Fujifilm 56mm F1.2 R WR (Mark II) Review
Sharper? Faster?
The new Fujifilm 56mm F1.2 R WR (Mark II)
Fujifilm 56mm F1.2 R WR (Mark II) Review - Initial Thoughts
Possibly one of my own most personally anticipated releases from Fujifilm is the new Fujifilm 56mm F1.2 R WR (Mark II) lens.
Long-time followers of this site and my YouTube Channel will know that I've used the original 56mm F1.2 lens, along with the 23mm F1.4 (and later the 18m F1.4), almost exclusively over my time as a professional wedding photographer.
In the video below and this post, I outline my thoughts about the lens, how it differs from the previous iteration, and, crucially, look at whether it's fast and sharper than it.
Fujifilm 56mm F1.2 R WR (Mark II) - Specifications
Lens composition: 13 lenses in 8 groups (2 aspherical lenses, 1 ED lens)
Minimum shooting distance: 50cm
Maximum magnification: 0.14x
Number of aperture blades: 11 (circular aperture)
Filter diameter: 67mm
Size: 79.4 x 76mm
Weight: 445g
In comparison, the previous 56mm F1.2 lens weighs 405 g and its dimensions are 73.2 x 69.7 mm. It has 11 Elements in 8 Groups and minimum focus distance of 70 cm and filter thread of 62mm.
Perhaps one of the stand out metrics here is the new minimal focus distance. A whole twenty centre jump is very substantial for a lens like this.
The Fujifilm 56mm F1.2 R WR (Mark II) is a beautifully constructed lens
Fujifilm 56mm F1.2 R WR (Mark II) Review - Sharpness and Focus Acquisition
I had no real issues with the first version of this lens regarding focus speed, but I know that that, along with sharpness wide open, is what most people are interested in with the new version.
I can honestly say that I believe this lens is noticeably snappier when it comes to focusing acquisition. I used it on my X-Pro3 and my newly acquired X-H2S, which performed amazingly well.
No Linear Motor
I've seen grumblings on the Internet when the rumours came out that the lens likely won't have a Linear Motor. And I can confirm that the Fujifilm 56mm F1.2 R WR (Mark II) does NOT have a liner motor.
Given the sheer amount of glass in this lens, my understanding is that it would make it substantially larger.
Whilst there is no doubt a linear motor would have been well received, I really can't notice much, if any, focusing delays - and it feels as snappy as the new 18mm F1.4 in that respect.
Fujifilm 56mm F1.2 R WR (Mark II) Review - Weight & Size
You can get an idea of the size difference between the original Fujifilm 56mm F1.2 and the Mark II below.
The lens is a little larger and heavier and uses a 67mm thread as opposed to the 62mm one in the previous incarnation. However, I didn't notice this (certainly not on the weight), and it remains a small, compact 85mm equivalent lens.
Fujifilm 56mm F1.2 R WR (Mark II) Review - Sample Images
Below are the full-resolution images that I show in the film. Remember that they have been resized for the web and the nature of compression that comes with that.
The EXIF data should be intact, though most were shot at F1.2.
Fujifilm 56mm F1.2 R WR (Mark II) Review - Image Quality & Aberrations
As you can see from the images above and the video walkthrough, the Fujifilm 56mm F1.2 R WR (Mark II) image quality is stellar.
I'm not a pixel peeper, and I tend to edit my images to a more filmic look, but even so - I feel I'm getting more keepers (especially in continuous focus burst mode) at F1.2 than I did previously.
I've never really understood the term "Aberrations", but I'm told this lens has less than the previous one and, of course, that might be more important for people who may be considering the lens for genres other than documentary photography.
Fujifilm 56mm F1.2 R WR (Mark II) Review - In Summary
In summary, I have to say that my excitement for the lens has not waned. It's a brilliant performer, still small enough and focuses quicker and is sharper throughout the aperture range.
I will be pre-ordering this lens when it's available and can't wait to use it with my weddings over the winter when that F1.2 aperture comes into its own.
If you have any questions, leave them below, and I'll get back to you.
Have Fun, Kevin
A Note About My Editing
I have created a suite of Premium Lightroom Profile-based Presets. They are more than just a set of slider changes. These presets are based on carefully crafted Profiles.
