Photography is my salvation. To get out, to try and clear my head, to notice the beauty around me, and to try and see beyond the destruction of the life I had envisioned.

We hadn’t been out for a walk for over a week; neither Sofia, my mum, nor myself had the energy left until yesterday. We needed time to recover, to let our nervous systems return to something resembling normal, and simply to get used to living in peace again. Yesterday was the first time I’d had a good night’s sleep in months. It’s the first time a huge grey cloud of stress and exhaustion didn’t feel quite as present as it has been for the last three months, and the first time I woke up without the certainty of fighting another battle.

So, I suggested a walk along the River Earn—a beautiful spot where mature trees line a path right next to the banks as it meanders toward Crieff and beyond. Even though I was lacking inspiration, I wanted to try and get back in the swing of things and take a camera with me.

I returned to my trusty friend, the Fujifilm X-T5. This walk wasn’t about getting the shot; the camera was brought along almost as a companion, to help me rediscover myself and feel the simple urge of pressing the shutter. I chose the X-T5 instinctively as a tool I’ve owned for a long time now—one that I’m familiar with, and one that through its tactile buttons and dials gives the tangible experience of using a camera, not a computer. It’s light and unobtrusive, yet I know that in the unlikely event I actually make a decent photo, the image quality and look will be excellent.

More than any other camera I own, the X-T5 makes me feel like a photographer who makes pictures rather than takes them. It’s not the fastest, fanciest, or most expensive; it doesn’t look professional or have headline-grabbing specs. But it truly is a photographer’s camera that can inspire you, and that’s what I need right now.

In the last couple of months, I’ve been juggling multiple issues: navigating the best interests of my youngest daughter, Izzy, managing the conflict in the house, trying to remain a place of stability and support for Sofia, acting as a defender of my mother, and trying to stabilize a website that lost a large chunk of its income overnight back in late May. With growing emotional and financial pressures mounting, the emotional ones finally exploded and came to a head. The financial pressures are still with me, but at least now I can hopefully start to have a clear enough head soon to be able to address them.

As we walked down the old path at Lady Mary’s Walk in Crieff, Sofia looked carefree and relaxed as she treated every rock and obstacle as her own private assault course. We dropped off the path several times to explore the rocks strewn at the river’s edge. I took the X-T5 off my Capture Clip and started to feel something. I was still very flat, but the creative juices—while not flowing—were at least starting to trickle as I saw my mum and Sofia howling with laughter as they teased each other and feigned pushing each other into the river.

We had planned to walk the length of the path and do a circular route back to the car park. The walk is stunning, with mature Scots pines and other trees lining each side. However, once Sofia saw the sand at the riverbank, we simply sat, ate a snack, and played in the sand and amongst the rock pools like kids on a summer holiday, reminding me of being Sofia’s age and family trips to Cornwall back in the 80s and 90s.

Before we knew it, two hours had passed, and the fresh air had us all yawning. We made our way back along the river towards the car, home, and a much-needed afternoon nap. The X-T5 had done its job and left me feeling a little lighter than I have in weeks.

With the way my income and other things have been going lately, I’ve questioned what I’m doing and where I am going. I’ve considered selling off many of my cameras, even thinking at one point about removing the X-T5 and all my X-lenses. Yesterday showed me why I won’t do that.

I’ve seen the rumors of the X-T6, and I’ve even been in contact with Fujifilm UK about securing an early model. But looking ahead, I simply don’t see any camera replacing my X-T5. It offers an experience that is unmatched when you just want to make photographs and enjoy the sheer experience of doing so.

For anyone who is dealing with stress, getting out with your camera, with no pressure to get any shots at all but simply to start to notice the world around you, is probably one of the best medicines I can think of.

If you want to read more articles like this one then here are a few links:

A walk in Pethshire with the 56mm 1.2WR

A walk through Beaver country with the Fuji X-T5

Returning to the woodlands of Perthshire with the Fuji X100VI

Unlike the other prime lenses featured in this series, the XF 56mm f/1.2 WR is a far more specialised tool. It was designed with portrait photography in mind, whereas the XF 16-55mm f/2.8 II is intended to be a versatile lens capable of handling almost any subject.

So, as I headed out to compare the two lenses, one question was at the forefront of my mind:

If you’re a portrait, wedding or family photographer who primarily photographs people, can the XF 16-55mm f/2.8 II really replace the XF 56mm f/1.2 WR?

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Size and Weight

Unlike the other primes in this series, the XF 56mm f/1.2 WR is noticeably larger than the others and is actually slightly heavier than the zoom, so any argument for choosing it based on size or weight alone falls flat.

It does offer an even brighter f/1.2 aperture compared to the f/1.4 offered by all the other prime lenses tested so far. The lens never feels particularly heavy or bulky when holding it on my X-T5 but it’s definitely substantial. It feels noticeably thicker than the the 16-55mm f/2.8II which is quite surprising and says a lot about how much Fuji have managed to shrink down the mark II version of the zoom.

How I Compared the Two Lenses

I decided not to test the XF 56mm f/1.2 WR against the dry stone wall used in the previous articles in this series for one simple reason: sharpness at mid distances isn’t the primary reason people buy this lens.

While the XF 56mm f/1.2 WR is certainly capable of shooting landscapes, it’s not a lens many photographers are going to spend around $1,000 on for that purpose.

What’s far more relevant is how sharp the lens is wide open, how close it can focus and, perhaps most importantly, how depth of field behaves both close up and at typical portrait distances. Those are the characteristics that define a lens like this, so that’s what I decided to test.

As usual, I mounted both lenses on my Fujifilm X-T5 and placed the camera on a tripod. All images were taken using the camera’s two-second self-timer to eliminate any possibility of movement from pressing the shutter affecting the results.

To determine the minimum focusing distance of the XF 56mm f/1.2 WR, I moved the camera as close to the subject as possible until the lens would no longer acquire focus, then gradually backed away in very small increments until focus was achieved. I then took shots with the 16-55mm f/2.8II at the same distance to compare sharpness before repeating the minimum focus setup separately for the zoom lens and taking shots for comparison.

Once I’d established the minimum focusing distance for both lenses, I compared sharpness, subject separation and depth of field behaviour at their widest apertures and at a range of portrait-focused shooting distances.

So far in this series, I’ve become used to the prime lenses focusing closer than the zoom. I hadn’t looked up the specifications for the XF 56mm f/1.2 WR before starting this test, so I began with the XF 16-55mm f/2.8 II, fully expecting the prime to be able to shoot from the same distance, if not closer.

It turned out the opposite was true.

Fujifilm quotes a minimum focusing distance of 50cm for the XF 56mm f/1.2 WR compared to just 30cm for the XF 16-55mm f/2.8 II. That’s a substantial difference and meant the prime simply couldn’t focus from the same position as the zoom.

As a result, after completing my usual close-focus tests, I repeated them from 50cm so that both lenses could be photographed from exactly the same position and compared fairly.

The first comparison shots I took were with both lenses shot wide open: f/1.2 for the prime and f/2.8 for the zoom.

Both lenses are easily sharp enough for portrait photography when used at their widest apertures and, at first glance, the results were surprisingly close.

Once I zoomed in to 100%, two things became apparent. Firstly, the XF 16-55mm f/2.8 II is slightly sharper than the XF 56mm f/1.2 WR when both lenses are shot wide open. Having seen how well the zoom has performed throughout this series, and knowing just how difficult it is to design an f/1.2 lens that remains critically sharp at its widest aperture, that result doesn’t surprise me.

What’s important, however, is that the XF 56mm f/1.2 WR is nowhere near soft when shot wide open. It remains critically sharp and easily resolves enough detail to define eyelashes cleanly, for example. It’s only when viewed side-by-side with the zoom at 100% magnification that the difference becomes apparent.

In real-world use, both lenses are sharp enough wide open that I would have no hesitation using either of them that way.

The second thing that immediately stood out was just how thin the depth of field is on the XF 56mm f/1.2 WR at close distances. Shot from 50cm away, you’d struggle to get an entire eye in focus, let alone both eyes. While the zoom produces a pleasant blurred background at f/2.8, the prime is operating in an entirely different league when it comes to shallow depth of field, completely melting the background away.

Once I stopped both lenses down to f/2.8, the XF 56mm f/1.2 WR sharpened up and was actually sharper than the XF 16-55mm f/2.8 II at the same aperture.

This was the most substantial difference in sharpness that I found between the two lenses during testing. It’s noticeable at full resolution on a larger screen and even when zoomed to 50% on my 14-inch laptop display.

The zoom is still a very sharp lens, but in this particular test the prime was the clear winner.

At f/4, the XF 16-55mm f/2.8 II sharpens up and closes the gap considerably. The XF 56mm f/1.2 WR still holds a slight advantage and remains the sharper lens, but the difference is less noticeable than it was at f/2.8.

Finally, I wanted to replicate using these lenses at a typical portrait distance of around 6ft from the subject. Again, I shot these images from a tripod with both lenses shot from exactly the same position. Any slight difference in angle of view is simply down to the zoom lens having a maximum focal length of 55mm compared to the prime’s 56mm.

As you can see, while the XF 16-55mm f/2.8 II blurs the background nicely, it remains distracting, the XF 56mm f/1.2 WR gives a much nicer, smoother background.

If you have the option to choose your subject placement and backgrounds, then the XF 16-55mm f/2.8 II can do a really nice job. However, if that’s not an option, the XF 56mm f/1.2 WR gives you the ability to completely obliterate it and isolate your subject much more effectively.

Conclusion

The XF 16-55mm f/2.8 II does a really good job at 55mm, remaining sharp enough wide open to produce very good results. For most photographers, I suspect that’s probably enough for casual portraits, family photos and certainly for isolating subjects when shooting more intimate landscape and detail images.

However, once you move into more specialised portrait or wedding photography, the XF 56mm f/1.2 WR offers the kind of subject separation that the zoom lens simply can’t compete with.

So if I were making a living from photographing people, or if shooting people formed a large part of my photography, I don’t think the zoom replaces it. Not because of sharpness, but because of the creative possibilities and subject separation that the prime lens offers.

One point worth noting is that the XF 16-55mm f/2.8 II focuses more quickly and silently than the XF 56mm f/1.2 WR. The 56mm retains an older-style focus motor and can occasionally hunt for focus, accompanied by the familiar sound of Fujifilm’s older generation lenses.

It’s still fast enough for controlled portraits and most day-to-day photography, but for fast-moving action on a wedding reception dance floor, I wouldn’t fully trust it.

Fortunately, the other prime lenses featured in this series all use Fujifilm’s latest linear motors, making them significantly faster, more reliable and virtually silent in operation.

But as part of my series looking at whether the Fujifilm XF 16-55mm f/2.8 R LM WR II is really a bag of primes, I wanted to shoot the 56mm f/1.2 WR the way I naturally use gear: in my local landscape, on walks, photographing mainly nature, or at least being out in nature.

So for the last week or so, I’ve had it glued to my Fujifilm X-T5 and have been shooting it whenever I go out.

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Seeing Differently with the 56mm

One of the things that surprised me during these walks was just how much I enjoyed using the 56mm focal length.

Like many photographers, I often gravitate towards wider lenses. They feel natural for landscapes, travel and documenting everyday life. But spending time with the 56mm reminded me just how differently a scene can be interpreted simply by changing focal length.

The additional compression allows you to pull elements in a scene closer together, making distant objects appear more connected and helping to simplify what can sometimes be a chaotic frame. Subjects can be isolated more effectively from their surroundings and images often feel less like you’re standing within a scene and more like you’re quietly observing it from a distance.

It’s something I’d encourage every photographer to experiment with. Using a focal length outside your comfort zone teaches you how different lenses see the world and helps you recognise opportunities that you might otherwise miss.

In many ways, that’s what I enjoyed most about taking the 56mm f/1.2 WR on these walks. Rather than trying to capture the entire landscape, I found myself drawn to smaller details and quieter moments. The texture of bark on a tree, the craftsmanship of a dry stone wall, repeating patterns in nature, or the way light fell across a particular part of the woodland.

These intimate landscapes are often some of the most rewarding photographs to make. They encourage viewers to slow down and notice things that might otherwise go unseen.

The ability to work with shallow depth of field adds another creative tool. You can direct attention towards specific parts of the frame, simplify distracting backgrounds, or create images with a softer, more atmospheric feel.

The same applies when photographing family. The extra reach allows you to focus on expressions, gestures and interactions from a comfortable distance. Rather than feeling like you’re standing in the middle of the moment, you’re able to observe it unfold naturally.

Of course, the 56mm f/1.2 WR is great for photographing your family, creating images with a more intimate feel than you would typically get from wider lenses. What I enjoyed most, however, was the way it encouraged me to look for pockets of light, small details, patterns, textures, and more intimate compositions.

It’s not a lens that would naturally come to mind for this type of photography, but it’s more than capable of the job should you decide to challenge yourself and use something a little different. In doing so, you’re likely to come away with a different perspective and a different kind of photograph than you would normally take, while also pushing yourself to think more creatively about composition and subject matter.

And because it’s a prime lens, you can’t simply zoom out and fall back into your usual way of working.

You can read more articles like this below:

When Life falls apart: Why the Fuji experience helps with my mental health.

In many ways, this is the first focal length in my series where the advantages of a prime lens become genuinely compelling. While lenses such as the XF 18mm f/1.4 WR and XF 23mm f/1.4 WR can produce attractive background blur, most people don’t buy them specifically for that purpose. The XF 33mm f/1.4 WR is different. For many photographers, the ability to create subject separation and shoot with a shallow depth of field is one of the main reasons for choosing it over a zoom lens.

The Fujifilm XF 33mm f/1.4 WR is also widely regarded as one of the finest lenses available for the X Series system. I certainly consider it one of Fujifilm’s best lenses, combining excellent image quality, fast autofocus, weather sealing and a practical focal length that works for everything from family photography to environmental portraits.

There’s another reason I expected the XF 33mm f/1.4 WR to perform well in this comparison. Designing a high-quality 50mm equivalent prime lens is generally considered easier than designing wider-angle lenses, which often require more complex optical corrections. If any of Fujifilm’s prime lenses were going to pull ahead of the XF 16-55mm f/2.8 II in terms of image quality, I suspected this might be the one.

So, with both lenses mounted on my Fujifilm X-T5 and tested side-by-side, let’s see whether the XF 33mm f/1.4 WR can justify its place alongside Fujifilm’s flagship standard zoom.

Size and Weight

Just like the XF 18mm f/1.4 WR and XF 23mm f/1.4 WR, the XF 33mm f/1.4 WR is slightly smaller and lighter than the XF 16-55mm f/2.8 II. However, the differences aren’t nearly as dramatic as they would have been with the original XF 16-55mm f/2.8.

At 360g, the 33mm f/1.4 WR is only 50g lighter than the zoom, and while it is shorter and slimmer, both lenses balance very well on cameras such as the Fujifilm X-T5.

Fujifilm deserves a lot of credit for what they’ve achieved with the Mark II version of the zoom. In use, it feels far closer to one of the company’s premium prime lenses than most professional standard zooms I’ve used.

One interesting difference between this comparison and the previous articles in the series is that both lenses share the same stated minimum focusing distance of 30cm. Unlike the 18mm and 23mm primes, the XF 33mm f/1.4 WR doesn’t gain a close-focusing advantage on paper.

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How I Compared the Two Lenses

To compare the XF 33mm f/1.4 WR and XF 16-55mm f/2.8 II, I took both lenses with me on a recent walk around a local country estate.

Using my Fujifilm X-T5 mounted on a tripod, I photographed the same section of a dry stone wall with both lenses. The camera position remained unchanged throughout the test and each image was focused on exactly the same point, which I’ve highlighted below.

I repeated the test at f/1.4, f/2.8, f/5.6 and f/8 with the XF 33mm f/1.4 WR and at f/2.8, f/5.6 and f/8 with the XF 16-55mm f/2.8 II set to 33mm. This allowed me to compare both lenses across the apertures most photographers are likely to use in real-world photography.

As with the previous articles in this series, I also carried out close-focus tests to evaluate sharpness, subject separation and background blur. While laboratory testing has its place, I’m primarily interested in understanding whether any differences are actually visible in real-world use.

Looking at both lenses wide-open, the XF 16-55mm f/2.8 II holds a very slight advantage in centre sharpness over the XF 33mm f/1.4 WR.

However, the gap is extremely small. At 100% magnification, I struggled to see any meaningful distinction between the two files. It was only when I zoomed in to 200% that I could consistently confirm the XF 16-55mm f/2.8 II was resolving slightly more fine detail.

In practical terms, I don’t think this matters. Both lenses are sharp wide-open and the difference is so small that it would be invisible in normal viewing conditions. Unless you’re the sort of photographer who enjoys examining files at extreme magnifications, I doubt you’d ever notice it in real-world use.

With both lenses shot at f/2.8, the result is essentially that they perform the same for all real-world purposes.

At 100%, I simply can’t see a meaningful difference between them. It was only when I zoomed in to 200% that the XF 33mm f/1.4 WR appeared slightly sharper and offered a fraction more contrast.

To caveat that, although the images were taken within minutes of each other, subtle changes in lighting conditions could easily account for any differences in contrast. As far as sharpness is concerned, the gap is so small that I don’t believe it has any practical relevance in real-world photography.

By f/5.6, I can no longer see any difference between the two lenses.

Even when viewing the files at 200% magnification, I am unable to consistently differentiate between images taken with the XF 33mm f/1.4 WR and the XF 16-55mm f/2.8 II. Both lenses produce exceptional levels of detail and sharpness across the frame.

If I removed the EXIF data and showed these images to most photographers, I doubt anyone would be able to identify which lens had taken which photograph. At this aperture, the two lenses are effectively indistinguishable in terms of image quality.

The same story holds true for the edges of the frame which you can see below.

One thing to also note is that unlike the previous tests, the field of view between the 33mm 1.4wr and the 16-55mm f/2.8II when shot at the same indicated focal length is that they are pretty much identical.

Sharpness Verdict for Normal Shooting Distances.

My conclusion is simple: both lenses are sharp wide-open and become extremely sharp once stopped down to between f/4 and f/8.

Although I found tiny differences in some of the tests, they only became visible when examining the files at magnifications far beyond normal viewing conditions. In real-world photography, I don’t believe sharpness is a reason to choose one lens over the other.

Close Focusing and Bokeh Test

To test the minimum focusing distance, close-range sharpness and bokeh performance of each lens, I mounted both lenses on my tripod and photographed the same test subject.

As with the sharpness tests earlier in this article, the camera position remained fixed on my tripod throughout the initial comparison. For the XF 16-55mm f/2.8 II, I set the lens to 33mm and moved the camera as close to the subject as possible until the lens would no longer acquire focus. I then backed away in very small increments until focus was achieved. Fujifilm states a minimum focusing distance of 30cm for both lenses.

Initially, I felt that the results from the XF 16-55mm f/2.8 II looked slightly softer than I expected when shot wide-open at f/2.8. To ensure I wasn’t introducing any camera shake through the shutter press, I repeated the test using a 10-second self-timer. The results were consistent, giving me confidence that any differences seen in the images were caused by the lenses themselves rather than the testing methodology.

Once the XF 16-55mm f/2.8 II images had been captured, I photographed the same scene with the XF 33mm f/1.4 WR from exactly the same camera position. This allowed me to compare close-range sharpness directly with both lenses set to f/2.8.

I then photographed the same scene again with the XF 33mm f/1.4 WR at f/1.4 in order to evaluate the effect of the larger aperture on subject separation and background blur.

Unlike the XF 18mm f/1.4 WR and XF 23mm f/1.4 WR, the XF 33mm f/1.4 WR shares the same stated minimum focusing distance as the XF 16-55mm f/2.8 II. This makes it an interesting comparison, as any differences in the resulting images are more likely to come from optical design and aperture rather than the prime simply being able to focus closer to the subject. I found the 33mm 1.4wr lens to focus ever so slightly closer than the zoom lens but we were talking about around a 1cm difference.

Interestingly, the close-focus test reveals a slightly different story to the sharpness tests carried out at normal shooting distances.

When both lenses are photographed close to the subject and shot wide-open, the XF 33mm f/1.4 WR holds a visible advantage over the XF 16-55mm f/2.8 II. The difference isn’t dramatic, but it is there.

Looking at the 100% crops, the prime lens resolves slightly more fine detail. The XF 16-55mm f/2.8 II remains a very sharp lens, but in this particular test the XF 33mm f/1.4 WR is the clear winner.

This mirrors what I found in the previous comparisons with the XF 18mm f/1.4 WR and XF 23mm f/1.4 WR. While the XF 16-55mm f/2.8 II comes remarkably close to Fujifilm’s premium primes at normal shooting distances, the primes tend to regain some of their advantage once you start working close to your subject.

Hover over the image to see the difference in minimum focus distance between the XF 33mm f/1.4 WR compared with the XF 16-55mm f/2.8 II at 33mm.

The first image in the hover box above shows the 33mm 1.4wr set to the minimum focus distance possible on the Fuji 16-55mm f/2.8II. When you hover over the image it shows the slightly closer minimum focus distance of the Fuji 33mm 1.4wr. The difference is tiny but visible.

Looking at the comparison images, the difference in subject separation is quite substantial once both lenses are pushed to their closest focusing distances.

While the XF 16-55mm f/2.8 II performs remarkably well for a zoom lens, the XF 33mm f/1.4 WR pulls ahead in its ability to isolate subjects from the background. Not only does the prime produce significantly more background blur, but I also prefer the quality of the blur it creates.

In the sample images, the out-of-focus white highlights produced by the XF 16-55mm f/2.8 II remain quite visible and, to my eye, somewhat distracting. By comparison, the XF 33mm f/1.4 WR renders these highlights much more smoothly, allowing them to fade into the background rather than drawing attention away from the subject.

Conclusion

Unlike the sharpness comparisons earlier in this article, this is a difference that is immediately obvious without zooming into the files. If you enjoy photographing details, flowers, food, family moments or environmental portraits, the XF 33mm f/1.4 WR produces a look that the zoom lens simply cannot replicate.

So far in this series of comparisons, I’ve generally come away feeling that the XF 16-55mm f/2.8 II is the better value proposition for most photographers.

The reason is fairly simple. At wider focal lengths, the desire to shoot wide-open in order to blur backgrounds and isolate subjects is often less important than the desire to capture more of a scene. In those situations, the XF 16-55mm f/2.8 II has performed remarkably close to Fujifilm’s premium prime lenses while offering the flexibility of multiple focal lengths in a single package.

However, once you reach a 50mm equivalent focal length, the equation begins to change. This is a focal length that many photographers actively choose because of its ability to isolate subjects, create subject separation and produce attractive background blur. The XF 33mm f/1.4 WR isn’t simply offering another way to achieve 50mm equivalent framing; it’s offering a look that the zoom lens cannot fully replicate.

If all you want is a sharp 50mm equivalent lens, the XF 16-55mm f/2.8 II is an excellent choice. At normal shooting distances, the differences in sharpness between these two lenses are negligible. However, once you begin working closer to your subjects, the prime starts to justify its existence. Not only does it produce greater subject separation and smoother bokeh, but in my testing it was also noticeably sharper than the zoom when both lenses were pushed towards their closest focusing distances.

As with almost everything in photography, it ultimately comes down to a trade-off. The XF 16-55mm f/2.8 II offers outstanding image quality, excellent autofocus, impressive handling and the convenience of multiple focal lengths in a relatively compact package. The XF 33mm f/1.4 WR, on the other hand, is a more specialised tool that can produce images the zoom simply cannot match to the same degree.

If there is one focal length in this series where I would personally be most tempted to spend the extra money on the prime, it is this one. The XF 18mm f/1.4 WR and XF 23mm f/1.4 WR certainly have their advantages, but the XF 33mm f/1.4 WR offers a combination of subject separation, close-focus performance and image rendering that feels genuinely distinct from the XF 16-55mm f/2.8 II. For photographers who love the 50mm equivalent field of view, that’s a compelling reason to choose the prime.

It was my dream camera.

After years of shooting everything from Canon and Nikon to Fujifilm X Series cameras, I had always been fascinated by digital medium format. The idea of a larger sensor, more detail and image quality that pushed beyond what I had previously owned held a certain appeal.

When I sold my business and decided to pursue something more meaningful than simply working to make money, I allowed myself one indulgence.

I bought the GFX100S.

The strange thing is that after finally getting my dream camera, I didn’t use it nearly as much as I expected.

Part of that was practical.

Most of the photographs I was making in the Philippines involved family life. Candid moments. Children running around. Everyday life unfolding in front of me. For those situations, my X100VI and X-T5 simply made more sense.

But looking back, I think there was another reason.

I didn’t really know what the GFX100S was for.

Not technically.

Personally.

I knew what it could do.

I didn’t know what I wanted to do with it.

Finding A Direction

Over the last year, I’ve spent a lot of time thinking.

About family.

About responsibility.

About the future.

About what matters.

Since returning to Scotland, I’ve found myself spending more time walking with a camera and less time worrying about making beautiful photographs for the sake of it.

I’ve been paying attention to the images that stay with me.

The photographs that feel important.

The ones that seem to be asking questions rather than simply showing a scene.

Slowly, a number of long-term project ideas began to emerge.

Projects about family.

Projects about memory.

Projects about ageing.

Projects about the passage of time.

And with those projects came something I had been missing for years.

A reason to use the GFX100S.

Slowing Down

The Fujifilm GFX100S isn’t actually a slow camera.

Compared to the Canon 5D Mark II I used professionally many years ago, it’s remarkably capable.

But it does encourage a different approach.

The 100-megapixel sensor rewards careful technique.

Depth of field behaves differently.

Focus placement matters.

Camera shake matters.

Everything benefits from a little more consideration.

You can absolutely use it casually.

But to get the very best from it, you need to slow down and pay attention.

Recently, that’s exactly what I’ve been trying to do.

Not because I want more megapixels.

Not because I want sharper files.

Not because it’s the most expensive camera I own.

But because the projects I’m working on deserve that level of attention.

The Camera Didn’t Improve My Photography

When I bought the GFX100S, I think part of me believed it would improve my photography.

That was naïve.

Cameras don’t do that.

At least not directly.

The image quality is incredible, but image quality alone doesn’t make meaningful photographs.

What the GFX100S has done is something much more valuable.

It has encouraged me to think.

To slow down.

To be more deliberate.

And perhaps most importantly, it forced me to find a genuine purpose for using it.

The camera didn’t improve my photography.

Finding a reason to make photographs did.

Looking Forward

For the first time since buying the GFX100S, I feel like I understand why it’s in my bag.

Not because it’s medium format.

Not because it’s 100 megapixels.

But because the photographs I’m trying to make now require a different pace and a different mindset and the best that I can give them.

The camera hasn’t changed.

I have.

If you’re interested in the more personal side of that journey and the projects that led me to this realization, I’ve written about them in more detail on my personal website:

This article is the second in a series where I’m comparing the XF 16-55mm f/2.8 II against some of Fujifilm’s best prime lenses, including the XF 18mm f/1.4 WR, XF 23mm f/1.4 WR, XF 33mm f/1.4 WR and XF 56mm f/1.2 WR. Using both controlled tests and real-world photography, I want to see how Fujifilm’s flagship zoom stacks up against the lenses many photographers consider the benchmark for image quality in the X Series system.

Having already compared the zoom against the XF 18mm f/1.4 WR, it’s now time to see how it performs against another Fujifilm favourite: the XF 23mm f/1.4 WR.

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Size and Weight Comparison

Although the XF 16-55mm f/2.8 II is slightly larger and heavier than the XF 23mm f/1.4 WR, in my experience the differences aren’t meaningful enough to base a purchasing decision on. The 23mm 1.4WR is almost identical in size and weight to the Fuji 18mm 1.4WR.

The XF 16-55mm f/2.8 II is now so light and compact for a professional-grade zoom that, in use, it feels surprisingly close to Fujifilm’s f/1.4 prime lenses in terms of handling.

Bear in mind, however, that the zoom lens extends as you move through the focal range, which does affect the balance of the lens on the camera body.

How I Compared the Two Lenses

To compare the two lenses, I took them with me on a recent walk around a local country estate.

Using my Fujifilm X-T5 mounted on a tripod, I photographed the same section of a dry stone wall with both lenses. The camera position remained unchanged throughout the test, and each image was focused on exactly the same point of the wall, which I’ve highlighted below.

I repeated the test at f/1.4, f/2.8, f/5.6 and f/8 with the XF 23mm f/1.4 WR, and at f/2.8, f/5.6 and f/8 with the XF 16-55mm f/2.8 II set to 23mm. This allowed me to compare both lenses across the apertures most photographers are likely to use in real-world shooting.

Test Scene

Centre Sharpness at Wide Apertures

XF 23mm f/1.4 WR at f/1.4 vs XF 16-55mm f/2.8 II at f/2.8

Looking at the images wide open, the XF 16-55mm f/2.8 II holds a slight advantage in sharpness over the XF 23mm f/1.4 WR at f/1.4.

However, the difference isn’t dramatic. The 23mm f/1.4 WR remains impressively sharp wide open, and in normal viewing conditions I doubt many photographers would notice a meaningful difference between the two.

XF 23mm f/1.4 WR at f/2.8 vs XF 16-55mm f/2.8 II at f/2.8

Once both lenses are shot at f/2.8, the situation reverses slightly. The XF 23mm f/1.4 WR now takes a very small lead in centre sharpness, although the difference remains extremely subtle.

Viewed side by side at 100%, the prime lens resolves a touch more detail, but we’re talking about very small differences that are only really visible when directly comparing the files.

Centre Sharpness at f/5.6

By f/5.6, any meaningful difference between the two lenses has effectively disappeared.

Both lenses produce outstanding levels of detail and sharpness, and even when zooming into the files at 100%, there’s virtually nothing to separate them. If I removed the EXIF data and showed these files to most photographers, I doubt they would be able to identify which lens had taken which image.

Corner Sharpness at f/8

Looking at the extreme edge of the frame, the XF 16-55mm f/2.8 II holds a slight advantage over the XF 23mm f/1.4 WR.

The difference isn’t large enough to affect real-world photography, but the zoom does appear to maintain marginally better corner sharpness once both lenses are stopped down.

This mirrors what I found when comparing the XF 16-55mm f/2.8 II against the XF 18mm f/1.4 WR. The zoom is not merely keeping up with Fujifilm’s premium prime lenses—it is occasionally outperforming them in specific areas.

Sharpness Verdict

Based on my own testing, the XF 16-55mm f/2.8 II and XF 23mm f/1.4 WR are so close in terms of sharpness that I wouldn’t choose one over the other based on sharpness alone.

The prime lens holds a tiny advantage at f/2.8 in the centre of the frame, while the zoom appears marginally stronger in the corners when both lenses are stopped down. However, these differences are extremely small and only become visible during direct side-by-side comparisons.

Just as I found with the XF 18mm f/1.4 WR, the XF 16-55mm f/2.8 II delivers a level of optical performance that is remarkably close to Fujifilm’s premium prime lenses.

Close Focusing and Bokeh Test

To test the minimum focusing distance of each lens, as well as their close-range sharpness and bokeh performance, I mounted both lenses on my tripod and photographed the same test subject.

As with the sharpness tests, the camera position remained fixed throughout the initial comparison. For the XF 16-55mm f/2.8 II, I set the lens to 23mm and moved the camera as close to the subject as possible until the lens would no longer focus. I then backed off in very small increments until focus was acquired. Fujifilm states a minimum focusing distance of 30cm for the zoom.

I then photographed the same scene with the XF 23mm f/1.4 WR, first at f/2.8 to allow a direct comparison with the zoom, and then again at f/1.4 to demonstrate the difference in subject separation and background blur.

Finally, I moved the camera closer to the subject to take advantage of the XF 23mm f/1.4 WR’s shorter minimum focusing distance of 19cm. This allowed me to see how the combination of closer focusing and a larger maximum aperture affected the types of images that could be created.

Close-Range Sharpness

Interestingly, this was one of the few situations where I found a more noticeable difference between the two lenses.

At f/2.8, both lenses remain very sharp, but the XF 23mm f/1.4 WR holds a clear advantage at minimum focusing distance. The difference isn’t dramatic, but it is visible without having to zoom into the files excessively.

This contrasts slightly with the landscape-style sharpness tests earlier in the article, where the two lenses were extremely close and often impossible to separate in real-world use. At close range, the prime lens appears to retain more fine detail and crispness than the zoom.

Bokeh and Subject Separation

The second difference becomes obvious as soon as the aperture is opened up.

While the XF 16-55mm f/2.8 II produces pleasant background blur, the XF 23mm f/1.4 WR creates a noticeably stronger separation between subject and background. Out-of-focus highlights are rounder, the transition from sharp to blurred areas is smoother, and the overall image has a more three-dimensional appearance. I find tha background highlights from the 16-55mm f/2.8II much more distracting.

The difference is immediately visible when comparing the images side by side and is one of the clearest advantages the prime lens holds over the zoom.

Minimum Focusing Distance Advantage

The XF 23mm f/1.4 WR’s shorter minimum focusing distance further increases this advantage.

Being able to focus significantly closer allows the lens to create images that simply aren’t possible with the XF 16-55mm f/2.8 II. The closer perspective enlarges the subject within the frame while simultaneously increasing background blur, creating a much more dramatic result.

For photographers who enjoy photographing details while travelling, shooting food, flowers, environmental portraits, or simply getting close to their subjects, this is a genuine advantage of the prime lens and one that goes beyond simple sharpness measurements.

Close Focus and Bokeh Verdict

While the XF 16-55mm f/2.8 II comes remarkably close to the XF 23mm f/1.4 WR in terms of sharpness at normal shooting distances, the prime lens pulls ahead once close focusing and subject separation enter the equation.

The XF 23mm f/1.4 WR is noticeably sharper at minimum focusing distance, focuses significantly closer, and produces more attractive background blur. Combined with its f/1.4 maximum aperture, it is capable of creating images that the zoom simply cannot replicate.

If your photography involves getting close to subjects and making use of shallow depth of field, the XF 23mm f/1.4 WR retains a meaningful advantage. However, if your subjects are typically photographed at mid-range to infinity, the differences between the two lenses remain surprisingly small.

Final Thoughts

If you like to push in close to your subjects and make use of shallow depth of field, then the XF 23mm f/1.4 WR retains some meaningful advantages over the XF 16-55mm f/2.8 II. Not only does it focus significantly closer, but it also produces more attractive bokeh and greater subject separation. At minimum focusing distance, it was also noticeably sharper than the zoom lens in my testing.

However, if your photography mainly involves landscapes, travel photography, street photography, or subjects photographed at mid-range to infinity, the differences between the two lenses become surprisingly small. In terms of sharpness, the XF 16-55mm f/2.8 II and XF 23mm f/1.4 WR are remarkably close, with neither lens holding a meaningful advantage once both are stopped down.

Just as I found when comparing the zoom against the XF 18mm f/1.4 WR, the XF 16-55mm f/2.8 II is capable of matching one of Fujifilm’s best prime lenses in most shooting situations. While the prime still offers advantages in close-focus performance, subject separation and low-light photography, the gap between these two lenses is far smaller than I expected.

Based purely on sharpness, I wouldn’t choose one over the other. The real decision comes down to whether you value the flexibility of the zoom or the creative possibilities offered by the faster aperture and closer focusing ability of the prime lens.

This article is the first in a series where I’ll be comparing the XF 16-55mm f/2.8 II against the XF 18mm f/1.4 WR, XF 23mm f/1.4 WR, XF 33mm f/1.4 WR and XF 56mm f/1.2 WR. Using both controlled tests and real-world photography, I’ll be looking at how the zoom compares in terms of sharpness, rendering, subject separation and overall image quality. I’ve now published the second article in this series comparing the Fuji 16-55mm f/2.8II vs 23mm 1.4WR.

We’ll start with the XF 18mm f/1.4 WR.

This article contains affiliate links. If you buy something through these links, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.

A quick note on size and weight

Although the Fuji 16-55mm f/2.8II is slightly larger and heavier than Fujifilm’s 18mm 1.4wr, in my experience, the differences aren’t meaningful enough to base a purchase decision on. The 16-55mm f/2.8II is now so light and compact for a professional level zoom that in use, it feels very close in terms of handling to the f/1.4 series of prime lenses. Bear in mind though that it does extend when zooming though the focal range which affects the balance of the lens on the camera body.

How I Tested the Lenses

To compare the two lenses, I took them with me on a recent walk around a local country estate.

Using my Fujifilm X-T5 mounted on a tripod, I photographed the same section of a dry stone wall with both lenses. The camera position remained unchanged throughout the test, and each image was focused on exactly the same point of the wall (the central white paint mark), which I’ve highlighted below.

I repeated the test at f/2.8, f/4, f/5.6 and f/8, allowing me to compare the lenses across the apertures most photographers are likely to use in real-world shooting.

Below are screenshots of 100% crops from both the centre of the frame and the far left of each frame.

At f/2.8, the results from both lenses are incredibly similar in the centre of the frame, as the 100% crops above show. I had to zoom in to 200% in Lightroom to find any meaningful difference in sharpness between the two lenses.

If anything, the 16-55mm f/2.8 II showed a fraction more contrast, which gave the impression of being very slightly sharper.

Bear in mind that this performance from the 16-55mm f/2.8 II comes at what should be its weakest aperture — wide open at f/2.8 — whereas the 18mm f/1.4 WR is already stopped down by this point.

Quite frankly, I’m very impressed that the 16-55mm f/2.8 II matches, or arguably even slightly exceeds, the 18mm f/1.4 WR here. The differences, where there are any, are so small that I’d essentially call it a draw, which is remarkable for a zoom lens.

It’s a very similar story when I look at the far left-hand edge of the frame, with both lenses producing very similar results. This time, I’d give the 18mm f/1.4 WR a slight advantage, but again the differences are incredibly small.

Even when viewing the two images side by side at 100% in Lightroom, the gap is marginal and difficult to spot without careful inspection.

At f/5.6, the 16-55mm f/2.8 II now has the advantage of being stopped down from wide open, which should help performance. However, both lenses continue to show very similar levels of sharpness, with the 16-55mm f/2.8 II exhibiting a tiny fraction more contrast.

I should note at this point that, in terms of detail and sharpness, they’re basically a wash. Although the shots were taken within a minute or so of each other, those small differences in contrast could simply be the result of very subtle changes in the light between exposures.

In terms of detail, the two lenses are exceptionally close. Even when viewed at 100% and 200%, the differences are so small that I wouldn’t choose one over the other based purely on sharpness, as both are excellent.

The far left edge of the frame at f/5.6 shows the corner sharpness of the 16-55mm f/2.8 II closing the tiny gap to the 18mm f/1.4 WR. In fact, I’d now say it has taken a slight lead in terms of edge sharpness.

Once again, the difference is very small, but stopping the 16-55mm f/2.8 II down does appear to improve corner and edge sharpness compared to shooting it wide open. While the gap isn’t large enough to matter in most real-world situations, the zoom does seem to hold a small advantage here.

The results at f/4 and f/8 were almost identical to those at f/5.6. Both lenses remained exceptionally sharp across the frame, with only tiny differences visible when viewed side by side at high magnification. At these apertures, I’d have no hesitation using either lens for landscape photography or any other application where maximum sharpness is required.

Based on my own sharpness tests, both lenses are exceptionally sharp across the frame and so close in performance that, in terms of pure sharpness, it’s basically a draw. If anything, I’d give a very slight edge to the 16-55mm f/2.8 II, but the differences are tiny and only really visible when comparing the files side by side.

Close Focusing and Bokeh Test

To test the close-up sharpness of each lens, as well as their bokeh performance, I mounted both lenses on my tripod and photographed the same test scene.

Once again, the shots were taken less than a minute apart, and neither the camera nor the tripod was moved between exposures.

For the XF 16-55mm f/2.8 II, I set the lens to 18mm and moved the camera as close to the subject as possible until the lens would no longer focus. I then backed off in very small increments until focus was acquired. According to Fujifilm, the minimum focusing distance at 18mm is 30cm.

I then mounted the 18mm 1.4wr and took test shots with it from exactly the same position without moving the camera or tripod.

To show each lens at its best in this scenario, I shot the XF 16-55mm f/2.8 II wide open at f/2.8 and the XF 18mm f/1.4 WR wide open at f/1.4.

One thing to note on these shots is that the 16-55mm f/2.8II is set to 18.7mm which slightly narrows the view but it’s impossible to set the focal length to precisely 18mm without taking multiple shots and adjusting repeatedly, and as seen in the sharpness tests at the top of the page, where the 16-55mm is at 17.5mm, the field of view from the 18mm is slightly wider than the 16-55mm when set to around 18mm.

What’s interesting in my observations is that at close-focus distances and when wide-open, the 18mm 1.4wr is slightly sharper than the 16-55mm f/2.8II. Again, both are very sharp but there is a tiny difference in favour of the 18mm.

The 18mm also allows you to push in closer than the 16-55mm f/2.8II due to its stated 20cm minimum focusing distance, which combined with its larger aperture allows you to throw the background significantly more out of focus.

Conclusion

If you like to push in close to your subjects and isolate them with shallow depth of field, then the XF 18mm f/1.4 WR significantly outperforms the XF 16-55mm f/2.8 II. Not so much in terms of sharpness, although it does appear to hold a slight advantage, but in terms of the types of images you can create. Its ability to focus much closer, combined with the larger f/1.4 aperture, allows it to produce shots that simply aren’t possible with the zoom lens.

However, if you’re primarily shooting landscapes or subjects at mid-range to infinity, the differences between the XF 16-55mm f/2.8 II and the XF 18mm f/1.4 WR become surprisingly small. In some situations, particularly when both lenses are stopped down, the advantage actually shifts slightly in favour of the zoom.

Based on my testing, the XF 18mm f/1.4 WR isn’t really about sharpness. The real advantages are its close-focusing ability, greater subject separation, and the creative flexibility that comes from having an f/1.4 aperture. When it comes to pure sharpness at normal shooting distances, the XF 16-55mm f/2.8 II is at the very least, its equal.

That was certainly the case today.

A fellow photographer had kindly shared the location of a nearby beaver colony, explaining how the animals had transformed the landscape beyond recognition. The chances of actually seeing a beaver in the middle of the morning were slim, but that wasn’t really the point. I wanted to show my mum the location, stretch my legs and spend a few hours exploring somewhere new with a camera.

The weather couldn’t have been more different from my recent walks through Perthshire. Low cloud hung over the landscape, hiding even modest hills from view. A steady drizzle fell throughout the morning, occasionally becoming heavier before easing again. Rather than being unpleasant, it felt refreshing. After several warm days, the cooler temperatures made walking far more comfortable.

We began across rolling farmland before skirting the edge of woodland and eventually following a narrow path deeper into the forest. As we moved further from the open fields, signs of the beavers gradually started to reveal themselves.

Trees had been felled. Watercourses altered. Areas that once looked entirely ordinary had been reshaped through years of quiet activity.

It was fascinating to see how dramatically wildlife could alter a landscape without the need for machinery, roads or development.

Why I Chose the Fujifilm X-T5

For this walk I carried the Fujifilm X-T5 paired with the Fujifilm XF 16-55mm f/2.8 R LM WR II. I also had the Fuji 18mm 1.4WR in my bag.

The reasoning was simple.

Unlike some outings where I head out with a very specific subject in mind, today felt open-ended. I wanted the flexibility to photograph woodland scenes, wider landscape views and perhaps even have enough reach should a beaver somehow decide to appear in daylight.

The updated 16-55mm f/2.8 II continues to impress me. Compared to the original version, it’s noticeably smaller, lighter and easier to carry throughout the day. Combined with the X-T5, it creates a kit that feels remarkably manageable considering the image quality it delivers.

The weather sealing was also reassuring. Rain fell for much of the walk, but I never once felt concerned about the camera. The setup spent most of the day attached to my Peak Design Capture Clip where it remained instantly accessible regardless of the conditions.

The Joy of Returning to Fujifilm

One thing I noticed almost immediately was how naturally I slipped back into Fujifilm’s way of doing things.

I’ve spent a lot of time recently shooting Nikon cameras, but the transition back to Fuji felt effortless.

The physical control dials remain one of my favourite aspects of the system. There’s something satisfying about adjusting shutter speed, aperture and exposure compensation directly rather than through menus or command wheels. It slows me down slightly and makes the process feel more deliberate.

Although I normally use custom film recipes, today I chose to shoot using Classic Chrome as a starting point while retaining the flexibility to edit later. As I continue building a growing library of Perthshire woodland images, I want consistency in the final edits while still benefiting from Fuji’s excellent colour rendering.

Classic Chrome once again delivered exactly what I expected.

Muted tones, restrained contrast and colours that feel natural without becoming dull.

Even before editing, the files looked excellent.

A Camera That Gets Out of the Way

What struck me most wasn’t image quality, autofocus performance or specifications.

It was how enjoyable the camera remains to use, even after owning it for over two years now.

That’s something I think often gets overlooked when discussing cameras.

The X-T5 isn’t exciting because of any one specification. Instead, it simply gets out of the way and allows me to focus on photography.

The camera felt light throughout the walk despite carrying a professional zoom lens. The controls became second nature within minutes. The viewfinder remained bright and easy to use despite the gloomy conditions.

Most importantly, I never found myself thinking about the camera.

I simply enjoyed being there.

Listening to the rain.

Watching the woodland change as the path wound deeper into the trees.

Observing the evidence of wildlife hidden throughout the landscape.

The X-T5 quietly did its job and allowed me to focus on everything else.

Building a Library of Perthshire

Although the beavers were the original reason for visiting, the photographs I ended up making were mostly woodland images.

That feels fitting.

The more time I spend in Perthshire, the more drawn I become to its woods.

The Highlands will always provide the grand vistas that Scotland is famous for, but increasingly I find myself fascinated by the smaller landscapes much closer to home.

The texture of tree bark.

The way light filters through woodland canopies.

The relationship between weather, season and atmosphere.

These quieter scenes are becoming just as important to me as dramatic mountain views.

Today’s walk added a handful of new images to that growing collection.

Final Thoughts

The Fujifilm X-T5 continues to be one of my favourite cameras for outings where the subject isn’t entirely defined.

It offers excellent image quality, dependable weather sealing, intuitive controls and a level of portability that encourages me to take it almost anywhere.

Combined with the XF 16-55mm f/2.8 II, it proved to be an ideal companion for a damp morning spent exploring woodland and following the subtle signs of beavers hidden throughout the landscape.

The beavers themselves never appeared.

But that hardly mattered.

The walk was enjoyable, the woodland beautiful and I came home with a few more photographs that help tell the story of a landscape I’m slowly getting to know better.

As a result, the Fujifilm X100VI hasn’t seen as much use as it once did. That doesn’t mean I’ve fallen out of love with it though. In fact, after more than two years of ownership, I still consider it one of the most enjoyable cameras I’ve used. I’ve covered my experience in much greater detail in my Fujifilm X100VI review.

That changed this week.

A family walk through Strathearn Castle Estate gave me the perfect excuse to take the X100VI out again and remind myself why I enjoyed it so much in the first place. I’ve also been taking out the X-T5 more recently too.

A Camera That Fits Around Life

The main purpose of the walk wasn’t photography.

It was family time.

My wife, Sofia, Isobelle, my mum and I wandered through the estate’s old woodland, following the main track towards the lake below the castle.

Before long Sofia and my mum had wandered off together, leaving me pushing Isobelle’s pram for most of the walk.

That was exactly where the X100VI made sense.

It’s small enough that bringing it along never feels like a commitment. If I use it, great. If I don’t, it never feels like a burden.

After carrying the Nikon Z8 with various lenses on recent outings, the X100VI felt tiny by comparison.

Not in a bad way.

Just refreshingly light.

Relearning an Old Friend

Initially I found myself needing a few minutes to readjust.

After shooting Nikon almost exclusively lately, the Fuji controls felt slightly unfamiliar.

That didn’t last long.

The old muscle memory quickly returned.

I shot in manual exposure mode using Classic Chrome, a simulation I’ve always enjoyed for its slightly muted colours and gentle contrast. It looks great straight out of camera while still providing an excellent starting point for later editing.

One thing I had to consciously remind myself was depth of field.

Having spent so much time shooting full-frame cameras recently, I automatically found myself thinking in terms of f/8. With the APS-C sensor in the X100VI, I often found myself comfortably working at f/5.6 instead.

Woodland and a Familiar Perspective

The woodland looked as beautiful as ever.

Scots Pines, birches and mature broadleaf trees filled the estate, their branches gently swaying in the breeze.

The light was subdued.

Not dark, but certainly flatter than when I visited recently with the Nikon Z 20mm f/1.8 S.

That brought another adjustment.

The X100VI’s 35mm equivalent field of view felt almost conservative after spending so much time shooting 20mm. In many ways, this walk reminded me why I continue to enjoy the X100VI despite owning larger and more capable cameras. I’ve previously compared it directly against an interchangeable lens setup in my X-T5 and 23mm f/2 vs X100VI comparison, and many of the same strengths became obvious again here.

At first my images felt a little flatter.

Less dramatic.

Less immersive.

But after a while I began to appreciate what the 35mm perspective offers.

The photographs remain about the subject rather than the lens. That’s one reason I continue to recommend the camera so highly for travel. It remains one of the few cameras that genuinely encourages me to carry it everywhere.

You don’t get the immediate visual impact that ultra-wide lenses can provide, but you gain flexibility and simplicity. Compositions become easier to arrange, and the field of view rarely calls attention to itself.

The result feels natural.

Perhaps that’s why the 35mm focal length remains so popular.

Why I Still Love the X100VI

What stood out most wasn’t image quality.

I already knew the image quality would be excellent.

What struck me was how enjoyable the camera remains to use, even after more than two years of ownership. In an industry where the excitement of new gear often fades quickly, the X100VI still feels like a camera I genuinely want to pick up and use.

The colours are beautiful.

The film simulations are still among the best available on any camera system.

The camera itself encourages me to stop thinking about equipment.

Actually, forget my understated British ways for a second.

I’ll just say it.

It felt great to be back shooting with the X100VI.

Its fixed lens, its constraints and its simplicity force me to stop thinking about lenses, specifications and endless choices.

Instead, I simply focus on photography.

And honestly, I think I need more of that.

Final Thoughts

This wasn’t a dedicated photography outing.

It wasn’t a review session.

It wasn’t a carefully planned landscape shoot.

It was simply a family walk through one of my favourite local woodlands.

And perhaps that’s exactly why the X100VI felt so at home.

Over the past few months I’ve spent a lot of time thinking about cameras, lenses and systems. Yet a simple afternoon in the woods reminded me that sometimes the best camera isn’t necessarily the most capable one.

Sometimes it’s simply the camera you want to carry.

And after more than two years of ownership, the Fujifilm X100VI remains one of those cameras for me.

I want to say right here, I don’t really have a preference for a particular sensor size and I shoot everything from Micro Four Thirds to Fuji’s GFX. Each has their own pros and cons in my opinion, all are capable of producing excellent photos in the right hands and like most things within photography, its normally a case of working out your priorities and where you are willing to compromise. I use my cameras for specific tasks or sometimes, just because I feel like using a certain camera on any given outing. I recently wrote about why I’m now using the GFX100S more than ever.

One such recent outing was to my local loch and mountains. I decided to take the Fujifilm GFX100S and Fuji GF 20-35mm f/4 lens as I’ve been shooting a lot of Nikon lately and my GFX was giving me evils.

I’m not a particularly dramatic type of person, think typical British, understated and calm. If something is better I don’t say it’s the best in the world/most amazing ever or any of those superlatives that are thrown around on Youtube so often.

As I said, I’ve owned the GFX100S for 2-3 years now, I’ve shot some of the best lenses on the system and I’ve always been impressed with the image quality. It definitely gives a different look to other systems. I’m not going to go on about some vague medium format look like so many do, without being able to specify what it is.

I see it too, but it’s really a result of the way focal lengths behave on a sensor of this size. You get a wider field of view for a given focal length and that results in differrent depth of field and focus fall off than on other systems. What I’ve never really quite appreciated until recently is just how incredibly detailed the files are. Of course, Ive seen it but its never really mattered before because I have tended to shoot portraits and people with the GFX and therefore often found myself shooting with a relatively narrow depth of field, where detail across the whole image wasn’t a factor. That was until I took the GFX100S out in Scotland over the last week or so.

Now I should be clear, I think the image quality from every sensor size is more than usable these days depending upon the subject, and I’m also of the opinion that a detailed photo does not by itself make it a good photo. A great shot on a Micro Four Thirds sensor is still going to look way better than a mediocre or poorly composed shot on even a Phase One back. However, the photo that I shot in the Highlands of Scotland this week really showed me what the GFX 100mp sensor is capable of.

So, rather than trying to explain it, here’s the image that made me stop and rethink what the GFX100S is capable of in terms of detail. I didn’t go out with the itention to test this. But this particular file genuinely impressed me so much that I wanted to write about it. Don’t forget, this is hand-held.

I have uploaded a full resolution file that you can view over on Flickr.

What’s staggering to me is the amount of detail in the distant mountains, it’s beyond anything I’ve shot on any other system in terms of pure detail except for perhaps 4×5 film.

What is also noticeable is just how much sharpening the GFX100S files can take as well as how easily the sensor dealt with the dynamic range in this scene, with the histogram being comfortably within the sensor’s parameters, neither blocking shadows or blowing highlights.

I didn’t go out with the intention to maximise detail or sharpness, in fact I was shooting handheld. But nevertheless, when I opened this image in Lightroom and zoomed in to the foreground rocks and then again to the distant mountains I was stunned at how sharp, crisp and detailed the image was throughout the entire frame. I’ve shot this location before, admittedly in different light, with the Fuji X-T5 and Nikon Z8 as well as other cameras and although the Z8 didn’t have one of the professional top tier lenses mounted, the difference between the files off it and the GFX100S in this case was stark. So much so, that I’m now going to buy in the Nikon Z 24-70mm f/2.8II in order to do some direct comparisons between the various sensor sizes and ensure that I am giving each one a fair crack at the whip by mounting only the best optically performing lenses for each system.