Fujifilm’s XF 18-55mm f/2.8-4 R LM OIS zoom lens is one of the default kit lens choices with Fujifilm X-series cameras such as the X-T3, X-T4, and X-T30.
Kit lenses often have a bad reputation–and with many of them, that’s well deserved–but this one doesn’t fall into that category. It’s one of the better kit lenses I’ve used, and indeed it’s sold as a standalone product and makes for a great choice for a versatile, good-quality everyday shooting lens.
It has a maximum aperture of f/2.8, although it’s a variable maximum aperture that’s tied to the zoom. That is, when you’re zoomed out wide at 18mm, you can get a maximum aperture of f/2.8, but as you zoom in, the available maximum aperture reduces incrementally until you get fully zoomed in to 55mm, at which point your maximum aperture available is f/4. The lens also has built-in optical image stabilization.1 And it’s quite compact, making it an attractive choice for general travel photography.
But what I’m focusing on here specifically is its zoom range. At its widest, it has a focal length of 18mm. Zoomed all the way in, it has a focal length of 55mm. When used on cameras with APS-C cropped sensors like the X-T2 or X-T3, it’s the equivalent of using a 27mm to 84mm lens on a full-frame camera (i.e. 35mm equivalent).2
I thought it might be useful to provide some practical examples of how those numbers translate visually. You can find the examples below. In each case, the 18mm is on the left, with 55mm on the right. All of these examples were shot on a Fujifilm X-T3.
Price & availability
You can buy Fujifilm’s Fujinon XF 18-55mm f/2.8-4 R LM OIS lens by itself (i.e., without the camera body).
Buy new
Check the current price and availability at:
It’s also often offered bundled with Fujifilm X-series cameras like the X-T4, X-T30, and X-S10.
Buy used
If you’re in the market for a used copy, there are good odds of finding one at KEH, which is usually my first stop for used camera gear.
Rent
You can rent it from:
Accessories for the Fujifilm XF 18-55mm f/2.8-4 lens
Filters. It takes standard 58mm screw-in filters: Polarizer | UV/Haze | ND.
Manual. You can find the manual here (PDF).
I don’t quite understand why people continue to refer to the fujinon 18-55mm f/2.8 lens as a Kit lens. In fact it’s a premium XF lens and there’s nothing sub-standard about it. It’s top-notch. So don’t be surprised about its IQ and its durability.
Because it’s one of the lenses included in a kit with the camera. Camera manufacturers have a history of including low-cost lenses in their kits as starter lenses. In this case, they’ve included a top-notch lens. But it doesn’t change the fact that its inclusion meets the very definition of kit lens.