I frequently get asked which lenses one should buy for their Fujifilm X-series camera. Lens choice is very personal. One might love a certain focal length while another might dislike it. I like primes, but you might prefer zooms. Some photographers prioritize character while others want maximum sharpness. Without knowing exactly what your preferences are, I cannot give good recommendations. What I can do is tell you what I like, and maybe—just maybe—that information will be helpful to you.

The list below are the five lenses that I have used the most lately. It’s not a comprehensive list by any means, as I have a whole bunch of other options, which get used sometimes. A few of the lenses that didn’t get mentioned—the 35mm f/2 and 90mm f/2 come immediately to mind—are frequently attached to my cameras, but just not often enough to make the Top 5. Ask me again next year and this list might look different.

Without any further delay, let’s dive right into my most-used lenses lately list!

Fujinon XF 23mm f/2.8 R WR

Fujifilm’s latest prime lens offering is the Fujinon 23mm f/2.8 pancake. Paired with the Fujifilm X-E5, it’s the closest you’re likely to get to an interchangeable-lens X100VI. This lens is an excellent performer, and has some good close-focus capabilities (not macro, but cropping will get you near-macro). An advantage that APS-C has over full-frame is size and weight, so you’d think that Fujifilm would offer a series of pancake lenses to pair with their smaller cameras; however, for many years your options have been the hard-to-find 27mm f/2.8 and the 18mm f/2, which is barely a pancake and, as one of the older lenses in the lineup, in need of a refresh. So I think it was smart for Fujifilm to release a third option, and I hope that another pancake lens or two are in the works.

While I really like the Fujinon 23mm f/2.8 pancake, I don’t love it quite as much as the 27mm f/2.8 pancake. Clinically speaking, it’s probably the better of the two, but it lacks a little of the soul that makes the 27mm special. I tend to only use it when the 27mm focal length is a bit too tight, or I want to focus a little closer. It’s completely worth owning, but you’re likely to choose either the 23mm or 27mm, and not both, since their focal lengths are fairly similar.

Fujinon XF 27mm f/2.8 R WR

When I preordered the Fujifilm X-E4, I did so as a kit with the (new version) Fujinon 27mm f/2.8 pancake lens. I was hesitant to do so because the maximum aperture of “only” f/2.8 wasn’t impressive, and I was unsure if it was going to be sharp enough. At the time, the Fujinon 35mm f/2 was my favorite lens, and it has a similar focal-length, a larger maximum aperture, and, while not a pancake, it’s pretty small overall. After getting the 27mm f/2.8, I fell in love with the character and compact size, and it immediately became my favorite lens.

This is my most used lens over the last several years. Even after getting the 23mm f/2.8 pancake, I still use the 27mm more than any other; however, I do use it a little less than I used to. If I could only own one Fujifilm lens, it would probably be this one.

Fujinon XF 33mm f/1.4 R LM WR

The Fujinon 33mm f/1.4 lens is a recent addition to my collection. It’s actually not mine, it belongs to my wife, Amanda, who uses it for portrait photography. This, the 56mm f/1.2, and the 16-50mm f/2.8-4.8 are her three favorite lenses. When Amanda isn’t using the 33mm f/1.4, I enjoy borrowing it. It has excellent image quality, I appreciate the “nifty fifty” focal length, and the large aperture is especially useful in low-light situations.

The focal length difference between this and the 27mm f/2.8 isn’t dramatic. If I’m not anticipating low-light situations, more often than not I’ll go with the pancake lens; however, if I expect to be shooting indoors or at night, this is the better option. It is a little on the larger/heavier side (but not terribly so), and I typically use it only when it makes the most sense to do so.

Fujinon XF 56mm f/1.2 R WR

The Fujinon 56mm f/1.2 (new version) is extra special. It’s mostly regarded as a portrait lens, but it is good for so much more than that. The extra large maximum aperture makes the lens super useful for low light situations, and the shallow depth-of-field and extra sharp glass gives a medium-format feel to the photographs. The 84mm full-frame equivalent focal-length is slightly awkward for some subjects and situations, and it can take some time to get used to, but well worth the effort to get comfortable with.

My largest gripe with this lens is that it’s not mine. It, too, belongs to my wife, Amanda, but thankfully she lets me borrow it whenever she’s not using it. I don’t have access to it all of the time, but I like to use it whenever the opportunity arises. Because it’s significantly larger and heavier than the previously mentioned lenses, I prefer to use it on my X-T5, but I’ve used it plenty of times on a X-E4 and X-E5, too; however, it definitely balances better on the bigger bodies.

Fujinon XF 16-80mm f/4 R OIS WR

In general, I’m not a fan of zooms. I much prefer primes. Historically, I’ll carry a bag full of primes well before I’ll use a zoom. While the Fujinon 16-80mm f/4 is slightly on the large/heavy side for me, and the maximum aperture isn’t all that impressive, I found that I like this lens a lot more than I thought I would. It offers a large range of focal length versatility. The OIS combined with IBIS allows for slow shutter speeds, hindering it less in low-light than I expected. The image quality is quite good for a zoom, probably on par with some older Fujinon primes like the 60mm f/2.4. Essentially, I can leave my 18mm f/1.4 and 90mm f/2 at home and take this instead—not replacing them precisely, but close enough that it’s worthwhile switching out two-for-one when traveling (but still using the 18mm f/1.4 and 90mm f/2 when staying local).

If I could only pick three lenses, I could see choosing this for the focal-length versatility, one of the pancakes (probably the 27mm) for the compactness, and either the 33mm f/1.4 or 56mm f/1.2 (likely the latter) for lowlight situations. That would cover 99% of my photography needs, and—when traveling—that’s a massive win. So if you are not sure which lenses to buy, I hope this article provides a little clarity, and is helpful to you in some way.

This post contains affiliate links, and if you make a purchase using my links I’ll be compensated a small amount for it.

Fujinon 23mm f/2.8 in black:
Amazon, B&H
Fujinon 23mm f/2.8 in silver:
Amazon, B&H
Fujinon 27mm f/2.8:
Amazon, B&H
Fujinon 33mm f/1.4:
Amazon, B&H
Fujinon 56mm f/1.2 R WR:
Amazon, B&H
Fujinon 16-80mm f/4:
Amazon, B&H