The Fujinon XF 56mm f/1.2 R WR lens brings improvements that make it highly competitive in today’s market. How does it compare to other top-performing portrait lenses?
Coming to you from Dustin Abbott, this detailed video explores the new Fujinon XF 56mm f/1.2 R WR lens. This lens stands out with its superior build quality and weather resistance, which were lacking in the original version. The new model includes nine different seal points and a fluorine coating on the front element, making it durable in various weather conditions, which should please portrait photographers who like to work outside.
The lens’ design has also evolved. It’s larger, but with a purpose. The increased diameter to 67mm filter threads is a welcome change, making it easier to find compatible filters. The overall build is more robust, giving it a professional feel. Despite its size, the lens maintains a manageable weight, making it comfortable to use for extended periods.
One of the most significant improvements in this lens is its optical performance. The lens features 13 elements in eight groups, including two aspherical elements and one extra-low dispersion element. This configuration ensures sharpness and clarity, even at the widest aperture of f/1.2. The lens produces beautiful bokeh a well.
The autofocus system, however, is a mixed bag. The lens uses an old-style DC motor, which is noisy and not as smooth as more modern systems. This can be a drawback, especially in quiet settings or when shooting video. Despite this, the autofocus is accurate, which is essential for capturing sharp images with narrow depth of field. It’s not the fastest, but it gets the job done for most situations, excluding fast-moving subjects.
The lens’s minimum focus distance has been improved to 50 cm, with a magnification of 0.14x. This allows for closer shots and more versatility. Even at close distances, the lens maintains excellent sharpness and contrast, which adds to its appeal for various types of photography.
In terms of image quality, the 56mm f/1.2 excels. The lens produces sharp images across the frame, even wide open. There’s minimal distortion and vignetting, which can be easily corrected in post-processing. The color rendition is beautiful, with rich, vibrant tones that make photos pop. The lens also handles chromatic aberration well, ensuring clean and crisp images. Check out the video above for the full rundown from Abbott.
