I have owned the rather brilliant XF18-55mm zoom lens since I purchased my first Fujifilm camera, the X-E2. Over the last few years, I have added two more zooms to my lens stable, the superb XF55-200mm and the under-rated XF18-135mm. I have now added the XF16-80mm. The intention is to use it in place of the 18-55mm on my X-T4.
The XF16-80mm viewing is both wider and longer than the XF18-55mm with a constant maximum aperture of f/4 throughout the range. It also offers a focal length range equivalent to 24-122mm in 35mm equivalent terms. I have already found this extended range useful compared to the XF18-55mm on the three or four excursions I’ve been out with the lens under the present lockdown conditions.
The WR of the lens designation stands for weather-resistant, which should be good enough for anything up to a bad downpour. The technical data says that the lens also boasts 6-stops OIS (Optical Image Stabilisation), although I have found that most of the Fuji lenses that have OIS tend to be one or two stops under the stated stabilization levels. Fuji recommend keeping the OIS (IBIS) on all the time with this lens as it recognizes when it is on a tripod for example and turns the OIS off.
The XF16-80mm is larger than the XF18-55mm but slightly smaller than the XF18-135mm. The front element however is larger than both other zooms with a 72mm diameter.
I already like the way the lens performs with the X-T4 and I am sure it will be just as good on my X-Pro2. The stop clicks on the aperture ring could be a little more positive but that is a minor point, whilst focussing is very fast and accurate.
sensored-view.com 