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

The XF 35mm F2 R WR leads on a lighter 170g body, a more compact 45.9 mm barrel, higher 0.14× magnification. The XF 23mm F1.4 R leads on a brighter f/1.4 maximum aperture, closer 0.28 m focusing.

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

The XF 35mm F2 R WR is the smaller, lighter lens at 170g and 45.9 mm long, versus 300g for the XF 23mm F1.4 R.

Which is faster, the Fujifilm XF 35mm 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 35mm F2 R WR — brighter in low light and able to throw the background further out of focus.

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

The XF 35mm 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 and closer 0.28 m focusing.

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

The short version

The Fujifilm XF 35mm F2 R WR and Fujifilm XF 23mm F1.4 R are two XF primes at different focal lengths — the XF 35mm F2 R WR (53mm equivalent) and the XF 23mm F1.4 R (35mm equivalent). The XF 35mm F2 R WR is the newer design, from 2015.

On the spec sheet the XF 35mm F2 R WR pulls ahead with a lighter 170g body, a more compact 45.9 mm barrel, and higher 0.14× magnification, plus a couple of smaller edges.

The XF 23mm F1.4 R answers with a brighter f/1.4 maximum aperture and closer 0.28 m focusing.

So which one? Start with the focal length you actually want to shoot: the 53mm-equivalent XF 35mm F2 R WR or the 35mm-equivalent XF 23mm F1.4 R. Once that's settled, XF 35mm F2 R WR has the edge on the specs above.

Where the XF 35mm F2 R WR wins

+a lighter 170g body
+a more compact 45.9 mm barrel
+higher 0.14× 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
+closer 0.28 m focusing

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

Buy the XF 35mm F2 R WR if…

Pick the XF 35mm F2 R WR if a lighter 170g body and a more compact 45.9 mm barrel matter to you. Photographers who want one sharp, reliable, weather-sealed 53 mm-equivalent standard prime and value consistency over a distinctive rendering. Read the full XF 35mm 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 and closer 0.28 m focusing matter 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 35mm F2 R WR vs XF 23mm F1.4 R: pros and cons

Fujifilm XF 35mm F2 R WR	Fujifilm XF 23mm F1.4 R
One of the sharpest lenses Fujifilm makes — and sharp from wide open. Fast, near-silent autofocus on modern bodies; quick enough for moving subjects. Weather sealed and 170g — the prime owners trust in bad conditions. Fujicron value; pairs with the 23mm F2 for a cheap two-prime kit.	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.
Rendering that a vocal group finds "clinical" — the reason some keep the F1.4. AF slows noticeably on older phase-detect bodies (X-Pro2, X-T1). Mild focus breathing and softer corners wide open. The tapered barrel shape is nobody's favourite.	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 35mm F2 R WR review and XF 23mm F1.4 R review.

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

Spec	XF 35mm F2 R WR 35 mm · f/2 · 170g	XF 23mm F1.4 R 23 mm · f/1.4 · 300g
Optical
Focal length	35 mm	23 mm
35mm equivalent	53 mm	35 mm
Maximum aperture	f/2	f/1.4
Minimum aperture	f/16	f/16
Optical construction	9 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	0.35 m	0.28 m
Max. magnification	0.14×	0.1×
Autofocus motor	Stepping motor	DC motor
Optical stabilization	No	No
Physical
Filter thread	43 mm	62 mm
Diameter × length	60 × 45.9 mm	72 × 63 mm
Weight	170g	300g
Weather sealing	Yes	No
Min. operating temp	-10 °C	—
General
Announced	2015-10-21	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 35mm 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.