Best Fuji Lens For Travel

If you use Fujifilm X-series cameras and are often on the move, this guide to the best Fuji lens for travel photography is definitely worth a read.

Whether you’re keen to shoot panoramic vistas with wide angle lenses, or prefer to get close up action shots with a zoom lens, one thing’s for certain – you’re going to want lenses with stellar image quality!

With so many amazing Fuji lenses on offer (see them here), it’s hard to know which ones to pick to satisfy your photography wanderlust.

To save you some time, we’ve hand-picked the best 5 options in 2023.

Let’s take a closer look.

Best Fuji Lens for Travel in 2023

Image	Product	Features
	Fujifilm 10-24mm f/4 OUR #1 CHOICE	Lightweight Robust Build Optical Image Stabilisation (OIS) Beautiful Bokeh	View Price →
	Fujinon 18-55mm f/2.8-4 GREAT VALUE	Silent Auto Focusing Incredibly Sharp Weather Resistant Excellent Build	View Price →
	Fujifilm 55-200mm f/3.5-4.8 BEST FOR PROS	Versatile Focal Length Robust Build Ultra Sharp Fast Auto Focusing	View Price →
	Fujifilm 23mm f/2 MOST COMPACT	Great in Low Light Super Wide f2 Maximum Aperture Sharp Super Compact	View Price →
	Fujifilm 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 MOST VERSATILE	Great Bang for Buck Razor Sharp Solid Build Lightweight	View Price →

 

1. Fujifilm XF 10-24mm f/4 R OIS

It’s evident that Fujifilm develops some of the best high-quality lenses to suit all photography genres. So when it comes to choosing Fujifilm lenses for travel photography, you’re somewhat spoiled for choice.

If you’re planning on travelling to a destination with gorgeous wide vistas and landscapes, then one of your first choices for a lens is the Fujifilm XF 10-24mm f/4 (reviewed here).

This is one of the first and certainly one of the widest lenses in the Fuji lineup and has a 35mm equivalent focal length of 15-36mm. Out wide at 10mm, you have the capacity to capture sweeping landscapes or wide city views.

At the closer end of 24mm, you have a relatively natural field of view for closer situations such as architecture and street work. This makes it perfect for travel photography, especially if you’re visiting amazing cities with unique details.

Regardless of the intended use, this lens will give you a great amount of flexibility.

The Fuji XF 10-24mm is one of the older of the zoom lenses on offer, however, it’s built to last a lifetime. It features a full metal body including the lens mount making it a rugged lens but not one that’s weather resistant.

For a lens of this size, it’s not too heavy, however, the weight seems to be in the front of the lens rather than balanced. The total weight of the lens is 410gm and when paired with any of the Fujifilm cameras such as the X-T3, you have a total kit weight of just under 1kg.

When supporting this lens two-handed on a Fujifilm X Series body, the weight is evenly spread.

The lens has a total diameter of 78mm and a length of 87mm. This remains fixed as the zoom function happens within the lens barrel. The filter thread has a diameter of 72mm.

Overall it’s a neat lens that won’t dominate your travel bag or day pack when you’re out and about on your travels.

The lens sits well in your hand and the aperture, manual focus and zoom rings are all easily accessible with your fingers naturally sitting in place. Each of these rings has the necessary glides with just the right resistance to prevent slippage or knocks.

The Fuji XF 10-24mm f/4 features an Optical Image Stabilisation (OIS) switch, which is great for low light shooting and handheld shooting with slower apertures.

This lens would be perfectly paired with a camera such as the Fujifilm X-T3 which does not have In Body Image Stabilisation (IBIS).

The lens performs incredibly well in the autofocus department, and due to its maximum aperture of f/4, it has great edge to edge image sharpness. Given that this lens is primarily suited for shooting wide angle and ultra-wide landscapes and scenery, you’re likely to drop your aperture down to f/8.

In lower light settings, having a maximum aperture of f/4 is not ideal – however, thanks to the OIS, you can slow down your shutter speed considerably even if shooting handheld.

Unfortunately, the Fuji XF 10-24mm f/4 does not have weather resistant sealing. This is disappointing given the zoom system is all maintained in the barrel of the lens. However, it does have a minimal focus distance of around 10″ (25.4cm) making for some fantastic and dynamic close up images.

This Fuji lens is fantastic value at just under US$1,000. The newer Fuji XF 8-16mm f/2.8 currently retails for twice that price. In this area, the XF 10-24mm f/4 is a stand out performer at an amazing price.

As mentioned, if you’re looking at travelling to some truly beautiful scenic locations and landscape photography is your jam, then the Fuji XF 10-24mm f/4 is a must-have for your travel kit.

It may not be the only lens you choose to pack, but it will be the one you’re the most thankful for when you get home and see your images.

2. Fujinon XF 18-55mm f/2.8-4 R LM OIS

If you’re planning a photographic holiday and you want to pack a lens that you could pretty much rely on exclusively, then the Fujifilm XF 18-55mm f/2.8-4 is the one!

I’m not suggesting that this should be the only lens you take – however, if you’re travelling on a budget, or you want to travel compact and light, then this kit lens is a must-pack.

The XF 18-55mm is an incredibly compact lens that has a neatly aligned barrel made of durable materials. When zoomed in, the barrel extends but not unreasonably far. Each outer element of the barrel has the same diameter and, as a result, the whole lens design is clean and neat.

The manual focus and zoom rings are comfortable with a suitable amount of grip. The zoom ring has the desired amount of glide with enough resistance to prevent the lens from extending out due to gravity or movement.

This lens is a common choice for the Fujifilm kit lenses with their premium camera bodies which you can usually find at Amazon or in the Moment Store. The lens weighs only 310gm and when paired with a camera such as the Fujifilm X-E3, the total kit weight is only 647gm.

A combination such as this makes it an incredibly appealing travel kit especially if space and weight is a premium.

Further to this, the lens has a diameter of 65mm and a filter thread size of 58mm, making it a very comfortable lens to hold and control. This lens is 70.4mm in length when at the wide zoom and 97.9mm in length at the telephoto end.

In practical terms, it would be fair to ask what makes this one of the best Fuji lenses for travel. The answer is the versatility you get for the size of the lens.

Having an 18-55mm zoom range provides you with a lot of flexibility without having to pack bigger and heavier lenses.

At the wide angle end, 18mm gives you a great focal length for anything from landscapes and beach scenes to architecture and street work.

At the 55mm telephoto end, you have far more reach to gain greater details at temples, nature reserves and travel portraits. All of this in a lens that you can comfortably carry all day on the camera of your choice.

Given its compact size and low weight, the Fuji XF 18-55mm f/2.8-4 works perfectly with any of the X Series camera bodies produced by Fuji. Regardless if you’re shooting with the Fujifilm X-H1 or the far smaller Fujifilm X-T200, this lens will be well balanced.

Of course, if you’re wanting to go for a more compact body, then I would recommend considering either the Fujifilm X-E3 or the Fujifilm X-T30. Both of these are brilliant mirrorless cameras that are lightweight, feature-packed and perfect for travel.

Neither this lens nor either of these suggested Fujifilm cameras is weather-resistant; so caution should always be exercised when out in the elements.

The Fuji 18-55mm has a maximum aperture of f/2.8 at the wide end and f/4 at the telephoto end. While not the widest of apertures, you have ample opportunity to create great subject separation between your foreground and background subjects.

Further to this, low light performance can easily be managed with apertures at those levels.

Thanks to the included Optical Image Stabilisation switch on the barrel of the lens, you have greater low light control working at slower shutter speeds. Even with a Fujifilm X-E3, you can now have stabilisation available for stills and video.

As mentioned previously, the Fuji XF 18-55 is usually included with the mid-high end Fujifilm camera bodies. However, this little lens is one of the most highly acclaimed kit lenses on the market. At just under US$700, you’re getting an incredible lens that could be put to any task successfully.

In a travel setting, this Fuji lens will prove to be an excellent choice for all of your shooting needs. Regardless of your destination, you’ll be able to capture high-quality photos of interesting scenes both near and far – all with a single compact and highly functional camera with one great lens.

As another bonus, you can carry this kind of kit all day and in any setting without it becoming heavy or cumbersome.

The reasons above make it clear why this is not only one of the best Fuji lenses for travel photography, but one of the best Fuji lenses full stop. Happy travels!

3. Fujifilm XF 55-200mm f/3.5-4.8 R LM OIS

The Fujifilm XF 55-200mm f/3.5-4.8 is another incredible lens that clearly earns its seat at the table of best Fuji lenses for travel. It has very much been designed to be paired with the Fuji XF 18-55mm f/2.8-4 lens.

With this pair of lenses, you have a very comprehensive travel kit. The smaller 18-55mm lens will cover your wide angle work and this 55-200mm will cover the things you cannot reach. This will be a perfectly suitable kit to carry with you all day.

The Fuji 55-200mm has an incredibly strong build with metal and durable plastic body. The aperture, zoom and manual focus ring are well made and hug the body comfortably with no slack. Much like the Fuji 18-55mm, this lens has a very clean design that has the same diameter barrel for the length of the lens.

Given the range of this lens, it has a lot of glass elements and you would think that would make this a large and heavy lens. However, Fujifilm has been able to engineer this lens to have a minimal design, size and a short travel distance for the zoom function.

The lens has a diameter of 75mm with a filter of 62mm for attaching ND or Polarizing or other such filters and accessories.

When the lens is zoomed in at the widest, the barrel is only 118mm long. At the telephoto end, the lens only extends another 59mm to 177mm to reach the 200mm zoom range.

As the Fuji XF 55-200mm lens weighs just 580gm, you can easily pair it with a Fujfilm body such as the XT-3 and get away with a carry weight of just over 1kg.

For a flagship camera and telephoto zoom lens to be such a light combination makes it ideal for being out and about in nature.

When paired with a camera such as the X-T3 (see image above), the combination forms a comfortable balance in your hand.

The XF 55-200mm doesn’t create distortion by being too front heavy or impact your ability to shoot at lower speeds or with the zoom fully out.

Each of the control rings on the lens has a nice buttery smooth travel with just the right amount of resistance. We found that, on the odd occasion, the lens extends due to gravity if held pointing down. A minor issue as you generally work out your zoom distance once you bring the camera up to your eye.

Just like the smaller XF 18-55mm lens, this one also features Optical Image Stabilisation (OIS). This is a great aid when photographing moving objects such as wildlife at the full telephoto end of the range.

Speaking of tracking subjects, the autofocus on this lens is incredibly quick and accurate.

The Fuji XF 55-200mm is able to capture focus quickly at any focal length and ensure you achieve clear and sharp images. Regardless of the focal distance, you’re guaranteed edge to edge sharpness.

In general, the autofocus system is quite responsive and quick to secure focus with no hunting. However, in lower light settings the focus hunting starts to become more obvious. While this can be corrected to some degree with IOS, the issue is worth pointing out.

The XF 55-200mm currently retails for just under US$700 and for that, you’re getting a high performing lens that will deliver exceptional image quality.

Fuji also has on offer the optically brilliant XF 50-140mm f/2.8 that’s weather-sealed but does not have as long a range. This lens is over twice the price at around US$1,600.

If you did decide to complete your kit with this lens and the Fuji XF 18-55, you would have everything you need for a holiday adventure and never miss a shot. You’d have a wider zoom for landscapes and street work. Then you’d have the Fuji XF 55-200 to capture incredible detail in architecture or to capture wild animals on safari.

A lens of this nature, with its excellent image quality, fast focusing performance and great focal range, could be used in a number of scenarios. Travel photography is one of them. After all, you want to be able to return from your travels with the most amazing images you can get.

4. Fujifilm XF 23mm f/2 R WR

As you know, there are many different types of travel experiences to be had. And every situation requires a certain type of lens to ensure that you capture what you want to remember. The temptation is always there to take everything just in case you don’t have the right lens and miss a shot.

What if you went in the other direction and decided to just take one lens with you – and not a zoom? Just a single prime lens!

In my opinion, the Fujifilm XF 23mm f/2 is the perfect lens to take with you when you want the most minimal kit you can carry. People will call you crazy but you must have confidence that you can make it work – in the right setting.

This is one of the smallest lenses in the Fujifilm lineup and is part of a series of re-designs that Fujifilm has carried out on a number of lenses with popular focal distances.

For example, the optically brilliant Fuji XF 23mm f/1.4 is one of the sharpest Fujifilm lenses available. It’s also one of the oldest lenses as it was one of the first Fuji primes on the market.

Recently, Fujifilm released the XF 23mm f/2 in a much smaller and weather-sealed body. This new Fujifilm lens has a unique design to it and it’s incredibly compact.

Other lenses in this re-release range are the XF 35mm f/2, the XF 50mm f/2 and the XF 16mm f/2.8. These prime lenses all have a similar retro design and size to keep the range connected.

When we say that this is a tiny lens, it really is: it has a diameter of only 60mm and a minuscule filter thread of 43mm. The total length of the lens is 51.9mm. A lens of this size would be well suited to a camera such as the Fujifilm X-T200, the Fujifilm X-T30 or even the Fujifilm X-E3.

Regardless of its size, this 23mm f/2 prime lens is incredibly well built and tough.

However, don’t be deterred if you were considering pairing this with a Fujifilm X-T3 or the new X-Pro3. These lenses, given their retro design, look right at home on one of those flagship camera bodies. And at only 180gm, you could comfortably pair the lens to have a simple travel kit that weighs under 700gm.

Or, pair the lens with the smaller Fujifilm X-E3 and your travel kit drops to just over 500gm. With weight like that, you could hand hold your camera all day and not notice any strain or fatigue. You could get away with not having a camera bag and just keep your kit safely wrapped in your day-bag.

It’s that kind of convenience and simplicity that makes the weather resistant Fujifilm XF 23mm f/2 the best Fuji prime lens for travel  – check out the video below… but don’t try this at home!

 

Despite its size, the Fuji XF 23mm is a very user-friendly lens as it sports both a marked aperture ring and a manual focus ring. These are both of a suitable width to identify with your left hand and control them accurately. Even with such a narrow barrel, you don’t feel like you’re creating a claw with your hand just to turn them.

When it comes to usability, this Fuji lens has incredibly quick autofocus in both good light and in low light. In fact, it’s one of the fastest autofocus lenses in the entire Fujifilm range.

What’s more is that due to the small size of the lens, its internal glass and focus motors, it draws hardly any power from a standard Fujifilm battery.

You can get far more shots with a lens of this style than from its much bigger brother.

While this lens does not feature image stabilisation, it does have a wide aperture of f/2 that allows for great subject separation and ample light to pass to the sensor.

Plus, given it’s so light, you have a far greater chance of hand-holding this lens while shooting at slower shutter speeds.

One of the only setbacks about this lens is that it delivers slightly soft edges when shot at f/2. Stepping down to f/4 and beyond seems to remedy this issue.

The Fuji XF 23mm f/2 currently retails for under US$450 and that’s in comparison to the original XF 16mm f/1.4 which retails for double that. Enough said really, as this is incredible value for money, especially for travel photography.

It’s a daring traveller that ventures out with a single lens with a 35mm equivalent field of view. But then again, this is about as close as you can get to the view our eyes naturally gain.

There’s something compelling in being able to capture that same view – and if you want to zoom, then do it the old school way and use your feet.

Be brave with one of the best Fuji lenses for travel and be rewarded on your next adventure.

5. Fujifilm XF 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 R LM OIS WR

While on the topic of only carrying one lens to shoot it all, the Fuji XF 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 is just such a lens perfect for travel photography.

If you’re not brave enough to just get by with a single prime like the XF 23mm f/2, then perhaps you’ll feel more comfortable with a zoom like this.

The Fuji XF 18-135mm is able to cover a very wide focal length and also achieve a decent amount of reach with its zoom. So if you’re on a long trip and don’t want to carry too much camera gear but equality want to capture everything, this is the lens for you.

Having that level of flexibility is ideal in a travel situation where you’re going from amazing vistas to tight old-town alleys.

For its range, the lens is actually quite compact and has a similar design quality to the XF 18-55mm f/2.8-4.

It has a long clean barrel with no protrusions and inlaid focus and zoom rings. Being the one lens for every occasion, this beauty also features Optical Image Stabilisation (OIS) and weather sealing.

Alongside its sturdy build qualities, the weather sealing makes the Fuji 18-135mm suitable for all conditions, from rain and hail to dust and snow.

When paired with a weather resistant Fuji body such as the Fujifilm X-T3, you have a completely weather-sealed kit.

The size of this lens can be deceptive as it covers such a wide range of view. The lens has a diameter of 75.7mm and a filter thread of 67mm making it easy to obtain lens filters.

With the zoom in, the lens is 97.8mm long and with the zoom fully out it’s 158mm in length.

In terms of weight, it’s 490gm which puts it comfortably between the Fuji XF 18-55 and the XF 55-200 in size and weight. Regardless, for a lens with this kind of flexible range, it’s certainly a very compact lens.

When combined with a smaller body such as the Fuji X-T30, this lens is only slightly front heavy, but otherwise, the balance is good. When it’s paired with a larger camera such as the X-T3, there’s a more accurate level of balance between the two.

Having said that, shooting with a lens of this nature requires two hands to control and stabilise the shot, so it would be well-matched to any Fuji mirrorless camera body.

The autofocus on the Fuji XF 18-135mm is reasonably good as it can precisely capture subjects in all manners of light with minimal sign of focus hunt. The greatest setback for this lens is how soft the image quality is, especially when shooting in low light.

With good light and aperture dropped to around f/8, you can get great image quality with good colour rendering and sharpness. However, in low light, this lens delivers very soft image quality, which is unfortunate given the level of versatility it offers.

In developing a lens of this nature and at this price point, it’s a shame that the trade-off has to be in the image quality.

Speaking of price, the Fuji XF 18-135mm currently retails for under US$900 and given the level of flexibility it provides, this is a great value lens. Keeping in mind that it’s the only camera lens in this guide with both OIS and weather sealing and a stellar zoom range, this is money well spent.

This Fuji lens is all about versatility and when you’re travelling, especially for long periods of time, versatility is your best friend.

You don’t pack all of your jackets when you’re travelling, you pack the most versatile for the situation. Packing the best loom lens for a range of situations is the very same logic.

Final Words

Whether you’re shooting a travel documentary photo story or simply want to capture your cherished holiday moments on film, you’re going to want to take your camera along for every moment of your adventures.

To get your best shots, you need the kind of lenses that are well suited to travel photography.

On top of that, you probably want to keep your kit relatively minimal and portable – which may mean leaving things like your macro lens at home and opting for a pancake lens or a versatile zoom.

If you’re a user of the Fujifilm system, you have some incredible options in this list. Any of these will serve you well during your next travel adventures.