Fujifilm 8-16 f2.8 Long Term Review
I never set out to own this lens. When the XT4 first came out a few years ago there was a bundle deal where if purchased together, I would save over £500 on this lens. So given that most of the financial hit will be taken away (if I sold it), I decided to give it a go. To be honest I hardly ever shoot this wide as it’s just not my style, however there were times where this lens came in super useful and I now used it enough to be able to give you a quick review.
Build Quality
I sound like a broken record now but overall the build quality is good. The lens is build very well out of solid materials and everything feels premium. I did notice that the focus ring is pretty loose compared to other f2.8 zooms but this isn’t an issue, just an observation. The body withstands scratches and although I haven’t abused this lens, I’ve never ran into any issues. The lens cap is prone to scratching and it can mark the lens.
Ergonomics
This is a giant and hefty lens that only feels normal on bigger bodies like the XH. Even on an XT this is just too big. The zoom is smooth and well damped. Note that the glass element considerably moves in and out inside the lens although there is no visible barrel. This helps with keeping dust and moisture out for the most part however at the extreme end the lens element is pretty exposed and prone to accidental damage. As mentioned before the focus ring is pretty loose which might make precise manual focusing more tricky but not an issue. The aperture ring is great. The biggest issue with this lens is the lack of filter thread. This means that there is no easy way to attach filters such as ND or CPL. There are solutions however they would double the lens size with ease. For some people this could be a deal breaker.
Image Quality
Image quality is very good. The key take away is that this is a rectilinear lens. To put simply, it ensure that all the straight lines remain straight as you can see in the examples below. If you’re shooting mainly architecture, this is a worthy feature. This isn’t the sharpest lens out there especially at the wider focal lengths however it’s not soft either. Colour rendering and tonality are both good and in line with other Fuji glass.
Autofocus
Autofocus is very good given the LM motors with no real issues to report. I have used this lens on a huge selection of Fuji cameras and all worked great.
Summary
From a technical standpoint this lens is incredible. The image is very good and the fact that it’s rectilinear is fantastic. However I can’t recommend this lens at all, to anyone. First of all is the price… it tends to vary between £1300 and £1600. Secondly it’s the insane size and weight which renders it useless for travel. Thirdly it’s the fact that for less than half the price you can get a Sigma 10-18 f2.8 which is 1/3 of the size and weight while having a proper thread for filters. If you just want a wide angle, this lens is not it. If you’re a pro architecture photographer who needs 8mm and doesn’t travel too much then maybe there is a use case for you. However for 99% of people this lens is pointless.
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Instead of telling you how these will change your life, I would rather be practical and answer the most common questions that people tend to have when buying presets.
What are presets?
They are editing settings that are saved in a file and can be applied to any image.
Why do people buy presets?
Sometimes because they like the work of the photographer and want that style for their own photos. Mostly because they would like to see how other people edit and learn by reverse engineering the presets. Other times it’s just to support their favourite photographers, thank you!
What’s the overall style of these presets?
- Filmic
- Warm
- Soft
- Bright
What are these presets suitable for?
Street & Travel Photography
Some Nature (with further editing)
Some Portraits (with extensive editing)
Do I actually use these?
Yes. This is the same pack I use right now for all my editing. This isn’t a pack made just to sell.
Do these presets get updated?
Yes, as my style changes, these presets will also be updated. Any time a new update is available, you will get a free update via email. Of course you also keep all the old presets in case you prefer the older looks. Only presets purchased from 2025 onwards will receive the updates.
What file types are these presets for?
- All RAW files
- JPEGs & TIFFs (not recommended)
What camera brands are these presets for?
These were designed around Fujifilm, Sony, and Leica sensors. With that said, they will work with all camera brands. While there might be differences due to individual camera colour science, the overall feel of the preset will carry over.
Will these work with JPEG files?
Yes, but you will need to reduce the intensity and make further edits. I strongly recommend editing RAW files.
Are these one click edits?
95% No. You would need to do some basic adjustments as each image is different. These adjustments can include exposure, colour balance etc. In 5% of cases you can just apply and leave it alone.
Do I need to know how to edit?
You need to have a basic understanding of adjusting exposure, highlights, shadows, etc. A more comprehensive editing skillset will let you get the most out of them.
How many presets are included?
10 in the main pack and 24 in the extras pack
Why two packs?
The main pack is what I use for 99% of my edits and is kept small to reduce wasted time scrolling through presets. The extras pack is everything I don’t use often.
What software do I need?
These presets will work with any of the following:
- Photoshop (adobe camera raw)
- Lightroom Classic
- Lightroom Desktop
- Lightroom Mobile
Will these presets work with free versions of the above software?
You need to research and double check before buying. These presets were designed for the full paid versions.
Will these presets work with very old versions of the above software?
You need to research and double check before buying. These presets were designed on and for the latest software.
What file type do I get?
XMP
What else do I get?
- Comprehensive PDF guide
Can I modify these and turn them into my own?
Yes! In fact I encourage you to modify them and play around. Use these to help you get your own style.
I have more questions…. What do I do?
Make a cup of tea and drop me an email on hello@snapsbyfox.com
Please note that due to the nature of digital products, refunds are generally not accepted. However, if you experience any issues, feel free to contact me and I’ll review your situation individually. You are welcome to use this product for personal or commercial projects, but you may not copy, distribute, or resell the files in their original or modified form.
Finally I want to say a massive thank you for supporting me. Buying these presets is the most direct way you can support my work.
Thank you!