{"id":15940,"date":"2016-01-15T04:29:47","date_gmt":"2016-01-15T04:29:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/billfortney.com\/?p=15940"},"modified":"2016-01-15T22:25:19","modified_gmt":"2016-01-15T22:25:19","slug":"xf-100-400-f-4-5-5-6-r-lm-ois-wr-yes-virginia-there-is-a-santa-claus","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/billfortney.com\/?p=15940","title":{"rendered":"XF 100-400 f 4.5-5.6 R LM OIS WR Yes Virginia…….There is a Santa Claus!"},"content":{"rendered":"

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INTRODUCTION:<\/strong><\/span>\u00a0 O.K. so he either came a little late or really early!\u00a0 So, before I gush like a teenager, and sadly I’m going to, \u00a0let’s go over the physical information on the new Fuji XF 100-400 f 4.5 – 5.6 R LM OIS WR .\u00a0 Above is the lens mounted on a \u00a0tripod with the X-T1 Graphite body. \u00a0The lens has 21 elements in 14 groups and they include; 6 extra low dispersion elements, and 1 super low dispersion elements. \u00a0The 100-400 features 9 rounded aperture blades. \u00a0The first great news is that the new lens takes 77mm filters, far smaller than we had guessed it would, most rumor sites were thinking around 82mm! This means polarizers and close up diopters, (like the Canon 500D work great!), \u00a0more on that later!\u00a0 Below is the 100-400 with the lens hood attached, which bayonets on very positively and has a cut out for adjusting a polarizer, with a handy sliding door, much better than the removable, and easy to misplace, one for the 50-140!<\/p>\n

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When the lens extends out to 400mm it only grows 2.5 inches! \u00a0It is solidly made and feels good in the hands, and trust me, with the great OIS you will shoot it hand held, sometimes!!! \u00a0It is rated at 5 stops for OIS and I believe it has every bit of that!<\/p>\n

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THE SIDE CONTROLS;<\/strong><\/span>\u00a0 Top to bottom, the focus limiting switch that allow you to choose full range or 5 meters to infinity. \u00a0The Program or Aperture Priority switch and finally the OIS (Optical Image Stabilization on and off switch). \u00a0Between the zoom ring and the aperture ring is the Lock switch for keeping the lens locked in the 100mm position.<\/p>\n

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PHYSICAL IMPRESSIONS:<\/strong><\/span>\u00a0 The lens is solid, and wonderfully finished. \u00a0The zoom is butter smooth but with the perfect amount of resistance, it does not feel like it will ever get loosey, goosey! \u00a0The tripod collar is a near mirror image of the one on the 50-140 f 2.8. which is good, because it is well finished and solid. \u00a0The two thumb screws that hold the bracket to the lens could use a very small (very, very small) dab of blue Loctite, \u00a0beats constant re-tightening. \u00a0Below a comparison of the new 100-400 and the 50-140. Shockingly, the new 100-400 fits in the same spot in my bag, with minor adjustment. \u00a0The weight difference is 100-400 1,375 grams, \u00a0the 50-140, 1,093 grams. \u00a0The diameter is in keeping with the filter size, 50-140 – 72mm, 100-400 – 77mm.<\/p>\n

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DOES IT PERFORM IT’S INTENDED PURPOSE?<\/strong><\/span>\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0For me a long lens is my tight landscape lens, it’s my wildlife and bird lens, my shooting things I want to shoot close up and tight, but want good working distance from, (like poisonous snakes!), my compression lens for compressing the scene, and my sports lens, even though I do little sports anymore. \u00a0I took the lens down to St. Augustine, Florida this December and captured some tight wildlife images. \u00a0I was thrilled with the performance, but I’ll let you be the judge. \u00a0All images are at the long end 400mm (600mm angle of view equiv.)\u00a0 All of these images, except the wood duck and the monochrome alligator, were shot from a\u00a0 tripod.\u00a0 Those two were handheld. \u00a0With wildlife you either can’t get as close as you would like, or you don’t want to be any closer!! \u00a0In those situation this is the perfect set of focal lengths!<\/p>\n

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OPTICAL PERFORMANCE:\u00a0<\/strong><\/span>\u00a0The lens is tack sharp wide open and at every focal length. \u00a0At maximum aperture the edges are a tiny amount less sharp, but they sharpen up nicely as you close down a stop! \u00a0The inevitable comparison is with the 50-140 which is a legendarily sharp lens! \u00a0Frankly I can’t tell any difference, it’s that sharp!! \u00a0The lens is remarkably sharp across the board! \u00a0Below are a couple of images of a historic billboard on old US 25 shot at 100mm and at 400mm. \u00a0The following images are at the 400mm setting and hand held!!!!<\/p>\n

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HOW DOES IT DO WITH THE XF 1.4 TC WR 1.4 TELECONVERTER?<\/strong><\/span> \u00a0 The image below was shot by my dear friend and killer shooter Jack Graham, (check out his test report of the 100-400 at \u00a0jackgrahmphoto.com) it is made with \u00a0the 100-400 with the new Fuji 1.4 Converter, he is posting a vertical of this same shot on his blog post today that shows, even more clearly, how sharp this lens is with the converter! \u00a0 Below there are a few other examples of the 100-400 with the Fuji 1.4 converter.<\/p>\n

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The following three images are images of one of my favorite places to test lens for sharpness and old wooden garage door with peeling white paint and a door handle with great detail. \u00a0The shots below are; \u00a0first, the 100-400 at 100, \u00a0second is the 100-400 at 400 and the final image is the 100-400 at 400 plus the new Fuji 1.4 converter making it an equiv. 840 mm lens!!!! \u00a0All the full res files are bitingly sharp!<\/p>\n

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AUTO FOCUS TRACKING SPEED:<\/strong><\/span> \u00a0I shot some cars on a \u00a0local street going around 45 mph at 10 fps and got sequences of 15 and more images all tack sharp. \u00a0Here are a few from each end of the sequence and the middle shot.\u00a0 Admittedly this isn’t NASCAR,\u00a0 but for the kind of action shooting most X-Shooters do, this is great performance.\u00a0 I shot some interstate traffic at almost twice that speed and they were tack sharp as well.<\/p>\n

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CLOSE UP PERFORMANCE:<\/strong><\/span> \u00a0Below are examples of a penny taped to my small Route 66 mini license plate. The first shot is the lens at 200mm at the close focus distance, the next at 400mm at the closes focus distance with the Canon 500D diopter. \u00a0The distance from the front of the lens to the penny for this shot is an amazing 16 inches. By-the-way, both were hand held!!!!!<\/p>\n

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HOW ABOUT THE OPTICAL IMAGE STABILIZATION?<\/strong><\/span> \u00a0I would never consider hand holding a lens of this focal length, however in the interest of giving the OIS a fair chance, I shot the penny above at near 1:1 (life size). \u00a0Ready for this…. at 1\/67th of a second. \u00a0Think about that, this lens at 400mm is actually the equivalent of a 600mm lens, and the penny images above is shot at high magnification, and it’s tack sharp. \u00a0A remarkable performance, it also works very well with the Fuji automatic extension tubes.\u00a0 The image below is of a CD case on my office desk shot with the 100-400 at 400 at the closest focus distance at 1\/400th of a second wide open f 5.6 with OIS turned on.<\/p>\n

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O.K. SO WHERE DOES THIS LENS FIT INTO MY SYSTEM?<\/strong><\/span> \u00a0One of the best things about the X-System is the incredible selection and quality of the lens line. \u00a0The only big hole in the system just got filled with the 100-400. \u00a0I can now have coverage from 15mm to 600mm and beyond thanks to the 1.4 converter. \u00a0Would I like a 400mm f 2.8? Not really, don’t want to carry it, pay for it and actually don’t need it.\u00a0 The 100 to 400 is a 5.6 at 400, or (600mm equiv.) and the overall performance is just stunning.\u00a0 Now, what is\u00a0 most exciting to me is we have now seen Fuji come out with twenty one lenses and there is yet another on the Road Map for this year, the 120mm f 2.8 Macro that goes 1:1 this is one I can’t wait to see and shoot!.\u00a0 I own the vast majority of the lenses Fuji has released, and I can say, without any reservation, that I’ve found each and every one to be spectacular!\u00a0 When I bought my first three, (18-55,\u00a0 35 1.4 and the 60mm Macro f 2.4) I never thought that I was going to see the parade of great glass we have been treated to!\u00a0 What I appreciate most is that Fuji has taken my advice and that of\u00a0 many other dedicated X-shooters, to not compromise their high standards for their optics!\u00a0 I hate to admit that for a while I held my breath with each new release.\u00a0 It didn’t take long for me to realize they were keeping their promise, \u00a0so I don’t hold my breath anymore! \u00a0 They certainly have kept their promise with the 100-400!<\/p>\n

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If you need the focal lengths in this lens, I can highly recommend it, \u00a0so it gets 5 stars from me!<\/p>\n

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Bottom Line:<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n

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* \u00a0 Super well built, weather sealed, very reasonable size and weight.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

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* \u00a0 Autofocus is quick and accurate with the X-T1 and X-T10.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

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* \u00a0Optically, near perfect, it and takes 77mm filters! \u00a0Yeah!<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

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* \u00a0Close focus distance makes it a near macro performer and mates well with automatic extension tubes and the Canon 500 D diopter. \u00a0* with 500 D it achieves almost 1:1 – life size, at 16 inches\u00a0of\u00a0working distance\u00a0from the end of the lens.<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

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* \u00a0Works great with the Fuji 1.4 tele-converter.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

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* \u00a0OIS (Optical Image Stabilization) works fantastic.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

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* \u00a0Excellent, smooth, tripod collar and \u00a0foot.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

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* \u00a0A screaming bargain for the price!<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

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With the release of this lens, I have reconfigured my bag and this is what I will carry on my first few trips this year, as always we will \u00a0see how this works, I will let you know!<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

The Tamrac Anvil Slim 15 will hold the following: \u00a02 X-T1 bodies, 10-24, 16-55, 35 f2, 18-135, 60mm Macro, 55-200, 100-400, 1.4 Converter, Spare batteries and accessories.<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

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Blessings,<\/p>\n

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the pilgrim<\/p>\n

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Just in case you’re listening Fuji, please be sure the 200 Macro has a tripod collar!!<\/p>\n

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    INTRODUCTION:\u00a0 O.K. so he either came a little late or really early!\u00a0 So, before I gush like a teenager, and sadly I’m going to, \u00a0let’s go over the physical information on the new Fuji XF 100-400 f 4.5 – 5.6 R LM OIS WR .\u00a0 Above is the lens mounted on a \u00a0tripod […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[3,10],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-15940","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-chronicles","category-learning"],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/billfortney.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/15940","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/billfortney.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/billfortney.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/billfortney.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/billfortney.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=15940"}],"version-history":[{"count":170,"href":"https:\/\/billfortney.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/15940\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":16254,"href":"https:\/\/billfortney.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/15940\/revisions\/16254"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/billfortney.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=15940"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/billfortney.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=15940"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/billfortney.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=15940"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}