There is a quite big group of 16 mm lenses designed for mirrorless cameras with APS-C sensors so we didn't have any problems with drawing up the following chart. As you can notice, Samsung have proven long ago that it is possible to construct a small, optically good 16 mm lens as fast as f/2.4. That's why the decision of Fuji to produce a relatively big lens with a slower f/2.8 aperture seems a bit strange. In my opinion the f/2.0 aperture would fit better these dimensions, or something even a tad bigger; if you decide that you keep f/2.8, physical dimensions should be one of your priorities.
In the photo below the Fujinon XF 16 mm f/2.8 R WR is positioned next to another system lens the Fujinon XF 18–55 mm f/2.8–4.0 R LM OIS.
The tested lens starts with a metal mount which goes round a contact plate and a plastic projection that surrounds a rear element, 21 mm in diameter. The rear element doesn't move.
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The proper barrel of the lens starts with a metal, immobile ring on which you can find focal length markings, a red rectangle, making an alignment with a camera easier, the serial number of your instrument and information that the lens was produced in the Philippines.
The next part is an aperture ring 12 mm wide, most of its surface covered by metal ribs. In many other Fujinon lenses I have had an opportunity to test so far the rings were quite loose; here the ring's performance is practically flawless, allowing you very precise settings in 1/3 EV steps.
Further on you see another immobile ring with information that the lens is weather-sealed („WEATHER RESISTANT”). Another part is a manual focus ring, just 9 mm wide, completely covered by fine ribbing. It is a focus-by-wire construction which makes it possible to focus with great precision (but the settings can be runed by idiotic software of the camera that can change the focus on its own during the preview even if you work in the MF mode). Unfortunately the lens doesn't feature any depth of field scale.
The front element of the lens is slightly convex, 25 mm in diameter, surrounded by an inscription stating the name and parameters of the lens. Then you see a non-rotating filter thread, 49 mm in diameter, and a thread for attaching a small hood.
When it comes to optical construction you deal here with 10 elements set in 8 group. Two of these elements are aspherical in shape. Inside you can also find a round aperture with nine diaphragm blades which can be closed down to a value of f/22.
Buyers get both caps, a miniature hood and a soft pouch with the lens in the box.
