A professional, large aperture zoom lens must produce stunning images and the XF16-55mm uses nine-blade diaphragm to help minimize spherical aberrations.
The lens is made of 17 elements in 12 groups, which includes three aspherical elements to reduce any distortion and spherical abberations. In order to maintain edge to edge sharpness across the entire zoom range, three extra-low dispersion elements are also used which help to control chromatic aberrations.