Like other lens manufacturers, Fujifilm uses codes in the names of their lenses to identify key features and technologies of the lens.
As a relative newcomer to camera and lens manufacturing, Fujifilm hasn’t accumulated nearly as many codes as some other manufacturers that have been in the game a very long time (eg. Nikon or Canon). But that doesn’t make the codes they do have any less confusing. And it’s likely that they’ll expand the list of codes they draw from in coming years as they develop new technologies and features.
Once you know how to read them, they can be very useful. But they can also be confusing. So here’s a breakdown of the codes Fujifilm uses in naming their lenses.
I’ve grouped them by the type of information they convey.
Fujifilm Lens Codes for Mount Types
Codes in this category help identify which lenses are compatible with which types of Fujfilm cameras.
- X-Mount – Designed specifically for Fujifilm’s X-series APS-C mirrorless cameras. The X-Mount has a short flange distance, allowing for compact lens designs and improved image quality.
Fujifilm Lens Codes for Lens Formats
- XF – Fujinon XF lenses are designed for Fujifilm’s X-series APS-C mirrorless cameras. These lenses generally offer higher quality and better build compared to XC lenses.
- XC – Fujinon XC lenses are also designed for Fujifilm’s X-series APS-C mirrorless cameras. These lenses tend to be more compact, lightweight, and affordable compared to XF lenses, often with a compromise in build quality and features.
- GF – Fujinon GF lenses, designed for Fujifilm’s medium format GFX mirrorless cameras. These lenses offer high-resolution performance and are specifically designed for the larger sensor size of the GFX system.
Fujifilm Lens Codes for Autofocus Motors
- LM – Linear Motor, a type of autofocus motor used in Fujifilm lenses for fast, quiet, and accurate autofocus performance.
Fujifilm Lens Codes for Aperture Control
- R – Aperture Ring, an indicator that the lens has a manual aperture ring for direct control of the aperture setting. It can also be locked in the “A” setting to allow the camera to control the aperture.
Fujifilm Lens Codes for Lens Coatings
- EBC – Electron Beam Coating, Fujifilm’s lens coating technology used to reduce lens flare, ghosting, and improve color accuracy and contrast.
- Super EBC – Super Electron Beam Coating. In other words, an enhanced version of regular EBC. Sometimes used to complement Nano-GI coating.
- Nano-GI – stands for “Nano Gradient Index” coating, a lens coating designed to reduce ghosting and flare by altering the refractive index of the lens surface between the glass and the air. The Nano Gradient Index coating works by creating a nanostructure on the lens surface that gradually changes the refractive index. This gradual change helps to minimize the reflection of light at different angles, effectively reducing ghosting and flare that can occur when light enters the lens at oblique angles. It complements their Super EBC coating. While Super EBC focuses on minimizing flare and ghosting across the entire lens surface, Nano-GI specifically targets oblique angles, further enhancing image quality in challenging lighting conditions. This technology is typically found in high-end Fujinon lenses.
Fujifilm Lens Codes for Optical Technologies
Some lenses feature notable technology that the designers (and marketers) consider worth highlighting in the name of the lens and may well influence a buyer’s decision (and the price). An important example is newer lenses that feature lens optical stabilization.
- OIS – Optical Image Stabilization, a technology built into the lens to reduce camera shake and allow for sharper images at slower shutter speeds.
- WR – Weather Resistant, a designation for lenses with weather sealing to protect against dust, moisture, and low temperatures. I have more on what this means in the section below.
Fujifilm Lens Codes for Specialized Lenses & Features
The codes in this category refer to specialized or niche lenses that are used for specific uses.
- Macro – Designation for Fujifilm’s macro lenses, designed for close-up photography with a 1:1 magnification ratio or close to it.
- PZ – Power Zoom, a lens feature that provides smooth electronic zoom control, ideal for video recording because it reduces noise and vibration for smoother zooming.
Fujinon?
Ever wondered why Fujifilm film lenses have “Fujinon” in the name? Like Nikon’s “NIKKOR,” it’s a brand name. So it’s not actually a code, as such.
The name is derived from a combination of “Fujifilm” and “Nippon Kogaku” (Japan Optical), which reflects the company’s Japanese origin and its focus on optical technologies.
Fujifilm chose to use the Fujinon brand name to differentiate its high-quality lenses from its camera bodies and other products.
Fujifilm’s lineup of lenses, including those for their X-series APS-C mirrorless cameras and GFX medium format cameras, all carry the Fujinon branding.
Weather Resistant?
An increasing number of lenses and cameras these days are touted by their manufacturers as having some kind of rugged construction or protection against dust and moisture. But few in the DSLR and mirrorless areas are providing consistent IP ratings, instead using vague terms like “weather resistant.”
For Fujifilm lenses with the WR code, here’s what Fujifilm says about it:
Dustproof and splashproof lenses with WR in their names can be used in light rain or in dusty environments by attaching them to a dustproof and splashproof camera. In addition, if you continue to use it while it is wet for a long time, water may seep inside, so if it gets wet due to rain, etc., immediately wipe off the water droplets and store it.
