I decided to buy the Fujifilm XF 60mm f/2.4 macro lens when I saw some portraits on a Facebook Fujifilm group. I was amazed to see the lens details, micro-contrast, rendering, and colors.
After I bought Fujifilm 30mm f2.8 (review here) a great offer appeared for the Fujinon 60mm f/2.4 macro and I pulled the trigger.
I also shoot Leica, and I wanted a 90mm lens to make fine art street photography. But, looking at Fujifilm options I finally discovered the perfect lens for my Fujifilm X-PRO3.
Introduction
So I decided to give a try to the Fujifilm 60mm f2.4 lens which is equivalent to a 90mm field of view on a full frame.
The lens arrived fast and I was anxious to shoot it. I wanted to shoot it on Fujifilm X-PRO3 for the optical and range finder experience. Still, I decided to use it on my Fujifilm X-T5 because I need it to know if the lens will perform acceptably with the new Fujifilm cameras.
So I took Fujifilm 60mm f/2.4 for a spin.
The History Of Fujifilm 60mm f2.4 macro lens.
Fujifilm 60mm f2.4 macro, is one of the first Fujifilm lenses. It’s made with the same magic that goes into the Fujifilm 35mm f1.4 and the Fujifilm 18mm f2.
The recipe for the glass and rendering is consistent with all these three lenses.
So that was another important reason to buy it.
Fujifilm 60mm f/2.4 Macro Specifications That Matters
- Focal Lenght – 60mm
- Max Aperture – f/22
- Min Aperture – f/2.4
- Filter Size – 39mm
- Stabilized – no
- 35mm equivalent – 90mm
- Angle of view – 26.6°
- Internal focusing – no
- Maximum magnification – 0.5x / 1:2
- Min Focus Distance – 10.51″ / 26.7 cm
- Lens structure – 10 elements in 8 groups (including 1 aspherical and 1 ED element)
- Aperture Blades – 9 rounded aperture blades
- Weight – 215g / 7.58 oz. g
- Weather sealing – no
- Other tidbits: it extends a lot at minimum focus distance
- see here the product page from Fujifilm’s official site.
Fujifilm 60mm f/2.4 Macro Can Be Bought Very Cheaply
This is a lens, that you can buy on the used market at good prices. I bought it new and with 2-year warranty.
So I couldn’t refuse the offer and bought it. I paid around $250 for this brand-new lens.
Being an old lens, if you decide to buy it used, be sure to have some warranty. My copy wasn’t used. It was just an open box.
Fujifilm 60mm f2.4 Macro Image Quality
The rendering
I feel that this lens delivers even better portraits than the 56mm f1.2 original lens and probably even better than the 56mm f1.2 WR if you aren’t after 40 mega pixel resolution
If you want a magic lens, the rendering of this lens for portraits is outstanding. But it’s not an f/1.2 lens, which could be problematic for a portrait shooter who wants to shoot in low light.
But if you use light, you will love this lens.
The pictures I made with the lens have great micro-contrast, great 3D pop, buttery smooth bokeh, and out-of-focus areas are melted smoothly.
Fujifilm 60mm f/2.54 macro has that original Fujifilm color of the glass. It also has the bite of the 35mm f/1.4, and of the 56mm f/1.2 but with an extra whoomph to it!
The sharpness is very good. Of course, the lens is not resolving the 40-megapixel sensor from what I’m seeing, but it has plenty of resolution for what this lens is – a dream lens.
The optical flows
For the moment the only problem is that the lens flares, but this is why you have a great big lens hood.
Build Quality And Handling
The lens is small and light. I’m amazed at how light is the lens and also the lens hood. Both are made from metal and glass.
The Aperture Ring
The aperture ring of Fujifilm 60mm f2.4 is not one of the best aperture ring I’ve seen from Fujifilm. The clicks are shy, the sound is not very audible, and its very easy to bump the aperture ring.
Also, you have an A stop, and the lens stays pretty good at the A stop. I think it’s better on the long term to use the lens with the A stop.
The focus ring
In general I don’t like to address focus ring at fly by wire lenses. But the focusing ring is very large, metal build and you have a good grip to it.
The focus ring of the 60mm f/2.4 is not loosely and I think is great for macro work.
The Lens Hood
The lens hood is a marvel piece of engineering and design. The lens hood is long as the lens, made from metal and is light as a feather.
Fujifilm 60mm f2.4 lens hood is also vented, so you can see through the lens-hood when you use a Fujifilm X-PRO camera.
The lens hood can also be mounted inverted and will cover the lens entirely and also the aperture ring (so you’ll not be able to change the aperture if you have the lens hood inverted).
The good news is that the Fujifilm XF 35mm f1.4 lens hood is compatible with 60mm f/2.4 so you can opt for a smaller lens hood.
How Fujifilm 60mm f/2.4 is staying on Fujifilm X-T, X-PRO, X-H cameras
Because the lens is light and has a medium size to small, the balance on all Fujifilm cameras is perfect.
On Fujifilm X-PRO3 the Fujifilm 60mm f/2.4 doesn’t block the OVF with the lens hood inverted or without the lens hood.
With the lens hood mounted you have a little OVF blockage but you can see through the vented lens hood.
To resolve any blockage you can use the lens hood from the Fujinon 35mm f1.4 but with that lens hood, you will not have a fully protection against sun flare.
Fujifilm 60mm f2.4 Autofocusing On Fujifilm X-T5
I was very scared of how the lens would focus (because it’s an old lens), and lots of people complained about the AF of this lens.
So, I used the Fujifilm 60mm f2.4 with the best camera that Fujifilm is making right now – Fujifilm X-T5.
Fujifilm 60mm f/2.4 AF For Street Photography Using AF-S
I tested this lens with AF-S for street photography and I’ve got good results.
The field of view is a portrait field of view so the lens is suited for candid street photography, asked portraits, and fine art street photography.
Fujifilm 60 mm f/2.4 AF For Portraits Using Eye AF and AF-C
I used Fujifilm 60mm f/2.4 in AF-C with a very difficult subject. A street performer that was moving all over the place, doing fire tricks.
My settings weren’t something special: AF-C activated via the Fujifilm X-T5 switch and EYE AF activated via the front Fn button
The results blow me away. The lens focused very well on the eye of the performer, and the performer was in focus, even while moving very fast. The lens performed very well in sports action movement.
– “Wow, I can’t believe this is true,” I said to myself.
Because when you search online, you’ll see lots of reports of this lens being slow, but Fujifilm X-T5, is doing miracles.
Fujifilm 60mm f/2.4 AF For Posed Portraits
I had the chance the other day to test this lens for posed portraits with my wife. Running after the kids from there to there in the park, between breaks I was able to got some shots.
I used the same settings and I shot using burst mode. The results are more than good!
Fujifilm 60mm f/2.4 Auto Focus on Fujifilm X-T30 II, X-PRO3, X-T4
I also tested this lens on the Fujifilm X-T30 Mark, and the AF was still great for normal subjects.
Yes, in low light you are able to see that the lens will focus harder. But the good news, is that you’ll not use this lens in low light – because is just an f/2.4 lens on an APS-C sensor (so please use lights for good results).
So in conclusion the AF speed in AF-S and AF-C for age of the lens and the price that I’ve paid I think is more than good!
For What To Use Fujifilm 60mm f/2.4 Macro Lens
I bought this lens to use it for the following reasons:
- for product photography
- for portraits (it’s better and nicer than Fujinon 35mm f/1.4 and 56mm f/1.2
- for fine art street photography
- for candid portraits
- for reflections
- for abstract photography
Conclusion
The lens is a gem! I’m really glad that I’ve decided to buy it. The micro contrast, the magic rendering, the 3d POP, the smooth bokeh (because of the compression and the 9 rounded aperture blades) are great.
Add to this a small, light body made from full metal and glass and also add good auto-focusing with newer Fujifilm cameras like X-T5 and X-T50.
Also, add that you can use this lens on any Fujifilm X-PRO body without optical viewfinder blockage and you’ll have a dream camera for fine art photography.
For me, this lens is a winner. But I don’t expect users that are coming from a Sony system or are accustomed with the latest technology regarding resolution and speed to appreciate it. But if you have the eye, for sure you will like it considering the prices.
Of course, it would be great if Fujifilm would do a new version of Fujifilm XF 60mm f/2.4 macro keeping the size, weight and build quality.
Video Reviews
Short PROs
- is light like a feather (around 200 g)
- is fully metal build
- it renders better magic than XF 35mm f1.4 and 56mm f1.2
- amazing 3D POP and micro contrast
- very sharp
- smooth bokeh
- great for portraits and fine art
- 0.5x macro option
- good AF-S and AF-C with Eye AF
Short CONs
- just an f/2.4 aperture
- can be slow in very low light
- very long lens hood but with amazing engineering and design
- slow focus for macro distance
Where To Buy
- Please use my affiliate link to get one: Amazon
Fujifilm XF 60mm f/2.5 Macro Real World Sample Images
I will show you now more images made with this lens on different Fujifilm cameras. The samples are exported from Lightroom at a smaller resolution for easy loading and web browsing.
Fujifilm XF 60mm f/2.4 Portraits On Fujifilm X-T5
Fujifilm 60mm f/2.4 Street Photography Samples
Fujifilm 60mm f/2.4 Macro Photography With Fujifilm X-T30 II
Fujifilm 60mm f/2.4 Real Photography Examples With Fujifilm X-PRO3
