What's the difference between the Fujifilm XF 23mm F2 R WR and the Viltrox Viltrox AF 33mm f/1.4?

The XF 23mm F2 R WR leads on a lighter 180g body, a more compact 51.9 mm barrel, closer 0.22 m focusing. The Viltrox AF 33mm f/1.4 leads on a brighter f/1.4 maximum aperture.

Which is smaller, the Fujifilm XF 23mm F2 R WR or the Viltrox Viltrox AF 33mm f/1.4?

The XF 23mm F2 R WR is the smaller, lighter lens at 180g and 51.9 mm long, versus 270g for the Viltrox AF 33mm f/1.4.

Which is faster, the Fujifilm XF 23mm F2 R WR or the Viltrox Viltrox AF 33mm f/1.4?

The Viltrox AF 33mm f/1.4 is the faster lens at f/1.4, against f/2 for the XF 23mm F2 R WR — brighter in low light and able to throw the background further out of focus.

Fujifilm XF 23mm F2 R WR vs Viltrox Viltrox AF 33mm f/1.4: full comparison

The XF 23mm F2 R WR leads on more of the measurable specs, but the Viltrox AF 33mm f/1.4 counters on a brighter f/1.4 maximum aperture.

Read the full XF 23mm F2 R WR review →Read the full Viltrox AF 33mm f/1.4 review →

The short version

The Fujifilm XF 23mm F2 R WR and Viltrox Viltrox AF 33mm f/1.4 are two X-mount primes at different focal lengths — the XF 23mm F2 R WR (35mm equivalent) and the Viltrox AF 33mm f/1.4 (50mm equivalent). The Viltrox AF 33mm f/1.4 is the newer design, from 2020.

On the spec sheet the XF 23mm F2 R WR pulls ahead with a lighter 180g body, a more compact 51.9 mm barrel, and closer 0.22 m focusing, plus a couple of smaller edges.

The Viltrox AF 33mm f/1.4 answers with a brighter f/1.4 maximum aperture.

So which one? Start with the focal length you actually want to shoot: the 35mm-equivalent XF 23mm F2 R WR or the 50mm-equivalent Viltrox AF 33mm f/1.4. Once that's settled, XF 23mm F2 R WR has the edge on the specs above.

Where the XF 23mm F2 R WR wins

+a lighter 180g body
+a more compact 51.9 mm barrel
+closer 0.22 m focusing
+higher 0.13× magnification
+weather sealing

Where the Viltrox AF 33mm f/1.4 wins

+a brighter f/1.4 maximum aperture

Who should buy the XF 23mm F2 R WR or Viltrox AF 33mm f/1.4?

Buy the XF 23mm F2 R WR if…

Pick the XF 23mm F2 R WR if a lighter 180g body and a more compact 51.9 mm barrel matter to you. Anyone who wants one dependable, fast-focusing 35 mm-equivalent prime for daylight and general-purpose work, and does not need f/1.4 for close portraits. Read the full XF 23mm F2 R WR review for the details.

Buy the Viltrox AF 33mm f/1.4 if…

Pick the Viltrox AF 33mm f/1.4 if a brighter f/1.4 maximum aperture matters to you. Anyone who wants a fast autofocusing normal prime without paying Fujifilm prices, and who shoots single-shot rather than tracking. Read the full Viltrox AF 33mm f/1.4 review for the details.

XF 23mm F2 R WR vs Viltrox AF 33mm f/1.4: pros and cons

Fujifilm XF 23mm F2 R WR	Viltrox Viltrox AF 33mm f/1.4
One of the best-value primes Fujifilm sells — Fujicron pricing, metal build. Fast, quiet, confident AF — the quickest-focusing of the small 23 mm options. Colour rendering owners rate the nicest of the f/2 trio. Weather sealed with an aperture ring; 43 mm filters shared with the 35/50 F2. Crisp across the frame once stopped down to f/2.8.	f/1.4 autofocus normal prime at roughly a third of the native price. Strong centre sharpness from f/1.4, even across the frame by f/2.8. Fast, effectively silent stepping-motor autofocus — quiet enough for video. User-updatable firmware over a USB port in the mount. HD Nano coating handles backlight without the milky wash cheap glass shows.
Soft wide open within ~1 m — the close-portrait weakness that sends owners to the F1.4. One stop slower than the XF 23mm F1.4 R LM WR, with older-generation AF. No optical image stabilization. A full barrel, not a pancake — the 27mm F2.8 is far smaller.	Clickless, unmarked aperture ring — smooth for video, imprecise for stills. No weather sealing and no stabilization. 270g and 72 mm long, noticeably bigger than the XF 35mm F1.4 R. Compatibility depends on firmware; the original needed a hardware revision for the X-Pro3. Viltrox's own store no longer lists the X-mount version, so future support is uncertain.

Pros and cons mirror the in-house XF 23mm F2 R WR review and Viltrox AF 33mm f/1.4 review.

XF 23mm F2 R WR vs Viltrox AF 33mm f/1.4: full specs

Spec	XF 23mm F2 R WR 23 mm · f/2 · 180g	Viltrox AF 33mm f/1.4 33 mm · f/1.4 · 270g
Optical
Focal length	23 mm	33 mm
35mm equivalent	35 mm	50 mm
Maximum aperture	f/2	f/1.4
Minimum aperture	f/16	f/16
Optical construction	10 elements in 6 groups	10 elements in 9 groups
Special elements	2 aspherical elements	1 ED element, 1 high-refractive-index element, HD Nano coating
Aperture blades	9	9
Focus & Stabilization
Min. focus distance	0.22 m	0.40 m
Max. magnification	0.13×	0.1×
Autofocus motor	Stepping motor	Stepping motor
Optical stabilization	No	No
Physical
Filter thread	43 mm	52 mm
Diameter × length	60 × 51.9 mm	65 × 72 mm
Weight	180g	270g
Weather sealing	Yes	No
Min. operating temp	-10 °C	—
General
Announced	2016-08-25	2020-04-21

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 R WR review and the Viltrox Viltrox AF 33mm f/1.4 review. Each carries the full spec breakdown, pros and cons, and where the lens sits in the X-mount lineup.