My most popular video of 2024 was a showdown between the (then) primary standard zoom options available on the Fuji X-mount platform – the Fuji XF 18-55mm F2.8-4 R LM OIS, XF 16-55mm F2.8 R LM WR, and the Sigma 18-50mm F2.8 DN. My surprising conclusion was that the Sigma actually held up the best on the modern Fuji 40MP resolution standard, and that the two Fuji zooms were in need of an update. Fuji obviously agreed, as both lenses received an update in the latter part of 2024. I reviewed the XF 16-55mm F2.8 R LM WR II and the XF 16-50mm F2.8-4.8 R LM WR in early 2025, and decided to follow those reviews up with another showdown using the fresh Fuji options along with last year’s Sigma winner. The results? Find out in the video review here…or you can see my review notes in the article below.

The Fuji lenses are loaners from Fujifilm Canada, while the Sigma is my personal lens. As always, this is a completely independent review. *I’m doing this comparison on a 40MP Fujifilm X-H2 camera.

__________________________________________________________________________________________________

Sigma 18-50mm Reviews: Text | Video

Fuji 16-55 II Reviews: Text | Video

Fuji 16-50mm Reviews : Text | Video

Pricing:

Price:

Sigma = $549
Fuji 16-50 = $699* (as little as $400 in kit)
Fuji 16-55mm = $1199

________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Overview of Relative strengths and weaknesses

Sigma strengths and weaknesses:
Strengths: Corner sharpness, longer at 50mm than Fuji, Constant F2.8
Weaknesses: really bad zooming refocusing, worst fringing (by far), STM focus

16-55mm strengths and weaknesses
Strengths: lowest fringing, longest reach, sharpest, nicest build, best autofocus, produces the most premium looking images
Weaknesses: Not as wide at 16mm, rough zoom, biggest and heaviest, fairly high distortion and vignette

16-50mm strengths and weaknesses:
Strengths: widest at 16mm, lightest, shortest, *potentially the cheapest, lowest distortion and vignette, INTERNALLY ZOOMS
Weaknesses: softest lens, slowest aperture, not as long at 50mm as Sigma, smaller specular highlights, weakest contrast

Build Tests

Sigma

Very compelling size and weight for constant F2.8 61.6 x 76.8mm | 285g
Build quality feels good
Highest magnification (up to 0.36x)
Has a weather sealing gasket but no internal seals
Lowest MSRP
has the smallest zoom range (-2 and -7mm)
- Far less wide
No aperture ring

Fuji 16-50mm

Internally zooming
Now the most lightweight (240g)
Widest framing
Potentially the cheapest (in kit)
High magnification
Has variable aperture (aperture closes fast!)
Has aperture ring, but no markings

Fuji 16-55mm II

Best zoom range (+5 and +7)
16-55 II has most professional grade build and weather sealing
Only fully functional aperture ring
Declick option
Most aperture blades
Largest and heaviest
Most expensive
Weird zoom action

Autofocus Tests

Sigma has STM, Fuji lenses have Linear Motors (Sigma won first comparison)

#1 – 16-55 II – Fastest and most confident
#2 – 16-50 – Very close to 16-55 II
#3 – Sigma 18-50 – slower, more micropulses

Newer tech wins here.

Video Tests

16-55 II – Good pulls, more reactive, more stable. NEGATIVE – some micropulses and rough zooms
16-50mm – Best pulls, smoothest zooms, low focus breathing NEGATIVE – Slow reactiveness, poor hand test
18-50mm – Reactiveness about as good– NEGATIVE – warp when zoomed, focus pulls less confident.

IQ Tests

MAJOR DISADVANTAGE – 16-50mm Variable aperture.

Vignette and distortion:

16-50 – +21 (barrel), 44 (vignette correction) (T) -4 (pincushion), 28 mild mustache
16-55mm (W) +22 (barrel), 91 (T) -13 (pincushion), 84 (linear)
Sigma (W) +24 (barrel) and +92 (T) -11 (pincushion), 80 – mild mustache

Chromatic aberrations

16-55mm (perfect)
16-50mm* (good, but bigger DOF)
Sigma – most fringing before and after

Resolution

16-55 II – Sharpest, best corners, best contrast, most consistently good
16-50 (TIE) Slightly better corners on wide end than Sigma
Sigma (TIE) – Aperture advantage vs 16-50, better corners at telephoto than 16-55 II

COLOR

Fuji lenses perhaps slightly better color, but hard to see side by side.

BOKEH

16-55 II – Bokeh richer, no bokeh fringing, most potential (55mm)
Sigma – Decent geometry but fringing
16-50 – Slow aperture means least defocus

Reasons to Choose Sigma

Cheapest MSRP
Constant F2.8
Fairly competitive AF and IQ (balanced)
Highest magnification (0.36x vs 0.21x)
Very compact

Reasons to Choose 16-50mm

Can be had as kit lens at cheaper price
Only internally zooming lens
Weather sealed
Most lightweight
Mostly good AF

Reasons to Choose 16-55mm II

Most professional grade build
Best zoom range
Best feature set
Lowest fringing
Best overall image quality (most special)
Best autofocus
Best standard APS-C zoom out there

Conclusion

A sense of order has been restored. The first party lenses from Fuji are now mostly better than the Sigma, though the Sigma will continue to be intriguing because it is small, cheap(ish), lightweight, and constant F2.8. If you can handle a little more size (and cost) the XF 16-55mm F2.8 II is the best standard APS-C zoom you can buy right now.

_________________________________________________________________________

GEAR USED:

___________________________________________________________________

Purchase the Sony a7RV @ B&H Photo | Adorama | Amazon | Camera Canada | Sony Canada | Amazon Canada | Amazon UK | Amazon Germany

__________________________________________________________________

Purchase the Sony a6600 @ B&H Photo | Amazon | Camera Canada | Amazon Canada | Amazon UK | Amazon Germany | Ebay

Purchase the Sony a6400 @ B&H Photo | Amazon | Amazon Canada | Amazon UK | Amazon Germany | Ebay

_________________________________________________________________

Want to support this channel? Use these affiliate links to shop at: B&H Photo | Amazon | Adorama | Camera Canada | Amazon Canada | Amazon UK | Ebay | Make a donation via Paypal

Buy DA Merchandise https://bit.ly/TWIMerch

Keywords: Fujinon XF 16-55mm F2.8 R LM WR II, Fujinon XF 16-50mm F2.8-4.8 R LM WR, Sigma 18-50mm F2.8 DN, 18-50mm, DN, DC, Fuji, Fujinon, 16-55mm II, R LM WR, 16-50mm, F2.8, F2.8-4.8, OIS, LM, WR, R, X-Mount, X, Fuji, Fujifilm, X-H2, weather sealing, Review, Hands On, Dustin Abbott, Real World, Comparison, Sharpness, Autofocus, Image Quality, Sample Images, Video, Photography, Astrophotography, #letthelightin, #DA, #weather sealing, #VS, #headtohead, #headtoheadbattles

DISCLAIMER: This article and description contains affiliate links, which means that if you click on one of the product links, I’ll receive a small commission. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Fuji Standard Zoom Showdown Part 2

Dustin Abbott

February 10th, 2025