What's the difference between the Fujifilm XF 35mm F2 R WR and the Fujifilm XF 35mm F1.4 R?

The XF 35mm F2 R WR leads on a lighter 170g body, a more compact 45.9 mm barrel, a 9-blade diaphragm. The XF 35mm F1.4 R leads on a brighter f/1.4 maximum aperture, closer 0.28 m focusing, higher 0.17× magnification.

Which is smaller, the Fujifilm XF 35mm F2 R WR or the Fujifilm XF 35mm F1.4 R?

The XF 35mm F2 R WR is the smaller, lighter lens at 170g and 45.9 mm long, versus 187g for the XF 35mm F1.4 R.

Which is faster, the Fujifilm XF 35mm F2 R WR or the Fujifilm XF 35mm F1.4 R?

The XF 35mm F1.4 R is the faster lens at f/1.4, against f/2 for the XF 35mm F2 R WR — brighter in low light and able to throw the background further out of focus.

Fujifilm XF 35mm F2 R WR vs Fujifilm XF 35mm F1.4 R: full comparison

The XF 35mm F2 R WR leads on more of the measurable specs, but the XF 35mm F1.4 R counters on a brighter f/1.4 maximum aperture and closer 0.28 m focusing.

Read the full XF 35mm F2 R WR review →Read the full XF 35mm F1.4 R review →

The short version

The Fujifilm XF 35mm F2 R WR and Fujifilm XF 35mm F1.4 R are both 35mm XF primes covering the same 53mm-equivalent field of view. The XF 35mm F2 R WR is the newer design, from 2015.

On the spec sheet the XF 35mm F2 R WR pulls ahead with a lighter 170g body, a more compact 45.9 mm barrel, and a 9-blade diaphragm, plus a couple of smaller edges.

The XF 35mm F1.4 R answers with a brighter f/1.4 maximum aperture, closer 0.28 m focusing, and higher 0.17× magnification.

So which one? If a lighter 170g body matters most, the XF 35mm F2 R WR is the pick. If a brighter f/1.4 maximum aperture is closer to what you need, the XF 35mm F1.4 R is the smarter buy. Same view either way — this comes down to the trade-offs above.

Where the XF 35mm F2 R WR wins

+a lighter 170g body
+a more compact 45.9 mm barrel
+a 9-blade diaphragm
+quicker, quieter stepping-motor autofocus
+weather sealing

Where the XF 35mm F1.4 R wins

+a brighter f/1.4 maximum aperture
+closer 0.28 m focusing
+higher 0.17× magnification

Who should buy the XF 35mm F2 R WR or XF 35mm F1.4 R?

Buy the XF 35mm F2 R WR if…

Pick the XF 35mm F2 R WR if a lighter 170g body and a more compact 45.9 mm barrel matter to you. Photographers who want one sharp, reliable, weather-sealed 53 mm-equivalent standard prime and value consistency over a distinctive rendering. Read the full XF 35mm F2 R WR review for the details.

Buy the XF 35mm F1.4 R if…

Pick the XF 35mm F1.4 R if a brighter f/1.4 maximum aperture and closer 0.28 m focusing matter to you. Photographers who want character over measurements at a 53 mm-equivalent view, and who shoot subjects that hold still long enough for 2012 autofocus. Read the full XF 35mm F1.4 R review for the details.

XF 35mm F2 R WR vs XF 35mm F1.4 R: pros and cons

Fujifilm XF 35mm F2 R WR	Fujifilm XF 35mm F1.4 R
One of the sharpest lenses Fujifilm makes — and sharp from wide open. Fast, near-silent autofocus on modern bodies; quick enough for moving subjects. Weather sealed and 170g — the prime owners trust in bad conditions. Fujicron value; pairs with the 23mm F2 for a cheap two-prime kit.	Rendering the later f/2 primes do not match — warm, soft-edged, short falloff. 187g and 50.4 mm; small enough to live on an X-E body permanently. 0.28 m macro mode at 0.17× covers food and detail work. Clicked aperture ring, metal barrel, 52 mm filters shared with the XF 18mm F2 R. Cheap used, because Fujifilm has sold them for over a decade.
Rendering that a vocal group finds "clinical" — the reason some keep the F1.4. AF slows noticeably on older phase-detect bodies (X-Pro2, X-T1). Mild focus breathing and softer corners wide open. The tapered barrel shape is nobody's favourite.	DC-motor autofocus hunts audibly in low light and low contrast. Aperture blades are audible; both noises reach in-camera video audio. No weather sealing and no stabilization. Soft corners and longitudinal colour fringing wide open until about f/2.8.

Pros and cons mirror the in-house XF 35mm F2 R WR review and XF 35mm F1.4 R review.

XF 35mm F2 R WR vs XF 35mm F1.4 R: full specs

Spec	XF 35mm F2 R WR 35 mm · f/2 · 170g	XF 35mm F1.4 R 35 mm · f/1.4 · 187g
Optical
Focal length	35 mm	35 mm
35mm equivalent	53 mm	53 mm
Maximum aperture	f/2	f/1.4
Minimum aperture	f/16	f/16
Optical construction	9 elements in 6 groups	8 elements in 6 groups
Special elements	2 aspherical elements	1 aspherical element
Aperture blades	9	7
Focus & Stabilization
Min. focus distance	0.35 m	0.28 m
Max. magnification	0.14×	0.17×
Autofocus motor	Stepping motor	DC motor
Optical stabilization	No	No
Physical
Filter thread	43 mm	52 mm
Diameter × length	60 × 45.9 mm	65 × 50.4 mm
Weight	170g	187g
Weather sealing	Yes	No
Min. operating temp	-10 °C	—
General
Announced	2015-10-21	2012-01-09

Highlighted cells are best in class between these two. Specs sourced from the manufacturers' public product pages.

In-depth reviews

For the full long-form review of each lens, see the Fujifilm XF 35mm F2 R WR review and the Fujifilm XF 35mm F1.4 R review. Each carries the full spec breakdown, pros and cons, and where the lens sits in the X-mount lineup.