Review: FujiFilm XF10-24mm F4 R OIS

Fujifilm X-T1, 13.2mm, f/5.6, ISO 400, 1/15sec

In October of last year, I had the privilege of traveling to the Hawaiian island of Maui to be a part of the Toyota USA TRD Pro Tacoma media preview event. After receiving the invitation to attend, I began to frantically compile the photography gear I would need to adequately photograph the event. With the XF35mmF2 R WR on loan from Fujifilm, After my experience using the Nikon 14-24mm f/2.8 lens and D700 camera combination to photograph the interior of the Toyota Fortuner in New Zealand, I knew I would want to bring a wide angle zoom lens along on this trip.

I chose to rent the XF10-24mmF4 R OIS lens from LensRentals.com specifically for this one interior photo. I figured it would be a great stand-in, although its equivalent focal length is 1mm narrower than the Nikon.

Specifications:

• Maximum Aperture: f/4
• Minimum Aperture: f/22
• Max Angle of View: 110°
• Min Angle of View: 61.2°
• Lens Elements: 14
• Lens Groups: 10
• Diaphragm Blades: 9
• Min Focus Distance: 24cm
• Filter Size: 72mm
• Approx. Dimensions DxL: 78mm x 87mm
• Approx. Weight: 410 g
• Price: $1,302.34

My Thoughts: Construction

The XF10-24mm is yet another example of why I have decided to make the switch to Fujifilm. This is a solid little lens, despite its barrel being constructed of plastic. In fact, I think the use of high-grade plastic really benefits this lens. There is a lot of glass in this lens and I believe had Fujifilm used a metal barrel the lens would have felt unbalanced on the front of the X-T1. Instead, Fujifilm chose to incorporate metal in places where it is really needed; the mount and internal actuation.

I was impressed with the lens' overall operation. Both the zoom and focus rings operated smoothly and solidly. This is something I didn't expect to find in a rental lens but it had held up to the abuse of an unknown number of people.

My Thoughts: Performance

Focal Length: 

Fujifilm X-T1, 10mm, f/8, ISO 400 HDR

Although I do not own this lens, I do find myself renting equivalent zoom lenses at least once a year for specific projects. At its widest, the XF10-24mm has an equivalent full-frame focal length of 15mm. I am a big fan of this focal length for automotive interior shots. In fact, it was the above photo that I had in mind when I rented this lens. I captured a similar image of the Toyota Fortuner with the Nikkor 14-24mm f/2.8 while I was in New Zealand in 2016.

Focus: 

I interchanged the XF10-24 with the XF35mm F2 quite a bit on this trip. In doing so I discovered a noticeable difference in focus speeds between the two lenses. I am not saying this lens focuses slowly but I did notice it seemed to "hunt" a little more than the XF35mm F2. Despite this, I was never frustrated by the focus speed. In addition, the focus accuracy was spot on, even in low-light conditions.

Distortion:

Fujifilm X-T1, 14.5mm, f/5.6, ISO 200, 1/70sec

As with the images I captured with my XF-35mm F2, I enabled the in-camera lens correction for all of the images I captured. The profile rendered images with minimal distortion. The little bit that is there can easily be managed. The images still look natural and straight lines still look straight. Vignetting is also minimal with the lens and I find the amount produced to be pleasing. I am a big fan of Fujifilm's in-camera lens correction. These calibration profiles do a great job flattening out the images captured.

Image Stabilization:

The integrated Optical Image Stabilization (OIS) helped to augment the lens' slower f/4 in low-light conditions. I think this lens really benefits from OIS when it is used for video. I was able to easily record smooth hand-held video using the X-T1 and XF10-24mm while I was on the TRD Pro Tacoma trip. I think this is where this lens really shines. The below video was filmed using my X-T1 and a combination of the XF35mmF2 and XF10-24mm lenses.

Conclusion:

The Fujifilm XF10-24mm F4 R OIS proved to be a great addition for my trip to Hawaii. I was able to get the images I needed plus it offered additional versatility which allowed me to capture some great video. I enjoyed using the lens immensely and am having a hard time justifying not owning one. It is well balanced, compact, and produces some great photos and video. I would highly recommend this lens to any Fujifilm camera owner looking for a reliable wide-angle zoom lens to add to their collection.

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Author

Beau Johnston is an engineer, writer, and photographer who is dedicated to proving you can find a balance between work and life. He is the Co-Founder and Publisher of Living Overland and a member of the Rocky Mountain Automotive Press. When he isn't working, you can find him exploring National Parks, fly fishing, and camping with his wife (Krista) and their two dogs.

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