Review Fujifilm 23mm F2.0 – One Lens to Rule Them All

Review Fujifilm 23mm F2.0

Even though I carried a bag with three lenses, my three weeks trip around Portugal was dominated using one lens. Glued to my Fujifilm X-T20: the Fujifilm 23mm F2.0 WR.

The Fujifilms 23mm F2.0 WR FF equivalent focal length of 35mm is simply awesome and covers all – landscape to portraiture. Of course, shooting portraits with 35mm FF equivalent lens with a widest aperture of F2.0 is not easy, and you will not get a creamy smooth bokeh, but it is great to take portraits with the surrounding environment! In my eyes, the Fujifilm X-T20 paired with the small, lightweight and compact Fujifilm 23mm F2.0 WR is the perfect combination to take wherever you go.

Coimbra

Handling and Build Quality

Once I have hold the Fujifilm 23mm F1.4, but I was never satisfied by the lens. The focal length is the same but the size and weight were just too much to handle. At least for me and especially as it was meant to be my »go to« lens.

So, the Fujifilm 23mm F2.0 WR and its light 200 grams suit me just right. It is very compact and the overall quality of the lens is very convincing. Nothing feels lose or easy to break. I am sure the lens can take the one or another knock without immediately falling apart. The general shape of the lens is something one needs to get used to but in my eyes, it is not as worse as some people claim! The lens is just not pretty ? However, the weather resistance is a neat feature but only then useful if paired with a weather resistant body. Nothing my Fujifilm X-T20 can claim for itself.

Technical Specifications

Field of View	63.4°
Dimensions	ø 60mm x 51,9mm
Filter Thread	ø 43mm
Focal Length	f=23mm (KB: 35mm)
Depth of Field	Normal 22cm – ∞ 0.7 m – 3.0 m
Max. Aperture	F2.0
Max. Magnification	0,13x
Min. Aperture	F16
Type	XF23mmF2 R WR
Weight	180 g

(Quelle: Fujifilm.eu)

Image Quality

The image quality is particularly good across the entire aperture range. Even at the widest aperture, corners are still useable. Stopped down a little bit, the entire frame is razor sharp. The bokeh is very pleasing, also is only an open aperture of F2.0 on a crop body, the bokeh is very unobtrusive and smooth. The close-up limit of just 10cm is great and the Fujifilm 23mm F2.0 WR can almost be used for macro work ?

In the past, I did not like how Fujifilm lenses rendered “stars” at night around light sources. Lucky me, the Fujifilm 23mm. F2.0 handles them well as it can be seen down below – lots of pretty stars!

Aljezur

Conclusion

It is honestly pretty difficult to not like the Fujifilm 23mm F2.0 WR. Currently it is definitely my favorite lens and is most of the time glued to my Fujifilm X-T20 body. It is small, lightweight and very robust and can be used for so many different things that it is a must-have lens.