Relaxing POV Wildlife // Fujifilm X-H2S + XF 150-600mm First Impressions

[@NHydeWI]

First time here and I am loving this video. Appreciate the editing, calmness and quality. As a Fuji user, you’re making me really question whether or not to invest in the XF 150-600 or XF 500 - I was sold on the XF 500 until this video…

[@Mr.Stickyrice]

Thanks ! Great Video. Totally agree with your point about dxo pure raw

[@RoLOLRomania]

BRO has 114 subs and such a gorgeous video damn, keep it up nice photos

[@jessejayphotography]

Thank you for the kind words!

[@grudy07]

Great shot of the Merlin!

[@jessejayphotography]

Thank you! They are fairly rare in my area-being only brief migratory birds. These pair are still here as of July 2024. They must have nested somewhere near the lake.

[@Carlos-jh5tb]

This latest firmware update made the xh and xt cameras a lot better with auto focus. The tracking has improved with my xt5 when in electronic burst and panning

[@jessejayphotography]

I’ve been surprised by the performance of the XH2S compared to an R5. I do wish there was the ability to assign a button to spot focus AF (at least I don’t see the option).

[@cklime00w]

Hi, what is the latest firmware for this lens? I can’t find on the website. Thank you.

[@Josecunyat]

@@jessejayphotography you can assign a button to spot AF... just keep disp back pressed for 2 seconds... and adjust the option in the button you prefer...

[@RafizGasimov]

Greetings from Azerbaijan. Good luck to you. I am glad that you answered everyone.

[@jessejayphotography]

Thank you! Thanks for watching.

[@racuchy]

thanks man, im relaxed now ;) great vid, i've just subscribed. some day i will buy this bigass lens and just go for a walk in a forest. best regards from poland ;:)

[@jessejayphotography]

Glad you enjoyed it and glad you are here!

[@TheRealJimmyLundy]

Nice video and congrats on getting a 150-600. I have been checking daily and it's been out of stock for four months.

[@jessejayphotography]

We are actually in the same boat. I rented the lens featured in the video to test it out and I'm still currently waiting for a backorder. Hopefully soon 🙏🏼

[@Schoolofrockfan172]

great stuff!

[@jessejayphotography]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@twllve]

Fantastic video, looking forward to other things you post.

[@jessejayphotography]

Thank you very much!

[@AlexMcDougallPhotography]

Excellent video, looking to get the same camera, lens combo in the new year. Thanks

[@jessejayphotography]

Thanks for stopping by, Alex. I just got back from a western road trip and shot a ton of photos on this setup. New video coming sometime this month so stay tuned for more.

[@DanYosua]

Nice vid, almost always worth getting out there again! Even though I've looked into this a bit at your suggestion I hadn't realized it was an internal zoom.

[@jessejayphotography]

Internal zoom and a 82mm front filter thread. Which, when thinking about it later, is also a big plus for me concerning video with this lens. RF 200-800 is 95mm front thread which means new variable ND and more cost. There are some other benefits of the internal zoom I didn’t talk about in regards to perhaps using a water housing from outex…🥸

[@DanYosua]

@@jessejayphotography yeah 95mm is biggg

[@jeffklpo]

Awesome video, can I ask what the app is called for the bird sounds? Thanks and keep up the fantastic work.

[@jessejayphotography]

Merlin Bird ID

[@a97b18b]

Currently have a xt5 and canon r6. I use the 100-500 with 1.4, but trying to decide between the Fuji 150-500 and canon 200-800. If I stick with canon I’ll still have the 1.4.

[@jessejayphotography]

Canon is taking their sweet time announcing new cameras and lenses. I would love to try out a RF 200-800 but I can’t even rent one until August of this year. I have a trip planned this summer and will need a long lens. After using the 150-600 on my XH2S it performed well enough for me and it is currently my top choice. It’s also on sale for a great price!

[@peterjackhandy]

But isn't the 200-800 f:9?

[@Strongfingers88]

aweseome video brah. Just sold my 150-600 actually but i loved it. Moving to canon now.

[@jessejayphotography]

I’m going back and forth between 150-600 or the RF 200-800 for my R5. I just had so much fun with the 150-600. Other issue is the 200-800 is almost non-existent anywhere to buy.

[@Strongfingers88]

@@jessejayphotography yeah I went with the 500mm f4 is mark 1 and the R7 I’m excited

[@jessejayphotography]

@@Strongfingers88 going big!

[@tiewpatchuban-langeturer.]

The video has a very interesting storyline. Thank you for sharing. Thanks

[@jessejayphotography]

Glad you enjoyed it.

[@David_Quinn1995]

wow 3rd small great wildlife photography channel YT has recommended to me today, is the algorithm finally good or is this a fluke?

[@jessejayphotography]

Welcome aboard! I’ve noticed this too. YT seems to be pushing smaller channels and deprioritizing channels with large-ish subscriber counts.

[@David_Quinn1995]

@landscapesandmotion I am liking it, I want to find channels that still have a passion and not just seeing dollar signs.

[@bicishoots]

Nice vid. Lovely location and the merlin photo is stunning. I like the XF 150-600, the internal zoom is part of what convinced me to go for it over the XF 100-400. For the high ISO photo (12800, I think) which settings did you use for DXO PureRAW 3 (e,g DeepPrime DeepPrime XD, etc.)? Thanks in advance!

[@jessejayphotography]

I use XD for the higher ISOs 3200+ and maybe turn down the sharpening a bit depending on the photo.

[@TabiatYolcusuET]

What is the name of the application you use to find birds? Nice video

[@jessejayphotography]

Merlin Bird ID

[@fjcorrea90]

Nice video. By the way... What app did you use in the video to recognize the birds singing?

[@retrowavedriver]

Merlin Bird ID

[@jessejayphotography]

Yep, Merlin Bird ID

[@RafizGasimov]

The answer I'm looking for

[@josephnaranjo8286]

What about the autofocus? I've heard isn't good enough in low light and lot of noise.... Could you please help me know more about it?

[@jessejayphotography]

Hi Joseph, First, people have different definitions of "low light". I comfortable shoot photos with this setup up to 15-30 minutes past sunset at ISOs as high as 12,800. In the second half of the video most photos there are at ISO range 6,400-12,800. The photo of the ducks is 6,400 ISO. All photos were processed with DxO PhotoLab 7. You can be the judge if the quality is good enough for you. Secondly, if AF performance is your absolute highest need for a camera setup then I would recommend getting a latest generation Sony Alpha camera. They lead the industry and that is just a fact. Does that mean the AF is terrible on the XH2S...No. It's quite good actually and I've used FF cameras like the Canon R5. I'm happy with the AF performance and the photos I have been getting with this setup. This is still a APSC sized sensor. There are limits to what it can do. Can FF sensors do better? Yes; thats just physics of CMOS sensors. Can it still take awesome freaking photos? Hell ya.

[@josephnaranjo8286]

@@jessejayphotography really appreciate your honest response... Thank you for your help.

[@Nickrb_]

surprised how little likes this video has, Great video Tho

[@jessejayphotography]

Thanks for the kind words. I’m just a small channel and stoked to get the amount I get at the moment!

[@berdel]

great video! which lens filter do you use with the 150-600? its proven a tricky one as many filters break its amazing inage quality! . I had the R5 with the 100-500 and it was amazing but this lens just does wonders and has so much extra reach that the RF100-500 was just not worth it.

[@jessejayphotography]

Thanks! This lens just had a protective filter on the front. Didn’t seem to affect image quality at all. I use Chiaro Pro 99-UVBTS UV filters on other lenses and they are excellent.

[@berdel]

@@jessejayphotography thanks for the info!

[@malu637]

Hi, great video as always. Question: how is the app showed at the beginning of the video called?

[@jessejayphotography]

Thank you. App is Merlin Bird ID

[@pmamarasinghe97]

what is the app ? that recognize sounds

[@pmamarasinghe97]

is that merlin bird ID

[@jessejayphotography]

Yes, Merlin Bird ID from Cornell University. It’s an excellent app.

[@pmamarasinghe97]

@@jessejayphotography yeah that's a life savior

[@Spamn4]

Why are you specifically recommending the Hs for this lens? I am owning a T5 and I am coming from an 100v and I regret Fujis decision of a 40mp Sensor on APSC Format.

[@jessejayphotography]

Technically, diffraction is already degrading the image at f/8 on this lens when used with a 40MP APSC sensor. Does it make it useless on a X-T5? No, but it does exist on the test shot charts. Also, the X-H2S has the best autofocus and fastest rolling shutter of any fuji camera as of summer of 2024 so that is why I would recommend the X-H2S for a lens like this when shooting wildlife or motorsports.

[@Spamn4]

Thank you very much for your reply and for sharing your experience and technical knowledge! I am considering to get one of these lenses for my T5 as well even thou I am by far not as skilled as you are. It is fascinating me how close you can get with this lens within an affordable budget. Loved your video and I am wishing you all the best for your Chanel!

[@peterjackhandy]

​@Spamn4 I recently (1 month ago) bought the x-h2s specifically to use with the 150-600, which I've used with my x-t5 for ~6 months. The x-t5 works beautifully with the long lens, but the x-h2s is streets ahead for any fast-action shooting. 40fps; big pre-shot buffer; faster auto focus lock & tracking but, most of all for me, the PASM dial custom presets! Never thought I'd move away from the lovely knobs & dials, but being able to go from 1/3,200sec; 40fps+pre-shot; bird id to 1/1000sec; 20fps, no pre-shot; eye detect or 1/125sec; s/shot or 120fps video etc. etc. With 1 click of the dial, Is magic for a bloke like me, shooting wildlife, surfing, bikes, skateboarding etc. Did I trade-in the x-t5? NO & have no intention to do so - I simply love that camera for concerts, festivals, events, landscape.......

[@Earthsong26]

Which continuous focus setting did you use or get the best results with so far? I have an XT3 and have been playing with it for quite a while for wildlife

[@jessejayphotography]

Single point AF-C with AF-C Custom Setting #2 for birds and #1 for animals. The X-H2S has generally better AF-C success than the XT3 most of the time so it won't be 1-to-1.

[@vzn9_150]

What app was that used in the video?

[@jessejayphotography]

Hello, the app is Merlin Bird ID.

[@amalvibes2494]

Which app too you use caching birds voice

[@jessejayphotography]

Merlin Bird ID from Cornell University. They have bird packs for much of the world.

[@trailingrails9953]

While I love the concept of this super zoom, I can’t fathom why they didn’t make it faster, given we’re working with a crop sensor that doesn’t like the 16,000 ISO that full frame sensors can get away with.

[@jessejayphotography]

It would have been nice to be a 6.3 but it isn’t and it hasn’t bothered me.

[@peterjackhandy]

I see this comment all the time, but the results I've been getting in the 6 months or so I've had the lens say otherwise. When you take into consideration that this would be an 840mm lens on a full-frame, f:8 is better than most & unbeatable at the price point: Just wind it back to 400mm (f:6.5/7.1) for a fair comparison with the 600mm f/frame lens; then compare the strain on your left shoulder on a multi-hour shoot.

[@jessejayphotography]

Fuji says it's a 912mm FF FOV (600*1.52) at F8 so smaller and lighter than the RF 200-800 F9 and internally zooming. People knock the lens all the time and, yes, if it was brighter it would be more flexible. And the DoF argument...well I usually stop down FF lenses to get the subject completely in focus so the F8 on this lens is perfect.

[@hvargas1442]

Great vid man! Are you shooting in Canada? Never heard Canada Geese called cobra chickens 😂

[@jessejayphotography]

I'm in northeastern U.S. If you ever get attacked by an irate goose you will know why they are called cobra chickens.

[@vukhuat4251]

Some videos show the XH2S get worse after the latest firmware. Could you confirm that information? Is it true or not? Thanks in andvance!

[@jessejayphotography]

I was running firmware 6.00 when I shot this video.