FUJIFILM XF33mmf1.4 - Long Term Review
I have owned the Fujifilm 33mmf1.4 since its release, back in September 2021. Almost 3 years already and tons of portraits, products pictures, street pictures and more taken with it. Today we are diving deep and reviewing the Fujifilm 33mmf1.4 after 3 years of use.
Build of the FUJIFILM XF33mmf1.4
After 3 years of use, I never had a single issue when it comes to the build of the FUJIFILM XF33mmf1.4. I have taken it in a wide range of environments, whether is in heavy rain, dust… Yes it has scratches on it the body of the lens itself, but those are small ones and more a testimony to how well it lasts and how much I have used it. And it honestly kind of make me feel like I have used it well, gives it kind of a look that feels like mine. As for the glass, I have absolutely 0 scratch on it. I personally don’t use protective filters and don’t feel the need for it, as it just decrease the image quality of this superb lens for nothing. I just make sure to store the lens properly and the lens cap does not easily fall of the lens when I transport it to my shoots. There is also no sign of dust or moisture inside the lens, which is great, and means that the WR of the lens works as it should. The only criticism that I would have about the lens would be the fact that the aperture ring is slightly too loose to my taste. Not as loose as the 18mmf1.4 but still, I would have preferred it to be a bit tighter.
Handling of the lens
While the XF33mmf1.4 is on the bigger side when it comes to FUJIFILM Prime lenses, when paired with the likes of the X-T5 or the X-H2S, there is absolutely no problem when it comes to handling it. It might feel a bit more out of balance on bodies such as the X-T50 or the X-E line but definitely manageable. The Aperture Ring is easy to reach and its placement is intuitive, making it a great lens to work with and overall, the handling is pretty good. The focus is by wire, meaning that you won’t be as precise as other lenses with it but it is comfortable to use. I definitely prefer the more traditional mechanical focus for this kind of application but we are dealing with electronic focus here so it gets as good as it can get.
Image Quality
If I had to keep it short, I would say that this is as good as it gets. Even at 1.4, this lens is very sharp. It gets even better at f2. The contrast is great and there is little to none aberration. You have a very small vignetting at f1.4 that can be easily corrected in post thanks to the lens profile but overall, every time I use this lens, I know that Image Quality is not going to be an issue. The images produced by this lens is stellar and superb.
Autofocus
If you are looking for what is the best autofocus in the FUJIFILM system, look no further. Now the FUJIFILM Autofocus is not perfect, but the XF33mmf1.4, with linear motors, is not to blame here. Overall the autofocus is silent and performs very well. In my portrait sessions, if I ask my clients to do quick movements, this is the lens that I will reach for. For videos as well, this lens can get you great results, if you tune your focus accordingly (especially if you don’t want it to focus as quickly).
Versatility
The Fujifilm XF33mmf1.4 is one of the most versatile lens of the line, not only because of its focal (50mm equivalent focal length) but also thanks to the fact that its image quality is great and that its focus works well also. I have used this lens for portrait, wildlife, sport, landscape, street, food and product shots and more. This is by far one of my most used lens. And one that I don’t see myself selling anytime soon.
Conclusion
After 3 years of use, the XF33mmf1.4 has easily passed the test of time. It is still one of my most used lens in my line up and one that I don’t see myself selling. Yes, it is quite an expensive one at 799$ but I have absolutely 0 regret purchasing it. It has become a workhorse for me and I can only recommend it to any FUJIFILM shooter who can afford it.
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