What's the difference between the Fujifilm XF 23mm F2 R WR and the Fujifilm XF 23mm F1.4 R?

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 XF 23mm F1.4 R leads on a brighter f/1.4 maximum aperture.

Which is smaller, the Fujifilm XF 23mm F2 R WR or the Fujifilm XF 23mm F1.4 R?

The XF 23mm F2 R WR is the smaller, lighter lens at 180g and 51.9 mm long, versus 300g for the XF 23mm F1.4 R.

Which is faster, the Fujifilm XF 23mm F2 R WR or the Fujifilm XF 23mm F1.4 R?

The XF 23mm F1.4 R 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 Fujifilm XF 23mm F1.4 R: full comparison

The XF 23mm F2 R WR leads on more of the measurable specs, but the XF 23mm F1.4 R counters on a brighter f/1.4 maximum aperture.

Read the full XF 23mm F2 R WR review →Read the full XF 23mm F1.4 R review →

The short version

The Fujifilm XF 23mm F2 R WR and Fujifilm XF 23mm F1.4 R are both 23mm XF primes covering the same 35mm-equivalent field of view. The XF 23mm F2 R WR is the newer design, from 2016.

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 XF 23mm F1.4 R answers with a brighter f/1.4 maximum aperture.

So which one? If a lighter 180g body matters most, the XF 23mm F2 R WR is the pick. If a brighter f/1.4 maximum aperture is closer to what you need, the XF 23mm F1.4 R is the smarter buy. Same view either way — this comes down to the trade-offs 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
+a 9-blade diaphragm
+quicker, quieter stepping-motor autofocus
+weather sealing

Where the XF 23mm F1.4 R wins

+a brighter f/1.4 maximum aperture

Who should buy the XF 23mm F2 R WR or XF 23mm F1.4 R?

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 XF 23mm F1.4 R if…

Pick the XF 23mm F1.4 R if a brighter f/1.4 maximum aperture matters to you. Photographers who shoot 35 mm-equivalent at f/1.4 and close, and street photographers who zone focus and want a real distance scale. Read the full XF 23mm F1.4 R review for the details.

XF 23mm F2 R WR vs XF 23mm F1.4 R: pros and cons

Fujifilm XF 23mm F2 R WR	Fujifilm XF 23mm F1.4 R
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.	Sharp wide open at close range, where the XF 23mm F2 R WR is not. Clutch focus ring with engraved distance and depth-of-field scales, hard infinity stop. Eleven-element formula keeps colour fringing lower than the XF 35mm F1.4 R. 0.28 m macro mode on a 35 mm-equivalent prime.
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.	300g and 63 mm long — it dominates a small body. DC-motor autofocus is slow and audible, driving a lot of glass. No weather sealing. Discontinued, so it is a used-only purchase and prices have stayed high.

Pros and cons mirror the in-house XF 23mm F2 R WR review and XF 23mm F1.4 R review.

XF 23mm F2 R WR vs XF 23mm F1.4 R: full specs

Spec	XF 23mm F2 R WR 23 mm · f/2 · 180g	XF 23mm F1.4 R 23 mm · f/1.4 · 300g
Optical
Focal length	23 mm	23 mm
35mm equivalent	35 mm	35 mm
Maximum aperture	f/2	f/1.4
Minimum aperture	f/16	f/16
Optical construction	10 elements in 6 groups	11 elements in 8 groups
Special elements	2 aspherical elements	1 aspherical element
Aperture blades	9	7
Focus & Stabilization
Min. focus distance	0.22 m	0.28 m
Max. magnification	0.13×	0.1×
Autofocus motor	Stepping motor	DC motor
Optical stabilization	No	No
Physical
Filter thread	43 mm	62 mm
Diameter × length	60 × 51.9 mm	72 × 63 mm
Weight	180g	300g
Weather sealing	Yes	No
Min. operating temp	-10 °C	—
General
Announced	2016-08-25	2013-09-04

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 Fujifilm XF 23mm F1.4 R review. Each carries the full spec breakdown, pros and cons, and where the lens sits in the X-mount lineup.