 |
| Photo: Pomma Partiew / Fujifilm |
While all brands tend to put quite a few letters in lens names, Fujifilm is among the worst offenders (though still not as bad as Tamron). Its Fujinon lenses tend to read a bit like alphabet soup, with letters coming before and after the focal length and aperture information. While they are straightforward once you know what they mean, it can be headache-inducing to decipher at first. In this article, we’ll break down the different acronyms found in Fujifilm lens names so you can feel like a pro when shopping for or discussing Fujifilm’s lenses.
Lens mount and series: XF, XC, MKX and GF
 |
| Image: Fujifilm |
The first part of Fujifilm lens names, falling right before the focal length, tells us what mount or series the lens is part of. Fujifilm has four different designators for this category: XF, XC, MKX and GF.
The XF designation means the lens is part of the company’s X Series and uses the X mount. That means the lens is compatible with any X mount camera. XC lenses are also X mount offerings, though these are part of Fujifilm’s compact lineup of lenses. They are more affordable and more lightweight than XF lenses and typically lack an aperture ring. MKX lenses are also part of the X mount, though these are the company’s cinema lenses meant for video applications.
Finally, outside of the X mount are Fujifilm’s GF lenses. These are G mount lenses that are compatible with the medium-format GFX cameras.
Lens features
After the focal length and aperture information, you’ll find letters and acronyms that tell you what lens features are part of the lens. Fujifilm lenses may include a combination of up to five different terms in the lens name. If you don’t see one or any of these, that means that the lens lacks that feature.
Build features: R and WR
 |
| The XF23mmF2.8 R WR lens features an aperture ring (R) and weather resistance (WR). Image: Fujifilm |
When applicable, the first letter used is R. The R in Fujifilm lens names means the lens offers a designated aperture dial so that you don’t have to use buttons, dials or menus on the camera body to set aperture.
Some of the Fujifilm lenses feature WR in the name, which stands for Weather Resistant. That means the lens is sealed against dust and moisture to help protect it against the elements. WR typically comes at the end of Fujifilm lens names, so you can quickly see if the lens offers weather sealing.
Focus, stabilization and zoom features: LM, OIS and PZ
 |
| The GF32-90mmT3.5 PZ OIS WR lens is a power zoom lens for the GFX system. Image: Fujifilm |
The other lens features that make it into Fujifilm lens names relate to focus. LM stands for linear motor. This means that the lens uses a linear-style motor to drive autofocus, which is very fast and relatively quiet.
OIS is Fujifilm’s designation for Optical Image Stabilization. Lenses with OIS in the name offer built-in image stabilization that uses gyroscopic sensors and motors to counteract lens movement and reduce blur caused by camera shake. These lenses can help you get sharp images even when working with slower shutter speeds.
PZ stands for Power Zoom. It isn’t a Fujifilm-specific term, and it means that the lens offers an electronic zoom mechanism instead of a zoom ring. Power zoom lenses make achieving smooth and consistent zoom easier, making them ideal for video applications.
Specialty features: Macro, T/S and APD
 |
| The GF110mmF5.6 T/S Macro lens is both a macro and tilt shift lens (T/S). Image: Fujifilm |
Fujifilm may also include some terms for specialty lenses on its lenses. Macro is the easier to decipher, since it’s spelled out for us. Lenses with Macro in the name are Macro lenses, meaning they can focus closer than regular lenses and enable detailed close-up photography.
At the time of writing, the T/S designation is only used for two lenses, both of which are in the medium-format G mount lineup. T/S stands for tilt-shift, which means that the lens allows you to adjust the focal plane (tilt) and perspective (shift). Tilt-shift lenses are commonly used for architectural photography.
The APD designation tells us that the lens features a built-in apodization filter. This filter aims to produce smoother bokeh and enhance subject separation, which is ideal for portraiture.
Additional Fujifilm lens terms: Super EBC, Nano-GI and TC
 |
| The XF16-55mmF2.8 R LM WR II features Fujifilm’s Super EBC coating, as you can see printed on the lens. Image: Fujifilm |
Like other companies, Fujifilm also has some specialty terms that aren’t in the lens name, but are referenced in lens descriptions. That includes general terms for optical design, such as aspherical lens, but also a few proprietary terms.
Super EBC, which stands for Super Electron Beam Coating, is Fujifilm’s proprietary multi-layer lens coating. It’s meant to minimize flare and ghosting to improve image quality. Similarly, Nano-GI is a lens coating for the refractive index of the lens that promises to increase clarity.
Lastly, TC is a designation for teleconverters, which are lens accessories and not lenses. These can be attached between the lens and camera and allow you to increase focal length to provide additional magnification without purchasing a longer lens.
Our DPREVIEW Tribute:
After nearly 25 years of operation, DPReview closed on 10 April 2023. This difficult decision was part of the annual operating plan review that parent company, Amazon, shared earlier this year.
Over the course of 25 years, DP Review built up a reputation as being one of the most informative places to go for information about that new camera or lens you’re after. DP Review began as an independent reviews site based in the UK in 1998, the brainchild of Philip and Joanna Askey, but it was eventually purchased by Amazon in 2007 and relocated over to Seattle in the USA in 2010.
Cheers DPReview – thanks for the great work and content that guided photographers, videographers and techno junkies the world over!