Fujinon
XC15-45mm
f/3.5-5.6 OIS PZ
£229/$299
Power to the people
Fujinon
XF16-55mm
«ánxژ«ژזِאǔٖ
£949/$1,199
A couple of steps up the ladder
Digital Camera verdict Digital Camera verdict
4.0 Excellent 4.5 Outstanding
Features Build & Performance Value Performance Value
handlingBuild &
handlingRemarkably small and
light for an APS-C
format standard zoom,
this kit lens delivers
pleasing images. The
motorised ‘power
zoom’ is a mixed
blessing, though.It’s fairly big and heavy
for an APS-C format
lens but build quality,
handling and image
quality are all epic, as
you’d expect from one
of Fujifilm’s ‘red badge’
best-of-breed lenses.122 DIGITAL CAMERA^ APRIL 2020 http://www.digitalcameraworld.com4.0Features5.0 4.5K i t Z o n e
vailable in black or silver,
this Fujifilm kit lens isn’t
as tiny or featherweight
as its Micro Four Thirds
counterparts on test, but still boasts
a space-saving retractable design.
Like the competing Olympus EZ kit
lens, the Fujinon has a motorised zoom
mechanism. The lens automatically
extends and retracts when you switch
the camera on and off. Fast and slow
zoom speeds are available, depending
on how much you twist the zoom ring.
It’s useful for video capture, but less
than ideal for very precise adjustments
while you’re shooting stills.Performance
The minimum focus distance is
unusually short at the wide-angle end
of the zoom range. The electronically
coupled focus ring works smoothly,
and the stepping motor autofocus
system is quick and quiet. Image
quality is very good overall.t four times the price of the
15-45mm, the constant-
aperture 16-55mm f/2.8
zoom is the pick of the crop
for anyone upgrading from their kit
lens. Sure, it doesn’t feature optical
stabilisation, but it does have a tough
weather-sealed build, a rapid ‘linear
motor’ autofocus system, a constant
f/2.8 aperture and a control ring.
It also gives a significantly wider
maximum viewing angle than Fujifilm’s
18-55m lens (another upgrade
possibility), equivalent to 24mm
rather than 27mm in full-frame terms.Performance
Three aspherical and three ED
elements help to boost image quality,
while dual HT-EBC and Nano-GI
coatings do a great job of minimising
ghosting and flare. Two f-stops faster
than the 15-45mm kit lens at the
long end of the zoom range, it
gives a tighter depth of field.AA
Sharpness
Centre-sharpness is strong
in the short half of the zoom
range, but drops off.Sharpness
There’s a dip in wide-open
sharpness at mid-zoom
settings, but overall it’s good.Fringing
Short 2.11 Long 1.39
Colour fringing can be slightly
noticeable at the short end.Fringing
Short 2.37 Long 1.09
Fringing is slightly lower than
in the Fujinon 15-45mm.Distortion
Short -0.75 Long -0.41
After in-camera corrections,
there’s only minimal barreling.Distortion
Short -0.66 Long 0.31
There’s almost no distortion;
vignetting is also minimal.05001,0001,5002,0002,5003,000f/3.5 f/4 f/5.6 f/8 f/11 f/16 f/22
15mm 23mm
29mm 45mm05001,0001,5002,0002,5003,000f/2.8 f/4 f/5.6 f/8 f/11 f/16 f/22
16mm 23mm
35mm 55mmGroup Test Standard zooms
3.5 4.0 5.0 5.0 4.5BEST FOR
FUJIFILM