Fujifilm XF 16mm f/1.4 R WR review

Fujinon XF 16mm f/1.4 R WR Review: Test results

Resolution

Sharpness is very good in the centre of the image wide open, and the corners aren’t too far behind. Stop down to just f/2.8 and the corners now match the centre. Our MTF measurements then barely change before diffraction sets in at f/11, suggesting there’s plenty in reserve for higher-resolution sensors. The camera used for these tests was the 16MP X-A1, as its Bayer sensor is more tractable for lens testing.

Shading

Vignetting is kept impressively low. In our Applied Imaging tests we see just over a stop of shading in the corners of the frame at f/1.4, which really isn’t much for a fast prime. Fujifilm also corrects vignetting in software, so even this won’t be visible in camera JPEGs. Stopping down to just f/2.8 eliminates shading almost completely.

Curvilinear Distortion

While most CSC lenses are designed to employ a degree of software distortion correction, Fujifilm adopts a different approach. Like the 14mm f/2.8, the 16mm is highly optically corrected and displays very little distortion, even when its files are examined using a raw converter like Capture One for which all software correction can be disabled. There’s a tiny amount of barrel distortion detectable here, but it’s rarely visible in practical use.