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 R LM WR and the Fujifilm XC 16-50mm F3.5-5.6 OIS 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 R LM WR is the longer of the two lenses at 106mm. The Fujifilm XC 16-50mm F3.5-5.6 OIS with a length of 65mm, is 41mm shorter. Besides being longer, the Fujifilm 16-55mm F2.8 R LM WR also has a larger diameter of 83mm compared to the Fujifilm XC 16-50mm F3.5-5.6 OIS's 63mm 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 XC 16-50mm F3.5-5.6 OIS weighs 195g, 70% (460g) lighter than the Fujifilm 16-55mm F2.8 R LM WR's weight of 655g.
Below you can find the dimension and weight table of the Standard Zoom Lenses in Fujifilm X Mount for size comparison purposes.
Standard Lenses in Fujifilm X Mount for Size Comparison
Filter Threads
The Fujifilm 16-55mm F2.8 R LM WR has a filter size of 77mm whereas the Fujifilm XC 16-50mm F3.5-5.6 OIS has a 58mm diameter. Larger filters are generally more expensive than the smaller ones given all the other features are equal.
Below are links to the 77mm filters that we recommend you to consider for the Fujifilm 16-55mm F2.8 R LM WR:
And these are the 58mm filters that we recommend for the Fujifilm XC 16-50mm F3.5-5.6 OIS:
Lens Mounts
Both the Fujifilm 16-55mm F2.8 R LM WR and the Fujifilm XC 16-50mm F3.5-5.6 OIS has the same Fujifilm X lens mount. Some of the latest released cameras that are compatible with the Fujifilm X lenses are Fujifilm X-S20, Fujifilm X-T5 and Fujifilm X-H2.
Focal Range
Fujifilm 16-55mm F2.8 R LM WR 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 XC 16-50mm F3.5-5.6 OIS has a focal range of 16-50mm and 3.1X zoom ratio which has an effective (full-frame 35mm equivalent) focal range of 24-75mm when used on a APS-C / DX format camera.