The king of kit lenses is dead. Long live the Fujinon XF 18-55mm f/2.8-4 R LM OIS!
Celebrated as one of the best kit zooms of all time, it is also Fujifilm’s best-selling lens ever. So why was this champion glass discontinued, and what prompted its slow slide to irrelevance in the X Series stable?
Discontinuation Rumors
In April 2024, we heard reports from Japan that the Fujifilm 18-55mm lens was marked as discontinued in retail stores ahead of the expected launch of its successor. Just a month later, on May 16, the Fujinon XF16-50mm f/2.8-4.8 R LM WR was announced at the Fujifilm X Summit in Sydney.
The official launch of this new lens marks a sad yet inevitable fate for the first X Series zoom. Launched in 2012 alongside the flagship X-Pro 1, it soon became popular among Fujifilm fans, garnering a stellar reputation.
What’s in a Name?
The official name of the lens is particularly long: Fujinon XF 18-55mm f/2.8-4 R LM OIS. Let’s take a look at what those letters mean:
- R denotes it has an aperture control on the lens barrel, a feature that almost all X Series lenses have. Changing aperture on the lens harks back to the days of film when this was the most common way to change aperture. One of the reasons I love the X Series is that you have ISO, shutter speed, and aperture all available to change via the lens or top of the camera body.
- LM denotes a linear autofocus motor—a feature loved by video shooters that ensures quiet and responsive operation of the lens.
- OIS denotes optical image stabilization. In the days before any Fujifilm X Series camera had IBIS, this was an important feature. OIS enabled you to take images handheld that you otherwise wouldn’t have been able to take without a tripod.
Lens Specifications
Its impressive specifications include:
- An equivalent focal range of 27-84mm in full frame terms, making it ideal as an everyday and travel lens
- Three aspherical elements, including one extra-low dispersion element
- Rounded 7-blade diaphragm
- Super EBC coating to minimize lens flare
What's So Special About the Fujifilm 18-55mm Lens?
We've all used zooms that underperformed at certain apertures or focal lengths, yet it was very hard to find faults with this lens. The 18-55mm lens is lightweight, produces excellent image quality, and, most of all, back in its heyday, was fantastic value for money.
It's even been lauded as the best kit zoom of all time. It played a special role in the evolution of the X Series, broadening its appeal for photographers who didn't want to use the original trio of prime lenses.
Why I Bought It
Having owned the original X100 in 2011, four years later in 2015, I decided to sell all my Nikon gear and get 100% into the X Series. Looking back at purchase receipts, the first four Fujifilm lenses I bought were the 16mm / 27mm / 35mm / 56mm prime lenses. That’s right, not a zoom in sight.
Clearly, I felt I was missing something as a few months later I bought the 18-55mm lens. Photography confession here—I’ve always been a zoom guy at heart—and I wasn't disappointed with this lens.
Why This Is My Most Used X Series Lens
The Fujifilm 18-55mm is the single most used lens in my Lightroom catalog. Here's why I love it:
- It has a wonderfully versatile zoom range.
- It's quick to focus.
- It gives fantastic sharp results across focal lengths and apertures.
- It's perfect for everyday photography and travel photography and can even be used for landscapes, cityscapes, and portraits.
- Although it doesn't have the WR letters in its name denoting weather resistance, I got mine wet quite a few times with no ill effect.
As well as the travel images on this page, I've used this lens for thousands of images of my family growing up, special occasions, and family vacations.
6 Reasons Why the Fujifilm 18-55mm Is Sliding into Irrelevance
If the lens is that good, what happened?
Over the last 12 years, a lot has changed. Here are six reasons behind its slow slide into irrelevance for many X Series shooters.
- Optical Image Stabilisation (OIS) was once an important feature for X Series lenses, but it’s not essential anymore given the latest generation of IBIS cameras coming out of the Fujifilm stable.
- Many professionals shooting weddings and portraits preferred the Fujifilm XF 16-55mm f/2.8 R LM WR lens, which has a constant f/2.8 aperture.
- The lack of weather-proofing prompted many photographers to opt for the 16-55mm, the XF 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 R LM OIS WR, or the next lens listed in the point below.
- In 2019, Fujifilm released a new lens that would soon be bundled with cameras, the XF16-80mm f/4 OIS WR.
- With the launch of the Fujifilm X-T5 and its 40 MP sensor, the 18-55mm was one of the lenses that did not fully resolve, sealing its fate.
- In late 2022 Sigma released an 18-50mm f/2.8 autofocus zoom for Fujifilm X Series. The Sigma lens has a constant aperture, similar size and weight, and crucially - a similar price. The only downside of the lens is control of the aperture via the camera, rather than on the lens.
Prambanan Temple, Indonesia (Fujifilm X-T3 with XF 18-55mm lens) © Matt Murray
The New King? Fujifilm X Series Kit Lens Successor
Another reason is the launch of the new Fujifilm kit lens, the Fujinon XF16-50mm f2.8-4.8 R LM WR. It has a slightly wider and shorter focal length than the original, and has been welcomed by many Fujifilm shooters, though some have balked at the price.
The XF 16-50:
- Has faster autofocus.
- Is weather-resistant thanks to an internal zoom design.
- Is reportedly sharper than its predecessor.
- Is ideal for use in the newer 40 MP X Series cameras.
- Has a closer focus at just 24 cm / 9.44 inches.
- Lacks optical image stabilization, but with stabilized bodies, this is not a deal breaker.
Which Lens Should You Choose?
I'd love to try out the new lens, but given the price, I’ll stick to my 18-55mm for now.
If you're stuck on which one to buy, here are some suggestions for choosing between the Fujifilm XF 18-55mm f/2.8-4 R LM OIS and the XF 16-50mm f/2.8-4.8 R LM WR:
- You have a non-stabilized body: the 18-55mm has OIS.
- You have a new 40 MP body: the 16-50mm will fully resolve with this sensor.
- You have a weather-sealed body: the 16-50mm is the only choice for a fully weather-resistant setup.
- You have a limited budget: the 18-55mm is a lot cheaper second-hand than a brand-new 16-50mm.
Is This the Best Zoom Lens of All Time?
It's certainly one of the best zoom lenses I've ever used. Let me know your thoughts about the Fujinon XF 18-55mm f/2.8-4 R LM OIS in the comments below.
Sorry, but my experience with the old kit lens was horrible. 2 soft examples. The OIS was very ordinary. Moved onto the original Fuji 2.8 and was happy apart from the weight
Gosh, sorry to hear that, mine was superb! Thanks for reading.
Same problem with Canon RF 24-70 F2.8. Too soft.
I don't understand how it's possible too much diference between same lens. Where is Quality Control? In the users, I think. But I'm not agree with the answer.
HI, I bought this lens with an X-S20, now I just bought an X-T5 and I am still using this 18-55 lens. Can you please explain your sentence "With the launch of the Fujifilm X-T5 and its 40 MP sensor, the 18-55mm was one of the lenses that did not fully resolve, sealing its fate."? Pros & Cons when using this lens with X-T5? Thanks
Hi Fabio, thanks for reading! When Fujifilm launched the X-T5 they listed lenses that "fully resolve" with the new sensor, meaning that you will get the highest quality with those lenses. For example, the ageing 18-55 was not on it, but other lenses like the 50-140 f/2.8 were. It's nothing to worry about, I've used the 18-55 with the X-T5 myself and the photos are great, it's just Fujifilm's way of saying for optimal performance use one of the lenses on the list. A more cynical take would be it's their way of getting you to buy new lenses that are on the list for the new generation of cameras!
Okay, let me try to resolve the meaning of "fully resolve." It seems that is insider jargon and not immediately clear to those of us to whom English is not the mother tongue.
Cameras before the X-T5 had maybe 20 megapixels in a full frame (24x36 mm) sensor. Now, this latest model comes with a 40 megapixel sensor, which adds quite a bit to the camera's ability to produce sharp high resolution images. The problem with some of the lenses is that they can produce enough detail for a 20 MP sensor, but not for a 40 MP sensor. So, in a manner of speaking, these lenses have been overrun by the demand of the camera body for sharpness. Good for 20 MP but not for 40 MP - just not "sharp enough."
One of these lenses is the "Fujinon XF 18-55mm f/2.8-4 R LM OIS" that is being discussed in this article. So, it will be as good as ever for the cameras that people out there have and have had for a while. For those that buy one of these "super-resolvers" with the 40MP sensor a different lens that can keep up with these resolution demands would be more appropriate. (Is there such a thing yet?) Of course your 18-55 lens will make pictures as good as before, but the camera could do better with a "sharper" lens - and presumably you paid extra for that camera's ability. Therefore, in future, people that buy this camera (or another one coming out later with a similarly sharp sensor) will be looking for a lens that is sharp enough to meet that sensor's capabilities.
(If you are more comfortable with the older terminology, imagine your 35 mm body using 35 mm film had a lens that gives you good results with, say, Ektachrome 200. Now load a roll of Kodachrome 25 and expect a much sharper image. Some of your lenses will give you that sharp image, and some others won't. These lenses were good enough for the resolution you expect from the 200 ASA film, but not up to the sharpness that the 25 ASA film could deliver.
Of course, whether at any point you expect, want or even need that resolution - that is not the issue here. When you buy your lens to go with a body with that sensor (or that Kodachrome film) you may well want to select one that can match the capabilities of that camera.
That is why this legend of a lens is no longer going to be a good match for new bodies - it can't "fully resolve."
Sorry guys, for over-explaining out of concern for a great photographer and reader of your columns, that may need a bit of extra detail to follow your reasoning.
And yes, it is a pity that a great lens like this one can be made obsolete (?) by technological progress ...
Thanks a lot for your answer!