Red label IQ vs others

Hi,

I only want to travel with 2 lenses, one standard and one telezoom; those are the 2 options I was thinking of

* XT4 + 16-80 WR + 70-300 WR
607g + 440g + 580g = 1627g

* XT4 + 16-55 F2.8 WR + 50-140 F2.8 WR (potentially + TC => 70-196mm)
607g + 655g + 995g = 2257g
607g + 655g + 995g + 130g = 2387g (with TC)

For a few days I had the 50-140 and I must say I was very satisfied with the pictures I have taken. But it is really heavy, after a few hours I could even feel it in my arms...

What would you choose if money is not the problem? Will the IQ be really that different from red label lenses to the more recent lenses 16-80 / 70-300? Is it worth carrying the weight of red label lenses?

SeaSaltDarkChocolate wrote:

Hi,

I only want to travel with 2 lenses, one standard and one telezoom; those are the 2 options I was thinking of

* XT4 + 16-80 WR + 70-300 WR
607g + 440g + 580g = 1627g

* XT4 + 16-55 F2.8 WR + 50-140 F2.8 WR (potentially + TC => 70-196mm)
607g + 655g + 995g = 2257g
607g + 655g + 995g + 130g = 2387g (with TC)

For a few days I had the 50-140 and I must say I was very satisfied with the pictures I have taken. But it is really heavy, after a few hours I could even feel it in my arms...

What would you choose if money is not the problem? Will the IQ be really that different from red label lenses to the more recent lenses 16-80 / 70-300? Is it worth carrying the weight of red label lenses?

A lot of this is highly dependent on your tolerance for weight. I regularly tote around an X-H1 with grip, 100-400, and 16-55. I'm not a big guy, but over the years I've simply gotten used to the weight (and use a backpack to help make it easier to tolerate). So, you'll simply have to consider how important constant aperture is to your photography and whether the weight is tolerable for you. It's also worth noting that both of these lenses are red-badged and among Fuji's best. However, most all of Fuji's lenses are excellent and the alternatives you suggested would likely more than meet your needs as well.

If you don't need to go wider than 16mm, then I'd suggest getting the 16-55 + 70-300. In 35mm terms, it gets you all the way from 24mm to 460mm, or 640 with the 1.4x TC (yes there is a small gap, but personally I don't find it to be a deal breaker). Quite a killer combination if you ask me.

SeaSaltDarkChocolate wrote:

Hi,

I only want to travel with 2 lenses, one standard and one telezoom; those are the 2 options I was thinking of

* XT4 + 16-80 WR + 70-300 WR
607g + 440g + 580g = 1627g

* XT4 + 16-55 F2.8 WR + 50-140 F2.8 WR (potentially + TC => 70-196mm)
607g + 655g + 995g = 2257g
607g + 655g + 995g + 130g = 2387g (with TC)

For a few days I had the 50-140 and I must say I was very satisfied with the pictures I have taken. But it is really heavy, after a few hours I could even feel it in my arms...

What would you choose if money is not the problem? Will the IQ be really that different from red label lenses to the more recent lenses 16-80 / 70-300? Is it worth carrying the weight of red label lenses?

What does the weight buy you.  First the two red badge zooms are constant aperture of f2.8 and f4 using the TC. Even with the TC the 50-140 + TC is faster than the 70-300 which starts at f4.  I would expect the 50-140 + TC is going to be sharper at 196 then the 70 to 300 as in I expect this lens is sharper at the shorter end than longer end.

The 16-80 is not know as one of Fuji's best even when you eliminate the red badge lens from consideration.  The first combination tips the scale at 3.6 pounds which is in my book not a light load.  The second at 5.3 (including TC).  At least for me if I were going to carry all the gear with me where ever I went all day long - then a the same top grade back pack would be required considering that is a lot of other stuff, like water bottles and other gear.  With a good backpack - neither load will be an issue.  At least for me weight matters to a point.  My Pro3 and 35 f1.4 is a light weight, a neck/shoulder strap is fine all day.  Take along the 50 f2 and 18 f2 and a couple batteries - then a PD sling pack is quite comfortable all day.  But for any thing much heavier - I'd go with a good backpack and with that - the difference in weight between your two options is not a big deal.  So if it were me and the budget supported it - it would be the red badge zooms.

Personally I’d go 16-55 and 70-300.

The 50-140 is a heavy beast and unless you need 2.8 I’d say leaning heavier on OIS and a slower shutter speed will be the better option.

The 16-80 is not one of Fuji’s tack sharp lenses where as the 16-55 is.

I carry my 16-55 all over the place on an X-T2 in a very compact Peak Design 3L sling bag with no problem at all. The 16-55 is a much better lens than the 16-80, especially indoors where it is a stellar performer wide open. The 50-140 is fantastic and is my go-to for any sort of indoor event shooting, great for portraits too. It isn’t a lens I would want to lug around while traveling though. I usually take just the 16-55 on the X-T2 or X-T20, and/or my X100V if I want to go super light, but if I wanted a tele zoom too, I’m pretty sure I’d go for the new 70-300, I don’t own one, but I’ve played with lots of RAW files from it and the images look great - not likely the best in low light, but otherwise it’s a very nice lens and much lighter and more compact than the 50-140, and with much greater reach.

An important consideration for me would also be whether you'd need the extra reach that the 70-300mm brings. And if you do not already own it (lucky you!), if you are able to order it and have it delivered on time (it shows as "unavailable" everywhere in the Netherlands; I bet a shipment of those lenses is stuck on a container somewhere in Great Bitterlake )

If you felt the weight, then you have your answer. The upside is that the non-red label lenses are also quite good.

You'd be fine IMHO with either of your suggestions, but I'd like to suggest 18-135 + 35 1.4.

The combo is lighter. The zoom is not the top of Fuji line but optically it is still excellent for the range it offers and it will require less lens swapping.

You might have trouble with low light focusing on the 18-135 but you have the 35mm in case you really need the low light performance.