now, if Fuji could just fix the Eye AF, we would have an unbeatable setup...

[Reddepex]

After shooting more than 200.000 photos with the 80mm, sometimes in rain, snow and hail, having it dropped it from a meter high several times (the lens hood is quite slippery), I can safely say the moving elements of the 80mm when not attached, are not a problem at all :)

[benjones]

It’s has a linear motor built in, that’s the design and that’s why it bounces around. The 90 F2 is also built this way.

[yuidfbse]

Thank you Christopher for yet another amazing and true to life lens review. Indeed this is a fantastic lens! I have it matched with an HX2 and I have to admit this is Leica, Zeiss, Voigtlander, you name it, grade. From all of Fujifilm's best lenses to date, this one is the top dog. This said, let's keep in mind this lens is extremely expensive (more than some very good Full Frame 28's) and in terms of FF aperture equivalence, is a mere F2.2. Yes it gathers light at F1.4 but it's rendering compared to a F.1.8 or even F2 full frame 28mm, is a far cry. All-in-all, Fujifilm's APS-C is the best in it's category and has come a long way into becoming a real world class system, but it has also become extremely expensive. Match something like a second hand Sony a7C with a 28mm F1.8, and you will have a SMALLER, LIGHER and far CHEAPER Full Frame kit that will eat any new X-H2 or X-T5 and this lens for breakfast, lunch, dinner and all snacks in between. It's called, facts.

[johndao]

Long awaited review, I love my 33mm f1.4. I am looking forward to the new 23mm f1.4 and 18mm f1.4.

[dovletannayev]

I was struggling between 16 1.4 and 18 1.4. I always trust your reviews. Thank you for detailed test and review. I just bought it 😀

[MarshallBananar]

Seems it's even sharper than I thought, wow!

Would love to see your reviews of the 16mm and 33mm 1.4 lenses from Fuji as well!

[itstimetogo]

Another great review Christopher. I would love to see a retest of this lens using either the X-T5 or the X-H2. Fuji has it listed on their recommended lenses that can handle the 40mp sensor. I owned this lens last year and found it to be razor sharp on my X-H1. I think I'll buy it again, as the rave reviews just keep coming in.

[garypardyphotography]

Great review, Chris! Nice to see big ups to this lens :) I hope to add it to my kit someday

[mytube]

Oh wow, that is probably as close to perfection as any lens will ever come, certainly for a wide-angle lens!

[bonedyone]

I need some help, Does anyone have the same issue I have with this lens? In some of my photos at 1.4 only, it sometimes shows little tiny "stars" that look pixelated, kind of looks like a dead pixel, but it cant be a dead pixel, the "stars" are random location.

[rotatingdriveline]

I am fairly certain this lens was designed for the upcoming 40-ish megapixel sensor in the X-H2. That's why it's so dang sharp and error-free on the 26 MP sensor.