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In Praise of the Standard Lens

The 50mm prime has been the choice of many for generations. Here’s how FUJINON XF33mmF1.4 R LM WR honours history with modern refinement

It’s a near impossible task to nail down even a handful of timeless photographic staples. In the modest life cycle of imaging technology, we’ve leapt from monochrome to colour, film to digital, and manual focusing to pinpoint automatic acquisition. But, within a cosmos of ever-evolving options, one particular lens has served as a guiding North Star for one and all: the 50mm prime.

With plenty of contenders, what particular magic keeps us returning to the standard prime, again and again? Compared to zoom lenses, primes typically offer faster apertures – ensuring ease in low-light settings and offering soft, defocused bokeh backgrounds. Among other fixed focal length optics, 50mm sits directly in the middle of what’s considered ‘standard’, with roughly a 45° angle of view. Much lower and we approach wide angle; extend beyond 70mm and you’re in short telephoto territory.

Sensor size is an important consideration. With the APS-C sensor of X Series cameras, a fairly accurate focal length can be ascertained by multiplying the lens’s value by a factor of 1.5x. That means, to achieve a perfect 50mm focal length, you’ll need a 33mm lens. Since the launch of FUJINON XF33mmF1.4 R LM WR, you have access to exactly that.

Benefits of the 50mm lens

Before we examine XF33mmF1.4 more closely, let’s take a moment to deconstruct the near limitless creative potential of what appears, on the surface, to be a very ordinary tool.

In fact, it’s the 50mm focal length’s familiar aesthetic that offers such appeal. With a field of view comparable to the human eye, you’re drawn very naturally to the subject matter of a photograph. While the stylised distortion of shorter or longer lenses may appeal to some, meaning can be imbued more directly with a standard focal length.

Wide-angle and telephoto lenses remain the masters of particular genres – like architecture or wildlife, respectively – where practicality reigns. But for sheer versatility, the 50mm comes out on top again. Place a skilled image maker in front of any subject with a standard prime in hand, and they’re sure to walk away with a pleasing frame. This is a real draw for those seeking to document a breadth of scenes, while keeping investment low or the kit bag light.

Finally, would you be surprised to hear that a standard prime may actually make you a better photographer? There’s no magic in it, just invaluable attentiveness. Where some may see limitation in a fixed focal length, others see opportunity. You’ll be forced to physically move to achieve desired framing and, in doing so, be more likely to stumble across a better alternative angle. This practice also promotes consideration of the entire frame, edge to edge.

FUJINON XF33mmF1.4 R LM WR

Now, on to X Series’ standard offering. The introduction of the XF33mmF1.4 R LM WR saw a perfect 50mm equivalent join the ranks – and while there are comparable focal lengths available, this lens stands firmly in its own right.

Resolving power matches the 40-megapixel heights of X-H2, X-T5 and beyond. Even at an impressively fast aperture of F1.4, optical flaws are minimised to give excellent results.

Similar to other XF models with the LM tag, a linear motor delivers superlative autofocus performance. Focus breathing is unnoticeable, making the lens an ideal option for videographers. Weather resistance also offers peak usability across all manner of genres, functioning in temperatures as low as -10°C, and keeping out dust and moisture.

Expanded options

As we mentioned earlier, there are XF lenses with comparable focal lengths – and while they aren’t perfect 50mm equivalents like XF33mmF1.4, they do house a few features worth shouting about.

Delivering a slightly wider view, FUJINON XF30mmF2.8 R LM WR Macro marks the third extremely-close-focusing lens in the X Series line-up. Its two counterparts are incredible creative tools, but offer longer focal lengths. XF30mmF2.8, however, can be seen as a standard prime with a surprising twist: full 1x macro magnification. Subjects can be held in focus just 1cm from the lens’s front element – either manually or via linear motor-driven AF.

On the other side of XF33mmF1.4, you’ll find a pair of 35mm optics. FUJINON XF35mmF1.4 R and FUJINON XF35mmF2 R WR share a perspective in common, but little else. The F1.4 lens is evidently faster, carrying creative and practical benefits alike. As one of the earliest X Series lenses, it’s also full of character. Where XF33mmF1.4 delivers cutting-edge optical precision, XF35mmF1.4 renders an image that approaches vintage beauty – though it does effectively minimise unwanted optical flaws commonly found in older glass. For its own part, XF35mmF2 is astoundingly compact, lightning fast to focus and weather resistant. It’s served as a high-quality, inconspicuous lens for street and documentary photographers for years, paired well with X Series’ rangefinder-style bodies.

Discover the FUJINON XF33mmF1.4 R LM WR for yourself at your nearest FUJIFILM Authorised Dealer.