Fuji XF 56mm f/1.2 lens - Hands on review

Let's just get this out of the way up front: This lens is sharp. It is sharp in the corners, sharp in the center, even sharp in the corners wide open at f/1.2. On top of that it has no discernible distortion, and internal focus is fast and quiet.

I have been anxiously waiting for this focal length to complete the triumvirate of fast aperture primes I typically use when shooting lifestyle. This includes the 23mm f/1.4, 35mm f/1.4, and now the 56mm f/1.2. The 56mm is equivalent to about 85mm with a 28.5° angle of view, which, for me, is the ideal portrait focal length. It can focus down to 2.3' (70cm) for a magnification of .09x. Despite its very wide f/1.2 aperture, it is only slightly larger than the 18-55mm medium zoom, and comes in at 2.74"L x 2.88"D (69.7 x 73.2mm) with a 62mm filter size, weighing only 14.29oz (405g) -- a very comfortable size for a portrait lens.  The f-stop range is f/1.2-16.

The Fuji FX 56mm f/1.2 lens mounted on the X-T1, a perfect combo for portraits. 

A 7-blade aperture forms a very round diaphragm to create the beautifully soft bokeh Fuji lenses are known to deliver. Two ED lens elements and Fuji's excellent lens coating insures good color and contrast while keeping lens aberrations to a minimum. Auto focus with a phase detection sensor such as that in the X-T1 or X-E2 is quick an silent.

The 56mm lens together with its shade mounted on an X-E2

At f/1.2 the bokeh of this lens is as good as it gets.

This test shot was taken at the optimal lens aperture range of f/5.6.  Click here to download a high res version of this file.

A focal length of 56mm (85mm equivalent) is a perfect perspective for portraits, and the f/1.2 aperture makes it easy to eliminate distracting backgrounds with fine bokeh instead.

A fast aperture 56mm focal length is my most used lens for shooting lifestyle photography, as in this scene and the one below we staged in the studio.

It's so nice to have the f/1.2 aperture for pulling off shots like this.

Conclusion:

In terms of both its optical quality and quick, silent auto focus this is probably the best lens in the entire XF optical line up, and that is saying a lot because the Fuji lens line up is quite impressive. Rarely do you see a lens perform this well at a maximum working aperture of f/1.2. On top of all that, and unlike other full frame counterparts of this focal length, the XF 56mm is comfortable to hold and does not seem to dwarf even the small X-E2. If this lens is a sample of what is to come with future pro lenses in the Fuji lens lineup, I say: bring them on and the sooner the better.

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The Fujifilm XF 56mm f/1.2 R lens is available for ordering at:   BH-photo  Amazon