How to choose a best FUJIFILM X-mount lens? Recommended TAMRON lenses are also showed

In this article we will explore the differences between prime lenses and zoom lenses for FUJIFILM X-mount, and also introduce recommended lenses of various focal lengths such as wide-angle, standard, telephoto, and ultra-telephoto. This article is recommended for people who are unsure of what FUJIFILM X-mount lens to choose, or who are looking for a second or subsequent FUJIFILM X-mount lens to purchase.

Before going into details about lenses, we should first understand how camera mounts work. A mount is a standard unique to each camera manufacturer and is the part that connects the main body of the camera to a lens. While the use of a mount adapter is possible in some cases, generally speaking, items with different mount standards cannot be connected together, so you should choose a lens that has the same mount standard as your camera.

FUJIFILM has developed a lineup of “X system” mirrorless interchangeable lens cameras equipped with an APS-C sensor, and the mount system is referred to as the “X-mount.”

In addition to the X-mount, FUJIFILM has a mount standard known as “G-mount,” and the compatible camera system differs from the X-mount. As mentioned earlier, the X-mount is the mount standard used in X system mirrorless interchangeable lens cameras. An APS-C sensor referred to as “X-Trans CMOS” are used with the X system.

However, the G-mount is used in a camera system equipped with a larger sensor than the APS-C or even full-frame standards. Caution is required, as there is no compatibility between these mounts.

The FUJIFILM X-mount includes a wide variety of lenses in its lineup. That’s why in many cases users get confused about which lens is right for them and find it difficult to choose the appropriate lens. When choosing a lens, it is important to understand what is important for you and then select a lens based on criteria that match those needs.

In this section, we will go over seven key points that can be used as a basis for choosing a FUJIFILM X-mount lens.

In terms of focal length there are two types of lenses, “prime lenses” which have a single focal length, and “zoom lenses” which have a variable focal length. As the angle of view is fixed on a prime lens, the photographers themselves need to move back and forth based on the subject, also the value of F-number is typically smaller (larger aperture) than zoom lenses, and the resolving performance tends to be higher. For this reason, it is regarded as easier to attain high image quality with a prime lens.

On the other hand, as zoom lenses allow you to change the focal length, you do not need to move around each time you decide on a composition, and can take photos with various angles of view using a single lens.

Lenses can be classified into three types based on the focal length: wide-angle, standard and telephoto, allowing photographers to take photos at the different angles of view afforded by each focal length. Let’s classify these lenses by focal length, based on APS-C sensor size.

A wide-angle lens is considered a lens with a focal length of around 24mm or less (a full-frame equivalent of 36mm). As it features a wide angle of view, vast landscapes can be captured in wide form, and wide shots can be taken even in tight spaces.

A standard lens is considered a lens with a focal length of around 35mm (a full-frame equivalent of 53mm). The angle of view is close to the human field of view and allows the photographer to capture the subject naturally as we see.

In addition, lenses with a focal length of around 200mm (a full-frame equivalent of 305mm) are referred to as telephoto lenses. The biggest feature of a telephoto lens is that in exchange for the narrow field of view, it allows you to capture an enlarged view of subjects from far away, making the subject stand out.

Wide-angle lenses are best suited to shooting vast natural landscapes, or large cityscapes. As wide-angle lenses let you render wide spaces dynamically, you can take photos that utilize the scale of your subject.

In addition, when shooting architecture or portraits, it is possible to create striking compositions by being aware of the perspective that a wide-angle lens produces. Also, since a wide-angle lens can make a space look wider than it actually is, it lets you capture indoor images of stores and buildings with a more open look.

The biggest characteristic of a standard lens is that it provides a natural angle of view as the human eye sees, it can be used in a wider variety of situations than wide-angle or telephoto lenses.
With a single standard lens, in addition to snapshots and portraits taken while walking on the streets or during travel, it is also good for street scenes and landscapes. You can handle a wide variety of scenes with it. Another advantage is that it is easy to get a sense of distance from the subject, and there is no need to move excessively closer or further away from the subject.

Telephoto lenses are perfect for shooting sports, animals, trains, airplanes, and other subjects that are far away because they can capture and enlarge images of even distant subjects. Also, telephoto lenses have a "compression effect" where the longer focal length makes the background of the subject appear larger. The long focal length also makes it easy to produce strong bokeh in the background. The biggest feature of a telephoto lens is that in exchange for the narrow field of view, it allows you to capture an enlarged view of subjects from far away, making the subject stand out. By utilizing this compression effect, you can get a close view of a subject to take portraits that utilize the background and bokeh effects.

Lenses with a focal length of around 300mm (a full-frame equivalent of 457mm) are referred to as ultra-telephoto lenses.As these lenses can enlarge distant subjects even more than telephoto lenses, when the shooting conditions align, subjects like trains and aircraft can take up the entire frame.

When you carry a lens around often, its size and weight become important factors. For example, when you carry a lens for extended periods such as on a trip or climbing mountains, a compact and lightweight lens is more convenient. As this not only reduces the bulk of your luggage but also makes you lighter on your feet, it can also improve your mobility while shooting.

However, since lenses designed for rendering performance or high functionality tend to be larger and heavier, it is important to choose a lens balanced against the image quality you desire.

Each lens has its F-number, a number that indicates the ability to gather light into the lens. The smaller the value of F-number produces a greater amount of background bokeh, and the larger the value of F-number shows more range in the focused image. Generally speaking, a lens with an F-number of F2.8 or lower will allow you to take photos that feature smooth bokeh. And, as a small F-number allows a lens to gather a large amount of light even in low-light situations, it is recommended to choose a lens with a small F-number in order to maximize the situations where the lens can be used.

Related article：What is F-number (aperture)? A comprehensive explanation including example settings and the relationship between aperture, shutter speed and ISO

Selecting a lens based on its functionality is one option when you want to shoot more casually and without failures. If your lens has excellent autofocus (AF) performance, you will be able to smoothly bring a subject into focus, allowing you to capture a moment without missing the scene.

Similarly, if the lens is equipped with a VC mechanism, you will be able to take photos that suppress camera shake and take photos even in low-light situations where shutter speeds are slower and blurring is more likely to occur.

Learn more about TAMRON Auto Focus technologies ->
Learn more about TAMRON VC mechanism ->

Depending on the product, lenses differ not only in terms of focal length or zoom mechanism, but in more detailed ways such as expressiveness, resolving power and how the colors are rendered. For that reason, we recommend making choices based on the expressiveness and rendering qualities of each lens.

For example, as lenses with special glass elements such as aspherical lenses, and lenses with coatings applied often suppress chromatic aberrations and offer superior rendering performance, they are ideal for when you are looking for high image quality. Moreover, as many lenses have unique characteristics, it is best to choose a lens based on your preferences, what you want to shoot, and how you want your image outcome to be.

We suggest checking the section on TAMRON’s website listing Reviews / ArticlesandSample Photostaken with each lens, considering what kinds of images you want to create.

Learn more about TAMRON’s Lens Technologies →
Learn more about TAMRON’s Lens Coatings →

TAMRON lenses are renowned for their compact and lightweight design that makes them easy even for beginners to handle. As TAMRON also offers many lenses with small F-numbers and excellent close-range shooting performance, our lenses can also be used to produce beautiful bokeh and/or take shots utilizing perspective effects.

We also have a lineup of all-in-one zoom lenses that let you handle a variety of shooting scenes with a single lens. In this section, we will introduce recommended lenses for the FUJIFILM X-mount.

The FUJIFILM X-mount is a lens mount standard used for mirrorless interchangeable lens cameras with FUJIFILM’s APS-C size sensor. Lenses come in various focal lengths such as wide-angle, standard, telephoto, and ultra-telephoto, and there is a wide selection of prime and zoom lenses. When choosing a lens, think about what is important to you and select a lens based on the seven criteria introduced in this article.