I originally passed up this lens when I was new to Fujifilm. At the time I had my X-E3 and the kit 18-55mm and the XF18 F2 didn't seem that interesting, given that the kit zoom handled 18mm at F2.8 just fine. What I've come to appreciate over time is how convenient it is owning at least one of the lighter Fuji primes, be it one the original trifecta, or Fujicrons. They often end up becoming your most used lenses, as you just throw them in as an extra or just run out the door as your sole lens. Another sleeper lens is the XF60 2.4. The 60 is just as 'magical' as the 35mm F1.4, with characterful rendering, unique bokeh, sharp when you need it, fast enough for portraits, great close focus ability (being a 0.5 macro) and a focus motor design while older I found just a bit more responsive than the XF 35 1.4.
All those years ago, when the X-Pro1 was introduced, I got this lens free with the 35mm f1.4 as part of a Fujifilm introductory offer. It is still in my kit and often gets taken out for walks. The focus is a bit noisy but is no problem outdoors. Also, I have no problems with sharpness. It's not clinically sharp but, as a photographer, this gives me a more natural image. Now, I use it on the X-H2 and it works really well with the 40mp sensor. Its size is also a bonus. Although it is very well built, it weighs very little and is perfect for travel, hiking or street work. This is a photographer's lens. I assume it might be more challenging for video but I don't do video.
It’s actually one of my favorite lenses. I’ve taken it on tour and taken images that I wouldn’t have otherwise gotten due to it’s size. F2 is great, I hope they make an updated version and keep these character lenses
Love my small XF 18 F2.0 on my XT-2. Very versatile lens with convincing image quality and character. In combination with the XF 35 F1.4 I can cover almost everything, especially for street and travel. I really wanted to downsize my gear and have tried many different primes and zooms. Certainly some of better quality, but when it comes to compactness paired with a certain image look it gets tricky. Happy to have found a nice kit. It's good fun and liberating to go out and shoot with less.
I enjoy your reviews. I’m travelling with an 18-55 on my X-Pro2 and it made me realize that I don’t need primes for my purpose. I also have the 1.4 35mm and sometimes go out with only that lens but the 18-55 is the best lens for me as I can quickly isolate scenes without having to move.
Good for photos, but bad if you want a single lens to go out to do both photos and videos (very noisy). Replaced mine for the 16mmf2.8 and looking forward for a new version of the 18mm. Nice video mate!
I use the lens for all my professional work nowadays granted it took some time getting used to the 28mm than the 35mm FF focal length but pair this lens with the 35mm 1.4 and the 50 f2 you’ve got a kit that can’t be beat on compactness quality and price. I use this kit with an XT4, my XT5 kit consists of the 23,33&90mm and it sits and gathers dust now.
This was my first lens on the X-T2. Ever since the Canon 24mm and 40mm f2.8, I've always preferred compactness. But this lens turned out to be artistic, metallic and pleasant. Oh, I made a lot of amazing fast shots with it and even the slow autofocus didn't bother me!
I'm interested in this lens due to taking pictures with an X-T1 without an infrared filter. The Zoom lenses are susceptible to IR-Light, but the prime lenses cope much better. SO thank you very much for your review.
I love it, it is my go to lens for street photography combined with my X-A1 camera (that - even in 2024 - is still a fine piece of kit). Sure, the lens has its drawbacks. But overall this combo is quite the compact performer that isn't intimidating.
I absolutely love 1970’s era Leica M glass as it’s in my personal sweet spot of perceived sharpness and character. This lens fits right in only it has the added benefits of AF and better perceived sharpness. A friend of mine is a full time professional photographer and the best street photography he ever did was this lens on an X-E3. He has moved on to “better” but he’s hardly shooting street photography these days. I’d print on A3 size with this with no qualms whatsoever.
People these days are so obsessed with sharpness that they overlook beautiful lenses like this one-not that this lens isn’t sharp enough. No photo has ever won a contest for sharpness alone.
Great video as always, Andrei! I noticed the autofocus seemed a bit slow at times, resulting in some out-of-focus shots. That said, I still really like the lens and was able to capture some great photos with it. In your opinion, what would be a fair price for this lens?
I love this lens. Last year I photographed Holi in India and the 18mm was my most used lens on the XT20. The photos where used for an exhibition and where printed 90x120. This lens is amazing. It's sexy sharp, not clinical sharp.
I bought this lens after rejecting it for years due to all the negative reviews. I was pleasantly surprised at how good it is after reading so many complaints. Yes, more modern lenses are "better" on paper, but in real world photography it is fine. The size and weight make this lens perfect for any Fujifilm camera, but specifically the X-Pro and X-E bodies. FWIW, I think Fujifilm did a good job with their first three XF lenses, this 18mm f/2, the 35mm f/1.4 and the 60mm f/2.4. They have a similar rendering which complements the aesthetic of the film simulations rather than striving for technical perfection.
@@AndreiDimaReviewsIf you buy the 60mm f/2.4 as a complete kit, it comes with a huge metal hood, very well engineered, but too big for a compact lens. Since you have the 35mm f/1.4, the small square hood from that lens fits the 60mm perfectly and bayonets to perfectly a aligned angle. I have used my 35mm lens's hood on my 60mm ever since I discovered the cross-compatibility.
I simply LOVE mine - and with the gorgeous squarehood from sweden attached, it looks so great 😍 The combo 18/2 + the old 35 1.4 is my perfect „small and light“ couple if i wanna have a light bag. Also works great on a small body like the T30II 🤘 The focus noise is…. uhh… not that relaxing to put it mildly😅 But hey, you can drive out a bear attacking you in the forest with that for sure! 😂😂😂 I can’t understand the hate for this lens TBH… But in my opinion, it‘s still too expensive, also used.
Can't understand why only Fujifilm has this lens in APSC world. Seems like a no brainer combination of a fast aperture and focal length. Hopefully some manufacturer would fill the gap for other systems and Fujifilm too. Really liked my small full frame 28mm 2.8 but would like to stick with APSC for the forma factor.
I got to be honest with all y'all. I hate the 18mm 2.0 -- when I put my 23mm 1.4 back on there is such a vast difference in image quality, a softness, a better handling of light. Images from my 18mm 2.0 look hard, digital and I'd never use it for an important photograph. It's fine for fast snaps or when I need a wider angle for tight spaces, but it's not a good lens and I wish Fuji would release other pancake options under 2.0 or 1.4 f-stop.
The internet said this lens is Fujis worst and that it is bad lol. The same people love the 35mm f/1.4 and yeah, these two are not far away from each other. Very similiar rendering and "cons" like loud and bit slower AF, where the 18mm struggles with soft corners. I never experienced an image where I said it is trash because the corners are not 100% sharp, but different folks, different strokes. I bought a badly Beat up copy for like 100€ and it is a fun, compact and nice lens. Would not buy at full price, though.
I still use my 35 1.4 that I bought many years ago with an x-e2. I love that lens. The colors image quality are great. The mechanical bits and AF speed are not great by todays standards, but it’s still one of my favorites.
These days, most people focus only on sharpness, and that's a sad thing. No photo has ever won a contest or made it into the history books just for being sharp.
First ever AF Fuji lens I got, eventually sold it off for the 23mm f2 but this is a phenomenal lens. IMO people just struggle to use the 28mm field of view so dismiss this lens.
I love this lens I just wish it was manual, and at least my copy, is not noisy at all. I also shoot on an XT5 and love this lens although I do have my lens on the Voigtlander 18mm
I know which is why I wish it was manual , no zone focusing with this lens. Which is why I got the Voigtlander 18mm but it’s not a bad lens at all, idk why it gets so much hate.
You must have a bad copy or one that was not taken care of because mine that I have been using since late 2012 still is fantastic, the aperture ring is smooth, not scratchy and has proper travel and clicks. I just got back from Hawaii and of all the XF lenses I own the XF18mm f2 is the one I used the most with absolutely Zero issues.
I don't think it's a bad copy. As I mentioned in the video, it's an old, well-used lens. The person I got it from said they bought it when it was released and used it a lot for travel.
@@AndreiDimaReviews Like I eluded to, it was not treated well. Being that it is not a WR lens he allowed dust to get in. Mine has been in my use as well since it was released in 2012 but I am conscious of my shooting environments and take proper precautions, it's been a habit of mine since shooting analog SLRs since the mid 70s, and like I said, my copy looks and works like new for a well used 12 year old lens. I tend to treat my tools like it is the last ones I will ever buy and want it to last forever... I hope you got a fair price on yours considering the condition.
This lens is wicked. People don’t appreciate it at all. It’s a 28mm equiv. documentary style lens. It renders beautifully, you just need to get close, shoot it like a landscape lens or iPhone and obviously it will be lacklustre.
Fuji should releasse version 2 of all their f2 lenses with newer motors. Once the AF is fixed (and most likely on par with Sony,Canon,Nikon only when X-H3 and X-T6 series is out) this system will have big potential.
@@AndreiDimaReviews i meant about XT5 AF-C issues. the firmware updates messed up the autofocus badly especially in moving subjects. and they are taking a long time to fix it.
@@murlidhr I know, I was joking. I've been testing firmware on this channel since the release of the X-T4, I don't think Fujifilm is going to improve or fix this generation.
I originally passed up this lens when I was new to Fujifilm. At the time I had my X-E3 and the kit 18-55mm and the XF18 F2 didn't seem that interesting, given that the kit zoom handled 18mm at F2.8 just fine. What I've come to appreciate over time is how convenient it is owning at least one of the lighter Fuji primes, be it one the original trifecta, or Fujicrons. They often end up becoming your most used lenses, as you just throw them in as an extra or just run out the door as your sole lens.
Another sleeper lens is the XF60 2.4. The 60 is just as 'magical' as the 35mm F1.4, with characterful rendering, unique bokeh, sharp when you need it, fast enough for portraits, great close focus ability (being a 0.5 macro) and a focus motor design while older I found just a bit more responsive than the XF 35 1.4.
Thank you for sharing! I love small lenses on Fujifilm cameras, they should make more. I will give the 60mm f2.4 macro a try.
All those years ago, when the X-Pro1 was introduced, I got this lens free with the 35mm f1.4 as part of a Fujifilm introductory offer. It is still in my kit and often gets taken out for walks. The focus is a bit noisy but is no problem outdoors. Also, I have no problems with sharpness. It's not clinically sharp but, as a photographer, this gives me a more natural image. Now, I use it on the X-H2 and it works really well with the 40mp sensor. Its size is also a bonus. Although it is very well built, it weighs very little and is perfect for travel, hiking or street work. This is a photographer's lens. I assume it might be more challenging for video but I don't do video.
Not the best AF for video but it works great for stationary subjects, and colours are great.
It’s actually one of my favorite lenses. I’ve taken it on tour and taken images that I wouldn’t have otherwise gotten due to it’s size. F2 is great, I hope they make an updated version and keep these character lenses
They should upgrade most of their lenses.
They should give it the WR treatment and good AF. I dig this lens a lot.
Love my small XF 18 F2.0 on my XT-2. Very versatile lens with convincing image quality and character. In combination with the XF 35 F1.4 I can cover almost everything, especially for street and travel. I really wanted to downsize my gear and have tried many different primes and zooms. Certainly some of better quality, but when it comes to compactness paired with a certain image look it gets tricky. Happy to have found a nice kit. It's good fun and liberating to go out and shoot with less.
Thank you for sharing!
I enjoy your reviews. I’m travelling with an 18-55 on my X-Pro2 and it made me realize that I don’t need primes for my purpose. I also have the 1.4 35mm and sometimes go out with only that lens but the 18-55 is the best lens for me as I can quickly isolate scenes without having to move.
Thank you! I miss the 18-55mm lens sometimes.
Good for photos, but bad if you want a single lens to go out to do both photos and videos (very noisy). Replaced mine for the 16mmf2.8 and looking forward for a new version of the 18mm. Nice video mate!
Thank you!
I use the lens for all my professional work nowadays granted it took some time getting used to the 28mm than the 35mm FF focal length but pair this lens with the 35mm 1.4 and the 50 f2 you’ve got a kit that can’t be beat on compactness quality and price. I use this kit with an XT4, my XT5 kit consists of the 23,33&90mm and it sits and gathers dust now.
Fujifilm should make more compact lenses like the 18mm f2 and 27mm f2.8.
This was my first lens on the X-T2. Ever since the Canon 24mm and 40mm f2.8, I've always preferred compactness. But this lens turned out to be artistic, metallic and pleasant. Oh, I made a lot of amazing fast shots with it and even the slow autofocus didn't bother me!
Cool! The thing is, the focus for photography with newer cameras is quite fast, as you can see in my video.
I love 18mm f2. I have many lenses. Many! And 18mm f2 is one of my favorite.
It's in my top ten now.
I'm interested in this lens due to taking pictures with an X-T1 without an infrared filter. The Zoom lenses are susceptible to IR-Light, but the prime lenses cope much better. SO thank you very much for your review.
I am glad it was helpful!
I love it, it is my go to lens for street photography combined with my X-A1 camera (that - even in 2024 - is still a fine piece of kit). Sure, the lens has its drawbacks. But overall this combo is quite the compact performer that isn't intimidating.
Cool, nice combo!
I absolutely love 1970’s era Leica M glass as it’s in my personal sweet spot of perceived sharpness and character. This lens fits right in only it has the added benefits of AF and better perceived sharpness.
A friend of mine is a full time professional photographer and the best street photography he ever did was this lens on an X-E3. He has moved on to “better” but he’s hardly shooting street photography these days.
I’d print on A3 size with this with no qualms whatsoever.
Also, my copy was brand new and being dumped by a purveyor so I got it at a more-that-fair price.
People these days are so obsessed with sharpness that they overlook beautiful lenses like this one-not that this lens isn’t sharp enough. No photo has ever won a contest for sharpness alone.
I love this lens. It has become my most used lens right up there with my 35mm f2.
Makes a nice combo with the 35mm f2.
Great video as always, Andrei! I noticed the autofocus seemed a bit slow at times, resulting in some out-of-focus shots. That said, I still really like the lens and was able to capture some great photos with it. In your opinion, what would be a fair price for this lens?
Thank you! On the X-T5 the autofocus is fast! Around 320 euros or dollars depending on the state of the lens.
@@AndreiDimaReviews Cool, thank you!
@@andreaisonline anytime I can.
I love this lens. Last year I photographed Holi in India and the 18mm was my most used lens on the XT20. The photos where used for an exhibition and where printed 90x120. This lens is amazing. It's sexy sharp, not clinical sharp.
Yes, it is great compact lens.
I bought this lens after rejecting it for years due to all the negative reviews. I was pleasantly surprised at how good it is after reading so many complaints. Yes, more modern lenses are "better" on paper, but in real world photography it is fine. The size and weight make this lens perfect for any Fujifilm camera, but specifically the X-Pro and X-E bodies.
FWIW, I think Fujifilm did a good job with their first three XF lenses, this 18mm f/2, the 35mm f/1.4 and the 60mm f/2.4. They have a similar rendering which complements the aesthetic of the film simulations rather than striving for technical perfection.
I need to give the 60mm f2.4 a try, I love the 35mm f1.4 and made multiple videos about it.
@@AndreiDimaReviewsIf you buy the 60mm f/2.4 as a complete kit, it comes with a huge metal hood, very well engineered, but too big for a compact lens. Since you have the 35mm f/1.4, the small square hood from that lens fits the 60mm perfectly and bayonets to perfectly a aligned angle.
I have used my 35mm lens's hood on my 60mm ever since I discovered the cross-compatibility.
Another excellent review, Andrei. Are you on the latest firmware on your X-T5? I think the older firmware on the X-T5 was a bit better for AF.
Thank you! For video or photography?
@@AndreiDimaReviews photography
@@JackieDElia I have the last version and yes, the older version was slightly better.
@@AndreiDimaReviews thank you for confirming that for me.
I love this lens for street and travel photography. It gives me the point and shoot feel that I want, backed with the amazing colour science from Fuji
It's a nice compact lens, we need more like this one.
Totally agree. It was so revealing for me that colors can be so attractive directly in jpeg. Also 18f2 is my favourite lens.
A nice review for a really underrated lens :)
Glad you think so! Thank you!
My go-to for street photography and buildings.
It's a great lens for street and architecture.
I simply LOVE mine - and with the gorgeous squarehood from sweden attached, it looks so great 😍 The combo 18/2 + the old 35 1.4 is my perfect „small and light“ couple if i wanna have a light bag. Also works great on a small body like the T30II 🤘
The focus noise is…. uhh… not that relaxing to put it mildly😅 But hey, you can drive out a bear attacking you in the forest with that for sure! 😂😂😂
I can’t understand the hate for this lens TBH… But in my opinion, it‘s still too expensive, also used.
I totally agree!
How do you think it compares to the 16mm 2.8? Which would you prefer to travel with?
I like the 16mm more because it is wider.
Can't understand why only Fujifilm has this lens in APSC world. Seems like a no brainer combination of a fast aperture and focal length.
Hopefully some manufacturer would fill the gap for other systems and Fujifilm too. Really liked my small full frame 28mm 2.8 but would like to stick with APSC for the forma factor.
I hope Viltrox will fill this gap.
I got to be honest with all y'all. I hate the 18mm 2.0 -- when I put my 23mm 1.4 back on there is such a vast difference in image quality, a softness, a better handling of light. Images from my 18mm 2.0 look hard, digital and I'd never use it for an important photograph. It's fine for fast snaps or when I need a wider angle for tight spaces, but it's not a good lens and I wish Fuji would release other pancake options under 2.0 or 1.4 f-stop.
Thank you for sharing!
The internet said this lens is Fujis worst and that it is bad lol. The same people love the 35mm f/1.4 and yeah, these two are not far away from each other. Very similiar rendering and "cons" like loud and bit slower AF, where the 18mm struggles with soft corners. I never experienced an image where I said it is trash because the corners are not 100% sharp, but different folks, different strokes. I bought a badly Beat up copy for like 100€ and it is a fun, compact and nice lens. Would not buy at full price, though.
I still use my 35 1.4 that I bought many years ago with an x-e2. I love that lens. The colors image quality are great. The mechanical bits and AF speed are not great by todays standards, but it’s still one of my favorites.
These days, most people focus only on sharpness, and that's a sad thing. No photo has ever won a contest or made it into the history books just for being sharp.
This is one of my favorite lenses. Definately underrated.
The XF 18mm f2 is truly an underrated lens.
It gets some bad reviews but in my opinion it’s a fantastic lens that works so well on the early Fuji Sensors.
Totally agree!
First ever AF Fuji lens I got, eventually sold it off for the 23mm f2 but this is a phenomenal lens. IMO people just struggle to use the 28mm field of view so dismiss this lens.
True, not many people use 28mm field of view.
I love this lens I just wish it was manual, and at least my copy, is not noisy at all. I also shoot on an XT5 and love this lens although I do have my lens on the Voigtlander 18mm
It works great on the X-T5.
I know which is why I wish it was manual , no zone focusing with this lens. Which is why I got the Voigtlander 18mm but it’s not a bad lens at all, idk why it gets so much hate.
Good review and beautifull pictures of Oviedo. Yes in Spain we are noisy
, XD.
Just wondering if it is better (besides size) than the XF 18 WR?
No, it is a good lens but the 18mm f1.4 WR is one of the best Fujifilm lenses.
You must have a bad copy or one that was not taken care of because mine that I have been using since late 2012 still is fantastic, the aperture ring is smooth, not scratchy and has proper travel and clicks. I just got back from Hawaii and of all the XF lenses I own the XF18mm f2 is the one I used the most with absolutely Zero issues.
I don't think it's a bad copy. As I mentioned in the video, it's an old, well-used lens. The person I got it from said they bought it when it was released and used it a lot for travel.
@@AndreiDimaReviews Like I eluded to, it was not treated well. Being that it is not a WR lens he allowed dust to get in. Mine has been in my use as well since it was released in 2012 but I am conscious of my shooting environments and take proper precautions, it's been a habit of mine since shooting analog SLRs since the mid 70s, and like I said, my copy looks and works like new for a well used 12 year old lens. I tend to treat my tools like it is the last ones I will ever buy and want it to last forever... I hope you got a fair price on yours considering the condition.
I was about to buy one onlf these, but the owner was asking $400. I don't think that precime makes sense
That is too much, I paid 320 euros for this one.
@AndreiDimaReviews And yours looks in much better condition🫠
400 is crazy.. I paid £194 for mine recently about 250usd
I love this lens! It has some of the best microcontrast you can get at this price range.
The 18mm and 35mm have some of the best micro contrast of all Fujifilm lenses.
This lens is wicked. People don’t appreciate it at all. It’s a 28mm equiv. documentary style lens. It renders beautifully, you just need to get close, shoot it like a landscape lens or iPhone and obviously it will be lacklustre.
Most people are afraid to get close, but that is where this lens shines.
@@AndreiDimaReviews 💯
I own it, use it, love it! 😁
It's so good!
f16 is the sweetspot!
Ok
Fantastic lens!
Yes, the Fujifilm XF 18mm f2 is great lens. I hope the make a MKII with weather sealing.
I don’t get it, people say it’s the worst Fuji prime, it’s my favorite
Now that I used it, it's in my top ten Fujifilm lenses.
Fuji should releasse version 2 of all their f2 lenses with newer motors. Once the AF is fixed (and most likely on par with Sony,Canon,Nikon only when X-H3 and X-T6 series is out) this system will have big potential.
Yes, they should. The XF f/2 and f/2.8 primes are great lenses because of their portability. I hope Fujifilm updates them soon.
@@AndreiDimaReviews but they need to fix the AF soon as possible. that should be priority before they release new lenses
@@murlidhr fix it? They need to replace it :))
@@AndreiDimaReviews i meant about XT5 AF-C issues. the firmware updates messed up the autofocus badly especially in moving subjects. and they are taking a long time to fix it.
@@murlidhr I know, I was joking. I've been testing firmware on this channel since the release of the X-T4, I don't think Fujifilm is going to improve or fix this generation.
hum, I rather use TTartisan 17mm f1.4 than using these overpriced glasses
Ok