First photos with the new 150-600 on my XT4

Thought you all might be interested in some shots from the new 150-600 ultra tele from Fuji. I'm loving how light it is. Let me know if you have any questions.

A little too slow a shutter as I'm constantly fighting the ISO at f8 but the reach just makes so many more photos possible.

Tracking is a little difficult at this length. Fuji hasn't made it any easier with the stabilization jumping around.

Portraits are super sharp at 600

AF seems to be status quo for Fuji. Could be better, could be worse. More to come when I have more opportunity with BIF.

Gator-bait, Samantha.

Most of these are by no means technically perfect as I am not a pro but hopefully they'll give you an idea. It was also blistering hot out. Most are cropped and ran through adobe's auto tune. I can upload the raw photos if anyone wants those, just let me know.

Thanks for looking.

Doc

What are you trying to show with these photos?  I don't know how much these are cropped (the info says these are all 2.8MP), but the result is that they all look soft.  If you were simply looking to post some photos that you liked from the days outing that's one thing.  And to that end, it looks like you had a nice day out.

But when I see "First photos with the new 150-600" I'm expecting I'm going to see something that makes me say "great lens", I have to get me one.

I mentioned I could post raw if someone wanted to see but I'm also not here to sell you a lens. Your tone reminds me of why I stayed off these forums for so long. You could just ask for the raw instead of acting like I'm a pro photographer, reviewer, or a Fuji rep here to provide you a service.

Doc

Can I take a wild guess at the location?   This could be Brazos Bend State Park in Texas.

Not quite Texas. This is in Central Florida off a wildlife drive on Lake Apopka. State water management bought up all the surrounding farmland that had runoff killing the whole lake. Seven years later it's absolutely thriving!

so far it seems to be about the same as on my other long lenses (XF70-300mmF4-5.6 and XF100-400mmF4.5-5.6). I guess that means it has improved over those since it is considerably slower. I haven't gotten used to taking advantage of the preset button yet, but it really didn't do that whole hunt through the whole focal range and get lost very often.

Hi, thanks for sharing these shots and your experience with the lens.

You wrote: "Fuji hasn't made it any easier with the stabilization jumping around."
I find the stabilization of my X-H1 in conjunction with the XF100-400 really excellent, no "jumping around".

Did you have this same issue when using your X-T4 with the XF100-400? (Provided you have/had that lens.)

Were these shots taken with the latest firmware update (v1.50) for the X-T4?

Very nice set.  You better be carful, that dog might bight you :-}

Morris

Yeah I should probably clarify that they both behave the same in that they will both jump or stutter as I pan when tracking a subject. They're both impressively steady when holding still.

Edit: yes running 1.5. It's almost like the horizontal stabilization algorithm is overpowered or just can't tell when I'm tracking a moving subject.

DocShaka wrote:

I mentioned I could post raw if someone wanted to see but I'm also not here to sell you a lens. Your tone reminds me of why I stayed off these forums for so long. You could just ask for the raw instead of acting like I'm a pro photographer, reviewer, or a Fuji rep here to provide you a service.

Doc

Please don't go. Your contribution is appreciated. I like your images and I'm impressed at the sharpness of some of the pics. I'm also exploring with this lens and find it fantastic at times and frustrating at other times. I think I just need more time with it.

DocShaka wrote:

so far it seems to be about the same as on my other long lenses (XF70-300mmF4-5.6 and XF100-400mmF4.5-5.6). I guess that means it has improved over those since it is considerably slower. I haven't gotten used to taking advantage of the preset button yet, but it really didn't do that whole hunt through the whole focal range and get lost very often.

Very few photographers use the focus distance presets.   It's a be like the other guys feature.

Morris

Samuraidog wrote:

DocShaka wrote:

I mentioned I could post raw if someone wanted to see but I'm also not here to sell you a lens. Your tone reminds me of why I stayed off these forums for so long. You could just ask for the raw instead of acting like I'm a pro photographer, reviewer, or a Fuji rep here to provide you a service.

Doc

Please don't go. Your contribution is appreciated. I like your images and I'm impressed at the sharpness of some of the pics. I'm also exploring with this lens and find it fantastic at times and frustrating at other times. I think I just need more time with it.

I'm no pro and there is certainly a learning curve moving from nikon dslrs to a Fuji mirrorless setup! I think heat today was a major issue for the AF and not the lens. When it does hook up it's quite sharp. Please post some of yours as well!

If there's a standard procedure for the raw photos that members like to see please let me know. I realize people want to see benchmarks but I'm not about to print off a sharpness test and shoot it across the yard and post that!

DocShaka wrote:

Samuraidog wrote:

DocShaka wrote:

I mentioned I could post raw if someone wanted to see but I'm also not here to sell you a lens. Your tone reminds me of why I stayed off these forums for so long. You could just ask for the raw instead of acting like I'm a pro photographer, reviewer, or a Fuji rep here to provide you a service.

Doc

Please don't go. Your contribution is appreciated. I like your images and I'm impressed at the sharpness of some of the pics. I'm also exploring with this lens and find it fantastic at times and frustrating at other times. I think I just need more time with it.

I'm no pro and there is certainly a learning curve moving from nikon dslrs to a Fuji mirrorless setup! I think heat today was a major issue for the AF and not the lens. When it does hook up it's quite sharp. Please post some of yours as well!

If there's a standard procedure for the raw photos that members like to see please let me know. I realize people want to see benchmarks but I'm not about to print off a sharpness test and shoot it across the yard and post that!

I posted these in the Weekly Photos thread.

The lighthouse pics are with the 16-55 lens. This combo is dead nuts sharp to focus nearly every time.

Here are a couple with the 150-600mm lens with the 1.4x TC.

michaeladawson wrote:

What are you trying to show with these photos? I don't know how much these are cropped (the info says these are all 2.8MP), but the result is that they all look soft. If you were simply looking to post some photos that you liked from the days outing that's one thing. And to that end, it looks like you had a nice day out.

But when I see "First photos with the new 150-600" I'm expecting I'm going to see something that makes me say "great lens", I have to get me one.

You might just consider lightening it up just a bit. Your post comes across as almost accusatory, rather than perhaps gently pointing out possible issues attributable to the photographer, not the camera. How about being a bit more helpful and asking about settings or suggesting possible causes for the softness you see?

Just be aware that post like this are the sorts of things that can chase new forum members away rather than offering help or suggestions for improvement. I'd probably react exactly the same way as he did in his subsequent post, TBH.

Very nice work with that camera - lens combo, Doc.

My fave is the first one. It just looks like a perfect summer day for the wildlife (and you too). The lens looks pretty sharp too.

Personally I appreciate wildlife photos taken at the lowest possible ISO as they are always clearer, but I know that's not always possible.

Keep up the good work!

LarsPolarBear wrote:

Hi Doc,

Thanks for the beautiful pictures! Looks like you had a great day! 😃

Could you be so kind and give us your (first) impression on the optical performance of the 150-600mm in comparison to the 100-400mm with the 1.4x extender attached? Since both have f8 as their fastest aperture, and the maximum focal length is quite similar, it is a big question for many of us if there is and optical advantage.

Thanks a lot for you help,

Lars

Yes, I would be interested as well.

LarsPolarBear wrote:

Hi Doc,

Thanks for the beautiful pictures! Looks like you had a great day! 😃

Could you be so kind and give us your (first) impression on the optical performance of the 150-600mm in comparison to the 100-400mm with the 1.4x extender attached? Since both have f8 as their fastest aperture, and the maximum focal length is quite similar, it is a big question for many of us if there is and optical advantage.

Thanks a lot for you help,

Lars

I get mine tomorrow, ill be able to test it on Thursday with some raptors and buzzards, if it doesn't outperform the 100-400 with and without the 1.4tc in every way I will be very disappointed and would return it and stick with adapted lenses like the Nikon PF lenses.