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Bird photographer Kiko Arcas tests the FUJINON XF500mmF5.6 R LM OIS WR Into the wild with Fujifilm’s newest telephoto lens
“This new telephoto lens is light; you can’t imagine it until you hold it in your hands for the first time,” states Arcas. “I was surprised about how it could be built in such a compact, sealed and lightweight way. For image makers who carry a camera on their shoulder while on a long trek – or a sports photographer who wants to work handheld without the need for a heavy tripod – it is a tremendous advantage.” Working in tandem with its manageable weight is the lens’ Optical Image Stabilisation (OIS) system, providing up to 5.5 stops of correction while working handheld. This has enabled Arcas to further reduce the weight of his kitbag. “I have been able to make several trips into the forest without the need for a tripod,” he notes. “The stabilisation of the lens and the
that was confirmed when I saw the first results.” While a zoom like the XF150- 600mmF5.6-8 grants a longer max focal length, Arcas suggests that the two lenses fulfil different roles. “This starts from a base aperture of f/5.6 at 500mm, while the zoom will be at f/7.1 for the same focal length. It may not seem like much, but this step is noticeable in twilight hours, meaning I’m not forced to raise the ISO to inappropriate values. “While we lose some versatility compared to the zoom lens, we gain luminosity and sharpness while saving weight – this prime is 300g lighter than the XF150- 600mmF5.6-8,” Arcas adds. Indeed, weighing 1335g and measuring just 255.5mm in length, the XF500mmF5.6 is a surprisingly portable option.
XF500mmF5.6, Arcas went on the search for fleeting moments of natural beauty and was almost immediately struck by his expanded reach and newfound precision. “This focal length is ideal for working with birds, be it from a hide, a car or just walking through the woods,” he says. “In full-frame, it would be equivalent to 762mm – perfect for the photography of elusive subjects such as raptors and small woodland birds. “The lens fills a gap between the FUJINON XF200mmF2 R LM OIS WR and the XF150-600mmF5.6-8 R LM OIS WR. In terms of the optical quality, I believe it is equal to the XF200mmF2 – the sharpness is superlative and the defocusing is unbeatable. When I first had it in my hands, I could tell that I was looking at an excellent lens – an impression
ORNITHOLOGIST AND BIRD photographer Kiko Arcas set out into the Spanish heat to test the FUJINON XF500mmF5.6 R LM OIS WR – the X Series’ latest addition to its growing line of telephoto lenses. “It’s not the most ideal time for conditions,” begins Arcas. “It’s too hot, the ground is very dry and the birds have already bred, so their feathers are quite worn out due to the long breeding period. “I decided to focus on birds of prey – in this case, the common buzzard (Buteo buteo) – and a small migratory bird I love, which visits us in summer from the east coast of Africa: the red-backed shrike (Lanius collurio). This, in theory, should guarantee me a good result despite the season.” Equipped with his trusty FUJIFILM X-H2S, as well as the
22 Photography News | Issue 118
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