Fujifilm 100-400 Zoom | The Best Lens That I Will Never Buy (photo examples)

[@fabienb]

What do you think about the Fujfiilm XF100-400 zoom lens? Would you buy it? Let me know!

[@dougdavies1089]

I love it i bought it back last year i find it great with my X-T2 and grip

[@fabienb]

@@dougdavies1089 Well done! It's such a great lens... I think having the grip is making it a lot more balanced. I had the grip with the X-T2 but didn't buy it for the X-T4

[@SD-nh4ug]

I bought it especially for wildlife and sports. The construction is of a very high standard, sealed against rain and dust and every ring is smooth and soft. Optically this lens is really fantastic, except at the full aperture at 400mm, where it is just excellent according to me. But, I agree with you that, for the small and light body of the XT4, it is really heavy and it's hard to be able to hold it firmly after a few minutes without trembling, especially if you don't have any additional grip. Perfection doesn't exist, there's always something that goes wrong, but you can get rid of this by fixing it on a monopod.

[@fabienb]

@@SD-nh4ug cheers. I really love this lens, wish I had more uses for it because its quality makes me want to use it more and more. Only with a 2x teleconverter it degrades a little, especially the autofocus, but with the 1.4x it's still the same great lens

[@SD-nh4ug]

@@fabienb I think Fujifilm users are really in love with their stuff. I could afford buying the 100-400, that is not cheap, but I would be curious to try on the 200mm f2, said as superlative by owners and the specialiezed press. Unfortunately, it's really expensive, but can you tell me what's your opinion about it ? Who knows, maybe I ignore the existence of a rich uncle that I don't know, and about to die ! :-D

[@julieholland9639]

I've had this lens for a few months now, using it on an XT3 as my crop sensor setup for nature and wildlife. love this lens, so sharp, after using a tamron 150-600 this feels light especially with the smaller camera

[@fabienb]

Thank Julie! It is a fantastic lens. I haven't published many reviews but I felt this was necessary because I really enjoy using it. I normally rent it directly from Fujifilm whenever I need to shoot a SuperMoon and then I shoot a bit of wildlife in the spare time. I just started a new moon series on Instagram so there's going to be a few of those... But yeah, phenomenal lens!

[@UZHHORODVENTSERVICE]

I have couple of questions for you.What settings do you use for capturing sports events and fast moving objects. With this lens! my camera is Fujifilm xt3

[@racuchy]

i've jest order it, i live next to a big park with a lot of birds, so we'll see how it go :) love the sample photos you showed in video. i think best ones i saw, and i watched many reviews of this lens

[@fabienb]

Thank you so much for your kind words. I had a fantastic time with this lens and I believe my enthusiasm helped me capture those photos. Everything comes out better when you love what you're doing 😊 Hope you will enjoy it! And send me a link to your photos

[@wealthekanem6888]

Thank you @Fabien for this amazing review. I am a nikon shooter and recently began loving the fujifilm primarily because of its colors. I have been watching many reviews about the camera and lens. But I think your review has capped it for me! I hope to be able to purchase the camera soon. Thank you so much!

[@fabienb]

Cool! I used to shoot Nikon a long time ago (my last Nikon was the D200) and Fujifilm has pretty much the same wonderful ergonomics so I'm sure you will find it easy to make the jump! And like you said, colours are simply amazing ☺️

[@cresk]

I’ve been in the same boat. Traded my Nikon stuff years ago and looked back.

[@chrisjbeech1994]

Hey man, nice to chat to you in London by the river this evening! Love your pics!

[@fabienb]

Hey Chris! My pleasure and thank you :) Look forward to finding you shooting in our area again :)

[@LondonViewpoints]

Good vlog, especially enjoyed the first part in the woods, as well as the final timelapses 👍🏻

[@fabienb]

Course you did 😉 Thanks Michael! You'll probably see me with this lens again for the next Supermoon!

[@Optidorf]

I've got one and it really is an excellent lens. The image quality is superb, the autofocus is reasonably fast and the OIS is working miracles. I don't think it's *that* heavy, but it's certainly not a lightweight. The real drawback is the price which is pricing itself outside the market. I bought mine with a cashback three years ago and I purchased it for 1250 euro. In the meantime prices have gone up to even 1900 euro which is just ridiculous. The 70-300mm is a nice alternative and while image quality will be somewhat less good, the affordable price makes more than up for that.

[@fabienb]

Yes indeed. I replied about the 70-300 in another comment and I think it's not fair to compare it to the 100-400 because that is almost like a kit lens quality while this is a red badge premium lens. The 70-300 wins in portability and is now my travel zoom lens but I can't compare the quality (image, build, etc)

[@oldgittarist]

I'm fortunate to own this lens and agree - it is superbly sharp and capable of stunning images. For wildlife, sport and even landscape it is excellent, I use it with my XT-2+ booster pack. However I probably wouldn't take it hiking or travelling!

[@fabienb]

You're absolutely spot on! I forget about the battery grip but I have one for the X-T2 myself and indeed it helps with balancing a heavier lens. I used to use it on the 90mm F2 as well and on the Nikon 70-200 WR I used with an adapter... I don't have one for the X-T4 though but it does help. Thank you and happy new year!

[@UWI-Anna]

I have an XT2 and 100-400 performance is a hit and miss so I bought an XH-1 and now I have a higher keeper rate :)

[@fabienb]

Thanks. Good to know.. The X-H1 was released after the X-T2 so I suppose it had improved autofocus, that may be one reason

[@Artofthesingle]

I have the XT2 and 100-400 also. Performance and keeper rate are very hit and miss. One day I’ll get a newer camera.

[@fabienb]

That's a shame. But then again, autofocus is much faster in the cameras released after the X-T2 (and the X-T2 was already far far better than the X-T1) so hopefully you'll be happier when you upgrade. What are the most common issues for you? Just speed or something else?

[@Artofthesingle]

@@fabienb yea just speed. Slow to focus and it hunts a decent amount when trying to lock on. It is pretty sharp when I get a keeper.

[@-OEG]

Can i ask what afc settings you use on the xh1 for tracking birds in flight? Im currently on setting 6 with 0 - 2 and front. Mixed results but the good ones is insane. Best regards Ollie

[@koolkutz7]

Nice overview of a decent looking lens. I have just bought the Fujifilm X-S10 and mainly photograph/film wildlife so looking to get a telephoto lens. I am torn between getting the 100-400mm or the new 70-300mm lens. Both have weather-sealing, focus limiter, linear motor, and both can take teleconverters. That 100-400mm is big, bulky, twice as heavy and twice as expensive as the 70-300mm so these are things to consider.

[@fabienb]

Unless you absolutely need the 400mm (and 1200mm equivalent with the 2x tele), I would 100% go for the 70-300. Because it is compatible with the teleconverters I'm even considering selling the 55-200 and take the 70-300 with me when I travel. Almost the same size and weight but more options. I'll miss something between 55 and 70 but I probably can live with that ☺️ Cheers Steve!

[@koolkutz7]

@@fabienb Yes the 70-300mm would be a good travel option; better for your back! I also use a Nikon D7500 + Sigma 150-600mm C lens and that is heavy!

[@fabienb]

I come from Nikon, I know the lens... that's why I'm using Fuji now 😉

[@koolkutz7]

@@fabienb Yep! Saves your back :-)

[@fabienb]

@@koolkutz7 100% ☺️

[@vitorazinheira2195]

My best lens on Fuji system, @ f.5.6 and f8 everything is sharp, best lens I tested on this range. I just try Sony 200-600 on my A7III and I not able to get images so sharp, returned the Sony 200-600 and Keeping my Fuji and buying XT3 or XT4

[@fabienb]

It is a really great lens, like all the red badge Fuji lenses. In terms of sharpness this still surprises me every time :) Glad you're having such a good time with it

[@bill3117]

I just bought the "Beast" used. It hasn't shipped yet. So this video is most welcomed while I nervously wait to see if it is in good shape and useful too me. I plan to use it with my XH-1, I may try it with my XPro-3 for the challenge. I love my 50-140 (I also use 1.4X and 2.X teleconverters). But I'm hoping this 100-400mm will provide better quality via less cropping when I use the 50-140mm. Great pictures! Thank you!

[@fabienb]

I'm sure you won't be disappointed! I'm fortunate to be able to borrow this from Fujifilm almost any time I need it but otherwise I would definitely buy it myself. The 50-140 is also a great lens. Like I mention in the video, every "red badge" lens is absolutely top of the line: great built, great glass, etc. I'll be curious to see what you get from the lens :)

[@bill3117]

@@fabienb Finger crossed that the glass on this used lens is scratch free ;) Personally I always use a UV filter from day one on all my lenses regardless of picture quality fears.

[@fabienb]

Hey, did you receive it? How are you finding it so far?

[@cresk]

Get the grip for counter balance and you’re all set. As a bonus you will experience a faster autofocus and enhancement in overall performance.

[@fabienb]

I had the grip on my previous Fujifilm cameras and liked it. But I found myself using it less and less and with the improvements on the battery with the XT4 I did not feel the need for another grip. But that helps, absolutely. Thanks mate

[@cresk]

@@fabienb me neither. Since I have the X-T4 it performs so well that I’d need a very strong excuse to buy the grip for it.

[@fabienb]

Exactly! I have a video here somewhere where I shot a sunrise timelapse... With the previous cameras I would have needed the grip or a dummy battery and a charger to go through it. But the X-T4 kept shooting for almost 3 hours with 30% battery to spare at then end ☺️

[@LucaPetraliaPhotography]

Nice video! I went for the 70-300 for the same reason. Bulk, weight and cost were not right for me... but what a lens this is

[@fabienb]

Thanks!!! Yeah I'm going to buy the 70-300 for travel. It's almost the same size of the 55-200 that I use now but the 70-300 is more versatile because it accepts the teleconverters as well, so it could be 70-900 in a very compact size. I'm waiting for Fuji to send me one to test before I buy it but most of the feedback I heard is very very positive. How do you find it?

[@summers9218]

The mouse is losing you and its terrified seeing you hehee..The lens is so sharp. You have a gift there you can capture great moments.

[@fabienb]

The mouse was sooooo cute! :) Thanks a lot for the appreciation mate. Would you be interested in more wildlife photography? Do you like my Street and Landscape too? Cheers

[@bill3117]

I have one on the way. Love the Moon pictures.

[@fabienb]

Thank you! Xmas present on the way ;)

[@DroneUpPL]

I bought one this week to use with my X-T3, nowa waiting for the delivery. I hope I can shoot some nice photos with it :)

[@fabienb]

It's a really great lens, should have lots of fun with it :)

[@DroneUpPL]

@@fabienb I think so. I saw and read every review before buying :)

[@fabienb]

Has it arrived now? How are you finding it?

[@DroneUpPL]

@@fabienb it has but I could make only a few photos, have no time. First impression is great.

[@fabienb]

I'm glad!

[@robinchollet7571]

Hi, I search a lens for wildlifephotograhy. I use a Canon 1dx but the real problem is to find a good L series (with a big aperture f2, 8 or f4 like a 500mm f4 or 300mm f2,8). With 2000e you've got nothing! (in France) 🤯 With 3k yes... It's so frustrating. I've got an xt2 (i use this camera for streetphotography). I'm curious about this 100-400mm. A good choice for a wildlifephotograher? The xh1 (and the xh2 in the futur maybe) is a better combo for this lens? 🤔

[@fabienb]

Bonjour! This lens is made for wildlife and sport and every single person I know that owns one praises its quality, so you won't be disappointed. The XH1 may be a better option than the XT2 with this lens in terms of balance (because it is slightly heavier) and if you intend to shoot video, but otherwise the image quality is exceptional with both cameras. I wouldn't recommend this lens to every photographer even though I love it, but for wildlife? A thousand percent! ☺️ And always remember you have the option to rent a lens if you're not sure ;) Cheers

[@colinfoxie]

Great review, could you explain how the "zoom lock switch" works on this lens, it is a pull out or it screws out, I heard that it only locks at 100mm, something I'd like to know so that I don't damage it when I buy one, thanks

[@fabienb]

Hey Colin, thanks for the comment. The info you read is correct: it only locks at 100mm and serves the purpose of keeping it locked when travelling (if it's in the bag, on a shoulder clip, on a tripod or else); it's not a way to set your zoom then lock it, which could be a nice to have indeed. So, in the bag it should be locked, then you grab your lens, mount it and unlock it to use the zoom feature. It's different on the 70-300: on that lens you can lock it to transport the lens but then you simply turn the zoom and it unlocks itself. Which sounds less safe but so far so good :)

[@UZHHORODVENTSERVICE]

Hi, thanks for the nice video, I have э couple of questions for you.What settings do you use for capturing sports events and fast moving objects. With this lens! my camera is Fujifilm xt3

[@fabienb]

Hello. Thank you so much! I wish there was a simple answer. You obviously need a fast shutter speed and that will depend on your subject: here in this video I show a photo of a bird that is blurred even at 1/1250s so you need to test the necessary speed on your subjects. I'd say to use a speed equivalent of your focal length or even twice as fast, so with a 400mm, better go with 1/800s and then take it from there. With that, you also need to consider aperture and depth of field. If you want to isolate your subject, go as wide as your lens allow, F1.4, F2... But then if your subject doesn't move left to right but instead moves towards you or away from you it is much harder to keep it in focus. Also if you're in a stadium you may want to include the fans so maybe close it to F8... Then of course there is the ISO. Now, all Fuji cameras are ISO-invariant but you still need to be mindful of noise after ISO 3200... Stay as low as you can, but my advice is always to use what suits you: a noisy image is better than no image at all. In this video I added the settings next to each photo, maybe they can help as a starting point.

[@actstuntcam]

That was great. Nice images.

[@fabienb]

So glad you enjoyed it, thank you!

[@lumberjack3008]

I have the 100-400mm for quite a while now and it isn't a really sharp lens. Overpriced. Due to the AF and tracking deficits of all Fujifilm cameras (X T3+X T4) the results are quite frustrating, even with a lot of training. It needs a lot of light.

[@fabienb]

It needs a lot of light, especially handheld, because it's a long lens. As I explain in the video, there is a general rule in photography stating that you should shoot at 1/length for acceptable results. Meaning, for example, that if you shoot at 400mm, which is 600mm equivalent, you should be shooting at 1/600s. And that doesn't take into account the speed of your subject: a flying bird may easily need twice as fast shutter speed. That's not Fuji, it's any telephoto lens. The longer you go the more trade-offs you need and the less forgiving is the lens. About the sharpness, try to contact Fuji or a camera shop and see if it needs recalibrating because it is actually a pretty sharp lens. You shouldn't feel frustrated by it ✊🏻

[@97ali]

Thank U for this vlog bro Will buy it 😀🖤

[@fabienb]

You won't be disappointed ☺️👍🏻

[@frankb4483]

Nice video Fabien. How is the image quality compared with the 70-300? Till now I use the 55-200 for photographing animals in the zoo, or birds in my neighborhood. I am interested in the 70-300, but the 100-400 is an option too. However, the weight and the extra cost are negative points.

[@fabienb]

Hi Frank, thank you. I finally managed to get hold of the elusive 70-300mm so I can actually answer. The 100-400 is of superior quality in every aspect but it comes at a much higher price and a considerable extra weight. The real comparison would be between the 70-300 and the 55-200. The 70-300 feels cheaper, because it has more plastic parts but it can be a more interesting solution as a travel lens because you effectively get up to a 70-600 (if you use teleconverters) all packaged in a light and compact lens only slightly longer than the 55-200. Considering it has the same filter thread than the 18-55 kit lens, I'd say that it could be targeted to the same users who shoot with it and maybe don't need to use the 55-70 length too often. After a week of random use, the image quality and the autofocus seem on par with the 55-200. I think Andy Mumford has done an in-depth comparison. But to me it's a lost battle Vs the 100-400, it only wins in portability. Hope this helps

[@frankb4483]

@@fabienb Thanks Fabien for your detailed answer. If image quality is on par with the 55-200, I think that is good enough for me. The weight and the extra cost of the 100-400 and the fact that I will not use the lens constantly made me decide to go for the 70-300. In my country (the netherlands) the 70-300 is already out of stock for a long time, so I have to be patient. Thanks again.

[@fabienb]

@@frankb4483 the 70-300 is a hard lens to get. We have the flagship Fujifilm store in London and I was top of the requests list but it still took 2 months. Bear in mind I did not use it for an extensive time as I only received it a week ago, so I really recommend you check Andy's video for a thorough comparison. But so far `i'm pleased with it :)

[@frankb4483]

@@fabienb I always watch Andy's videos. He was positive about this lens, but probably will not buy one because most of his landscape work is shot in the range from 55 to 70 mm.

[@BlaxkNobility]

Where is the location of this video I would like to try out that lens on my X-T3 and X- H1

[@fabienb]

Hello! It's mostly shot in 2 locations: Richmond Park and One Tree Hill. St. James's Park is also good for a quick lens test :)

[@ShrihariSankaran]

I've been considering buying this lens for moon photography. So thank you for this video :) One quick question. Can you tell me the shooting location of the Tower Bridge full moon photo? Where did you shoot it from?

[@fabienb]

This lens works wonders for moon photography and is still great with the 1.4x teleconverter. With the 2x it depends as the minimum aperture will be F/11 then so it may not always be ideal. But very much recommended. The location was a private apartment so I can't help you much here. You will have a similar view from London Bridge but being closer the moon will appear slightly smaller. Still a great alignment though 👍🏻 Cheers

[@ShrihariSankaran]

@@fabienb Thank you so much for your response. I'm renting this lens from Fujifilm's House of Photography this weekend to shoot some fireworks along the London skyline from Primrose hill. Let's see how it goes :)

[@fabienb]

How did it work for you? I didn't go out for the fireworks myself this year... How did you find the lens?

[@morespinach9832]

How about the settings on the lens?

[@fabienb]

Hey there! There are shooting info on the bottom left corner next to every image I show here... Is that what you were looking for?

[@alfredyb5578]

5:13 the bird was trying to tell him his sky was falling apart and being torn by whatever camera hes using 🤷🏻💡

[@fabienb]

Yeah I suppose that's exactly what happened! 😄

[@cynthiachin-lee1848]

Thanks a ton. Liked!

[@fabienb]

Thank you so much! 🙌🏻

[@stuarthaythorn183]

I’ve always wanted the lens for wildlife photography but like you, I don’t do it that often so I can’t justify the £1500 price of the lens. Love the vid and what did happen to that 🐭?

[@fabienb]

Cheers Stuart! The great thing is that a rental is always an option. The 100-400 is so good that it's nice to just play with it every now and then ☺️ The mouse, which I thought was a dormouse at first, was curious and came pretty close but then went hiding again. I heard him follow me for a while through the leaves but lost him in the end. That was cute, wasn't it?

[@israelgalindo6600]

I have that lens and it’s the best lens I have ever bought.

[@fabienb]

Thanks mate! I really like this lens, even though it starts feeling a little 'aged' compared to the most recent long zoom lenses. But it still produces amazing photos! 👌🏻