Reading mode: Light Dark

News Reviews Articles Buying Guide Sample Images Videos Cameras Lenses Phones Printers Forums Galleries Challenges

Now reading: Just posted: Our Fujifilm XF 55-200mm F3.5-4.8 R LM OIS preview 27 comments

Just posted: Our Fujifilm XF 55-200mm F3.5-4.8 R LM OIS preview

Published Apr 17, 2013 | dpreview staff

Just posted: Our hands-on preview of Fujifilm's latest telephoto zoom lens, the Fujinon 55-200mm F3.5-4.8 R LM OIS. Designed for the company's X-system mirrorless cameras, it offers an 83-300mm equivalent angle of view, and a relatively fast maximum aperture. It also includes optical image stabilisation and two linear stepper motors for quiet focusing. Click below to read our detailed preview for more information.

Click here for our Fujinon 55-200mm F3.5-4.8 R LM OIS preview

Tags: preview, fujifilm, lens, mirrorless

Comments

All (27)

Most popular (3)

Editors' picks (0)

DPR staff (0)

Oldest first

Unfortunately, there are a lot of small-minded people who think that if a small camera can't fit inside your pocket, than its completely useless and you might as well carry a 645 medium format camera! LOL.

As someone who uses Canon APS and FF cameras, as well as an m4/3 camera (that can't fit in my pocket, BTW), I can definitely say that "small" still offers a benefit and an advantage even if it's not "small" enough to fit in your pocket. It makes the camera a lot less noticeable, more comfortable to carry around, fits better on a crowded dining table or anywhere else you might want to put it down, easier to maneuver in tight spaces, etc. In other words, even without fitting in your pocket, a small camera can still be worth having.

Apr 22, 2013permalink

jaygeephoto

Fast, Heavy, Expensive - the unholy trinity of a good lens.

Apr 18, 2013permalink

Tom Caldwell

Just shows that people don't mind big lenses on little cameras. Used to be a lot of fuss over the idea that if you make a small EVIL-type camera then you can only fit small lenses to it.

Apr 18, 2013permalink

Pat Cullinan Jr

Yes, let's have some compact primes.

Apr 18, 2013permalink

peevee1

Actually, people do mind. Pana 14-42 PZ and Sony 16-50 PZ were created for that reason.

Apr 18, 2013permalink

yabokkie

we don't have a choice. in principle we cannot reduce the size of a lens (the aperture size) while keeping the same image quality.

Apr 18, 2013permalink

Jorginho

Well that is why I chose mFT actually. Much smaller lenses. I feel this lens is simply too heavyespecially but also too large.

Apr 19, 2013permalink

I would hardly call this a "big" lens. Just put it next to a DSLR lens of comparable effective focal length specs, and you'll see that it really isn't that "big".

Apr 22, 2013permalink

Combatmedic870

I bet the IQ on this is going to be great(if the 18-55 shows us anything)!

Apr 18, 2013permalink

dopsgp

Fujifilm, please make a fullframe X body. There is market for a better, more reliable Leica M.

Apr 18, 2013permalink

Pat Cullinan Jr

Another good idea. Fujifilm, are you listening?

It's time the clacking, jolting mirror left the scene. IQ will benefit. And subjects will become pleasantly oblivious.

Apr 18, 2013permalink

yabokkie

... and for a better, more reliable Fujifilm X.

Apr 18, 2013permalink

Beat Traveller

Leica's market is untouchable because they don't care about designing for AF, and neither do their customers - so they can basically use the same designs they've had since 1954. Most of their R&D can go into sensor tech. Fuji would be hemorrhaging money to get their own full frame lens system out as well as developing a full frame sensor AND supporting the APS-C system.

Apr 19, 2013permalink

jaygeephoto

f 2.0 Summicron, the brass and glass of lore and legend. Rock on.

Apr 19, 2013permalink

Petka

APS-C sized Fujis are much better than Leica M9 in IQ, crop sensor or not. New Leica 240 is another matter, but not much. FF sensor "rangefinder" Fuji "XL" would be more expensive again than X-Pro1, market would be too small (raising the price again), people would consider Leica if the price difference is not big enough. Now there is a real choice: manual focus only Leica 240, or almost/practically as good Fuji X-Pro1 with autofocus, at 1/4 of the price. Easy choice for me, at least.

Apr 23, 2013permalink

evoprox

I wish Fujifilm would produce the lenses for the NEX system ... ah well ...

Apr 18, 2013permalink

kimchiflower

Good grief! That's a disproportionately large chunk of glass on that camera.

Apr 17, 2013permalink

love_them_all

It's not big consider shooting it at eye level.

Apr 17, 2013permalink

Richard Murdey

You switched to mirrorless for run-that-by-me-again?

Apr 18, 2013permalink

Combatmedic870

some mirrorless lenses just cannot be smaller. considering the faster aperture of this lens i dont think it looks bad at all. I'd take this over sonys 55-210 anyday of the week!

Apr 18, 2013permalink

57even

That's presumably why they made the Xpro1 suitably chunky.

Apr 18, 2013permalink

peevee1

"some mirrorless lenses just cannot be smaller. considering the faster aperture of this lens i dont think it looks bad at all."

Compare this f/4.8 monster to 360g Pana 35-100/2.8.

Apr 18, 2013permalink

Apparently, you've never seen a big DSLR lens on a DSLR body. Various DSLR lens and body combos can also be very disproportionate, too.

Apr 22, 2013permalink

flysurfer

Hi Coguar, my preview contains plenty of samples: http://www.fujirumors.com/first-look-xf55-200mmf3-5-4-8-r-lm-ois/

I also put larger versions of 30 samples on Flickr: http://www.flickr.com/photos/25805910@N05/sets/72157633257634014/

Hope this helps.

Apr 17, 2013permalink

Asylum Photo

Great job, as usual. Thanks for the post. :)

Apr 17, 2013permalink

Coguar

Tnx flysurfer

Apr 17, 2013permalink

Coguar

preview, one sample please :)))

Apr 17, 2013permalink


New normal: Sony FE 50mm F1.8 samples & first impressions Apr 1, 2016	Along the coast: Sony FE 24-70 F2.8 GM real-world samples gallery updated Apr 1, 2016	Something we've never seen before: LensRentals 'eviscerates' the Fujifilm XF55-200mm F3.5-4.8R LM OIS Feb 27, 2016	Fujifilm XF 55-200mm F3.5-4.8 R LM OIS review Sep 25, 2013


Sunflower Field by GrannyMeg from An impressionist piece	Flag from Staten Island Ferry by wam7 from Flag	Windswept juniper by Kreber from Wind power	SAND SCULPTURE by duskman from Landscape - Black and White #4

61	Part 2: FF snobbishness takes a hit now MF accessible
55	High ISO Performance - 5D3/6D vs 5DS vs 5D4 ?
53	Thom's Nikon Fix.
46	Panasonic G80/G85 review up!
46	Nikon 105 f1.4 Video Review
43	X-T2 ISO 200 isn't low enough
40	Do you care that the sensor is exposed to the elements?
39	Why do I want the 105mm F1.4 so badly?
38	How do you change lenses outdoors?
37	Disappointed with panasonic
37	Goodbye Full-Frame Cameras
36	Equivalence: Great Progress! remaining: Total Image Exposure (INPUT) vs Brightness
36	Would you buy a Sigma 19mm f1.4 DN?
35	How many people here have ordered the A99II or plan to do so.
34	What medium-long prime lenses do people use?
33	What do you use to quickly cull images?
32	Some of Galen Rowell's favourite lenses can be purchased for very little
32	Pre-interview headshot requirement? A tool for Discrimination?
32	New Nikon 1 lens
29	Have "one click fixes" changed photography?