Fujifilm XF 55-200mm Six Years Later

[@stayuntilforever]

It's my most used lens over 6 years. There’s so many shots and portraits I've taken with this one I thought they were shot with my primes. It crushes my old Canon zooms. I was actually really surprised over the quality of the image quality. It’s also the lens that I have made most money with on prints.

[@DamianBrown]

A true testimony to it's capabilities, and yours!

[@henrysiegertsz8204]

I used my 7 year old 55-200 today at Haddon Hall. If you have any doubts about IQ have a look at what Andy Mumford does with his.

[@DamianBrown]

Good shout!

[@michael2968]

this is the next lens on my list to get, love a good 200mm

[@DamianBrown]

Yes! Bit easier to carry than the 200mm f2 :)

[@joemann2178]

I bought this lens a couple of years ago second hand. It's the lens I use the most and it's incredible.

[@DamianBrown]

Brilliant stuff! I could do with it out in South America at the moment. The longest I brought is 75mm and I'm seeing so many amazing creatures just too far away to capture properly.

[@NickBarang]

This is a fantastic lens, I did let mine go, but only because pandemic separation (stuck in another country for years) left me picking up the 70-300 and I don't really need the 55mm end of things as that's covered by the 16-80 and several primes. Good call :-)

[@DamianBrown]

I think you made the right call too!

[@RodLittle]

Its a lens that is well worth re-visiting when/if you move to the newer bodies, on the XT-1/X-Pro1 if I used it, I regretted it, X-T4 and later its usable and acceptable results. I've finally conceded and 70-300 arrived this week, as the 50-140/100-400 are magnificent but not travel/hiking friendly for landscape..

[@DamianBrown]

As much as I love my 50-140... I'm definitely not lugging that around either!

[@enigmabletchley6936]

In my experience an excellent and versatile lens. Image quality is way above its price point and I use it a lot for architectural detail on buildings. An even bigger bargain at a used price which is how I got mine. Completes the triumvirate of the 10-24, 18-55 which makes a neat walk around kit.

[@DamianBrown]

Thanks for this comment! Love the idea for the real world use there!

[@aayanrashid7913]

Hey, Im kinda confused between two options, either this 55-200 or a canon ef 70-200 f/4 with a fringer. Lots of guys saying good words bout the ef lens on youtube but ive got no experience with the fringer adaptor so confused if there will be loss of quality. The XT5 really pulls out weakness of any lens, 40mp is crazy.

[@DamianBrown]

I haven't tried that canon lens but I'd lean towards going native in this case

[@swagonman]

I bought it new when Fuji 1st released it. Still love it. But it is ***not*** WR. Used it first on my XE1. Now it’s my long lens for my XT4.

[@DamianBrown]

You're right :)

[@johngreenwood9247]

This lens is more than adequate! It's even better than the sum of its parts. It's not my most used lens, as I tend to favour primes, (particularly the original 18/F2 & 35/F1.4 over the latest "WR" 23/F1.4, when travelling light with my X-Pro2), but its form factor/usability wins me over every time. I even changed it a year ago, for an XF70-300, as I thought that lens would pair better with my XF16-80 and XH-2. However with my existing primes, I missed in particular the wider end of the "older" lens XF55-200 lens, and when the opportunity arose I quickly changed back. As an aside, several years ago when I bought into the Fuji system with an XE-1, I owned the XC 50-230mm lens. This lens again surprised me with its usefulness and performance for the money! After subsequently purchasing an XT-2 I owned an XF50-140 for a while. This was (is) a brilliant lens, but I couldn't justify its retention for the limited occasions I used the focal length range, ...and it's so heavy!

[@DamianBrown]

I really want to revisit that XC lens when I'm back in the UK!!!

[@peterscott-jones9998]

I love this lens and use it on my XT5 with the new Reala Ace sim and WB set to 5500k, try this if you can, it’s BRILLIANT!!!

[@DamianBrown]

Great tip!

[@charliejg]

I was looking at this lens on the used market for a while because I want something with some longer reach for sports. Then, I my local shop had a new one. I asked to try it and I was taken back at how light it was which made me wonder about build quality. So, I kind of stopped looking. The problem is that the better alternatives(50-140, 70-300, 100-400) area either hard to get or hard to afford! LOL! Anyone here have experience using this lens for sports? Thoughts? Thanks for the nice overview. Have a great day!

[@DamianBrown]

Good question. Hopefully somebody reading this who has used it for sports can tell us. I imagine depending the focus system and light it could be do-able with the right technique.

[@manuelb8808]

The quality of the images seems to me much more than decent, so maybe you've got a trained eye I haven't. I stock this very lens for many years now and it has served me well, not that I use it much because I rather go bare minimum in size and weight when carrying. Anyway, it's a must of a lens for the average Fujista and a bargain compared to the rest of the brands. And I suppose that's the strength of the house; you can have a decent equipment for a reasonable price -unlike the 'fullframe' brands, despite its many quirks.

[@DamianBrown]

Absolutely!!!! And we have choice these days at least. I think these "older" lenses have so much life left in them and at generally decent prices compared to the new gear.

[@jpr-tech]

Excellent review brother! I love second hand gear. Same quality for less! I actually have the plastic wonder 50-230mm OIS ii. It's way cheaper, longer range and just as sharp. Just gotta take good care of it and you are good to go!

[@DamianBrown]

Ye I'm hoping to revisit that XC lens soon!!!

[@philipfoster7269]

Damian. Come over to the other side of Brum now and again, into the Black Country. Mucklows Hill and The Leasows or Client. I think you'll it.

[@DamianBrown]

When I'm back to the cold UK I will mate, thanks for the tip! I get lazy sometimes

[@guillaumecouet1294]

Thank you for this very comprehensive review. I have an XT5 and am looking to buy my first telephoto lens. I have a Viltrox 13, a sigma 18-50 and a 23mm. I am mainly looking for a telephoto lens for landscape. Which lens between a 55-200mm, 70-300mm (18-120 or 18-135 also...) would you recommend? are the last two mentioned far behind in terms of image quality? and is there a big difference between the 55-200 and 70-300 in terms of rendering? Many thanks!

[@DamianBrown]

I honestly think this is well up there and has loads of life to give if the range is more useful to you. I haven't shot them side by side but to my recollection it's close

[@brownbear100]

Actually think the prices have fallen a lot over the last 6 months, especially for the older lenses targeted at pros. Paid €400 for my 16-55 in excellent condition, €700 for the 100-400. Unfortunately lenses I'm also considering selling have dropped a bit too, like the 23 1.4 LM WR and 50-140, but you can't have it both ways! Either way I've dabbled with buying new, but as I like to chop and change around a couple of core lenses, staying with used going forward.

[@DamianBrown]

That's brilliant, my 16-55 cost over 6 but I don't regret it at all. If I pulled the trigger earlier I had 575 in my sights.

[@michaelwhiles5282]

Purchased a 55 -200 from Camera Jungle an age back - it was JUNK (faulty) and got a refund after somewhat of a minor battle. I've NEVER purchased from them again. Used both lenses but prefer the longer 70 -300 as the extra reach is useful, also sharper, however I had/ have limited use for a long tele so back to a 90 F2 and don't miss the longer zoom range.

[@DamianBrown]

Thanks for the heads up about CJ!

[@charliejg]

I'm still patiently shopping for a zoom lens, but I also use the XF90 F2 to shoot sports and you're right, it's fantastic. I really wish the 90 could take the 1.4X teleconverter. I wouldn't be shopping any more. The dream is to get the 50-140, but that of course is a budget issue! LOL!

[@noyo1444]

What is he talking about? Thats one of the best lens Fuji ever made……🤷‍♂️

[@DamianBrown]

imagine