If you’re thinking about getting a Fujifilm XT50, you might be curious about what kind of images the Fujifilm XT50 can produce. After using mine consistently for over six months, I’ve gathered plenty of Fujifilm XT50 sample photos to share.
In this post, I’m sharing how lenses impact your photos and Fujifilm XT50 images with 4 different lenses: the XF 16–50mm kit lens, 27mm f/2.8, 35mm f/2, and Viltrox 56mm.
Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links. If you make a purchase through them, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
Lenses’ impact on photos
You’ve probably heard photographers say, “Invest more in good glass.” And it’s true.
Your camera body handles many things, but your lens determines sharpness, depth, background blur, and your image vibe.
Even the best cameras can produce underwhelming pictures when paired with cheap lenses. And less expensive mid-range cameras can produce sharp, rich, and professional pictures with quality lenses.
So, invest in good lenses.
Thankfully, I’ve been fortunate enough to try out 4 different lenses on the XT50.
These are all common Fujifilm XT50 lenses and focal lengths that many photographers use day-to-day. Lenses you might carry for travel, street photography, or everyday life. This isn’t a comprehensive list but rather a short review of lenses I’ve used.
Most of the images in this post were edited in Lightroom, but I also included several straight out of the camera (SOOC) images.
Recommended read: How to Access, Customize, & Save Fujifilm XT50 Film Simulations and Recipes
Fujifilm XT50 Pictures
1. The XT50 + XF 16–50mm kit lens
The Fujinon XF 16-50mm F2.8-4.8 R LM WR kit lens is a great all-around first lens. It’s flexible, lightweight, and perfect for travel.
It covers a 24–75mm full-frame equivalent range, which includes two of my favorite focal lengths: 24mm and 50mm. It also has an internal zoom (the lens doesn’t extend when you zoom in and out), which I love.
And it’s weather-resistant, which is an added bonus, because the XT50 is not.
When I first got this lens, I loved the versatility. For nearly four years, I only used prime lenses on my Sony. Having a zoom lens again felt freeing. That said, it does feel like it lacks a bit of character or “wow” factor. I often found myself gravitating toward the shortest (16mm) and longest (50 mm) ends of the zoom.
One downside to this lens is that, after getting my hands on a lens with aperture markings, I had a hard time changing my aperture on this lens — my brain likes seeing those numbers.
If you’re not sure what I’m talking about, look at one of the images with the lenses, you’ll see that this zoom lens is the only one that doesn’t have aperture numbers on it (e.g., 2, 2.8, 5.6, etc).
And if aperture is one of those things you sort of understand, but not really… I have a 7-step process that breaks down camera settings in a super beginner-friendly way.
Oh, and if you’re interested in seeing more images with this lens, see my New Zealand post below. Every image in that post was captured with the XF 16-50mm lens.
Recommended read: Is the Fujifilm XT50 a Good Travel Camera? I Took It to New Zealand to Find Out
2. The XT50 + XF 27mm lens
The Fujinon XF 27mm f/2.8 R WR is a tiny powerhouse. It’s small, sharp, and turns the XT50 into a pretty pocketable camera.
At first, this focal length threw me off. It felt both too wide and too tight, which made composing shots tricky. Looking back, though, I captured some of my favorite images with this lens. The image quality is excellent, and it’s the perfect walk-around and everyday carry lens.
And the aperture ring with actual numbers? Chef’s kiss.
As much as I loved this lens, I’ve always been a “nifty fifty” girl at heart… which leads us to my next lens.
Recommended read: Is the Fujifilm XT50 Weather-Sealed? No — But Here’s How It Handles Weather.
3. The XT50 + XF 35mm lens
The Fujinon XF 35mm f/2 R WR was easily my favorite lens to shoot with. At a 53mm full-frame equivalent, it’s close to the classic 50mm look, and that’s just how I see the world when I’m shooting.
It offers just the right amount of subject-background separation and just enough compression for portraits, street photos, and travel moments. This lens feels natural, like an extension of how my eye sees.
If you want to see more photos, all the images in the carousels below were taken with the Fujifilm XT50 + the 35mm f/2 lens.
I only used the XF 35 lens for about a month because I ended up selling my XT50.
But I kept this lens — just in case I pick up another Fujifilm body in the future (I’m looking at you XT5). That’s how much I love the Fujinon XF 35mm f/2 lens!
Recommended read: How the Fujifilm X-T50 has changed my photography
4. The XT50 + Viltrox 56mm lens
The Viltrox 56mm f/1.4 is an 84mm full-frame equivalent lens, and honestly, it’s a beast. Especially for the price.
Coming from Canon and Sony, I was pleasantly surprised by how affordable good third-party lenses are for Fujifilm. A plus for my fellow hobby photographers.
This lens is a great choice for portraits or detail shots when you want that dreamy background blur. I love that it has an aperture ring too — that’s actually why I chose it over the Sigma 56mm f/1.4 and the Viltrox 56mm f/1.7.
But while it does have an aperture ring with markings, it doesn’t have that same satisfying, clicky feel you get on Fujinon lenses. The ring glides more than it clicks, which is a super picky thing to mention, but it’s something I noticed right away.
This was my first time shooting at an 85mm equivalent, and I really liked the results. But I only used this lens for one day (a dog park outing with my mom and her dog) before I returned it. Not because it wasn’t great, but because I decided to sell my Fujifilm XT50.
And it’s worth mentioning that this lens is pretty heavy on the XT50. I think it would be better on a bigger camera body.
As great as this lens is, I’d recommend trying a lighter 56mm lens on the XT50.
Recommended read: I Love the Fujifilm XT50 — But These Things Frustrate Me
Which lens is best for you?
Well, it depends.
Everyone gravitates toward different focal lengths. Choosing the right lens for your Fujifilm XT50 comes down to what you enjoy shooting, how you like to compose your images, and what feels natural to you.
Here’s a quick breakdown of the lenses I covered and what they’re best for:
- XF 16–50mm kit lens: This zoom lens is perfect if you want flexibility in one lens. It’s great for travel since you can cover multiple focal lengths without having to swap/carry around lenses.
- XF 27mm f/2.8: This lens is perfect for everyday use and when you want to keep your camera small and unobtrusive. It’s pocket-friendly, lightweight, and easy to carry around.
- XF 35mm f/2: This lens is ideal for street photography, travel, and everyday moments. It offers beautiful subject-background separation and feels natural to shoot with.
- Viltrox 56mm f/1.4: If you love creamy background blur and shooting tighter compositions for portraits, details, or more distant subjects, this focal length excels. But beware, it’s heavy!
If you’re new to photography, a zoom lens like the 16–50mm is a fantastic way to experiment with different focal lengths and discover what you naturally gravitate to.
Over time, you’ll develop a sense of which lens “feels right” for the types of images you love to make. Your preferred focal length often comes down to personal style and experience. And the more you practice, the more intuitive it becomes.
Still want to browse more Fujifilm XT50 sample images? Check out my Coronado Photo Project. The majority of these images were captured with the Fujifilm XT50.
You can also browse my blog — I wrote about the XT50 for a whole year on here!
Final Thoughts
The Fujifilm XT50 is an incredible, lightweight camera that delivers beautiful image quality in a compact, travel-friendly package. Whether you’re shooting with the kit lens or prime lenses, this camera is capable of producing stunning results.
One of my favorite things about Fujifilm cameras is how great the images look SOOC. So you can spend less time editing and more time creating (my favorite part).
If you’ve been stuck in auto mode and want to understand how to use your camera, check out my beginner-friendly guide below. It’s designed to help you feel confident with your camera while building consistency.
I’d love to hear what your favorite focal lengths + Fujifilm lenses are, and why, below in the comments!
Fantastic images, as always, and they do a nice job of showcasing each lens’ capabilities. Good call on keeping the 35mm – you’ll be happy when (!) you get your X-T5.
Thanks so much, James! Your support and kind words mean a lot. The 35mm is so goooood. It’s only a matter of time before I have an XT5 in my hands. 🙃 What’s your go to lens?
I’d have to say the 16-55mm f2.8 II is on my camera the most. It’s the most flexible lens I own, and the constant f/2.8 aperture comes in handy. After that, I love the images I get from the 35mm f/1.4, the Viltrox 27mm f/1.2, and the Viltrox 75mm f/1.2. There are so many good lenses available!
Ooooo, these are all incredible options (and agreed, there are so many good ones out there). I have only heard good things about the XF 16-55 f/2.8 and 35mm f/1.4, both of which I’d like to try! Having a constant aperture on a zoom is soooo nice! 🙌