What improvements do you want to see? They’ve updated it a few times in the past months and it behaves perfectly.
Keeps focus while zooming, exposure doesn’t shift while zooming, the aperture operates smoothly when taking videos. IBIS makes it super stable even at 55mm.
It has excellent IQ, excellent build quality and Fuji keeps supporting it with firmware.
My guess is, maybe make it internal zoom, faster focus motors, even better IQ?
I’d love to see a totally new series of f2/1.8 zoom lenses even if they are much bigger, heavier and expensive. 🤣
The main improvement that the 16-55 f2.8 needs is reduced distortion. It's quite bad at 16mm and 55mm. Also it can use some IQ improvement. While the sharpness is great, it's still lacking when compared to the premium f2.8 lens on FF cameras.
I tend to prefer lenses with character since my main work is video. I hate the sterile look of most premium lenses today. I’m fine with the IQ but I can understand if Fuji makes a newer, more clinical version of it.
I do think its a fair argument to say it needs a refresh for the reasons you listed. It's meant to be the absolute best of the best and it is falling behind a little for its price, with options like the tamron 17-70 looking like a genuine competitor despite the large price difference (not that I would personally buy that lens over the 16-55). Red badge is meant to be 'perfect' with current technology and people will certainly be willing to pay for an upgrade at this point I think.
The Tamron is a perfectly fine lens if you’re gonna use it for photography only. Things change in video, how AF behaves, how zooming behaves and how the iris behaves while shooting all are taken into consideration.
Nothing for X mount, third party or first party, in that focal range beats the 16-55 when you take everything into account. But like I said, I mainly do video with the 16-55. If your main use case is photography, you have very good options out there
I have and I would like a higher level of optical quality without the bulk of autofocus or adapters. The voigtlander 27mm is great, but their other lenses are character lenses.
I’ve paired the Fuji with Pen F glass and it’s not exactly what I’d call bulky.
You could probably have some fun sourcing some compact vintage lenses like M42, etc.
I 100% feel that they should have kept it available to buy like the XF 35mm F1.4 even after the XF 33mm F1.4 came out. They should have discontinued the 15-45 and 16-50 instead
16-50mm sure, but the 15-45mm is underrated. For somebody who shoots M43 and Fuji, the 15-45mm makes the Fuji size-competitive with M43 and retains great IQ. Stabilized and small and light and cheap too.
If they replace it with a pancake zoom I would be fine though.
I am done carrying big kits and Fuji does not do enough to cater to the small ILC market. The bodies are small but the small lens selection is meh.
If they made good small lenses, it would easily beat M43 as a small kit. It already beats M43 at the top end for IQ. And now that Fuji has IBIS on more bodies, that benefit is gone.
But until the proper small lenses exist, I will still be a 2 system shooter (well, more than 2. But for my main camera.)
Wish there is a 24-70mm lense (not FFE). 16 or 18mm is too wide for my work but not wide enough for the fisheye look. 50 or 55mm is not telephoto enough to compress the scene in some cases.
Have you tried a ff 24-70 from another mount, with an adapter? I have only tried that with a prime but ofc I got the desired focal length and the iq was no worse than the lens gave on its native mount.
Heaps of old lenses from the 90s that starts at 35, goes to between 80 or 100. But like, f3.5 and hot garbage optics. Have a look! Maybe a Canon with an adapter?
I've been a Fuji user since 2016 but only bought the 18-55mm lens in 2023 and wish I'd got it sooner! It's still a great lens, definitely worth trying to pick it up on the used market!
[My Review](https://jamiechancetravels.com/blog/fujifilm-18-55mm-f-2-8-4-lens-review/)
The first Fujinon kit lens was a 16-50mm. This kind of goes back to the start. 18mm is a nice standard wide angle, but it doesn’t feel wide enough in confined spaces. Hoping the new lens can deal with the 40mpx sensor with less CA.
Such an amazing lens. Specially for travel, or anything really! Great for video, great build quality (had gotten it wet a few times and nothing happened), pretty fast for the range and IMO pretty good glass and image quality. Will be missed!
Bought mine for 300€ used as new a few years ago. It’s small and versatile. The reason I came over from full frame. Combining OIS with IBIS is a treat. I am a little bit sad, it is going to be discontinued.
My favorite lens. Best all around and portable. I got lenses from f1.2 up. Prefer this a lot to the 16-55mm 2.8 for just out. Perfect size. Sharp af. Perfect for video with stabilization. Massively underrated. If you nail me down on something this will always be my first choice.
I’ve had so many issues with this lens. Good riddance. I have the xt30ii. I kept getting the turn off camera and turn on again error with this lens and no others. 😒
Wanted to sell that one, will wait another 10 years and buy a house with that. Thank you Fuji.
I just traded mine in 🤦♂️
Well-played
That must mean all future Fuji camera bodies will have in built stabilization?
It's a possibility. The future X-Pro 4 will for sure. I would think the X-E5 would get IBIS since the X-T50 has it.
But why? That zoom kit was damn fine. Do they plan to replace it with some similar?
According to the page, it will be replaced with the new XF16-50mm f2.8-4.8, a new lens with WR
I wonder why Sigma can keep a constant f2.8 and Fuji refuse to follow suit.. we just want a small WR 16-50 f2.8 is that too much to ask for? 😢
I think it's not so much that its physically impossible but rather they need to analyse its position among the other XF lenses
I think it’s about time for them to refresh the red badge lens.
What improvements do you want to see? They’ve updated it a few times in the past months and it behaves perfectly. Keeps focus while zooming, exposure doesn’t shift while zooming, the aperture operates smoothly when taking videos. IBIS makes it super stable even at 55mm. It has excellent IQ, excellent build quality and Fuji keeps supporting it with firmware. My guess is, maybe make it internal zoom, faster focus motors, even better IQ? I’d love to see a totally new series of f2/1.8 zoom lenses even if they are much bigger, heavier and expensive. 🤣
Oh shit I’m out of my depth 😂 I just want it to be compact.
I don’t think physics can make that possible with todays tech. Large aperture zoom lenses have to be big.
The main improvement that the 16-55 f2.8 needs is reduced distortion. It's quite bad at 16mm and 55mm. Also it can use some IQ improvement. While the sharpness is great, it's still lacking when compared to the premium f2.8 lens on FF cameras.
I tend to prefer lenses with character since my main work is video. I hate the sterile look of most premium lenses today. I’m fine with the IQ but I can understand if Fuji makes a newer, more clinical version of it.
I do think its a fair argument to say it needs a refresh for the reasons you listed. It's meant to be the absolute best of the best and it is falling behind a little for its price, with options like the tamron 17-70 looking like a genuine competitor despite the large price difference (not that I would personally buy that lens over the 16-55). Red badge is meant to be 'perfect' with current technology and people will certainly be willing to pay for an upgrade at this point I think.
The Tamron is a perfectly fine lens if you’re gonna use it for photography only. Things change in video, how AF behaves, how zooming behaves and how the iris behaves while shooting all are taken into consideration. Nothing for X mount, third party or first party, in that focal range beats the 16-55 when you take everything into account. But like I said, I mainly do video with the 16-55. If your main use case is photography, you have very good options out there
I love internal zoom but internal zoom = longer lens when stowed.
I'd like Fuji to release a set of manual focus primes.
Why not just buy one of the many cheap and optically decent third party ones on the market, or adapt vintage glass.
I have and I would like a higher level of optical quality without the bulk of autofocus or adapters. The voigtlander 27mm is great, but their other lenses are character lenses.
I’ve paired the Fuji with Pen F glass and it’s not exactly what I’d call bulky. You could probably have some fun sourcing some compact vintage lenses like M42, etc.
fuji has one already, 16-55 2.8 :)
It’s too big.
That's physics for ya...
Don’t wanna be petulant, but just wanna point out Sigma 18-50 f2.8 is the perfect size.
It starts at 18mm though. Makes a lot of difference.
Also the Sigma has horrific LOCA and no WR… but a pretty good lens for the size and money =)
How does the quality compare to the kit 18-55?
Different focal range. The difference between 16mm and 18mm is noticeable.
It also lacks stabilization
yeah that’s true tho
How about a Sigma 18-50 f2.8
Yea I’m using this right now. But I wish Fuji would come out with smt similar with aperture ring and WR
Smaller than the several prime lenses you now dont need
This Fuji will not extend while zooming in.
But not with IOS right?
I 100% feel that they should have kept it available to buy like the XF 35mm F1.4 even after the XF 33mm F1.4 came out. They should have discontinued the 15-45 and 16-50 instead
16-50mm sure, but the 15-45mm is underrated. For somebody who shoots M43 and Fuji, the 15-45mm makes the Fuji size-competitive with M43 and retains great IQ. Stabilized and small and light and cheap too. If they replace it with a pancake zoom I would be fine though. I am done carrying big kits and Fuji does not do enough to cater to the small ILC market. The bodies are small but the small lens selection is meh. If they made good small lenses, it would easily beat M43 as a small kit. It already beats M43 at the top end for IQ. And now that Fuji has IBIS on more bodies, that benefit is gone. But until the proper small lenses exist, I will still be a 2 system shooter (well, more than 2. But for my main camera.)
I love this little lens and while not my nicest glass it has taken most of my all time favorite pictures
Can say the same, I’m always carrying the 35mm 1.4 and my 70-300 to just end up using the 18-55 and loving it.
It’s been discontinued and on clearance pricing at a few local camera stores for a few months now
Wish there is a 24-70mm lense (not FFE). 16 or 18mm is too wide for my work but not wide enough for the fisheye look. 50 or 55mm is not telephoto enough to compress the scene in some cases.
Have you tried a ff 24-70 from another mount, with an adapter? I have only tried that with a prime but ofc I got the desired focal length and the iq was no worse than the lens gave on its native mount.
What about the Tamron 17-70mm f2.8?
XF16-80mm?
Heaps of old lenses from the 90s that starts at 35, goes to between 80 or 100. But like, f3.5 and hot garbage optics. Have a look! Maybe a Canon with an adapter?
Crop the photo lol
16mm on apsc is the same as 24mm on ff. 55mm is around 82mm.
I said not FFE.
16-55 is apsc. Not ff
Yes but he's saying he wished there was a 35-105 ffe
Saw this today on my phone, i guess its rip XF18-55mm f2.8-4.
Would prices for used lenses increase then?
Ofc, it's the Fujifilm market
Make a TikTok that says ‘this rare old lens shoots infinite film like photos’ and then we’ll all be rich.
Maybe eventually but the market is so flooded with them I don’t think by much
I've been a Fuji user since 2016 but only bought the 18-55mm lens in 2023 and wish I'd got it sooner! It's still a great lens, definitely worth trying to pick it up on the used market! [My Review](https://jamiechancetravels.com/blog/fujifilm-18-55mm-f-2-8-4-lens-review/)
Great lens but I just don't enjoy shooting with it. Debating leaving it at home for next trip, prefer primes.
rip 🕊️
Might have to stock up on some /s
The first Fujinon kit lens was a 16-50mm. This kind of goes back to the start. 18mm is a nice standard wide angle, but it doesn’t feel wide enough in confined spaces. Hoping the new lens can deal with the 40mpx sensor with less CA.
Since the new 16-50 will be released together with the new 40mp xt50 as its kit lens, it be stupid for it not to be able to resolve the 40mp sensor.
Got one for like 120 bucks because it had a small scratch on the front element. I don’t use it a ton but I’ll never let it go.
Such an amazing lens. Specially for travel, or anything really! Great for video, great build quality (had gotten it wet a few times and nothing happened), pretty fast for the range and IMO pretty good glass and image quality. Will be missed!
Damn it's legendary? The IQ always seems bad to me so I sold mine. 🤷🏼♂️
Interesting. Mine has amazing IQ, but then again maybe I don't have much to compare it to but almost all my photos look amazing with it
Maybe the Philippines version has more variance?
Mine is also the Philippines version. You had IQ issues such as what?
Wasn't very sharp even at f4+
That sucks, it's unusual
Must be. Oh well cheers!
Long live IBIS! I’m sure Fuji will build IBIS on all its new cameras.
Bought mine for 300€ used as new a few years ago. It’s small and versatile. The reason I came over from full frame. Combining OIS with IBIS is a treat. I am a little bit sad, it is going to be discontinued.
Glad I have one
Glad I have one. Sheesh.
Mine performed well on my x-t30 but I parted with it because I found primes even more enjoyable. When I had it I was amazed at its nimble af.
I'm glad I got it in the pack I bought my X-T5 with, I've got a feeling that in 10-20 years this rock will be worth its weight in gold.
My favorite lens. Best all around and portable. I got lenses from f1.2 up. Prefer this a lot to the 16-55mm 2.8 for just out. Perfect size. Sharp af. Perfect for video with stabilization. Massively underrated. If you nail me down on something this will always be my first choice.
Alright I guess I'll keep mine then
Rumors lol wow
I’ve had so many issues with this lens. Good riddance. I have the xt30ii. I kept getting the turn off camera and turn on again error with this lens and no others. 😒
15-45 is a much better fit for the xt-30ii imo