Fujifilm Fujinon XF 16-55mm f/2.8 R LM WR review – Build and handling

Fujifilm says this lens is specifically designed to be paired wth the X-T1

Like the recent Fujinon XF 50-140mm f/2.8 R LM OIS WR, the 16-55mm lens brandishes the WR suffix, which indicates that it is weather-resistant. It’s also resistant to dust and temperatures as low as -10°C. With weather-sealing in 14 different locations, it is designed to match the X-T1, which is currently Fujifilm’s only weather-sealed X-mount camera.

Weighing 655g, the Fuji 16-55mm lens is a fairly substantial piece of kit. Its weight reflects the fact that, aside from the large amount of glass used in its construction, the majority of the barrel is made from a high-grade metal. The only bit that doesn’t have that cold-to-the-touch metal feel is the rubberised zoom ring.

Coupling this lens with the Fuji X-T1 was OK, but I felt that if this were a lens I would continuously use, I’d want to invest in a battery grip for the camera to improve the overall handling.

As with all Fujinon R lenses, the 16-55mm has a manual aperture ring. It is marked in full-stop increments and adjustable in 1⁄3 stops, each with an audible click. There is an increased resistance when switching between f/22 and the A (auto) setting to ensure neither setting is used accidentally. In comparison to some of the other Fujinon lenses, the resistance on the aperture ring feels stiffer, so it’s less likely to be changed accidentally. The focus ring and the zoom ring are also very smooth, and the zoom ring offers enough resistance to eliminate lens creep.