Is the XF 50mm f/1.0 R WR the Must-Have Portrait Lens for Fuji Photographers?

The XF 56mm f/1.2 R has long been known as the superlative portrait lens for Fujifilm shooters, but the company recently released the XF 50mm f/1.0 R WR, which pushes the boundaries of lens design all the more. This great video review takes a look at the lens and if its performance holds up to its impressive design.

Coming to you from Dustin Abbott, this excellent video review takes a look at the XF 50mm f/1.0 R WR lens. The head-turning feature of the lens is that crazy maximum aperture, of course, but in addition to that, it comes with a variety of features, including:

  • Single aspherical element for reduced distortion and increased sharpness
  • Two extra-low dispersion elements to reduce chromatic aberrations and increase clarity
  • Super EBC coating for reduction of flares and ghosting and increased contrast
  • DC autofocus motor for quick focus distance changes in spite of large elements
  • Rounded nine-blade diaphragm for smoother bokeh
  • Weather-resistant design for work in wet or dusty environments

Altogether, while it is not a perfect device, the XF 50mm f/1.0 R WR looks to be a fantastically capable lens for those who enjoy working with the most extreme designs out there. Check out the video above for Abbott's full thoughts. 

Alex Cooke's picture

Alex Cooke is a Cleveland-based portrait, events, and landscape photographer. He holds an M.S. in Applied Mathematics and a doctorate in Music Composition. He is also an avid equestrian.

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6 Comments

Save your money and get the 56mm f/1.2.

Or save even more and get the vastly underrated 50mm f2 :)

In my opinion, if you are a working photographer using an x series camera and can stretch your budget a little, a used copy of the 56mm f1.2 is the way to go ( if you dont want or can't spend the retail amount ). If you are a hobbyist, the f2 is the way to go, its cheaper, faster af, "weather sealed", smaller, and you'll be able to invest the difference in other things you'll need as you progress.

I have been using the lens for a while now and I am very happy. it is really razor sharp already at f1.0

56mm f/1.2 for me too. I will never uderstand why Fuji didn’t make a 35mm f/1.

I don't like Mr Abbot's analysis.
Check this lens with transformed DNGs files in LR (they will be correctly transformed). All Fuji-users know that the greatest potential in sharp is in the RAF that is only managed well in Capture One.
In addition, the lens uses 80% of the test-photos in the type of photo that we do not use, a tele-short landscape and semi-macro photo .
The true potential of this lens is portrait and studio photography.
I do not understand anything.