Fujifilm Fujinon XF 18-55 mm f/2.8-4 OIS
4. Image resolution
Let’s check how the tested Fujinon performs in the frame centre. The appropriate graphs at 18,30 and 55 mm are presented below.
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It can be said at once that you deal here with a zoom lens because the Fujinon 18-55 doesn’t get near the level presented by ‘primes’. The highest MTF values, those near 58-60 lpmm, are reached by f/8.0 and, at shorter focal lengths, by f/5.6. Those results are just slightly worse than the results of the ‘primes’ so such a level can be considered very good without any question.
The performance at the maximum relative aperture also proves you deal here with a high quality device – 42 lpmm is the weakest result so the resolution safely exceeds the decency level.
Still are there any reasons to gush over the Fujinon? Nor really. It is a solid instrument but certainly not outstanding. The results of such lenses as the Sigma A 17-70 mm f/2.8-4.0 DC Macro OS HSM prove that much. The Sigma, being more difficult to design and cheaper than the Fujinon, at the maximum relative aperture can reach similar results to those by f/8.0. The Fujinon’s maximum aperture values are rather closer to those you see at f/11.
The aforementioned Sigma 17-70 mm had to pay a price for the excellent performance in the frame centre in the form of weaker results on the edge of the frame at 17 mm. Do you have to deal with a similar compromise in the case of the Fujinon? Let’s glance at the graph below.
Unfortunately the compromise can be clearly seen. Like in the case of the Sigma, the shortest focal length doesn’t provide high MTFs at any aperture, brushing the decency level by f/8 and f/11. At the longer focal end the situation is much better, with images of good but, unfortunately, only good quality. They cannot be called ‘very good’ – not by a long shot.
The crops below were taken from JPEG files saved along RAW files which we used for the analysis above.
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