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Fujinon XF56mmF1.2 R WR vs Laowa 65mm F2.8 2x Ultra Macro

Short answer

The Fujinon XF56mmF1.2 R WR (56mm) and Laowa 65mm F2.8 2x Ultra Macro (65mm) are both portrait lenses for the Fujifilm X mount. The Fujinon XF56mmF1.2 R WR is the faster lens at f/1.2 against f/2.8 on the Laowa 65mm F2.8 2x Ultra Macro. Only the Fujinon XF56mmF1.2 R WR has weather sealing, an aperture ring, and autofocus.

Fujinon XF56mmF1.2 R WR: 2 specs ahead

Side by side

Fujinon XF56mmF1.2 R WR Laowa 65mm F2.8 2x Ultra Macro
Brand Fujifilm Laowa
Focal length 56mm 65mm
35mm equivalent 84mm 98mm
Maximum aperture f/1.2 f/2.8
Mount Fujifilm X Fujifilm X
Autofocus Yes Manual focus
Optical stabilisation No —
Weather resistant Yes —
Aperture ring Yes —
Macro No Yes
Linear motor No —
Minimum aperture f/16 —
Aperture blades 11 —
Lens construction 13 elements in 8 groups —
Special elements 2 aspherical and 1 ED elements —
Angle of view 28.5° —
Minimum focus 0.5 m —
Maximum magnification 0.14× —
Weight 445 g —
Diameter ⌀79.4 mm —
Length 76 mm —
Filter thread ⌀67 mm —

Where each one is ahead

Reasons to choose the Fujinon XF56mmF1.2 R WR

  • Wider view 84 mm vs 98 mm
  • Maximum aperture f/1.2 vs f/2.8
  • Autofocus Yes vs Manual focus

Reasons to choose the Laowa 65mm F2.8 2x Ultra Macro

  • Longer reach 98 mm vs 84 mm
  • Macro Yes vs No

Framing and reach

Lens Frames like Horizontal view Frame width at 10 m
Fujinon XF56mmF1.2 R WR 84 mm 23.7° 4.2 m
Laowa 65mm F2.8 2x Ultra Macro 98 mm 20.5° 3.6 m

The Laowa 65mm F2.8 2x Ultra Macro gets 1.17× closer to the subject than the Fujinon XF56mmF1.2 R WR: whatever it points at fills 1.17× more of the frame edge to edge, or 1.4× more of its area. With the Fujinon XF56mmF1.2 R WR you would have to walk about 14% of the distance towards the subject to get the same picture — or crop it later, which leaves roughly 73% of the original pixels.

Angles and widths are calculated from focal length and sensor width, horizontally, on the native sensor of each mount.

What each one suits

Fujinon XF56mmF1.2 R WRLaowa 65mm F2.8 2x Ultra Macro
Birds and wildlife Poor Poor
Sports Poor Poor
Portrait Excellent Good
Travel Fair Poor
Street Poor Poor
Weddings Excellent Good
Walk around Good Poor
Vlogging Poor Poor
Landscape Poor Poor
Macro Poor Average

Scored from the published specifications — focal length, aperture, stabilisation, weather sealing and weight. Sharpness, bokeh and rendering are not in a spec sheet and are not scored here.

Cameras that take both

Both lenses fit every interchangeable-lens X Series body — 34 in our list. Fixed-lens models such as the X100 series cannot take them.

Which one to choose

Choose the Fujinon XF56mmF1.2 R WR if

  • low light is the priority. At f/1.2 it lets in 2.4 stops more than f/2.8 — faster shutter speeds indoors and softer backgrounds.

Everything above comes from published specifications. How sharp each lens is, how quickly it focuses and what its pictures look like are not in any spec sheet, so this comparison does not try to judge them.

Common questions

Which is better in low light, the Fujinon XF56mmF1.2 R WR or the Laowa 65mm F2.8 2x Ultra Macro?

The Fujinon XF56mmF1.2 R WR. At f/1.2 against f/2.8 it gathers 2.4 stops more light, which matters without flash and for background blur. Stabilisation can offset some of that for still subjects, but not for moving ones.

Will both lenses fit my camera?

Both use the Fujifilm X mount, so they fit any X Series camera with interchangeable lenses. They do not fit fixed-lens models such as the X100 series or GFX bodies.

compare.faqTitle

Which is better, the Fujinon XF56mmF1.2 R WR or the Laowa 65mm F2.8 2x Ultra Macro?

On measurable specs the Fujinon XF56mmF1.2 R WR leads, 2 wins against 1. That is a spec count, not a field test.

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Built from the specifications Fujifilm publishes.