Fujifilm XF 70-300mm f/4-5.6 R LM OIS WR Review
The Fujifilm XF 70-300mm f/4-5.6 R LM OIS WR shown on the Fujifilm X-E4
XF 70-300mm f/4-5.6 R LM OIS WR Lens Review - An Excellent Lightweight Telephoto Zoom Lens
When I found out Fujifilm was releasing the XF 70-300mm f/4-5.6 R LM OIS WR I was excited and knew I wanted to test and review it as soon as I could and perhaps even add it to my Fujifilm XF lens lineup.
I used to shoot sports all the time and even wildlife occasionally. Lately, one of my favorite applications for telephoto lenses has been landscape photography.
With this in mind, I took the XF 70-300mm f/4-5.6 R LM OIS WR on a 900-kilometer, 560-mile, road trip through the southwest mountain region of British Columbia, Canada.
Introduction
The Fujifilm XF 70-300mm f/4-5.6 R LM OIS WR telephoto zoom lens was announced in January 2021 and inevitably it will be compared to other zoom lenses from Fujifilm such as the XF 55-200mm f/3.5-4.8 and XF100-400mm f/4-5.6.
With almost the identical weight of the XF 55-200mm f/3.5-4.8, Fujifilm has managed to add 100mm on the long end while only shaving off 15mm on the short end.
Unfortunately, I have never tried the XF 55-200mm and cannot comment on the image quality comparison. I have tested the XF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 and will get into the differences below.
At the time this review was posted the Fujifilm XF 70-300mm f/4-5.6 R LM OIS WR was priced at $799.00.
Fujifilm Zoom vs. Prime Lenses
With the fear of turning this review into another zoom versus prime lens debate, I want to summarize how and what I will be comparing the Fujifilm XF 70-300mm to.
For years my go-to telephoto lenses were a Canon EF 135mm f/2L and Canon EF 300mm f/2.8 L IS and I used them on the Canon 1D Mark III, 5D, 5D Mark II, 5D Mark III, and 5DSR cameras.
Since I switched to Fujifilm when we started our travel project I have been relying solely on the XF 90mm f/2 R LM WR for all my telephoto needs.
The lenses I used to own are all wonderful high-quality prime lenses and especially in the case of the Canon EF 300mm f/2.8L IS, it is not fair to draw comparisons to a lens costing thousands more.
Handling the Fujifilm XF 70-300mm f/4-5.6
The first thing that strikes me with the Fujifilm XF 70-300mm f/4-5.6 R LM OIS WR is the weight and by that I mean, for a lens with an impressive zoom range it is very lightweight at 20.7 oz. / 588 g.
On the side of the lens barrel, you have a focus limiter switch for either full range or limited range, 5 meters to infinity, for optimized focusing speed at longer distances. The second switch is for the A setting (automatic) for the aperture.
There is a zoom lock switch that will keep the lens in the 70mm position. This is great when walking with the lens to avoid zoom travel (the lens gets longer unintentionally when walking because of the movement).
The zoom ring on my tester was a bit tight and I did not experience any zoom travel even when walking with the lens. The aperture ring feels very good but does not have the aperture marking as the lens is a variable aperture depending on your focal length.
Fujifilm XF 70-300mm f/4-5.6 R LM OIS WR at the 70mm and 300mm settings. You will notice the lens lens protrudes significantly at the 300mm setting.
I really dig the lens hood on XF 70-300mm with the tapered edge where it mounts. It is a good fit, an appropriate size, and gives the lens a refined look. The filter size is 67mm, the minimum focusing distance is 2.7' / 83 cm, and the lens has 17 elements in 12 groups and 9 rounded diaphragm blades.
It is hard to pick on the build quality and everything works as it should and yet the low weight somehow leaves me wondering about long-term durability. This worry is completely unfounded but I think it is worth mentioning.
The XF 70-300mm has a linear motor for fast and silent autofocus and is weather-resistant, WR. Finally, the XF 70-300mm is compatible with the optional XF 1.4x TC WR and XF 2x TC WR teleconverters for serious telephoto power. I did not have the teleconverters available for my test.
Fujifilm XF 70-300mm f/4-5.6 in Action
For the vast majority of the shots taken during my review, I used the Fujifilm X-E4, and again I have to mention weight. This combination is incredibly light and makes for a backpacker’s, trekker’s, or hiker’s dream kit if you need to carry your gear in the field.
I will not look up the difference in weight to my former Canon combination but can tell you, that it is significant and this difference could be a deciding factor whether you bring your gear or leave it at home.
Off-piste in British Columbia, Fujifilm X-E4, XF 70-300mm f/4-5.6 R LM OIS WR @ f/8, 300 mm
Even without any kind of grip support on my Fujifilm X-E4, the XF 70-300mm is still easy to handle. I also tried it briefly on my Fujifilm X-Pro2 and admit the handling of the lens did improve.
Having a larger grip on your camera helps, especially if you zoom during an action sequence. For static shots, it is less of an issue.
Fujifilm XF 70-300mm f/4-5.6 For Sports
Our road trip took us through Kamloops and I was pleased to find a baseball game in progress at McArthur Island Park. While the shots below were not the most demanding on the autofocus abilities they still gave me a good idea of the kind of photos I could come home with after a game.
I used wide tracking, continuous autofocus, and manual exposure, and fired away for about 10 minutes before we moved on.
The OIS, optical image stabilization, is wonderful, especially on a long lens such as the XF 70-300mm. In full-frame terms, we are talking about a 107-457mm field of view.
I can certainly see the XF 70-300mm as an excellent option for just about any type of outdoor field sport where you have plenty of light to work with. For more demanding situations and for low-light photography perhaps consider the XF 50-140mm f/2.8 R LM OIS WR or XF 90mm f/2 R LM WR instead.
Fujifilm XF 70-300mm f/4-5.6 Image Quality
I will be the first to admit it is hard to pass final judgment on a lens that you have only used over a weekend but I will give it my best shot. All photos in this review were shot handheld using the excellent 5.5-stop optical image stabilizer.
Overall the image quality is good. The XF 70-300mm excels at shorter focal lengths from 70-200mm and then things become more challenging as we near the 300mm focal length.
I found that images got a bit muddled at 300mm shooting in the mountains but we have to consider other facts such as haze and various weather conditions. In the baseball images around the 200mm focal length, I found the lens plenty sharp and with decent bokeh shot wide open.
Lillooet, British Columbia, Fujifilm X-E4, XF 70-300mm f/4-5.6 R LM OIS WR @ f/9, 70 mm
Fujifilm XF 70-300mm vs. XF 100-400mm
At $1,899.00 the Fujifilm XF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 is a significant step up in price and the lens is geared more towards the true wildlife shooter where every millimeter of focal length counts on the long end. Especially if you photograph birds the 400mm focal length will ensure more keepers.
The weight of the Fujifilm XF 100-400mm is more than double and the length increases from 5.2” / 13.2 cm to 8.3” / 21 cm. The XF 100-400mm comes with a removable tripod collar. I have tried both and for my style of shooting, I much preferred the XF 70-300mm due to the compactness and lighter weight.
You can read my Fujifilm XF 100-400mm review here:
Fujifilm XF 70-300mm vs. XF 150-600mm
At the Fujifilm X Summit, in May 2022, Fujifilm also released the brand new Fujifilm XF 150-600mm f/5.6-8 R LM OIS WR. At $1,999.00 and with even more reach than the XF 100-400mm this is an interesting proposition for wildlife shooters.
Depending on your needs the XF 150-600mm is worth considering but it is an entirely different beast with more reach and perhaps not geared for casual telephotography at more moderate and general telephoto focal lengths.
As for portability, it is hard to beat the XF 70-300mm, and in comparison to the new XF 150-600mm it is approximately one-third of the weight and about half the size.
I have now had a chance to review the XF 150-600mm and you can read my review here:
Lillooet, British Columbia, Fujifilm X-E4, XF 70-300mm f/4-5.6 R LM OIS WR @ f/8, 300 mm
Fujifilm XF 70-300mm vs. XF 55-200mm
At $699.00 you may be comparing the XF 55-200mm f/3.5-4.8 to the new Fujifilm XF 70-300mm or perhaps you are considering upgrading. I say upgrading, as I assume that Fujifilm has improved on several points since the XF 55-200mm was released in 2014. On paper, the XF 70-300mm holds the edge in a few areas.
The XF 70-300mm is weather-resistant, has an overall larger zoom range, and features a 5.5 stop OIS vs. 4.5 stops for the XF 55-200mm. It also has 9 rounded diaphragm blades vs. 7 which should ensure better bokeh.
The advantages of the XF 55-200mm would be a lower cost by $100.00, slightly less bulk and weight although very similar, and it is half a stop faster with a focal length geared more toward general telephotography versus the longer focal lengths on the XF 70-300mm.
I have not tried the XF 55-200mm but if I was at the counter with money in hand, I would go for the XF 70-300mm.
Conclusion
Some of my all-time favorite landscape photos were captured with a friend’s Canon EF 500mm f/4L IS Mark II lens on my Canon 5D Mark III.
With the XF 70-300mm f/4-5.6, we have a full-frame equivalent focal length of 457mm and the look of your photos at this focal length will be similar but the quality of the photos will not be comparable.
This is the point of the review where I also need to do a reality check. The Canon lens is almost ten times the cost of the XF 70-300mm and weighs more than five times as much. It will not zoom to 70mm, and would probably look silly on the X-E4 :)
BC Mountains, Fujifilm X-E4, XF 70-300mm f/4-5.6 R LM OIS WR @ f/8, 102 mm
After testing the XF 70-300mm f/4-5.6 R LM OIS WR, will I be adding it to my kit? The reality is, that my photography genres have changed over the last few years. I mainly do travel and street photography, with the occasional landscape photography thrown into the mix.
I am lucky to live in a city where I can rent the XF 70-300mm lens and will not hesitate to do so again when the need arises.
If you, however, are shooting outside sports or wildlife I would definitely recommend adding the XF 70-300mm to the list of lenses to check out.
On our road trip, I ended up with about 50 keepers and was curious to see the average focal length used. My guess was around 200mm but was actually a bit shorter at 178mm.
This was an interesting study and confirmed what I suspected all along, and it ends with a wish. If I was adding a longer lens to my kit a hypothetical XF 200mm f/2.8 R LM OIS WR rings a certain bell and I hope Fujifilm reads this.
I know Fujifilm has the impressive XF 200mm f/2 R LM OIS WR but at $5,999.00 the cost is prohibitive for me for a focal length, which I would only use occasionally.
In the meantime, the Fujifilm XF 70-300mm R LM OIS WR fits the void wonderfully and I encourage you to give it a try. Please do not hesitate to leave any questions you may have in the comments below.
Update:
I have now had a second look at the XF 70-300mm and you can read my take on it here:
Fujifilm XF 70-300mm f/4-5.6 - Revisited
Pros
Very compact and lightweight for what it can do
Versatile telephoto zoom range
OIS, image stabilization
Linear motor for fast and silent autofocus
Weather resistant
Cons
Image quality suffers a bit near the 300mm focal length
No aperture markings on the aperture ring due to the fact that it is a variable aperture lens
Please see more sample images below.
Price / Availability
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Check the current price at B&H Photo
XF 70-300mm f/4-5.6 R LM OIS WR - B&H Photo
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Fujifilm XF 70-300mm f/4-5.6 R LM OIS WR - Sample Images
Please see the sample images below. Editing was done in Capture One Express and I used Fujifilm film simulations for some of the photos.
Please click to view larger images.
Stavamus Chief, Squamish, Fujifilm X-E4, XF 70-300mm f/4-5.6 R LM OIS WR @ f/6.4, 70 mm
Mt. Currie, Pemberton, Fujifilm X-E4, XF 70-300mm f/4-5.6 R LM OIS WR @ f/8, 171 mm
Pemberton, Fujifilm X-E4, XF 70-300mm f/4-5.6 R LM OIS WR @ f/5, 123 mm
Highway 99, BC, Fujifilm X-E4, XF 70-300mm f/4-5.6 R LM OIS WR @ f/8, 70 mm
Highway 99, BC, Fujifilm X-E4, XF 70-300mm f/4-5.6 R LM OIS WR @ f/9, 171 mm
Duffey Lake, BC, Fujifilm X-E4, XF 70-300mm f/4-5.6 R LM OIS WR @ f/8, 70 mm
Highway 99, BC, Fujifilm X-E4, XF 70-300mm f/4-5.6 R LM OIS WR @ f/9, 94 mm
Highway 99, BC, Fujifilm X-E4, XF 70-300mm f/4-5.6 R LM OIS WR @ f/9, 127 mm
Seton Lake, BC, Fujifilm X-E4, XF 70-300mm f/4-5.6 R LM OIS WR @ f/14, 70 mm
Lillooet, BC, Fujifilm X-E4, XF 70-300mm f/4-5.6 R LM OIS WR @ f/9, 153 mm
Highway 99, BC, Fujifilm X-E4, XF 70-300mm f/4-5.6 R LM OIS WR @ f/8, 70 mm
Highway 99, BC, Fujifilm X-E4, XF 70-300mm f/4-5.6 R LM OIS WR @ f/8, 258 mm
Highway 99, BC, Fujifilm X-E4, XF 70-300mm f/4-5.6 R LM OIS WR @ f/8, 249 mm
Lillooet, BC, Fujifilm X-E4, XF 70-300mm f/4-5.6 R LM OIS WR @ f/6.4, 102 mm
Vancouver, Fujifilm X-Pro2, XF 70-300mm f/4-5.6 R LM OIS WR @ f/8, 223 mm
Fujifilm X-Mount XF Zoom Lens Reviews
Fujifilm XF 8-16mm f/2.8 R LM WR
Fujifilm XF 10-24mm f/4 R OIS WR
Fujifilm XF 16-55mm f/2.8 R LM WR
Fujifilm XF 16-80mm f/4 R OIS WR
Fujifilm XF 18-55mm f/2.8 R LM OIS
Fujifilm XF 18-120mm f/4 PZ LM WR
Fujifilm XF 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 R
Fujifilm XF 50-140mm f/2.8 R
Fujifilm XF 70-300mm f/4-5.6 R
Fujifilm XF 100-400mm f/4.5- 5.6 R
Fujifilm XF 150-600mm f/5.6-8 R
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