First impressions after a few days with the xf 16-55! (with some images)

Hi everybody,

When I moved to Fuji it was in first to downsize and reduce the weight of my camera gear (previously on Canon FF). After a year owning several primes (16f1.4, 23f2, 50f2 and 56f1.2), and after a change in the type of photography that I was generally doing, come back into the zoom's world was a no brainer. The 18-55 was a nice option with the OIS and the small size. However, 18mm is not wide enought for me, and the absence of WR was also an issue. So...

...Let me share with you my first impressions after a few days with the xf 16-55.

Size and weight. Yes this one is a difficult one. The size is enormous comparing to the primes lenses. But into the bag it's just 80g more than with my two previous primes. And yes, the camera plus the lens is heavier to carry around (280g). However I do not have any more to swap lenses into the crowd, under the rain or when I'm hiking with family and friends. I definitevely think that the increase of convenience really compensate with the increase of size and weight.

The not so good. I knew that the long end of the 16-55mm was it's main weakness. And yes I can see a good level of softness wide open at 55m in the corners. Even at f5.6 it's still not perfect. Fortunately, the center of the frame is great. Regarding this issue it's nothing that I can really do. Except use my experience of the photography and do not put the lens in situation to fail. The framing and the choice of the foreground are really sensitive with soft lenses but if you choose them carefully you can avoid almost totally the problem.

The great. OK, on this one I will maybe hiritate some of you. So please take it as it is. My experience with lenses that I owned so it's no imagination here. Just my experience: The wider side of the zoom, 16mm, is on par with the 16f1.4, period! Honestly, some rigourous pixels peeping can show some details where the prime will be a bit/tiny better. But that's it. Also, the distorsion is not so well controlled on the zoom in raw. But I know how to use the tools in pp to fix this if necessary and in jpg the issue do not exist anymore.

Another great. In the mid range, I do not see any difference with the images done with the 23f2 and the loss of one stop is not an issue. Here also the zoom shows it's great capacity of image's makers.

Could I continue with the great? Contrast, color and overall image resolution are fantastic. Some people says that the 16-55 is a bag of prime and I agree with them. As a former owner of several primes, certain exceptional, during the last 10 years, I think that I got the right to make this statement.

Construction and handling. Well, the construction is second to none. Solid with perfect handling during the zoom operation and I love the aperture ring which is stiffer than the ones on the primes and so less easy to change accidentaly on the field. The AF is fast, precise and silent.

OIS. Yes, OIS is missing. Would I appreciate to have it? Certainly. Is it an issue not to have it? Not at all. None of my primes have it. And if you mostly photograph events, it's totally useless anyway...

In final. The Fujifilm xf 16-55mm f2.8 l r wr won throught the years the reputation to be one of the best zoom on the market. I do not have others experience with zoom in Fuji however I owned and used several of the best model in Canon full frame. Definitely the Fuji is one of the best zoom I ever used. Highly recommended!

Please find some images that I made in a church near my home today. All are wide open, direct jpg OOC, nothing in pp. Just resized them for posting. In camera settings are Provia, everything flat except -1 in noise reduction. Just sometimes -1/3 or -2/3 IL of compensation.

And yes, on the last image you can see the Billingham Hadley One!

Your feedback will be appreciated.