In this guide, we’ll get up close and personal with many eyes, legs, and wings.
Most importantly, we’ll look at shooting macro photography with Fujifilm cameras and lenses.
Every major camera brand and many third-party lens developers offer macro lenses.
Fortunately for Fuji photographers, three highly capable and optically sharp X Series macro lenses are available.
Macro photography takes a keen eye, a steady hand, and an unshakeable nerve.
I possess each of those traits but can only call on two at a time—never all three.
That’s why I enlisted the help of my fearless, steely-eye, super stable friend Tracy Huang.
Tracy Huang | Fujifilm X-T4 + XF 80mm f/2.8 Macro | 1/200 SS | 800 ISO | f/20
Tracy’s images feature throughout this guide to showcase the fantastic image quality and detail captured with Fujifilm macro lenses.
It’s also important to note that I believe spiders are an alien race sent to Earth to torment humanity.
It makes no sense that a creature requires eight eyes, and eight legs, spins webs from its butt, and possesses poisonous fangs!
Let me make it clear: I’m not arachnophobic; I just think spiders make no sense.
However, plenty of you out there are shooting with a Fujifilm camera and adore the eight-legged freaks.
Let’s dive in to discover how Fujifilm photographers can make the most of the macro lens lineup.
P.s. You can also check out our guide to the best Fujifilm lenses to find out top X Series lenses for other types of photography.
Why Fujifilm For Macro Photography?
Tracy Huang | Fujifilm X-T4 + XF 80mm f/2.8 Macro | 1/200 SS | 1,250 ISO | f/20
I can attest that Fujifilm photographers and videographers have access to an exceptional range of APS-C and medium format cameras, lenses, and accessories.
Regardless of the genre of your choice or whether you’re an amateur or professional, Fuji has you covered.
Fujifilm X Series cameras offer impressive features, performance, and the overall joy of photography.
The current generation of X Series cameras features a 40MP image sensor, X Processor 5 chip, and in-body image stabilisation, delivering unprecedented image quality.
Pairing a Fuji X camera with a Fuji macro lens opens a world of teeny-tiny opportunities in your garden.
While I consider myself an amateur macro photographer, I was still incredibly impressed and happy with the images I captured with an X-T4 and 80mm macro lens.
How Much Do You REALLY Know About Photography?! 🤔
Test your photography knowledge with this quick quiz!
See how much you really know about photography…
In fact, Tracy Huang used the same lens and camera combo to capture the stunning images showcased in this article.
The point is that Fujifilm cameras and lenses are considered premium quality in almost every aspect of photography.
What’s more, Fuji continues to refine, improve, and update the range of cameras and lenses on offer.
Fuji’s Smallest Macro Lens
Fujifilm XF 30mm f/2.8 1:1 Macro Lens
The Fujifilm XF 30mm f/2.8 R LM WR is a compact, weather-sealed lens.
The LM in its title stands for Linear Motors, which features fast and accurate focusing performance.
When I say the XF 30mm is compact, it’s truly tiny. It measures Ø60mm×69.5mm (2.36×2.64″) and weighs just 195g (0.43lb).
The front element is remarkably small – around the size of my index fingernail – and the filter thread is 43mm.
Given its diminutive size and weight, you won’t suffer from front-end imbalance regardless of which Fujifilm X Series camera it’s added to.
Regarding macro performance, the XF 30mm f/2.8 delivers actual 1:1 magnification across the image sensor.
With a 10cm (3.94″) minimal focus distance from the focal plane, there’s little room between the front element and your subject.
As a result, you’ll need a good-quality speedlight with a diffuser to prevent the lens from casting a shadow across the tiny abomination.
The Fujifilm XF 30mm f/2.8 is an ideal lens for Fuji macro photographers who prefer a lighter and compact kit.
It pairs well with any Fujifilm camera, including the Fujifilm X-T5 or X-T30 II.
The lens is also around the same size as its fellow Fujinon XF 23mm f/2, XF 16mm f/2.8, XF 35mm f/2, and XF 50mm f/2.
Fuji’s Oldest Macro Lens Option
Fujifilm X-T4 + XF 60mm f/2.4 | 1/160 SS | 1,250 ISO | f/20
The Fujifilm XF 60mm f/2.4 R Macro lens is one of the company’s oldest lenses and is still listed as a current product.
The XF 60mm was released in early 2012 to add a macro offering to the Fuji X Series cameras launched only a year earlier.
Being one of the first X-mount lenses, it isn’t weather-sealed and has pretty slow autofocus compared to the LM-driven XF 30mm.
However, it’s built like an absolute tank with a full-metal body and premium Fuji glass.
Despite its robust build quality, the Fujifilm XF 60mm f/2.4 is relatively compact at ø64.1mm x 63.6mm (2.52×2.5″) and weighs 215g (0.47lb).
The macro lens pairs exceptionally well with the equally robust Fujifilm X-Pro series, including the latest iteration, the Fuji X Pro 3.
Fuji’s XF 60mm f/2.4 delivers a 1:2 ratio and features a minimal focus distance of 26.7cm (10.51″).
As a result, you have a lot more distance between the focal plane and your subject’s venomous fangs!
The older XF 60mm also serves as an incredibly sharp portrait lens thanks to its lens element configuration, delivering exceptional image sharpness and detail.
The Biggest And Brightest Fuji Macro Lens
Fujifilm X-T3 + Fujifilm XF 80mm f/2.8 Macro
The Fujifilm XF 80mm f/2.4 R LM OIS WR Macro lens is undoubtedly the star of the Fuji X Series macro lineup.
I reviewed the lens and discovered it to be one of the sharpest lenses I’ve had the pleasure of shooting with.
I described it as a pure joy to work with, and Tracy Huang clearly agrees, given the quality of the images captured with it.
The XF 80mm f/2.4 is one of Fuji’s most feature-packed prime lenses.
In addition to the sharp and accurate 1:1 macro ratio, the lens features a manual aperture ring (R), fast linear focusing motors (LM), optical image stabilization (OIS), and a weather-resistant construction (WR).
If that’s not impressive enough, the Fuji XF 80mm also features a handy focus-limiting switch allowing you to control focus distance between full range, 25-50cm, or 50cm to infinity.
For our friends in the USA, that converts to 9.85-19.69″ or 19.69″ to infinity.
Tracy Huang | Fujifilm X-T4 + XF 80mm f/2.8 Macro | 1/200 SS | 1,250 ISO | f/20
The focus-limiting switch allows you to work in a shallow field with a 25cm minimal focus distance and a closer 50cm distance.
As a result, focus motion reduces, and it’s much faster to capture sharp detail, especially if you have a bug on the move.
If you flip the switch to Full or 50cm to Infinity, you have a broader focus range for portraits or product shots.
It’s one of the sharpest Fujifilm lenses in the range of nearly 40 lenses and, as a result, is fantastic for portraits even with its less-than-ideal f/2.8 aperture.
The Fuji 80mm macro lens is much bigger than the other two we discussed.
It weighs 750g (1.65lb), measures ø80mm x 130mm (3.15×5.12″), and features a 62mm filter thread.
It’s a giant compared to the Fujifilm XF 30mm f/2.8 macro.
Given its size and weight, the XF 80mm pairs perfectly with a flagship X Series camera.
The lens will be very front-heavy heavy, so a larger and ergonomically sound Fujifilm X-T5 or X-H2S makes sense. Two-handed shooting is essential here.
What’s A Good Non-Macro Fuji Lens To Use?
Fujifilm X-T5 + XF 16mm f/2.8
Fuji photographers are spoiled for choice when it comes to selecting a suitable macro lens.
Given Fuji lenses’ robust build quality and optical performance, any of the three macro lenses will last a lifetime.
The Fujifilm XF 60mm macro lens is over twelve years old but still a popular choice from the Japanese company.
However, if you’re already invested in the Fuji X Series but aren’t sure if macro photography is your thing, you could still experiment with a non-macro lens.
Fujifilm wide-angle lenses have relatively short, minimal focus distances.
Greg Cromie | Fujifilm X-E4 + XF 16mm f/2.8 | 1/180 SS | 800 ISO | f/16
For example, the Fujifilm XF 16mm f/2.8 allows you to achieve sharp focus from as close as 17cm (6.69″).
It’s worth attempting macro-like photography with a wide-angle prime or zoom lens to get a feel for the process and outcomes.
What Are Macro Extension Rings?
Another great option is to pair your macro or non-macro lens with a Macro Extension Tube.
Fuji offers two macro tubes: the MCEX-11 X Mount 11mm Macro Extension Ring and the MCEX-16 X Mount Macro Extension Ring.
Adding a macro tube between the lens and the camera body increases the distance between the rear lens element and the camera image sensor.
As a result, the magnification of the lens increases beyond its original specifications.
However, one key challenge when shooting with the 11mm or 16mm extension tubes is having a very tight minimal working distance.
If adapting the macro tube to a wide-angle Fuji lens, you must bring the lens’s front element up super close to your subject.
When shooting insects, that level of intimacy may scare them away.
However, if you pair either of the macro extension rings with a standard focal distance lens, you have much more room to work with.
Another great benefit of the Fuji Macro Extension Rings is that they’re incredibly cheap compared to the cost of a macro lens.
What Other Gear Do I Need For Macro Photography?
Tracy Huang | Fujifilm X-T4 + XF 80mm f/2.8 Macro | 1/250 SS | 800 ISO | f/16
You can undoubtedly achieve amazing macro images if shooting with a Fuji camera and macro lens alone.
If you’re lucky enough to come across a subject in great natural light, don’t hesitate to capture that shot.
However, I always recommend using artificial light to optimize image clarity and detail for the best outcomes.
When shooting close up to a macro subject, the depth of field is paper-thin.
As a result, you’ll need to shoot with a narrow aperture so that as much of the subject is in focus as possible.
With a narrow aperture – anything from f/8 to f/20 – you’ll need as much light as possible.
Tracy Huang | Fujifilm X-T4 + XF 80mm f/2.8 Macro | 1/200 SS | 1000 ISO | f/20
Many macro photographers rely on a ring flash that mounts to the front of the lens and delivers a constant LED-powered light to the subject.
A ring flash isn’t necessary if you already own a speedlight that mounts to the hot shoe on your Fuji camera – provided you defuse the light.
A speedlight or flash unit connects both mechanically and electronically to the camera.
As a result, you can control the power and intensity of the flash from within the Fuji menu system.
Adding a simple diffuser to the front of the speedlight softens the light beam and prevents harsh shadows from forming behind your subjects.
To get started in macro photography, you need only a camera, a macro lens, and a single light.
However, if you want to take the genre more seriously, there’s plenty of other gear and advice you could consider. Check out our guide to macro photography here!
Final Thoughts
Greg Cromie | Fujifilm X-T4 + XF 80mm f/2.8 Macro | 1/500 SS | 800 ISO | f/8
I admire the sublime, if not a little offputting, detail macro photographers capture, especially when chasing fascinating creepy crawlies around the garden.
Macro photographers bring to life all the hidden beauty and natural curiosities from the undergrowth.
Nature is truly unique, and macro photography displays its tiniest wonders for all to see and marvel at.
Shooting macro with a Fujifilm camera has never been easier, thanks to the choice of highly capable lenses or more straightforward macro extension rings.
The Fuji macro lens range can also photograph products, portraits, and more.
I want to take the opportunity to recognize and thank Tracy Huang for her incredible contribution to this article.
The quality and detail in her images showcase not only her skill in the genre but also the capability of the Fuji kit.
You can check out why Tracy loves Fujifilm right here.
I’ve much to learn and practice to move beyond the ‘amateur’ macro photographer ranks.
The most important part of macro photography is to get out there and experiment with the genre.
Get back to your computer and review the outcomes to learn from the results and refine your process.
Above all else, enjoy the process. G
Credit : Source Post
