Conversion Lens | FUJI X WEEKLY

Review: Viltrox Conversion Lenses for Fujifilm X100VI

Viltrox just released two conversion lenses for Fujifilm X100-series cameras: WCL-X100VI and TCL-X100VI. These lenses are very similar to Fujifilm’s own conversion lenses for the X100-series, the WCL-X100 II and TCL-X100 II, and if you don’t look closely, you might not notice the differences, as they seem nearly identical. How does the Viltrox version stack up? Should you even consider these for your Fujifilm X100VI? If so, which should you get, Viltrox or Fujinon?

I need to tell you upfront that Viltrox sent me the two lenses to try out. They didn’t give any expectations other than, “We look forward to your impression of the lenses.” This review serves as that. It’s my honest feedback to Viltrox, while also hopefully being helpful to those considering these lenses for their X100VI or other X100-series camera.

There are two conversion lenses—Viltrox WCL-X100VI and TCL-X100VI—and I want to talk about them individually, but also as a set. We’ll begin with the wide-converter, then the teleconverter, and finish up by discussing the two together. Let’s dive right in!

Viltrox WCL-X100VI

The Viltrox WCL-X100VI is a wide conversion lens that’s nearly identical to the Fujinon WCL-X100 II. It has an 0.8x magnification, which, when screwed onto the end of the X100VI’s lens, changes the focal-length from 35mm to 28mm (full-frame equivalents; 23mm to 19mm in APS-C terms). It makes the camera a little more wide-angle, which can be useful when the native focal-length is just a little too tight for the circumstance.

On X100-series cameras, there is a hidden thread for a filter/hood adapter, which reveals itself when a ring on the end of the lens is unscrewed. Both of the conversion lenses attach to this thread, simply by screwing onto it. The WCL-X100VI is threaded to accept 49mm filters. Oh, and the camera automatically recognizes that you attached the lens, just like the Fujinon WCL-X100 II.

*Sun Peek, Bougainvillea Peak* – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X100VI + Viltrox WCL – Pacific Blues

From my measurements, the Viltrox version is just a hair smaller than the Fujinon, and weighs just slightly less (very minimally on both accounts). Using the TCL adds some size and weight to the camera, but, for the WCL-X100VI, this isn’t a major deal, because the lens is pretty small. The added bulk and heft is a small price for the extra versatility.

As for both the build and image quality, the lens seems to be on par with the Fujinon option. There’s a little difference in how the lens flares, but otherwise it seems to render images pretty much identically. A lot of times when you buy a third-party version of a lens, it’s less expensive, but it’s pretty obvious why, as it feels cheaper and/or has image quality flaws. With the Viltrox conversion lenses, there does not seem to be any reduction in quality. You’re not giving up anything to save a little money. In the case of the WCL-X100VI, it’s not a little money, but a significant chunk of change! The Viltrox WCL-X100VI has an MSRP of $159; the Fujinon WCL-X100 II is a lot more expensive at $399. For a lot less than half the cost, you basically get the same exact thing.

Viltox TCL-X100VI

The Viltrox TCL-X100VI is a tele conversion lens that’s nearly identical to the Fujinon TCL-X100 II. It has a 1.4x magnification, which, when screwed onto the end of the X100VI’s lens, changes the focal-length from 35mm to 50mm (full-frame equivalents; 23mm to 33mm in APS-C terms). It makes the camera a “standard” focal-length, which can be useful when the native focal-length is just a little too wide for the circumstance.

Like the WCL, the TCL-X100VI attaches to the camera by screwing onto the hidden filter/hood adapter thread. It accepts 67mm filters. Also like the WCL, the camera recognizes when you attach the lens, just like it does for the Fujinon TCL-X100 II.

*Sun-Kissed Bougainvillea* – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X100VI + Viltrox TCL – Pacific Blues

From my measurements, the Viltrox version is just barely a hair smaller than the Fujinon; however, the weight difference is notable, with the Viltrox coming in at about 25% heavier, or 0.1 pounds more, than the Fujinon. For both brands, the TCL is larger and heavier than the WCL, which makes it a little less practical for carrying around. Even so, I really like 50mm (full-frame equivalent), so I tend to use the TCL more than the WCL, personally.

Just like the WCL-X100VI, for both the build and image quality, the TCL-X100VI seems to be right on par with the Fujinon option. There’s a little difference in how the lens flares, but otherwise it seems to render images pretty much identically. You’re not giving up anything to save a little money. The Viltrox TCL-X100VI has an MSRP of $189; the Fujinon TCL-X100 II is a lot more expensive at $399. For less than half the cost, you basically get the same exact thing.

Both Lenses

Last year, I travelled to Austin, Texas, and the only camera I took was a Fujifilm X100VI with the Fujinon WCL-X100 II and TCL-X100 II conversion lenses. It allowed me to travel light but still have some focal-length versatility. An X100-series camera with the two conversion lenses is a compact and powerful three-lens kit. But, for the Fujinon, those two additional lenses will run you $798, which is a lot of money; however, with Viltrox, you can do it for only $348, which is a bargain. If you own an X100-series camera, you should buy these two lenses. Despite having “X100VI” in the name, the conversion lenses will work on any X100-series model, not just the latest iteration.

When you combine the conversion lenses with the built-in digital teleconverter, you get even more focal-length versatility: 28mm, 35mm, 50mm, 70mm, and 100mm (full-frame equivalents). On the X100VI, to get 70mm requires both the TCL and the digital teleconverter, and you go from 40mp to 20mp (which is still plenty of resolution); to get to 100mm, you’ll get a 10mp file, which is fine for social media use, but it’s not ideal for photos you intend to print much larger than 8″x12″. You can also skip the digital teleconverter and simply crop after-the-fact and accomplish the same thing.

*Fujifilm X100VI + Viltrox WCL-X100VI – 28mm*

*Fujifilm X100VI + Viltrox TCL-X100VI – 50mm*

*Fujifilm X100VI + Viltrox TCL-X100VI + Digital Teleconverter (1.4x) – 70mm*

*Fujifilm X100VI + Viltrox TCL-X100VI + Digital Teleconverter (2x) – 100mm*

A three lens kit for your X100VI, which requires only two additional lenses, is nice to have, but it does kind of defeat the purpose of the camera, which is a compact one-camera-one-lens philosophy. I wish that Fujifilm made a wide-angle and nifty-fifty alternative versions of the X100VI (like Sigma did with the DP camera series), so that you could choose the focal length that fits you best. Since they don’t, if you want to adjust the focal length yourself, it does require adding some extra bulk.

What works for me is to keep the conversion lenses in my pockets, and simply screw one onto the camera whenever I need it. With two front pockets in my jeans or shorts, I can have the WCL in one pocket and the TCL in the other. Viltrox includes a little bag in the box that helps to protect the lens when doing this. I’m able to use the X100VI as a fixed-lens 35mm (full-frame equivalent) camera most of the time, but go wider or more telephoto whenever I need to. When you want to travel light, this is quite ideal.

*Fountain at Dusk* – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X100VI + Viltrox TCL-X100VI – Summer of ’59

To save a little weight, choose the Fujinon TCL over the Viltrox TCL. The Fujinon TCL-X100 II is large and already heavy enough; the Viltrox TCL-X100VI adds a noticeable amount of additional weight. Unfortunately, a second-hand Fujinon TCL-X100 II costs more than the Viltrox version brand-new. If you don’t mind spending an extra $50 or so and getting a used model, the most ideal scenario is to purchase the Viltrox WCL-X100VI and the Fujinon TCL-X100 II. Or, just save a few bucks and don’t worry about 0.1 pounds, and get both Viltrox options.

Both lenses come in silver and black. If you have a silver X100-series camera, you’ll probably want the silver lenses; if you have a black X100-series camera, you’ll probably want the black lenses. I definitely do recommend the Viltrox conversion lenses. I was quite surprised at both the build and image quality, especially considering the price. You won’t break the bank, so get one. Or get both.

Above, clockwise from top-left: Fujifilm X100VI + Viltrox WCL-X100VI + Kodachrome 64; Fujifilm X100VI + Viltrox TCL-X100VI + Classic Amber; Fujifilm X100VI + Viltrox TCL-X100VI + Summer of ’59; Fujifilm X100VI + Viltrox WCL-X100VI + FRGMT B&W; Fujifilm X100VI + Viltrox WCL-X100VI + FRGMT B&W; Fujifilm X100VI + Viltrox WCL-X100VI + Superia Negative; Fujifilm X100VI + Viltrox TCL-X100VI + Summer of ’59; Fujifilm X100VI + Viltrox TCL-X100VI + Summer of ’59; Fujifilm X100VI + Viltrox TCL-X100VI + Superia Negative.

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

Fujifilm X100VI in black:
Amazon, B&H, Moment, Nuzira
Fujifilm X100VI in silver:
Amazon, B&H, Moment, Nuzira
Viltrox WCL-X100VI in black:
Amazon, B&H
Viltrox WCL-X100VI in silver:
Amazon, B&H
Viltrox TCL-X100VI in black:
Amazon, B&H
Viltrox TCL-X100VI in silver:
Amazon, B&H

WCL-X100 & TCL-X100 for GFX??!!

Posted on March 5 by Ritchie Roesch

I said something in my Is $5,000 A Bargain or Bust? article that caught a couple people’s attention. In regards to the upcoming fixed-lens GFX camera, I stated, “I really hope for conversion lenses—both wide and telephoto—like the X100-series has. I highly doubt that the WCL-X100 and TCL-X100 will work on it (although it would blow my mind if they somehow did), but something similar should be made for the GFX100RF.” I received two messages from people wanting to further discuss the idea that the wide and telephoto conversion lenses for X100-series cameras might be compatible with the upcoming medium-format model.

Just to be clear from the top, I’m highly skeptical that the WCL-X100 and TCL-X100 will be officially compatible with the GFX100RF. It’s possible that they might be, but that seems like improbable engineering. I don’t think Fujifilm designed the lens on the new camera to be compatible with those two conversion lenses. More likely—if there are conversion lenses—new ones will be designed specifically for the GFX camera. But…

Above: Surprisingly, the world’s smallest lens covers the APS-C sensor.

There’s a strong likelihood that you could actually use those two conversion lenses if you want to. Now, the camera is unlikely to account for and fix the distortion (unless the engineers programmed it to). There’s a good chance that the conversion lenses won’t cover the whole frame, or—if it does—there could be strong vignetting and soft corners. But maybe it won’t be as bad as you might think. For example, Pentax Auto-110 lenses, which are tiny, cover the APS-C sensor. The Helios 44-2 lens, which is for 35mm cameras, fully covers the GFX sensor. So there is a possibility that the WCL-X100 and TCL-X100 conversion lenses will cover most or maybe even all of the GFX sensor.

If they don’t, that may not be a big deal. Using a different aspect ratio will likely crop out whatever isn’t covered. If the conversion lenses cover almost all of frame, then the 3:2 ratio might be all you need. If the coverage isn’t quite that good, 16:9, 65:24, and 1:1 should do the trick. Or, with 100mp to work with, a simple crop should do—I could see using the teleconverter lens in conjunction with the in-camera digital teleconverter, which would crop out whatever isn’t covered.

*Fujifilm GFX100S II & Helios 44-2 – Fujicolor PRO 160C Warm Recipe*

The real question is if the adapter ring on the GFX100RF will be the same size as the X100-series. My guess is no. Most likely it will be larger on the GFX—I think that’s a pretty safe assumption. In the unlikely case that it is the same size, you’d be able to just screw on the conversion lenses just like you would on the X100VI. Much more likely, you would need a step-down ring to attach the conversion lenses. This would have (at least) two side effects: less coverage of the sensor, and more close-focusing capabilities—maybe even macro—like using an extension tube.

My hope is that Fujifilm releases conversion lenses for the upcoming GFX100RF. If they don’t, or if they do but they’re unaffordable or difficult to find in stock, then adapting the WCL-X100 and TCL-X100 should be possible; however, it may not be ideal. There will certainly be some vignetting and soft corners, and they probably will not cover 100% of the GFX sensor, among other potential issues. But, technically speaking, it should work. If I do purchase the upcoming camera at some point in the future, I’ll be sure to test it out and report back to you what I discover.

Traveling Light with the Fujifilm X100VI + WCL-X100 II & TCL-X100 II Conversion Lenses

Posted on October 30, 2024 by Ritchie Roesch

The Fujifilm X100VI—the most in-demand camera of 2024—has a fixed 23mm (35mm full-frame equivalent) f/2 lens. It’s not an interchangeable-lens camera, which limits its versatility; however, Fujifilm has provided a couple of options to increase its flexibility. First is the built-in Digital Teleconverter, which is a zoom-by-cropping. Second, Fujifilm offers two conversion lenses—a wide-angle and telephoto—that screw onto the end of the fixed-lens. We’ll talk a bit about both of these solutions in this article, but mostly we’ll focus on the two conversion lenses. Specifically, I will answer this question: is the Fujifilm X100VI combined with the WCL-X100 II and TCL-X100 II conversion lenses a practical small kit for travel photography?

MPB is the sponsor of this article. They loaned me a Fujinon WCL-X100 II Wide Conversion Lens and Fujinon TCL-X100 II Tele Conversion Lens to try out for a couple of weeks. For those who don’t know, MPB is an online platform where you can buy, sell, or trade used photo and video gear. “At MPB, there’s something for everyone who wants to try something new, hone their skills, or pursue their passion—and it won’t cost the earth.” If you’re in the market for used camera gear, be sure to check out their platform—you can learn more about MPB here. Thank you, MPB, for making this article possible!

One thing that I love about the Fujifilm X100VI is its compactness. The camera is small enough to fit into a large pocket, and its lightweight enough to carry around all day without being burdensome. The photographs that the X100VI produces straight-out-of-camera are incredible, and can be very film-like. I’ve said many times that this is my desert-island camera—if I could only ever have one for the rest of my life, it would be the X100VI. But, the fixed-focal-length lens is somewhat limiting, so I often suggest that it pairs well with an interchangeable-lens body. I will always bring the X100VI along with me when I travel, but I will almost always have another camera, too.

The Digital Teleconverter helps to make the X100VI more versatile. The 50mm (full-frame equivalent) Digital Teleconverter produces a very usable 20mp image, while the 70mm (full-frame equivalent) Digital Teleconverter produces a much less usable (but still usable for social media) 10mp image. I use the 50mm option somewhat regularly and don’t think twice about it, but I rarely use the 70mm Digital Teleconverter because it is more for emergency-use-only. This does add some versatility, but only a little.

By screwing one of the two conversion lenses—WCL-X100 II and TCL-X100 II—onto the end of the fixed-lens (where the filter adapter attaches), you essentially turn the X100VI (and the older X100 series models, too) into an interchangeable-lens camera. The WCL-X100 II has 0.8x magnification, turning the 23mm lens into 18mm (28mm full-frame equivalent). The TCL-X100 II has 1.4x magnification, turning the 23mm lens into 50mm (full-frame equivalent). Interestingly, there is actually a small focal-length difference between the TCL-X100 II and the Digital Teleconverter, despite that they are both supposedly 50mm equivalent—the TCL-X100 II is actually slightly more telephoto than using the 50mm Digital Teleconverter. I didn’t notice any reduction in image quality when using either conversion lens (amazing!); however, the distortion can do some weird things, which you are likely to only notice when photographing brick or tile walls.

Probably the largest drawback to the two conversion lenses is that they add noticeable size and weight to the camera. The WCL-X100 II is 1.5″ (long) x 2.2″ (diameter), and weighs 0.33 pounds, which isn’t terrible. The TCL-X100 II is a little larger and heavier: 1.8″ (long) x 2.8″ (diameter), and weighs 0.39 pounds. While the WCL-X100 II is a little less inconvenient to have attached, I personally liked the TCL-X100 II a little more. I feel like the conversion lenses contradict the camera’s philosophy (one-camera-one-lens; small/lightweight) to a degree, but at the same time, they do make for an extremely small and lightweight kit. I carried both conversion lenses and the X100VI in a Peak Design Sling, which was an amazingly compact kit for travel!

*Fujifilm X100VI + WCL-X100 II (28mm full-frame equivalent)*

*Fujifilm X100VI (35mm full-frame equivalent)*

*Fujifilm X100VI + WCL-X100 II + Digital Teleconverter (40mm full-frame equivalent)*

*Fujifilm X100VI + Digital Teleconverter (50mm full-frame equivalent)*

*Fujifilm X100VI + TCL-X100 II (50mm full-frame equivalent)*

*Fujifilm X100VI + TCL-X100 II + Digital Teleconverter (70mm full-frame equivalent)*

You can combine the Digital Teleconverter with the conversion lenses to increase the versatility even further, achieving 28mm, 35mm, 40mm, 50mm, and 70mm (full-frame equivalent) focal-lengths without resorting to the 10mp crop. I didn’t find the Digital Teleconverter combined with the WCL-X100 II lens particularly useful, personally; however, I did utilize the Digital Teleconverter a handful of times with the TCL-X100 II lens. I think it would be interesting if Fujifilm offered a 0.7x magnification (24mm full-frame equivalent) WCL option and a 2x magnification (70mm full-frame equivalent) TCL option in addition to the two they already have—I think this four lens (plus the 23mm fixed lens) kit would be extremely compelling for travel photography, if it were available.

I was invited to be a part of Fujifilm’s Create With Us event in Austin, Texas, last month. It was such a great time, and it was wonderful to meet many of you in-person. The only camera that I brought along with me was my Fujifilm X100VI, plus I had the WCL-X100 II and TCL-X100 II conversion lenses. I left the interchangeable-lens models at home. It was so nice to have a compact three lens kit—which stretched into a faux four lens kit utilizing the Digital Teleconverter—that all fit into a small sling bag. When you travel, oftentimes less is more, as space is a premium.

*Fujifilm X100VI + PRO Negative 160C Recipe*

It was good to have three lens options available: the fixed lens (23mm), WCL-X100 II (18mm), and TCL-X100 II (32mm). There were definitely times when each came in handy. While the WCL-X100 II was a little less detrimental to the X100VI experience than the TCL-X100 II, I found myself using the TCL-X100 II more. I don’t know that either of the two are essential. For the most part, one can take a couple steps backwards instead of using WCL-X100 II, and one can take a few steps forward (or utilize the Digital Teleconverter) instead of using the TCL-X100 II. Obviously that’s not always practical (or the same result), so having the conversion lenses available was appreciated.

I think the conversion lenses are an interesting concept. Having used them on this one trip, I was left both impressed and confused simultaneously. I utilized them a lot more than I think I would have if I had not been testing them out for this article. If someday I did buy them, they’d likely only get occasional use; however, for those occasions when they do come in handy, it’s great to have them available, as they’re pretty darn good. More than anything, I think if you’re a bit nervous to pack light for fear that you’ll miss out due to not having the “right” lenses available, the two conversion lenses will give you a bit more confidence. Even if they’re largely left unused in your sling, it’s probably still better than lugging around a bigger and heavier bag with a larger body and a couple lenses to go with it. In that sense, the two conversion lenses are completely worthwhile accessories to go along with your X100VI camera.

*Fujifilm X100VI + *Kodak T-Max 100 Soft Tone* Recipe*

*Fujifilm X100VI + *Kodak T-Max 100 Hard Tone* Recipe*

*Fujifilm X100VI + TCL-X100 II + *Kodak T-Max 100 Hard Tone* Recipe*

*Fujifilm X100VI + TCL-X100 II + Velvia Film Recipe*

*Fujifilm X100VI + Fujicolor Blue Recipe*

*Fujifilm X100VI + TCL-X100 II + Kodak Portra 400 v2 Recipe*

*Fujifilm X100VI + WCL-X100 II + Fujicolor Blue Recipe*

*Fujifilm X100VI + TCL-X100 II + Digital Teleconverter + Fujicolor Blue Recipe*

*Fujifilm X100VI + TCL-X100 II + Fujicolor Blue Recipe*

*Fujifilm X100VI + WCL-X100 II + Kodak Portra 400 v2 Recipe*

*Fujifilm X100VI + WCL-X100 II + 1976 Kodak Recipe*

*Fujifilm X100VI + TCL-X100 II + Nostalgic Film Recipe*

*Fujifilm X100VI + WCL-X100 II + Eterna Summer Recipe*

*Fujifilm X100VI + Eterna Summer Recipe*

*Fujifilm X100VI + TCL-X100 II + Nostalgic Americana Recipe*

*Fujifilm X100VI + TCL-X100 II + Kodak Tri-X 400 Recipe*

*Fujifilm X100VI + TCL-X100 II + Digital Teleconverter + Kodak Tri-X 400 Recipe*

*Fujifilm X100VI + WCL-X100 II + PRO Negative 160C Recipe*

*Fujifilm X100VI + WCL-X100 II + Nostalgic Americana Recipe*

The above photographs are all camera-made JPEGs captured using my Fujifilm X100VI, utilizing a Fujinon WCL-X100 II Wide Conversion Lens and Fujinon TCL-X100 II Tele Conversion Lens for many, while traveling to Austin, TX, last month.

Previously in this series:
Fujifilm X-Pro2 — The camera that got away (again)
Fujifilm X-T50 + Fujinon 23mm F/2 = Interchangeable-Lens Fujifilm X100VI??
Leica Q2 from the perspective of a Fujifilm photographer
Fujifilm X30 — Fujifilm’s Forgotten Retro Compact Zoom
Close Up with the Fujinon XF 30mm F/2.8 R LM WR Macro

Fujifilm WCL-X100 Wide Angle Conversion Lens Alternative For The X100F (Nikon WC-E68)

Posted on November 22, 2017 by Ritchie Roesch

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The Fujifilm X100F has a 23mm (35mm equivalent) focal length lens permanently attached to the front of it. The built-in Digital Teleconverter does a good job of increasing the camera’s versatility, with options for 50mm and 75mm. There’s also a 50mm (equivalent) teleconverter lens that you can buy. But what if 35mm isn’t wide enough for you? What are your wide angle options for the X100F?

Fujifilm makes a wide angle conversion lens for the X100 camera series called WCL-X100 (there is also a nearly identical new version called WCL-X100 II). It’s received much praise for optical quality, and it’s been called an essential accessory for X100 series cameras. But it’s also a bit on the expensive side, ranging from $250 to $350.

I like the dramatic results you can get from going really wide angle. I find it to be challenging yet rewarding. Occasionally I wish that the X100F was more wide angle than it is. So I thought it would be a good idea to buy a wide angle conversion lens for my camera.

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Having an extra lens kind of defeats the purpose of the X100F. It becomes less pocket-sized and gains some weight. You move away from the one-camera-one-lens philosophy. I think it’s nice to have the option of going wider, but it’s not something that I would use frequently. I figured that the conversion lens would mostly sit on a shelf, seldom used. My suspicions were that I’d only dust it off occasionally when wanting to shoot more dramatic wide angle pictures.

The WCL-X100 also doesn’t change the focal length all that much. You go from 35mm to 28mm. I really liked the 18mm (equivalent) lens that I used to pair with my X-E1. The 28mm focal length of the wide angle conversion lens is a long ways off from 18mm, which is where I’d love to be if I could.

I decided that I couldn’t justify spending $250 or more on a lens that would mostly go unused and wasn’t what I really wanted anyway. I set the highest price that I’d be willing to pay at $150. Over the last few months I searched online for a WCL-X100 but the cheapest one I found was $200. I almost jumped on it, but talked myself out of the purchase because it was more than I wanted to spend.

Seattle Center – Seattle, WA – Fujifilm X100F – 24mm

A couple of weeks ago I began to look for alternatives to the WCL-X100 wide angle conversion lens, figuring that I’d never find one for $150. Surely there is a third-party option, I thought. I discovered that Vivitar (also sold under a couple other brand names) makes a wide angle conversion lens for the X100 camera series, and it can be found for as little as $30. That’s a bargain!

Having owned a few different Vivitar products over the years, I know that it’s hit-or-miss with that brand, and usually miss, so I looked for some product reviews to get an idea of the quality of their conversion lens. The most glowing reviews that I found said it was mediocre. The worst reviews said it was a piece of garbage, not worth even $30. I decided to pass, hoping for something of better quality.

Then I discovered an old blog post by photographer Noah Kavic, where he figured out how to use a Nikon wide angle conversion lens on his X100 camera, and it cost a fraction of the price of the WCL-X100. I also found a few other photographers who did this same thing. I decided to give it a try!

Fall Leaves, Wet Road – Richland, WA – Fujifilm X100F – 24mm

It takes a few different pieces to make it work, but I found it all online for about $60 (including shipping). I waited for everything to come in the mail, and the last item arrived the day before heading off on a road trip to Seattle. Perfect timing! It was pretty easy to figure out how it all pieced together.

Here’s the parts list:

Nikon WC-E68 0.68x Wide Angle Conversion Lens
Attachment Ring for Fujifilm X100F
49mm UV Filter
49mm-46mm step-down adapter

The Nikon WC-E68, which converts the focal length to 24mm on the X100F, is actually more wide angle than the Fujifilm WCL-X100, which is 28mm. While 24mm compared to 28mm may not seem significant, it is definitely closer to where I want to be, and it is something I’m quite happy about. Use caution when buying the conversion lens as Nikon has similar products that won’t work–make sure it is the WC-E68 that you are purchasing. I paid $50 for mine.

Up Towards Space – Seattle, WA – Fujifilm X100F – 24mm

You need an attachment ring for the X100F, which, if you buy a generic brand, can be found for under $10. Screw the 49mm UV filter (which was something that I already owned) onto the attachment ring. The UV filter is important because corner sharpness is improved when the conversion lens is placed slightly further away from the camera’s lens. The 49mm-46mm step-down adapter ring, which I found for $2, allows the WC-E68 to screw onto the camera. If you have a lens hood, it can be on or off, it doesn’t really matter.

I captured a number of photographs on my road trip using the Nikon WC-E68 wide angle conversion lens, putting it to the test, and I come to some conclusions. First, my suspicions about wanting to use the lens only occasionally was proved true. The camera is bulkier and heavier and less travel-friendly with the wide angle conversion lens attached. I found myself leaving it behind at the hotel room. With the conversion lens attached it barely fit into my jacket pocket.

Something I noticed is that there’s some obvious purple fringing in situations with a strong back-light. Lens flare is also more prevalent when using the conversion lens. I found it best to avoid shooting towards the sun, although the results aren’t horrible if you do. On a positive note, distortion is well controlled.

Seattle Grind – Seattle, WA – Fujifilm X100F – 24mm

I found that there is some significant corner softness when using large apertures. At f/4 it’s downright awful. At f/5.6 it’s not great but usable. By f/8 corner softness isn’t bad at all, but it is still there a little. Even though you won’t find corner-to-corner tack sharpness, corner sharpness is reasonably good when the aperture is f/8 or smaller. The WC-E68 is a lens to use when there is plenty of available light. If you crop the exposures to 28mm you are able to remove some of the corner softness, and I wonder if this is why Fujifilm doesn’t offer a wider conversion lens. The center is sharp no matter the aperture, and I didn’t notice any significant drop in center sharpness when using the conversion lens.

My opinion is that the Nikon WC-E68 wide angle conversion lens is a decent alternative to the Fujifilm WCL-X100 if you have a limited budget, don’t plan to use it often, when you do use it you do so carefully, and you prefer something more wide angle than 28mm. I do appreciate the 24mm focal length and the fact that I only paid $60 instead of $250. The WC-E68 does a reasonable job when the situation calls for something more wide angle than the 35mm focal length of the X100F, and I will happily pair it to my camera every once in awhile.

Below are ten photographs that I captured, all camera-made JPEGs, using the Fujifilm X100F with the Nikon WC-E68 wide angle conversion lens: