The Best Fujifilm Lenses For Portrait Photography

In this video, I'll discuss my top Fujifilm X Mount lenses recommendations for portrait photography, taking into account various budgets. I'll share insights into my favorite storytelling lenses, go-to standard options, and ideal compression choices for stunning portraits. Whether you're an enthusiast or a professional, this guide will help you make informed lens selections. Discover the best lenses for your photography style and budget, and leave your thoughts in the comments below. Don't forget to like, subscribe, and click the notification bell for more photography tips and gear recommendations. Thanks for watching, and let's dive into the world of portrait lenses together!
Story Telling Lens
XF 23mm F1.4 WR LM (Personal Fav) - geni.us/2KO6i
Viltrox 23mm F1.4 - geni.us/9nRZA
XF 23mm F2 - geni.us/QQAGCZ
Voigtlander 23mm F1.2 - geni.us/8BVLH
Sigma 23mm F1.4 - geni.us/oBsZwt
Laowa 25mm F0.95 - geni.us/LVCqy
Viltrox 27mm F1.2 - geni.us/BOBPSA
Nifty Fifty Lens
XF 33mm F1.4( Personal Fav) - geni.us/zyvRuP
Viltrox 33mm F1.4 - geni.us/Qhpf1
XF 35mm F2 - geni.us/y7oD5y
XC 35mm F2 - geni.us/46mYWe2
Laowa 33mm F0.95 - geni.us/TbyLB
Compression Lens
XF 56mm F1.2 WR - geni.us/tbYbB
XF 90mm F2 (Personal Fav) -geni.us/APvL
Viltrox 75mm F1.2 - geni.us/BOBPSA
Sigma 56mm F1.4 - geni.us/JIA3B8S
XF 50mm F2 - geni.us/GZCK
TTartisans 50mm F0.95 - geni.us/g19O3
Meike 50mm F0.95 - geni.us/MEIKE50mmf095
Zoom Lens
Fujifilm 18-55mm F2.8-4 - geni.us/eZXe
Sigma 18-50mm F2.8 (Personal Fav) - geni.us/71h0b
Tamron 17-70mm F2.8 - geni.us/gfPUuA
Fujifilm 16-55mm F2.8 - geni.us/AD6WH
Fujfiilm XC 15-45mm F3.5-5.6 - geni.us/efYn68W
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Fujifilm XT5 - geni.us/OBQW
Fujifilm XH2 - geni.us/lA53
Fujifilm XH2s - geni.us/H9dkha
XF 33mm F1.4 - geni.us/zyvRuP
Viltrox 13mm F1.4 - geni.us/NX9Z
XF 18-120mm F4 PZ - geni.us/1kobo
Lumix S5ii - geni.us/ZNH3
Lumix S 50mm F1.8 - geni.us/6kpcS
Lumix S 35mm F1.8 - geni.us/hAB1iyx
Sigma 16-28mm F2.8 (L-Mount) - geni.us/pBmxAY
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The Story Telling Lens - 0:30
The Standard Lens - 3:42
The Compression Lens - 5:53
The Zoom Lens - 9:17

[@edc5338]

Excellent video. My 16-55 is my go-to lens for almost anything but I use the 50mm f2 and 23mm 1,4 Viltrox.

[@TheOctodread]

This video was great, surely something to watch over and over whenever we feel like upgrading our gear :) Thank you for sharing you knowledge

[@Iamtongue]

Glad it was helpful!

[@JoJo-jl2lz]

thnaks for your video. I love them and it's great to have a Fuji lover like you for us. Take care

[@Iamtongue]

thank you!

[@bokehdilla]

Nice one bud 👍 Love how you were joking about "...in this econonomy..." a while back but did make sure to add in some sensible options versus only the top contenders/money-no-object/cool newness. Zoom + LR usage tracking: defo a good reminder/tip. Keep up the good work‼

[@Iamtongue]

haha thanks for watchign dude! glad someone likes my jokes haha

[@sylviahoke7513]

Thank you so much!~ This was super helpful.!~ Your work is beautiful.~! Keep sharing!~ :)

[@Iamtongue]

glad it was helpful thanks for your support :D

[@lionheart4424]

That's a bunch of lenses my bro! Good thing we have options. 30mm (50mm FF) is my sweet-spot, I have an issue with using 56-ish sometimes but trying to get myself used to it. Those portraits at 23mm look incredible! Need to try it out sometime.

[@Iamtongue]

The 56mm does need some time to get use to. I wasn't a fan of it when I first got it. haha.

[@charliejg]

Hey, this was a really great job explaining your reasons for using each focal length. I was pleased that both the 56 and 90 got a nod! LOL! As for the zoom method; I think you could cover almost everything if you had the 16-55 and the 50-140. Big bucks though!! Thanks and have a great weekend!

[@Iamtongue]

Thanks Charlie!

[@elijahcho]

Dude, great video. I always get excited when you upload a new one. They've been helpful and entertaining. I have a Fuji 18 1.4 and Fuji 33 1.4, and I'm looking to get a portrait lens next (debating 56mm, 75mm, or 90mm). I saw a response you gave to another person down below in the comments saying you'd choose the Fuji 90mm over the viltrox 75, and you chose the Fuji 56mm over it too. But I'm curious as to why. Every review so far seems to say the viltrox is the sharpest thing since sliced bread and the "king of bokeh". What stopped you from getting the Viltrox over those two? On a side note, as much as I enjoy your frequent uploads, you seem like you need to take a week off to refresh yourself. I hope all is well.

[@Iamtongue]

Thanks dude, I do need a break, and I will take one during the chirstmas break haha...The 56mm has the close minimum focus distance so it makes sense to me practically. I would choose the 90mm because of it's lens magic, but it's not as practical as the 75mm. You need space to operate it.

[@GGG11890]

Very informative!

[@Iamtongue]

Glad you liked it

[@blickwechselfotografie]

Thank you for the video. Interesting as always 😊 My go-to portrait lens is the XF 56mm f/1.2 WR. Other lenses that I use regularly (probably in the order of usage): - Viltrox 75mm - XF 23mm f/1.4 WR - Viltrox 27mm - XF 33mm f/1.4 WR I occassionaly use the XF 16-55mm but rather prefer fixed focal lenses for my portraits. The XF 90mm is a great lens, but at the moment it just collect dust in my bag. Maybe it is time to use it again. 🤔

[@Iamtongue]

Hey, thanks for watching! I'm glad you found the video interesting. Your lens collection sounds pretty awesome, and it's cool that you have your go-to portrait lens. But hey, don't let the poor XF 90mm sit around collecting dust. It deserves some action too!

[@dasIDS]

Daumn this new 23mm 1,4 WR delivers amazing images .... it can be so different if needed - sometime so harsh, somewhere so airy and tender .. just wow!!!! Of course its you who uses it this way yet the tool must be capable to match the needs!

[@Iamtongue]

one of my favourite lenses to use!

[@xyphoto]

Love my 23/2 for street shooting but find it hard to create background blur.

[@matt88169]

Honestly I shoot portraits with anything and everything…whatever is attached I really don’t care. love me the 50-140. But I’m also crazy and have used the 150-600mm to shoot some full body and mug shots. Incredible lens and portraits at 300+mm are insanely awesome. That lens might render better than the 50-140 it actually shocked me. Compression is king. Only lens I don’t like is the 18-55. Too many focus misses with that one even though I like the look it can give. I haven’t used a Fuji prime I don’t like. The new 23 wr is legendary and the 56mm wr is just gorgeous. Basically, everything is on rotation and if I could justify the 90mm I’d buy it no hesitation. I want the 16-55 to replace the 18-55 also…worth it just for the AF!

[@IshwaraYogaNET]

well researched

[@Iamtongue]

Thank you 😊

[@terrencetroope]

35mm F2 and my lovely 50-140mm have taken some beautiful portraits

[@Iamtongue]

that 50-140mm is a beaut

[@vinhsanity]

Depends on the type of portrait... head and shoulders, full body, etc. I'm a traditionalist - head and shoulders I'll try to go 90mm, or the shortest is the 56mm. If it's full-body then there's more I can get away with and anything from 18, 23, 33/35, and 56 is in play and if I've got the space and the ability to communicate then 90mm. Also, this depends on the model because we're talking about FOV equivalents and I don't want to accent anything like an already pronounced nose with a short lens - because that part is physics. A short focal length will do unflattering things.

[@francisenaje]

what about the viltrox 56mm f1.4?

[@stefan33uk]

I wish there was a 23mm lens that rendered like my 35mm f1.4

[@Mattleephoto405]

I can’t decide on what to grab, I’m looking at the 50mm F1.2 WR or the 56mm F1.2 WR both appear to be great lenses. But I can’t find any videos comparing the 2 head to head. Any suggestion!? Mainly a low light and wedding shooter, with portraits thrown in here and there! Thank you, amazing video!!

[@Iamtongue]

50mm f2 is great I really like that lens

[@Mattleephoto405]

@@Iamtongue I’ll look into that lens also! Thank you!

[@patriotsfan696]

I love my 35mm f2

[@Iamtongue]

aye!

[@noble78b]

The 90mm is my favorite lens.

[@Iamtongue]

Ya it's one of my fav

[@jessedt9837]

AGREE! My favourite for portrait.

[@elliotresnick5433]

I noticed you were using the XT-5 primary even with the bulkier lenses vs XH2s on those photo shoots. Is that your go-to walk around choice??

[@Iamtongue]

Yes it is :) XH2s is solely a video camera for me.

[@9Mtikcus]

With what I know now and if I was on an absolute minimum budget for a Fuji camera and lens with portraiture in mind... I'd try and pick up an X-E3 or X-T20 and the XC 35mm F/2. It is really a do everything lens, it is missing the magic that the XF 35 F/1.4 has but is available much cheaper. The 3 Lenses I use for portraiture are the Sigma 23mm F/1.4, The Original XF35mm F/1.4, and the Sigma 56mm F/1.4 I never need anything longer than the 56mm or wider than the 23mm, If money was no object I'd have got the Fuji 23mm and 56mm, but the difference in quality was not worth the difference in price to me. For Portraiture alone, I'd never go out and buy a zoom (especially not the Fuji 16-55 at that price) I have never been happy with any Fuji zoom I've used, but if I was going to use a zoom, I'd make sure I picked up the camera with the Kit zoom option. But that is just my preference.

[@Iamtongue]

Dude, I totally get what you're saying about the lens choices. Sometimes the price difference just doesn't justify the slight increase in quality. Thanks for the insights!

[@yomi3099]

Rockin xf16 r wr 2.8 and xf35 r wr 2. Tried the xf23 2 but felt lacking to me. I been trying to get the xf 27 but it is tough to get or overpriced by other sellers.

[@Iamtongue]

that's why you need that F1.4!!

[@martinphilipps8678]

The xc 15-45 is very good at the wide end. Sharp. Just the power zoom is a pain... My daily used lens is the sigma 18-50. But for portraits i love the xf 35 1.4, the viltrox 56 1.4 and viltrox 85 1.8.

[@Iamtongue]

Those are good choices

[@TungstenOvergaard]

I want you to try the Brightin Star new 35mm f0.95!!!!

[@Iamtongue]

I heard good things!

[@TungstenOvergaard]

@@Iamtongue me too! And I need the opinion from someone I trust!

[@StuartWeir]

The 23mm f1.4 WR honestly would have had me sold on it had I not seen the ridiculous amount of distortion that gets digitally corrected.

[@CianMcsweeney]

The xf 18mm 1.4 has basically zero distortion and is slightly sharper than the 23. I also think personally that it's better for environmental portraits, but I know many would disagree

[@Canadianforestfairy]

Would a wide angle lens like a 12 or 13 mm distorted faces used for Portrait photography (environmental portraiture )I really love wide angles, 23 is decently wide, but I wanted at 12 MM

[@Iamtongue]

I’ve seen ppl make portraits work with an ultra wide fish angle lens.. if you can get creative I don’t see why you can’t use the 12mm. It’s not one I would pull out most of the time though, that’s just me.

[@jaegerschtulmann]

If you only had money for the 90mmf2 or the viltrox 75mm f1.2 which one would you get?

[@Iamtongue]

if i had the money i would choose the 90mm

[@jessedt9837]

Agree, the 90 mm.

[@MichaelFrederickPhoto]

More for the Fuji crowd, I have the X-H2 and finding the EYE AF to be very lens dependent. I have the Viltrox 33, SIgma 18-50 and 75mm 1.2, only the 75mm delivers well. My hit rate on the other 2 is unacceptable on my paid jobs. That being said, for street/landscape/automotive they are awesome. My issue is portraits needing eye af. Is the X-H2 lens “sensitive” for the eye af to work well?

[@9Mtikcus]

I don't have the X-H2 (or any of those lenses), but the XT-5 nails Autofocus every time with every lens i have used it on (The X-T3 for me nails it almost every time too, and never an issue for paid work)

[@MichaelFrederickPhoto]

@@9Mtikcus Are you only using Fuji glass? I am more thinking it’s the glass not up to speed on the body than the body. The 75mm is fantastic but I need closer, saving for the 27mm PRO next.

[@9Mtikcus]

@@MichaelFrederickPhoto on the XT5 yes, normally only fuji glass, but even older lenses still nail eye focus. But on XT3 I mostly use Sigma 23mm and 56mm without issues

[@alexweyn8846]

What settings would you generally use , at optimum lighting , with 23mm f1.4 ?

[@Iamtongue]

There are alot more nuance as you learn and improve your photography. My settings all depends on what I am looking to get out of it. If i look at a scene, I ask myself a few questions. How much of the scene do i want to show will depends on how many f-stop will I stop down to. It also depends on how much light I have. Overcast, is different from harsh light is different from night time. I've discussed this on this video here. kzbin.info/www/bejne/nmm7qmpmdruie8k I urge you to watch it. It gives you an general guideline on what to do.

[@simon359]

So many choices? 🫨 My favorites are the 23, 1.4, 33, 1.4, 56, 1.2, 90 F2. All Fuji and all with linear focus motors, except the 56, 1.2. 😝🖖

[@Iamtongue]

that's the entire lot!

[@simon359]

@@Iamtongue They weren’t put together overnight, but over a number of years! 😜

[@GGG11890]

I just want to ask, are all of these compatible to xs20? I am new to photography and it’s really confusing.

[@Iamtongue]

yes they are

[@carlosmcse]

The older Fuji lenses are more interesting to me. If I bought the 23f1.4 I would go for the older one.

[@Iamtongue]

that lens is awesome!

[@KAIROSMMA]

At 3:31 you violated her with that photo 🤣

[@Iamtongue]

LMFAOOO

[@TheNhG77]

👌

[@Iamtongue]

👍

[@TheNhG77]

@@Iamtongue 🐔🦄🐷

[@dandanu2526]

What about 50-140? I'm seriously thinking about buying this lens...I don't really care about the weight, I just know that the sharpnes is exceptional on this lens

[@Iamtongue]

It’s good 👍

[@alrevolver6061]

So I have a question why people prefer nikon cams for portrait photography 🤔

[@Iamtongue]

You must have a lot of Nikon friends

[@JoaoDuraes]

First!

[@Iamtongue]

Thanks for being the first to comment! I appreciate your support.

[@Jgheiler]

Do you still have that 16-55?

[@Iamtongue]

nah i don't anymore.

[@mr_imrj]

How is possible to make those beautiful portraits with 23mm lens

[@Iamtongue]

practice haha

[@Snapit551]

Viltrox has the best lenses for fuji

[@Iamtongue]

Viltrox has been killing it!

[@Juventinos]

110mm f2 next question lol

[@Iamtongue]

ouuu too rich for my blood🤣

[@danielbogos263]

My man...., you really like wearing shirts😂😂👍👍

[@Iamtongue]

You prefer me shirtless? Because I’m married I don’t swing that way.

[@danielbogos263]

@@Iamtongue sorry man, i meant the large pants. Autocorrect

[@Iamtongue]

I'm a large guy@@danielbogos263

[@jessedt9837]

@@Iamtongue😂😂😂

[@danielbogos263]

@@Iamtongue ha😂. Yeah. What I meant is that its funny that in your photo sessions, you dress very casual, you know, summer/beach outfit, and your models are very elegant 😂. I do the same thing and I never realized how funny it looks until I saw your videos😂😂. On the other note I do enjoy your videos, keep it up 👍👍

[@mehmetalikaplan7386]

You have forgetten my gem, it is Sigma 30mm f1.4 😂

[@danielbogos263]

True gem. The AF on that is quite weak though. In a moving subject situation it struggles a lot, especially with Fuji's just ok AF

[@mehmetalikaplan7386]

@@danielbogos263 I am photographer and prefer af-s focus. It is cheap, light and tiny but the gem 🙋

[@Iamtongue]

haha sorry bro!

[@user-kj5en4hz6c]

so much gear influencing jesus

[@Iamtongue]

Wtf are you new on KZbin?

[@user-kj5en4hz6c]

​@@Iamtongue do you really make enough on affiliate links to sell yourself out like this?

[@Iamtongue]

What are you rain man?

[@sheldontheory9975]

I know you dont like the 18mm 1,4 😂 but i must say it… where is this lense 😂❤

[@Iamtongue]

lol my bad.. 😂

[@sheldontheory9975]

@@Iamtongue 😂😘