Fujifilm x Noah Gullage XF23mmF2.8 R WR Experience
When Fujifilm first came to me with the opportunity to test out the new XF23mmF2.8 R WR lens, my immediate thought was, “This is going to be the perfect lens for my style of photography.” And I was right! Lightweight, compact, weather resistant, and sharp – what else could I want?
You see, I spend most of my free time travelling around the Island of Newfoundland, photographing everything it has to offer, from rugged coastlines and the details of the fishing docks to quiet rural communities, colourful saltbox-style homes, beautiful hiking trails, and much more. So, I wanted to take this lens and insert it into my normal routine to truly put it to the test.
The 23mm focal length (35mm full-frame equivalent), paired with a very good minimum focus distance, allowed me to pull back from a scene and capture a nice wide image of my surroundings as well as get up close to the finer details. For me, that is very important because I try to tell stories with my photos by showing the viewer everything I experience at a location. This often includes the small details that most people don’t notice, such as the textures of a rope sitting on a dock or the weathered wooden siding of the colourful houses here.
The X-T5 is my main photography body I use almost every day. When you pair it with the XF23mmF2.8 R WR, you get a combo that is not only incredibly lightweight and compact but one that packs a punch due to the 40-megapixel sensor. Because it’s a pancake style lens, I was a little skeptical about the image quality, but the images produced with it are tack sharp! You really get the full effect of the 40mp with this lens. Being able to carry a setup like this made the process of going out to take photos that much more enjoyable. You don’t notice the weight on your shoulder or in your bag that a heavier combination would give you.
Since I’m often hiking to locations or walking around with my camera over my shoulder for hours, I usually find myself looking for ways to lighten the load I am carrying. One of the best things about this lens for me, is the fact I can pair it with my camera, stick it in my jacket pocket and go. I don’t need a sling bag or a camera backpack to hold this setup.
My photography is a true testament to Newfoundland weather. I don’t shy away from going out on a miserable, wet, foggy day – In fact, I prefer that weather! I was able to test out this lens during the Spring season here in Newfoundland, and if you are any bit familiar with Newfoundland, you know that Spring is basically a mixture of all four seasons in one. With this in mind, it was crucial that this lens was weather resistant because it saw all the elements. In the weeks I spent testing the XF23mmF2.8 R WR lens, I encountered snow, rain, heavy winds (mixed with snow and rain), dense fog, and sunshine. At no point was I worried about the lens, and I was able to just enjoy my shooting experience.
Before I got my hands on this lens, I was mainly using a zoom lens to shoot all my photos. I thought if I have a zoom lens I won’t miss any shots. While this was true, I found myself mainly sitting at wider focal lengths between ~18-30mm – and the 23mm is dead in the middle of that range. So, when I got this lens, one thing I really wanted to test was, if it could actually cover all of my needs when I go out shooting. For my style and the subjects, I photograph, I honestly believe I could leave the 23mm on my camera for 90% of my photos. I never once felt like I was missing out on a photo due to the focal length. The only thing I would need to take this off for would be to capture icebergs and wildlife like puffins and whales – but because those kinds of sightings are very infrequent and usually planned out, this isn’t a major concern for me.
All in all, I am really impressed with the capabilities of the XF23mmF2.8 R WR. To get a lens that is sharp in quality, weather resistant, and compact at an affordable price is incredible. I know I will be continuing to create with this lens while travelling all around Newfoundland!
