What's the difference between the Fujifilm XF 23mm F2 R WR and the Fujifilm XF 35mm F1.4 R?

The XF 23mm F2 R WR leads on a lighter 180g body, closer 0.22 m focusing, a 9-blade diaphragm. The XF 35mm F1.4 R leads on a brighter f/1.4 maximum aperture, a more compact 50.4 mm barrel, higher 0.17× magnification.

Which is smaller, the Fujifilm XF 23mm F2 R WR or the Fujifilm XF 35mm F1.4 R?

The XF 23mm F2 R WR is the smaller, lighter lens at 180g and 51.9 mm long, versus 187g for the XF 35mm F1.4 R.

Which is faster, the Fujifilm XF 23mm F2 R WR or the Fujifilm XF 35mm F1.4 R?

The XF 35mm 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 35mm F1.4 R: full comparison

The XF 23mm F2 R WR leads on more of the measurable specs, but the XF 35mm F1.4 R counters on a brighter f/1.4 maximum aperture and a more compact 50.4 mm barrel.

Read the full XF 23mm F2 R WR review →Read the full XF 35mm F1.4 R review →

The short version

The Fujifilm XF 23mm F2 R WR and Fujifilm XF 35mm F1.4 R are two XF primes at different focal lengths — the XF 23mm F2 R WR (35mm equivalent) and the XF 35mm F1.4 R (53mm equivalent). 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, closer 0.22 m focusing, and a 9-blade diaphragm, plus a couple of smaller edges.

The XF 35mm F1.4 R answers with a brighter f/1.4 maximum aperture, a more compact 50.4 mm barrel, and higher 0.17× magnification.

So which one? Start with the focal length you actually want to shoot: the 35mm-equivalent XF 23mm F2 R WR or the 53mm-equivalent XF 35mm F1.4 R. 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
+closer 0.22 m focusing
+a 9-blade diaphragm
+quicker, quieter stepping-motor autofocus
+weather sealing

Where the XF 35mm F1.4 R wins

+a brighter f/1.4 maximum aperture
+a more compact 50.4 mm barrel
+higher 0.17× magnification

Who should buy the XF 23mm F2 R WR or XF 35mm F1.4 R?

Buy the XF 23mm F2 R WR if…

Pick the XF 23mm F2 R WR if a lighter 180g body and closer 0.22 m focusing 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 35mm F1.4 R if…

Pick the XF 35mm F1.4 R if a brighter f/1.4 maximum aperture and a more compact 50.4 mm barrel matter to you. Photographers who want character over measurements at a 53 mm-equivalent view, and who shoot subjects that hold still long enough for 2012 autofocus. Read the full XF 35mm F1.4 R review for the details.

XF 23mm F2 R WR vs XF 35mm F1.4 R: pros and cons

Fujifilm XF 23mm F2 R WR	Fujifilm XF 35mm 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.	Rendering the later f/2 primes do not match — warm, soft-edged, short falloff. 187g and 50.4 mm; small enough to live on an X-E body permanently. 0.28 m macro mode at 0.17× covers food and detail work. Clicked aperture ring, metal barrel, 52 mm filters shared with the XF 18mm F2 R. Cheap used, because Fujifilm has sold them for over a decade.
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.	DC-motor autofocus hunts audibly in low light and low contrast. Aperture blades are audible; both noises reach in-camera video audio. No weather sealing and no stabilization. Soft corners and longitudinal colour fringing wide open until about f/2.8.

Pros and cons mirror the in-house XF 23mm F2 R WR review and XF 35mm F1.4 R review.

XF 23mm F2 R WR vs XF 35mm F1.4 R: full specs

Spec	XF 23mm F2 R WR 23 mm · f/2 · 180g	XF 35mm F1.4 R 35 mm · f/1.4 · 187g
Optical
Focal length	23 mm	35 mm
35mm equivalent	35 mm	53 mm
Maximum aperture	f/2	f/1.4
Minimum aperture	f/16	f/16
Optical construction	10 elements in 6 groups	8 elements in 6 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×	0.17×
Autofocus motor	Stepping motor	DC motor
Optical stabilization	No	No
Physical
Filter thread	43 mm	52 mm
Diameter × length	60 × 51.9 mm	65 × 50.4 mm
Weight	180g	187g
Weather sealing	Yes	No
Min. operating temp	-10 °C	—
General
Announced	2016-08-25	2012-01-09

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 35mm F1.4 R review. Each carries the full spec breakdown, pros and cons, and where the lens sits in the X-mount lineup.