Fuji Fujinon 50mm f1.4 Heritage

Overview

The Fuji Fujinon 50mm f/1.4 in M42 mount represents an important chapter in Fujifilm's optical history before the company became primarily known for its film stocks and later mirrorless cameras. Produced during the 1970s, this lens was part of Fuji's ambitious push into the interchangeable lens camera market with their ST series of M42 mount SLRs (ST601, ST701, ST801, ST901). Fuji had been manufacturing high-quality optics since the 1940s, initially for cinema and later for their medium format cameras, and this expertise was channeled into their 35mm lens lineup. The lens was developed during a golden era of Japanese optical competition when manufacturers like Pentax, Canon, Nikon, and numerous third parties were all vying for supremacy in the M42 ecosystem. Fuji's approach was characteristically thorough - they utilized their EBC (Electron Beam Coating) multi-coating technology, which was among the most advanced of its era, developed through their experience in broadcast and cinema optics. The lens doesn't carry a widely established nickname in the community, though it's sometimes referenced among collectors as simply the 'Fujinon EBC' to distinguish it from later Fuji lens lines. Its cult following stems from its relative obscurity compared to the dominant Pentax Takumars and the exceptional rendering quality that surprises those who discover it. Enthusiasts prize it as an undervalued gem - a lens that delivers optical performance rivaling or exceeding its more famous contemporaries at a fraction of the collector premium, making it a favorite among those who prioritize image quality over brand recognition.

Verdict: The Fuji Fujinon 50mm f/1.4 M42 is an exceptional value proposition for photographers who prioritize optical quality over collectible cachet. It delivers performance that competes with or exceeds more famous alternatives like the Super Takumar 50mm f/1.4 while typically costing less and offering superior flare resistance through its EBC coating. This lens is ideal for the practical vintage lens user - someone who wants beautiful rendering, solid build quality, and genuine wide-aperture usability without paying the premium attached to more hyped alternatives. It's particularly well-suited to portrait and street photographers adapting M42 glass to modern mirrorless systems. Those seeking dramatic optical effects (swirly bokeh, pronounced flare) or maximum collectibility should look elsewhere, but for those wanting a refined, capable fast fifty that quietly excels, the Fujinon rewards investigation.

Optical Character

Bokeh

Smooth and creamy bokeh with 6 blades creating slightly hexagonal highlights when stopped down; wide open highlights are reasonably circular with mild cat's-eye vignetting toward edges.

Color

Neutral to slightly warm with excellent color separation; reds and yellows rendered with richness, greens maintain natural variation, blues tend toward natural slightly deep rendering.

Sharpness wide open

Excellent center sharpness wide open; corners improve rapidly by f/2.8 and achieve excellent across-the-frame sharpness at f/5.6-f/8 rivaling modern optics.

Flare resistance

EBC coating provides exceptional flare resistance for its era; veiling flare well controlled with subdued purple or green ghosting artifacts rather than dramatic flare patterns.

Contrast

Moderate-high global contrast providing punchy images without crushing shadows; micro-contrast is a particular strength contributing to dimensional rendering.

Vignetting

Noticeable vignetting wide open (approximately 1.5-2 stops in corners) falling off gradually; significantly reduced by f/2.8 and negligible by f/4.

Community Insights

What people love

Exceptional EBC multi-coating that delivers flare resistance and color fidelity rivaling lenses costing many times more
Underdog status keeps prices reasonable compared to equivalent Pentax, Canon, or Nikon alternatives
Build quality is excellent - all-metal construction with a smooth, well-damped focusing helicoid
Very good wide-open performance makes it genuinely usable at f/1.4 unlike some contemporaries
Pleasing, natural color rendition that works beautifully for portraits and everyday photography
The combination of sharpness and rendering character - technically excellent without being sterile
Compact size relative to some competing fast fifties of the era

What people dislike

6-blade aperture creates hexagonal bokeh highlights when stopped down, less pleasing than 8+ blade designs
Relatively obscure - fewer community resources, reviews, and sample images compared to Takumars or Rokkors
Aperture ring clicks are less precise than some competing designs
Finding one in excellent condition can be challenging due to lower production numbers
Some copies exhibit focus shift when stopping down, requiring attention during precise work
The minimum focus distance is not particularly close for those wanting to do near-macro work

Pro Tips

For optimal sharpness with retained character, shoot at f/2 - this aperture balances resolution with pleasing rendering
The smooth bokeh makes this lens excellent for environmental portraits where you want subject separation without distracting backgrounds
Use a hood - while EBC coating is excellent, a hood further improves contrast in challenging light
For critical focus wide open, focus slightly past your intended point and back - the lens may exhibit slight focus shift
The neutral color rendering adapts well to both digital color grading and film simulation recipes on Fuji cameras
When adapting to mirrorless, use a quality adapter to maintain infinity focus - cheap adapters may cause issues

Sources (1)

LLM generated secondaryAI

The Fuji Fujinon 50mm f/1.4 in M42 mount represents an important chapter in Fujifilm's optical history before the company became primarily known for its film stocks and later mirrorless cameras. Produced during the 1970s, this lens was part of Fuji's ambitious push into the interchangeable lens camera market with their ST series of M42 mount SLRs (ST601, ST701, ST801, ST901). Fuji had been manufacturing high-quality optics since the 1940s, initially for cinema and later for their medium format cameras, and this expertise was channeled into their 35mm lens lineup. The lens was developed during a golden era of Japanese optical competition when manufacturers like Pentax, Canon, Nikon, and numerous third parties were all vying for supremacy in the M42 ecosystem. Fuji's approach was characteristically thorough - they utilized their EBC (Electron Beam Coating) multi-coating technology, which was among the most advanced of its era, developed through their experience in broadcast and cinema optics. The lens doesn't carry a widely established nickname in the community, though it's sometimes referenced among collectors as simply the 'Fujinon EBC' to distinguish it from later Fuji lens lines. Its cult following stems from its relative obscurity compared to the dominant Pentax Takumars and the exceptional rendering quality that surprises those who discover it. Enthusiasts prize it as an undervalued gem - a lens that delivers optical performance rivaling or exceeding its more famous contemporaries at a fraction of the collector premium, making it a favorite among those who prioritize image quality over brand recognition.