Fujifilm 10-24mm f/4 Lens Review

Fujifilm has a comprehensive range of great lenses for its X-Series cameras – there’s something to suit everyone.

Being able to rely on great autofocus performance and the flexibility of a zoom is great for many genres of photography. And having these characteristics in a wide zoom provides a great platform for those wanting to capture a much bigger story.

Architecture, interior design, creative portraiture and of course landscape photography all excel when the right wide-angle lens is employed.

Fortunately for the Fuji-mob, the Fujifilm XF 10-24mm f/4 provides a perfect solution to your wide-angle needs. What’s more, its affordability and overall performance make for an attractive purchase for your shot kit (pardon the pun).

Until the release of the Fujifilm XF 8-16mm f/2.8, this was the widest Fuji lens available – check out our review of the 8-16mm here.

Regardless, the Fuji 10-24mm f/4 is an amazing lens, and at $500 less than the newer 8-16mm, it makes a great contender for the enthusiast and budget-conscious photographers (see more options here).

Let’s take a closer look at what this lens has to offer.

Fujifilm XF 10-24mm f/4 Specs

 

• Full-frame equivalent: 15-36mm
• Aperture: Constant f/4 – f/22
• OIS (Optical Image Stabilisation)
• Filter thread: 72mm
• Dimensions: ø78.0mm x 87mm(3.07″ x 3.42″)(Wide/Telephoto)
• Weight: 410g (0.9lb)
• Minimal focal distance: 24cm (9.4″)

Build & Ergonomics

The Fujifilm XF 10-24 f/4 has an instantly recognisable look and feel thanks to classic Fuji design and construction.

While the all-metal body is not weather-sealed, the rear element is covered with a glass panel to prevent dust from entering the lens – it doesn’t replace weather sealing but is a nice addition.

However, the front element does bounce in and out with zoom movement meaning that it’s more likely to suck in some dust over time. My recommendation is to apply a clear protective filter to the front of the lens to provide greater dust resistance.

In fact, this is my recommendation and personal habit for any lens – it’s far easier to replace a scratch or damaged filter than a whole lens.

I do find it strange that a lens that’s great for shooting in the outdoors is not fully weather-sealed – perhaps in late 2013, Fuji hadn’t perfected that tech yet.

Speaking of the internals, the 10-24mm features 14 elements in 10 groups that include 4 aspherical and 4 extra-low dispersion elements. Lot’s of pretty numbers but it all adds up to a comprehensive set of glass the achieve optical excellence.

The zoom function all happens internally so there’s no barrel extension and retraction – this keeps the lens at a neat ø78.0mm x 87mm (3.07″ x 3.42″). The filter thread is 72mm meaning that there will be lots of third party filters and kits ideal for this size lens.

The lens hood is plastic with two prominent petals that stick out with a diameter of 100mm (3.93″), far beyond the 78mm diameter of the lens barrel. As a result, the lens looks much bigger than it is when this is equipped.

Surprisingly the lens only weighs 410g (0.9lb) and is comfortable to carry on any Fuji body from the X-E3 to the X-T4. Although thanks to its wide diameter at the front of the lens, the camera will tilt back a little when placed down.

All of the manual controls on the XF 10-24mm f/4 feature the usual Fuji styling, function and accessibility.

The zoom ring is broad and rubber-coated with ridged texture for ease of use and comfort. It glides well and has a really small travel distance from 10mm to 24mm.

I found in practical use the zoom ring was quite stiff – probably to prevent unwanted movements in focus distance.

The aperture ring free-spins with no stops at the end nor does it have the usual aperture markings – this ring feels lower quality than the rest of the body parts.

Finally, the focus ring is metal and ridged with a nice buttery-smooth glide making fine focusing easy and tight.

But the fiddly bits don’t stop there. The Fujifilm XF 10-24mm f/4 sports an aperture switch that shifts between Auto and Manual. There’s also an OIS switch that’s also clearly marked and locks securely in place.

That recognisable Fuji look and feel I mentioned earlier extends to overall build and usability. Their lenses are built right and built well to ensure that you have reliability, control and optimal shooting experience.

Focus Performance

I was really impressed with the focusing performance of the Fujifilm XF 10-24mm f/4 – regardless of the conditions, the lens performed as expected.

While it’s not going to win any awards as the world’s fastest lens, I found the focusing system on this Fuji to be quite fast and reliable.

In one case I was able to grab a shot of some local architecture as I was sitting stuck in traffic – I didn’t even hold the camera up to my eye as I just pointed it out the window and snapped.

With a minimal focus distance of 24cm (9.4″), you can get in quite close and capture some dramatic angles, especially at the 10mm end.

In low light, there was only a minimal amount of hunt to acquire focus – nothing that was troublesome.

In general, the focusing system is more than enough for the styles of photography you will be shooting with this lens. Architecture, landscape, interiors and even most portraits don’t require a blistering fast lens.

Image Quality

In general, Fuji lenses are finely tuned to ensure image sharpness and clarity across the focus and aperture range.

The Fujifilm XF 10-24mm f/4 is no exception to that expectation as it delivers great images that are gorgeously rendered and sharp.

At f/4 there’s a minimal amount of softness evident but it doesn’t jump out nor does it appear as distortion – this is true in both the 10mm and 24mm focus distances. At f/8 you have a complete edge to edge sharpness.

I love the super-wide use of the 10mm end of the range as it delivers gorgeous leading lines from structures and clouds – this is a 110-degree field of view after all.

You are able to capture such a wide field and tell so much more of the story with a lens like this.

What’s more, there doesn’t appear to be any level of distortion – Fuji has done a great job of correcting this.

When it comes to shooting landscape or larger architectural structures, the Fujifilm XF 10-24mm f/4 is perfect as it operates well in all lighting conditions and delivers great image quality.

Thanks to the OIS, I was able to shoot handheld with the XF 10-24mm f/4 as low as 1/8 shutter speed and get crisp images – any lower than that and I get a little shaky.

The OIS allowed me to really up my low light game especially when shooting after sunset on a cold shiver-worthy pier.

Regardless of the intended use, whatever you put this lens against, it will perform at an optimal level and deliver wonderful images.

Fujifilm 10-24mm f/4 Sample Images

Check out these sample images taken with the Fujifilm 10-24mm f/4.

Value for Money

I have already let the cat out of the bag and mentioned that the Fujifilm XF 10-24mm f/4 is an affordable lens.

For an exceptionally wide zoom with great autofocus and image quality, the value-for-money proposition is a no-brainer.

The Fuji 10-24mm will cost around $1,000 making it exceptional value for money.

The more recent and premium quality 8-16mm is $500 more than that – great that you have a couple of choices when it comes to ultra-wide zooms from Fuji

If you are a landscape or architecture photographer, this lens will pay for itself with its versatility and performance each and every time you use it.

I know a lot of people in the Fuji-world that shoot with the 10-24mm and I have never heard a single complaint about it.

Fujifilm XF 10-24mm f/4 Review | Conclusion

Versatility, performance and affordability are the words I would use to best describe the Fujifilm XF 10-24mm f/4 – so why did I just write 1,000 words to describe it?

The answer is that there’s a lot to say about this quality lens from Fuji – it’s the sort of lens that a landscape or architectural photographer should definitely check out.

What’s more, its price puts it in the reach of anyone that’s serious about wide lens work or even those that want to get into the field – especially for the later.

A lens of this nature makes genres like architecture, property and landscape much more accessible and easy to master.

With a lens like the Fujifilm XF 10-24mm f/4, you are inspired to get out and shoot – for me, that’s what photography should be all about.

Do yourself a huge favour and add this lens to your Fuji kit and see just how inspired it will make you.