Pros & Cons
-
- Excellent optics
- Focuses quickly
- Dust and splash protection
- 1:3 macro focus
- Teleconverter compatibility
-
- Defocused highlights can show onion ring effect
Fujifilm Fujinon XF 70-300mm F4-5.6 R LM OIS WR Specs
| Dimensions | 5.2 by 3.0 inches |
| Filter Thread | 67 |
| Focal Length (Telephoto) | 300 |
| Focal Length (Wide) | 70 |
| Focus Type | Autofocus |
| Full-Frame Equivalent (Telephoto) | 450 |
| Full-Frame Equivalent (Wide) | 105 |
| Mount | Fujifilm X |
| Optical Stabilization | Optical |
| Weight | 1.3 |
| Zoom Ratio | 4.3 x |
The Fujifilm Fujinon XF 70-300mm F4-5.6 R LM OIS WR ($799.99) is an appealing lens for X system photographers who've long sought an alternative to the excellent, but expensive, XF 100-400mm F4.5-5.6 R LM OIS WR. The 70-300mm is lighter too, optically excellent, and works with a teleconverter. It's a better lens than the older XF 55-200mm, and our Editors' Choice.
Lightweight and Weather Sealed
The XF 70-300mm is priced $100 higher than the XF 55-200mm, a reasonable premium. The 70-300mm is weather sealed, a feature important to outdoor photographers and missing from the 55-200mm, and it's compatible with the XF teleconverters.
The only mark against the weather protection is a lack of anti-smudge fluorine—you'll want to use the included lens hood to prevent stray raindrops and fingerprints from hitting the glass.
At 5.2 by 3.0 inches (HD), 1.3 pounds, and with a 67mm filter thread, the 70-300mm is a decidedly easier to carry than the XF 100-400mm (8.3 by 3.7 inches, 3.0 pounds, 77mm filters). The focal length is a little shorter, but a 1.4x teleconverter will close the gap, but does cut the amount of light the lens can gather in half.
It's light enough to pair with some of Fujifilm's smaller gripped cameras, including the X-T30 and X-T3. I tested it along with the X-S10, a combination that proved to be perfect for walking and some feeder-side birdwatching.
Build quality is excellent. The lens telescopes when zooming with smooth action. The rubberized control ring is comfortable and is clearly separated from the manual focus and aperture controls. The barrel extends when zoomed in, standard for this type of zoom. A lock switch is included to prevent it from creeping outward when the camera is hanging at your side, a premium touch.
The aperture ring isn't marked—this is a variable aperture lens, so the maximum setting changes along with the focal length. It's still included, though, as is expected with an XF series lens, positioned near the mount. There's a toggle switch nearby to switch between using it to set the f-stop or moving that function to the camera body.
Fujifilm also includes a focus limiter switch. When limited autofocus system only searches for subjects further than 16.4 feet (5m). It's something you'll want to turn on when photographing distant subjects—there's no chance the camera's autofocus will try and lock onto something closer. Over the full range the lens can lock on as close as 2.7 feet (0.8m), good enough for 1:3 macro results.
Autofocus is confident and silent. The manual focus experience is pleasing too. The focus ring turns smoothly and the focus motor responds without any noticeable lag. Optical stabilization is included too, good news as many of Fujifilm's X cameras don't include IBIS.
In the Lab
I used Imatest software to check the XF 70-300mm's resolution when paired with the 26MP X-S10. The pair delivers photos with outstanding resolution when tested at 70mm and 135mm, even when used at maximum aperture.
It loses a little bit of clarity at 200mm, but still nets images with excellent detail even shot wide open, f/5 at this focal length. Detail falls off a little bit at 300mm f/5.6, dropping to the very good range, but picks right back up into the excellent range at f/8.
See How We Test Cameras and LensesSee How We Test Cameras and Lenses
You'll want to skip using the f/22 setting at any focal length—the iris is so small that light scatters as it passes through, blurring things a bit.
While this isn't a wide aperture prime or F2.8 zoom, you can still get plenty of background blur. Defocused highlights take on the expected cat's eye effect toward the frame edges when shot wide open, but are perfectly rounded when stopped down just a little bit. There is a visible onion ring pattern in brighter areas of the bokeh, a distracting effect when they show.
Gets It All Right
Fujifilm has ticked all the right boxes with its Fujinon XF 70-300mm F4-5.6 R LM OIS WR. It covers a focal range that's absolutely useful for photographers interested in photographing wildlife and outdoor sports, and has some extra appeal to nature photographers by way of its weather sealing and macro capability.
It's a lot easier to carry, and less than half the price, of the XF 100-400mm. There are still reasons to opt for the bigger lens—you may want to take it even further with a teleconverter without narrowing the f-stop too much, for one.
It's an easy pick as an Editor's Choice. If you're choosing between it and the XF 50-200mm there's no question—the XF 70-300mm is the one to get, and a compelling upgrade if you own either the 50-200mm or the low-cost XC 50-230mm.