The New Mid-Range King!

This is the one we have been waiting for!

Jack Graham was visiting me last week and Fujifilm, knowing that, was kind enough to send me the new “Production” 16-80 f 4.  I was told only three were in the U.S. and I was honored to get my hands on one and test it for myself and all of you!  Both Jack and I are excited to have this an option for that critical mid-range zoom slot in our bags.  I will cut to the chase and tell you now it will replace the 18-135 as my standard middle zoom.  In fact for my upcoming trip to the UP of Michicgn and Acadia N.P, it and the 10-24, and 100-400 will be my three zoom package.  Added to that will be the 80mm  Macro, the four Fujicrons, 23 f 2, 35 f 2. 50 f 2 and the new 16mm f 2.8. a TC-14 teleconverter for use with the 100-400 and 80 Macro will complete my rolling Think Tank Airport Advantage bag for those trips and the two Smokies events in November.

The new lens is shorter than the 18-135, a little lighter and very solidly built.  It takes 72 mm filters and stops down from f 4 to f 22.  The feature I like the most is that it focuses close enough to shoot 1/4 lifesize for those near close-up shots!  Illustrated below with the shot of the Overhad door handle, one with my thumb in the shot to show size perspective.

This will make the 16-80 a great lens for walking around and shooting everything from wide angle 24mm equivilent images to tight shots close in!  The images above were shot at 80mm (120mm eqvuiv.) and they are tack sharp!  Another big plus is that it has 6 (yes six) stops of image stabilization and it remains on all the time, so no need to rurn it off whens shooting from a tripod, and I tested it, tack sharp hand held and on a tripod!!!!

My T-Ray’s hat in the car window, the best burger on the East Coast of Florida at Fernandina Beach, Florida!

Several shots from the Col. Sanders Downtown Park in Corbin.

Downtown they have painted a street scene under the railway viaduct.

What would a lens test be without a couple of brick walls!

Yes, bitingly sharp!!!!  Finally, Chester resting!  You’ve come ot expect a Chester image in most of my blogs, he’s a good boy!  His hair also makes good sharpness test!!!

As soon as we get rain the Smokies I’m going to head down there and take some images in the Park.  For now I can tell you that the 16-80 will become my go to lens.  It is tack sharp, has great rich color fidelity and is a sturdy, well built, close focusing zoom for permaent residence on my X-T3 or X-H1.  I loved the 18-135, but this lens will become it’s replacement in my system!

Once again I must say to Fujifilm’s engineers in Japan; “Well done guys, just what I wanted and I suspect so will thousands of other photographers shooting the X-System!!!!  It’s a Grand Slam Home Run, folks!

Blessings,

the pilgrim

Technical Note:  Please lkeep in mind these images are 100 dpi images for the web, the 300 dpi full res images are even sharper and richer!!!!