Understanding XC vs XF Lenses for Fujifilm X-E4

I'm researching upgrading from an X100S, with it's fixed 23mm lens, to an X-E4, to take advantage of interchangeable lenses. Right now, I'm specifically looking at mid-length 'walk around' zooms, c. 15/16 to 50 or so.

What's a little confusing is, Fuji has a few lenses that are of type "XC," while the majority of the lenses are "XF." "XC" tend to be less expensive, so I presume they forego some features/performance for the sake of cost - yes? What else do I need to know about using XC lenses on an X-E4...?

Thanks in advance for info on this topic,

Optically good, restricted maximum aperture, less robustly made. I am prejudiced against plastic lens bayonets so stupidly got rid of my 16-50 and 50-230.  But good lenses and good value.

XC lenses lack aperture rings, not typically a big deal, but with the X-E4 short a command dial, you may have to double (or triple) up on dial function assignments.

XC- Plastic Body and Bayonet, Slower aperture minus the 35mm, No aperture ring. In my experience, they manual focus poorly. (Had the 15-45 kitted with my old X-T100, use the 50-230 for my tele for the moment.)

Fuji says the 35mm XC shares its optics with the XF, just that the housing and coatings are different.

XF- Aluminum body, metal bayonet (Dunno if it's plated brass or steel or what.) Aperture ring, Faster Apertures. Weather sealing on the F2 primes.

The build and the controls on the XF lenses makes them worth it to me, but part of me wouldn't mind trying that 15-45 again. I didn't like it the first time, but that had nothing to do with optics, just handling.

Erik Baumgartner wrote:

XC lenses lack aperture rings, not typically a big deal, but with the X-E4 short a command dial, you may have to double (or triple) up on dial function assignments.

The lack of an aperture ring would be a deal killer for me — I’m used to the X100S and a big part of choosing the X-E4 was having a very similar control layout to what I’m used to.

Google would have told you that.

a_c_skinner wrote:

Google would have told you that.

Geez....why the snarky response?  It was really uncalled for.

I bought an X-E4 as I wanted something small and light. The 18-55 is a bit too large so I bought an XC15-45. It's plastic and feels cheap. I hate that it doesn't have an aperture ring, has a powered zoom and it takes a second or two to warm up from the off. However, you get used to it after a while, sort of.  Optically though I have zero complaint. For the price it is great and it remains on the body. If I was using it for anything other than holiday snaps I would probably use the 18-55 or a small prime like the 27 or 35.

Bottom line is, if you want quality, it's XF every time. If you don't mind the compromises in use and are okay with plastic, the XC lenses are very good optically.

Sorry, apologies.

Erik Baumgartner wrote:

XC lenses lack aperture rings, not typically a big deal, but with the X-E4 short a command dial, you may have to double (or triple) up on dial function assignments.

For the OP, let's build on this reply. I had a XE3 and now the XE4. With the XE3 I had the excellent light weight XC16-50 Mk II, which does not have an aperture ring, and the XF 18-55, which does have one. Beyond build quality and image quality, the absence or presence of an aperture ring is the principal difference.

Turning to the XE3 vs the XE4 and how to control aperture when shooting Aperture Priority, which is my normal shooting mode. This only applies to the XC lenses, including the 27 Mk I, as aperture has to be controlled by the body not on the lens. The XE3 has a rear command dial, so one is able to set the aperture of an XC lens using this dial. The XE4 does not have a rear command dial so it has to be set by the front command dial. Not a big issue once one becomes accustomed to using it.

However, there's always a however (!), I adjust EC (with the EC dial itself set to 'C') and ISO via the front dial. It is a simple matter of pressing in the dial to toggle to the required setting (EC or ISO) and then turning it to set the value (it remembers the last used function). If one uses this set up and adds aperture as well, because there is no aperture ring on a XC lens and no rear dial, one has to toggle around the three settings. Of course, I could set EC on its dedicated dial, and I could map ISO to the Fn button (which could mean the front dial in my case only adjusts aperture). This would reduce the load on the front dial.

For me, I decided that I would rather set aperture on the lens ring. So when I upgraded from the XE3 to the XE4, which included the new 27 Mk II kit with an aperture ring, I traded in the 27 Mk I and the XC 16-50 for the new kit so that I no longer have any XC lenses. This keeps it simple and with the right set up the XE4, despite fewer physical controls and buttons, is a delight to use.

Hope that helps.

jhorse wrote:

Erik Baumgartner wrote:

XC lenses lack aperture rings, not typically a big deal, but with the X-E4 short a command dial, you may have to double (or triple) up on dial function assignments.

For the OP, let's build on this reply. I had a XE3 and now the XE4. With the XE3 I had the excellent light weight XC16-50 Mk II, which does not have an aperture ring, and the XF 18-55, which does have one. Beyond build quality and image quality, the absence or presence of an aperture ring is the principal difference.

Turning to the XE3 vs the XE4 and how to control aperture when shooting Aperture Priority, which is my normal shooting mode. This only applies to the XC lenses, including the 27 Mk I, as aperture has to be controlled by the body not on the lens. The XE3 has a rear command dial, so one is able to set the aperture of an XC lens using this dial. The XE4 does not have a rear command dial so it has to be set by the front command dial. Not a big issue once one becomes accustomed to using it.

However, there's always a however (!), I adjust EC (with the EC dial itself set to 'C') and ISO via the front dial. It is a simple matter of pressing in the dial to toggle to the required setting (EC or ISO) and then turning it to set the value (it remembers the last used function). If one uses this set up and adds aperture as well, because there is no aperture ring on a XC lens and no rear dial, one has to toggle around the three settings. Of course, I could set EC on its dedicated dial, and I could map ISO to the Fn button (which could mean the front dial in my case only adjusts aperture). This would reduce the load on the front dial.

For me, I decided that I would rather set aperture on the lens ring. So when I upgraded from the XE3 to the XE4, which included the new 27 Mk II kit with an aperture ring, I traded in the 27 Mk I and the XC 16-50 for the new kit so that I no longer have any XC lenses. This keeps it simple and with the right set up the XE4, despite fewer physical controls and buttons, is a delight to use.

Hope that helps.

Just a small clarification... You seem to suggest that the 27mm Mk 1 (without the aperture ring) is an XC lens. It is not; it's an XF lens.  As a matter of fact, I think it's the only XF lens without an aperture ring.

bowportes wrote:

Just a small clarification... You seem to suggest that the 27mm Mk 1 (without the aperture ring) is an XC lens. It is not; it's an XF lens. As a matter of fact, I think it's the only XF lens without an aperture ring.

You are correct, but the point was about how to control aperture when the lens itself does not have an aperture ring.

RMillward wrote:

I'm researching upgrading from an X100S, with it's fixed 23mm lens, to an X-E4, to take advantage of interchangeable lenses. Right now, I'm specifically looking at mid-length 'walk around' zooms, c. 15/16 to 50 or so.

What's a little confusing is, Fuji has a few lenses that are of type "XC," while the majority of the lenses are "XF." "XC" tend to be less expensive, so I presume they forego some features/performance for the sake of cost - yes? What else do I need to know about using XC lenses on an X-E4...?

Thanks in advance for info on this topic,

One other notable mention is regarding firmware. There were two versions each of the XC 16-50 and 50-230. The first version had the designation "OIS" on the front of the barrel. The second version was marked "OIS ii". The OIS ii versions were able to accept firmware updates, and are the better choice for a newer-model camera than the first versions.

While the XC 50-230mm OIS ii lens is still current, the XC 16-50 ii was discontinued when the 15-45 Powerzoom was released. I've never had it but it seems to live up to its XC branding: excellent performance for its price point. However, there have been many posts by owners who do not like the Powerzoom feature, which can't be controlled manually. If you're in this category it might be worth looking for good used copies of the 16-50 ii.

In general the XC lenses are small, light, and give excellent optical performance for their price, but come with material and ergonomic caveats vs their XF counterparts. The 18-55 or 16-80 (though it has its own caveats!) would be the best XF choices for smaller and lighter "kit"-type lenses. The XF 55-200 is a great performer in all areas, it just lacks WR, but can be found used for a decent price right now as people move to the formidable 70-300. I did, and I love it, but the 55-200 is still an awesome lens.

The front command dial will adjust the aperture of a Fuji lens without a ring.  The X-E4 manual describes the default operation on page 67.

X-E4 manual page 67.

Yes it is confusing.  I tried it with shutter dial set to P and Exposure comp dial set to a specific number (not "C") and aperture ring set to "A" (operates the same as if the lens has no aperture ring).  And I had ISO set to 3200.  Lens is Fuji 27mm F2.8 Mark II.

Each time you press in on the front command dial a little notation pops up briefly in the viewfinder indicating the function.  In my case the two were SS and F, and pressing would select one and then the other.  So you would select aperture, and then every time you turn the front command dial it will adjust aperture and then in this particular case the exposure will change so the shutter speed will change also, so you have an exposure selected by the EC dial.  If you press the front command dial again it will indicate "SS" briefly and then the front dial will do program exposure shift, so that the combination of shutter speed and aperture satisfies the setting on the EC dial.

Basically if you set the front dial to "A" you are shooting in aperture priority, and the camera will set the shutter speed to satisfy the setting of the EC dial.  If you have enabled the display to show shutter speed and f-stop, a little half-disc will appear over the F-stop indication to show you that the front dial is adjusting aperture.

The X-E4 remembers if the front dial is set to adjust "A" aperture or "SS" program shift, so when you turn it off and then turn it on later you will still be adjusting the parameter you expect.

I never use this stuff, and I didn't try other things on the table on page 67.  But after using the camera this way a while it got pretty intuitive, and this should happen for you also.  You just have to play with it for a while.

Good luck!