What's the difference between the Fujifilm XF 23mm F2.8 R WR and the Voigtländer Nokton 35mm F1.2 X?

The XF 23mm F2.8 R WR leads on a lighter 90g body, a more compact 23 mm barrel, closer 0.20 m focusing. The Nokton 35mm F1.2 X leads on a brighter f/1.2 maximum aperture, a 12-blade diaphragm.

Which is smaller, the Fujifilm XF 23mm F2.8 R WR or the Voigtländer Nokton 35mm F1.2 X?

The XF 23mm F2.8 R WR is the smaller, lighter lens at 90g and 23 mm long, versus 196g for the Nokton 35mm F1.2 X.

Which is faster, the Fujifilm XF 23mm F2.8 R WR or the Voigtländer Nokton 35mm F1.2 X?

The Nokton 35mm F1.2 X is the faster lens at f/1.2, against f/2.8 for the XF 23mm F2.8 R WR — brighter in low light and able to throw the background further out of focus.

Fujifilm XF 23mm F2.8 R WR vs Voigtländer Nokton 35mm F1.2 X: full comparison

The XF 23mm is a tiny autofocus pancake for daylight, and the Nokton is a manual f/1.2 lens with a tighter view.

Read the full XF 23mm F2.8 R WR review →Read the full Nokton 35mm F1.2 X review →

The short version

Pick the focal length first. An equivalent focal length tells you what a lens shows on a Fujifilm APS-C camera, in the numbers of a 35mm film camera. The XF 23mm gives a 35mm-equivalent view. That's the wide, everyday view of the X100 cameras. The Nokton gives a 52.5mm-equivalent view, close to a classic normal lens, so you show less of the scene.

The XF 23mm f/2.8 is the one I keep on my X-E5. It's 90g and 23mm long, it has autofocus, and it's weather sealed. Weather sealing means the lens is built to keep out rain and dust. Fujifilm launched it in 2025, so it's the newer lens. It also focuses closer, down to 0.20m.

The Nokton came out in 2021 as Cosina's first X-mount lens. It's manual focus only and weighs 196g, more than twice the pancake. In return, it opens to f/1.2, so it lets in about five times as much light as f/2.8. At f/1.2 it glows and the background goes very soft. It's sharp from about f/2. Its 12 rounded blades keep background lights round.

For a small kit you take everywhere in daylight, the pancake is the better buy. At night, f/2.8 lets in too little light for many shots. That's where the Nokton is worth the extra 106g.

Where the XF 23mm F2.8 R WR wins

+a lighter 90g body
+a more compact 23 mm barrel
+closer 0.20 m focusing
+autofocus at all, where the Nokton 35mm F1.2 X is manual focus only
+weather sealing

Where the Nokton 35mm F1.2 X wins

+a brighter f/1.2 maximum aperture
+a 12-blade diaphragm

Who should buy the XF 23mm F2.8 R WR or Nokton 35mm F1.2 X?

Buy the XF 23mm F2.8 R WR if…

Pick the XF 23mm f/2.8 if you want the smallest Fujifilm kit with autofocus. It's 90g, weather sealed and focuses down to 0.20m. It suits walks and travel at a 35mm-equivalent view.

Buy the Nokton 35mm F1.2 X if…

Pick the Nokton if you want f/1.2 and enjoy focusing by hand. It suits night streets and dim rooms, where an f/2.8 lens struggles. At f/1.2 the sharp zone is millimetres deep, so expect some practice.

XF 23mm F2.8 R WR vs Nokton 35mm F1.2 X: pros and cons

Fujifilm XF 23mm F2.8 R WR	Voigtländer Nokton 35mm F1.2 X
90g and 23 mm long — true pancake dimensions on every X body. Aperture ring, focus ring, and weather resistance at this size are unusual. 0.20 m close focus and 0.15× magnification beat the older XF 27mm F2.8 pancake. 11-blade rounded diaphragm keeps highlights relatively round stopped down. Designed to resolve for Fujifilm's 40.2 MP X-Trans CMOS 5 HR sensor.	Opens to f/1.2. No Fujifilm 35mm lets in this much light. Twelve rounded blades keep blurred lights round when you stop down a little. All metal, with a focus ring that moves the glass directly. The focus ring stops hard at infinity, and the aperture ring clicks in small steps. The camera knows the lens is on, so focus aids, stabilisation and photo data work. Small for an f/1.2 lens: 196g and 39.8 mm long.
f/2.8 is one stop slower than the XF 23mm F2 R WR. No optical image stabilization — leans on the body's IBIS when present. DC motor AF is not marketed as a linear-motor design. Pancake rings are small and close together; not ideal with gloves. Hood adds bulk and slightly reduces the pancake character.	Manual focus only. Up close at f/1.2, only a few millimetres are sharp. At f/1.2 photos are soft and low in contrast. It's sharp from about f/2. Voigtländer's list of supported bodies stops around the X-E4 and X-T30 II. No weather sealing. Around 649 EUR, more than a used Fujifilm XF 35mm F1.4 R.

Fujifilm XF 23mm F2.8 R WR

Voigtländer Nokton 35mm F1.2 X

90g and 23 mm long — true pancake dimensions on every X body.
Aperture ring, focus ring, and weather resistance at this size are unusual.
0.20 m close focus and 0.15× magnification beat the older XF 27mm F2.8 pancake.
11-blade rounded diaphragm keeps highlights relatively round stopped down.
Designed to resolve for Fujifilm's 40.2 MP X-Trans CMOS 5 HR sensor.

Opens to f/1.2. No Fujifilm 35mm lets in this much light.
Twelve rounded blades keep blurred lights round when you stop down a little.
All metal, with a focus ring that moves the glass directly.
The focus ring stops hard at infinity, and the aperture ring clicks in small steps.
The camera knows the lens is on, so focus aids, stabilisation and photo data work.
Small for an f/1.2 lens: 196g and 39.8 mm long.

f/2.8 is one stop slower than the XF 23mm F2 R WR.
No optical image stabilization — leans on the body's IBIS when present.
DC motor AF is not marketed as a linear-motor design.
Pancake rings are small and close together; not ideal with gloves.
Hood adds bulk and slightly reduces the pancake character.

Manual focus only. Up close at f/1.2, only a few millimetres are sharp.
At f/1.2 photos are soft and low in contrast. It's sharp from about f/2.
Voigtländer's list of supported bodies stops around the X-E4 and X-T30 II.
No weather sealing.
Around 649 EUR, more than a used Fujifilm XF 35mm F1.4 R.

Pros and cons mirror the in-house XF 23mm F2.8 R WR review and Nokton 35mm F1.2 X review.

XF 23mm F2.8 R WR vs Nokton 35mm F1.2 X: full specs

Spec	XF 23mm F2.8 R WR 23 mm · f/2.8 · 90g	Nokton 35mm F1.2 X 35 mm · f/1.2 · 196g
Optical
Focal length	23 mm	35 mm
35mm equivalent	35 mm	52.5 mm
Maximum aperture	f/2.8	f/1.2
Minimum aperture	f/16	f/16
Optical construction	8 elements in 6 groups	8 elements in 6 groups
Special elements	2 aspherical elements	1 abnormal partial dispersion element
Aperture blades	11	12
Focus & Stabilization
Min. focus distance	0.20 m	0.30 m
Max. magnification	0.15×	—
Autofocus motor	DC motor	Manual focus only
Optical stabilization	No	No
Physical
Filter thread	39 mm	46 mm
Diameter × length	61.8 × 23 mm	59.6 × 39.8 mm
Weight	90g	196g
Weather sealing	Yes	No
Min. operating temp	-10 °C	—
General
Announced	2025-06-12	2021-07-15

Highlighted cells are best in class between these two. Specs sourced from the manufacturers' public product pages.

In-depth reviews

For the full long-form review of each lens, see the Fujifilm XF 23mm F2.8 R WR review and the Voigtländer Nokton 35mm F1.2 X review. Each carries the full spec breakdown, pros and cons, and where the lens sits in the X-mount lineup.