Lens Reviews / Fujinon Lenses i Not yet tested

150-600mm

Updates:
09/15/2022: Gallery Images added
09/23/2022: Hands-on Review added

Fujifilm XF 150-600mm F5.6-8 R LM OIS WR Hands-on Review

Is this the dream lens for wildlife photographers?

by Jeremy Gray | Posted 09/23/2022

I love wildlife photography. It's one of my favorite genres. However, a downside to wildlife photography is that it requires a long lens, and long lenses are often heavy and expensive. The new Fujifilm XF 150-600mm F5.6-8 R LM OIS WR avoids both common pitfalls by delivering a 229-914mm equivalent focal length range in a form factor that weighs just 1,600g and costs $2,000. Granted, $2,000 isn't cheap, but it's reasonable for a lens with such a long focal length range.

Fujifilm X-H2S with Fujifilm XF 150-600mm F5.6-8 R LM OIS WR lens at 468mm (701mm equiv.), F9, 1/640s, ISO 500. Click for the full-size image. Click here for the RAW file. Note: I'm using Lightroom's 35mm equivalent focal lengths in my captions which use a precise 1.5x crop factor. The real crop factor is different by about 1%.

Not only that but there aren't many options for Fujifilm X shooters looking to do wildlife photography. For a long time, the Fujinon XF 100-400mm F4.5-5.6 R LM OIS WR has been the best option – and it still is a great option. However, the new XF 150-600mm lens offers significantly more reach for about the same price.

There's more that makes the XF 150-600mm such an exciting new lens. Aside from its relative distinctness within Fujifilm's X Series lens lineup, it's also just a really good lens. I have thoroughly enjoyed my time with the XF 150-600mm F5.6-8 R LM OIS WR lens. Let's dive in and discover what makes it a great addition to the X Series.

Fujifilm X-H2S with Fujifilm XF 150-600mm F5.6-8 R LM OIS WR lens at 600mm (900mm equiv.), F8, 1/100s, ISO 5000. This image has been converted and processed to taste in Adobe Camera Raw. Click for the full-size image. Click here for the RAW file.

Fujifilm XF 150-600mm F5.6-8 R LM OIS WR key features and specifications

• Telephoto zoom lens for Fujifilm X Series cameras
• 229-914mm (35mm equivalent)
• Max aperture ranges from F5.6 to F8
• Internal zoom design
• D x L: 99 x 314.5mm (3.9 x 12.4 in.)
• 82mm filter thread
• Weighs 1,605g (3.5 lbs)
• Weather-sealed
• 24 elements in 17 groups
• Includes 4 Super ED and 3 ED elements
• Nine-bladed rounded aperture diaphragm
• Linear motor autofocus system
• Minimum focus distance is 2.4m (7.9 ft.)
• Max magnification is 0.24x
• Includes optical image stabilization rated for up to five stops
• Compatible with Fujifilm's 1.4x and 2x teleconverters
• Rotating and removable tripod collar
• Removable lens hood includes a slot for filter rotation
• $1,999

Fujifilm X-H2S with Fujifilm XF 150-600mm F5.6-8 R LM OIS WR lens at 600mm (900mm equiv.), F8, 1/1250s, ISO 4000. This image has been converted and processed to taste in Adobe Camera Raw. Click for the full-size image. Click here for the RAW file.

Lens design and handling: Surprisingly lightweight and compact given its focal length

I was immediately struck by its weight when I first picked up the XF 150-600mm F5.6-8 R LM OIS WR lens. It's not a small lens, but it's surprisingly lightweight. While it weighs 1,605 grams (3.5 pounds), which isn't a small amount, the lens is balanced extremely well. The weight is nicely distributed when you hold it near the zoom ring, which is the natural place to put your left hand.

The Fujifilm XF 150-600mm F5.6-8 R LM OIS WR lens is a good-looking lens. It shares its styling with the XF 200mm F2 lens, eschewing Fuji's traditional black finish for a nice, sleek light gray finish.

You'd also be hard-pressed not to notice the lens's silver color. It's the second XF lens to feature this design, following XF 200mm F2 R LM OIS WR. Well, technically, some XC lenses have a silver finish, too, but those are much darker than the XF 150-600mm and XF 200mm lenses. The XF 150-600mm's finish is quite nice. It looks high-end. The black focus and zoom rings provide a nice contrast, and the lens hood is black, too.

The zoom ring is nice and wide, so it's easy to grip. It's also impressive that you can zoom from 150mm to 600mm in a single rotation that's a little less than 90 degrees. Focal lengths are marked at 150, 200, 300, 400, 500 and 600mm. By the way, it's an internal zoom lens, meaning its length doesn't change as you zoom, which is an impressive feat of engineering. It's somewhat uncommon for a tele-zoom lens like the XF 150-600mm to be internally zooming.

The lens hood adds a bit of length to the lens, but it remains a reasonably conpact lens given its focal length range. It's an internally zooming lens, too, meaning its length doesn't change as you zoom.

As mentioned, the lens isn't quite what I'd call small. It's 314.5 millimeters (12.4 inches) long, and its max diameter is 99mm (3.9 in.). The lens has an 82mm filter thread. The lens hood adds about 100mm (4 in.) to the overall length. It's a nice lens hood. It has a locking button and a window you can open to rotate an attached filter, like a circular polarizing filter.

The lens includes a removable, rotating tripod collar. It rotates using a locking mechanism and has two markings on the ring for horizontal and vertical shooting orientations. The tripod foot has an Arca-Swiss design so you can slot it straight into many tripods. I attached my tripod plate as extra protection for the lens' finish since it's not my lens, but that was simply extra caution. There's also a locking dial and a button release to remove the tripod foot outright if you don't need it.

The XF 150-600mm exhibits excellent balance, making it easy to handhold.

Past the focus ring and near the front of the lens, there are four buttons you can use for focus recall, AF-lock, and AF-On functionality. The lens also includes on-body switches for focus range limiting, aperture control, and controlling what the four buttons do. There's no on-body switch for OIS, which is a bit disappointing. There are also hooks you can use to attach a strap directly to the lens. Concerning the aperture, as evidenced by the "R" in the model name, the lens includes a dedicated aperture control ring. It works as expected and is a nice inclusion for photographers who prefer more classic control over exposure settings.

The lens includes a few switches and buttons, although I wish there was an AF/MF switch and a switch to disable OIS on the lens itself.

With a telephoto lens like this, there aren't many situations when I want to focus manually. However, that said, the focus ring feels pretty good in use. Like the lack of an OIS switch on the lens, there's also no AF/MF switch on the lens itself. That's a very minor nitpick.

The lens feels robust in use. While I didn't test it in an outright downpour, I did shoot it in moderate to heavy rain a few times, and its weather-sealing held up, as I expected. The lens is sealed at 19 different points. You never know how tough something is until it fails, but I suspect the XF 150-600mm lens won't fail photographers in adverse conditions. That's great news, considering the lens is nearly perfect for wildlife and outdoor photography.

Overall, the XF 150-600mm F5.6-8 R LM OIS WR lens delivers impressive build quality, design, and usability. The lens looks and feels good in use.

Image quality: Very good

The XF 150-600mm has a lot of elements; 24, to be exact. They're organized across 17 groups and among the two dozen elements are four Super ED and three ED elements.

All the crops seen below are 100 percent crops from raw image files converted in Adobe Camera Raw using default settings and built-in lens correction profiles enabled. I have selected specific images to show, but you can download the full-size raw files for each test scene and aperture in the Gallery.

150mm

Fujifilm X-H2S with Fujifilm XF 150-600mm F5.6-8 R LM OIS WR lens at 150mm (225mm equiv.), F5.6, 1/170s, ISO 160. Sharpness test shot - 150mm - Full. Click for the full-size image. Click here for the RAW file.

At 150mm, the XF 150-600mm F5.6-8 lens is sharp in the center of the image area. Not only that, but the lens is very sharp in the extreme corners of the frame. The lens exhibits good control over aberrations wide open and also displays good contrast and color.

Fujifilm X-H2S with Fujifilm XF 150-600mm F5.6-8 R LM OIS WR lens at 150mm (225mm equiv.), F5.6, 1/170s, ISO 160. Sharpness test shot - 150mm - 100% center crop. Click for the full-size image. Click here for the RAW file.

Fujifilm X-H2S with Fujifilm XF 150-600mm F5.6-8 R LM OIS WR lens at 150mm (225mm equiv.), F5.6, 1/170s, ISO 160. Sharpness test shot - 150mm - 100% top left corner crop. Click for the full-size image. Click here for the RAW file.

The lens becomes slightly sharper by stopping down to F8. It's not especially noticeable unless you zoom in all the way and pixel-peep. However, there's a bit more fine detail after stopping down.

Fujifilm X-H2S with Fujifilm XF 150-600mm F5.6-8 R LM OIS WR lens at 150mm (225mm equiv.), F8, 1/80s, ISO 160. Sharpness test shot - 150mm - 100% center crop. Click for the full-size image. Click here for the RAW file.

Fujifilm X-H2S with Fujifilm XF 150-600mm F5.6-8 R LM OIS WR lens at 150mm (225mm equiv.), F8, 1/80s, ISO 160. Sharpness test shot - 150mm - 100% top left corner crop. Click for the full-size image. Click here for the RAW file.

Stopping down further to F11 doesn't improve image quality. F11 might be slightly softer than F8 due to diffraction, although the performance is extremely close. At F16, the image is noticeably softer, and at F22, the image is very soft.

300mm

Fujifilm X-H2S with Fujifilm XF 150-600mm F5.6-8 R LM OIS WR lens at 295mm (442mm equiv.), F6.4, 1/100s, ISO 160. Sharpness test shot - 300mm - Full. Click for the full-size image. Click here for the RAW file.

While performance is impressive at 150mm, it's not likely to be a heavily-used focal length for most photographers. You typically purchase a telephoto zoom lens for the longer focal lengths. So, how does the XF 150-600mm lens perform as you zoom in?

At 300mm, the XF 150-600mm lens is sharp wide open. By the way, wide open at 300mm is F6.4. The lens is also sharp in the corners.

Fujifilm X-H2S with Fujifilm XF 150-600mm F5.6-8 R LM OIS WR lens at 295mm (442mm equiv.), F6.4, 1/100s, ISO 160. Sharpness test shot - 300mm - 100% center crop. Click for the full-size image. Click here for the RAW file.

Fujifilm X-H2S with Fujifilm XF 150-600mm F5.6-8 R LM OIS WR lens at 295mm (442mm equiv.), F6.4, 1/100s, ISO 160. Sharpness test shot - 300mm - 100% top left corner crop. Click for the full-size image. Click here for the RAW file.

At F8, the lens is similarly sharp. I don't observe the same minimal increase in sharpness seen when stopping down at 150mm.

Fujifilm X-H2S with Fujifilm XF 150-600mm F5.6-8 R LM OIS WR lens at 295mm (442mm equiv.), F8, 1/60s, ISO 160. Sharpness test shot - 300mm - 100% center crop. Click for the full-size image. Click here for the RAW file.

Fujifilm X-H2S with Fujifilm XF 150-600mm F5.6-8 R LM OIS WR lens at 295mm (442mm equiv.), F8, 1/60s, ISO 160. Sharpness test shot - 300mm - 100% top left corner crop. Click for the full-size image. Click here for the RAW file.

The lens is slightly softer at F11 than at F8 and softer still at F16. As was the case at 150mm, performance at F22 is poor, as expected.

600mm

Fujifilm X-H2S with Fujifilm XF 150-600mm F5.6-8 R LM OIS WR lens at 600mm (900mm equiv.), F8, 1/55s, ISO 160. Sharpness test shot - 600mm - Full. Click for the full-size image. Click here for the RAW file.

At or near 600mm is where I spent a lot of time shooting the XF 150-600mm lens. At 600mm, performance is pretty good when shooting wide open at F8. If you're curious, the lens becomes F8 just a bit past 500mm. F8 is pretty slow, which we'll talk about a bit more later. At 600mm and F8, center sharpness is good. There's some vignette, which is more noticeable at 600mm than at other focal lengths, but it's minor and easy to correct. Corner performance remains good at 600mm.

Fujifilm X-H2S with Fujifilm XF 150-600mm F5.6-8 R LM OIS WR lens at 600mm (900mm equiv.), F8, 1/55s, ISO 160. Sharpness test shot - 600mm - 100% center crop. Click for the full-size image. Click here for the RAW file.

Fujifilm X-H2S with Fujifilm XF 150-600mm F5.6-8 R LM OIS WR lens at 600mm (900mm equiv.), F8, 1/55s, ISO 160. Sharpness test shot - 600mm - 100% top left corner crop. Click for the full-size image. Click here for the RAW file.

By stopping down to F11, sharpness performance remains similar, but there's less vignette. It's not often I'd stop down to F11 at 600mm unless I'm photographing a landscape because F11 is quite slow for photographing action unless you're shooting in very bright conditions.

Fujifilm X-H2S with Fujifilm XF 150-600mm F5.6-8 R LM OIS WR lens at 600mm (900mm equiv.), F11, 1/25s, ISO 160. Sharpness test shot - 600mm - 100% center crop. Click for the full-size image. Click here for the RAW file.

Fujifilm X-H2S with Fujifilm XF 150-600mm F5.6-8 R LM OIS WR lens at 600mm (900mm equiv.), F11, 1/25s, ISO 160. Sharpness test shot - 600mm - 100% top left corner crop. Click for the full-size image. Click here for the RAW file.

F16 is moderately softer, and F22 is very soft.

Overall, performance at 600mm is pretty good. The vignette is a minor issue. Otherwise, the lens is sharp and exhibits very good control over aberrations.

Bokeh

The XF 150-600mm lens includes a nine-bladed rounded aperture diaphragm. Although the lens's aperture isn't especially fast, it's still possible to get good bokeh and impressive subject separation, provided you're close to your subject and the background is distant. Consider the image below. This image was shot at about 560mm at F8, but the subject is close to the lens, and the background is far away, so the background is nicely defocused.

Fujifilm X-H2S with Fujifilm XF 150-600mm F5.6-8 R LM OIS WR lens at 560mm (838mm equiv.), F8, 1/500s, ISO 3200. This image has been converted and processed to taste in Adobe Camera Raw. Click for the full-size image. Click here for the RAW file.

On the other hand, the image below, shot at 600mm, doesn't exhibit great subject separation from the background because the subject wasn't super close, and the background wasn't much further away. The grasses behind the heron are distracting since they're relatively focused.

Fujifilm X-H2S with Fujifilm XF 150-600mm F5.6-8 R LM OIS WR lens at 600mm (900mm equiv.), F8, 1/640s, ISO 640. Click for the full-size image. Click here for the RAW file.

Overall, the bokeh itself is pretty nice. However, the relatively modest aperture results in lackluster subject separation when the subject isn't close to the lens or the background isn't way past the subject. Overall, results vary significantly based on the situation. In an ideal situation, the results are excellent. However, the aperture isn't fast enough to compensate for less ideal situations.

Fujifilm X-H2S with Fujifilm XF 150-600mm F5.6-8 R LM OIS WR lens at 150mm (225mm equiv.), F5.6, 1/1000s, ISO 2500. This image has been converted and processed to taste in Adobe Camera Raw. Click for the full-size image. Click here for the RAW file.

Aberrations, distortion and vignette

I had no issues with aberrations or distortion when using the XF 150-600mm lens. There's no obvious or noticeable fringing or longitudinal chromatic aberration. Fujifilm has done a great job here, whether due to software or the optical formulae itself – or, more likely, a bit of both.

Fujifilm X-H2S with Fujifilm XF 150-600mm F5.6-8 R LM OIS WR lens at 600mm (900mm equiv.), F8, 1/1000s, ISO 640. This image has been converted and processed to taste in Adobe Camera Raw. Click for the full-size image. Click here for the RAW file.

As for vignette, there is some, especially at the long end of the lens. It's relatively minor and easy to correct. Granted, I didn't feel the need to correct it in any of my real-world shots.

Overall, high marks here for the XF 150-600mm F5.6-8 R LM OIS WR lens.

Fujifilm X-H2S with Fujifilm XF 150-600mm F5.6-8 R LM OIS WR lens at 600mm (900mm equiv.), F8, 1/1250s, ISO 2000. This image has been converted and processed to taste in Adobe Camera Raw. Click for the full-size image. Click here for the RAW file.

Image quality summary

Overall, image quality is excellent. The lens isn't perfectly sharp when shooting wide open at 600mm, but the performance is still great for a lens of this type. I'd rate sharpness as great to excellent. As for aberrations, there aren't any to speak of, so that's good, too. The vignette is minor and of no real concern to me. Fujifilm has crafted an excellent telephoto zoom lens.

Fujifilm X-H2S with Fujifilm XF 150-600mm F5.6-8 R LM OIS WR lens at 520mm (780mm equiv.), F7.1, 1/800s, ISO 800. This image has been converted and processed to taste in Adobe Camera Raw. Click for the full-size image. Click here for the RAW file.

In the field with the Fujifilm XF 150-600mm lens

Autofocus

Autofocus is delivered via a linear motor autofocus system. Performance is swift and accurate when using the Fujifilm X-H2S camera. Autofocus is noticeably slower in low light, especially when shooting at F8, but that's not to say it's slow, it's just slower. There is also a bit of sluggishness when focusing on something very close to the lens, especially in low light. However, most of the time, the lens' autofocus proved to be up to the task, even when shooting moving subjects.

Fujifilm X-H2S with Fujifilm XF 150-600mm F5.6-8 R LM OIS WR lens at 274mm (411mm equiv.), F6.4, 1/2500s, ISO 5000. This image has been converted and processed to taste in Adobe Camera Raw. Click for the full-size image. Click here for the RAW file.

Speaking of close focus, the lens can focus as close as 2.4m (7.9 ft), which isn't super close. However, given the long focal length and the APS-C crop factor, the max magnification is still 0.24x, which is pretty good. You can get close-up shots of patient wildlife and still-life subjects, even though it's not quite in macro territory. There were some instances when I wanted to focus a bit closer than the lens allowed, but it was rare.

Fujifilm X-H2S with Fujifilm XF 150-600mm F5.6-8 R LM OIS WR lens at 600mm (900mm equiv.), F8, 1/640s, ISO 4000. This image has been converted and processed to taste in Adobe Camera Raw. Click for the full-size image. Click here for the RAW file.

Image Stabilization

The lens's OIS promises up to five stops of shake correction. The OIS works well, but I wish I could adjust the OIS mode or disable it entirely via the lens itself. However, I wanted OIS on most of the time anyway, so it's not a big issue. I could shoot handheld at 1/50s at about 400mm, which is impressive. Not many subjects stay still enough for that shutter speed. Still, it allowed me to compensate for the slower aperture in some situations and capture shots that would otherwise have been impossible at other times.

Fujifilm X-H2S with Fujifilm XF 150-600mm F5.6-8 R LM OIS WR lens at 378mm (567mm equiv.), F7.1, 1/50s, ISO 2500. This image has been converted and processed to taste in Adobe Camera Raw. Click for the full-size image. Click here for the RAW file.

Photographing wildlife with the XF 150-600mm F5.6-8 R LM OIS WR

You can use the XF 150-600mm lens for many subjects, including landscapes, sports, and even portraiture. However, my preferred subject is wildlife. The XF 150-600mm is a great lens for wildlife photography for numerous reasons.

Fujifilm X-H2S with Fujifilm XF 150-600mm F5.6-8 R LM OIS WR lens at 600mm (900mm equiv.), F8, 1/2000s, ISO 4000. This image has been converted and processed to taste in Adobe Camera Raw. Click for the full-size image. Click here for the RAW file.

The focal length range is a big one. The versatility provided by a 150-600mm lens is tough to match. The 229-914mm equivalent range works well for nearly every wildlife subject. Not often did I wish I could zoom in more than the lens allowed. In cases like this, a bit of cropping usually sufficed. Of course, not every subject requires the full 600mm zoom, so it's nice to be able to zoom out. While the fast aperture provided by a lens like the XF 200mm F2 is fantastic for subject separation and working in low light, most of the time, I'd prefer zooming flexibility and extra focal length, even at the cost of aperture.

Fujifilm X-H2S with Fujifilm XF 150-600mm F5.6-8 R LM OIS WR lens at 391mm (587mm equiv.), F7.1, 1/800s, ISO 1600. This image has been converted and processed to taste in Adobe Camera Raw. Click for the full-size image. Click here for the RAW file.

Focal length doesn't mean much if the lens can't focus. Fortunately, the XF 150-600mm lens delivers great autofocus performance in many situations. While there are some occasional issues with slowness or accuracy in very dim lighting conditions, autofocus is swift when working in good or even moderately dim environments. There were only a handful of times when autofocus let me down, and it's possible it was the camera that was the sticking point, not the lens.

Fujifilm X-H2S with Fujifilm XF 150-600mm F5.6-8 R LM OIS WR lens at 600mm (900mm equiv.), F8, 1/800s, ISO 2500. This image has been converted and processed to taste in Adobe Camera Raw. Click for the full-size image. Click here for the RAW file.

The inclusion of OIS is important for a few reasons. First, not every X Series camera has IBIS, although the X-H2S I used does – and it's great. Secondly, when working at long focal lengths, any shakiness is exaggerated, which makes it hard to not only capture a sharp shot, but it's challenging to keep the image frame steady enough to compose the image. The OIS worked well to ensure a clear viewfinder experience and allowed for sharp images at relatively slow shutter speeds.

Fujifilm X-H2S with Fujifilm XF 150-600mm F5.6-8 R LM OIS WR lens at 600mm (900mm equiv.), F8, 1/160s, ISO 12800. This image has been converted and processed to taste in Adobe Camera Raw. Click for the full-size image. Click here for the RAW file.

It's not all great news with the XF 150-600mm lens. The biggest weakness of the lens is the max aperture, especially at 500-600mm when it's an F8 lens. That's not a bright aperture. While the X Series cameras generally perform well at higher ISO settings, there's no way to compensate for the depth of field, which isn't especially shallow when photographing distant subjects. I enjoy strong subject separation and buttery-smooth backgrounds, but that's not always possible with an F8 aperture.

Fujifilm X-H2S with Fujifilm XF 150-600mm F5.6-8 R LM OIS WR lens at 600mm (900mm equiv.), F8, 1/250s, ISO 12800. This image has been converted and processed to taste in Adobe Camera Raw. Click for the full-size image. Click here for the RAW file.

Overall, considering the flexibility, image quality, and overall performance of the XF 150-600mm lens, its shortcomings – primarily its aperture – are fair tradeoffs at its $2,000 price point. The lens works well in nearly every typical wildlife photography situation. The lens is also relatively lightweight, making it easy to carry around and handhold for extended periods. You can't have everything with any one lens, but the XF 150-600mm lens ticks many of the most important boxes.

What about landscape and nature photography?

While landscapes are traditionally shot with wide-angle or standard lenses, like focal lengths from 14mm to 70mm, you can use telephoto lenses to great effect for landscape photography as well. I regularly shoot at 100-400mm to compress a scene or get up close and personal with a small part of a larger landscape.

Fujifilm X-H2S with Fujifilm XF 150-600mm F5.6-8 R LM OIS WR lens at 238mm (357mm equiv.), F8, 27s, ISO 160. This image has been converted and processed to taste in Adobe Camera Raw. Click for the full-size image. Click here for the RAW file.

 

Fujifilm X-H2S with Fujifilm XF 150-600mm F5.6-8 R LM OIS WR lens at 150mm (225mm equiv.), F8, 2.1s, ISO 1600. This image has been converted and processed to taste in Adobe Camera Raw. Click for the full-size image. Click here for the RAW file.

 

Fujifilm X-H2S with Fujifilm XF 150-600mm F5.6-8 R LM OIS WR lens at 284mm (426mm equiv.), F6.4, 1/50s, ISO 2000. Click for the full-size image. Click here for the RAW file.

 

Fujifilm X-H2S with Fujifilm XF 150-600mm F5.6-8 R LM OIS WR lens at 600mm (900mm equiv.), F9, 1/160s, ISO 800. This image has been converted and processed to taste in Adobe Camera Raw. Click for the full-size image. Click here for the RAW file.

Fujifilm XF 150-600mm F5.6-8 R LM OIS WR Hands-on Review Summary

Fujifilm's new telephoto zoom lens makes the X Series more interesting for wildlife photographers

What I like most:

• Relatively lightweight given its focal length range
• Excellent balance
• Weather-sealed
• Strong image quality
• Good control over aberrations
• Reliable autofocus
• Useful OIS
• Versatile
• Fills an important role in the X Series lineup

Fujifilm X-H2S with Fujifilm XF 150-600mm F5.6-8 R LM OIS WR lens at 265mm (397mm equiv.), F6.4, 1/1250s, ISO 2500. This image has been converted and processed to taste in Adobe Camera Raw. Click for the full-size image. Click here for the RAW file.

What I dislike:

• Somewhat dim aperture
• AF can sometimes struggle in low light
• Doesn't deliver great subject separation

While new cameras like the X-H2S and X-H2 are great, I think lenses are more important. They're what make a camera system viable for different types of photography. For wildlife photographers, options have been relatively scarce for the X Series. However, that's no longer the case, thanks to the new XF 150-600mm lens. The lens transforms the entire Fuji X ecosystem, making it significantly better for wildlife and sports photographers.

Fujifilm X-H2S with Fujifilm XF 150-600mm F5.6-8 R LM OIS WR lens at 275mm (411mm equiv.), F6.4, 1/2500s, ISO 5000. This image has been converted and processed to taste in Adobe Camera Raw. Click for the full-size image. Click here for the RAW file.

No, the XF 150-600mm lens isn't perfect. Its biggest weakness is its relatively slow aperture range, especially at the longer focal lengths when it's an F8 lens. However, it does so much so well. Its autofocus is good, the OIS system works well, and the image quality is great. Further, perhaps most importantly, the lens is fun and makes it possible to capture different images than Fujifilm's previous telephoto lenses.

Fujifilm X-H2S with Fujifilm XF 150-600mm F5.6-8 R LM OIS WR lens at 150mm (225mm equiv.), F5.6, 1/160s, ISO 4000. This image has been converted and processed to taste in Adobe Camera Raw. Click for the full-size image. Click here for the RAW file.

When Fujifilm first announced the XF 150-600mm lens, I was immediately excited and couldn't wait to get a chance to try the lens for myself. The wait was worth it, and the lens exceeded my lofty expectations.

• • •

Product Overview

(From Fujifilm lens literature) Engineered for photographers who rely on extreme zoom capabilities, even in the most challenging photographic situations. From distant wildlife to sprawling landscape photography, XF150-600mmF5.6-8 R LM OIS WR is designed to create long-distance images with pinpoint accuracy.

“The outstanding coverage that is achievable with this lens places a range of far- reaching subjects–including wildlife, nature, and landscape details–firmly within frame,” said Victor Ha, vice president, Electronic Imaging and Optical Devices Divisions, FUJIFILM North America Corporation. “An incredible focal range paired with fast, reliable autofocus, and a perfectly balanced, lightweight design removes barriers between photographers and their subjects, so their only limitation is their own creativity.”

The lens consists of 24 lens elements in 17 groups including three extra-low dispersion (ED) elements and four Super ED elements, to deliver an advanced level of image resolution edge to edge across the entire zoom range.

Covering 35mm equivalent focal lengths of 229mm - 914mm, image makers can extend the reach of XF150-600mmF5.6-8 R LM OIS WR through either FUJIFILM XF1.4X TC WR or FUJIFILM XF2X TC WR teleconverters. The lens’s longest focal length extends to 1200mm (35mm equivalent of 1828mm), closing distances in an instant.

The fast autofocus system, driven by a linear motor, attains precise focus quickly and accurately, even in the super-telephoto range, where focusing can be difficult due to a shallow depth of field.

Main XF150-600mmF5.6-8 R LM OIS WR Product Features:

Fujifilm’s longest super-telephoto range delivers premium image quality

HT-EBC coating, typically used on broadcast lenses, has been applied on all elements of XF150-600mmF5.6-8 R LM OIS WR, to achieve high transmittance and low reflectance despite containing 24 lens elements.

Compatible with FUJIFILM XF2X TC WR and XF1.4X TC WR. XF2X TC WR - 300mm to 1200mm (35mm equivalent focal lengths of 457mm – 1828mm; XF1.4 TC WR - 210mm to 900mm (35mm equivalent focal lengths of 315mm - 1350mm.

Rugged yet lightweight design to reduce user load, enabling extended shooting in a variety of situations

XF150-600mmF5.6-8 R LM OIS WR weighs just 3.5 pounds (1605g)1 despite being a super-telephoto zoom reaching up to 600mm. Two super ED elements are used to keep the lens barrel small, while maintaining an advanced level of image-resolving performance. The use of an Inner Zoom system means the lens barrel maintains a constant length at every focal length. This results in a lightweight lens that zooms easily with no shift in weight distribution.
1 without lens hood, lens cap, and tripod collar foot

The lens body is matte silver to mitigate temperature increase under even the most challenging wildlife, nature, and landscape photography environments.

Magnesium alloy is used for the internal base frame that supports the lens structure to maintain durability, while keeping the overall lens weight low.

The lens barrel is weather-sealed at 19 locations for dust and weather- resistance and the ability to operate at temperatures down to 14 degrees Fahrenheit (-10 degrees Celsius).

5-stop image stabilization mechanism

XF150-600mmF5.6-8 R LM OIS WR features a high-precision sensor and control system to deliver up to 5-stops2 of optical image stabilization, making it easier than ever to make images at even the super-telephoto range.
2 Compliant with CIPA in pitch / yaw directions

Diverse functions for fast and silent autofocus (AF) and easy AF operation

XF150-600mmF5.6-8 R LM OIS WR uses the Inner Focus system, which drives the lens with a linear motor to achieve fast and silent AF. Focus is attained in as fast as 0.25 seconds,3 even in the hard-to-focus super-telephoto range.

• The Focus Preset function ensures the lens remembers the focus setting for a location pre-defined with the SET button4. Users can keep creating images without having to re-adjust focus on a targeted subject.
• The Focus Limiter allows users to restrict the lens AF range. This can effectively shorten AF time when photographing a subject that is 16 feet (5 meters) away or more. The Focus Control button is conveniently located at the front edge of the lens barrel4. The Focus Select switch may be used for added operability of AF and focus lock.

*3 AF speed measured at the telephoto end, using CIPA Guideline compliant measurement method, and when mounted on the FUJIFILM X-T4 mirrorless digital camera with Phase Detection AF activated and in High Performance Mode. The AF speed at the wide-angle end under the identical condition is approx. 0.15 seconds.

*4 Fujifilm’s latest X Series digital camera firmware update must be downloaded to activate the lens Focus Preset function and the Focus Control button. An applicable firmware update for the FUJIFILM X-T4, FUJIFILM X-T3 and FUJIFILM X-S10 digital cameras will be forthcoming.

Pricing and Availability

The FUJIFILM XF 150-600mm F5.6-8 R LM OIS WR is expected to be available in early July 2022 at a Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price of $1,999 USD and $2,550 CAD.