Fujifilm XF 23mm F1.4 R LM WR Review: Fuji's Wide Prime Redesigned for 40MP and Fast Autofocus

On Fujifilm X-mount, 23mm gives the field of view of a 35mm lens on full frame. It’s the classic street, travel and documentary focal length, the same view as the X100VI. The Fujifilm XF 23mm F1.4 R LM WR, announced in September 2021 at $899, is Fuji’s modern take: sharper than the 2012 original, with fast linear-motor focus and weather sealing.

It came out alongside the XF 33mm f/1.4, and together they became the two most recommended fast primes for Fuji’s 40MP bodies.

It weighs about 375 grams with a 58mm filter.

Video review: Dustin Abbott

Sharp from f/1.4

The original XF 23mm f/1.4 had a soft, glowing look wide open that some loved. The new version is sharp from f/1.4 across most of the frame, and it holds up on the 40MP X-T5, X-H2, X-T50 and X-E5. Chromatic aberration is low.

Background blur is smooth for a wide lens, helped by nine rounded aperture blades.

Close focus is excellent: 19 centimeters, for 0.2x magnification. That’s very close for a wide prime, great for food, details and environmental shots with a close foreground.

Fast and quiet

The linear motor focuses quickly and silently, keeping up with Fuji’s subject-detection autofocus. It’s very good for video, with smooth, quiet focus changes.

There’s a proper aperture ring with an A position, the Fuji way. The lens is weather resistant and rated to work down to minus 10°C.

The limits

It’s bigger than the old 23mm and much bigger than Fuji’s tiny XF 23mm f/2 and f/2.8 pancake. On small bodies like the X-E5 or X-M5, the pancake keeps things more pocketable.

$899 isn’t cheap. Third-party options like Sigma’s 23mm f/1.4 DC DN, Viltrox’s 23mm f/1.4 and Tokina’s atx-m 23mm f/1.4 cost much less, with a little less refinement in focus speed and build.

Who should buy it

Street, travel and documentary photographers on Fuji. Wedding shooters who want a wide prime for candid moments. Owners of 40MP Fuji bodies who want a 35mm-equivalent lens that keeps up with the sensor. Vloggers who want a fast, light, wide prime.

Pair it with the XF 33mm f/1.4 and the XF 56mm f/1.2 WR for a classic three-prime Fuji kit.