Fujifilm 90mm f2 Review

It’s been the better part of a year since I picked up the Fujifilm XF 90mm f/2, and I want to share my thoughts and experiences with this telephoto prime. If you’ve done your research on this lens, you’ll already know it’s widely celebrated as a killer portrait lens. But that wasn’t my main reason for getting it. I shoot a mix of travel, street, and landscape photography. In this Blog I’ll explain why I added it to my kit. So, let’s dive in.

Focal Length: A Different Perspective

With its 135mm equivalent focal length on Fuji’s APS-C cameras, it’s a no-brainer for portraits, but it’s far from a one-trick pony. My trips are often a hybrid of urban exploration and natural landscapes, which means I need gear that’s versatile and doesn’t weigh me down.

Carrying a telephoto zoom, like a 100-400mm, is great if I’m focusing on landscapes, but it’s not practical for city adventures where portability is key. That’s where the 90mm f/2 shines. It’s compact, lightweight-ish, and fits neatly into a small travel bag or sling without hogging space.

Pairing it with my X-T5’s 40MP sensor has been a game-changer. I can crop in for an effective focal length closer to 150mm without noticeable image quality loss. That flexibility has allowed me to shoot a variety of subjects, from tight architectural details to distant landscapes, all while traveling light.

Compressed Views and Unique Compositions

One thing I’ve noticed with this lens is how it challenges me to think differently about composition. Its tight, compressed field of view forces you to zero in on the details, whether it’s isolating a subject in a crowded scene or highlighting textures in a landscape.

It’s also a creative tool for street photography, especially when you want to capture candid moments from a distance without being intrusive. The compression adds a cinematic touch to urban scenes.

Build and Ergonomics

This lens feels premium. It’s got a solid metal build, weather-sealing to keep the dust and rain out, and it still manages to be light enough not to feel like a brick in your hand. This prime is not pocketable compared to the other Fuji f/2 primes, sure, but for what it does, it’s surprisingly manageable at 540g.

The aperture ring is classic Fuji—smooth, tactile, and lets you nail your settings without taking your eye off the scene. As it’s on the longer end, it can feel slightly unbalanced on smaller Fuji bodies like the X-T5 during extended use, but it’s much more comfortable during long shooting sessions on X-H2 form factors.

Image Quality

This is where the magic happens. Sharpness? It’s razor-sharp even at f/2. The background blur (or bokeh, if you’re fancy) is creamy and smooth, think melted butter on a pancake.

Colour rendition is true-to-life but has that subtle Fuji magic. Chromatic aberration? Practically non-existent. Even shooting wide open, the images are clean and crisp. If you’re into isolating your subject with dreamy, blurred backgrounds, this lens will spoil you.

Autofocus

Fast and silent, that’s how autofocus should be, and this lens delivers. It’s got a Quad Linear Motor (fancy words for “super fast”), and quiet.

I’ve only dabbled with this lens for video, but the autofocus was fast enough for my needs. It’s also an internal focusing lens, meaning it doesn’t extend while focusing. That’s great for balance and makes it feel like it’s working with you, not against you.

Who’s It For?

If you’re into portraits, it rocks. But it’s fantastic for street photography, tight landscapes, or even detail shots. It’s versatile enough to earn its spot in your kit. As a walkaround lens in the streets, it encourages you to seek out unique and abstract compositions you might otherwise overlook.

Final Thoughts

The Fujifilm XF 90mm f/2 is one of those lenses that makes you excited to shoot. It’s sharp, fast, and just feels right. Yes, it’s a prime lens, so you’re locked into a tight, long perspective, but trust me, the creative shots you can get with it are incredible.

This lens is a Fujifilm ecosystem locker for me. When I consider building a similar kit for Sony or other brands, there’s nothing available in the 135mm prime range that matches this combination of image quality, size, and weight.