The Fujifilm Fujinon XF 30mm F2.8 R LM WR Macro ($599.95) joins the X lens system as the first mid-priced macro with weather protection. It fills an important gap, as Fuji owners previously had to pick between ancient lenses like the XF 60mm ($649.95) and the Touit 50M ($999), or the huge, pricey XF 80mm ($1,199) for close-ups. The XF 30mm is a lot easier to carry than the big 80mm, and while it skips some upmarket features like a focus limiter, it's a fine example of a standard angle macro, and a compelling lens for Fuji photogs looking for a prime that can do double duty for snapshots and macros.
Standard Angle Macro
For the XF 30mm, Fuji went with a classic lens type—the standard angle macro. Like similar options in other systems, the XF 30mm F2.8 trades a bright aperture for close-up focus, in its case close enough to project subjects onto the camera sensor at 1:1 life size. Compare that with the brighter XF 33mm F1.4 R WR, a lens that can gather four times as much light, but only focuses for 1:6.7 results, hardly macro.
The XF 30mm isn't too far off in size from the XF 33mm, so it's just as easy to carry. The 30mm prime comes in at 2.7 by 2.4 inches (HD), weighs 6.9 ounces, and supports 43mm threaded filters. A plastic lens hood is included, contrasting the aluminum exterior of the lens itself.
Fuji includes dust and splash protection in the design. There's no IP rating, but you can feel comfortable using the lens in rainy or snowy weather, assuming you are pairing it with a sealed camera. Fuji doesn’t advertise this lens as having anti-smudge fluorine, and we don’t think it does based on testing. We’ve asked Fuji to confirm either way, but have not received an answer.
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As a day-to-day lens, the XF 30mm enjoys a wide-enough angle for general snapshots. That's in contrast to the XF 80mm's tight, telephoto angle of view. The XF 30mm is also a sensible everyday carry because it's one-quarter the weight of the 1.7-pound 80mm, a lens that's heavier than many Fuji cameras.
Handling and Controls
The XF 30mm keeps things simple in terms of controls. The barrel includes aperture and manual focus rings, but omits any additional controls. We're used to seeing lenses with function buttons, toggle switches, and de-clickable aperture control, but Fuji doesn't employ those adornments here.
A linear motor drives autofocus quickly, so you may not miss a focus limiter, but it's still a feature we like to see on 1:1 macro. Without one, the lens is looking for focus across its entire range from 3.9 inches to infinity, which can lead to occasional hunting.
On-lens aperture control is standard for XF lenses. The control ring here goes from f/2.8-22 and clicks in at third-stop increments. An automatic (A) setting is included too in case you want to let the camera pick an f-stop or, in the case of models with a Mode dial, use camera body controls. Silent, click-free aperture control isn't included, however; Fuji has not embraced this video-friendly feature on its lenses, even though it's commonplace in the rival Sony system.
Fuji also goes for bare metal for the control rings. The knurled metal finish is easy to grip, but feels a bit cold (literally) versus more common rubber-finished focus rings. As for manual focus, this is not my favorite macro to set manually because of its linear electronic focus. The focus motor is quick, so lag isn't a problem, but the focus throw is particularly long, so you'll need to twist the ring more than a full rotation to go from a close to a distant subject. If you're after the precision of manual focus, I recommend getting close with autofocus to start and swapping to manual focus for fine adjustments.
Optical stabilization isn't included with the lens. It's a concern for macro work, even if you pair the XF 30mm with a camera that includes a stabilized sensor. You'll contend with some shakiness in the viewfinder when focusing close for 1:1 shots when handholding the lens, even with a stabilized sensor camera like the X-T5. It won't stop you from getting a shot, but it is an unpleasant, disorienting visual effect. High-magnification work really calls for stabilized optics or a tripod.
Fuji XF 30mm Macro: In the Lab
I matched the XF 30mm with the 40MP X-T5 and Imatest software to check its performance in the lab. The pair delivers good resolution at f/2.8-4 (3,300 lines), and excellent marks from f/5.6-11 (3,500 lines). We see a drop-off in resolution at f/16-22, a result of diffraction, which results in noticeably soft results.
You may be tempted to use small f-stops for sunstars, but the XF 30mm doesn't excel in drawing them. At f/22 it's easy to see the multi-point effect in bright highlights, but tines are mushy and don't take on sharp form.
Defocused backgrounds are pleasingly soft, without ugly false color or hard edges. It's easy to get bokeh with a macro lens at small f-stops due to the shallow plane of focus you work with at high magnification, so you can expect some blur even when making photos at f/5.6-8 in the right situation.
Distortion and vignette aren't real concerns with this lens, we didn't notice either as a problem. We also didn't spot any lateral chromatic aberration (purple fringing) in images that incorporate power lines or tree branches, typical problem areas for the effect.
The small front element and standard angle mean that flare isn't a huge concern unless you point the lens directly into the sun or other bright points of light. In those situations, you'll contend with some loss of contrast and ghosting, most noticeable at smaller apertures.
A Standard Prime With Extra-Close Focus
The Fuji X system has been around for more than ten years, but its lens catalog is still a little underserved for macro work. The XF 60mm F2.4 is one of the original release lenses, launched alongside the X-Pro1, and is in dire need of a design refresh. The Zeiss Touit 2.8/50M is another aging lens, part of a series that Zeiss has since abandoned, and likewise feels out of step with modern design practices.
In bringing updates to the table, the XF 30mm F2.8 R LM WR does a good job, but falls a little shy of what we expect to see in a dedicated macro lens. The snappy focus motor is a welcome addition, as is weather protection, but without optical stabilization or a focus limiter, its appeal as a macro lens is somewhat reduced. The very short working distance you need to use for 1:1 at the 30mm focal length hammers home that, for close-up specialists, the XF 80mm F2.8 R LM WR OIS is a better tool.
However, as a close-focusing standard prime, the XF 30mm F2.8 R LM WR is a rousing success. Sure, there's some shake in the viewfinder when you focus to the minimum distance, but there's a load of shots you can get with this lens that you just can't with a typical standard prime, and you can still get plenty of background blur with f/2.8 optics. Pictures show sharp detail and are generally free of unwanted effects like false color. The XF 35mm F2 WR ($399.95) and the XC 35mm F2 ($199.99) are compelling standard angle value options if you don't care about close-ups, but aren't capable of making macro images.
The Fujifilm Fujinon XF 30mm F2.8 R LM WR Macro lens supports extra-close capture in a standard angle, delivering speedy focus in a compact, weather-protected housing.
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