The Fastest
152 lenses · 74 autofocus · 52 manual · 26 focus not stated
The widest aperture on the mount is f/0.9, and it does not focus itself. The widest that does is f/1.0. That is the whole penalty: +0.3 stops. Most of what looks like a choice between speed and autofocus turns out, measured, to be a third of a stop.
By use
Ranked among lenses the guide scores 4 or better for that use. In 5 of 10 the fastest lens already autofocuses, so there is nothing to trade.
| Use | Field | Fastest | Fastest autofocus | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Portrait | 56 | f/0.9 · Voigtländer Nokton 35mm F0.9 | f/1.0 · Fujifilm XF50mmF1.0 R WR | +0.3 stops |
| Street | 49 | f/0.9 · Voigtländer Nokton 35mm F0.9 | f/1.2 · Viltrox AF 27mm F1.2 Pro XF | +0.8 stops |
| Sports * | 10 | f/1.2 · Viltrox AF 75mm F1.2 Pro XF | same lens | — |
| Action * | 13 | f/1.2 · Viltrox AF 27mm F1.2 Pro XF | same lens | — |
| Birds | 9 | f/2 · Fujifilm XF200mmF2 R LM OIS WR | same lens | — |
| Land. | 34 | f/1.2 · Viltrox AF 27mm F1.2 Pro XF | same lens | — |
| Astro | 28 | f/0.9 · Voigtländer Nokton 35mm F0.9 | f/1.2 · Viltrox AF 27mm F1.2 Pro XF | +0.8 stops |
| Macro | 13 | f/1.7 · Laowa Aksen 17.5mm F1.7 Ultra Macro 5-10X APO | f/2.4 · Fujifilm XF60mmF2.4 R Macro | +1.0 stop |
| Travel | 61 | f/1.2 · Viltrox AF 27mm F1.2 Pro XF | same lens | — |
| Video * | 34 | f/0.9 · Voigtländer Nokton 35mm F0.9 | f/1.2 · Viltrox AF 27mm F1.2 Pro XF | +0.8 stops |
* Sports, action and video scores are performance judgements, not specifications. They are ranked here on aperture, which is a published number, but the score that decides who enters the ranking is not.
Widest, any focus
- 1 f/0.9 · Voigtländer Nokton 35mm F0.9 manual · grade A+
- 2 f/0.95 · Laowa 33mm F0.95 Argus APO manual · grade A
- 3 f/0.95 · 7Artisans 35mm F0.95 manual · grade B+
- 4 f/0.95 · TTArtisan 50mm F0.95 manual · grade B+
- 5 f/1.0 · Fujifilm XF50mmF1.0 R WR autofocus · grade A+
- 6 f/1.2 · Samyang/Rokinon 35mm F1.2 manual · grade A-
- 7 f/1.2 · Samyang/Rokinon 50mm F1.2 manual · grade A-
- 8 f/1.2 · Viltrox AF 27mm F1.2 Pro XF autofocus · grade S
- 9 f/1.2 · Viltrox AF 75mm F1.2 Pro XF autofocus · grade S
- 10 f/1.2 · Artra Lab ARTRA LAB NOCTY-NONIKKOR 50mm F1.2 Lenses focus not stated · not yet graded
Widest that autofocuses
- 1 f/1.0 · Fujifilm XF50mmF1.0 R WR grade A+
- 2 f/1.2 · Viltrox AF 27mm F1.2 Pro XF grade S
- 3 f/1.2 · Viltrox AF 75mm F1.2 Pro XF grade S
- 4 f/1.2 · Sirui Sniper 23mm F1.2 AF grade A
- 5 f/1.2 · Sirui Sniper 33mm F1.2 AF grade A
- 6 f/1.2 · Sirui Sniper 56mm F1.2 AF grade A
- 7 f/1.2 · Fujifilm XF56mmF1.2 R grade A+
- 8 f/1.2 · Fujifilm XF56mmF1.2 R APD grade A+
- 9 f/1.2 · Fujifilm XF56mmF1.2 R WR grade S
- 10 f/1.4 · Sigma 16mm F1.4 DC DN grade A
What this table is not
It is not a recommendation. Widest aperture is one published number and it is not the same as best — the grades on this page disagree with the ranking often enough to prove it. A T-stop is marked where it appears, because measured transmission and a geometric ratio are close in practice and not the same quantity, and a column that quietly sorts one against the other is wrong in a way that looks tidy.