Fuji XC 35mm f/2
50mm equiv. APS-C
Sample Image Introduction Specifications
Performance Compared Recommendations
Fujifilm XC 35mm f/2 (43mm filters, 4.5 oz./129g, 1.1'/0.35m close focus, $199). bigger. I got mine at B&H. I'd also get it at Adorama or at Amazon, or eventually used at eBay if you know How to Win at eBay.
This all-content, junk-free website's biggest source of support is when you use those or any of these links to approved sources when you get anything, regardless of the country in which you live. Thanks for helping me help you! Ken.
May 2020 Better Pictures Fuji Fuji Lenses Sony LEICA Zeiss Nikon Canon All Reviews
Sample Image top
Sample Image Intro Specifications
Performance Compared Recommendations
Palms, 7:04 PM, 23 May 2020. Fuji X-T200, Saturation (color) set to +2, Sharpening set to +2, Fuji XC 35mm f/2 at f/5 at 1/250 at ISO 200, -0.7 stops exposure comensation (LV 12.0), exaclty as shot. bigger or camera-original © 7MB JPG file.
Introduction top
Sample Image Introduction Specifications
Performance Compared Recommendations
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This is an inexpensive, mostly plastic 35mm (50mm equivalent) f/2 lens for use on Fuji's X-mount APS-C cameras. It's super light and super-sharp, and has the same optical performance (and possibly exactly the same optics) as the twice-as-expensive all-metal XF 35mm f/2.
It's a great idea as a take-everywhere normal lens.
I got my XC 35mm f/2 at B&H. I'd also get it at Adorama or eventually used at eBay if you know How to Win at eBay.
Fujifilm XC 35mm f/2. bigger.
Specifications top
I got my XC 35mm f/2 at B&H. I'd also get it at Adorama or eventually used at eBay if you know How to Win at eBay.
Name specifications top
Fujifilm calls this the FUJINON XC35mmF2:Fujinon is Fujifilm's brand name for all their lenses, scopes and binoculars.
XC is Fuji's line of optically excellent but inexpensive plastic-barreled lenses for their X-mount APS-C cameras.
Also has:
Aspherical means it uses aspherically-shaped lens elements for sharper pictures.
Super EBC is Fujinon's brand of multicoating, standing for Super Electron-Beam Coated.
∅ 43 means it takes 43mm filters.
Fuji's model number is XC35mmF2 or 16647434.
Optics specifications top
9 elements in 6 groups.
2 aspherical elements.
Super Electron-Beam Coating (EBC).
Filters specifications top
Plastic 43 mm filter thread.
Coverage specifications top
APS-C (16 × 24mm).
Diaphragm specifications top
Fujifilm XC 35mm f/2 (diaphragm not seen). bigger.
9 rounded blades.
Electronically actuated.
Stops down to f/16 in 1/3 stops.
Focal Length specifications top
35mm.
On Fujifilm's APS-C cameras it sees the same angle of view as a 50 mm lens sees when used on a 35mm camera.
See also Crop Factor.
Angle of View specifications top
44.2º diagonal.
Focus Scale specifications top
Not on lens, but may be displayed in-camera.
Infinity Focus Stop specifications top
No.
Depth of Field Scale specifications top
Not on lens, but may be displayed in-camera.
Infrared Focus Index specifications top
No.
Close Focus specifications top
1.1 feet (0.35 meters).
Maximum Reproduction Ratio specifications top
1:7.1 (0.14 ×).
Caps specifications top
FLCP-43 43mm front lens cap (p/n 16489258), included.
RLCP-001 rear lens cap (p/n 16389783), included.
Size specifications top
2.30" ø maximum diameter × 1.83" extension from flange.
58.4 mm ø maximum diameter × 46.5 mm extension from flange.
Weight specifications top
4.538 oz. (128.6 g), actual measured weight.
Rated 4.6 oz. (130g).
Announced specifications top
12:01 AM, Thursday, 23 January 2020, NYC Time.
Included specifications top
FLCP-43 43mm front lens cap (p/n 16489258).
RLCP-001 rear lens cap (p/n 16389783).
Fuji's Model Number specifications top
XC35mmF2 or 16647434.
Price, USA specifications top
$199, January-May 2020.
Fujifilm XC 35mm f/2. bigger.
Performance top
Sample Image Introduction Specifications
Performance Compared Recommendations
Overall Autofocus Manual Focus Breathing Bokeh
Distortion Ergonomics Falloff Filters Flare & Ghosts
Lateral Color Fringes Macro Mechanics
Sharpness Spherochromatism Sunstars
I got my XC 35mm f/2 at B&H. I'd also get it at Adorama or eventually used at eBay if you know How to Win at eBay.
Overall performance top
This is a great little lens for anything. It's fast, sharp, inexpensive, tiny and light. Beat that, LEICA!
Autofocus performance top
Autofocus is fast; no problems here.
Manual Focus performance top
Manual focusing is entirely electronic; the manual focus ring isn't connected to anything other than a digital encoder.
Focus Breathing performance top
Focus breathing is the image changing size as focused in and out. It's important to cinematographers that the image not breathe because it looks funny if the image changes size as focus gets pulled back and forth between actors. If the lens does this, the image "breathes" by growing and contracting slightly as the dialog goes back and forth.
The Fujinon XC 35mm f/2 has a traditional amount of focus breathing; the image gets bigger as it focusses more closely.
Bokeh performance top
Bokeh, the feel, character or quality of out-of-focus areas as opposed to how far out of focus they are, is good. As a short (35mm) lens, nothing gets that far out of focus for the bokeh (quality of that defocus) to matter much.
As always, if you want to throw the background as far out of focus as possible, shoot at f/2 and get as close as possible.
Here's a shot from headshot distance wide-open:
Made-in-U.S.A. Davis 6250 weather station, 05 May 2020. Fuji X-T30, XC35/2 at f/2 at 1/2,200 at ISO 80 (LV 13.5). bigger or camera-original © file.
Distortion performance top
The XC 35/2 has no visible distortion in normal use.
For extra-critical work you could use a factor of -0.50 in Photoshop's lens correction filter, but some waviness remains after this correction if you pull out your microscope and a huge ruler.
Ergonomics performance top
Fujifilm XC 35mm f/2. bigger.
This tiny lens is all focus ring, and that's it.
Excepting that it lacks an aperture ring, it handles great. It's so tiny you can pop it in a pocket, or lose it in your daypack.
Falloff performance top
Falloff is invisible.
I've greatly exaggerated the falloff by shooting a gray field and placing these on a gray background; it will not look this bad in actual photos of real things:
Falloff as shot on Fuji X-T30:
© 2020 KenRockwell.com. All rights reserved. |
Filters, use with performance top
There's no need for thin filters. I can stack a few standard 43mm filters without vignetting.
Go ahead and use your standard rotating polarizer and grad filters.
Flare & Ghosts performance top
There's no problem with flare or ghosts.
See examples at Sunstars.
Lateral Color Fringes performance top
There are no color fringes as shot on Fujifilm's cameras, which by default correct for any that may be there.
There is spherochromatism, which can cause color fringes on things that aren't in perfect focus. Spherochromatism is a completely different aberration in a different dimension than lateral color fringes.
Macro Performance performance top
Macro gets about as close as most lenses.
Wide-open at f/2
It's softer wide-open due to spherical aberration, and not as sharp in the corners:
Casio G-Shock Solar Atomic Watch at close-focus distance, 05 May 2020. bigger or camera-original © file.
1,200 × 900 pixel crop from above. bigger or camera-original © file.
If this 1,200 × 900 pixel crop is about 3" (7.5cm) wide on your phone, then the complete image printed at this same extreme magnification would be about 11 × 16" (0.9 × 1.3 feet or 25 × 40 cm).
If this 1,200 × 900 pixel crop is about 6" (15cm) wide on your screen, then the complete image printed at this same extreme magnification would be about 21 × 31" (1.7 × 2.6 feet or 50 × 80 cm).
If this 1,200 × 900 pixel crop is about 12" (30cm) wide on your screen, then the complete image printed at this same extreme magnification would be about 42 × 62" (3.5 × 5.2 feet or 1.05 × 1.6 meters).
At f/5.6
It's much sharper stopped down:
Casio G-Shock Solar Atomic Watch at close-focus distance, 05 May 2020. bigger or camera-original © file.
1,200 × 900 pixel crop from above. bigger or camera-original © file.
If this 1,200 × 900 pixel crop is about 3" (7.5cm) wide on your phone, then the complete image printed at this same extreme magnification would be about 11 × 16" (0.9 × 1.3 feet or 25 × 40 cm).
If this 1,200 × 900 pixel crop is about 6" (15cm) wide on your screen, then the complete image printed at this same extreme magnification would be about 21 × 31" (1.7 × 2.6 feet or 50 × 80 cm).
If this 1,200 × 900 pixel crop is about 12" (30cm) wide on your screen, then the complete image printed at this same extreme magnification would be about 42 × 62" (3.5 × 5.2 feet or 1.05 × 1.6 meters).
Mechanical Quality performance top
Fujifilm XC 35mm f/2. bigger.
This is an all plastic lens, with glass optics and metal contacts & screws.
Dust Gasket
There is no rear dust gasket.
Identity and Serial Number
The identity and serial numbers are all on a single sticker glued on the bottom of the lens barrel, neither an acceptable nor a permanent way to do this for a product that's handled all day.
Date Code
None found.
Noises When Shaken
Nearly silent clicking from the diaphragm.
Made in
Made in Indonesia
Sharpness performance top
Lens sharpness has nothing to do with picture sharpness; every lens made in the past 100 years is more than sharp enough to make super-sharp pictures if you know what you're doing. The only limitation to picture sharpness is your skill as a photographer. It's the least talented who spend the most time worrying about lens sharpness and blame crummy pictures on their equipment rather than themselves. Skilled photographers make great images with whatever camera is in their hands; I've made some of my best images of all time with an irreparably broken camera! Most pixels are thrown away before you see them, but camera makers don't want you to know that.
If you're not getting ultra-sharp pictures with this, be sure not to shoot at f/11 or smaller where all lenses are softer due to diffraction, always shoot at ISO 200 or below because cameras become softer at ISO 400 and above, be sure everything is in perfect focus, set your camera's sharpening as you want it (I set mine to the maximum) and be sure nothing is moving, either camera or subject. If you want to ensure a soft image with any lens, shoot at f/16 at ISO 1,600 at default sharpening in daylight of subjects at differing distances in the same image.
It's as sharp as the more expensive XF 35mm f/2!
It's super-sharp at normal distances, even wide-open. The corners are a little less contrasty at f/2 due to coma (but still sharp), and they improve quickly as stopped down.
It's softer in the corners at very close distances, and has lower contrast in the center wide-open due to spherical aberration. Stop down at macro distances if you're shooting test charts in a lab.
The twice-as-expensive XF 35mm f/2 has exactly this same performance, and for all I know, that's because it probably has the same optical design.
Spherochromatism performance top
Spherochromatism, also called secondary spherical chromatic aberration, is an advanced form of spherical and chromatic aberration in a different dimension than lateral chromatic aberration. It happens in fast lenses when spherical aberration at the ends of the spectrum are corrected differently than in the middle of the spectrum. Spherochromatism can cause colored fringes on out-of-focus highlights, usually seen as green fringes on backgrounds and magenta fringes on foregrounds. Spherochromatism is common in fast lenses of moderate focal length when shooting contrasty items at full aperture. It goes away as stopped down.
This lens has a good amount of Spherochromatism, with green-cyan fringes in the background and magenta-red fringes in the foreground:
Mondaine A132.30348.11SBB at close-focus distance at f/2, 05 May 2020. bigger or camera-original © file.
1,200 × 900 pixel crop from above. bigger or camera-original © file.
If this 1,200 × 900 pixel crop is about 3" (7.5cm) wide on your phone, then the complete image printed at this same high magnification would be about 11 × 16" (0.9 × 1.3 feet or 25 × 40 cm).
If this 1,200 × 900 pixel crop is about 6" (15cm) wide on your screen, then the complete image printed at this same very high magnification would be about 21 × 31" (1.7 × 2.6 feet or 50 × 80 cm).
If this 1,200 × 900 pixel crop is about 12" (30cm) wide on your screen, then the complete image printed at this same extreme magnification would be about 42 × 62" (3.5 × 5.2 feet or 1.05 × 1.6 meters).
Sunstars performance top
With a 9-bladed rounded diaphragm I get soft 18-pointed sunstars on brilliant points of light mostly at the smallest apertures.
Ignore the crazy rainbow effects at f/16 ; these are sensor artifacts caused by taking a picture directly of the sun and exposing for the dark underside of the palm tree.
Click any to enlarge:
Click any to enlarge.
Compared top
Sample Image Introduction Specifications
Performance Compared Recommendations
I got my XC 35mm f/2 at B&H. I'd also get it at Adorama or eventually used at eBay if you know How to Win at eBay.
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4.6 oz. (130g) |
5.8 oz. (165g) |
The XF 35mm f/2 is an older, more expensive metal version. The XF version is much more durable and has the luxury of a real metal aperture ring.
Each takes exactly the same pictures. Both take 43mm filters, have the same 1.1'/0.35m close-focus distance, the same macro reproduction ratio, the same rounded 9-blade diaphragms stopping down to f/16 and both have 9 elements in 6 groups, with two aspherical elements each. The XF version also claims two ED elements, and for all I know could be the exactly same optics in these two lenses.
Recommendations top
Sample Image Introduction Specifications
Performance Compared Recommendations
I got my XC 35mm f/2 at B&H. I'd also get it at Adorama or eventually used at eBay if you know How to Win at eBay.
This little plastic lens takes exactly the same pictures, and probably really does have the same optical design as the twice-as-expensive XF 35mm f/2.
The XF 35mm f/2 feels much nicer and adds an aperture ring, and it doesn't weigh much more than this plastic lens, but it costs as much as two of these perfectly good lenses.
It's all a question of time frame: long term you'll appreciate the quality feel of the XF 35mm f/2 long after the price has been forgotten - while if pictures are all that matter, this lens takes exactly the same pictures.
I use a clear (UV) protective filter instead of a cap so I'm always ready to shoot instantly. I only use a cap when I throw this in a bag with other gear without padding — which is never. The UV filter never gets in the way, and never gets lost, either.
The B+W 43mm 010 is an excellent filter, but it's not multicoated which could lead to more ghosts in harsh light. Try the multicoated B+W 101M or the Hoya 43mm Multicoated NXT filter if you shoot into the light. The Hoya NXT Plus filter adds a water-resistant coating. Fuji offers its own 43mm Protector filter.
All these filters are just as sharp and take the same pictures, the difference is how much abuse they'll take and stay clean and stay in one piece.
This 100% all-content website's biggest source of support is when you use those or any of these links to approved sources when you get anything, regardless of the country in which you live. Fuji does not seal its boxes in any way, so never buy at retail or any other source not on my personally approved list since you'll have no way of knowing if you're missing accessories, getting a defective, damaged, returned, non-USA, store demo or used lens. I use the stores I do because they ship from secure remote warehouses where no one gets to touch your new camera before you do. Buy only from the approved sources I use myself for the best prices, service, return policies and selection.
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Ken, Mrs. Rockwell, Ryan and Katie.
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