Fujifilm XF 100-400mm 8 Years Later

[@tjkrueger2655]

The people complaining about the 150-600 aperture always conveniently ignore this fast zoom that offers a lot of performance and IQ for the price, esp used. Options are good, pick your weapon.

[@DamianBrown]

yessss pick your weapon!

[@danielschmaderer]

I’m sure the 150-600 is a nice lens, but for me personally, the 100-400 is more for me. I don’t have enough light when I go out to shoot wildlife, so the f/8 would be a bit of a bother for me. That’s just me, but I’m sure it won’t be a problem for others, especially with that 600mm length, which is equivalent to a crazy 900mm full frame.

[@rvpcqp]

The problem is that new lenses are supposed to be an upgrade… 150-600 is 2/3 stop slower than 100-400 at every corresponding focal length. Fuji’s decade old red badge lineup severely needs updating but instead they make really odd choices for new lens designs that nobody asked for (8mm f3.5, 30mm f2.8, 150-600 f5.6-8, 16-50 f2.8-4.8) while continuing to lag in AF ability. Fuji isn’t the trailblazing value proposition it was 5-10 years ago… options are vastly better on other systems these days.

[@tjkrueger2655]

@rvpcqp they need to be updated, why exactly? Because they're not new? You've got an agenda you're trying too hard to push

[@rvpcqp]

@@tjkrueger2655 they need to be updated because they’re a decade old. Smaller, lighter, improved min focus, etc… My agenda is Kaizen. What’s yours?

[@alanplatt888]

Its blistering fast focusing ability is probably its best attribute for flying objects. I own one.

[@DamianBrown]

Brilliant, thanks Alan

[@brucekraft744]

This lens is my Fuji "Big Gun." Every time I use it, I am surprised at how manageable it is hand-held. Good topic for a video!

[@DamianBrown]

Agreed! It's probably my favourite xf "big gun" lens

[@ErraticBuddha]

Had the 70-300 which is great, light and great minimum focus distance but wanted more reach so got this beast secondhand for less than a third of a new 150-600 and super happy with it.

[@DamianBrown]

Can't fault that!!

[@slawomirczajkowski9481]

my 100-400 is a little sharper than my 70-300

[@lumberjack3008]

Selling it was a great relief, as I never liked the rendering of busy backgrounds and sharpness isn’t great, compared with the 150-600mm, which is much better balanced too and has higher AF C hit rates.

[@DamianBrown]

Thanks for your comparison!!! Much appreciated.

[@duringthemeanwhilst]

I've had this lens for a year or so now and use it primarily for bird photography. sometimes it struggles to focus in poor light but nothing I can't live with. I had it on a T5 to begin with, but found that camera too small and light with it. On my H2 it's better. IQ is fantastic, though my daughter shoots with the 70-300 on an S2 and that I think is sharper (or she's just a better photographer than me!!). I just wish build wise it had a numbered aperture collar. I've got old Nikkor variable aperture lenses with a numbered collar so it can be done!

[@DamianBrown]

I agree, the H2 is definitely the better body for it!

[@danielaargandonalowe9764]

Hey Demian, how are you today? I use it on my xt4, never a problem, same lens since 2019, and a whole of travelling in the middle. My copy is fantastic, I shoot birds, mammals, and even landscape and some close up photography. That said you need to know how to work on editing photos. Take out noise with some app, (I use T. Denoise) Usually my camera is on Iso 600-800. Also you need to download the latest firmware. I have both 150-600 and 100-400, I prefer the latter! Have a great day , Greetings from Uruguay.

[@DamianBrown]

Hey Daniela. I'm good thanks! You? I like to use dxopure raw 3 now for the denoising, but it's good to hear another trusted opinion!

[@brownbear100]

Would never have picked one up even at used prices until recently when they really started to drop. Just paid €715 for one (£625), just a tenner more than my 70-300 cost. Will be curious to have a bit of a lens off with these two.

[@DamianBrown]

You should do it and let us know!

[@Beinhartwie1chopper]

The lens is as sharp as your haircut !

[@DamianBrown]

While it lasts :D

[@Snapit551]

Great video as usual 👌 I use this lens at daytime events as I’m able to reach subjects on stage from far

[@DamianBrown]

Thanks!!!

[@TungstenOvergaard]

Hi Damian. One question!: the 90mm f2 AF do you know if is on par (very fast) with new f1.4 trio? Thanks in advance. I’m thinking on buying it.

[@DamianBrown]

Pretty much, for most things!

[@morii9651]

Hello sir Damian I hope u can help me. I recently purchased a used 100-400 at 1k usd my issue is that at around 300-400 it struggles to acquire focus or focus at anything at all. Is this normal for this lens? What I do as of the moment is focusing on the foreground while creeping in to the 300-400 range just to acquire focus but it only works 30-40 percent of the time. I update both my xt3 and this lens I hope u can clarify wnd help me sir 🙏

[@DamianBrown]

Sorry this is late but I didn't have that problem with the lens I had to try it. Did you ever see any improvements or get it changed?

[@rikza9249]

Could you help me please this or the tamron, cause yes i like the fuji IQ and fuji colour on the glass, tamron offer more utilities like the lock button, bigger and better base plate, more button on the lens and even the reach 10:46 10:46

[@DamianBrown]

Sounds like the extra practicality of the Tamron would work best for you. The IQ is comparable and the colours can be worked with just fine but being able to use all the extra features could be better for you.

[@enigmabletchley6936]

I've been a mirrorless wildlife shooter since the GH-2 and Lumix 100-300. When I cast round to improve the experience, believe it or else, the X-T3 and XF100-400 was the only real game in town if I wanted to continue to shoot mirrorless. I've shot with it ever since and I have a love/hate relationship with it. When it is spot on it is fantastic but it has two major foibles that drive me nuts. Firstly, you cannot shoot with the OIS turned on above 1/250. If you shoot at, say, 1/2000 and you (accidentally) leave it on, your photos will be soft. By contrast, if I shoot at 1/160 for animal portraits the photos are incredibly sharp, that is how good the OIS is. Secondly, it is soft at 400mm. Even poorer with the TC1.4x. It is only the advent of DxOPureRAW that has made it possible to continue shooting with the lens. It is also worth pointing out that the tripod foot is ridiculously short and I have an after market replacement foot which is arc-swiss compatible. Sadly, I have to say that this lens has put me off buying the 150-600 as I am not sure it won't be more of the same. Also, weight considerations mean that I will probably move over the m43rds for wildlife early next year. I am not complaining, this is still a very good lens and I have even used it for some pro-work when I needed the reach (non-wildlife) but you need to work out its issues and be aware of them when shooting high speeds and at the long end.

[@DamianBrown]

I didn't experience the OIS problem or the 400mm problem but I know you're not the only one to talk about those issues. The tripod foot point is also very valid, thanks for that!!

[@enigmabletchley6936]

@@DamianBrown The first time I used my rig to photograph Red Kits in Buckinghamshire I was incredibly disappointed with the results. I was fortunate to find a KZbin video by the 'Angry Photographer' who explained the weird issue of adding shake to photographs by using the OIS system above 1/250 shutter speed. At the very least you need to be on Mode 2. I have found this problem with the X-T3, X-t4 and X-H2S and I don't think it is a sample variation issue. Fuji need to own up to this problem and fix it in future version of the lens.

[@StephenSmith-ls1nf]

I’ve never seen you on the car park roof mate

[@DamianBrown]

You know the spot mate! I'm not there that often to be fair.

[@StephenSmith-ls1nf]

Yeah I know it very well.. I’m a Sheldon man through n through.. I fancy this Lens for my X-S10

[@recmydream]

I see you borrow camera in airport))

[@DamianBrown]

My camera :)

[@73smoo]

I'm using it for a couple of years on my X-T3 mainly for wildlife. Great lens but I'm also not content with the IQ at 400mm. For a long time I thought the fault is behind the camera, then the air, now I think it's the lens. But maybe it's the camera? It's still a mystery...

[@enigmabletchley6936]

I think it is the lens. The weakness continues with the X-H2S (I started with the X-T3, upgraded to the X-T4, then the X-H2S). It is a shame Fuji won't acknowledge its short comings and maybe create a V2,

[@DamianBrown]

Seems you're not the only one, personally I haven't noticed the issue but maybe there's a quality control problem?