How to Change Aperture on Fujifilm Cameras

This is one of the most common questions I get from new Fujifilm users: “How do I change the aperture on my Fuji camera?”

The confusion makes sense. Fujifilm offers:

• Aperture rings on many lenses
• Different command-dial behaviors
• Multiple Auto modes
• Multiple exposure modes
• Different menu settings depending on the camera generation

And the manuals…well, they scatter this information across several pages.

This guide puts everything in one place, in plain language, so you know exactly how to control your aperture with any Fujinon X or GF-mount lens.

Note: This covers Fujinon X and GF lenses. Third-party lenses follow their own barrel markings.

All the Ways to Change Aperture in Fujifilm X Cameras

Watch this video on YouTube.

You Can Only Change Aperture in Manual or Aperture Priority

Before anything else, Fujifilm only lets you directly control the aperture when the camera is in:

• Aperture Priority (A)
• Manual (M)

If you see anything else – AUTO, S, P, scene icons – the camera controls the aperture for you. Read this article to learn more about Fujifilm exposure modes.

Quick visual check

On Fuji cameras:

• Blue f-number = you control it
• White f-number = camera controls it

You may also see the “half-moon” icon, which tells you which command dial will adjust the aperture when using body controls.

Notes for specific camera types

• X-S20 / X-H2 / similar → use the Mode Dial and select A or M
• X-T50 / X-E3 / similar → flip the AUTO lever out of AUTO
• Most X bodies → simply move the aperture ring out of “A”

Once you’re in A or M, you can control the aperture through either the lens or the camera body.

How to Change Aperture Using the Camera

All Fujifilm bodies allow aperture control from the command dials, even if your lens has an aperture ring.

Your camera may offer up to three relevant settings in Button/Dial Settings:

1. COMMAND DIAL SETTING

This determines what the front or rear command dials control.

Older bodies (X-T2, X-E3, X-H1):

• You can swap the front and rear dials
• One controls shutter speed; the other controls aperture

Newer bodies:

• You can assign the front command dial to multiple functions
• Aperture is shown as “F”
• Press the front dial to cycle between functions
• When “F” is highlighted, rotating the dial adjusts aperture

2. APERTURE SETTING (for lenses without aperture rings)

If your lens has no aperture ring (XC lenses, some power zooms), this menu determines how aperture works.

Options:

• AUTO + MANUAL
  • Rotate the command dial for aperture changes
  • You can still select Auto aperture
  • This is what I recommend for flexibility
• AUTO
  • Camera chooses aperture
  • Command dial does nothing
  • You cannot use Aperture Priority or Manual modes
• MANUAL
  • Command dial adjusts aperture
  • No Auto aperture option

This menu is grayed out when a lens with an aperture ring is attached.

3. APERTURE RING SETTING (A) (for lenses with aperture rings)

This controls what the camera does when the lens ring is set to A.

Options:

• AUTO
  • Camera controls the aperture
  • The command dial will not change aperture
• COMMAND
  • The command dial changes aperture when the lens ring is set to A
  • Allows full aperture control from the body

This is useful for photographers who prefer using the command dials over the ring.

How to Change Aperture Using the Lens (Aperture Ring)

Most Fujinon XF lenses have aperture rings. Depending on the lens, you’ll see:

Lenses With Marked Aperture Rings

These have physical f-number markings plus an A position.

To change aperture:

• Rotate the ring to the f-number you want
• Use A for Auto aperture

These rings are marked in full stops, but each click is in third stops.

Lenses With Unmarked Aperture Rings

These have:

• A switch with A and an aperture icon
• A smooth ring with no numbers

To change aperture:

• Set the switch to the aperture icon (not A)
• Turn the ring
• The current f-number shows on the display

Lenses With No Aperture Ring

Examples: XC15–45mm, XC16–50mm

You must use the command dial for aperture control (see previous section).

GF Lens Note

Some GF lenses include a C position.

• C stands for Command Dial
• Use the camera dials to change aperture when set to C

Knowing When You Can Change Aperture

Here’s a quick checklist:

Situation	Can You Change the Aperture?	How
Aperture Priority (A)	Yes	Ring or command dial
Manual (M)	Yes	Ring or command dial
P, S, AUTO, Scene modes	No	Camera controls aperture
f-number is blue	Yes	Lens or dial
f-number is white	No	Camera in control
Lens ring set to A	Maybe	Depends on Aperture Ring Setting (A)
Lens with no ring	Yes	Via command dial

If you see the half-moon icon, that’s the dial to use.

When You Should Control the Aperture

Changing your aperture impacts:

• Depth of field (how much of the scene is sharp)
• Light entering the lens
• Background separation
• Starbursts, diffraction, flare behavior

To work quickly and fluidly, you need to know:

• Which control changes aperture
• How your lens behaves
• How your camera handles Auto aperture

Once that’s second nature, your shooting gets much faster.

Final Thoughts

Fujifilm gives you multiple ways to control aperture, whether you prefer the aperture ring, the command dials, or a mix of Auto and manual control. Once you understand how your camera and lens work together, changing aperture becomes second nature, and you can focus more on the photo in front of you.

If you want step-by-step help setting up your specific Fujifilm camera, you can browse the full list of Fujifilm courses and tutorials here.