The type of photography that you are planning to use is an important decision factor. Here we have evaluated the Fujifilm 16-55mm F2.8 II and the Fujifilm 23mm F1.4 R for their suitability to various photography scenarios:
Size and Weight Comparison
The size of a lens is a crucial factor to consider when comparing two lenses. Fujifilm 16-55mm F2.8 II is the longer of the two lenses at 95mm. The Fujifilm 23mm F1.4 R with a length of 63mm, is 32mm shorter. Besides being longer, the Fujifilm 16-55mm F2.8 II also has a larger diameter of 78mm compared to the Fujifilm 23mm F1.4 R's 72mm diameter.
The weight of a lens is equally significant as its external dimensions, particularly if you intend to handhold your camera and lens combination for extended periods. Fujifilm 23mm F1.4 R weighs 300g, 26% (110g) lighter than the Fujifilm 16-55mm F2.8 II's weight of 410g.
Filter Threads
The Fujifilm 16-55mm F2.8 II has a filter size of 72mm whereas the Fujifilm 23mm F1.4 R has a 62mm diameter. Larger filters are generally more expensive than the smaller ones given all the other features are equal.
Below are links to the 72mm filters that we recommend you to consider for the Fujifilm 16-55mm F2.8 II:
And these are the 62mm filters that we recommend for the Fujifilm 23mm F1.4 R:
Lens Mounts
Both the Fujifilm 16-55mm F2.8 II and the Fujifilm 23mm F1.4 R has the same Fujifilm X lens mount. Some of the latest released cameras that are compatible with the Fujifilm X lenses are Fujifilm X-T30 III, Fujifilm X-E5 and Fujifilm X-M5.
Focal Range
Fujifilm 16-55mm F2.8 II has a focal range of 16-55mm and
3.4X zoom ratio which has an effective (full-frame 35mm equivalent) focal range of
24-82.5mm when used on a APS-C / DX format camera.
On the other hand, the Fujifilm 23mm F1.4 R is a prime lens with fixed focal lenght of 23mm which has an effective (full-frame 35mm equivalent) focal range of 34.5mm when used on a APS-C / DX format camera.