The Fujifilm Fujinon XF 30mm F2.8 R LM WR Macro ($599.95) joins the X lens system as the primary mid-priced macro with climate safety. It fills an essential hole, as Fuji homeowners beforehand needed to decide between historical lenses just like the XF 60mm ($649.95) and the Touit 50M ($999), or the massive, expensive XF 80mm ($1,199) for close-ups. The XF 30mm is lots simpler to hold than the large 80mm, and whereas it skips some upmarket options like a spotlight limiter, it is a wonderful instance of a regular angle macro, and a compelling lens for Fuji photogs searching for a chief that may do double obligation for snapshots and macros.
Normal Angle Macro
For the XF 30mm, Fuji went with a basic lens kind—the usual angle macro. Like comparable choices in different methods, the XF 30mm F2.8 trades a vivid aperture for close-up focus, in its case shut sufficient to mission topics onto the digicam sensor at 1:1 life dimension. Evaluate that with the brighter XF 33mm F1.4 R WR, a lens that may collect 4 occasions as a lot gentle, however solely focuses for 1:6.7 outcomes, hardly macro.
The XF 30mm is not too far off in dimension from the XF 33mm, so it is simply as simple to hold. The 30mm prime is available in at 2.7 by 2.4 inches (HD), weighs 6.9 ounces, and helps 43mm threaded filters. A plastic lens hood is included, contrasting the aluminum exterior of the lens itself.
Fuji contains mud and splash safety within the design. There is not any IP ranking, however you’ll be able to really feel snug utilizing the lens in wet or snowy climate, assuming you’re pairing it with a sealed digicam. Fuji doesn’t promote this lens as having anti-smudge fluorine, and we don’t assume it does based mostly on testing. We’ve requested Fuji to verify both method, however haven’t obtained a solution.
As a day-to-day lens, the XF 30mm enjoys a wide-enough angle for normal snapshots. That is in distinction to the XF 80mm’s tight, telephoto angle of view. The XF 30mm can also be a wise on a regular basis carry as a result of it is one-quarter the load of the 1.7-pound 80mm, a lens that is heavier than many Fuji cameras.
Dealing with and Controls
The XF 30mm retains issues easy when it comes to controls. The barrel contains aperture and handbook focus rings, however omits any extra controls. We’re used to seeing lenses with perform buttons, toggle switches, and de-clickable aperture management, however Fuji does not make use of these adornments right here.
A linear motor drives autofocus shortly, so you could not miss a spotlight limiter, however it’s nonetheless a function we prefer to see on 1:1 macro. With out one, the lens is searching for focus throughout its total vary from 3.9 inches to infinity, which may result in occasional looking.
On-lens aperture management is commonplace for XF lenses. The management ring right here goes from f/2.8-22 and clicks in at third-stop increments. An computerized (A) setting is included too in case you wish to let the digicam decide an f-stop or, within the case of fashions with a Mode dial, use digicam physique controls. Silent, click-free aperture management is not included, nonetheless; Fuji has not embraced this video-friendly function on its lenses, regardless that it is commonplace within the rival Sony system.
Fuji additionally goes for naked steel for the management rings. The knurled steel end is simple to grip, however feels a bit chilly (actually) versus extra widespread rubber-finished focus rings. As for handbook focus, this isn’t my favourite macro to set manually due to its linear digital focus. The main target motor is fast, so lag is not an issue, however the focus throw is especially lengthy, so you may must twist the ring greater than a full rotation to go from a near a distant topic. When you’re after the precision of handbook focus, I like to recommend getting shut with autofocus to begin and swapping to handbook focus for wonderful changes.
Optical stabilization is not included with the lens. It is a concern for macro work, even if you happen to pair the XF 30mm with a digicam that features a stabilized sensor. You may take care of some shakiness within the viewfinder when focusing shut for 1:1 photographs when handholding the lens, even with a stabilized sensor digicam just like the X-T5. It will not cease you from getting a shot, however it’s an disagreeable, disorienting visible impact. Excessive-magnification work actually requires stabilized optics or a tripod.
Fuji XF 30mm Macro: Within the Lab
I matched the XF 30mm with the 40MP X-T5 and Imatest software program to test its efficiency within the lab. The pair delivers good decision at f/2.8-4 (3,300 traces), and glorious marks from f/5.6-11 (3,500 traces). We see a drop-off in decision at f/16-22, a results of diffraction, which leads to noticeably smooth outcomes.
Chances are you’ll be tempted to make use of small f-stops for sunstars, however the XF 30mm does not excel in drawing them. At f/22 it is simple to see the multi-point impact in vivid highlights, however tines are mushy and do not tackle sharp kind.
Defocused backgrounds are pleasingly smooth, with out ugly false coloration or exhausting edges. It is easy to get bokeh with a macro lens at small f-stops as a result of shallow airplane of focus you’re employed with at excessive magnification, so you’ll be able to count on some blur even when making images at f/5.6-8 in the suitable scenario.
Distortion and vignette aren’t actual issues with this lens, we did not discover both as an issue. We additionally did not spot any lateral chromatic aberration (purple fringing) in pictures that incorporate energy traces or tree branches, typical drawback areas for the impact.
The small entrance aspect and commonplace angle imply that flare is not an enormous concern until you level the lens straight into the solar or different vivid factors of sunshine. In these conditions, you may take care of some lack of distinction and ghosting, most noticeable at smaller apertures.
A Normal Prime With Further-Shut Focus
The Fuji X system has been round for greater than ten years, however its lens catalog continues to be slightly underserved for macro work. The XF 60mm F2.4 is without doubt one of the authentic launch lenses, launched alongside the X-Pro1, and is in dire want of a design refresh. The Zeiss Touit 2.8/50M is one other growing old lens, a part of a collection that Zeiss has since deserted, and likewise feels out of step with trendy design practices.
In bringing updates to the desk, the XF 30mm F2.8 R LM WR does an excellent job, however falls slightly shy of what we count on to see in a devoted macro lens. The snappy focus motor is a welcome addition, as is climate safety, however with out optical stabilization or a spotlight limiter, its enchantment as a macro lens is considerably lowered. The very brief working distance you have to use for 1:1 on the 30mm focal size hammers house that, for close-up specialists, the XF 80mm F2.8 R LM WR OIS is a greater software.
Nevertheless, as a close-focusing commonplace prime, the XF 30mm F2.8 R LM WR is a rousing success. Positive, there’s some shake within the viewfinder whenever you focus to the minimal distance, however there is a load of photographs you will get with this lens that you simply simply cannot with a typical commonplace prime, and you’ll nonetheless get loads of background blur with f/2.8 optics. Footage present sharp element and are usually freed from negative effects like false coloration. The XF 35mm F2 WR ($399.95) and the XC 35mm F2 ($199.99) are compelling commonplace angle worth choices if you happen to do not care about close-ups, however aren’t able to making macro pictures.
