Daily Archives: December 7, 2014

 

I hate the term Fanboy!  It’s so demeaning, its sounds like you are a sell out, you’ve caved, that you have no will power!  Man am I going to hate it when people call me that, but I guess I’m asking for it!  This is a review of Fuji’s new XF 50-140 f 2.8  OIS WR telephoto lens.  Let me get this out of the way first:  It is without question among two or three sharpest, and finest made lenses I’ve ever had the pleasure of shooting.  If you knew that I’ve owned hundreds of lenses and many of them “Legendary” glass, you would feel the weight of that statement!!!

 

O.K. with that out of the way,  let me share why I believe that what I just said is absolutely true!  First let me tell you how I categorize lenses.  I think they fall into one of four categories:

 

LEGENDARY – Legendary lenses are superlative in every way.  Scalpel sharp, great color rendition, just the right contrast, superior mechanical build.  These are lenses that if you are shooting with them, and your images are not utterly amazing, it’s not the lens!

 

PRO-GRADE  –  Pro-Grade lenses are very sharp, tack sharp, they are built to work hard, and have all the optical characteristics you demand.  They are perfectly suited to any critical application, just not Legendary.  Still superior glass!!!

 

GOOD  –  Sharp enough for non critical uses and users, build quality acceptable if you do not mistreat them.  Capable of making very nice images, a good way to save money of your needs are not critical.

 

JUNK  –  Poor build quality, all over the board, inconsistent optical performance, funky color, low contrast or too high contrast.  I don’t own any,  and don’t plan to either!!!

 

So where does this new lens fit into my categories, Legendary!  Before we go on talking about what makes this sweetheart a Legendary lens, I know you’re wondering where do the rest of the Fuji lenses fit on my scale, I will get to that by the end, but I’ll tell you now that not a single Fuji lens that I’ve bought, and I own 10, is anything less than a sold Pro-Grade!

 

Now why am I so madly in love with the new 50-140?   Number one, when shot carefully on a tripod, it is the sharpest 70-200 f 2.8 equivalent lens I’ve ever seen, Period.  The image that leads the blog shows the simply wonderful bokeh at f 2.8 at 140mm.  Below are two more tripod shot images the first at 50mm the second at 140mm.  They speak for themselves!

 

 

The second thing that was very impressive was just how effective the OIS (Optical Image Stabilization) is in this lens.  I can only go by my own experience, which is,  that I’m just not that steady anymore, and even I was able to make some truly sharp images!  Illustrated below, all hand held.

 

1/60th of a second at 140mm

 

 

 

1/200th of a second at 140mm and close focus  (the little decoration was about 3 and half inches square.

 

 

1/200th at 140mm

 

 

The third thing that impressed me about this lens is it’s close focusing ability.  Below is a image of the snowman on my front porch, I held up a soda can for size perspective, and the next image is at closest focus distance at 140mm, then the third image is with the Canon 500D diopter attached with a 72mm-77mm step up ring.  This lens is tack sharp with the diopter and I am sure will play very nice with the new automatic extension tubes coming from Fuji!

 

 

Closest focus, with the lens alone at 140mm.

 

 

Now with the Canon 500 D diopter attached.

 

 

Below is a hand held close-up shot, something I would have never done in the past, and shot at 1/60th of a second at 140mm and tack, tack sharp!  The subject matter is dedicated to Zack Arias!!

 

 

I love the tripod collar, it is rock solid and very smooth, much smoother than on lenses costing hundreds more.  I have only one major complaint!  Now I have to completely re-figure my camera bag to fit it in……. and what do I leave out!!!

 

 

My ratings for all the Fuji lenses I own:

 

LEGENDARY:  14mm f 2.8   –   23mm f 1.4   –   56mm f 1.2   –   50-140 f 2.8   –   60mm Micro

 

Between LEGENDARY & PRO GRADE   (Almost LEGENDARY):    10-24 f 4    –    35 f 1.4    –   18-55 f 2.8-4

 

SOLID PRO-GRADE:     55-200 f 3.5-4.8   –   18-135 f 3.5-5.6

 

GOOD:  Samyang/Rokinon 8mm f 2.8

 

 

Well, at least that’s the way I see them, I would welcome your opinions too!

 

One last thing!  I am using a Mamiya RZ-67, hard rubber hood that allows moving the polarizer with the hood, and gives added protection of the very firm, metal reinforced rubber construction.  It is a 77mm hood, so I use a 72 to 77 step up ring. These lens hoods were all the rage of sports shooters covering college and NBA basketball because the would not injure players flying out of bounds!

 

 

 

Blessings,

 

the pilgrim

 

….and a star is born title,  yes double meaning!  Merry Christmas!