Fujinon XF56mmF1.2 R WR - Review

Fujinon XF56mmF1.2 R WR: The Ideal Portrait Lens for Professional Photographers

As a professional photographer, I'm always on the lookout for lenses that provide exceptional image quality, clarity, and detail. That's why I was excited to test out the Fujinon XF56mmF1.2 R WR from Fujifilm, a lens that promises to deliver precise control over the depth-of-field and stunning bokeh effects for portraits and other creative applications.

Design and Construction

The Fujinon XF56mmF1.2 R WR has been precisely engineered with a compact design that makes it easy to handle and use. It's a little heavier than some of its counterparts, weighing in at 405g, but this is due to its high-quality construction that includes 13 elements in eight groups. The optics include one ED and two aspherical elements that work together to produce high resolution and aberration-free results, which are packed with detail and color.

One of the unique features of this lens is the 11 diaphragm blades that result in a clean and almost perfectly circular aperture, even at F4 or F5.6. The result is a clean edge along a highlight, with minimal aberrations, and distractions that look especially pleasing when out of focus. The bokeh effects truly are exceptional, making this lens a must-have for portrait and wedding photographers.

Performance

The XF56mmF1.2 R WR's fast maximum aperture provides precise control over depth-of-field and ensures beautiful bokeh effects. Combine this with its optical construction that produces high resolution, aberration-free results, and the result is truly exceptional image quality.

One thing that sets the XF56mmF1.2 R WR apart is its minimum focusing distance of 50cm, making it an ideal portrait lens, but it's also great for other applications within tabletop, product, and commercial photography. Even when shooting at wider apertures, the lens produces sharp and crisp images, with outstanding color reproduction.

The manual focus control has also been optimized to make achieving accurate focus simple and easy. This is particularly useful when making images with minimal depth-of-field. Lastly, the DC autofocus motor minimizes friction, resulting in focus being achieved quickly and accurately.

Weather Resistance

The XF56mmF1.2 R WR comes equipped with nine rubber seals that help keep it protected from dust and moisture, while also maintaining full functionality in temperatures as low as -10°C. The fluorine-coated front element repels water, fingerprints, and other marks to help keep image quality high when the weather turns against you. Whether shooting in a studio or outdoors, the lens performs exceptionally well, no matter the conditions.

Handling

The aperture ring on the XF56mmF1.2 R WR features an A position lock to prevent unwanted movement of the aperture ring while also enabling control of the lens aperture setting through using a command dial on an X Series camera body. The lens is very easy to handle, with smooth focusing and a comfortable grip. Even when using the lens for extended periods, I never experienced any fatigue or discomfort.

Final Verdict

After extensive testing, I have to say that the Fujinon XF56mmF1.2 R WR is truly an exceptional lens that delivers stunning results in all conditions. Its outstanding image quality, control over the depth-of-field, and quick and accurate autofocus make it the ideal lens for portrait, wedding, tabletop, product, and commercial photography applications.

The lens does come at a premium price, but careful investment is well worth the dent in the pocket. With a customer review rating of 3.7 out of 5 stars, there are indications that other buyers were not entirely happy with the purchase, but I believe the XF56mmF1.2 R WR's incredible performance far outweighs any drawbacks.

Overall, I highly recommend the Fujinon XF56mmF1.2 R WR for professional photographers looking for a versatile and high-performance lens that delivers exceptional image quality and control. It is truly a must-have for any portrait photographer looking to take their craft to the next level.

Fujinon XF56mmF1.2 R WR

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