I figured I would share my experience on these, note I’m just a old amateur shooter.
I starting out with Fuji, after switching from canon, with a Fuji x-e1 with a mij 18-55......super sharp. I moved to a
x-e2, keeping my original 18-55. I ended up selling everything and going to a x100t, thinking I could get by with that, as it was super sharp, I missed the options of changing lens. I sold that and bought a used x-t1, and purchased a new 18-55 from a kit, from a x-t20. To my surprise, I saw it was made in the Philippines.....I panicked and thought I was ripped off with some counterfeit lens. I googled and saw some were made there. I found the images soft, but was not sure if it was the camera or lens. I bought a 35mm f2, and my images came back to super sharp. I ended up searching and found someone with a new x-t2, and a brand new kit lens that came with it, made in Japan. I bought it figuring I can sell either one for the price I paid. I found the made in Japan 18-55 was back to super sharp, so sharp I sold the 35mm and the other 18-55 from the Philippines. It could, and probably is from copy to copy, not where it’s made on sharpness, but this was my experience....long winded, but just wanted to pass it along. Hey, I’m retired and nothing else to do:>
