70-300mm f4-5.6 review

I've been giving this lens a good workout the past few weeks in a nature setting. Though I don't consider myself much of a nature photographer, it's a good excuse for a walk in the woods.
Generally I've been please with the lens. It is sharp, focuses quickly, has excellent close focus for the focal length, handles well and is relatively compact.
I've been using it on the end of an X-S10 so I don't know if this is a camera or a lens issue, but at times the AF can get confused and do nothing. An example would be a situation where there's a bird or an insect with surrounding vegetation. I'm using Single Point AF Mode together with the joystick to pick my focus point. Fairly frequently I find that the AF just can't lock on to the subject. I have to move the camera to point to a more distant object where the FA then works. I recompose to the subject and everything then works fine. I've made the AF box quite small so that not much intrudes, but it still gets these confused moments and nothing happens.
Usually I'm not one of those who obsesses over bokeh and out of focus areas, but I'm not impressed with how these areas look. The out of focus areas are busy and distracting.

Overall I'm very happy with the lens and I can live with the out of focus areas. Again I don't know if it is camera, lens or both, but the AF issue needs some firmware help.

I sold mine for the 150-600, I honestly miss it alot, its almost perfect for what it is, a small lightweight tele with great IQ. Perfect for travel and zoo trips. Fuji did a steller job making it.

pharles wrote:

I've been giving this lens a good workout the past few weeks in a nature setting. Though I don't consider myself much of a nature photographer, it's a good excuse for a walk in the woods.
Generally I've been please with the lens. It is sharp, focuses quickly, has excellent close focus for the focal length, handles well and is relatively compact.
I've been using it on the end of an X-S10 so I don't know if this is a camera or a lens issue, but at times the AF can get confused and do nothing. An example would be a situation where there's a bird or an insect with surrounding vegetation. I'm using Single Point AF Mode together with the joystick to pick my focus point. Fairly frequently I find that the AF just can't lock on to the subject. I have to move the camera to point to a more distant object where the FA then works. I recompose to the subject and everything then works fine. I've made the AF box quite small so that not much intrudes, but it still gets these confused moments and nothing happens.
Usually I'm not one of those who obsesses over bokeh and out of focus areas, but I'm not impressed with how these areas look. The out of focus areas are busy and distracting.

Overall I'm very happy with the lens and I can live with the out of focus areas. Again I don't know if it is camera, lens or both, but the AF issue needs some firmware help.

Just wondering if the focus issues are caused by where the focus limiting switch is set, either at Full (the lens will look for focus through the full focus range) or at 5m-infinity (will not utilize the full focus range)? I had less focus issues once I made sure I had that switch where I wanted it. 🤷🏻‍♂️

robert1955 wrote:

Lettermanian wrote:

pharles wrote:

I've been giving this lens a good workout the past few weeks in a nature setting. Though I don't consider myself much of a nature photographer, it's a good excuse for a walk in the woods.
Generally I've been please with the lens. It is sharp, focuses quickly, has excellent close focus for the focal length, handles well and is relatively compact.
I've been using it on the end of an X-S10 so I don't know if this is a camera or a lens issue, but at times the AF can get confused and do nothing. An example would be a situation where there's a bird or an insect with surrounding vegetation. I'm using Single Point AF Mode together with the joystick to pick my focus point. Fairly frequently I find that the AF just can't lock on to the subject. I have to move the camera to point to a more distant object where the FA then works. I recompose to the subject and everything then works fine. I've made the AF box quite small so that not much intrudes, but it still gets these confused moments and nothing happens.
Usually I'm not one of those who obsesses over bokeh and out of focus areas, but I'm not impressed with how these areas look. The out of focus areas are busy and distracting.

Overall I'm very happy with the lens and I can live with the out of focus areas. Again I don't know if it is camera, lens or both, but the AF issue needs some firmware help.

Just wondering if the focus issues are caused by where the focus limiting switch is set, either at Full (the lens will look for focus through the full focus range) or at 5m-infinity (will not utilize the full focus range)? I had less focus issues once I made sure I had that switch where I wanted it. 🤷🏻‍♂️

I thought that only influenced focusing speed, not accuracy?

It doesn't "influence" either. it is literally just a limiter switch. When it is set to 5m it will not focus on anything closer than 5m to the camera.

The switch was my first thought but the fact that it focusses after a bit of work would suggest it isn't. I would make the focus box larger. The focus box size can be very hit and miss depending on what you're shooting. If you have it set too small it may not be able to detect enough contrast to operate efficiently.

Nope, the limiter is on at "Full" the entire time. The AF is on "Area", the box is set to the second smallest size to prevent too many things being included, and AFS is selected. Yet a half press on the shutter does nothing until I focus on something far away, then recompose on the near subject, then everything works. This only happens occasionally. Most of the time the close focus is accurate and quick, but sometimes it just locks up and doesn't behave until I pick a distant subject.

pharles wrote:

Nope, the limiter is on at "Full" the entire time. The AF is on "Area", the box is set to the second smallest size to prevent too many things being included, and AFS is selected. Yet a half press on the shutter does nothing until I focus on something far away, then recompose on the near subject, then everything works. This only happens occasionally. Most of the time the close focus is accurate and quick, but sometimes it just locks up and doesn't behave until I pick a distant subject.

Two thoughts that should at least isolate the problem. First, if you still have the X-T3, try testing the lens on that body. You'll find out if the issue is with the lens or the body match. Second, experiment with going one size larger on focus spot. Sometimes that has made a difference in low light or low contrast situations for me (X-T2/20).

I've already gone through changing the size of the focus box and it didn't help. Trying it on the X-T3 is next.

DearZ wrote:

If we're to neat-pick, I would like to have an option to add a tripod collar just because having the lens on the X-T4 and nodal slide, it does seem a bit wobbly.

Zdravo 😊

You could get a lens support such as this – that is what I use on telephoto lenses without a collar. https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1698651-REG/neewer_10096285_long_focus_lens_support_holder.html